Budget tips, please! (Austin, Bee Cave: to buy, movies, living)

[kenneth.richard]

My family and I usually take a 4-5 day vacation (out of state) in the summer, but decided to keep it close to home this year. Probably do a trip down to San Antonia for Sea World. Either that or going canoeing in Town Lake, or swimming at Hamilton Pool. Can easily save a few thousand dollars this way.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by marylee54

I just meant money saving tips in general, like whatever you do to save a few cents.

If it isnt specific to austin, the moderators will close the thread.

First is to see where your money is going. We use mint.com which seems to break all the time but it is adequate.

You can target about $1/meal per person for food, about 1/4 pound of protein food, 1/4 pound of starches and 1/4-1/2 pound of veggies. This means your meat has to be less than a few dollars a pound.

HEB has catfish nuggets typically for 2/pound - inexpensive way to get fish. The nuggets arent breaded or anything they are just the end pieces from whole fillets so are a lot cheaper.

Randalls often times have the best meat savings. I bought several 16 pound pork shoulders for 1/pound. When the stuff isnt on sale it is overpriced, but when it is on sale it is a screaming bargain.

The cheapest gas is generally costco, but HEB is pretty good too.

alamo drafthouse lakecreek has free cult thursdays at 10pm. Free movies!

[LesFex]

I agree with Austin97, its’ a good idea to use any online money management tools to track where your money is going. When I work with my budget, I do have a reality check and compare what we want to spend with our income. This is a way to cut down on unnecessary expenses & confirm that we are living within our means, n' it helps us to figure out if we have money for optional expenditures.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by capcat

My grocery store challenge is taking just $10.00 cash with me to the grocery for dinner. Stores are close to my house, so are on my way home from work. Makes me think twice about quantity and how much we really need. Not more any than we'll use that day or maybe the next for lunch, so I don't throw any of it out. I also like Sun Harvest for produce and also for meat. I can ask for the exact amount of meat that we will need, not a pre-packaged quantity.

I agree, Sun Harvest is the cheapest for meats and produce... and I also love the buying-at-the-counter for stuff like ground beef. I think it's fresher that way, as your pound of ground beef doesn't have as much surface area exposed as the packaged ones.

If you want to grocery shop for the absolute bottom dollar, Wal-mart for dry goods and Sun Harvest for produce and meats.

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by atxcio

I agree, Sun Harvest is the cheapest for meats and produce... and I also love the buying-at-the-counter for stuff like ground beef. I think it's fresher that way, as your pound of ground beef doesn't have as much surface area exposed as the packaged ones.

If you want to grocery shop for the absolute bottom dollar, Wal-mart for dry goods and Sun Harvest for produce and meats.

Where is Sun Harvest located at? Do they have several locations in the Austin area?

[capcat]

Originally Posted by TexasGirl@Heart

Where is Sun Harvest located at? Do they have several locations in the Austin area?

Two, according to their website. I shop at the one near Anderson Lane and Shoal Creek Blvd in north Austin, but notice there is one on South Lamar as well. I didn't know about that one. Here's a link with Texas stores:
http://www.sun-harvest.com/app/sunharvest/stores.php

oops, sorry. The link isn't coming through right for some reason.

[Phisch]

There's that Newflower Market on Wm. Canon and Manchaca. How does it compare to Sun Havest?

Also to save money (we are hoping it works): grow your own veggies. We get lots of sun here in central TX. We started this past week using the Square Foot Garden method which is great if you don't have a lot of space.

[sssaustin]

Phisch

Can u elaborate on this square foot gardening ...

When I googled ..looks like we grow in boxes....Can we buy those boxes in a garden store?

[Runemaster]

Coupons, Grocery Coupons - The Grocery Game :: Home

and

Financial Peace University

[thesonofgray]

Instead of shopping at the Macy's in the Domain, I shop at the Macy's in Barton Creek Square Mall.

At least it makes me feel like I'm saving money.