Redoubling my penny pinching!

[poppycat]

Thank you all for your kind replies. I am feeling better about the job thing today. I know that my job is safe until the end of March for sure. And in between now and then I will do my darndest to make sure that I am the last person laid off if more need to go.

On the plus side, the ice storm brought down so much stuff that we will be set for firewood for life. My DH has been cutting it up little by little and it is fun to see the stack growing. Of course it all needs to be split, but I think that is what teenage son's are for, right?

 

[punkin]

Yep, splitting wood is a good use for teenage boys.

Every little bit of savings you do between now and March will add up.

 

[Dace]

Good luck Poppycat...scary times for sure, but you are wise to think ahead.

I hope your job is safe beyond March!

 

[Wifezilla]

Heating...
One thing that has seriously helped us is getting new windows. WELL worth the expense. Our office is a building about the same size and built the same year (by the same company) as our house. The house got the new windows, the office, since we are renting, has the original windows. The gas bill at the office is almost twice our house bill.

Shopping....
I am getting as much as I can from our local Bargain Mart and a Mexican grocery store. They are both cheaper than Walmart and Walmart is often seen as the standard for cheap. Sure, there are things I have to get at Wally World, but my list is shrinking.

I have always gotten clothes at the ARC and Goodwill, so no difference there.

 

[lupinfarm]

We've been doing the same, though there is no scare of my dad getting laid off, money is very inconsistent. We figured that if it came down to it, we could cancel our health insurance for a little while because we DO have the OHIP and my brothers medication is only about $15.00 without the insurance.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Wishing you job security in 2009, poppycat!

Do you have a garden? Are you planning your garden yet? That might help relieve some of the anxiety that tends to accompany uncertain employment stability. If you find yourself with extra time on your hands, the garden is a great place to channel that time and energy.

All of that wood -- from your recent "windfall" -- should make for a nice emergency buffer for your heating (assuming you have a woodstove).

If you feel a job loss may be in your future, start thinking about all of your marketable skills and try to find a smart way to put those skills to use. One thing I read today is that some people have found it possible to survive and pay bills with many small sources of income, in addition to reducing as many of their expenditures as possible. I think that might depend upon what your overhead expenses are. . . . Phone bills are a drag.

Best wishes for you in 2009.

 

[SKR8PN]

I wish I could cut my phone bill but it is for my business,and they like to WHACK you for commercial rates.
ANYWHO.......wife and I buy the 10lb bags of chicken leg quarters at WallyWorld, and split the packages down to 2-3 pcs and vacuum seal/freeze them as meal sized portions.... OR we de-bone a few 10lb bags,grind it,ad our own spices, and make chicken patties. Stick 2-3 of those in a vacuum seal bag and freeze them for meal sized portions...OR we might just buy 10-12, 10lb bags,debone it and pressure cook/can it for later use. ANY of these will get you meat/meals for less than 0.70 cents a lb.

 

[Wifezilla]

Those leg quarter bags are about $4.70 right now. 47/lb for chicken is a GREAT price. I have a couple of those in my freezer right now.

 

[sufficientforme]

I have been finding great deals on chicken wings (which my kids love) for around a dollar a package on sale, so I have been stocking up. My kids love hot wings and I figure my method of prepping is better for them than fried take out Perfect for friday night pizza and wings.

 

[FarmerChick]

I am real fortunate with chickens. Having like 300 sure helps me..HA HA

I am getting ready to process 15 young roosters and a few of my older hens. They will be stewing hens...not that great as roasters...need the young ones for that.

but I will have like 20-25 birds in the freezer. 1/2 will be froze whole...the other 1/2 I will make leg bags, thigh bags, wing bags, breast bags, etc. I will be set well for a bit.