Have You Changed Your Spending Habits?
by Katy on February 15, 2025 · 153 comments
I’m very curious to hear from readers on how they’ve changed their spending patterns in the past few months. I’ve certainly minimized my egg consumption and am choosing oatmeal more often than not. I know I’m not the only one who’s shifted viewing eggs as a bargain protein and switched it over to a luxury item.
But it’s not just eggs. It’s questionable job stability and layoffs and missed income from foreign tourists who are suddenly choosing to boycott The United States and our products. There’s even valid worry about delayed tax refunds. It’s a lot to worry about!
So I ask you this — Are tightening your belts? Have you changed your spending habits?
Please share your stories in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
Like this post? Then please share it with your friends!
Like this:
Like Loading...
{ 153 comments… read them below or add one }
I am Canadian. When I am shopping I avoid American products. Will buy from anywhere else.
I can’t blame you, Laura. But please understand that many of us Americans are just as incensed by the orange blob’s attitude toward Canada as you are.
Also, I have three neighbors who are Canadian citizens. Bereft as I would be to lose them, I’m urging them all to return to Canada ASAP.
I’m American, and I’m avoiding our products too. Well, all products in general, unless I feel the store is truly ethical. My local bookstore had a whole “banned books” display, so yes, I bought from them, but in general, no, corporations don’t deserve a dime of my money or a minute of my thoughts.
I am also Canadian, and have started shopping for Canadian made products only. For example today I had a choice of bag of apples from Washington State or BC, so I picked the Canadian ones. I didn’t compare prices as it doesn’t matter to me.
I’m sorry for my American neighbours and family who didn’t vote for the lunatic that’s in the White House.
I don’t blame you. We are not all siding with 47. I’d like to avoid America too but I live here. I’m not at all proud on “my country.”
Julia,
I feel the same way. DH, son and I would readily move to Canada, if DH and I thought we could fine employment (and assuming we could get in, etc.)
I’m already frugal, but I feel like I’ll dig deep to keep from growing Trump’s economy. When possible, I’m buying used or from local businesses, and I’m planning to put in a garden this year.
My egg usage hasn’t changed much. Even with the crazy prices, eggs are still a good value nutritionally. I’ve managed to buy them at Trader Joe’s when I need them.
I retired 2/1/2025 – not quite FRA but the climate at work was “unhealthy” – no new hires, just give the work to the same long-term, over-worked employees, like me. Anyway. DH77 and I came up with a retirement budget a year before my retirement date. Turned out to be very difficult to stick to! DH doesn’t have retirement accounts as he was the SAHD for one of our children who is 100% disabled since birth. We are trying to live, for now, on the SS the three of us receive. We need nothing in the way of clothes or shoes or appliances, or home goods. Last week DH said “we need to look at serving sizes on food and try that”. He was never interested before. So last night we each had 10 mini ravioli and 1/2 jar of sauce. DS30 had 20 because he is a tall, lean young man with a hearty appetite. I’ve been making King Arthur Baking’s focaccia at least twice a week – costs nothing OOP but surely tastes fancy. I have three rescue pups – one was a stray and two were surrendered. Cutting costs where they are concerned is non-negotiable. One is a senior and another has chronic gastritis. DD28 is a Vet Tech and gets a small discount but she works for a corporate veterinary practice and the regular prices are very high. I am struggling to navigate Medicare, Medigap and Part D. I also have some expensive dental work coming up – phase II of two dental implants. Trying really hard not to withdraw money from my IRA so early in my retirement 🙁
I’m annoyed on your behalf, MEM. Sounds like you’ve always worked hard and taken care of your family and it’s ridiculous you should be in the position of lowering portion sizes. SIGH. I hope our stupid country manages to grow a brain at some point. So sick of the meanness.
Actually, DH and I are learning that we are eating too much of certain things and eating mindlessly. I didn’t mean it to come off as we don’t have enough to eat. I am just much more careful about buying nutritious food and eating appropriate portions – enough, but not too much.
Wha’…..it’s our right as Americans to stuff ourselves mindlessly!
Seriously, glad that your fam and your pups are OK.
Have you contacted your local food bank to see if they give dog food out? Our food bank receives not only food but treats and will give enough food for three dogs a week.
Two of the dogs are on special diets and their food and medicines are a specific line item in my budget. It took forever to find the right food for the one with gastritis and she’s doing very well. We don’t qualify for food pantries anyway and I want folks who really need them to have access to them.
I’ve had good luck getting lower prices on dog meds via Good Rx. You might want to look them over.
Yes, we used GoodRx for my late great “Sato” from the USVI – she was medically complex and on human meds like gabapentin
mary in maryland,
Good thought about looking at GoodRx….one of our cats is on medication for hyperthyroidism, and now needs a new medication related to an enlarged liver.
Thank you. Many, many vets are now corporate owned, which is a shame.
The one I use and the one I’ve used once but will use when my vet retires are NOT corporate owned. Which is one of the reasons I purchase meds from my vet.
I’m upping my frugal game for sure. I don’t want to support this administration’s economy, I’m sickened by the control big companies have over access to information and I don’t want to fund them, and I work for a state university in a very red state. Education isn’t popular with the party in charge, at least not the the kind that encourages exploration and critical thinking. So I want to be prepared for a layoff or intolerable changes. I’m trying for only necessary purchases with the exception of household upkeep. If I need to move, I want to be able to put my house on the market without barriers.
Heart goes out to you. I am right there with you in preparing for a house sell/move if it comes to it. Find a way to keep getting that critical thought out to the masses. It is gravely needed! <3
And I just realized I used a now forever ruined catch phrase. Big hugs. That’s what I meant.
We are trying to support small businesses more when we do spend.
We don’t eat many eggs and I use soy flour and water in baking as an egg substitute.
We are nearing retirement and not overly focused on upping our savings. I have been focusing on giving to causes that really need extra help these days.
I am sure that MD will suffer a lot with all the changes coming from D.C. and I hope I don’t know too many people that are impacted but I know many that are concerned about their future. Our state already had a huge budget deficit and things are sure to get worse. I anticipate we will face a large state income tax increase.
I’m definitely cutting back on food spending from “ridiculously lavish.” For instance, I am making a gnocchi/sausage/vegetable traybake for dinner. Daughter asked if I got parmesan. (Translation: did I spend $25 on a block of parm? No green cans or anything already grated here!) I said no. She said she would like some over the gnocchi. I told her to suck it up.
So probably for everyone else, that’s how you roll, but for me, it’s a LINE IN THE SAND. heh.
(Confidential to Selena: I purchased one can of corned beef hash and one of roast beef hash. I will fry the corned beef for a breakfast/lunch for Son, along with a couple eggs. He is still a black hole for food, but he is 6′ 5″. I think the other can will go to experimental stuffed peppers.) (Yes, hopefully after how he sees how easy it is he will fry his own hash.)
I would like some more everyday clothes since mine seem “bummed out,” as my mother would say. But I’m holding out and wearing dumb stretched out old yoga pants, because no one much cares. I work at home so whatever. If Lands End puts on a good sale, though, I will probably get a couple pairs of respectable looking leggings or something.
My tax refund is a handsome $164 this year. I think I’ll go nuts and blow it on a dozen eggs.
I did spend some money ordering a firefly petunia, the world’s first bioluminescent flower! I feel like this is gonna be a giant boondoggle but I couldn’t resist. Whatever, entertainment value.
Rose, you accomplished something else — you made me (and others, I’m sure) laugh!
Now I will go tell Husband to “suck it up” when he stares wistfully at the steak department…
Looking for that petunia, too. Sounds lovely. P.S. Try getting canned corned beef, then mix with chopped potatoes and onions. Tastes better — and goes further. Although I still do like Hormel’s Mary Kitchen brand when I’m feeling lazy. It’s not as greasy, either.
Thanks, Cindy! I was lazily thinking I could just add leftover roast to chopped potatoes. You know, the definition of hash!
https://www.waysidegardens.com/firefly-petunia-44355-pk-3.html
I’ll report in but I don’t have high hopes!
Rose,
That petunia is so cool!
And Cindy Brick – I grew up eating Mary Kitchen corned beef hash! My mom would serve it for dinner every once in awhile.
