Living Cheap in the Lone Star State
Monday, October 4, 2010
Living Cheap with Children - the Travel Edition
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Living Cheap with a Baby - the Diaper Edition
- When you are out and about, bring a plastic bag (preferably a resealable one) to store the soiled diapers. This won't work for long trips for obvious reasons, so you may have to buy some disposables if you are going away for more than a day or so. Either that or find a laundry-mat.
- Bring extra onesies because cloth diapers do tend to leak a bit more.
Monday, September 20, 2010
For the Retirees: How to Snag the Senior Discounts
I am writing this for my daughter, son-in-law's, and Angela's blog. They are far too young to understand the benefits of aging. I am enjoying this stage of my life far too much to let them know that they are not in the "best years of their life" no matter what people tell them. No work, no kids, and not giving a rats a** what people think.
I am going to share some of the discounts that I have found that I use often. You probably have your own favorites, so be sure and share them with us.
First of all, the term "senior" can mean anything from 50 to 65, depending on the policy of the establishment.
The biggest drawbacks to getting senior discounts is the senior themselves. They are shy about asking for a discount or if they ask once and are turned down they don't ask anywhere else. Think of it this way, you don't know these people so why would you care what they think?
Another problem is vanity. The young clerks probably think you are an old fogie if you are over 35, so them doubting you is not a problem. Many clerks will not offer you the discount fearing the wrath of a old looking young person. An older clerk asking for verification of age is like begin carded when you are 28.
It I encounter a rude clerk (I rarely do), I do not frequent their establishment if I can help it, and I tell everyone I know how I was treated. So don't be shy; you have nothing to lose by asking.
Here are some examples of common places where you can find senior discounts:
- The most used senior discount in my bag of tricks is golf. Most golf courses offer a senior discount that make playing more affordable. Just check their internet page or ask.
- Of course discounts at restaurants and hotels/motels are some of the best. An AARP card is helpful.
- We have several grocery stores that offer senior days from time to time. The discount can be anywhere from 5 to 15%, may be just on food, or just on non food, or on both.
- Some universities allow their alum to take classes on a no credit basis for free. Now is the time to take the classes that you wanted to take, but could not fit into your schedule. Underwater basket weaving comes to mind.
- The National Park Service offers a America the Beautiful Senior Pass for people over 62 and cost a one time fee of $10. It allows a senior and anyone (up to 4 adults) in a non-commercial vehicle with them free access to the parks. You can only get this pass in person at a National Park.
- Check at museums also, they usually have a discount fee.
More to come when my brain opts to release stored information.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Angel Food Menu for October
- 16 oz oven-ready buffalo shrimp
- 20 oz stuffed crabs in their natural shells
- 16 oz oven-ready battered fish
- 16 oz tilapia
- 11 oz stuffed salmon portions
- 17 oz crab cakes
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Skip the pen(itentiary), feed a duck
A few semesters ago I had a student who wrote a research paper comparing wild to captive chameleons. He found that wild-caught chameleons kept in captivity died shortly after capture (a matter of months if not weeks). Experts’ best guess why is that the wild animals simply cannot adapt to life in captivity, and the stress quickly kills them.
For those of us with children, zoos and aquatic parks are an assumed part of parenthood. They are safe and closed sources of entertainment for children, and sometimes local zoos are relatively inexpensive to access or have ‘free’ nights or reduced rate entrance days. Zoos, however, not only take your money but use it to maintain the artificial “habitats” for what are ultimately caged animals.
Derrick Jensen’s 2007 essay, “Thought to Exist in the Wild: Awakening from the Nightmare of Zoos” discusses the side-effects of captivity on wild creatures. He writes:
The bear takes seven steps, her claws clicking on concrete. She dips her head, turns, and walks toward the front of the cage. Another dip, another turn, another three steps. When she gets back to where she started, she begins all over.
This is what’s left of her life.
Outside the cage, people pass by on a sidewalk. Parents stop strollers until they realize there’s nothing here to see. A pair of teenagers approach, wearing Walkmans and holding hands; one glance inside is enough, and they’re off to the next cage. Still the bear paces; three steps, head dip, turn.
My fingers are wrapped tightly around the metal railing outside the enclosure. I notice they’re sore. I look at the silver on the bear’s back, the concave bridge of her nose. I wonder how long she’s been here. I release the rail, and as I walk away, the rhythmic clicking of claws on concrete slowly fades.
