Sometimes you need to splurge a bit. Big E day!

Today was one of those days. We went with some friends to the Eastern States Exposition, otherwise known as The Big E. It is a huge food and junk extravaganza, where you can easily spend a TON of money. Here are some ways to keep it manageable:

• Park off site. There are side streets across from the Big E where residents offer parking on their lawns for lower rates. Parking at the facility or close by is around $10. Park a couple of houses down, and you get it for $5, plus you walk off a few extra calories.
• Go during off hours. The Big E in particular offers admission after 5pm for just $6 for adults, instead of the $15 during the day. That's $9 that can go toward your food and drink for the day! Look for discount coupons at local businesses, too. 
• Remember what your parents taught you, and share! Food gets expensive at fairs. You both don't need the clam fritters or the huge turkey leg. Buy one and split it. This way you can afford another treat later. Buy a large drink and split it. 2 small lemonades would have been $8, but a large was $6. 
• Free samples are your friends. Many places/booths offer small samples. You may have to wait in line, and it might only be a small piece, but they add up. Plus you can try things that you never would normally eat.
• Watch the impulse purposes. It's easy to get carried away with all the gadgets and crafts, so be careful. If you see something you just HAVE to have, make a mental note of which booth you are at, take a walk, and if you still really want it at the end of the show, go back and buy it. With some smaller 1 or 2 day events, if you buy goods near closing, the owners are willing to lower their prices.
• Look for coupons to other events. Ski resorts, zoos, and other attractions may be offering deals at fairs like this.
• Relax! Remember, you need to have some fun once in a while. Hopefully you are setting aside money for fun or entertainment. Lots of these things are once a year, so let go and have fun for the day!

"They're coming to get you, Barbara!"

-Johnny, "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)

Hello out there!

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I'm posting anyway. I'm Aimee, and my hubby is Rich. After numerous efforts to cut down our debt and build some savings, we're trying again, but taking some different approaches; blogging being one of them. I saw an article titled "Budgeting For The Zombie Apocalypse" and thought "brilliant!". That describes our philosophy right now.

I'm using this blog as a way to stay accountable, as well as hopefully share some of the things I learn with others in our situation. I'll be continuing my couponing, trying out freezer meals and cooking in bulk, and using the snowball method of paying down our debt. You get to sit back and watch it all unfold. Exciting, isn't it?

Don't let the whole zombie apocalypse thing scare you. It's really just a way of keeping our focus on what is ultimately important. Family, friends, and basic necessities are all you really need, right?

Your first of many Zombie/Apocalypse quotes:

"The first rule of Zombieland: Cardio."
-Columbus, "Zombieland"

Grocery Shopping 9/20/11

Tonight was grocery shopping. I'll post more about how I am saving money, but for now I just need to share my excitement about Aldi. If you have not been, you must check it out. It's a discount store that doesn't take coupons, only takes cash and debit cards (no credit), and carries about 95% store brands. But, you can score some great deals! Tonight, I scored all this for $14.02: mushrooms, 4 huge green peppers, pierogies, a box of Cheerio knock-offs, 2 pks of tortillas, pesto sauce, yogurt raisins, and a bag of chocolate chips. It was great! Thanks to a post on Money Saving Mom, I knew what to expect and planned accordingly. For your Aldi 101, check it out and be sure to read the comments for more helpful tips.

Stop and Shop was next, but mostly for the specialty items, so it was definitely more expensive. Just with buying sale items and using a couple of coupons, I went from $113.05 to $70.50. The pasta and oatmeal will go pretty far, and the B1G1 chicken is earmarked for a couple of recipes already: Chicken Tetrazzini and Chicken and Rice Casserole. The great part is that if I'm feeling really ambitious, I can make these meals ahead of time and freeze them for later. You'll notice I reference Money Saving Mom a lot here, but I receive no benefit to this. I just love everything she does. Haha.


"You know the only good thing about no soap is that you can smell hijackers a mile off!"
-Eli, "The Book of Eli"