2010 Commissary Scholarships

Every year, the Defense Commissary Agency (DECA) offers a huge scholarship program, awarding at least one scholarship at each location that has a qualifying applicant.

The 2010 program has opened and applications can be obtained at your local commissary, through the link at the DECA website, or more directly at the scholarship website.  Eligibility requirements include:

1. Unmarried, children under the age of 23.


2. Dependent of active duty, reserve/guard and retired military, plus survivors of active duty or retired members.


3. Enrolled in DEERS and have current dependent ID card.


4. Enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program.


5. Community college students must be enrolled in a program that transfers to a 4 year school.


6. Minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0).


7. Not be receiving a full scholarship or attending a military academy or military academy prep school.

This is a great opportunity to help pay for college.  More details can be found at the scholarship website.  Applications require an essay and must be received by the commissary by February 17, 2010, so don't procrastinate!

Quotable: David Bach

"Financial education needs to become a part of our national curriculum and scoring systems so that it’s not just the rich kids that learn about money.. it’s all of us."

Don't Overlook the Base Thrift Shop

I stopped by a nearby base thrift shop yesterday in search of a particular item for a Halloween costume.  I've shopped at this thrift shop before, and found a few good items, but I had forgotten what an amazing bargain the base thrift shops can be.

Before I get started, I should probably mention that most base thrift shops are open to all ranks, and many allow civilians to shop there as well.  Be sure to check with your particular store, but don't be shy.  I've heard people say that they can't shop at the thrift shop because they are beyond a particular paygrade.  In 99% of the cases, that isn't true.

On to my shopping story!  In addition to the Halloween costume parts I needed, I was able to get through most of the women's pants and skirts before closing time arrived.  I found several nice items, in great brands, and was delighted to discover that they were only $1 each.  Now I won't be wearing the same pair of pants all winter!  I've shopped at thrift shops on five or six bases over the years, and they've always been wonderful.  A few years back, I got nearly my entire summer wardrobe for about $20 at one sale.  Better yet, I redonated the same items back to the shop when my size changed (again!)  It was almost like renting the clothes.

Most base thrift shops are operated by the services' relief society or by the base spouses' club, and proceeds benefit military families.  In addition to clothing, they often sell uniform items, household goods, and children's clothes and toys (Whoohoo!).  I still have a hard time convincing my husband that it is OK to buy uniforms from the thrift shop, but for seldom-worn (and expensive) items, he can be persuaded.  I just can't justify spending a bunch of money on a particular dressy uniform item that he may never need again, or that won't fit right when it is next needed.

Your base thrift shop is a great place to give and shop.  If you haven't been before, I suggest you find out their hours (usually limited) and check it out next time you are in the area.  I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.

Listen to the Roto-Rooter Man

In my mail today, this timely reminder from Roto-Rooter:

Pumpkin Carvers Beware!

Never put pumpkin pulp into drains, toilets or garbage disposals.  The stringy and sticky gunk is ideal for clotting drains and doesn't grind thoroughly.  Wrap the waste in newspaper and discard in a trash can or compost pile.

I know from experience that having the Roto-Rooter man visit is an expensive adventure.  In this case, prevention is worth the effort.

Activity Grants for Kids of Deployed Guard and Reserve Members

Are you or your spouse a deployed National Guard or Reserve person?  Well, I have a great program to tell you about.  A group called Our Military Kids provides grants for children ages 3 to 12th grade to participate in sports, cultural arts, tutoring, and other similar programs.  Application is easy!  You can download the application form, fill it out, and send it in with the necessary other information (copy of birth certificate or ID card, program information and deployment orders.)  There is a $500 limit per grant, but grants are available for each child in the family, and a child may receive two grants during a single deployment if the deployment is over 365 days long and other criteria are met.

This is a remarkable program that can really help your family cope with deployment by providing quality activities without adding extra expenses.  Thanks, Our Military Kids, for your support of the National Guard and Reserves.

The Paycheck Chronicles Main Page

Three Ways To Avoid Library Fees

I've written about the many benefits of using public libraries, but there is certainly a negative aspect:  late fees.  My family regularly pays late fees to the library and though I can justify them as a contribution, I do try to eliminate the fines as much as possible.The best way for me to avoid late fees involves several parts:

• First, designate a single location for library books to live.  We use a drawer in the dining room but you also might use a particular bookshelf, a tote bag, or a pile on your bedside table.  Keeping library books centrally located makes it easier to find them for returning. If you have kids, train them to return their books to that place. (Easier said than done, I know!)