OMG, hash is my favorite! I am not a big meat eater and for me that is the only reason to make a roast….the leftovers become a beautiful hash.
I peel (or not) potatoes, dice fine, dice onions or use dried minced and commence light frying in a skillet, for me on top of the woodstove in winter. Then finely chop leftover meat add to the potatoes cook for a bit, add any leftover pan juices or pan gravy cook until a bit crispy on the bottom and then indulge!
I do use canned corned beef to make corned beef hash, it is so much cheaper and the can of corned beef makes a real good amount….so good.
Son was delighted while checking out the Jamaican food area at our local supermarket (lots of Jamaican immigrants here) that canned corned beef with a key on top to open was available. I told him, Get a can, slice it and fry it crisp, you’ll love it. We shall see.
@Rose – he like his eggs over easy (my preferred style)? And yes, frying up hash, regardless of meat source, is not difficult (says she who does limited cooking).
I’ve never worried about salmonella et al from “under cooked” or “raw cookie dough” since we buy local free range organic. Most of the eggs I consumed growing up were local now that I think of it. Plus I’m hard to kill lol.
Do let me know if you liked the hash stuffed peppers.
I need to replace some yoga pants (I too work from home). I checked Wally (closest “retailer”) for the brand I like. All that was in stock was 2XL which doesn’t work for me. Mine aren’t so bummed out as they have what is so far, small holes (dang cat claws).
I don’t worry about eggs either but I did catch salmonella in college. It was pretty awful. Then again two years ago I spent a week in the hospital with campylobacter poisoning. That was even worse. Hm, maybe I should stop being so cavalier!
Oh well, I’m hard to kill too. After I spent a week in the hospital in 2020 with Covid and pneumonia, I posted to Facebook “Covid 0, Rose 1. TOO EVIL TO DIE” and appanrently one of my friends was hugely offended. Also after I started walking again in the hospital with campylobacter I posted MEIN FUHRER I CAN WALK which I’m sorry is very funny. Again, people were offended. F them.
Rose, I’m sure you were trying to make the best of what had been a terrible situation. But actually “Mein Fuhrer I can walk” is not funny. At least not to those of us who had family murdered by him and his orders.
Re the traybake: it was quite good once I zhuzhed it up with hot honey.
Daughter: I really liked it but next time I’d put a lot of parmesan on it.
Rose,
I’m interested in trying something like that!
So easy, pal!
1 lb gnocchi (fresh or thawed)
1/2 pound (or whatever) graoe tomatoes
2 red onions, cut into chunks
12 smallish pork sausages (i used fresh breakfast sausage)
3T sundried tomato pesto
Olive oil, salt, pepper.
Mix it all together and put it on a baking tray, 375 for about 30 mins.
It was super easy and I liked it but I felt it was missing something–hot honey to the rescue. Drizzle it on and bake for another 5-1o mins.
Super easy.
It’s fine by itself but I thought it was missing something. Some kind of tart jam instead of honey (I don’t even like honey but it’s good as an ingredient) would be fine. Try a little on a small piece and see what you think? Raspberry? Raspberry jelly with a little jalapeno? whatever makes you happy.
Or you know, $30 of fresh parm. snort
We don’t go out to eat at all anymore save the very special occasions in our lives. Since we both retired, we weren’t going out to eat much anyway…maybe fast food once a month or so. Now we don’t even do that. We both have to watch what we eat as far as sodium, bad fats and sugar so it’s helped us in that regard. Eggs are $3.49 a dozen at Market Basket, my favorite discount grocery store. While they’re not cheap by any means, they haven’t reached $7 or more for a dozen for now) as I’ve seen on the news. I’m just more careful not to drop them now! I do want to start cooking more meatless meals using beans and cheese as protein sources. I’m currently looking at other areas to trim costs. Not sure where yet as we live very frugally.
We’re retired. I work a very part time job. We were never big egg eaters so no impact there. However somethings over time we’ve done.
1. Decreased our portion sizes. If we have leftovers (especially protein) I’ll use them in another meal (usually burrito bowls, asian rice dish etc.).’
2. Only the days I work or have an appointment in “town” about 20 minutes away I wear make up.
3. Take advantage of birthday or other freebies, BOGO, etc.
4. Make protein shakes for breakfast or lunch
5. Shop at Costco for TP, PT, dog food, dish and clothes detergent. Maybe a monthly trip
6. Don’t leave home without a drink and snack
We have pretty regular eating habits, so when something goes on sale that I used to buy one of for the closet, I now buy two. It’s only a small change but will get us ahead a little, (and a carton of eggs lasts us about a month). We are retired, live in the midwest, and so far have not seen looming economic problems at the stores. As the implications of various decisions for farmers become clearer over the next months, I suspect we will see price increases.
I hadn’t thought about it until I read on another blog: During the steel and aluminum tariffs of 2018, the price of canned goods went up because those metals are needed for cans. I will continue to recycle as I do now.
Heidi Louise, thanks for mentioning the impact of the 2018 tariffs. I suspect most of us are thinking of increases in the price of vehicles, construction, etc. Hadn’t thought of the repercussions closer to home.
It took me a while but I finally shopped at our local WinCo. Wow, what a bargain and the bulk section is primo. I will be making it a regular stop on a bi-weekly basis. I will also be shopping at Aldi more often and am decreasing egg consumption. I regularly thrift for clothes and household items so that will stay the same. Am considering expanding my backyard garden this year to grow more of my own food.
We began changing our consumption patterns in earnest last summer based on gut feelings that unfortunately are being proven true. We live within 30 minutes of the BC border, and I have seen a total of three BC license plates in town. We have no traffic, which gives me pandemic vibes from when the border was closed. Our locally owned businesses are already beginning to suffer from the lack of BC shoppers and many are choosing to stay closed a couple of days a week in order to cut costs. We do not blame Canada, we only blame presidential oligarchy.
We changed our plans for me and my younger son’s nearly shared birthday. We were going to go to BC, but my wife fears neither her ID or passport will be accepted on the US side upon our return. (I don’t want to fear monger — we have no evidence that any M or F identifying trans people have had issues, but it is a real fear and many people we know are choosing not to chance travel right now for similar reasons.)
Egg prices don’t seem too bad to me, but we already bought happy hippy eggs from a local farm co-op. They have gone from $4/dz to $5/dz, which seems to track for the prices on standard non-happy chicken eggs at the grocery stores. I’ve seen less egg selection at stores, but there has always been eggs available. I only shop at WinCo, our local grocery co-op, and the farmer’s market. I rarely go into Fred Meyers because they always price gouge on groceries. I haven’t been in a Whole Foods since they became part of the Bozo- empire.
We can eat a year from our food storage, but only because we started building it larger last summer. That’s not counting garden and foraged produce and preserves, which we have always preserved on a rolling one year schedule. I grow heirlooms, so with seed saving we could eat from the garden forever, theoretically. I’ve also stocked up on household goods (TP, first aid items, etc) in the event of shortages and severe inflation. I’ve just been shopping to replace what we have used.
My eldest son teaches at a public university, even though he has a contract his job may not be secure with this administration. I want to be able to help him and his husband if job loss affects them. Fortunately the husband has a union job at a grocery store, which will hopefully remain secure but who knows anymore. I am a writer and my wife is an artist. Our income is down (people aren’t buying luxury goods), but we have enough so will hopefully ride things out.
We were going to move to a less expensive town this summer so we could actually afford to purchase a home, but since my beloved spouse of 20+ years is trans, we have decided to stay put because we are in a supportive community with an existing social circle. We are also a 20 minute drive from the border in the event we ever need to seek refuge elsewhere. It sounds unspeakable, but like many of us in the northwest, I have friends and neighbors whose families were affected by the Japanese internment camps and I walk past a couple of monuments to that atrocity every single day. I fear that flavor of evil, or worse, has reawakened.
I know what people, even “good” American people, can be capable of. I just want to keep my family safe. So I prepare for what I can, whether it be shortages, job loss and inflation, or worse.
I am so sorry, Jenny and family. This is not the way things should be.
Thank you for writing.
Jenny, thank you for sharing your personal story. I’m very sorry that you and your wife are fearful and that you even have to think about your safety. May you be as safe out in the world as you are inside this blog.
