Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Savings

Like many Americans, I'm trying to put more money into my safety net these days. I'm taking my lunch to work more often. I'm avoiding window shopping and browsing because what I haven't seen in the stores can't call my name. Even so, it seems that the price of gas is on the way up again and grocery prices continue to be expensive.

Recently, my daughter mixed up a 5 gallon bucket of homemade laundry detergent for me. It only cost pennies. And it cleans clothes as well as the "real" thing. I've satisfied my need to decorate by haunting the local thrift stores. With a little imagination and some creative thinking home improvement "supplies" can be purchased there.

Let's step back in time to 1965 for a minute. Look what constituted a bargain 44 years ago. 65 cents could be saved here and another 65 cents could be saved there. After saving that kind of money a family could stop at the local drive in where hamburgers were only 15 cents. For only a $1.00 two parents could buy themselves and their 3.5 children a sack of burgers.

Those were the days!

12 comments:

  1. Just dropping by from STIS. Like you I am trying counting my pennies...some days it works and others day it doesn't. I have some bad habits to give up in order to save more money. I guess I have to keep trying. Enjoyed your blog!

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  2. Thanks Modest Gal. Nice to meet a fellow savings struggler. We can do it!

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  3. I am staying away from the stors too. Shopping on line is another problem altogether... Our Publix has many of heir own brand items and I've been trying a lot of those to save money. Most are as good as or better than brand names. Good for you saving some bucks!

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  4. Oh how did she do the laundry detergent? I'm so into that sort of thing these days. I gave you a shout out on one of my posts because this video reminded me of your amazing artwork.

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  5. I am all about the modest lifestyle now too. I like not having too much extra junk, for a change. It is interesting to see how ratty things become so quickly. My slippers are just embarrassing!

    If you think of sharing the recipe for homemade laundry detergent...?

    PS I love pimiento cheese sandwiches too! And your grandbaby is a little doll.

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  6. I was just thinking about this yesterday after running errands all day...grocery, hardware, gas, pharmacy...I spent a boatload of money and I'll have to do it all over again in a week!

    15 cent hamburgers...that's amazing!

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  7. We've always lived very frugally, and you are right, if you don't cultivate "needs" you find you don't need them after all. Of course, it makes it hard to cut back... we've always hoarded time more than money, tho.

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  8. I remember the 15 cent hamburger! Man, have times changed. Remember S&H Green Stamps? My grandmother let me lick and stick them in the books for her.

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  9. did you ever think you would be saying 'those were the days sigh...' like your own mama used to???

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  10. I guess those days are gone forever. When I first got married we could go to the store and get groceries for $10. a week. I guess that was back in the day.

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  11. Blicky and Indie, I'll get the recipe for the laundry soap and post it soon.

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  12. It's so true there were 15 cent hamburgers but most people were only making $1.50 an hour back then! I remember my parents struggling to pay the bills and provide for us, so I'm afraid it's never been easy.

    I'd love that laundry detergant recipe too --sounds great!

    I'm

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."