Singles Only

Dating Reflection

puglseysmom — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:13:33 GMT

Love yourself. It's okay to be alone - preferable actually after looking around a bit and hearing a short version of some peoples' experiences -- remember the partner has another version and they usually cannot seem to communicate it without a really expensive mediator sometimes. Beware anyone setting you up with someone (even at church) - sometimes they are just trying to unload their own problem. If you want to beleive someone can change, it's your faith that may be tested. I've kinda run out of faith in just about everything and everyone.

Materialistic Friend Thread.

rvijay07 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:55:15 GMT

Ever had a materialistic friend get very close to you or had a crush on a person who was materialistic ? Please share here. Can a relationship last between a materialistic person and a Frugal person ?

Most materialistic folks are busy getting their goals that they can't make time for others, specially with frugal folks it appears.

Thanks.

Single mom stories wanted

MoBear — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:06:31 GMT

Looking for single mom stories for my volume 2 book that I am writing- on living on one income...names are witheld. If you can help, I'd love to hear from you.

Please visit my blog at:

www.oneincomedollar.com

Weird Frugal Things that Singles Do

lgregg7 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:01:02 GMT

I have paper towels. I even use them .... sometimes. But I rarely purchase them. I keep a lovely basket beside the kitchen sink, filled with 24 square terry dish cloths, folded in half. I use them to dry my hands when I wash them, wipe up minor spills & wipe down the kitchen counter. I even use them for dish cloths every now and then if it's not a messy pile of dishes (I like to keep them looking nice). I just use them and toss them in the laundry basket. You can't do that with a paper towel! Use it once, and that sucker's gone! I have a friend from out of town with a large family, who visits frequently. She tells me that she'd never, ever get away with that! She also purchases the industrial size packages of paper towels from Sam's Club.

Happy Day!

Linda

2 Corinthians 4:7 We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, not from us.

Single Freebies

frugal_alaskan — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:43:09 GMT

I've found that because I'm a single mom people tend to give me freebies alot. Even when I don't have my son, like when he's at his dads, people still give me free stuff to "help me out" even though I never give off the imression that I'm in need of help (maybe its cause I'm cheap people automatically think I'm poor...???). Does anybody else get this? My neighbor across the street is always giving me fish and milk. She called me earlier to tell me that she's going to bring me octopus later today, which is me and my son's favorite. We always get dinner invites, which is free food, but I always bring some vino for the hostess. The cabel guy "forgot" to disconnect the cable...things like that happen all the time. And I'm not even cute...lol!

So, I thought I'd start a thread where we can talk about our freebies.

YEAH OCTOPUS! I love that stuff with soy sauce and wasabi.

Staying Single

missapril_piano — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:10:46 GMT

So, are you intentionally single? I am-sort of! lol...

I have a boyfriend, but it is a *fun* relationship. He wines and dines me, and brings me little gifts. I cook for him. However, I am committed to not having a serious relationship for this part of my life. I am, for most intents & purposes, intentionally single. I don't interpret intentionally single as being miserable and lonely. I have tons of friends and this 'boyfriend' to fill my life. My life is not defined by my relationship with him. We live separately and have separate (and mutual) friends. If I need space, I have it no questions asked.

I was thinking about this yesterday when I stumbled upon www.livestrong.com. They have a singles area and all resources are geared towards finding a mate! I thought this was a bit extreme. A person should be able to find their own balance in life, which may or may not include a **mate** I wish that this site, which has support articles, etc, would have support for me.

Back to the ? -- Are you intentionally single? If not now, have you ever been? What does being intentionally single mean to you?

Cheap Date Ideas

Brandy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:17:29 GMT

I am no longer single but I dated my husband once and still enjoy going out for some quality time as a couple. An article coming up caught my eye as I was looking over the previews for next week's featured list.

My Story: Cheap Dates

Don't these sound fun? Have you ever gone on any of these kinds of dates? Have other frugal ideas?

Cooking For One Gripes and How I Deal With It

Virginia Needlewoman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:16:41 GMT

I started having to cook for just myself in late January 2007 when Mom had a silent heart attack and a frontal lobe stroke. I didn't know how to cope very well. Mom went from the hospital into a local nursing home. I had a lot of things that I had to get used to including being by myself with a very beautiful Chocolate Point Siamese cat who was not a lap cat.

