I would like to see information about being frugal and single at the same time. I have a part-time job and live alone. I have to grocery shop at a food bank. I need easy and frugal recipes for 1.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Do you have a printer with your computer?
If so take some time to review this site
There are many many ideas here
If you can cook Never bye meals for one.
Make them for your next days lunch beside your dinner.
Grocery shop at discount food places or surplus food
you own a car ?
If you do consider keeping it in your driveway unless you can justify 3 or 4 errands to use it.
Entertainment just Plain Radio stations,No cable tv,Watch local channels.
Cd's borrow them from your friends Be sure to return them when you say you will.
Smoking ?
Make your cigarettes last
Make them treats only to celebrate something.
I make a pack last 7 days sometimes 8.
Medical
Go to a dollar store buy a bottle of Acetaminophen
A bottle of vapo rub full colds in winter
a small tube of first aid cream, also peroxide a box of regular band aids
Sewing ? Dollar store Spare buttons needles and thread
Games? Tablet, pencil pack of playing cards .
Telephone ? No ideas but get a calling card when you can afford it .Your messages left at neighbors or local family
Mail and postage?
Spend a couple dollars if you plan on staying in the area for a post office box. This way you mail will be there days after if necessary.
Postage The bills you can pay locally do it. Pay them in person.
Banking If you are lucky enough to find a bank that you only pay for to buy your check Go for it as long as there are no must have in the account limits.
I cook things like a pot of vegetable soup, pot of stew, a ham, things that make enough servings to last most of the week. It may seem you are spending a lot on that one item to prepare, but in the long run, you do save. As for a ham, then when I have cut off most of the ham, I then cut up what is left, put it in a big pot with the hambone(for flavor), add cabbage, corn, and butterbeans, and you have made another meal that will last a while. I think this is the secret to spending little on meals and still be nourished properly. I don't know your age, but working full time may be an option...or doing like so many, use some of that time when not working to scour yard sales to find things to resell.
Go to http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com They have some of the best ideas and recipes I've ever seen.
I suggest that you go online to EBAY and sell things..I just put some movies,VHS and DVD's on there..Last week I sold all but 3,and made quiet a small fortune,considering how long I had the movies.Alot of them I pd only $5 for at wal mart,put them on EBAY and made double my money on each one..SMART!!! E bay charges,.$.05 per movie,and $.25 yo use thier stock photo of movies.....
I had a similar situation when I was living on $800 a month.
I rented a room in a house for $300 including utilities, spent about $50 a week on food, and my old car, plus gas, maintenance, and insurance cost about $160 a month. That left $140 a month for things like the phone bill, a $30 a month gym membership (I had really bad back problems and needed to strengthen my lower back), a post office box, and varies sundries (stamps, etc.)
My best advice is to avoid trying to make very little money pay for lots of things, but to reduce the number of things you need to pay for. I don't know your medical or other personal needs, but there are well-woman clinics that are free (if you're female) for your annual exams.
You could also:
*not have a phone or internet and use a laptop at a wireless internet cafe.
* have a weekly potluck with your friends. Most people will leave behind the leftovers which can provide free food for another day or two.
* rent a room in a house instead of your own place as it's usually less expensive. Or rent out a two-bedroom apartment and rent the master bed/bath for more than half the total rent. That would lower the cost in my area to about $250 a month for you.
* get a low-income bus pass and take public transport to work (where I live that pass costs about $15 a month I think)
* if you have a significant little chunk regularly, pay for something really nice for yourself, like I had the gym membership out of need but I LOVED the steam room and really treated myself with a good steam everytime I went.
* barter where you can. In Alaska, I worked 5 hours a week in the local laundromat in exchange for doing laundry for free and weekly showers for me and my kids. (most of us did not have running water)
* if you have a place for a homemade reflective solar cooker, you can bake cornbread, cook rice, etc. for an intial investment of an old box and some foil, a couple of oven cooking bags and thrift store black pot.
