Welcome to the Frugal Edition of WFMW (you can link up a new frugal/money-saving tip or an old one- on any subject. If you forgot our themed edition, it's okay!)
I like to save money. No, I love to save money. I love thrifty finds, but I'm still learning how to be frugal.
My biggest (bang for the buck) frugal tip: Co-ops. The word co-op comes from the word cooperative. Cooperative means working or acting together for the common good.
That's just good stuff right there.
Currently, my family is in two co-ops. Every year, we share a cow with two other families. Our 1/3 side of beef feeds our family for the entire year. We save a lot of money on meat and eat meals we normally couldn't afford (hello, prime rib).
Recently, we entered a babysitting co-op with some friends. They also have 3 kids. Instead of paying a sitter $30 to watch our children, our friends do it. We return the favor. The kids have fun, the adults get a date night and we all save money. We work together for our common good (which would be our sanity).
My neighbor is in a vegetable co-op with a farm on the outskirts of our city. I'm envious, but I'm going to sign up in time next year. Local Harvest is a great site that introduces local food co-ops in your area.
I found a local farmer and we're going to supplement our garden with their produce. Plus, I'm really hoping she'll let my kids retrieve an egg from under a chicken. I'm all about their education and I like to laugh.
I'm sure there are other types of co-ops, but we have been able to save a lot of money on these two, plus it feels really good to cooperate.
Do you know of any other kind of co-ops?
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53 comments:
I love the idea of the babysitter co-op... we should definitely start one here, since babysitters are hard to come by.
Danelle Ice / Homemaker Barbi
Oh how I would love to be in a babysitter co-op! I wonder if I could get one going here. I'm terrified of babysitters I don't know--so friends would be fanatical!
LOVE that babysitting coop idea! :)
And, we are LOVING our CSA (veggie coop) membership! I'm already eating healthier...and their broccoli compared to what I bought at the store? I couldn't believe the difference in the color alone.
I can't wait to read everyone's tips!
I am in a home school co-op unlike some where the teachers get paid this is a true co-op where once a week the parents teach the classes.
We live in an housing co-operative!
I need to find some friends to do a beef co-op with. My hubby and eldest like to have their meat with every dinner, and it would be nice to grant their wish in a way that's affordable.
I would love to have this option! There are a few of us that have talked about doing it, but we haven't been able to get it off the groud successfully.
Gotta keep trying, I need a date w/ hubby again. Last time? Circa: 2008 (I know that is NOT good!)
i've just got to know...how did you come about sharing a cow with other families?!? that is a hoot!
We are DEFINITELY going to share a cow with others this next year. We were going to do a half a cow, but if a 1/3 feeds your family it'll be more than enough for mine! Glad you posted that!
We just got our first split half of beef this year - very exciting!
I've heard that there is an organic food co-op in our area with organic nonperishables like peanut butter, etc. I'm intrigued...
I am all about CoopS too. We have been reaping the rewards of coops for about ten years. From frozen food, to produce to meat. And as you suggest it has the added benefit of making you more a part of the community.
We've done the baby-sitting one, and it is a great idea. I don't always look forward to the night when we're on duty, but the other date nights make up for it. :)
I have done homeschool co-ops and we did a housecleaning co-op once.
By that I mean that I had to clean my own house, but she watched my kids while I did it, and I watched hers while she cleaned hers.
It was just easier to really get it all done in a couple of hours with no kids underfoot. We did it once a week for awhile.
Thank you for hosting again today!
While we're not in a co-op, we totally trade sitting with friends - it's a great way to go!
We've thought about doing this with meals too-they cook a few and we cook a few and then we trade. When it's dinner time it's all ready done (or at least in the freezer) and it's something new because we didn't make it!
It seems as though co-ops are harder to find in the suburbs! I have yet to hear of one. Perhaps I need to dig a little deeper, as I really like the concept!
I helped teach in a Christian moms preschool co-op when my son was little - it was so precious and all the moms helped in one way or another.
I'm not in any co-ops right now, but a friend and I do help each other out regularly with childcare and other needs like that.
