As someone who has actually eaten Government Cheese, I feel compelled to defend it. It is delicious and makes THE BEST grilled cheese sandwiches. Seriously, other processed cheeses like Kraft Singles and Velveeta have nothing on Government Cheese.
Most stores don't advertize this but just about all of them have a senior day once a month. I also frequently find organic produce at the 99 cent store near my house.
I'm looking forward to visiting L.A! Such great and inexpensive ideas. Respectfully disagreeing with your point 7. Maybe the taste off should have been against the Second Avenue Deli and there would have been a different result.
I am loving the MyFitnessPal app to track my eating. I'm a 30 year old guy and I can eat a day's worth of food in a meal pretty easily with a couple bad choices. Being aware of the impact each food has on my numbers keeps me out of the fast food places. I want to eat as much as possible and stay within my daily calorie goals. I'm also a coffee fan, but the free kind at work. It feels substantial and moves me if you can guess what I mean.
Yes, and we love it! Last year we dipped toes in with a biweekly share. It was really hard to use all the goods before they turned. However, this year instead of passing, we doubled up and changed our pick up day from Saturday to Wednesday. We kill every Wednesday night with pick up, cleaning, storing, cooking & meal planning. But it's the best way for us to get fresh vegetables in our diet. And we're spending less on meats and other grocery items, since we do feel the pressure to use our investment return.
My husband and I joined a CSA for the first time last year. It was like Christmas every Thursday when we picked up our "share." It was fun coming up with recipes for the things we received every week. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the weekly share included 12 ears of corn every week (which I froze and had all winter) and less of some of the things I really like (for instance tomatoes, green beans, melons).
I ♥ our CSA - Clagett Farm. We've been members since 2005 and every year from May to November we get over 45 different varieties of crops. They are part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and are a field trip destination for inner city students to learn about how farmers can farm without negatively impacting the watershed. Part of our fee goes to sponsor memberships for economically challenged families and extra fresh crops go to the Capital Area Foodbank.
Keeping a written monthly budget has helped me. I downloaded the one I found best for my household, and I am sticking to it since January. Everything is written down, categorized and analized at the end of the month. Eating out and grocery shopping have come down a good bit. A work in progess.
As someone who has actually eaten Government Cheese, I feel compelled to defend it. It is delicious and makes THE BEST grilled cheese sandwiches. Seriously, other processed cheeses like Kraft Singles and Velveeta have nothing on Government Cheese.
It's also still available through some USDA food programs for those who qualify:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm
Try Google Wallet, I've had good luck consolidating gift card balances onto it. Most times the small fee is waived for very tiny balances.
I'm not but I have considered it many times!
no i'm not part of a csa
Great list of ideas!
Hi Mayra, yes a written monthly budget is a great idea to save. Here is a list that I put together about 24 commonly overlooked items when making a budget at http://www.bills.com/bills-blog/1058/dont-overlook-24-items-making-budget/
I can see the value of some of these things. If they don't change the brain, it would sure get me out of my recliner doing something worthwhile.
Most stores don't advertize this but just about all of them have a senior day once a month. I also frequently find organic produce at the 99 cent store near my house.
You're a good mom.
I'm looking forward to visiting L.A! Such great and inexpensive ideas. Respectfully disagreeing with your point 7. Maybe the taste off should have been against the Second Avenue Deli and there would have been a different result.
awesome article that makes me love Los Angeles again!
Great article!! Learned a few new budget friendly things about the city I abide in, woohoo!
Great to know about the skate and car collection! Handy for when the fam comes to visit! Thanks
Wow! Great information! I used to live in Los Angeles and I didn't know about most of these! I'm bookmarking this for our next trip there.
I am bringing my teenage son to Los Angeles in January - this list of awesome budget things to do is PERFECT!
Thanks Guest for the correction! It is the TCL Chinese Theater.
(Old habits die hard. I think I'm the only person under 80 in Los Angeles who still calls Taix restaurant Les Freres Taix).
I am loving the MyFitnessPal app to track my eating. I'm a 30 year old guy and I can eat a day's worth of food in a meal pretty easily with a couple bad choices. Being aware of the impact each food has on my numbers keeps me out of the fast food places. I want to eat as much as possible and stay within my daily calorie goals. I'm also a coffee fan, but the free kind at work. It feels substantial and moves me if you can guess what I mean.
Yes, and we love it! Last year we dipped toes in with a biweekly share. It was really hard to use all the goods before they turned. However, this year instead of passing, we doubled up and changed our pick up day from Saturday to Wednesday. We kill every Wednesday night with pick up, cleaning, storing, cooking & meal planning. But it's the best way for us to get fresh vegetables in our diet. And we're spending less on meats and other grocery items, since we do feel the pressure to use our investment return.
No I'm not a member. I'll have to look into it.
My husband and I joined a CSA for the first time last year. It was like Christmas every Thursday when we picked up our "share." It was fun coming up with recipes for the things we received every week. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the weekly share included 12 ears of corn every week (which I froze and had all winter) and less of some of the things I really like (for instance tomatoes, green beans, melons).
Errata: It's TCL Chinese Theater now (which is, coincidentally, a Chinese-owned company.) The theater hasn't been owned by Mann's for a while now.
Right on!
I ♥ our CSA - Clagett Farm. We've been members since 2005 and every year from May to November we get over 45 different varieties of crops. They are part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and are a field trip destination for inner city students to learn about how farmers can farm without negatively impacting the watershed. Part of our fee goes to sponsor memberships for economically challenged families and extra fresh crops go to the Capital Area Foodbank.
https://www.flickr.com/groups/clagettfarm/
Keeping a written monthly budget has helped me. I downloaded the one I found best for my household, and I am sticking to it since January. Everything is written down, categorized and analized at the end of the month. Eating out and grocery shopping have come down a good bit. A work in progess.
No I've heard about it but have not explored it yet. Sounds promising tho. I would really love the fresh veggies and fruit