* if you pay for water, don't flush everytime you go...also dishwashers use more water (9-16 gallons) and electricity than washing your dishes in hot soapy water once a day. I often turn off my hot water heater at night and turn it back on in the morning. Unplug TVs and other "instant-on" appliances when not in use. It will save a few pennies. Never turn on lights when daylight will do. Set your computer to sleep when not in use. Better yet, get rid of it and use the one at the library!
* if you have a good sized vehicle, offer to clean garages for a low rate and offer to haul away the stuff they don't want. You can sell some stuff at a yard sale and donate the rest.
I know this is an old post, but I believe that dishwashers are more economical than washing dishes by hand. I can do 2 days worth of dishes at once, for less water than I'd use by washing dishes myself.
You don't say what type of work you do, but here is a suggestion: get a job (either in addition to, or instead of your present job) at a place that sells food -- whether a fancy sit-down restaurant, or a fast -food burger joint. Virtually every eating establishment gives their employees the fringe benefit of eating either free or at a discount, before or after their work shift. Especially since you have nobody else to feed, this might make a huge difference to your budget!
i am the one who wrote the original post. i do have some illnesses that have prevented me from working part time for a year. now that i am working parttime i hope to move up to full time or get a 2nd part time job. i own my condo so thank God for that. i already am at bear minimum. the soup idea is good.right now i have several containers of soup and spagetti sauce in freezer.
i yard sale already.
i have stuff to sell i just dont know how much to sell it all for. i am in process of finding out values of things and furniture.
thank you
Another thought is if you can't afford to shop at thrift stores, go and talk to the manager or owner. Maybe they'd let you work a few hours a day or week in exchange for some clothes, pots & pans, dishes, glassware, etc. Best of Luck to you!
More tips: go veg if possible at least a few days per week(meat is expensive) and see if there is a natural foods store or co-op in your area where you can buy staples(beans, pasta, oatmeal, etc.) in bulk. Buy a slow cooker(a good investment) and make soups and stews based on cheap, healthy ingredients(lentils, beans, carrots, potatoes). Split the cost of a Costco/Sam's membership with a friend or relative, buy bulk sizes of items there and split them between the two of you. If you enjoy going to the movies, go during the day(bargain matinee) or on designated discount days instead of night.
Use coupons and rebates, shop at stores that double and triple coupons. There were many times when I would get alot of good things for free (except for sales tax), example: In March, one of our stores had a Frozen Food sale. I was able to buy Toaster Strudles for 7 cents a box. There were other times when I was able to buy 2 liter bottles of Dr. Pepper for 4 cents a bottle. Just keep looking for the sales and newspapers. Speaking of newspapers, see if your newspaper has a special. In my town, we recently had a special for a discount for an entire year. The cost of the newspaper (Sunday paper) we $1.25 a week. If you go to the store, it would cost $2.00 a week.
I AGREE ON USING COUPONS AND REBATES AND IF POSSIBLE TRY TO STOCK UP ON SALE ITEMS IF YOU HAVE ROOM. EVENTUALLY YOU WILL NEED THEM
I ALSO TRY TO MAKE AS MUCH FROM SCRATCH AS POSSIBLE
My husband lost his job (down-sizing), but has good prospects. Meanwhile, I hit all the dollar stores that I can. Also, I found that while living beyond our means meant that we had lots of "stuff". Just plain years of "stuff". I went through house and garage and basement, and am getting lots of "stuff" together to take to an Ebay seller. I don't know HOW to sell on Ebay, so the middleman WILL get a cut, but I expect quite a windfall. Amazed me how much "stuff" we had, but didn't use !!! Carolle
In over a dozen states there is something called Angel Food Ministries [find it on Internet] -- for $25 you can buy $50 worth of food -- it's supposed to feed a family of 4 for 1 week -- so should feed you for a month. It's a good deal -- good meat. Another $10 or so at a dollar store or such for canned veggies, pasta, coffee/tea, etc. & you should be o.k. But you'll need at least freezer space above a fridge for meat.