• Second, sign up for electronic and/or telephone reminders.  Most library systems offer automatic phone calls or emails a few days before your books are due.


• Third, use your library's internet services to renew books before the due date.  Most libraries allow you to renew two or three times, allowing you a few days to make it to the library.

Using these three things together has dramatically decreased the fines we pay.  I try to make a habit of renewing our books as soon as I see the reminder email from the library.  If I fail to do it the first day, I still have another day to remember!

Putting together a plan to avoid fines is an important part of using the library to save money.  If you are paying $20 in fines on borrowed books isn't very cost-effective!

The Paycheck Chronicles Main Page

Portrait Pictures Shouldn't Be Pricey

Now that the school year is underway, we've been spending money on all sorts of extras:  instruments, field trips, and yesterday my kids gave me the forms for school pictures.  What a racket!  Every year, I look over the price list and think that this is insane.  The packages are very expensive and they often include an odd selection of sizes.  In addition, they charge extra for things such as a colored background, and you don't get to see the pictures before you buy them.  And we're not talking beautiful, professional pictures here - they're school grade pictures!

For example, the first package listed on the order form includes appoximately five "pages" of photographs.  On a "custom" background (which is anything other than gray), this package cost $54.00.  That's a lot of money for 27 pictures, 9 of which are a miniscule 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, and 12 are 2X3.  I don't know about other families, but I find that the teeniest pictures are often wasted on us.  Basically, you are getting six pictures of any decent size (1 8X10, 3 5X7s and 2 3X5s).  That's not much for $54.

I recognize that many of us get so busy with life that it is hard to get the kids out to have their pictures taken regularly.  That is one of the benefits of the school picture program:  it is at school.  No spending your Saturday sitting around a portrait studio.  Even so, I think the cheapness of a local chain studio makes it worth the effort to get your child over there. We often use the JC Penney portrait studios, just because they've worked well for us in the past.  I know that many other stores also offer portrait services, including Sears, Kmart, Walmart and Target.  If you are not going in the Christmas card season, you can often get in without an appointment, and they offer a variety of backgrounds, low or no sitting fees, packages or per-sheet charges, and they are cheap.  Of course, the regular price isn't usually that good, but with a little effort you can easily find discount coupons. 

Just yesterday, I decided to take the kids to get their pictures taken.  I used to keep a file folder of photo coupons gathered from various sources, but yesterday I just hopped online and found a JC Penney coupon for $3.99 sheets with no sitting fee and a free 8X10 , or a $7.99 portrait package that has roughly the same number of photographs as the one offered at school for $54.00.  That's a substantial savings! We went over to the studio, without an appointment, and were told that they could fit us in in about a half hour.  We did some errands and returned.  The photographer took about twenty minutes taking about 10 shots of my daughter, then we got to choose whether we got the package (one pose) or ordered individual sheets.  Of course, it was hard to chose between the poses so we ordered a few different ones.  We ordered eight sheets with a total of 20 pictures, and were able to choose more of the larger pictures and just a few of the smaller ones.  With the free one, we paid for 7 sheets at $3.99 each, and after tax the total bill was just under thirty dollars.  Whoohoo.  We got the pictures we wanted, with the backgrounds we wanted, in the sizes we wanted, and saved about $25.  That was definitely worth the extra effort!

One key, that can be inconvenient, is that they usually won't allow a family to use more than one coupon per day.  Therefore, to get the best prices, you need to bring the kids on different days.  This can  be a negative in the logistical sense, but I find it is partially offset by the fact that my kids are a lot more cooperative and pleasant if I'm only trying to get one person photographed at a time.  This works even better if you can manage it so that one parent takes just that one child - the pictures get taken and they get a little special time as well.

Other coupons that are currently being offered include:

Sears:  $2.99 photo sheets with a $14.99 sitting fee (free for their Super Saver club members)

Target:  Free 8X10 and $3.99 sheets with no sitting fees

Walmart:  30 photo package for $7.99, no sitting fees for first subject

Kmart:  $7.99 for the first 8 sheets, $1.99 each thereafter

There are nearly always specials available...be sure to check before you go.

Kid's Instruments: Rent or Buy?

Ah, autumn is in the air...football games, falling leaves, and the furious frenzy at the music store as families obtain instruments for their students.  With four kids, we have gone through our share of music lessons, and each time it is a dilemma...should we rent the instrument or buy it?

