Saving: 10 Tips From Mom

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, we decided to focus our posts today on the wonderful ways our mothers were able to save and still take care of all of us!

1) TUNA:  There is always a fresh container of tuna salad in the fridge.  Mom buys tuna in bulk when it's on sale.  Always solid, never chunk "because you get more".  Last week she called to tell me she was able to get 8 cans for $6 at Wegman's.   For cents per sandwich she keeps lunch on the budget low.

2) FARM & FLEA MARKETS: From the time I was little, Saturdays meant farm markets.  We would drive into

Trenton, go to Halo Farm to get milk (like 20 cartons that she would freeze and pull out as needed) and then head over to the farm market and pick up fruits and veggies by the bushel.  We were so well behaved because we wanted the ultimate treat - fresh German bologna with fresh rolls that we would tear into and make sandwiches in the car on the way home.  Early Saturday morning we would bundle up and head to Columbus Market or Englishtown.  Here we would buy more produce, spices, our slap and charm bracelets, pogs, and trolls.  

3) REPAIR:  repair repair repair.  Shoes are taken to a cobbler, clothes are mended or altered, furniture reupholstered, crazy glue is well used, and some items are taken apart for parts.  Anything with any use left will be brought back to life or repurposed.

4) FRESH BREAD:  If mom could live off of bread and butter she would.  Sundays meant a fresh loaf of white bread that we devoured with our meal.  When we were old enough to ask for a recipe, we found out the secret -- frozen dough from the grocery store.  We still go crazy for it.

5) WOOD BURNING STOVE:  Mom's rundown of the day always includes gathering, splitting, or bringing in wood.  The house has two wood burning stoves that she keeps going in the winter to reduce their heating costs. Living in a wooded area means that the wood is free for those willing to put in the work, which she does every day.  

6) KNOW PRICES:  Mom knows the regular price of items she buys often at 4 different stores.  When there's a sale, she stocks up.  The cellar is a mini grocery store holding every sale she came upon.  There's always backup "downstairs".

7) GAS: She applies the same method to petrol.  She knows which station has the best prices on what days and will plan her trips to be in those areas when she's running low.

8) DOLLAR STORE: Mom makes good use of the Dollar Store by our house.  She tells them which products she's excited they have, and she makes sure she can't get it less anywhere else.  

9) CARDS:  Mom is very good at making sure cards are sent out for birthdays and other occasions.  She plans ahead and gets the cards when the pharmacy is having a sale or even the dollar store.  With 22+ grandchildren every holiday and birthday adds up quickly.

10) GRATITUDE:  My mother's biggest saving tip is gratitude.  Everything she has she treasures.  Every flower in the garden is cared for, every fresh tomato from the garden savored, every gift is treasured, and every penny shined.  Her enthusiasm for the small beauties of the world are contagious.  She gives wherever she can.  We joke that she talks about the weather so much, but every ray of sunshine is like gold to her, and every rain is a gift to do something other than watering.