My Two Cents - Take it or Leave it!

My Two Cents - Take it or Leave It - July 15, 2022

Hello and I hope you are enjoying this beautiful too warm weather somewhere cool. Me I am working in an air-conditioned building and wishing I was near water. Can’t have everything.

With the way June started out we didn’t get the pool up this year. And the beginning of July wasn’t any better. Putting up the pool is a bit of a production. It doesn’t magically appear in my back yard full of warm beautiful clear blue water. Our children aren’t around as much this summer, so the pool is not going to be a summer fun thing for Merle Lee Ann this year. Which makes me sad but did not make economical sense for this year. Next year I sure hope it does as I love relaxing in the pool, cool beverage in my hand and tunes on the speaker. Life does not get much better than this for me. Fortunately, I also have access to lakes and friends with pools. Hello friends!

Economical sense. Now that’s an interesting topic these days. People are probably really looking at their budget these days. How much money am I bringing in and how much is going out. Do I have any money left to have some fun with? The rising costs of groceries and gas is higher than I have ever seen. For people who commute to work, gas is taking a big bite out of that budget. So, what can we do to save some money? I am going to share a few tips I have used over the years. And you may have heard them before, but it is okay to read or hear them again.

#1. When you head out for groceries have a list and stick to it. However, if an item is on sale for a great deal and you use it all the time, you might want to take advantage of it. Try and shop only once a week or less. Every time you set foot in a store you are going to come out with more than what was on your list. When I was younger and raising 3 children, I would sometimes go to the convenience store for a jug of milk as that was all I was coming out with.

Using the online grocery ordering service can save time and money. The only items coming out to your vehicles is what was on the order.

#2. Know what a competitive price on an item is and what is not. Stores love to put a red sticker on items – manipulating the consumer in to thinking this is a good price, when it really is not.

#3. Find a good app for your cell phone or computer that helps you to save money. I have an app called Flipp and I use it regularly, especially for bigger item purchases. Meat has gone up 2-3 times in price or more from what it used to be. Looking for a good standing rib beef roast? Search for it on the app and it will tell you who has it on sale and what price. Need butter? Same thing. You can save a lot of money by doing some research and using the store that has the best prices on the items you want. I don’t waste my time going to 4 or 5 stores to shop for groceries, but for a bigger ticket item I will choose the store that has the best price. I like to purchase pork back ribs occasionally when we are having company. I can sometimes save half the price compared to another store. Why pay $15 per pound if I can spend $8 per pound for the same thing?

#4. Find a friend to share groceries with - especially vegetables as they have a limited fridge life. The 6 heads of romaine lettuce are a good buy, but I cannot use up 6 heads. I only need 3. Same with peppers. Often the 6 pack is the best bargain.

#5. Don’t forget to ask your local farmers if they are selling meat. A lot of them do up pre-packaged kits or you can purchase a half of beef. Way cheaper than the store and so much better tasting. If a half of beef is too much meat for your family find a friend or family member to share it with.

#6. This one is a tip and a peeve. I use hand lotion daily. Why can’t a company design a pump that actually removes all the lotion from the bottom of it? I will cut the plastic container in half, take a spatula and remove the rest of the lotion and put it in a jar. This “left-over” lotion will do me another 2 weeks. Like how wasteful is that? And the same goes for shampoo bottles with a pump. If it is a flip top at least you can place it upside down – just make sure the cap is completely closed. Otherwise, you have a mess of shampoo soap to clean up - bubbles everywhere. Yes, this has happened to me.

#7. There are always good fuel saving tips on the internet. A few are: slow down, do not brake hard, good tires, etc. The price of fuel is more than ridiculous in my opinion. Oil companies are making big money. And the consumer is the one hurting because of it. I am sure there is a solution out there. Not sure if we will see it. Instead we will continue to grumble about the price and take that money out of a winter holiday, savings or something else. I feel bad for families with children that are involved in extracurricular activities. Choices will be made in what a family participates in and sometimes it may not be the decision we want to make.

#8. Quit smoking is always a good place to save money. I remember cigarettes selling for $3.50 a package and now they are over $22. Yikes!

#9. I could quit drinking, now that would save a lot of money as well. Just don’t see that happening anytime soon. Maybe I can cut back. I drink red wine, so I buy it by the box. I found a brand I like, and it is more economical than buying bottles of wine. Or make it yourself.

#10. Some people may have the possibility to carpool, which is a great option, ride a bike if you live in the city or town. Being an out-of-town commuter, doesn’t allow that option for me.

#11. Look at your monthly subscriptions and streaming services. Streaming services like Netflix, Crave and Prime, etc. are all going up. Which ones do you really use? Can you cut back there? And don’t forget the cable bill. What channels are you watching on TV? Maybe a streaming service is all you need.

#12. Land line for your home phone. Do you still use it or has the cell phone become your main source of communication. This is an area I need to address in our home. There was a time when we couldn’t depend on cell service and needed the land line. But that time has now disappeared. I prefer talking on a regular phone from a cell phone, but the time is coming to say goodbye to the regular telephone.

#13. One of my favourite ways to save a little bit when cooking is to make homemade dips instead of bought ones. Sometimes they can be cheaper, but almost always they are certainly better. And making spice rubs for the smoker saves a lot of money too. Get on Pinterest or Google and research “rub” recipes for meat and vegetables. Lots of recipes out there, find one you like and make it. An average container of spice rub is around $15. You could probably make it for about $3. And you can purchase your spices in bulk from a store like Nutters in Prince Albert, so much cheaper and friendlier for the environment and Mother Earth.

#14. Do you have a hobby that you could turn into cash. A second source of income can help a lot, perhaps even pay for a holiday once a year.

#15. Take inventory of your deep freeze. Plan meals around what you have.  Don’t buy more of what you already have. Same with the pantry. Use what you have. Slow down on the buying. Plan meals ahead with what you do have rather than going and buying more. Try and keep track of the dates on items and use them before they expire.

#16. Pack your lunch vs going out for lunch. An average lunch these days is about $15. Packing your lunch is probably $2-$3. Or eat at home as often as you can. Treat yourself once a week. And let’s not forget about the purchased coffees from the fast-food stores. A store-bought coffee is around $2, make it a fancier drink and more like $4-$5.

#17. Last but not least. Try and grow some produce in the summer. Plant a little garden. Grow in patio pots. Not only is it economical, but it tastes so darn good. We had our first new potatoes and cucumbers this week. They are soooooo tasty!

We are in some of the craziest times that I have seen and experienced. Where does all this inflation and high prices end? Not sure. All I can do is sit back and watch and look at my own budget as to what I can cut out of my lifestyle. Time to be more frugal and try not to waste. We have all probably heard from our grandparents or parents “waste not, want not”. Time to put those words to use.

Now for a song: The song I chose today is “Money for Nothing” from 1985 by Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler is the lead singer and has had an extremely successful career as a solo artist after the band broke up. I can’t imagine anyone not knowing who this band is or Mark. He is a fabulous British guitar player, songwriter, and record producer.

And a little more information about that Benjamin Bratt – commonly known as Benny (our 1-year-old puppy; for those who don’t regularly read my blogs). Benny has a new friend. Our daughter purchased a golden retriever 8-week-old puppy. Benny needs to learn how to play nice. Because Miniature Schnauzers are part terrier – he has that aggressive bone in him. But his new friend Willie Nelson is going to be another source of entertainment for him and us.

Enjoy the summer while it lasts. Take a drive and look at the fields. The yellow Canola is amazing!