Before trying to decide, consider these questions:

1. What instrument is your child trying?  Is it fairly common, like the violin or flute, or more obscure, like the bass or french horn?
2. Does this instrument come in sizes, or is there just one?  A child might grow out of a 1/4 size cello, but they are unlikely to grown out of a tuba.
3. How many kids do you have?  What are the chances that a subsequent child might try the same instrument?
4. Can you find a decent used instrument to buy?  Ask friends and neighbors and be sure to have the instrument cleared by the instructor.  There are lots of low quality instruments out there, and nothing will discourage a student faster than the lousy sound of a cheap buy.  Some instruments are more uniform and inherently safer to purchase used.

 

Inquire at your local music store about prices for both purchases and rentals.  I strongly recommend going during the off hours - you will not have your questions adequately answered if you show up between school and dinner during the first half of September.  Questions to ask at the store:

1. What equipment is included?
2. Does the price remains constant?
3. What the trade-in or trade-up policy?
4. Does the rental apply towards purchases?
5. What is the total purchase price if you buy it outright and if you do the rent-to-own plan.
6. Is insurance included?  If not, is it required?  How much does it cost?
7. Are any freebies thrown in?  Our first rental violin came with rosin, a music stand, and a little cushion.  If you will need to purchase the stand anyway, this does factor into the price.  (They're only around $12, but if we're counting...)

 

As an example, my daughter's percussion class requires a bell kit.  The kit rents for $27.99 a month, but the store is offering a deal for the first three months - only 19.99 for all three months.   It is a year-long class, so she is going to need this bell kit for at least 9 months.  So, we're looking at 19.99 (for the first three months), plus $27.99 a month for six months (167.94) for a total of $187.93.  There is also a $5.99 a month insurance fee, which is technically optional but the store practically forced me into purchasing.  If you chose the insurance, that adds an additional 53.91 to the total.  A school year's worth of rental plus insurance on this instrument adds up to 241.84.

At the end of the nine months,  we would have to either a) return the instrument or b) continue paying the monthly rental until we completed the terms of the rent-to-own agreement.  With the rent-to-own option, you pay 16 months of payments before the instrument is yours, resulting in a total payment of $469.99, plus 95.84 in optional insurance.  Yikes!

Still at the music store, If we choose to purchase the kit upfront, the cost is $259.  Once it is paid for, it is mine, until it is lost or broken, or I choose to resell it.  It seems I could quickly sell it for around $100, because...

I can find the same item (same name brand and model number) on Craigslist for less than $100.  I can't confirm that there isn't a run on Craiglist bell sets, but we've also seen them in the newspaper and on eBay.  Again, beware:  I once tried to purchase a violin online.  it was cheap, but the teacher was aghast.  It seems that certain instruments have huge variations in quality.

The bottom line:  look around, do your math, and don't rush into anything.  Talk to your child's teacher, ask friends, and check the classifieds.  And consider buying:  the first time we had a child take an instrument, we rented and paid around $200 for the year.  I've since picked up a nearly identical one for $125.  (I try not to think about that too much.)  Last year, my child's instrument was rented out and we ended up buying, but I'm glad we did.  And it looks like I'm buying again this time.  It isn't the best choice for every family, or every situation, but it is working for us.

Pump Up The Savings

Sometimes it seems that body wash, shampoo and conditioner just disappear in this house.  I'm sure that the children are using huge amounts, and I find the occasional open bottle on its side.  Even when I find great prices, it is really annoying to see such waste.  Well, I have found a solution!  Mega-sized bottles, while not always the most economical, often come with a pump that controls the amount of product being used.  I tried this as a test, beginning in May, by purchasing a big bottle of both shampoo and conditioner.  I am amazed - it has been four months and even with five people using it, the bottles aren't empty yet.  I have been so impressed that I've been searching for body wash in a pump bottle as well.

It seems that body wash isn't offered in a pump bottle very often, but I did manage to find it on clearance at Bath and Body Works. I was talking to the employees about how glad I was to find it in the pump and they said that it was a very popular product.  The also suggested that I hold on to the bottles after the body wash was gone so that I could refill them with another product.  Brilliant!  (I know, I should have thought of it first, but I didn't.)

So far, I've seen the big bottles of shampoo and conditioner several places, including the commissary, warehouse clubs, and at the hair cut place.  While I might be able to find these products cheaper by using coupons and doing some super shopping, moving to the big bottles has made my bathroom more tidy, has eliminated the cries of "Can someone please bring me some shampoo?" and has freed up some space in the bathroom cupboard.  I think it has been a win all around.