Jenny
I don’t know what to say that might be of any comfort, but I hope that you and your family can feel that you all have many allies in these bloody appalling times.
Some Alaska Natives are carrying their birth certificates, worrying that ICE will interpret their darker skin and hair as proving they are from South America and they will be picked up in a dragnet.
@Jenny – prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I’m back on my soap box re: “christians”. Most are not. There are good people and there are bad people – determined by their actions, pure and simple. I guess Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmeir, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, and Charlie Manson and crew were “good” people cuz they had M on their license (or passports if they had them).
Glad to read you are aware and planning. Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.
I’m sorry you have to even think along these lines to keep your family safe. Please know you have many supporters on your side. I see the damage this administration is doing to our fellow Americans in so many ways and I shudder.
I feel so much compassion and empathy for what you and your loved ones are going through with this oligarchy. No one deserves to live in fear and abuse. <3
Buying local and used as much as possible. We already cook at home and rarely eat out. Planning a larger garden this year. We’ll can or freeze or give away what we cannot eat immediately. (With just two of us, it can be difficult to eat everything up, so I share both fresh and home canned goods with my co-workers and my students.) Mend, repair rather than replace. Just received a promotion and a raise, which I am putting straight into savings. I work for a private university in a red state. What’s happening at the state schools scares me. Although I’m “safe” for now, I know my institution could become the next target. Husband is retired and on SS. We’re putting his check into savings, too. No major purchases unless absolutely necessary.
We began seriously tightening up the budget before the election. I built up our pantry and freezer and stockpiled discounted tea and coffee. We eat only one meal a month out. It used to be two. My husband still has an Amazon account, but I refuse to shop there. Not giving any money to any of the Orange One’s buddies.
My plan for this year is to purchase only food, medicine, what little gas my tiny econobox car needs, and whatever materials are needed to repair anything that breaks. Out of that, I will continue to donate as much as I can to the food pantry at a neighborhood church that is entirely volunteer run.
If my belt were any tighter, I couldn’t breathe. I’m being a lot more “creative” in the kitchen. Meals tend to revolve around marked-down items, freezer finds and digital coupon specials. I can’t wait to start my garden, so we can have more fresh vegetables.
We are solidly middle-class, I don’t know how lower-income people are going to get by. G*D help us, cause the administration sure as he** won’t!
Same, girl. I am itching to plant this year’s gaden.
We have started to scale back our spending, but that has more to do with the expense of fixing, beautifying and maintaining our home (including having to vacate for five weeks) all within the first year or so of purchasing it. Because our house issues and costs have been a bit overwhelming, my husband and I are seeking control where we can. We continue to question what we buy and what we own and have started taking items to a consignment store rather than giving them away as we have always done in the past. In general, as I age, I become less interested in making non-essential purchases and having unnecessary items around me.
Fortunately, the price of eggs has not been much of an issue here. We go through about a dozen a week, and so far, I can still find reasonably priced eggs (usually from Trader Joe’s).
If the current administration comes after the organization from which I receive my pension, our financial situation will take a considerable hit. I don’t think it’s possible legally, but apparently that doesn’t matter one whit anymore.
I can’t say we’ve changed due to the current climate, but we have always worked on finding ways of being more frugal and DH jokes that we are trendsetters. (Long before the pandemic we stopped going to movie theaters, and stopped eating out.)
I am using egg substitutes in all baking, and eggs are strictly an ingredient or for a fun sandwich (youngest likes fried egg/grilled cheese sandwiches). We have upped our donations to food pantries. Working hard on not buying anything made in China, but we’ve been doing that for a while.
I was rather shocked that the chain grocery store (not wally) was limiting eggs to THREE dozen a customer. Our usual local, free range, organic were not available – likely due to the snow/winds/Artic express of the last five days (and the next couple). But the next best choice was $5.50 a dozen. Looked like an 18 egg “flat” of no-name was $13.50.
We have been cutting back on eating eggs too. We are still eating them just not as often. Good thing we both love steel cut outs. Ibotta has been doing a $2.50 rebate on eggs on Fridays only in February so I have made sure that I get them on Friday.
We have made 2025 the year we pay off our mortgage so we had already planned on making cuts on some extras. We really want it gone.
We already thrift, garbage pick, dumpster dive, reuse, repair and borrow.
I am more worried about our kids than us. They are starting families. It is a crazy time.
Yes, I’ve cut back…but I remind myself of something very important: FEARS and REALITY are not always the same thing. If you spend your time worrying, it doesn’t change anything — and it certainly doesn’t help you. I have never moved into a community where I didn’t find some good in it. And part of that happened because of my attitude and actions.
(Speech over – stepping off the box now.)
Prices have zipped up here in southern Colorado — and a lot of people here are living on lower incomes, to start with. So some of the extra money we’ve saved has gone to help others (anonymously, if at all possible). Prices on fuel have gone way up, too. And people need propane and firewood just as much as eggs.
We’re lucky to have purchased propane back in June when it was a third of the price now. We also have a full woodpile. (I’m typing this while the snow is just roaring back my window.)
We have an Amish grocery 45 min. away that stocks farm eggs (currently $3.99/dozen), bulk items and marked-down/discount items. I’ll buy whatever I know we like and stock it in our pantry, which has helped a lot. I’ll also buy at Safeway and City Market — but only if it’s on sale, if possible. (If it’s not, I’ll buy as small a quantity as I can get away with.) We also have a membership with Costco (bought on sale!), and that gets us bulk items, often cheaper than the Amish grocery. (And beer. Don’t forget about beer.) But also good stuff. I just bought Marie Callender chicken pot pies there at $1.60 or so — they were double that at Safeway!
I had stuffed our freezer way past endurance; my current mission is to empty it out as much as possible, so it’s ready during harvest and hunting next fall. Chickens are also in our near future. Looking for a coop now!
I also didn’t pay for $20 billion wasteful stuff in EPA, $59 billion in luxury hotel vouchers via FEMA…and incredibly expensive coffee cups and soap dispensers at the Pentagon. Or at least I won’t be paying for these anymore with my tax dollars. Now THAT’S ‘cutting back.’
I agree about the difference between fears and reality. I’m trying not to drive myself crazy wondering what will go wrong, and I remind myself that because I’ve made it a practice not to spend more than I need to, I have savings in place, so I’ll have the money to afford any crazy prices that occur. For example, I’m not too freaked out about the price of eggs because there’s a logical explanation for it, and it’s the same for everyone, and I can afford to spend $10 for a dozen eggs!
The luxury hotel story has been debunked, a combination of factors that were added together incorrectly.
The military spending has been a problem for decades, perhaps centuries. Maybe it can get some permanent attention!
Or for pure ego reasons such as a taxpayer supported driver driving a tax payer purchased/maintained limo with an orange turd as a passenger around a race track. Plus security and travel costs. The “search” for wasteful spending was in full sight but likely went over the heads of most.
Hi Cindy,
I understand the yearning for less tax bill (I’m in NY and am taxed up to my ears here). I just wouldn’t count on getting a huge break. A lot of what you are hearing is not confirmed since no actual documents have been released and Fed salaries are only 4-5% of the budget (and more than half of that is civilians on military bases). I could be wrong. I certainly hope I am wrong after the slash and burn, but there seems to be a lot of throwing the baby out with the bathwater that will inevitably lead to higher state taxes (like on property and school taxes for example). Again, I really hope you are right and I am wrong. I fear any savings on individual tax bills will be very small while meanwhile S100s of 1000s of value in quiet, behind the scenes public services will be lost.
Take care!
My rule of thumb is that I never expect tax bills or prices to go down!
We are in our mid-seventies and I had been talking up a move to a retirement community for years. We lived in suburban DC –on the morning of Nov 6 I realized that the value of our house will be falling rapidly with all the employment instability with the government. A hundred days later here we are in our new place with the house to go on the market March 1 as soon as the painters finish. Wish us luck–a lot of our retirement capital is tied up in that house.
Also–I haven’t been posting due to my hundred days of downsizing and packing. We have less food stored because I tried to eat down the pantry before we moved.