Well to start with these people who posted feedback for you obviously didn't read your posted feedback too. I will tell you as a single person going to the food bank myself. Here's how I make the items last from the food bank. I make up casseroles from the stuff and freeze for a week of left overs in my freezer in any bowl I can spare, or just foil. Dumpster dive for things that others in your building throw out as useless and time wasted. I got a chair and coffee end table for that chair, a wood TV old but fixed up yes even sitting outside in the rain overnight after drying out and repair shop man helped me put newer needed items to make it work, a VCR found that there was candy stuck in it which I fixed, and finally I dared to pull out of the trash a worn TV stand from an apartment that the management thru out after the guy died and the exterminator found that guy too. The lazy times I had when I couldn't work I spent reading at the library and let me tell you they can't kick you out because you forgot to shower and could not afford to wash clothes it is a public place others have to live with it. I went to the public park. I even went on three week vacations with visiting family not a dime spent on that vacation. I say my healthy friends who work would kill for three weeks away from the stress of the city. People envy what they think is frugal living in you for them is exactly what you should be doing.
Idea number four use the library for the Internet too. You can check out if you have a card but don't get fines or you privileges end with the computer until they are paid in full. I too own a home and I am moving/moved into an apartment that is a bach apt. with a small kitchen. Sell the place to get a savings account going for emergency medical that your insurance won't cover fully. You won't regret it. You are one person what do you need with two bedrooms unless you have children. The fifth idea if you find yourself unable to sell for health or personal reasons rent out the extra bedroom for up to $400 a month this is cheap compared to other places in the world today. This gives you extra money and companionship and another friend to do frugal things with that you may learn from them. Older people whose spouses died and don't want to live alone may be vital source of information on frugality since almost all of them have lived thru both world wars and the depression, regression, and their share of hard times with their family. The sixth idea don't be afraid of going to suppers at churches advertised in the paper. You don't have to join the church to attend a supper their it makes others happy to see you.
Going back to work is always exciting you can get free clothes from a charitable going back to work place in the town you live or area social services may have a program they can tell you about. Packing simple lunches only requires a sandwich and something to drink water, milk something. Meat can be had for free from the food pantry in town too. Don't spend your paycheck at a fast food joint with your coworkers explain to them you like to save your money, so you can get to work everyday on time on the bus or gas for your car. If they are nice they will understand otherwise screw 'em they don't understand what you have gone thru to get here back to work. If you still don't have a job because of your physical disability take in babysitting on the side in your apartment building because of the Fair Housing Act Law I can't believe their isn't a single mom or dad in any apartment building with school age children or toddlers who wouldn't need childcare within arms reach and convenient for them too. You can charge lower than what they would pay at a daycare center. That is the way to get them. Only catch you have to love and be good to the children and pass a criminal background check for the parent's sake. Well good luck with every thing!
I'm cheap, but a little less cheap than you. I own a very small $50,000 house. $480 a month (30yr fixed including taxes and insurance.$41 of that is PMI and will be gone soon). Its about 700 sq ft or less. Less than $50 a month to heat in the dead of winter (Cincinnati,OH). Central air makes it cool, but my bill is about $50 a month in the full heat of summer.
I bought all of my very nice furniture off of craigslist for next to nothing. My home gym was super cheap and is in my very small basement.
2001 4x4 Ford Explorer Sport is paid for (Got a deal, paid cash). Liability is cheap, $60. Truck and gas is overkill, but I wanted something that could haul kayaks,bicycles, and boats. Its the least frugal part of my plan.
No cable. Internet is available at work. Cell phone is provided for my job. I own a guitar and keyboard for free entertainment. I own a road bicycle, a moutain bike (Got both on craigslist for next to nothing). I live on the side of a creek and I own a kayak and a jon boat with a small outboard. I had to pay for that stuff, but it basically lasts forever and provides plenty of good times.
I don't drink or smoke.
$50 a week for food seems like too much to me. You should be able to do better.
$590 for house and car.
$150 for gas and sometimes $200(too much)
$150 for food.