If anyone knows where to buy body wash in pump bottles, please share.  I'd love to know.

The Paycheck Chronicles Home Page

Museum Day 2009

Looking for something different to do now that summer is winding down?  On Saturday, September 26th, obtain free general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide as part of Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  There is an interactive map that can help you find participating locations in your area, including the Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Honolulu, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, California. 

You will need to print out an admission card to take with you and it is good for two admissions.  There are restrictions, of course.  From the website:

The following Museum Day restrictions apply: One time use on September 26, 2009 unless otherwise specified. Card must be presented for free general admission. Admission Card will be collected upon entry. General admission only. Does not include entry to special exhibits or IMAX screenings. Admission Card is good for general admission for you plus one guest. One Admission Card per household. Not for use with any other offer. No rain checks. Some participating museums may already have a free admission policy year round and are participating in the "spirit" of the day.

I love free museum days, as it allows me to enjoy all different kinds of cultural activities without spending all of our family's entertainment budget.  Even if you have to pay for a few people, this pass can offer substantial savings over the usual admission fees.

 

Free Chick-fil-A and Other Restaurant Goodies

Thank you, Bargain Briana, for pointing out TWO ways to get free Chick-fil-A!  It is nice to have a little restaurant treat once in a while, and even better when you can get a bargain as well.

Speaking of bargains, don't forget to check your favorite restaurant websites to sign up for their birthday clubs and other clubs.  Just tonight, the four kids and I ate dinner at Bob Evans for only $13, courtesy of a couple of birthday club coupons.  (Don't forget to calculate your tip based upon the full amount of the bill before discounts.)  I noticed that the kids hadn't received their Friendly's birthday emails so I clicked on over to discover their new Best Friend of Friendly's club.  I'm a little confused about whether the old Friendly's registrations are gone but I did sign up for the new club.

I'm in the mid-Atlantic, so I'm also signed up with Boston Market's VIP club, the Cheeburger Cheeburger Fan Mail Club, and Denny's Birthday Club.  Check websites for restaurants in your area to see what deals you can find.  I keep my coupons in the glove box for surprise treats or to keep the costs down while traveling.

It Pays to Ask

I hate wasting money, but it happens sometimes.  There are three places where I tend to lose money in large chunks:  not sending in rebates, not getting reimbursed for stuff, and making reservations or registrations that I don't use or forget to cancel.  Ack!  Just in the last week, I have a receipt for a taxi that I need to submit for reimbursement, a rebate for a computer purchase that needs to be sent, two hotel reservations to cancel, and a child that decided that that she absolutely, positively would not participate in the track program that she absolutely, positively wanted to do the week before.

I'd love to say that I took care of all four items, but I only did two.  Cancelling the reservations was quick and easy, but I am so proud of myself for how I handled the sports registration.  I've never asked for a refund for a kid's sport because I have always felt like it was my child's choice not to participate and it wasn't the program's fault that she changed her mind.  However, this was $125 and I told myself that it wouldn't hurt me to ask.  I emailed the head of the track program and explained that we'd tried it one time and that my daughter was overwhelmed by all the kids, and would it be possible to get a refund?  I only wrote to him last night, and I was delighted to discover that I already had a refund this morning!  Amazing!

The lesson I've learned today is that it doesn't cost anything to ask, and it might save you some money.  I'm going to remember this in the future and make a little more effort to save myself some money where I can.  And I'm going to hit those other two items on my to do list!

Frugal Summer Fun for All Ages

I was wandering around the blogosphere today, and I stumbled across this excellent list of free summer activities at Couponing 101:  Free Fun All Summer Long.  Stephanie's compilation includes museums and parks, workshops, movies, books, and other fun stuff.  There is so much to do, I don't think that summer is going to be long enough.

If nothing on that list excites you, call or stop by your local base recreation or community services offices.  I'm always amazed at the number of events going on each month.  Between the military community and the civilian world, you are sure to find something to suit your situation.

More Frugal Father's Day Fun

 

Thanks to Sarah at SpouseBUZZ, I heard about this neat-o kid craft event at Michael's craft stores this Saturday, June 6th.  From 10 am to 1 pm, your local Michael's will be helping kids make Father's Day cards, with plenty of time to mail them even if Dad is far away.  Plus, it's free!

