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March 26, 2008
Saving Money, Part I: Introduction
I’ve been inspired by blog posts by Maryanne and Heather. So, I’m going to do a handful of posts on how we’ve been trying to save money.
Basically, Tim has an incredible, but entry-level library job. So, the way it looks to us right now, I may have to work in a year or two. We’ve both been brainstorming about things I can do at home instead of having to go to work, or at least keep my out of the house time to a minimum (teaching piano, editing papers, and/or trying to hook up with a local home-school group are things that have come to mind). Thankfully, a great tax refund has helped delay the necessity of me working for awhile, though perhaps there are ways I can start slow. I’d love to have my dissertation DONE before I start a new project.
On using coupons: They’re a pain. Especially when I’m trying to push a cart, look for the items, match the items to the coupons, set aside the coupons I’m using in a good place, and not lose anything. Add a baby or two to the mix (which I haven’t had to do that often, thankfully), and it becomes chaos. Sometimes I feel like That Little Old Lady No One Wants to Stand Behind. I feel like white-trash sometimes, too, coming into a store with my pile of coupons. I probably look it sometimes, too, harried from taking care of the twins, perhaps not having had time to take a shower that day, and sometimes with a splash of spit-up I didn’t find until after I got home from the store. But I feel like the more I save now, the longer I can stay home with my babies.
My general rule for using coupons: only for stuff we need, or an occasional treat, and check to see if buying another brand or the generic brand is still cheaper even using the coupon (it often is!).
One day last week, I was feeling especially shy about using coupons, etc. Plus I made some register line faux-pas, like getting the wrong size of something and having to run back and exchange it. I was sure my cashier would be annoyed. But looking at my stuff, she asked how old my baby was. I told her we had twins, and she said, “I’m so jealous. I was pregnant with twins and lost one of them during the pregnancy.” We then had a long discussion about our kids, and how she felt happy and sad at the same time when her little girl was born. I almost wanted to give her a hug as we left—it was such a warm experience. Later, I felt so shallow for worrying so much about what others might think of me for using coupons. Clipping coupons and so forth to save money is not a great sacrifice in order to spend more time with these sweet little babies.
Next Post: Saving Money, Part II: Baby Stuff
| By Tim and Jo | 01:06 PM
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Comments
You know, I feel the same way about buying gas at Wal-Mart. For as much as gas is, I can't afford to go anywhere else.
Since I seem to have trouble writing things down, I don't use a check card. So I walk into Wal-Mart, get right into line, hand the cashier the reloadable card, give them a check, and head out the door. Using checks and being at Wal-Mart at least once a week does give one that white trash feeling.
However, I try to remind myself that in heaven there will be a many sorts of trash in many different colors. :)
Posted by: Carrie at March 26, 2008 12:46 PM
Make your coupons stretch even further - go to couponmom.com. Click "grocery deals by state." You'll have to create an account, but it is worth it. This site matches all the unexpired coupons from every Sunday paper to the sale item at the store. They have Wal-mart, Kroger, and Publix all listed. I often get free items or pay 10 cents for items. It's easy to do and you can save quite a bit.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 26, 2008 02:15 PM