Thanks for having this frugal edition!!
Thanks for this frugal edition! I've been working toward being more frugal in my grocery shopping and I'm excited to get more ideas!
This is probably going to be my fave works for me, just because I love to save $$$!!!
Thanks for hosting! Blessings to you!!!
I always think it seems like a great idea to get the huge quantities of food, but then I worry about where to store it. I especially worry about us eating the vegetables and fruit in a timely manner. Any suggestions?
I don't think I would know what to do with most of a cow - one of life's mysteries that will hopefully remain that way!!! Great theme thanks for hosting week after week!
I'm not in any co-ops now, but when my boys were younger I was in a babysitting one.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
BTW - what time do you usually post WFMW? Thanks!
We also share babysitting with our friends. It saves us a lot of money!
You are right co-ops can be a great thing!
So proud of you for joining a CSA. Nothing is better than fresh veggies straight off the farm!
Those coops are great. Love the 1/3 beef idea, and the baby sitting coop. Just great!
Co-ops are a great idea. I'm going to have to look for one in my area.
LOVE your ideas.
Growing up we used to share beef and lamb like that.
The baby-sitting share is a super idea - I really must look into that.
I have never heard of the Co-op. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Ah yes...I love co-ops. I'm a part of a couple of Health Food C-ops which are a HUGE blessing and so simple to be a part of.
I think I should start a house cleaning co-op. The kind where they clean my house and in return, I tell them thank you. Hm, great idea. :)
Co-op preschool was my life-saving co-op. It gave me a network of friends at the same stage of life, playdate opportunities galore, and affordable preschool with parents who care enough to put time into the classroom. Co-ops are a beautiful way to build community. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to find some like these! Thanks for the great ideas!
When our kids were younger, I participated in a preschool co-op. Every six weeks I would have 8 kids on Tuesday and Thursday morning. The other five weeks, I could drop off my own someplace else. We used the "Joy School" curriculum and it was a great experience. (http://www.valuesparenting.com/joyschool/)
By the way, I love our farmer's market co-op. Basically it's a group of 12 that got together and we're divided into 6 pairs. Every other week we give $15 to the pair that's going to the farmer's market, where individual farmers sell produce by the case/bushel/etc. The two of them decide what to buy, divide it into the 12 baskets, and then we go pick it up from them. I figure we get at least $50-60 worth of food at grocery store prices.
I'm cheating a bit here as I forgot about Frugal carnival, but I do have a giveaway which kind of saves money.
I did try a baby sitting co-op many moons ago and baby sat many, many, many children. Sadly the co-op fizzled out before I had the chance to use the service myself.
I feel honour bound to offer a frugal tip now so.....how about??? something that hasn't already been mentioned.......ah yes.....use cold / left over tea as a houseplant fertilizer, it really works.
Of course it helps considerably if it's 'British Blend.'
Cheers
I run the babysitting co-op for my local MOMS Club. It's such a lifesaver, let alone a moneysaver. Do you know how expensive it is to get a sitter for THREE kids? And they're asleep most of that time, so it's not worth the money! Trading hours with other moms has been so helpful over the past four years.
I've been afraid to try a veggie co-op, because I never know what the family will eat and I can't eat it all by myself before it goes bad.
Hey, this is Ginger from Here's My Cup Lord. I am Rena's little sister from Insert Grace Here. I wanted to take a moment and invite you to a special Wedding Web-Shower on behalf of Jenifriend of Enjoyer of the Journey. Paste the following link in your browser to view the details and join us on the 14th of each month.
Thank you and be blessed.
Rena and Ginger
**oh! It's frugal, because it's FREE! Ha!
http://heresmycuplord.com/2009/05/01/its-your-day-jenifriend/
An oil co-op
http://www.swapsavers.com/group/savingsswappers/forum/topics/energy-savings-tips
We also share a cow with my Dad and my cousin every year. The meat is fresh and the price is great!
This is going to be my FAVORITE WFMW, because I am just now starting to be interested in being frugal. I can't wait to read through and get ideas from other people... I won't be participating this week, because I honestly have no frugal tips...I just need them!!