Unfortunately most of us by now have been to enough zoos to be familiar with the archetype of the creature who has been driven insane by confinement: the bear pacing a precise rectangle; the ostrich incessantly clapping his bill; the elephants rhythmically swaying. But the bear I describe is no archetype. She is a bear. She is a bear who, like all other bears, at one time had desires and preferences all her own, and who may still, beneath the madness.
Or at this point she may not.
Similarly, activists like Ric O’Barry have a lengthy history fighting against the evils of dolphinariums and marine parks. O’Barry was once the lead dolphin trainer for the popular TV series Flipper and worked with five female dolphins who played the star. He grew close to the most used dolphin, Cathy. O’Barry says
She was really depressed. I could feel it. I could see it. And she committed suicide in my arms. That's a very strong word, suicide. But you have to understand dolphins and other whales are not automatic air breathers like we are. Every breath they take is a conscious effort. And so they can end their life whenever life becomes too unbearable by not taking the next breath. And it's in that context I use the word suicide. She did that. She swam into my arms and looked me right in the eye and...took a breath...and didn't take another one.
For my family, zoos and water parks are simply not an option. Looking at other creatures behind bars or thick panes of glass isn’t seeing wildlife. It’s seeing captured creatures not living life, but simply existing. That tragedy reflects the very pinnacle of human arrogance.
But what to do instead? There are so very many alternatives.
Because my family now splits its time between San Angelo and Lubbock, TX, we have a huge variety of outdoor options. If we want to be in nature and see wild creatures, we can simply walk into our backyard. With three huge pecan trees, there’s never a shortage of squirrels and plenty of birds (not to mention the numerous neighborhood cats who come to visit our constant food supply). The above picture was taken from my mother’s backyard one morning several years ago. In what zoo does God speak so directly and with such absolute purity?
During off season (typically Labor Day through Memorial Day, excluding any major holidays or events), there is a local marina park that offers free admission. There are few, if any, people in the 3-mile long park that follows a stretch of the Concho River. The park boasts a beach, calm waters, a few playgrounds, tons of pecan trees (GREAT for foraging!), and lots opportunities for walking. We’ve seen whitetail deer, wild turkeys (often too close for comfort), armadillos, a few different species of squirrels, birds, fish, turtles, snakes, a huge variety of bugs, plenty of fauna, and what we are almost positive was a mountain lion.
Parks like this exist all over the country. Two weeks ago we went to MacKenzie Park in Lubbock, about a mile from my husband’s home-away-from-home. There we found an awesome disc golf course, a beautiful grove of trees, wild natural areas, a so-so playground, and a lovely lake complete with ducks. For me the natural find and blessing of the day (month!) was an abundance of gorgeous dark purple prickly-pear fruit perfect for jelly. And what a jelly it is!
State and National parks are also a great resource for learning about your natural local environment. These parks often offer free days complete with guided tours with expert naturalists. The last one of these events I attended taught me what Mormon Tea looks like as well as information about flowers that I’ve seen growing around me all of my life.
UPDATE: Texas State Park events listing. A lot of these events offer free admission to the park for the day!
The appeal of zoos and other consumer-driven wild facades is that they are clean and easy and that people are virtually guaranteed a glimpse (fabricated though it be) of “wildlife” that isn’t really wild at all. Speaking as a mother (and not a freegan), I can attest to the fact that my children much prefer the natural outdoors…the more natural and less landscaped the better. In what zoo can you walk around as you please, running and screaming and generally acting silly (as all people should do often), where you have the option of flopping down on the grass to watch the clouds go by and share a sandwich? Many of my happiest memories include my family at a park, on a trail, at a beach, or in a body of water soaking up all of the free, natural, wild, and happy surroundings.
Zoos and the like are stressful to your pocketbook, your children, you, and the animals there to masquerade as “happy” for an overwhelmingly blind audience.
Christina Rossetti said it best:
Hurt no living thing:
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.
Weekly Supermarket Deals!!!
Hello everyone...every week, I will be posting the best deals at local supermarkets (for now in Texas only...but will probably post for other states as well...especially if someone can let us know what states they'd like to see). These sales will be ones that are worth looking at (not save 20 cents).
- 1 lb bananas
- 1 box Nestle or Wonka theater box candy
- 6 pack Ozarka Spring Water .5 ltr bottles.
- Fresh Express Spinach Salad (9 oz.)
