I've been thinking all week about what I would write about for this week's Thrifty Thought.
I kept coming back to a little topic that I would love your thoughts and opinions on.
Saving money versus saving time
And vice versa.
Let's face it.
To save money it takes time and effort.
It takes time to make meal plans...
time to go to the grocery store to purchase your ingredients...
and I could go on and on.
I am curious as to what areas of your life you would rather spend a bit more time on to save money.
And also what areas of your life you'd rather spend a bit more money to save on your time.
And also what areas of your life you'd rather spend a bit more money to save on your time.
Here are a few of mine...
-Time Savers-
*Two words. Paper Plates.
I would rather spend a few extra dollars to buy paper plates to use a few times a week than to spend time washing our dishes at the kitchen sink (our dishwasher is broken).
*I don't clip coupons. It's true. It overwhelms me and I feel like my time is better spent making meal plans that fit into our budget. Are you a couponer? I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on it!
*Eating out. Some nights I would rather spend a bit more and have someone else cook a meal and do all the clean-up. I need to love this "time-saver" a whole lot less. :)
-Money Savers-
*Meal Planning, buying two weeks worth of groceries and shopping my pantry:
I try to make meal plans that give us a good two weeks worth of meals. I've found the more food and full meals I keep handy at the house the less money we spend eating out.
I wrote a full post last year on all three topics
You can find that here.
*Shopping my home- I have found that creativity is key in saving money.
I'm excited to share more on how I've "shopped" my home in the next few weeks.
But for now here's a post I wrote last spring with a few ideas.
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Now it's your turn.
What areas in your life would you rather spend a bit more time on to save money?
And what areas of your life would you rather spend a little bit more to save yourself precious time?
What I love about this topic is how each of us is going to value different things.
And that's why I'm excited about the weekly Thrifty Thoughts Link-up.
Make sure to read through the comments!
And chat back and forth!
And chat back and forth!
My hope is that we'll encourage each other to be more
conscientious about how we are spending our money.
And also to encourage each other to think outside the box
and how to be creative with what we already have.
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And for those of you on Instagram don't forget you can use the hashtag #tvtthriftythoughts to share ideas!
I love Annie...this girl is all about shopping her pantry and using what she has!
Here's one of the ways she saved some money this week...
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Link up your posts below!
And add the button to your post if you don't mind:)
I am really looking forward to reading your tips!
Happy Thursday!
Link up your posts below!
And add the button to your post if you don't mind:)
I am really looking forward to reading your tips!
Happy Thursday!
love this idea--can't wait to read what everyone has to say cause I was just thinking about this this week. We have been eating out ALOT because it is just easier, and faster and honestly? I almost think you spend the amount you would if you went grocery shopping! sometmes. I know this isn't always the case.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, interested to here more of what others say :) LOVE YOU!!!
Yes! I feel the same way sometimes about it being the same price if not cheaper (depending on where you go). For instance...there's a burrito place in our town where we can all eat for less than $10. Most of the meals I prepare cost that if not more. So.. yeah...we've been eating alot of burritos lately:) :)
DeleteI so need to get on the paper plate (and cup) bandwagon. I use the dish washer, but even that is time consuming (rinsing, loading, unloading)! Now, I did coupon for about a month. I did save money but it took up way too much time so I opted to meal plan instead. I meal plan and grocery shop monthly on a budget and it has saved us a tremendous amount of money. If only I could freeze some meals in advance for my lazy days we'd be set! We've eaten out quite a bit this wk b/c I just needed a break! Great post, I look forward to the conversation!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing other people's thrifty ideas... can't wait to read these posts!
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm able to stay at home I don't mind spending a little extra time to save some moolah! If I don't, I'm afraid ill have to go back to work ;) I don't coupon. I've tried it and it just doesn't work for me. However, I do meal plan thanks to you and your post from a while back. So far it's working and the hubs loves to know what's for dinner in advance ! Live this idea of a link up and can't wait to join you again!
ReplyDeleteFor me buying in bulk (usually cheaper prices), prepping and freezing helps tremendously. You can cook up pasta and rices ahead of time for dinners and lunches through the week, I'll brown a huge batch of ground beef for tacos or sauce and then when it's meal time all I have to do is take it out of the freezer and half of the work is done. I always feel tired and lazy by dinner time so the key to me not caving and eating out every night (been there, done that!) is definitely prepping everything when we bring it home :)
ReplyDeleteAs much I hate to say it, and I love to be a spokesperson for Reduce, Reuse (plates), Recycle, I, too, have started using paper plates. I also LOVE to craft and sew, but sometimes, among the diapers and meal planning and laundry, I just can't find time to craft that perfect gift that I have in mine. To save time (NOT money) I go to Etsy. I feel better about paying some other mama (or not) trying to support her family to craft for me. My friends/family are usually just as delighted by the handmade-but-purchased gift.
ReplyDeleteGreat Link Up!
