Cheryl- my oldest had nothing prepackaged, but there wasn't anything much prepackaged back then!  She wore cloth diapers at home, had a huge metal carseat, and had winter hats and gloves knitted by my gramma. She just went to daycare and an occasional class, like gymnastics or swimming. Fast forward to now, I am driving three kids ...

Deb- did you see the Walgreen's ad this week?  I think some food is on good sales that you would use, like the single serve fruit cups or applesauce, 3 packs for $5.   We did receive good news, our food stamps are going up.  Our income finally showed up cut in half, as it should have been since summer, when unemployment was ...

 Our temp keeps swinging, rain to snow to 58 today!  I have everything out, it seems!  Going through clothes, was able to give a family 2 winter coats, a pair of snowpants, and the baby's highchair!  Felt good to have enough to share. Having a hard time keeping mittens and shoes and boots stored, they are avalanching ...

My computer clue of the day, you can get Windows 7 DEEPLY discounted if you are a student. I think it is $30.  

 I will say I combine a lot of convenience/home cooking.  Tonight, for example, someone at work gave me about 20 tomatoes,so I used tomaotes I canned myself, the fresh tomatoes, leeks, onions and garlic from our CSA box, pasta from the store, and then had my 10 y dd kitchen helper make a pan of brownies from a box, with homemade purple ...

True confessions- things I have bought- We like Bagel-fuls, a frozen bagel stick with cream cheese and cherries in. I have bought uncrustables, for ds when he had football practice, apparently they are dorky enough to be cool, somehow.  I love the taste and the fun of that decorator frosting with tips, I will buy those once in a while.  ...

I have a pretty good pantry, for the 9 of us, but it will be tight.  The basic perishables- fruit, cheese, milk, bread, etc, have been flying off the shelves!  I thought with more people eating lunch out that our costs would decrease this fall, we have four getting free lunch, but it seems snacks when school is out, and making lunch for ...

 I spent about $74, and have $228 left on my card, until the 13th.  I bought the basics, milk, applesauce, cheese, bread, quite a few fruit items-bananas, tangerines, and grapes, for the weekend.  Also two boxes of tic tacs on sale.  I read your mix-up, Deb, about the rent.  I continue to be annoyed that the number that ...

dmc- what about your JC Penney's card?

Then there is MAC until a child is 6.  This is also an excellent resource for food for seniors, the NAPS program.