A Frugal Father's Day Gift for the Mid-Sized Set

With Father's Day coming up on us all too soon, I've been trying to think of yet another crafty gift that the kids can make for their dad, and Home Depot has come to the rescue.  Thanks to Bargain Briana who let me know that this weekend's kid workshop at Home Depot is a Hardware Sorter.   It is a rectangular box with six compartments.  It is designed to organize hardware, but I can think of several uses:  office supplies, the junk drawer, fishing gear.  I also happen to know one dad who has way too much uniform stuff and always needs a better way to store it all.

The Home Depot Kids Workshops are designed for kids 5 to 12 years old and a parent must remain with them during the workshop.  They run from 9 to 12 on the first Saturday of each month and online preregistration is required.

Williamsburg Memorial Day Discounts

Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission for active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans and their families.  The offer is available today, May 22, through Monday, May 25.  Honorably discharged veterans will have to bring a copy of their DD214.  The passes are only available at the on-site ticket windows.  For more information, you can call 1-800-HISTORY.

While you are in Williamsburg, you may also want to take advantage of Anheuser-Busch's Hero's Salute program.  Once again, Anheuser-Busch is offering free single-day admission for the service member and up to three direct dependents to any Anheuser-Busch theme park, including Sea World, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Sesame Place and Adventure Island.  My family has taken advantage of this fantastic promotion the last several years, going to Water Country USA in Williamsburg.  It has been so much fun for many reasons - we get to spend an enjoyable day playing together, and Mom isn't stressed out by the cost of the food because we didn't have to pay the admission fees.  I would say that our times at Water Country USA have been some of our best family memories and I truly appreciate the generosity of Anheuser-Busch.

If you can pull together a last minute trip to Williamburg, or you live in the area, these are fabulous discounts on great experiences that might otherwise be unaffordable for many families.  I hope to hear that some of you are able to enjoy them!

NMFA E-News

From the May 19th NMFA E-News bulletin, the following issues of financial interest:

• DoD Releases Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposal

• More Guidance for DoD HAP Provided

• DDESS Enrollment Policy for Fallen Warrior Dependents Changed

• Work-at-Home Career Opportunities

The National Military Family Association does a remarkable job of keeping up-to-date on all the many facets of military life, and they advocate for military families in an amazing way.  Thank you, NMFA!

Inexpensive Bowling With Kids

My kids always want to go bowling.  I like bowling, too, but I hate bowling prices.  Our nearest base doesn't have a bowling alley, and the next base over has an alley but even at base prices, taking four kids bowling can get expensive.  Fortunately for us, this summer, many civilian bowling centers around the country are participating in a promotion called Kids Bowl Free.  After online registration, each child will receive two free games of bowling every day this summer (from June 1st to August 31st).  That's a pretty amazing offer, since bowling runs $4.75 per game at my local bowling center.

Of course, they are hoping to make money off of this deal.  For starters, shoe rental is not included.  I've heard that is free in some places, but at our nearby bowling center, it is $4.72 per pair.  I have four kids, so that would be nearly $20 a day just in shoe rental.  I did some searching online, and I can find kid's bowling shoes for about $25 each.  If we plan to go at least five times, it would be less expensive to buy them bowling shoes.  That is my plan.

In addition, the bowling alleys will hope that you patronize their snack bars.  We'll have to set up some sort of budget for snack bar spending so that we don't make this good deal into a bad deal.

After signing up the kids, there may be an offer to sign up the older children, parents, grandparents or babysitters for a complimentary promotion.  You may register up to four people for two games a day for $23.95 total for the whole summer.  Since my husband is deployed, I registered myself, my mother, my best friend and her husband.  If each of those people goes with us once, and I play a few times, it will be easily worth my $23.95!  You do have to provide a credit card number to pay for the adult program, and they say that there are limited family packages at each location.

Each location can make its own restrictions.  For example, at my location, it can be used 7 days a week but it must be before 5 pm each day.

Here's how I see the math working, bowling 1X per week for 13 weeks (the duration of the offer):

Five pairs of bowling shoes at $25 each =     $125

Family Package= $23.95

Snack bar budget=  $130 ($10 per week)

Total cost=  $279 divided by 13 weeks = $21 per week for five people to bowl two games each

This is definitely doesn't equal free, but it is a lot cheaper than it would cost to play at the regular prices (which equal over $70 per week for the same bowling & shoes.)  If you are looking for an inexpensive way to bowl this summer, or your kids have been bugging you to bowl, this may be just the offer for you. 

Four Financial Lessons from a Six Year Old

Six Year Old:  "Mom, can I get my allowance for the whole month like my sisters?"