$890 to a thousand a month to own a house, own a car, and have plenty to do.
I take home $1800+ a month. Even if I lost my job and had to go work at Kroger's... I could still make it. I might have to sell the gas hogging (17mpg) truck and buy a small toyota car.
If I wanted to use public transportation, I could probably make it on a part time job.
John
For food one of my big tricks is buying a whole chicken. I roast it the first night with a few spices rice and veggies. At the end of that night a debone the chicken, throw the bones and skin into a crock pot of salt and water and cook it for the night. I freeze what I don't use immediately and leave what I will use in the next few days. I save the left over rice for the rest of the week's lunch and dinners and pack tomorrow's lunch immediately with the leftover (frozen) veggies and rice. I decide a few other dishes that I want to make with either the choice cuts of meat or shred it all and make a casserole. I can usually make one very small chicken last for the week plus whatever leftovers I am freezing. The stock makes all the other meals I make that much more tasty, especially things that lack flavor.
Sometimes when I am feeling really down because I don't have money for nice extras, I take some time to shower a little longer and spend extra time grooming. Conditioner is conditioner. If I leave it in my hair for 5 minutes it is going to be soft, it doesn't have to be expensive. I will make a night of making myself feel pretty. I can do it with things I have around the house already and when I am done I don't feel down anymore. Enjoying the outdoors is nice. I don't think you need to be in a beautiful nature filled area or a fantastic city to appreciate it. You always have neighbors and you learn lots about your neighborhood by avoiding the car and walking, but I'm not sure if your disability prohibits this.
Sometimes I will just spend a little extra time cleaning and organizing because I can find things that I am not using that will save me money or things I can sell on craigslist.. craigslist.org is great if it is available in your area.
Check with the missions in your area, ask at local churches if there is a mission or community outreach store. I am a volunteer in one of them in my area. We sell clothes for $1. Everythying - brand new baby clothes, winter coats, dresses, denim jeans, swimsuits - everything. And we have all sizes from infant to mens XXL and ladies 3x and maternity. We give toys away to all children who enter and sell sundries and things you can't get at the food bank like shampoo and aspirin. The one I help in is one of four such stores. Ask at the churches. Most will know of such places in your town. Very few have phones or paid employees. Similar stores have furniture - all donated by people who are upgrading or moving or getting married and turning two households into one. Ask someone working there if they ever get in a certain item or you can leave your contact info about something you need. If it becomes available, they will make every effort to help you out.
There are a whole lot of people in this world who live to help people. The missions and churches are a real good place to start finding them.
Good Luck and God Bless
Back 30 years ago, I lived on $224.00 per month.
1. Have you applied for food stamps, fuel assistance, etc.? (think of it as a temporary measure)
2. give up phones (cell & landline)
3. give up cable, Internet
4. turn down heat, a/c at night
5. turn off water heater at night if possible
6. hang laundry to dry
7. no liquid soaps, no liquid laundry detergents, no body wash, no fabric softeners, etc.
8. no new clothes for a while
9. buy only quality clothes (new or 2nd hand). They last longer & look better.
10. unplug things like instant on TV's when not in use
11. use rechargeable batteries
12. no eating out
13. go vegetarian - eat a lot of beans & eggs - they'es cheap & good for you
14. the better you eat, the less likely you are to be sick
15. walk - ride your bike
16. sell paperbacks on eBay or Amazon
17. make gifts
18. use the library
19. take classes to better yourself
20. volunteer (good for the soul)
21. wear your hair in a style that doesn't require frequent trips to the hair dresser (mine is in a long braid)
22. barter
23. learn to make chowders (the fish market here gives away fish bodies, you tied them up in cheesecloth & make a wonderful broth, then discard the fish body) add milk, potatoes, creamed corn, onions - yum!
24. don't eat junk food (popcorn is a wonderful snack)
25. try ethnic markets for good prices
26. buy large quantities of non-perishable items when they are on sale
27. cut up your poultry yourself - save at least $.10 per pound
28. make your own hamburger patties
29. use ground turkey, or even better vegetable protein mix for spaghetti sauce, etc.