Thrifty-ness is right up my alley!! I'm looking forward to reading what everyone posts!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that time output vs. financial output have to be considered! Thanks for hosting such a great place to find new ideas, I'm sure they'll be helpful to us :)
ReplyDeleteLove this! Getting my post together now!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention too! ;) You know I love your thrifty ideas!
And it's so funny you wrote about time and money...because I tell Lance all the time, 'There are two things I hate wasting, and that's time and money!' That's one of my favorite lines!
The time vs. money issue is a big one, and one I think about a lot. I'm a mom and full time student with a husband to often travels for work...so balance is the ongoing goal. Meal planning, while a lot of work, reduces my evening how-am-I-going-to-fit-it-all-in stress. I just need to commit to it long term. My new crock pot cookbook came in the mail yesterday, and I'm excited to see its (hopefully) streamlining effect on our after school hustle and bustle. I've always admired coupon queens, but it just isn't for me. I spend oodles of time cutting and sorting them, then they sit in my purse long after the expiration date. Instead, I buy generic and keep my eye out for sales. While ordering vitamins online recently, I found Skippy's natural peanut butter at an amazing price. It was weird ordering pb online, but it was a learning experience. I try to think outside the box when stocking up on essentials now. I'm excited to participate in this link-up every week. It will keep me on my toes frugal-wise.
ReplyDeletethis is all so true. saving time is huge! especially if it saves a little of my sanity too ;)
ReplyDeletelOVE this friend! :-) SUch a great idea and cannot wait to read everyone's link ups! :-)
ReplyDeleteI never take the time to look through link ups and I am doing so with each one of these. You said it well, my friend! Totally linking up next time!
ReplyDeletePaper plates are definitely used here! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso a simpler meal, like hot dogs & mac n cheese are a go to for something quick. Fairly cheap, but definitely a time saver!
http://cbstoltzfus-intothewildblue.blogspot.com/
I definitely thing packaging our fruits and veggies right when I get home from the grocery store helps me during the week. Instead of having to cut the veggies up for breakfast omlettes or dinners I just grab the ziplock and it makes it easier. It keeps us from wanting to eat out since half the work is almost done for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for ways to save money on groceries. But like you, I hate couponing. I find that WHERE you shop can make a huge difference. I go to Aldi first (BEST PRICES!!) then I go to Target to get what I can't get at Aldi. Then later in the week I shop at Harris Teeter for last minute extras and produce. I meal plan one week at a time, but I think I could save more money by planning two weeks at a time, as you suggest. Thanks for the tips!!!
ReplyDeleteLove posts like this! I am always looking for new ways to save money! I linked up an older post I had done. :) Can't wait to read others'.
ReplyDeleteI love to meal plan! And I honestly don't understand when people are like "Ugh, meal planning, so much work!" but MAYBE that's because I don't have kids and my husband is not a picky eater :) But seriously I meal plan one week at a time and it takes me 12 minutes (MAX) to plan my weekly menu and make my grocery list. I know we are more tempted to eat out on the weekends so I usually plan "fun" meals then to help us stick to the plan. Also, I shopped at Aldi (love it!) but we just moved to a small town so now we have to shop at Wal-mart...even though it kills my soul ;)
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about this too. Lately I've been pursuing a hardcore frugal lifestlye as a part of an experiment (I'm blogging about it all month), and a lot of the things I've been taking up to save some dimes I put off for so long because of the time conumdrum. Coupons, from stratch cooking, thrift shopping, diy projects. I'm finding a lot of it hasn't taken as much time as I thought it would. For example, homemade granola bars means a savings of 5 dollars a week for us, and they are much easier to make than I thought they would be. So worth it when it means about 20-25 dollars a month. Don't get me wrong, I'm still better off coming up with a frugal menu than I am becoming a coupon queen. I've reached a level of moderation, where I quickly browse coupons for 5 to 10 minutes, and use only applicable ones. I've been able to save a few dollars here and there..With all the little changes I've been making, I've been saving a little bit here and there, which all adds up to lots of money saved over time.
ReplyDeleteLove this! I'll be linking up every week!
ReplyDeleteI love these posts I remember you talked about berries and how to store them.. I talked about my goodwill plates on my post! :)
ReplyDeleteTime vs. Money is the exact reason I've always quit using coupons! I'm giving it a try again, but trying to be more conscious of utilizing my time better. I love this series and can't wait to hear lots of tips! I don't blame you on the paper plates, I would totally do that if I didn't have working dishwasher, too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Questions!
ReplyDeleteSave $$$:
I used Cloth Diapers for the first 7 kids. (By Baby #8, I was oh.so.ready. for the quick and easy disposables.)
Cook from Scratch. No Boxed Food or Frozen Meals (except the occasional box of Mac & Cheese). BIG time money saver.
Save Time:
While I LOVE to save money at the grocery store, I DO buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. I am not about to debone a chicken. :)
I am NOT a couponer. It can be so very time consuming.
Love this new series, and look forward to linking up more often.