"Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel's immediate rewards, the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds, but with experiencing firsthand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way." -Ralph Crawshaw
Food Budget is going well. I have to think long term to save extra $$$. And I am a major milk drinker. And space in my home doesn't allow me to buy 5-6 gallons and store for an entire month. So I got to researching different sorts of milk options. And I found the saving grace to my Moo Moo problem http://www.wincofoods.com/
Idaho milk $3.49 for a gallon of milk compared to 1 3 lb can 23.25 Quarts = 5.8125 Gallons (5.8125 X's $3.49 ='s 20.28) $13.98 at Walmart but we spent less then that at WinCo around $12.00 - that's a $7-8 savings. Now we will start saving more as well buy the bigger bulk.
I am so not kidding about saving money. I will always continue to do so but for this next year its life or death for us. And so the search goes on about saving anything we can to get into our new home.
Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe
Equivalent to 14oz can, generic label =$1.99
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar ($0.22)
3 TBSP butter ($0.24)
1 cup nonfat instant dry milk powder ($0.5)
dash salt
Briskly whisk the ingredients together and bring to a full boil (start over low heat and gradually increase). Remove from heat and allow to cool before use or storage.
Evaporated Milk Recipe
Equivalent to 12oz can, generic label = $0.84
1 1/3 cups water
1 cup nonfat instant dry milk ($0.59)
Place the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously.
Last Decemeber was the worst month of the year for us. Our store sales went down by 50% and running the heat and paying all of our bills left us with very little money left over for food. So my wife saved us. How?? MyPoints click here -----------> SAVE
The total BILL $176.83 (we never spend more then $25-30 a week, so I freaked)
~Coupons $17.80 ~MyPoints Gift Cards Redeemed $150.00 (4 cards and it took us almost 2 years to earn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Total BILL we paid out of pocket: $9.03
Today we still gather points because when the day comes where we can't afford food, we will always turn to MyPoints to save us. We currently have 6,094 points (thats about $42.00 so far)
My wife, who is ALWAYs looking for ways to save us money, has hit the jackpot this week. She's done some research and made some calls. And we calculated, that we'll save over $120 a week compared to last years daily driving back and forth to the post office and the in between shopping for fabric supplies and by all means "FOOD".
First of all, your car costs a lot more than you think. Gas is just the start. You also have maintenance, tires, insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and finance charges (if you have a car loan). According to AAA’s estimates on driving costs, if you drive a medium sedan 10,000 miles per year, the cost per mile figuring in all of those factors is 70.2 cents per mile. Now keep in mind our car is a 40 gallon and with the cost of gas at $3.36 (the closest gas station to us) and to the city is approx 25 miles (yep, I kid you not). Our car goes 12-15 miles per gallon.
You saved $ Riding THEBus ........ Can you believe that?? 1 year savings...... It was real easy of sorts for us. We drove to the gas station and parked our car in the designated area for folks like us, we then called the bus (most area's don't have to call, but since we are in the BOONDOCKS, we are required to call or they won't stop to fetch us)... We made our call this morning and sat in some very comfy seats and took in the views as we headed to town.
THE KICKER of THIS is???? FREE.... FREE.... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE... FREE!
So help savethe planet by dumping your car keys for a bus, ... Ride your bike to subway or rail stations rather than driving. ... My wife counting the folks on the bus and whispered to me, do you realized that this bus took, 28 crazy people off the road?? I had to so laugh, it's one way to look at I guess. But, really if your wanting to cut down on some of your travel cost, this is the way to go!!
The bus drivers, have been most helpful and so where the folks riding it, they seemed to love to help outsiders find their way around and we couldn't thank them more. People seem to fear the bus system, thinking they are dirty and the people are weird. Not true at all, we seen business folks, students and well if you think we are strange then yes, some (and I state SOME) strange people. It took the stress of us 100% because now we can enjoy the ride and no we can count on the transportation.
www.idahocitylink.com -------> WOW WOW WOW.... You do amazing things for your state!! Pride and wanting to help people. A job done well, a big thank you!!