- Buy Betty Crocker Fruit Gushers Snack (5.4 oz) get 8 pack Juicy Juice free (SAVE UP TO 2.28)
- Buy HEB Classic Selections Self Rising Pizza (22.76 – 34.46 oz) get HEB Salad Dressing (16 oz –asst. varieties) free (SAVE UP TO 1.99)
- Buy Ocean Spray 100% Juice or Cran-Energy get Ocean Spray Craisins (6 oz) free (SAVE UP TO 1.99)
- Buy Tyson Family Favorites Appetizers (20.5-30oz – asst. varieties) get a Tony’s Original Crust Pizza free (SAVE UP TO 1.69)
- Buy Wright Bacon (24 oz – asst. varieties) get Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits (16.3 – 17.3 oz) AND Simply Potatoes (20 oz – asst. varieties) free (SAVE UP TO 3.86)
- Buy 1lb. HEB New Harvest Wild Gulf Shrimp (asst. sizes) get Zatarain’s Fish or Shrimp Fry (10 oz.) AND Hill Country Fare Deli Style Potato Salad (16 oz) free
- Buy 8” Bakery Lattice Apple Pie get HEB Creamy Creations Premium Ice Cream (32oz – asst varieties) free
- Buy Duracell Saver Pack (asst sizes) and get HEB Milk (1/2 Gal) free
- Buy 1lb. of Butterball Turkey Breast (deli) and get Finlandia Imported Muenster or Swiss Cheese (1/4 lb) free
- Buy Hill Country Essentials Skin Care Item get Hill Country Essentials Mesh Sponge free
- Buy Kiolbasa Smoked Sausage Links (asst. varieties) get Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce (18 oz – asst varieties) AND Bush’s Best Pinto Beans (27 oz.) free
- Buy HEB Fully Cooked Chicken Breasts (25 oz. – asst. varieties) get Nature’s Own Sandwich Rounds (12 oz. – asst. varieties) free
- Buy 2 boxes Kellogg’s Pop Tarts (12 ct – asst. varieties) get HEB Milk (1/2 gal) free
- Buy Kraft Salad Dressing (8 oz. – asst varieties) get Kraft BBQ Sauce (18 oz.) free
- Buy 3 Pepsi or Dr. Pepper 12 packs get Tostitos (9-13oz) free
- Buy HEB Baby Club Pack Diapers (60-96 ct.) get HEB Baby Wipes (72 ct.) free
- Buy Baked Lays Chips (8.75-9oz – asst varieties) get HEB Baked Chips (9oz – asst. varieties) free
- Buy Nature’s Own Honey Wheat Bread (20oz) get HEB Bake Shop Split Top Honey Wheat Bread (24 oz.) free
This week Albertson's is having a pretty good Buy One Get One sale. Here's what you can pick up.
- Fresh 80% Lean Ground Beef (3 lbs or more) (SAVE UP TO 3.89)
- Full Line of Blue Bell Ice Cream and Novelties (SAVE UP TO 6.39)
- 1 lb Driscoll Strawberries (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- 6 oz Driscoll Raspberries (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Sara Lee White Bread 20 oz. Loaf (SAVE UP TO 2.49)
- Red Baron Pizza 14.76-22.10 oz. (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 5.49)
- State Fair Corn Dogs (13.35-16 oz) (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Keebler Chips Deluxe 12.5-18oz (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 4.19)
- Banquet Family Entrees 26-30 oz (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 3.89)
- PF Changs Meals for 2 22 oz. (SAVE UP TO 9.99!)
- Hefty Plates or Bowls (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Nestle Pure Life Water (16.9 oz 6 Pack) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Post Cereals (select varieties and sizes) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Sweet Leaf Ice Tea (64 oz.) (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Campbell’s Select Soup (18.6-19oz) (SAVE UP TO 2.69)
- Albertson’s Pancake/Waffle Syrups (24 oz. – select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 2.69)
- Bush’s Best Black or Refried Beans (15-16oz) (SAVE UP TO 1.29)
- Tom’s Chips or Hot Fries (SAVE UP TO 2.49)
- Nestle Nesquik Milk (13.5-16oz) (SAVE UP TO 1.49)
- Albertson’s Rice, Chocolate or Tapioca Pudding (22 oz.) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Contessa Dinner Entrees (22-24 oz.) (SAVE UP TO 8.69!)
- Chung’s Chinese Entrees (20oz) (SAVE UP TO 5.99)
- Albertson’s Regular or Whipping Cream (8oz) (SAVE UP TO 1.59)
- Dannon Danimals Yogurt (6 pack “Dan-o-nino or 4 Pack “Crush Cups”) (SAVE UP TO 2.79)
- Bertolli Entrees (24oz) (SAVE UP TO 8.99!)