Hi Mary, Good Luck! Very impressed with how quickly you jumped into action. I am currently living in Downtown DC (signed a 1 year lease and am a digital nomad with my hubby) Our year is up end of July and I am quickly seeing ALL the sights before we leave.
I have 2 regular mystery shops (so 4 per month) and part of the shop mandates that I purchase a dozen eggs (I’m reimbursed for the cost) so I [thankfully] have not been affected by this. My partner even ate egg salad sandwiches for lunch last week. I shall start to call him Mr. Rockefeller.
I am definitely tightening my belt, as I teach at a college and who knows what will happen to student loans, which could affect enrollment, which could affect jobs. (Although I am union, and with seniority, I would not be the first, but still….).
Between free CSA & mystery shops, I’ve been able to keep groceries to about $40 per week (my partner is not frugal, so this is always a battle) and I’m REALLY trying to watch those little expenditures. But last week, other than gas and tolls, I had a no-spend week, and I plan to not spend anything for the rest of the month, other than out to lunch with the inlaws on Monday.
Lots of food for thought here from the previous posters. Sorry I’m late to the party, but I had a JASNA regional Zoom meeting this afternoon. Thank goodness for JASNA, my neighbors, my birds (I’m participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend), and everything else in life that keeps me sane inexpensively.
Re: eggs: It seems to me that the price of non-factory-farm eggs hasn’t risen as fast as that of factory-farm eggs. However, I haven’t been able to make it to the Regional Market in several weeks because of the weather, so I haven’t been able to see what our local egg producers are charging. As others have been doing, I’ve been buying eggs from Trader Joe’s.
I’m a retiree who’s already living pretty frugally, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in my budget. I rarely eat out; I batch my errands routinely to save gas; I rack-dry all laundry except sheets; I don’t buy makeup or hair coloring; and (gasp, shock) I don’t own a TV (hence no cable costs) and buy no streaming services. If I want to watch something, I can usually find it on YouTube or pbs.org–although the latter may be in jeopardy if the plans to ax PBS and NPR funding go through.
However, there is some room for improvement. For instance, I can concentrate on drinking up my enormous stash of tea in place of my preferred coffee and soda, and I can work on eating more meatless meals (although I confess I’m an unrepentant carnivore). To quote that line from The Philadelphia Story that I’ve quoted in the past, “Belts will be worn tighter this winter.”
I’m trying the same thing with my tea collection. I have a Nespresso Vertuo and the coffee capsules are about $1 each – and I drink two every morning. I tried refilling the capsules but its not the same. $60 a month on coffee capsules is not frugal or sustainable. I do plan to make cold brew coffee with my French Press once the weather is warmer and that can be affordable. I may be a Bostonian but I don’t drink iced coffee in the Winter.
Some of you are stressing me out but it’s not your fault, it’s mine. No worries, it’s me, Anxiety Queen, not you. However: if need be ask Katy for my email and I will do the best I can to help you. Trying to give back some of the many blessings I’ve received.
@Rose – I’ve had to “talk down” a few people, including my dad. I too have had many blessings, including a hefty, hefty bonus and more than inflation raise. Besides utilities, P&C insurance, and what we charge on the CC (auto debit paid off in full each month), we have no debt. I’ll be working FT at least another 1 1/4 years. My employer offers benefits for non-FT employees (at least for now). Push came to shove, I’d pay COBRA then “retire”.
Our pocketbooks and votes are our “weapons”. If I want to eat eggs, I’ll buy them at double the current cost (around $5). Truth be told, we don’t buy much more than necessities.
At an early age, I saw how people struggled to live on social security and their “offset for social security” pensions. At age 21, I was told by a banker I was too young to worry about retirement – I was not. I’ve been making more money than I ever had these last few years. And banking more money too.
We will be okay – not matter what the slug does. My dad and kiddos will be okay – all can shop, cook, repair, improvise. Not my dad’s first rodeo for bad times (he was born during the Great Depression). Living below one’s means is good long term AND DEFIANT. I’ve always been picky about from where I purchase goods.
Another anxiety queen here.
I have definitely cut back on eggs, way back! It used to be my go to cheap protein, but not any longer. I’m also trying to increase my daily protein consumption, which is a challenge as I have been cutting out eggs and meat is so expensive.i’m excited to try Katie‘s no eggs, chocolate cake.
I have been gravitating towards watching YouTube videos on cost saving meals, depression, and World War II rationing cooking. I work full-time and work two side gigs at major concerts and sporting event when I can squeeze it in in the evenings or on Sunday.I had to get the side jobs just to make ends meet. Honestly my daughter graduates this spring from college and I’m looking forward to her moving back home. I have been exploring in my mind how to talk to her about financially helping with the bills. I’m sure she will.
I’ve always been a frugal grocery shopper and have a large pantry and freezer to show for it. We are both retired now and live on a local government pension and social security. My hubby is Vietnam vet that receives healthcare through VA. We eat at our local senior center for lunch 2-3 times a week for $3 per meal. It helps cutback on groceries.
I’ve received a coupon for free eggs at Smiths (Krogers) once a month for the past few years in my monthly coupons and thats about what we use per month.
We fear for the future of the USA and pray every day for a solution to the hell we see on the news each night.
Seniors at the center are afraid too about possible cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
Friends have expressed concern for their money in the bank and have started withdrawing it.
I appreciate having this blog to keep us sane.
Keep it going Katy!
We moved over 4 years ago from So Cal to central Oklahoma to maximize our retirement $. We live in a small town of 6500. No senior center for meals. We are able to join the wellness center for exercise for $15/mo as it is part of the Chickasaw nation complex. We rarely eat 3 bonafide meals a day
Sewfast, the fact that your husband receives healthcare through the VA may be yet another source of concern, given the proposed cuts to the VA. How a coward who pleaded bone spurs to get out of military service can have the nerve to suggest VA cuts would boggle my imagination, except that nothing the orange blob does surprises me any more.
Reviewing and then reducing or eliminating monthly business and personal subscriptions. (Do I really need a fax service? Does anyone?)
Keeping tight handle on grocery spending and eliminating all restaurant expenses except for once a month friend group and birthdays.
Keeping inventory of pantry/freezer/refrigerator and also household supplies of cleaning products, etc. No need to stockpile this stuff.
Doing very little driving, and negotiated auto insurance premium reduction.
Reviewing monthly credit card charges with a magnifying glass and discovered and successfully challenged a “mistaken” $193.44 charge from Amazon.
Speaking of which, taking a months-long moratorium on Amazon purchases.
Have collected over $400 in class action settlement payments this year.
Just paying more attention across the board to … just about everything.
JDinNM,
Oddly enough, doctors offices, hospitals, and some other healthcare facilities still use faxes (usually a fax option on a copy machine). The hospital system where I work consistently “wins” awards for being in the “50 Most Wired Hospitals” in the US. (Eye ball roll).
The faxing is due to HIPAA. You can only email personal health information if it’s through a very secure network, and if you can’t guarantee that, faxing is the more secure way to make sure a patient’s information isn’t seen by anybody else. Trust me when I say that while faxing may seen antiquated, it’s safer from a personal information standpoint. Kind of like how Adama refused to have the Galactica’s computers networked, to avoid infiltration by the Cylons.
Karen A., Kind of like…except now the Cylons have access to our personal data.
I was planning on buying in the country and applying for ss and Medicare soon but that stuff isn’t dependable anymore so I’ll go somewhere I can rent and get a part time job. If jobs still exist. I don’t miss eggs. I wondered about eggs in Mexico. They vaccinate their chickens and don’t have the egg problem. You can’t bring eggs across the border from Mexico though. Canada doesn’t have the egg problem because they have much smaller farms and control things better. You can bring eggs from Canada for personal use only.
I’ve found Im loosing my appetite. I may live on peanuts and apples for 4 years. When my phone service ends this fall I’m going to just use public Wi-Fi and messaging and phone apps. I want to wear ugly clothes and never cut my hair so I can be as ugly as life is becoming. I don’t want to give anyone any money ever. I plan on becoming the mad consumer adversary. I’m gonna scream and holla with my cents and dollars.
I need to quit coming to sites that sell my online information to corporations for profit.
*madconsumeradversary*
My husband bought a used motorcycle to make his commute even cheaper. My son says he will convert their smaller car to ethanol.