30. check the curbside for items on trash day. I have found good bar stools, chairs, trunks, etc. (one man's trash is another man's treasure)
31. go to the day old bread store
32. take good care of your teeth
33. try using less shampoo, deodorent, laundry detergent, etc.
34. make your own cleaning products & use rags for cleaning
35. air out the house instead of costly air fresheners
36. get cuttings of friend's plants
37 find something you can make & sell at a craft fair or on eBay
38. cook for friend's (ex. make a crockpot meal they can come home to for the cost of ingredients +)
39. house clean, housesit, pet sit for others
40. run errands for others
41. save even little bits of money
42. little or no make-up, use basics like witch hazel for face instead of costly splashes
43. make room scents, perfumes, etc. with distilled water & essential oils; add essential oil to olive oil & use as a moisturizer
Hope some of these help. I became a teacher & don't have to be so tight, but it is a way of life for me now.
Welcome to the Club! That's me too, older, single, low income. I don't have a car (never learned to drive anyway (so fuel prices are not a worry to me).I walk and use public transport. Food, I keep simple, not a big meat eater anyway so it's eggs on toast, porridge, canned tuna and sardines, peanut butter, fruit.. yes, try to get the daily fruit and veg in, but only buy what I can eat in a few days-- Yesterday it was 3 mandarins, 2 pears, a punnet of cherry tomatoes. The majority of my clothing comes from op (thrift shops) Love searching for bargains!
Unlike the USA coupon usage is barely available here, so I don't have that option. Beautiful, big, expensive shows.. but not for me! Entertainment is limited to the now and then $10 movie, and an occasional cafe lunch with friends, where I usually go for soup, or a toasted sandwich. Usually the lowest priced item on the menu.
Libraries are free and wonderful places, also there are a lot of freebies around our city, the museum is free for my age group, also lots of different outdoor entertainment, and some art shows etc.
I live in a rented apartment. My rent is $400 a month, actually it's $800 a month, but I have a house share person who pays half of the rent, power, gas and water and that is a big help. Couldn't do it on my own. I do have 2 cats, and don't skimp there, they get good cat food. If you have pets it's a responsibility to look after them properly.
You've had a heap of wonderful suggestions from people. Hope this is some help.
I have the same problem.. most money saving tips i already do. I am a single mom also.
I do a garden every year, I don't drive unless it is to and from work and if i need to stop at the store I do it on my way to work. I make a lot of soups in the winter when prices are so high for heat. I buy second hand from thrift stores or rummage sales.
One of my kids favorite meals is some fried potatoes with a chopped up hot dog in it and scrabbled egg poured on top. I add some onion to mine.. Another recipe I will share is after you make spaghetti save some of the noodle, sauce and hamburger (meat balls) then chop up the noodles and meat.. add to a half of a pot of water to boil.. add some pork and beans and you have a hardy soup.
Always keep a big supply of noodles and rice. You can add to a can of soup with some left over meat and put in a dish for the oven.. add some seasoned home made bread crumbs on the top before you bake it...
Yet another thing I make is I buy a large can of chile with meat.. i add a half can of water and some noodles to streach it.. tastes really good and i buy it at the dollar store for 1.00.
Lots of good cheap foods at the dollar stores.. spam, canned ham, soups etc.. and it is just as good as in a large store....
Hope this helps you out some.
Easy frugal recipe for one:
Our Daily Bread
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon yeast
While kneading dough can be relaxing when one has time and strength, I use a small bread machine.
Place ingredients in the order given.
Program for dough.
when ready, in about two hours, remove from mixing canister, shape, place in greased -I use PAM- bread mold or pyrex ovenproof bowl.
Place in OFF oven.
When dough has doubled in size, turn oven to high -450 degrees- and bake till fragant and golden -about 30 minutes.
Turn oven OFF.
Remove bread from oven and unmold carefully -it will be very HOT-
Cool bread slowly by returning unmolded bread to OFF oven.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