- Allens Steamed Vegetables (12 oz – select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 2.29)
- Dannon Activia (4 pack “Danactive Yogurt Drink” or 4 pack singles) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)el
- Albertson’s Butter Blend (16 oz) (SAVE UP TO 2.49)
- Cool Whip (8 oz) (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 1.89)
- Kraft Bagel-fuls (10 oz) (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 2.89)
- Laughing Cow Cheese (assorted varieties) (SAVE UP TO 4.99)
- Bakery Loaf Cake (Choc., Butter, Lemon, Cinnamon) (SAVE UP TO 4.49)
- Bakery Mini Muffins (doz.) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Deli Potato Salad (lb.) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Bakery Apple or Cherry Turnovers (4 count full size or 18 count mini-bites) (SAVE UP TO 4.49)
- Bakery Fresh 7 Grain Bread (also Rye, Marble, Wheat or Pumpernickle) (SAVE UP TO 2.50)
- Nabisco Crackers (select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Bumblebee Solid White Tuna (5oz) (SAVE UP TO 1.99)
- Entire Line of Rubbermaid Food Containers (SAVE UP TO 8.99!)
- 5 Hour Energy Shots (2 pack) (SAVE UP TO 6.99)
- Entire Line of Vitamins (ALL BRANDS – ALL VARIETIES) (SAVE UP TO 13.99!)
- Fresh Express Lettuce Blends (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Cantaloupe (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Cauliflower (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- 4 Pack Vine-ripe Tomatoes (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Medium Yellow Onions (3lb bag) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Hass Avocados (SAVE UP TO 1.99)
- Boneless Petite Steak (SAVE UP TO 4.19 PER LB)
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast or Tenders (SAVE UP TO 4.99 PER LB)
- Bottom Round Steak (SAVE UP TO 6.99 PER LB)
- Extra Lean Stew Beef (SAVE UP TO 4.49 PER LB)
- Bone-in or Boneless Pork Chops (SAVE UP TO 5.19 PER LB)
- Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey 93% Lean (1.2 lb pack) (SAVE UP TO 3.69)
- Albertson’s Natural Cheese Slices (8 oz – select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 3.99)
- Albertson’s Block Cheese (8 oz – select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
- Oscar Mayer Cold Cuts (16 oz. – select varieties) (SAVE UP TO 4.99)
- Mission Tortillas (10 ct.) (SAVE UP TO 2.99)
So as you can see, Albertson's is the place to shop this week - take advantage of the buy one get one free while they last!
Scratch and Dent Sales - for Groceries??
Basically what these stores do is take the dented cans or items with damaged packaging, or items close to their sell-by date and resell them for literally pennies. When I first heard of this, I was skeptical. Like many of you, I thought that there must be something wrong with the food. Don't they tell you to avoid food with damaged packages or dents? Can't you get botulism that way?
The answer is yes, and no. According to the MSN article: "According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture fact sheet, beware of any can that is swollen, leaking, extensively rusted, has visible holes or punctures, or is crushed/dented badly enough "to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener."
So don't say we didn't warn you. But often the can or package in question is perfectly fine, even though is has a sizable dent, or even when it is difficult to open with a can opener. We here at Living Cheap have been doing this for years, so like we promised, we won't recommend anything we ourselves haven't tried!
Bill, Angela and I, in fact, get a lot of our food this way - through cast-offs from grocery stores and even the food bank! Angela in particular through the years has all the connections for finding these castoffs, much to the benefit of all of her friends and family (and random people on Freecycle). And speaking for Bill and I we have never encountered food that was compromised in any way in quality. For example, I made chicken parmesan yesterday using crushed tomatoes that came from a scratch and dent, and I regularly eat soup for lunch that comes from dented cans. Our kids love the canned fruit - and except when we make an effort to make a big meal we rarely have a breakfast or lunch that wasn't either free or bought for pennies on a quick-sale bin because of damaged packaging or an upcoming expiration date.
There are several directories online for finding your local scratch and dent grocery store, such as Anderson Country Market's site: http://www.andersonscountrymarket.net/directory or http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/discount-stores/97055-salvage-grocery-list-state.html There aren't many outside of bigger cities, but the items are so inexpensive that it is worth bringing a big box and loading up whenever you make that trip to Dallas.
If you live in a city without one, the best strategy is to search the discount or quick sale bins at the grocery store or even drug stores. Ask the manager what they do with the dented cans and if they just throw them away, offer to take them off their hands. Don't be shy - in this economy if you don't ask someone else will!