Check out the second hand stores in your area. They have lots of good, used clothing. Many second hand sotres are run by groups like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Disabled Veterans and many other non profits. They are laid out attractively, in most cases now, like a department store. When you buy anything from them, you are supporting the organization which helps those in need.
People donate a variety to these places, including some very nice and expensive clothing which is sold very cheaply. People gain or lose weight, die, split with their partner, get tired of stuff and all sorts of things so the items are not all worn out. Some are brand new and never worn.
Another type of shop to buy clothing is a consignment shop. People bring in the clothing they no longer need and, if it sells, they get a percentage of the sale price. This is a for profit business that has good bargains.
Garage sales are good places to find clothing. It takes a lot more shopping to find what you can use but the prices are great. Similar to this is church and other organizational (like scouts)rummage sales. These are one or two day events and everyone in the group donates items to be sold for the profit of the group. These can be a treasure trove, especially if you are willing to look at out of season items.
Hold a clothing swap with friends who wear the same size as you wear. Or that have children about the same age. Share and pass around children's clothing.
Shop the clearance sales at stores or at stores that specialize in very low prices. Watch out for the flaws in "seconds".
If clothing rips or a zipper comes out, repair it rather than replace it if the rest of the item is in good condition.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
#37 Eat Breakfast for Dinner
Breakfast foods, such as pancakes, waffles, omelets, scrambled eggs, toast and all those other things make not only a quick meal at dinner time, but also an economical one.
#36 Fix Sandwiches at Home
A sandwich at a sandwich shop now costs $6 to $9. A sandwich at home is almost always less than a $1 unless you are extreme. This is assuming you will make sandwiches more than one day and will not throw away things like the rest of the loaf of bread after you have eaten one sandwich.
A loaf of bread is $1 at the day old bread shop. The fancier breads at specialty shops, like tomato basil, are around $4 a loaf. A loaf has about 20 slices in it. That means 2 slices of bread cost 10 cents to 40 cents.
Meat fillings on the sandwiches run about 2 to 4 ounces. If you buy prepackaged lunchmeat, such as smoked ham, turkey, chicken, bologna, salami, etc. it costs less. Meats can run anywhere from 35 cents to $1.50 for high priced deli service counter meat. (Or more if you choose overpriced stores).
Condiments generally run anywhere from 2 cents (regular mustard) to 6 cents (mayonnaise types) for a tablespoon. Mix in herbs you have on hand for a fancier effect.
Lettuce leaf is about a nickle each or less. Tomato slices can run as high as 15 cents each in winter. If you like avacado slices, 1/4 of an avacado is about 25 cents. Sprouts for a sandwich cost less than 25 cents. Bacon bits can run anywhere from 3 cents to 25 cents depending on where you buy them (warehouse stores are best).
If you like peanut butter and jelly, that is much cheaper. A serving of peanut butter (1 1/2 tbs) is around 10 cents. A serving of grape jelly is about 5 cents. Fancier jellies cost 10 to 20 cents oer serving. So a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at my house costs 25 cents but at a restaurant it is $6.
A sandwich at my house costs from 50 cents to $2. The way to save money is to eat sandwiches at home.
What about the side dish? The quarter cup of potato salad or slaw costs about $2 or less to make at home for a couple of cups of it.
Very simple Potato salad.
Peel, cube and steam 1 to 2 pounds of potatoes until tender. Cool. Mix in 1 to 3 tbs of mayo type salad dressing and 1 t of prepared mustard. Mix in 1 t of pickle relish or 2 T of diced onion or 1 diced hard boiled egg or 1 rib of diced celery or 1 T of chopped chives or 1 t of parsely or any combination that you would like. The whole multiple serving dish usually costs less than a dollar or about 15 cents for a mini cup.
Simple slaw.
Shred 1/2 to 1 head of cabbage. shred or grate a carrot or 2 into the cabbage. Mix in mayo type salad dressing to coat 1-3 Tbs. Some people add a tsp of vinegar, some dill seed, a bit of sugar and even a bit of onion to taste. The whole multiple serving dish usually costs less than $1 or about 15 cents for one of those mini cups.
A loaf of bread is $1 at the day old bread shop. The fancier breads at specialty shops, like tomato basil, are around $4 a loaf. A loaf has about 20 slices in it. That means 2 slices of bread cost 10 cents to 40 cents.
Meat fillings on the sandwiches run about 2 to 4 ounces. If you buy prepackaged lunchmeat, such as smoked ham, turkey, chicken, bologna, salami, etc. it costs less. Meats can run anywhere from 35 cents to $1.50 for high priced deli service counter meat. (Or more if you choose overpriced stores).
Condiments generally run anywhere from 2 cents (regular mustard) to 6 cents (mayonnaise types) for a tablespoon. Mix in herbs you have on hand for a fancier effect.
Lettuce leaf is about a nickle each or less. Tomato slices can run as high as 15 cents each in winter. If you like avacado slices, 1/4 of an avacado is about 25 cents. Sprouts for a sandwich cost less than 25 cents. Bacon bits can run anywhere from 3 cents to 25 cents depending on where you buy them (warehouse stores are best).
If you like peanut butter and jelly, that is much cheaper. A serving of peanut butter (1 1/2 tbs) is around 10 cents. A serving of grape jelly is about 5 cents. Fancier jellies cost 10 to 20 cents oer serving. So a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at my house costs 25 cents but at a restaurant it is $6.
A sandwich at my house costs from 50 cents to $2. The way to save money is to eat sandwiches at home.
What about the side dish? The quarter cup of potato salad or slaw costs about $2 or less to make at home for a couple of cups of it.
Very simple Potato salad.
Peel, cube and steam 1 to 2 pounds of potatoes until tender. Cool. Mix in 1 to 3 tbs of mayo type salad dressing and 1 t of prepared mustard. Mix in 1 t of pickle relish or 2 T of diced onion or 1 diced hard boiled egg or 1 rib of diced celery or 1 T of chopped chives or 1 t of parsely or any combination that you would like. The whole multiple serving dish usually costs less than a dollar or about 15 cents for a mini cup.
Simple slaw.
Shred 1/2 to 1 head of cabbage. shred or grate a carrot or 2 into the cabbage. Mix in mayo type salad dressing to coat 1-3 Tbs. Some people add a tsp of vinegar, some dill seed, a bit of sugar and even a bit of onion to taste. The whole multiple serving dish usually costs less than $1 or about 15 cents for one of those mini cups.
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