We’re already pretty tight. I’ve always been a ‘creative’ cook, using what I have rather than following the recipe exactly. In my teens and 20’s I knew women who lived through WWII in England and I remember a lot of their stories of cooking creatively. This week I brought home a stale baguette the food bank was throwing away. With that and 2 cups of milk that had soured that I had frozen, I had the basis for a bread pudding. It called for 3 eggs and I used 2 and it turned out perfectly. I wondered how many other recipes were over using ingredients. Our 1 dozen eggs cost $4.39 at trader joes and will last us a month or more.
I, too, feel less inclined to participate in the economy so it will be a lower buy year than most years. We’re leanly stocked and can definitely stretch to take in some people if needed.
I wonder if the second hand economy will boom like it did during WWII in England. I’m steadily reselling, ever with an eye to keeping things we and our extended family may need. And keeping my storage super organized so I can maximize available space and find what I have.
We are also maximizing our rainwater catchment both in barrels and in swales.
Kara, re recipes over-using ingredients: I’ve long reduced the amount of sugar called for – up to half in some cases. Better for our health and pocketbook, but still yummy.
Thank you for sharing all of your ideas on ways to save during these troubling times. The biggest change I have made in the last three months is having all but stopped shopping Amazon. I read the following book “How To Resist Amazon and Why” by Danny Caine and it covers all the reasons to resist. It is a quick read and informative. I also plan to cancel my Prime account when it is time for renewal. Good luck to all and keep sharing what works for you.
Ann, I bought that book a year ago and really enjoyed it. Then I was able to visit his bookstore last summer (and we were able to eat pie at the Ladybird diner!). I’m glad you enjoyed it, and highly recommend the book!
I am just now starting to see the prices go up and up, and this p.m. I checked out a customer who bought 18 eggs for $9.99. Here goes!
I’m about to have a conniption fit every time I see what the Orange Oligarch and his sidekick are doing to ruin the USA more. How could this have happened????
I am turning the big 7-0 this week and had the creep not gotten back into office, things would have been really good for me, with SS and Medicare and other pensions and my 2 PT jobs. Now, I don’t know what will occur: If SS is cut, I am dead meat. I have some mutual funds but maybe I need to withdraw some and/or put them into bonds bc I fear we’re going to have a stock mkt. crash that will make 1929 look like child’s play. (Did you see where the Wall St. Journal even said Trump doesn’t understand money? WSJ is owned by Fox founding mogul Rupert Murdoch, a huge Trump supporter, and if it is dissing Trump, you know it’s bad.) I have no idea how my $$ is going to last me for, say, another 20 years. But right now my needs are very little. I never have liked to buy Chinese goods, and have always tried to shop for American-made items in order to support my fellow citizens. If not USA-made, then I’d buy Canadian, British, or European, etc. — non-Communist countries that do not persecute Christians or terrorize us.
I went ahead with my plans to upgrade my front room flooring and ceiling lights, and I’m thinking about using some mutual funds to pay off the used car. Or, I will pay ahead to the credit union and have that sucker paid off within 14 months. I don’t need new clothes, any furniture, or anything but necessities such as food and medicine. Speaking of, I’m sick to hear that Trump overturned President Biden’s orders that capped the high cost of Rxes. But before my Humana Medicare Advantage ran out, I got extra bottles of my pills so I’m good for several months. My computer is about to go on the blink so I ordered a refurbished used one from Walmart, and I’m considering the HP offer of renting a printer for six bucks a month; my printer bit the dust more than a year ago. Guess I don’t really need it, but I have a lot of anti-Trump emails I’d like to print and share. I rarely pay for entertainment and take advantage of the airways — antenna TV and radio, no Sirius or cable. My closets are full, but when needed, my main source of new(-to-me) clothing is Goodwill or Salvation Army. (Except for underwear: mine comes in plastic bags from Walmart.) I’ve never been good at gardening, but last year I did get a couple of tomato plants going and was able to eat a few tomatoes during the summer. I need to lose some weight, so this will be a very good time to diet. We can call it the Trump Economy Diet: only eat what you can afford. I understand some cities will have protests on Monday for President’s Day (I’m sure George Washington and the others and all the founding fathers are spinning in their graves), so if weather permits, I’ll be there.
Sorry to have rambled, but you all take care! Keep fighting the good fight.
Happy Birthday this week!!
Happy birthday, Lisa! I hope your day includes a frugal cake.
Happy Birthday to you Lisa! I hope you have a fun and frugal day!
Fru-gal Lisa, I see that you’re a bit more than 6 months older than I am. Happy birthday from one soon-to-be-70 from another.
fru-gal Lisa, is there a Buy Nothing group where you are? People in my group frequently give away printers (and anything else you can imagine). Also–and this might not be possible depending where you live–Walmart is right up there with corporations that have pulled back their DEI initiatives. Costco is still supportive, though. It’s difficult to know where to spend our money though!
If my memory serves me, I believe the US had a spike in egg prices due to bird flu in early 2023. This was attributed to the bird flu epidemic. Afterwards the egg prices went back down to the usual price. Perhaps that is what will happen this time.
I eat a late breakfast & a dinner. Since I omitted lunch 2 years ago my wallet has grown thicker & my waist thinner. My husband still eats 3 times a day. He is not picky. A bowl of beans can be a meal for him.
I still buy eggs. I refuse to pay the high cost for beef. We eat chicken or pork, If the bird flu causes chicken prices to increase then I guess we will eat pork or more veggie meals. Prices of ham have remained stable here in Texas.
You started me thinking about declining food prices. The only food price I can ever remember decreasing (outside of same price with smaller size/ shrinkflation) is eggs.
This makes the focus on reducing egg prices somewhat misleading, because even when egg prices eventually go down–I agree that over time they will–the rest of food costs might not.
The bird flu is not going away AND is mutating. I suspect some farms didn’t survive the 2023 outbreak so now there are fewer AND larger farms. Which doesn’t bode well. CAFOs/factory farms are an economic risk.
As to small businesses, a few statements/questions will allow you to ascertain if they voted for the orange slug. A LOT of them did – why, don’t ask me.
Rose,
That petunia is so cool!
And Cindy Brick – I grew up eating Mary Kitchen corned beef hash! My mom would serve it for dinner every once in awhile.
Son is sick as of today–we had a stressful week making sure he had everything together for law school applications–so I offered to make him breakfast. Yes, four scrambled eggs please (no hash yet). THAT’S FOUR BUCKS RIGHT THERE! Oh well, at his request I’m making chicken soup for dinner with bits we have around, plus Jamaican “spinner” dumplings.
I’m always on the lookout for some good frugal YouTube videos. Please give us some recommendations of what you’d like to watch.
I love the movies on utube. I don’t have TV so all entertainment is utube. Yesterday I watched Troop Beverly Hills and Midnight in Paris. With the current political situation I really like happy shows. I am also addicted to Midsomer Murders. Well that is a contradiction! Love mysteries and there are lots of good ones.
I also watch a lot of home decorating and thrifting videos. Anything you are interested in is on there.
I am definitely spending less and differently, Stopped all of my Amazon subscriptions, and I am actively looking for organized boycotts. I wish I could leave the country, but my children probably cannot leave at this point. I love Katy’s blog- it makes me feel like I’m not alone.
I am not doing anything different. I am already frugal, and I try to live a zero waste life. I am not boycotting any specific country’s products, as I mostly buy 2nd hand, and I don’t have anything against the people trying to make a living, it’s the governments that’ are the problem along with corporations making a killing off the worker’s backs. I do hope to offer some free gardening classes at our local library, to help others who want to save money and be more environmentally friendly.
I have tightened my belt, but I have been doing it over the past year and a half. I have switched to whole food items and I don’t buy much in the way of any pre-packaged/ convenience foods. If I want something, I look on line for ways to make it myself. I think my cooking skills have improved over this time, too. I have been working at stocking my pantry since last fall. Now, I watch adds for great prices and only buy those items for the week. I still buy eggs. I like to eat eggs and I need them for my baking. Our local Aldi has them for $ 5.61. They would have to get higher than this for me to stop buying.