I learned that if I cooked a Stouffer's frozen corn souffle or a frozen spinach souffle I could reheat it in a small Corning dish.

I dealt with leftover pot roast by freezing it into single serving portions.

I found that if I made my own potato leek soup from scratch it was more economical than if I used the Knorr dry soup mix plus it had the advantage of having less sodium. I make my own homemade chicken stock from the leftover rotisserie chickens that I freeze until I have 2 of them. I learned that I could recycle the green portion of the leeks and add them to the chicken broth ingredients.

I learned to watch the sales and to buy the frozen Stouffer's entrees on sale for quick meals.

I came up with several recipes that can be made with a rotisserie chicken. I learned that Harris Teeter puts them on sale on Sundays and that Food Lion puts them on sale on Fridays. I buy them on those days because I do love to save money.

I tried making my own meatballs. They were very good, but I can buy them cheaper than I can make them when they are on sale.

The trick with saving grocery money is to read the sale flyers from the various grocery stores. I've learned to watch the sales of certain things I like and enjoy. Sometimes things I like are cheaper as a mix when they are on sale. Sometimes I've made mistakes, but I end up giving the mixes I don't like to food bank collections. I combine the store specials with my coupons that I clip regularly. I carry my coupons with me every time I go out.

I am going to learn how to make my own pasta using my pasta machine. I'll be making my own fancy raviolis for a little more than what they cost in the dairy case. The difference is that I will be making enough for several meals.

I have learned that if I don't think I can finish the cake I've made before it gets stale, I can take it to the nursing home for the nursing staff. I do the same thing with cookies.

I have a 9 cubic foot chest freezer in my pantry. That helps me to take advantage of sales. The other thing that helps me is the Food Saver that Mom got us in December 2006. I look at the entrees for Home Bistro (www.homebistro.com) for ideas of meals that I would enjoy and then I think how I can make them less expensively. I have found that I can afford steaks if I watch for the sales on whole beef tenderloins and have it cut into steaks. I pay $7.99 a pound on sale for the tenderloin. Each steak is $2.50, which is very nice on my budget. The tenderloins provide me with more meals for less money than if I order from Home Bistro.

I've tried new foods and recipes since cooking for just myself. I cook with fat free evaporated milk and powdered milk. I buy butter on sale and I freeze it. I also try to keep an open mind. I am trying to make up menus of meals I enjoy. I managed to find a copy of a cookbook on eBay Mom used while I was growing up. Now I can prepare foods I remember enjoying in the past. I am very fortunate because Mom encouraged me to cook while I was a small child. I learned how to shop wisely from Mom and from a man I used to date. I keep a well-stocked kitchen, pantry, and freezer. This helps me to eat at home instead of going out to eat a lot or to hit the drive-thru. I took some cooking classes so that I could cook things like souffles. I make homemade soups and I enjoy them.

Support with Singles Dating.

rvijay07 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:37:59 GMT

These dating sites offer OUTSTANDING free online dating services:
1. plentyoffish.com
2. okcupid.com

Don't forget/hesitate to use them.

Vijay

Weird frugal behavior for singles

frugal_alaskan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:39:45 GMT

Do you do weird things to save money that you know you couldn't get away with if you were not single? I am only a part time singleton, since my son is at his dads for visitation sometimes and my SO is stationed in another state right now. I find myself doing totally obserd things to save a buck. I find myself skipping meals to save money, like breakfast on weekdays and sometimes dinner if I'm super lazy. Or, I'll find the cheapest most nutritionally devoid food for a meal, like, top ramen at $5 a case and eat that for a week straight. I also don't turn on any lights in the house when I'm alone, I'll light a candle to read by if its dark or sit in the dark and listen to a audiobook on my ipod. I also found that my fridge and freezer in my kitchen were so empty that I put the frozen stuff in the big freezer decided I don't need to buy new parishables and unplugged the whole unit. Sure, I miss milk and butter...but I'm saving on electicity! Nothing except the deep freeze is plugged in at my house at the moment. most of the stuff is on power strips anyways, but everything is unplugged so I'm not drawing energy to support electric vampirism. Am I weird, or is this acceptable frugal behavior?

