Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Chop cauliflower into chunks, toss in olive oil and pepper and roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
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Last night, as I was getting ready to make a pan of roasted cauliflower, I started to think about why I choose to feed my family on such a small budget.
I know I’m lucky in the fact that I do not have to do this. My husband has a good job, and if I really wanted to, I could stop using coupons tomorrow and just pay full price for our groceries like the majority of families in America do. But I don’t want to. It seems silly to me.
Clipping coupons and getting up early to get the deal can be a pain in the arse, and at times there can be a lot of work involved in growing a garden, but saving money in groceries is my hobby, and I think it’s a good one to have.
Not paying full price for something, is empowering, and it makes me feel good.
And if someone thinks I’m a little weird for wanting to save food from the trash, or that I find it utterly amusing to barter with my neighbors, than so be it. To each his own.
~ Mavis
And hey… if you need some foil, there’s a coupon for that!
Just click on the picture below to print.
Save $1.00 off Reynolds Wrap Foil
Go HERE for more printable coupons
Tali says
Mavis, you are so right. I have always shopped sales, way before couponing. I remember walking to the store (cause we had one car and hubby had it at work) with a baby in a front carrier and one in a back carrier (13 month apart!)…I walked 2 miles each way….I shopped the sales at diferent stores and they let me leave my grocery cart with my name on it in the fridge at the store. My husband would stop on the way home and pick up the groceries. Back then I had a budget of $400/month to feed 2 adults, 2 teens, 2 babies on formula (milk allergies) and diapers. Oh yes, I also had a beast of a dog that ate us out of house…….I graduated to having my own car and shopping at 5 different stores for sale items. or us it was the reason we didn’t end up living in a card box….we were so poor.
I have a good job now and recently got a raise….my first thought was that I do not need to shop coupons any more but I love saving money, I love sharing my free stuff with friends and co-workers and I would love to use the extra money I ear to go on a fantastic vacation!
I do not care what people think of me and the fact that I am up at 4am so I can shop doublers for 1.5hrs before working a 12 hr shift.
I love reading your posts, shopping trips and the only negative is that I get terribly jealous of the free produce you get….
Thanks for being the best part of my daily emails!
mildred lane says
Tali, I enjoyed your post and it reminded me when my 3 were less than 3 years old and going to the grocery store w/ them. Thank goodness I had my mom to go w/ me. But we all survived. I would love to hear more on Mavis also on being frugal in other areas of her life. The capitol one is a good clue but I have just done Bank of America for bonuses. thanks
tia says
oh dear–you must have received a snide comment. whatev. i am in awe, and quite frankly, jealous. of what you do! thank you for all the wonderful ideas. keep doin’ you! 🙂
Jules says
I love knowing that I didn’t pay full price! Why, when I can get it for less??
LaToya says
Amen! My husband and I both work and we have good jobs/good incomes. I’m with you on the hobby aspect as well, but also for me, we could be out of jobs tomorrow so I like the security of having a stockpile just as one would have with savings as well.
The foil coupon is only at Publix – ya’ tease! We don’t have that here :p
Lissa says
For me, it started as novelty. Then grew into a hobby. Once my stockpile was fully built, I really turned my attention into paring down my monthly budget. I too am down to $100/mo which includes grocery, household/personal care items, and pet supplies. (just me in the household though!) It’s still a hobby and I have fun spending time reading the blogs, fine-tuning my lists, hitting the stores, and taking pics of my trips. But also, couponing has opened my eyes to new foods and recipes, allowed me to share the wealth of freebies and homemade treats with coworkers, and been part of the reason why I was able to go from fulltime to parttime work this month – voluntarily!
I so appreciate all the work you do and for opening up your life to us on here!
Audrey says
I totally agree! Love your blog and your GARDEN!
D'Anna says
I feel like there are very few things that one has control over financially when it comes to running a household like rent/mortgage, electric, water/sewer/garbage, cable, insurance etc. Food and household supplies, now that’s where you can take control of how much you spend (or save) with the use of sales, coupons, making from scratch and raising your own food.
As an experiment I turned my home PC on long enough to print coupons for the last month while I used my Kindle Fire to search out deals and thought I’d see some real savings on my electric bill. I saved a whopping $17…I save more than that on a random trip to Winco or Albie’s just using coupons.
I come here because I know I’ll get a laugh while I learn some stuff and I always leave feeling more motivated then when I arrived. Please don’t change a thing.
Joy says
You are aMAVISing! Thats why we all stock your blog!
Kate in NY says
Mavis, This might be a hobby for you – but also know that you are having an impact that goes beyond “just” saving money (and helping others save money) at the supermarket. The joy and pleasure you seem to take in your life is infectious. Sometimes I feel a bit down because I think I should be “doing more” with my life – and I wish I could contribute more to the household finances (even though we are better off than most in this economy). But your blog reminds me that there is a solid way I can contribute – and, most importantly, I can have fun doing it. So thanks.
I am curious – are you as frugal in all other areas of your life, or do you focus primarily on food while going more “mainstream” in other areas (clothing, home purchases, etc).? Do you haunt the local Goodwill? Spend your weekends looking for bargains at tag sales? I guess I’m trying to figure out how you have time for all of it. But you are right – that free summer labor helps (though my kids have gotten a bit less interested in “free” this summer – still, I’d rather “pay them” so they can buy clothing I’d probably end up buying for them anyway).
Chela says
I love your blog because it helps remind me that I am not the only “crazy” one out there. Why would I want to pay full price when I can use a coupon and it is so much more satisfying to grow our food. I personally think my friends are crazy for paying full price. You are my hero:)
mildred lane says
I have tried more new recipes and done more cooking from scratch since I have started reading your blog. I now have garden seeds to try new items next spring. Like a tomato tree, different winter squash, and okra.. I can hardly wait for spring.