Doing A LOT Different! In the past month
1. cancelled Amazon Prime
2. cancelled my Chase Amazon Credit Card
3. Severally curtailed my spending
4. Started decluttering like crazy
5. SOLD my Tesla 2 days ago!! Answered the survey Tesla sent asking why:
Elon Musk!
1. Nazi Salute
2. Purchase US Election
3. Disrespecting US Constitution
4. Stealing Americans info from Treasury
5. US Govn handouts and not paying taxes
Thank you for doing that!!
I wish I had a Tesla to sell so I could take their survey.
@MB in MN – best response ever!
I love your reasons for getting rid of the Tesla. I’m hoping everyone who ditches their Elon Mobile answers the survey in a similar way. We each have our own way of protesting the dismantling of America. Yours speaks volumes.
Yes, that’s a fine example of letting your actions speak.
Jenny, good for you! I do have one friend who still owns a Tesla. I’ve suggested that he put a bag over its hood in shame, but so far, no luck.
I love your #5. I wonder how this is all going to pan our for him in the end.
Thank you for being so pro-active!
I also canceled my Chase Prime card and Amazon. I’m just done with it.
Love your gumption, good for you, much respect to you!
Way to go, Jenny! I love your answers to the Tesla survey.
As you declutter, are you selling stuff? I’ve decluttered A LOT. It helps keep the stress level down. Mostly I’ve given things away in my Buy Nothing group or to family. I don’t seem to have much that worth selling.
We are much more vigilant about reducing/eliminating food waste.
We have always limited our restaurant meals. In the past few years it seems the availability and quality is lower – we can cook at home for a cheaper and better meal mostly. When we do eat out, I am committed to tipping well because I want servers to have a living wage.
I don’t bake as much (something that brings me joy) because we don’t need those calories and the input costs ( eggs, sugar, chocolate, vanilla) have soared.
I am nursing my 2011 Honda along so I don’t have to purchase a new(er) car and pay higher insurance premiums.
Ny “entertainment” the past month has been contacting my elected officials to express my outrage. I have heard phone calls are more effective than emails/petitions/letters,
I have cancelled plans to visit Quebec City this summer. I am very sad for our Canadian friend= neighbors who are enduring this unnecessary bullying.
The only food-related change I made was to buy a few months worth of liquid eggs at US Foods (I still call it Cash & Carry, its old name). They were $7 a carton (=20 eggs) at the time. Not a huge savings, but eggs are my main breakfast food and egg prices are going crazy in my area (seattle-ish), and I was worried it would get even worse. I use them to make egg bites in the Instant Pot. Otherwise, we’re trying to eat more fish, salad and beans, but that’s mostly for health reasons.
Also, I am planning a vacation in Canada this summer, to show our northern neighbors some $$ love.
Doesn’t sound very frugal but we are replacing our sofa before tariffs kick in big time, using a president’s day sale locally.My current sofa is 30 years old,and just ripped big time. Had thought of replacing the past 3 years but am biting the bullet this month. We are at home a LOT, as we are retieed, and a comfy home is paramount.
Planning on spending less on travel in coming years. We are moving into our 70’s further, and just not feeling like airports,etc.. much anymore.Even bargain trips. Our home/pool is paid for and provides quite a lot of entertainment all year round as we live in Arizona.Many local towns to visit if we do want a small airbnb getaway.
Groceries/Food.Eating at home almost all the time. Retired.We rarely go out to eat, I prefer my own recipes!! We have our fave bargains if we do: Rubios with a coupon, local Salad n go has GIANT breakfast burritos for $3.50, we get them for a lunch date. I like to cook,so it is a hobby as well as necessity..Working on zero food waste.Doing pretty good with that.more meatless meal.Oatmeal every other day ,eggs every other day for me.My husband does not like eggs!!I don’t bake much anymore but use subs. for that.
Library for entertainment, walks in local parks, free movies on TV. Son shares an apple tv sub. with us so I get a lot of good shows.
Husband still works part time because he loves it, and that is “extra” money cushion in these crazy times.I am frugal by nature and easy to please, so.. I’m just sitting tight and doing what i8 always do!
I’m planning to spend more thoughtfully. I’d like to give more to my local small businesses. The oligarchs don’t care about anything but money. I don’t know yet how to navigate this. I’m feeling a little lost and helpless honestly.
In no particular order:
I bought four small jugs of Canadian Maple Syrup and a large jug of vegetable oil for the pantry at Costco. I saw a list of foods that will probably jump in price: those were the only things I use regularly. Am considering stocking up a bit on wheat/flour.
Our frugal eating habits are firmly entrenched, so not much will change there.
I am spearheading a city-wide food drive this Fall. We’ve been doing it for nearly a dozen years, but this time we are going to ramp it back up the way we did during Covid times. It’s a fairly affluent community, so hopefully people will respond generously.
I am also proud to say that my community eschews Cheetos, as did the majority of my state. For that, there will surely be repercussions.
Our assets are evenly divided between equities and real estate, so we will sit tight and see how things play out. DH has a non-government pension, which adds peace of mind.
I’m forgetting some things, but we’re going out for a hike this morning to enjoy the beauty of nature.
I eat to live and not live to eat so moderation/mindfulness has always been the key to consuming anything. I never liked the habit of consuming SO MUCH eggs and milk- how horrible for the poor chickens and the cows to meet our ever-increasing “needs”. So no changes for me.
We’ve always tried to buy locally produced items whenever possible and that will continue. As far as eggs, like several posters have said the local organic eggs here have not shown quite the stratospheric price increase that’s been seen in many grocery stores. I did buy a 24 pack of eggs from Costco a few weeks back and froze them in little two egg size “hockey pucks” for future use.
While I’ve always tried (and often failed) to achieve zero food waste, I’m really trying to do better in making sure that all the food we buy gets eaten. Like with the black bean/sweet potato chili I unearthed from the chest freezer. I didn’t like it all that much when I first made it, and it hasn’t improved with age, taste-wise. My first thought was the thing I’ve said in the past to justify throwing out food : “This isn’t worth the calories.” Then I told myself to shut the heck up. Unlike some of my elders, I’m blessed with having enough food to eat. I really needed to remind myself of that blessing. So with the help of a little tomato sauce and a lot of seasonings, I turned the dreaded chili into a not-bad-at-all soup that I had for lunch the past two days and will finish off today.
After last year’s strange weather produced the worst garden in many years, I announced that I was not gardening at all this year. That was back in October. Well, guess what, I WILL be gardening this year. I have a lot of seeds left from last year – I’ve always had good luck with prior year seeds germinating. I’ll be buying a few more packages of seeds to fill in the gaps. The raised bed is still standing, waiting for planting and planted it will be. In a few months that is – I’m in northern Wisconsin buried under snow. I have lots and lots of big containers from container gardening, and those will all be put to use out on the deck. So, returning to gardening is probably the big – and unexpected – change I’ll be making. What a difference a few months made.
Some things won’t change, and one of them is that I will continue giving to the charities I support at the same level I have in the past. With what’s going on in the US, these charities will need money even more now than in the past due to increased need and/or cuts in funding. I know I’m blessed to be able to do this. And the money I will no longer be spending at Amazon and Target will definitely help fund my donations.
@susanna d – I hope not those who pay to have their ‘soirees’ at mer de lago OR spend millions on Super Bowl ads.
We have been making some strategic purchases before the tariffs kick in. We bought much needed replacement laptops and a printer. We also got our first shingles vaccines yesterday. That’s been on our list for ages, but putting a vaccine sceptic in power convinced me it was time to act.
Still being careful about food shopping and minimizing food waste. Hoping to get our veggie garden started again, too. We received 2 free tomato plants and free veggie seeds at our library.
I’m also trying to use less of what we do use. Less ingredients in baking, less electricity and water, less detergent, shampoo, etc. And when we need something, trying to think about whether I can make it first with existing supplies, and buy used as a second choice. My sewing machine is getting a workout!
When we do purchase new, I’m being more mindful about supporting local farmers and shops and companies/products I have faith in. I’m willing to pay more in such cases. Haven’t bought from Amazon in over a year. Vote with your dollars! And I’m using some of the savings to support ACLU, environmental groups, animal rescue, etc.
Thanks Katy and all of you! Your comments make me feel we are not alone in what we value and our growing concerns about our Country.