Stocking up

karenteacher — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:28:47 GMT

What things to do you - as a single living alone - stock up on? What things have you found that you can't use fast enough to be worth stocking up on?

I stock up on non-perishables - paper goods, dry goods, freezable foods - but I don't stock up on perishables, although as I start playing with my new/used dehydrator, that may change some.

Apartment Living

Kim_150 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:47:48 GMT

While I've been trying to save money, I'm finding some things much harder since I live in an apartment and don't own my home. For example...

-I can't call around to find a cheaper internet company, because my landlord has a contract with one provider and I can only use that one.

-Limited storage space. I actually have quite a lot of space because I have two bedrooms (use the second bedroom as an office), but if I didn't have that extra space I'd be totally lost.

-The only air conditioning available during summer is an old energy-guzzling room-sized thing built into my wall, and I'm unable to replace my older appliances with newer and more efficient ones.

-I can't freeze a whole lot, because I only have one of those older freezers that is on top of the refrigerator. I'd love to be able to grow my own vegetables and herbs, but my north and west-facing windows with trees in front of them don't get much direct sunlight.

Other things are easier, though...

-I don't have or need a land-based phone line, and can get by with a basic cell phone plan.

-I don't have to pay for water, heat, or trash and recycling service.

-When something breaks, it gets fixed for me and I only have to pay if I specifically did something stupid to necessitate a new part or extra labor.

-All the snow is plowed for me, and I only occasionally have to dig some from around my tires.

Is anyone else out there an apartment dweller? If so, what barriers do you have to saving money and how do you overcome them? Or do you have any tips for maximizing storage space, or anything else for apartment living?

PS. I put this thread down here, but I do realize families also live in apartments. Please move it if I've put it in the wrong place!

Vegetarians/Vegans

rvijay07 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:35:01 GMT

Let us discuss Frugal Vegetarian/Vegan issues/interests here. :)

single parents who work from home

K. Rose — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:40:49 GMT

Hi Gary,

I enjoy your web site and read it freqently. I just read your answer to a single mother of three who wants to stay at home with her children. I disagree with your answer to her that she cannot be home full time. I was dumped 16 years ago with five children 8 and under. I have stayed home and raised them. The child support was not enough to live on so I started a a sewing business and for a while, cleaned offices and houses. It is not easy but it is very possible. By being very frugal and creative, I have managed to be home for my children. I also homeschooled them. I only have one left in high school now and would not have traded these years for anything. It is so rewarding to own my business and raise my family from home. Not only is it possible but there are many of us in the trenches doing that very thing. Thank you for listening.

single

sisjean — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:35:41 GMT

Hi there everyone---I am new to this list so please bear with me.

I am 69, a widow of 6 years, from California moved to Pa almost 3 years ago.

On a fixed income, I am really interested in cooking for 1 or 2, I like "remains"

as my Dad always called leftovers. Will go now and try to catch the drift here so I can contribute a little more usefully.

Jean

Dining Singly Poll

Luvd_Lioness — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:19:01 GMT

[Poll]

Meals for One

Luvd_Lioness — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:01:27 GMT

Do you plan our meals on a daily OR weekly OR monthy basis?

Do you cook for more than one, even though its just you, and freeze the leftovers?

How often do you find yourself doing takeout?

No longer a singleton

frugal_alaskan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:27:20 GMT

But still a single mum. My wayward 6 year old son returned home on wednesday from his summer visit with his dad. He looks like a long haired hippy! He is getting a haircut saturday for sure, I've got the clippers all oiled up and ready to go. Now with my son home I have to find more ways to save money on stuff I normally do or buy for myself so I can buy him things like fresh fruit and pay for activities like swimming pool passes and summer camp classes (I'm a poet!). Just received notice that electicity is going up to $0.54 per kwh here, we have a deisel power plant...thats gunna hurt big time. last electric bill I belive it was up to $0.42 from $0.36, so its climbing steadily and will continue to do so because of course, the power plant is the only source of electricity on our island so they have the monopoly. I'm going to have to find a way to cut costs somewhere.

Introducing..

Pat — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:52:15 GMT

This forum.

Singles, single parents and anyone else living alone seem to have different challenges than those with families or SOs. Got a question? A gripe? Need tips? Looking for advice? Here we are!