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!!!