Mom (thinking that she is tired of keeping track of allowances):  "Sure.  Here's your $6.00 for the rest of May."  (She gets $1.50 per week, and there were four more Sundays in May.)

Mom returns to her activities, and then the six year old shows up crying.

Mom:  "What's wrong?"

Six Year Old:  "I had to pay back my sister for the money I spent at the yard sale, and now I only have one dollar and twenty-five cents left for the rest of the month!"

Mom:  "What did you buy at the yard sale?"

Six Year Old:  "A teddy bear."

Mom, alarmed:  "How much was the teddy bear?"

Six Year Old:  "Five dollars.  But my sister told me she would buy me a stuffed animal at the yard sale."

Big Sister:  "I said I 'might' buy you a stuffed animal.  When you bought the teddy bear, you 'borrowed' five dollars from me.

The conversation went downhill pretty quickly from there, with other siblings adding their opinions about how the situation had occured, and Mom (me) being pretty much disappointed at the whole thing.  There is good news, however.  While I wasn't able to turn back the clock, at the end there were several learning moments.  What's amazing is how much they apply to adult life as much as six year old life.

1. Make sure that the price is right before you buy.  Your right price might be different than someone else's right price, and that's OK.  What is important is that you understand the cost, that you are happy with the price, and that you are focusing on the price and not the other issues, such as financing arrangements, rebates, or other benefits.  Car dealers are notorious for focusing on the monthly payment and not the price of the car, but cars aren't the only place where it is easy to get distracted from the bottom line.

2. Make sure all the parties understand and agree to the details in a financial deal.  In my family's situation, there seems to be a lot of confusion about the negotiation and it's outcome.   All aspects of any agreement need to be clear to all the parties involved.  It is always wise to have a written document that lists all the terms of the deal - don't rely on verbal agreements. 

3. If you owe someone money, you'll have to pay it back, and then you won't have as much money in the future.  There are some times when a loan might be necessary (like with a mortgage), but keep the repayment in line with your budget and make sure that it is completely manageable.

4. Don't borrow or lend between family and friends.  There are certainly situations where this is either desirable or inevitable (you go to a restaurant and discover that you left your wallet at home), but make sure to pay your personal debts as quickly and directly as possible.  It is so sad to see friends or family members who aren't enjoying their relationship because of a loan between them.

Who knew that a yard sale transaction between a six and eight year old could provide so many educational opportunities?  I hope that my kids have learned a little from this experience (and I'll be telling the story many times in the future).  I also hope that I can keep these lessons close to my heart and use them as well.

Busy

I've been busy lately - really busy.  My husband is gone, I'm working a little over half-time, and one of my daughters has injured herself, requiring a crazy number of doctor's appointments.  One of the glaring results of all this business is that I'm not watching my money as carefully as I should, and I'm not planning ahead to save money when I can.  It's so frustrating

1. Not planning my spending before it happens.
2. Not reading sales ads to search for the best price.
3. Not cutting coupons and taking advantage of stock-up sales.
4. Not choosing budget-friendly meals.
5. Not being prepared for things that happen, then spending more at the last minute because I'm not prepared.

 

I've been trying not to let this bother me, but it has been anyway.

Fortunately, I read this post at Leaving Excess:  Is There A Secret to Consistantly Making Dinner at Home?   Obviously, it was the title that originally pulled me in, but the meat of the response is truly great:  We all have 24 hours in a day.  Yes, you will need to make the most of those 24 hours in order to live a frugal life, but you can't do it all.  When you add to your plate, something are going to have to go.  Maybe it is OK to give up a little bit of sleep, or a little bit of quiet time, but basically any wholesale change in one direction is going to require a similarly sized change on the other end.

In my own case, doing the single-parent thing, working, and spending an inordinate amount of time in doctor's offices means that I'm not going to make it to CVS some weeks, and sometimes coupons aren't going to get used when I buy groceries.  And that is OK!

More importantly, you can extend this to other areas of your life as well.  Does it matter that your house isn't super clean?  Not really.  Maybe you didn't get the trash out last Tuesday?  The trash will come again.  Sometimes we just need to cut ourselves a little slack and realize that there's only so much one person can do.

An important factor in that is making sure that what you are doing is in line with your priorities.  It is more important to me that my kids eat healthy meals than that I save money.  It is also not worth it to me to spend our limited family time schlepping around to various grocery stores chasing deals.  In that regard, I guess I'm doing well.  And making sure that my actions are in line with my values is way more important than the bottom line.