Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Increasing Prices
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Mattsmom277" data-source="post: 515534" data-attributes="member: 4264"><p>I am so tired of the consistent increase of, well, everything. Our hydro rates are horrible. And now we are all on these time of day meters, causing late evenings and weekends to be about a third of the cost of usage in day time. I really don't like having to run all appliances late at night. With MS I tend to fade by afternoon and feel useless in the evenings. Even with major changes to how we use power. I pay more than double what it cost when I moved in her 7 years ago, and back then I admit I wasted power without thought. </p><p></p><p>So electricity costs me about $130 more per month than it used to. My rent increased another $30 this month. Gas heat is about $50 a month more in winter than it used to be. So there is $200 more a month right there. That is a huge hit, a grocery budget nearly and nothing to show for it. </p><p></p><p>I have a expensive addiction, books. As a speed reader who must read daily, I was buying up to 4-5 books per week. I have an ereader, easy child does too. Now I'd I can't get what I want as a ebook loan at the library, I find it free online. I appease my guilt in that I do not do this for profit, and I could never read otherwise and that would be devastating to me. </p><p></p><p>I now have Netflix for movies even though it hasn't a great selection this side of the border. It is far cheaper than premium cable channels. We did have free basic cable in our building. Well landlord took that away (despite it being in our lease!). So after going without tv, we are now paying for a budget package because we really spend so much time home that it is cheaper to have it than to have other entertainment out of the house that I won't pay for. </p><p></p><p>I have become adept at flyer price matching for grocery store items. It allows me to shop at own store but have the benefits of the sales from every local business for that week so long as the sale is advertised. </p><p></p><p>I now gear much of easy child's lunch treats on sale and coupon items. I never ask for a wish list when I shop. She gets what I find a deal on. There was a sale on Quaker products this week where I shopped. $1.50-$2.00 off most Quaker items. I had coupons that gave a free premium healthy sugar free juice that is $5.49 (I refuse to pay it so never get it) with a purchase of 3 Quaker products. So easy child has 3 different granola bar boxes for lunch snacks and i saved $5.00 on them. With the juice free i saved $10.49. I saw a woman buying the bars and pointed out th coupon which was available on a coupon board at the door to the store. She said well I don't buy that juice, it's too expensive. Doh! Lady, coupon gives you free high quality healthy juice. I shook my head that she couldn't understand the concept. She didn't grab a coupon but bought 6 boxes of bars because of the sale. So there went $11.00 in free juice. Boy I was tempted to grab 2 coupons, stand behind her at checkout and ask to put two juices in her order with coupons and thank her for the two free items just to make her see how ego stopped her taking free products. It was obvious the isse was her not wanting to use a coupon. Idiot deserves to pay then. </p><p></p><p>My new saver find recently was a set of tight lids for soda cans. I was sick of seeing half finished sodas poured down a drain. Now it is a rule for all to out it in fridge with a lid. The lids really do keep the soda carbonated. </p><p></p><p>When i get lean chicken or turkey in sale, I take leftovers and mix with rice and broth and freeze in small baggies for cat treats. Healthier than canned products and ensures leftovers aren't left to spoil in the fridge. My neighbor does this for her dog as well. </p><p></p><p>I even do silly things now. If a lemon or orange is going to spoil, I squeeze the juice, mix with water and peelings and let steep. Remove peels and pour itonice cube trays. When frozen they go into freezer bags. I then don't have to buy fresh citrus for flavoring drinks or for adding into recipes when cooking. Spoiling bananas are mashed and frozen. Perfect for making banana muffins or adding to pancake batter. </p><p></p><p>This summer I am planning to go in a bartering hunt at the farmers market. I know some vendors pay a teen to help manage their booths. I happen to have taken up canning and making preserves. I am going to try to find a vendor to accept the help of easy child and I for free on Saturdays (market day here) all summer in return for a fair amount of weekly produce. I can then can away all week in time for the next weekend. I hope someone sees the benefit to them and me and says yes</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mattsmom277, post: 515534, member: 4264"] I am so tired of the consistent increase of, well, everything. Our hydro rates are horrible. And now we are all on these time of day meters, causing late evenings and weekends to be about a third of the cost of usage in day time. I really don't like having to run all appliances late at night. With MS I tend to fade by afternoon and feel useless in the evenings. Even with major changes to how we use power. I pay more than double what it cost when I moved in her 7 years ago, and back then I admit I wasted power without thought. So electricity costs me about $130 more per month than it used to. My rent increased another $30 this month. Gas heat is about $50 a month more in winter than it used to be. So there is $200 more a month right there. That is a huge hit, a grocery budget nearly and nothing to show for it. I have a expensive addiction, books. As a speed reader who must read daily, I was buying up to 4-5 books per week. I have an ereader, easy child does too. Now I'd I can't get what I want as a ebook loan at the library, I find it free online. I appease my guilt in that I do not do this for profit, and I could never read otherwise and that would be devastating to me. I now have Netflix for movies even though it hasn't a great selection this side of the border. It is far cheaper than premium cable channels. We did have free basic cable in our building. Well landlord took that away (despite it being in our lease!). So after going without tv, we are now paying for a budget package because we really spend so much time home that it is cheaper to have it than to have other entertainment out of the house that I won't pay for. I have become adept at flyer price matching for grocery store items. It allows me to shop at own store but have the benefits of the sales from every local business for that week so long as the sale is advertised. I now gear much of easy child's lunch treats on sale and coupon items. I never ask for a wish list when I shop. She gets what I find a deal on. There was a sale on Quaker products this week where I shopped. $1.50-$2.00 off most Quaker items. I had coupons that gave a free premium healthy sugar free juice that is $5.49 (I refuse to pay it so never get it) with a purchase of 3 Quaker products. So easy child has 3 different granola bar boxes for lunch snacks and i saved $5.00 on them. With the juice free i saved $10.49. I saw a woman buying the bars and pointed out th coupon which was available on a coupon board at the door to the store. She said well I don't buy that juice, it's too expensive. Doh! Lady, coupon gives you free high quality healthy juice. I shook my head that she couldn't understand the concept. She didn't grab a coupon but bought 6 boxes of bars because of the sale. So there went $11.00 in free juice. Boy I was tempted to grab 2 coupons, stand behind her at checkout and ask to put two juices in her order with coupons and thank her for the two free items just to make her see how ego stopped her taking free products. It was obvious the isse was her not wanting to use a coupon. Idiot deserves to pay then. My new saver find recently was a set of tight lids for soda cans. I was sick of seeing half finished sodas poured down a drain. Now it is a rule for all to out it in fridge with a lid. The lids really do keep the soda carbonated. When i get lean chicken or turkey in sale, I take leftovers and mix with rice and broth and freeze in small baggies for cat treats. Healthier than canned products and ensures leftovers aren't left to spoil in the fridge. My neighbor does this for her dog as well. I even do silly things now. If a lemon or orange is going to spoil, I squeeze the juice, mix with water and peelings and let steep. Remove peels and pour itonice cube trays. When frozen they go into freezer bags. I then don't have to buy fresh citrus for flavoring drinks or for adding into recipes when cooking. Spoiling bananas are mashed and frozen. Perfect for making banana muffins or adding to pancake batter. This summer I am planning to go in a bartering hunt at the farmers market. I know some vendors pay a teen to help manage their booths. I happen to have taken up canning and making preserves. I am going to try to find a vendor to accept the help of easy child and I for free on Saturdays (market day here) all summer in return for a fair amount of weekly produce. I can then can away all week in time for the next weekend. I hope someone sees the benefit to them and me and says yes [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Increasing Prices
Top