We've done the preschool co-op in the past and it worked great and saved us lots of $$! We had from 6-8 kids and the Moms took turns having the 2 hr. class in their home. We printed off free worksheets from the computer and also thought up craft ideas. The kids LOVED it! We usually did the "schoolwork" for the 1st hour and then let them play for the 2nd hour and gave them a light snack. At age 3-5, learing social skills is 3/4 of the battle and this was a great way for them to make friends that they'd have when starting kindergarten. I HIGHLY recommend it!
We also started buying beef a couple of years ago...I couldn't remember the last time we'd had steaks on the grill or a thick, tender roast (like my Mom used to make). Now we have them in abundance and love the convenience of having it at our fingertips when trying to think of supper ideas! And the meat is delicious...not like you can buy in the supermarket!
I love the idea of a babysitting co-op or a house cleaning co-op. I might have to bring this idea up with my girlfriends SOON!
I just thought of another co-op idea when looking out at my flower beds. You could have a flower swap co-op in the spring. When we first built our house, we had very little landscaping and very little money left over to improve it. I have several dear friends who had an abundance of lilies and other perennial flowers that they needed to seperate and they so generously "donated" them to me. Now I have beautiful irises, lilies, black-eyed susans, daffodils and grape hyacinths that come up at different times of the year. It's a great way to add variety to your landscaping at no cost to you and also a great way to be reminded of wonderful, generous friends!
We belong to a food co-op:
www.eastendfood.coop
There's a one-time member fee (not an annual fee) of $100, and you get it back if you decide to quit. Members get a 2% discount every day and 10% on the monthly member day. We also can special-order things by the case. To the general public, it's a grocery/healthfood store where anyone can shop at full price. They have a lot of really good organic bulk foods like oatmeal, raisins, and spices that are less expensive than non-organic in the supermarket because you're not paying for the container--we bring empty peanut butter jars and such. I love it!
my family belonged to a co op growing up....I need to research what's available in my area. Thanks for the nudge.
Those are great ideas! I tried the babysitting co-op with my sister, but she never wants to go out, so it didn't work. I think we are going to start one with my mom's group.
I also know a couple women from my mom's group who want to share a cow. We just don't know where to get one from. Where do y'all get your cow?
I would love to start a babysitting co-op but no takers yet. And the food thing?! YES! But alas, not one in our town. I'm still searching. Love the co-op lifestyle!!
Is Mr. Linky being finicky again? I can't see any of the links...
I don't see Mr. Linky...I'll try and check back later:) I did share a little frugal tip over at my blog.
I love frugal tips! We just got a whole pig and we are just LOVING having all the meat in our deep freezer.
My friends do a meal co-op once a week exchanging meals for their families! If I still lived in their town I'd DEFINITELY join in.
I'm glad Mr. Linky is working again :) Hope it's ok, I just linked to an older post about making an omelet when you have almost no food in the house (a bread crumb omelet). Yummy and very frugal!
And on the co-op question: I just read about a lady who made an old-fashioned outdoor brick oven in her yard, and women in her neighborhood come over and all bake bread together in it once a week. Pretty nifty idea.
We used to belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and loved all the fresh produce it brought us every week during the summer (though I feared beets when they were in season.)
Through our former CSA we buy a quarter of a cow, that can supply us between 6 to 12 months.
I want to put a garden in my backyard... we eat a ton of veggies, but its too hot for me to go outside right now. So I'll just be jealous of yours :)
My family formed a dinner co-op recently. There are four couples in all (either with no kids or babies), and we each take a turn on a weeknight cooking dinner for eight, dividing up the meals, and delivering them to each family. It is WONDERFUL!! We save money on groceries (bulk ingredients for one large meal rather than four small ones), we save time on prep and dishes, we get to try new things, and it's a fabulous sight to see someone else pull into your driveway with dinner three nights a week. We rotate a poultry, beef, fish, and veggie night each week and we deliver meals by 6 p.m. We're still working out a few kinks, but all-in-all it's great!
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