I am so blessed in that I keep chickens, they are very well cared for and they are blessing me with eggs enough to share with family and friends.
I am seriously thinking of replenishing my flock with about 10 newbies. I don’t cull my chickens they live with me as long as they live…. I used to but I think those days have past.
I don’t Amazon and don’t do Target either. In fact if it doesn’t come from a thrift shop I don’t buy it. I will not go into Walmart.
I buy whole foods try to stay away from processed foods and have noticed the prices of pantry basics and staples have been going up steadily.
I am planting the big garden this year, have been cutting it down in size each year but I have a bad feeling and want to grow and can as much as possible.
Family is doubling their garden sizes this year also. I live in the midwest and I know the farmers around here are feeling like they are in limbo with everything the orange idiot and his minions are doing.
One Dd has a membership to Sam’s Club and we just all go together and if things are bought in bulk we all pitch in and share.
Making the larest part of cleaning supplies and when I feel myself start to worry and spiral I clean a window LOL I probably have the cleanest windows of everyone around!
@JD – sad to say they’ll get subsidies like last time and yet they likely voted for the orange turd/pukes again this cycle. You cannot fix stupid.
My middle-aged hens are producing an egg here and there, and I joke about selling them on ebay (I give them to my parents, as I don’t eat many eggs). I continue to reap the free food benefits of work in a commercial kitchen and spend lightly on groceries and otherwise, pretty much what I’ve always done. But I’m also planning on growing more food this summer and am especially looking forward to fruit trees.
Humans on toast. My two boiled eggs during the week are no more.
Perhaps you mean … hummus on toast?!
lol yes. Lawd. I also eat tomato gravy on cornbread. Traditionally, it is eaten with biscuits but I used cornbread. I really do need to put on my glasses when I type!!!
Cindy, I don’t think you were wrong with “humans on toast.” Those will probably be on the menu soon.
To Cindy & A. Marie – thanks for the best laughs I’ve had all day!
I’ve gone back to my hardcore frugal grocery shopping, I’ve stopped buying anything that isn’t needed, and I’ve cut out restaurants unless it’s truly a special occasion. So, nothing really earth-shattering, but definitely a full on return to my frugal ways.
Just want to say, I’ve come back to read three times today. I’m so encouraged and don’t know how I haven’t thought of “resisting” with my shopping! Thank you all for the great ideas!
Well, I have been hardcore no spend since Jan 01. I am throwing all extra money at bills at the moment. I am a civil servant (19 years in) and it’s been non-stop stress since January. I have no idea if or when I will be terminated. Friday, I had colleagues/friends dismissed (heartbreaking). I am a biologist and help protect portions of our environment through trade policy.
Anyway, this has motivated me to shed the rest of my debt. I am scared, and it will be the first time in my life I’ve lost a job from a mass firing. I am also struggling with empathy exhaustion as my colleagues/friends suffer. The slaughter is merciless and it’s going to leave big craters in the services people has no idea they received every day. I want to reiterate that some already terminated were intelligent, dedicated, non-partisan (it’s illegal for us to bring it to the job) and the future of public service as the older set heads to retirement. Being GenX, I am caught in the middle, not enough years to retire, but feeling really old and tired of this sh!t.
I am also decluttering and getting ready to list a bunch of things on eBay, FB Marketplace, etc. I need to purge in case I need to sell my house. I am hoping this will bring in a bit of $$$ I can throw at the debts (I don’t have many thankfully).
I am eating from my pantry. Fortunately, I can and dehydrate the produce from my garden and foraging. I stock up when I see a sale. I buy 50# bags of NY potatoes from the local Boy Scouts and stock up on squash when it’s cheap in Nov. I freeze soup and curries we don’t eat the night I make it, etc. This has led to a stocked pantry that I think can see us through to late spring/early summer.
I already utilized the library and will continue to do so (no new books). I am currently reading the graphic novel called Maus. I recommend it! We have lovely free parks to hike in upstate NY (I wish it would stop snowing, but I have snowshoes stashed in the garage, so I will go soon). I am watching old movies and making crafts with stuff I already have on hand.
I’m also letting myself grieve. I am not trying to be political, but it is directly affecting me and my moods go up and down. I am making plans for my futures, listing ideas for new careers and such. i watch YouTube with ads.
I am seriously changing how I shop. I will not support big corps that are not aligned with my own values. I’m done. I broke up with Amazon (this was hard). I am going to shop local ma and pop stores and ethnic markets for most of my needs. I’ll also utilize local farmers markets (once they are back) and my own garden for produce. I eat plant-based so this is the bulk of my diet. I am going to use Azure standard and Thrive market once I need to stock up again and I set up auto-ship (offered a savings) for my pets’ foods (I actually have stock in Chewy so it was ridiculous I was not using them). I will reevaluate every business I spend my $$ at before I add them to the list. It’s not perfect yet, but it is a start.
I use Azure Standard. It is wonderful to buy farm direct, and have it delivered right to my town. I do have to go to a group pick up point, but it is less than 10 minutes away. I just bought a 25 pound bag of quinoa flakes (I’m gluten free and allergic to oats so I make granola with quinoa flakes).
If anyone wants to sign up for Azure there is no joining cost at all. If you did want to use my link then I get a small credit on my next order. Thank you!
https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=jWb0sVFU6M
Thrive market has a small subscription fee but I wanted to let people know that it is free for veterans, and teachers/nurses/first responders can get the first year free.
I will definitely use your link, Kara! Thank you for letting me know some more about it. I was just researching it this weekend and hadn’t signed up yet. 🙂
I posted and then dug into the comments and I want to thanks Kathy and everyone for giving the space to talk about this situation.
Canadians: I completely understand. I worked closely with you all in my job-gov to gov-and it was based on mutual respect and comradery. I am grieving this relationship loss.
I have cried more in the past couple of weeks than I did in all of 2024. It is a serious situation, and I hope we are able to recover from the damage.
Thank you again for the openness here. I really needed to hear from those not caught up in the brainwashing. <3
Katy! (Sorry, typos are my middle name today).
Gina, I add my concern and best wishes to everyone else’s about your precarious job situation. My brother retired last year from a position as an astrophysicist with a consortium of telescopes in the US and Chile funded in large part by the National Science Foundation, and I think we all know how things are going to go with the NSF. (Also with the NIH, CDC, etc., now that Mr. Brain Worm has been confirmed for Sec. of DHHS.) I’m working 5calls.org on behalf of all these agencies, but I’m not kidding myself.
And, BTW, where in Upstate NY are you? I’m in the city in the middle famous for its salt. (Not that we’ve got a lot of that this year either. I was just in time at my local Lowes on Saturday morning to snag one of their last 50# bags.)
Gina, this is awful. It doesn’t help that mass firings are a crazy, unthoughtful, inhumane way to approach staffing and cost-cutting. Extremely poor execution with not a shred of strategy or care. It’s just tragic. I’m glad that you’ve been able to grieve and take steps to prepare yourself financially. Take care.
I was anxious before the election, but hopeful. Then, like most of us, I fell into despair. And then I started to get mad. I’m still anxious.
We purchased a few things ahead of the tariffs: new walking shoes for my husband, a generator for us. We had both vehicles’ tires checked in case we needed new tires but we are ok. We have a 4WD SUV for when it snows, and an electric vehicle for running around town. Gas prices haven’t affected us much because we fill up just once a month, and we budget $100 for that (it has been way less but never over). We just bought a second hand freezer that is Energy Star rated.
I have cancelled Amazon Prime + videos, Kindle Unlimited, my newspaper subscriptions, Kohl’s, and Home Depot. We have no other cards. I kept Lowe’s because they are still pretty cool, and I still occasionally go to Ace, although they are Trumpers. I aim to use my local hardware store more but it is far from us and twice as costly.
I just got a Costco membership. I am buying markdowns at Safeway and venturing to Grocery Outlet but I don’t like the weirdly “health food” stuff I often find at GO. I buy in bulk and I freeze and can leftovers and bonus fruit.
