Now that I feel like I’ve settled somewhat into life as a stay-at-home mom, I’ve started trying to refine my goals and challenges. It would be very easy to sink into the pit of quicksand that is depressive lethargy, and I find myself slipping in that direction at times. But I’m working hard at keeping myself out of that, recognizing when I do just need some quiet time at home (which is more than most people need, I think) and creating some challenges for myself.
One of those challenges ties into my new year’s resolution to be more organized. You may remember this from such writing topics as “my cleaning schedule” and other exciting variations on that theme. Well, now I’ve branched out into frugality. I suppose this is, in it’s simplest form, being organized with one’s finances. And more than just organized, but being mindful in spending so as to maximize savings and minimize expenditures. It’s been a gradual shift in my awareness over the past few months, but after finishing The Tightwad Gazette a few days ago I have started to put some things into action. Like creating a price book – a record of the lowest prices I’ve seen for the regular things we buy. “Who has the time and energy to figure out which store has the lowest prices on rolled oats?” I can hear you all asking yourselves. “Like she really has time in between taking her baby to the potty 20 times a day, cleaning the house from top to bottom every week and washing cloth diapers, now she’s going to start shopping at 14 different stores?”
Call me a sucker for punishment if you like, but once the idea of reducing spending took root in my head the prospect of creating a price book seemed interesting. When I was earning money I didn’t really care if I was paying the lowest price for something, as long as I could afford the price I was paying. But now that I’m not earning and the idea of saving has become much more appealing, that money we want to save has to come from somewhere. And our grocery bill is our biggest expense after rent, so it seems a logical place to start.
Then I discovered that there is a listing of free stuff on craigslist. The stuff people give away! For nothing!! Lots of it is junk, of course, but some of it looks useful. And if you had the time/energy/tools to do basic furniture refinishing, there could be money to be made in selling the refinished pieces.
Of course, all things should be approached in moderation, at least at first. The Tightwad Gazette recommends saving such things as margarine tubs (cheapo tupperware) and egg cartons (for kids crafts, making princess crowns, etc). Apparrently even those metal lids on frozen juice cans have a million and one uses. However, it’s a fine line between frugal housewife and crazy hoarding lady who has a basement crammed full of empty egg cartons and old newspapers. I’m sending my egg cartons to the recycling bin with reckless abandon, although I will admit to saving the juice lid after making juice last night though. Keep your eyes peeled for a Joan of Arc halloween costume in the future (sometime around 2017, I’d say).

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