One of the best tips I can give on how to save money is to buy more. The concept may be counter intuitive, but the math proves it: Let’s say your family consumes on average 2 small jars of peanut butter a month, or 24 a year. You go the store to buy your 2 jars for the month and find they are on sale for $1.00 down from $2.28. You can buy your 2 for the month and save {Read More}
Buy More?? Doesn’t That Cost More?????
How To Find Out Now If You’re Getting a Tax Refund
I am a planner. I never said I was good at following through with my plans (quite the contrary LOL) but I do like to plan. I like to know the possibilities of what will happen in the future so there aren’t any surprises. One thing I like to plan for is how quickly I’ll be getting our taxes filed in order to get a credit, or how long I can delay buying the software because we’ll be owing Uncle {Read More}
The Hare May Be Faster, but the Tortoise’s Slow and Steady Wins the Race
I’ve been seeing lots of posts on facebook for the 52 Week Money Challenge a.k.a the “save $1,300 with me in 2014” plan. The idea is that in the first week of 2014 you put $1 into savings, in the 2nd week you put $2, and the 3rd week $3 etc. By the time you put $52 into your savings in the last week you’ll have over $1,300. While I do love the concept, I think most people will lose {Read More}
Where Are All The Deals?
So you’ve been reading Thrifty Texas Penny for a while now, and you’ve probably noticed that I don’t post a lot of online “deals” like many of the other frugal bloggers. I get the e-mails from affiliates just like everyone else, but I choose not to post them. I prefer for my site to have real content (thoughts, ideas, frugal musings) written by me and deals that are applicable to most readers and can be found in brick and mortar {Read More}
Ditch Your TV Bill Without Ditching Your TV
I love to watch TV even though I am one of those people who have a hard time sitting and just watching (I have to be multitasking, especially during the commercials) We had an expanded cable at home for about 2 years. I loved my HGTV, but one thing I noticed was how we seemed to “watch” more and more TV the longer we had the extra channels. When DH accepted his new job and we made plans to move {Read More}
Why I "Buy" Convenience Food
Many people would say that buying convenience food is too expensive. I would say that most food is expensive. Here are some reasons why I think convenience food has it’s place even in the most frugal of homes. Couponers can buy convenience foods as cheaply as our other foods by combining sales and coupons If only one person is eating, then cooking a store bought meal for 1 that cost $.75 is just as cost effective (if not cheaper) than {Read More}
4 Week Frugal Challenge – Giving Up Paper Towels
Last week I challenged you to cut all paper towel usage from your household. It’s understandable that when you handle raw meats one may be necessary, but other than those few, try to get your family on board by using rags or wash cloths. It’s not hard for the average family of 4 to use 59 paper towels per day! Based on the cheapest brand of paper towels I could find on amazon when bought in a 30 roll package, {Read More}
Becoming a 1 Car Family – Sort Of
The decision to become a one car family took nearly 2 years to make. My husband travels a lot and has a company vehicle for traveling, so for me it was nice to have a back up in case mine didn’t start (it’s happened on several occasions). Just having an extra vehicle parked at the house made me feel a bit more secure when he was gone. When I traveled to teach classes or for speaking engagements it was great {Read More}
Put Your Time & Money Where Your Heart Is
I’ll jump right to the point here. Put your money where your mouth/heart is. Don’t say that family and friends are what you value if you’re spending your time and money on things. The excuses “I don’t have time” or “I don’t have money” roll off our tongues all too easily when we’ve chosen to spend our time and money elsewhere. Be honest with yourself and others about what you’re choosing to invest your time and money in. The Christmas {Read More}
Buying Something With a Gift Card Doesn’t Make It Free
It’s easy to look at a gift card as free money. But when the gift card is empty you’ll be spending money out of your own pocket again, so don’t blow that gift money on the first pretty thing that catches your eye. Be sure to make sure the items you’re buying with it are worth the sales price. Register Rewards and ECBs need to be looked at in the same way. A $10 item purchased with $10 ECBs/RRs that {Read More}