I have a ton of seeds for my garden and I have been prepping to add several more raised beds. This yard work keeps me from losing my mind. We have fruit trees (none have produced yet, I’m on about year 4 now, so soon.) and raspberries that do OK. I have ordered a nuc of bees (that’s 10K + a queen) for April and I am taking over my brother’s 5 hens. I may add a few more hens. We are also raising the fence and adding motion lights to that part of the yard. I hate to think my neighbors would steal but you never know. Times are going to get rough. (Husband wants to get a shotgun. Ugh.)
My husband had a great income and we saved a lot, and have that in mutual funds and a 401K. However, in January we began living on only his SS income, and mine begins in March. So we will have to figure it out on two SS incomes so we can save the savings for emergencies. I worry because I had breast cancer last year and though I’m fine now, what happens if I can’t get my anxiety or cancer meds? If Obamacare goes away, will California keep CoveredCal? Will I need those savings to pay $1500 a month for health insurance? Or am I supposed to just die if/when cancer comes back?
I don’t want to panic about all of this — we are essentially debt free and own our 5BR (fixer upper) house, but…will we become a boardinghouse? Will we take in family or foster kids? Will there be funds for kids like that? My freelance and side incomes are enough so that we can go out a few times a month if we want. Do we curtail that? We both just lived through terrible health ordeals and we wanted this to be a year of “BACK TO LIFE” and having fun, but that plan has come to a crashing halt.
Eff that orange maniac and his minions, and the Nazi who runs the joint. They have made our golden years a nightmare-in-progress.
I am so sorry, Gina.
And I am so sorry, Julia. This is not how things should be, nor is it necessary.
Being sure to get my eggs on Fridays in February with the Ibotta rebate.
I was at Tom Thumb yesterday, and they had 18 packs for $5.99, and a lady was filling her cart, and blocking anyone else who wanted to get some.
I don’t know about the other parts of the country, but I’m in the DFW area, and the price of breakfast meats has been falling as the price of eggs have risen. Picking up bacon and sausage for the freezer as I’m seeing it on sale, knowing that egg prices will come back down when supply catches up.
Are people seriously hoarding eggs now like they did toilet paper back in 2020? At our Kroger they’re limiting people to 2 dozen (or packs) each. Meanwhile chicken is routinely on sale.
@Karen A. – yes poultry for consumption and poultry for eggs are quite different. Consumption poultry are raised for so long and slaughtered. Egg poultry – longer period of time and usually tighter quarters (factory farms).
Yep. Opting out of unnecessary purchases and tightening our belts all around. Restocking our freezer and pantry and thinking about how to potentially grow food in SE Texas….
ProfesoraH-B, if your concerns about growing food in SE Texas have to do with climate, you should check out The Prudent Homemaker. She has a blog and also posts on instagram. She grows A LOT of food and lives in Las Vegas, so she has tons of info about growing in inhospitable climates.
We live a very Frugal life. We have always lived well below our means. Always buy used when ever possible and we are fortunate to be part of our local Buy Nothing Group. Prices are exorbitant in Canada for everything the last few years, so there is much concern for the future. I have started seeds inside this year and looking forward to planting outside in a few months. I so appreciate this blog and all the those who comment. Thank you Katy for posting so often!
We have stayed inside and been laying low since the madness began on January 20.We still have my son and his wife living with us as they lost their home in Asheville during the hurricane so our food bill has gone up due to their particularities. Luckily my son is a great cook so we are also saving money by being creative in the kitchen… making sourdough and cooking a lot of different meals that use up all the bits and pieces. I did have to throw out a lot of our freezer contents due to the hurricane and we are being very careful with what we put in there to make sure we eat it instead of stockpile it. I bought some bags of dried beans to add to the pantry. Also found a larger pressure canner at a thrift shop for $7.50!!! I am purposely not buying anything that is unnecessary – I can sew, mend, knit, cross stitch, and read for entertainment or gifting. We grow a garden so that will feed us in the summer. We do have plans to remodel our home so we can “age in place” and will continue with that unless it becomes prohibitive. I feel like the investment to stay in our home is worth it even with tariffs.
During the month of February the ibotta app is offering $2.50 back for eggs in any brand or size on Friday only. I am buying my eggs on Friday to get the $2.50. I also am finding pricing to be the best at Trader Joe’s and Target. However, because of my driving routine I often buy at Walmart as it’s on the way to and from work and substantially cheaper than if I bought them at Publix.
So far I continue to buy on bogo, clearance, with rebates, and coupons. I am also taking a break at buying things that I dont need right now to let any money go to things we do need right now. Example, I have a lot of shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner. I am avoiding buying these items unless they are free or pennies on the dollar. I am thankful we have a lot of food in the house, it’s not what we always gravitate toward, but we are working our way through it and that’s helping balance our budget right now.
I’ve been making some changes, but not necessarily frugal ones. Both our kids have serious food allergies, and one is allergic to dairy, nuts, and lots of grains including wheat. The one and only pasta they can safely eat is manufactured in Canada. It’s not cheap. But I’ve bought a lot of it and almost have enough to last a year. For that same kid, the only way they can have bread or any other baked good is if we bake it at home. We make our own GF flour blend with four different types of flour. Even though Bob’s Red Mill is in the US, I’m not sure where all the grains are grown. This is such a crucial food item for us, that I’m stocking up on it as well. Doing the same with a few other items, mostly made in Canada. I’m fully expecting prices to go up, or for Canadian companies to decide it’s not worth it to export to the US.
Eggs are crazy expensive, but we have friends with chickens who recently gave us a dozen, and know other folks who sell theirs from time to time. I’m happy to support a neighbor with backyard chickens.
I had a very lackluster garden last year except for a bumper crop of strawberries, blackberries and (always) herbs. I think it was partly the weather and partly that my soil needs regenerating. Coming up with a frugal plan to do that and checking to see which seeds I’ll need. I’m hoping that by stocking up now on nonperishables + growing a bigger garden I won’t have to spend as much on groceries in the future.
Other than that, just voting with my dollars by not supporting businesses that don’t support everyday Americans, and learning to find the entertainment value in calling my ridiculously red Congressmen and House rep to (politely) give them a piece of my mind. The rep emailed me (though I called her office) to proudly crow about being on the DOGE Caucus. Ugh. Finding lots of great writers/journalists/policy and economics nerds to follow, mainly on Substack, who give me hope we can get through this.
“”suddenly choosing to boycott The United States and our product””
There is nothing sudden about this.
As a Canadian threatened with tariffs and stupid “”51st state acquisition”” by your fabulous president, I am very proud of my fellow citizen for standing their ground.
Isa,
I can only speak for myself, but I suspect a lot of other folks in this group wholeheartedly support how Canadians are fighting back. I can’t even use the words I’d like to describe how I’m feeling as an American.
My family lives in NYC and the grocery prices are enough to make you want to intermittent fast for 20 hours a day. It’s INSANE. We quit Amazon back in December which has saved us an incredible sum of money. My 12 year old son recently outgrew all this shirts and sweatshirts which could have been $$$. Instead, he suggested we hit our local Goodwill to find some “cool stuff”. We then hit the TJ Maxx to fill in a few gaps. We got 4 pairs of pants, a t shirt, a hat and 6 sweatshirts for $160 which was amazing.
We are planning meals down to the onion – only buying exactly what we need to eat. Our food waste is almost zero at this point, which is amazing. We are also working through all the books on our shelves and our office supplies too and I am only wearing what I have in my closet. Trying to have fun trying some different looks.
I was so sick of feeling stressed out about the news, so I partnered with a friend and we put together a workshop series to help fellow artists/creatives to shore up their finances, build their income streams, learn marketing, etc. We had 40+ people sign up and all the proceeds went to Musicares to help LA fire victims. Community service is going to keep me sane!
I am doing what I normally do regarding saving money. Eating out of freezer & pantry, not supporting the “big” companies – and have diverted my savings to donating towards the special elections in April. There are 3 House seats up for special election (2 in Florida), I cannot vote in them as not my district – but I can donate what I can to those campaigns to try and get the word out and flip those seats!
I am also still making calls to senators / congresspersons via 5calls.org — we cannot back down and must keep flooding their phone lines!!
Midterms in 2 years , I encourage everyone to KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT! They want to see us back down and roll over – DO NOT GIVE IN!! And most importantly, do NOT allow them to steal your JOY.