Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Working moms: How to save $100 next month

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I saw this great thread in the Frugal Mom’s group at Work It, Mom!, about how to save $100 a month, and I started to chime in, but when my reply grew to, well, blog-length, I thought I’d move it here. (At first, I thought the question was how to save $100 a WEEK, and I went all dizzy. But $100 a month is doable). You've already read about how I get the most out of my grocery budget; here's what I do to save a little more money each month:

1.) Bring your own lunch. If you buy lunch at work, and you spend $7 per lunch, bringing your own lunch four days a week (treat yourself on the fifth, if you want) saves you $28 a week, or about $112 a month.

2.) Bring your own coffee. I drink tea at the office, but I love a good cup of coffee (or three). Invest in a sturdy travel mug and commute with your own coffee instead of buying it on the road; you’ll save anywhere from $5 to $35 a week or more. (If you can’t live without your latte, put some milk in a container with a tight-fitting lid, shake it up well, and voila! Frothy goodness to go!)

3.) Drink tea at work. Did I mention that I drink tea at the office, even though I’m a coffee drinker at home? There are two reasons for this: a.) the coffee at work costs $2.50 a cup and tastes like brown crayons melted in a hot water, with a little ground mulch for flavor, and b.) a box of 20 jasmine-green tea bags costs less than $1 at my little local Asian grocery store, fits nicely in my desk, and hot water is free. So, instead of paying $2.50 for a cup of gak, I pay five cents for a cup of jasmine-scented deliciousness. Two cups a day saves me about $25 a week. (OK, fine, $24.50.)

4.) Ditch the juice boxes. Last summer, I was packing seven juice boxes A DAY into my kids’ lunch boxes. That’s 35 juice boxes a week. That’s crazy. This year, everyone is getting a screw-top Nalgene bottle filled with homemade lemonade, and I’m saving at least $10 a week, maybe more.

5.) Cook an extra dinner on the weekend, and stash it in the freezer. There are plenty of recipes — chili, stews, curries, lasagna, pork chops — that take practically no extra effort to double up. Later in the week, save the $10 you were going to spend on a pizza and pull that extra meal out of the freezer instead.

Share your tips in the comments -- we could all use a little inspiration (not to mention an extra $100)!

Lylah is a full-time editor, a freelance writer, and mom and step mom to five kids. She writes about juggling career and parenthood at The 36-Hour Day on Work It, Mom!, and blogs about writing at Write. Edit. Repeat.

Related: work life balance, work it mom, saving money, save 100, lylah alphonse, budget, 36 hour day

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Comments 91-100 of 123
  • KungFuElmo's Avatar
    Posted by KungFuElmo Sat Nov 8, 2008 1:58pm PST

    My habits might give you some ideas.

    1. I don't smoke, don't drink coffee or alcoholic drinks. I love hot green tea.

    2. I only use a buy one get one free coupon from entertainment book or use restaurant.com certificate for decent food. Don't be shy doing this as you are not begging for food.

    3. I dye my hair, do manicure, pedicure myself. I don't need massage as I practice yoga.

    4. I only buy used car. I bought 1-2 year old used BMW from private party and saved $15K.

    5. I don't use brand name clothes or handbag. People say I'm one of the most well-dressed person in the office.

    6. I invest in myself by doing good at school, completed Bachelor's and Master's degree. I make 6-digit income.

    7. I don't buy a house yet so I find good rent place from craigslist.com

    8. I also find good lightly-used furniture from craigslist.com

    9. I find deals from slickdeal.net and others.

    10. I eat very light dinner -- Only 1/4 of normal meal and substitute with fruits. I have great shape and flat tummy. The greatest benefit of all I am very healthy.

    11. I do donation for tax break and support parents oversea $500 a month with no tax benefit.

    12. The only thing I spend more is traveling around the world as it's my dream. I have been in over 20 countries and most places in the US. Absolutely, I find the best deals myself.

    12. I don't have a kid but I have a small dog. I can retire in my mid 30's with my $500K saving, investment. My saving and investment is separated from my husband and he did the same thing.

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  • Jo's Avatar
    Posted by Jo Sun Nov 9, 2008 6:51pm PST

    I was asked by levaughn3 to post the amounts of ingredients to make my homemade liquid detergent. So, here goes --

    3 pints water

    1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap, grated

    1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

    1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

    1 quart hot water

    a 2 gallon bucket

    Mix grated soap in a large saucepan with the 3 pints hot water, heat AND STIR until all the grated soap is dissolved. DO NOT ALLOW MIXTURE TO BOIL!!! (If this boils it will foam over and run everywhere. Talk about a mess to clean up!!!) Stir in the Super Washing Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax. Continue to stir until all is dissolved completely. Remove from heat. Pour 1 quart of hot water into a 2-gallon bucket. Add the soap mixture and mix well. Add another quart of hot water and mix well. Set aside for at least 24 hours. THIS MUST BE COMPLETELY COOL BEFORE PROCEEDING.

    Once this is completely cool, it will be the consistancy of paste. Now, stir it well and you will see it become a bit more liquid. Add more hot water and stir well. It should now be ready for use. (If it is still too thick for you, you may add a bit more water.) Each time you use it, you need to stir it well. Use 1/2 cup to each load of laundry. It works in cold water as well as warm or hot.

    THIS DOES NOT MAKE SUDS!!! So, don't continue to add it to the washer in hopes of it sudsing up, because it won't!! You do not need to add softener to the final rinse, your clothes will come out of the dryer nice and soft. If you line dry them, just throw them in the dryer for a few minutes on the fluff cycle and they will be all soft and smooth.

    I never use fabric softener because it builds up on your clothes. This build-up causes your towels to become nonabsorbant and the fabric to become limp. I add 1/2 cup white vinegar (store brand) to my final rinse. It cuts the detergent residue and it softens. It also helps to keep your colors from fading.

    This soap mixture is good for all kinds of cleaning. I use it to wash windows, mirrors and walls, mop floors, scrub up camping equipment, clean up coolers, etc. The one thing to remember is - YOU MUST RINSE THE SOAP OFF. If you do not rinse it off, it will leave a cloudy residue. But, this is true of most cleaners.

    NOTE: I go to the bakery department of WalMart and the girls there sell me ($1) the 5-gallon white plastic buckets that they get their icing in. I double the recipe (2/3 bar of soap) and, when I am done adding hot water and mixing, I have a 5-gallon bucket of laundry soap. This is enough to last me for about 6 months.

    I hope this helps you save on your laundry detergent, I sure save a bundle.

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  • Annette's Avatar
    Posted by Annette Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:58pm PST

    Raise a garden. I plant strawberries every year and tomatoes. Those two items alone save me alot on the grocery bill. $2.99 for a quart of strawberries even when it the season is ridicules. Fresh tomatoes have a betrer flavor and last longer in the frig. Also try the "green bags" for vegis, they work and are resuseable. P.S. and tomatoes are usually .99 cents a lbs to $1.99 lb.

    Report Abuse
  • Jody Coyote Earrings's Avatar
    Posted by Jody Coyote Earrings Fri Jan 9, 2009 9:31am PST

    I'm a blogger like you so I qualified for the free Jody Coyote earrings at JCEarrings.com/blforbl.html. Saved $25 on ear candy!

    Report Abuse
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