I was doing a bit of frugal reading last night. Some old favorites still have great strategies today. In Miserly Moms she talks about making a price book. I used to have one. That was 3 moves and 2 states ago don’t you know? It then occured to me, I used to be able to name off the best places to get what according to price by my little notebook. I have no idea what is what anymore. Isn’t that sad? I guess when I go to the store I just shop blindly.

What a flagrant misuse of funds. To just go shopping, many times without even list to go by, and usually hungry.

Now we live in a small town. My grocery shopping choices are the commissary, Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion, Family Dollar, Big Lots, and the Dollar Tree. Now I know that sounds like a lot. But in reality it isn’t. Food Lion here scares me. Isn’t that sad? I can’t stand going to Walmart. (Has anyone else noticed they really don’t have good sales there either?)

The closest is the commissary. I guess I am lulled in by the fact they have coupons posted and they have reasonable prices. So I go and blindly shop. I really need to tighten this up and start my price book.

So what is a price book? Well my version is really simple. It would have to be, think of who you are dealing with?

I have a notebook that I carry in my purse. I list the items I most commonly use, ie milk, flour, sugar, tuna, hamburger, chicken, etc and then there are columns for each store that I shop at. In those columns I write the price that they offer.

Now here is where I differ. I write what their normal price is. I don’t do as recommended and write the best possible price. My reason is this, prices fluctuate. Just because I get hamburger for 1.19 this week doesn’t mean that the price of beef will be the same next week. So if I write down the price that is that stores normal price I know when I see it somewhere else for a good price that such and such can’t beat it. Does that make sense?

Another thing I learned the last place we lived is to keep an idea on those convience store signs. There was a gas station in Hickory that I would never dream of shopping at, we all know how extremely high priced they can be, but they would offer milk for $1.99 a gallon. I guess they thought that if they got you in for milk that you would pick up some other over priced items. Not me. I would walk in, get my 2 gallon limit, pay and leave. I didn’t even buy gas there

Keep your list as up to date as possible. I write the product in pen and the prices in pencil. Keeps it easier to change.

Now I did try to keep in on computer once, but that didn’t work well for me. I need something I can refer to in the store. Maybe if I had a PDA, but … hey I have one of those don’t I? I got an old hand me down! Maybe I will look into that!

Let me know if you keep a price book and how it works for you!

Lately a friend of mine has been sharing how she wants to be very frugal in the coming year.

I remember when I was frugal. I had even started writing my own frugal cookbook. What happened to me? Well I got really off track.

Alyssa has really inspired me to get back to my frugal ways. It should be easier. Really it should. I am declaring the year of 2008 to be the year for me, so being frugal fits right in. And I am going to start my frugal ways on Friday when I grocery shop. Going to bring in the New Year right!

So that means I have 3 days to get things into shape before I get started. Being frugal for me is a bit different. I am not very good at the coupon thing. Besides the fact that the newspaper delivery person can never seem to get my paper to me on Sunday to deliver my coupons, I don’t cook the way that makes sense to use coupons.

I cook most meals from scratch. And if you notice most coupons are for ready made things and such. Now don’t get me wrong I love coupons! I just don’t go out of my way to do them. I am thinking maybe I can work them more into my routine.

First thing tomorrow I am going to work on getting my January menu up and going. I do two weeks at at time. This seems to work best for me.

I also need to work on my weaknesses. That McDonalds things kills me! I love their iced coffee and there are days when I would kill for a quarter pounder! And the mall. Having two preteen daughters? Geez louise! I need to stay away from that place at all cost!

So send me all ideas hints and tips. I will be sure to share with you my recipes and shopping adventures! I will have to post on Friday afternoons about my trips to the store. They are always just so much fun!!!

Can you tell me please where 2007 has flown off to? So many things have happened this year. It looks though that 2008 will rival it!

I know we still have a week and a few days left, but I wanted to jump right in and give you my list of goals for the upcoming year! Thanks Alyssa at Life From My Laptop for the inspiration!

Business Goals

Write Write and Write some more. I want to double what I am doing for WRG (that would be 80 a month). I also need to add content to my websites. At least one new content article a week.

Be better about following through with my business goals. Define those weekly and monthly goals the first day of the week/month, and follow through. Get things done in a timely matter.

Double my monthly income by June. This is a lofty goal, but I know with work I can do it. I will have to sit down and make a specific plan of action for it though. That is another goal in and to itself.

Work on building a reliable dependable list. I really need that.

Personal Goals 

Live more frugally. I used to be really good about this, but the past 3 years have been straight down hill. I know with the move in Apr-Jul this will be hard, but I really need to work on it.  Back to grocery list and limited mall shopping.

Pay off credit cards by Dec 2008.

Work on my degree. Finish the semester I am working on in a timely matter.

Clean and dejunk my house by the end of March. This is really important as I will have movers in here in April as well as a cleaning crew.

Well thats it people. I really need to follow through on all this. It is going to be a hard year and a very busy one. The youngest son will be graduating. The girls and I will be moving to NY. Our lives will be undergoing big changes. I really need to be more organized and less cluttered! Wish me luck!