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UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Jan 18 2009 04:42 am

Greg the White wrote:

Working as a dishwasher, trying to make my way through college has made me an expert on money-saving. Don't listen to the people who say to just get a bunch of boxes of microwave meals at Wal-Mart or something. They're nasty, unhealthy, and unfilling. Instead, grab a local newspaper, and clip out coupons for fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc. (best to learn how to make basic meals in the kitchen as well, it's not very hard). Then, get a member card for every grocery store you go to (should be free in most places). You can easily get a huge haul of healthy, filling meals for under $100 if you use coupons and store-brand foods.

Best thing to remember how to shop is to figure out how to stretch out food. For example, instead of buying two dozen eggs for about $10, and blowing through them quickly by eating three or four eggs every morning, I buy a dozen eggs, a pepper, and an onion with coupons for about $5 total. You can then only use one or two eggs by stretching it out with things to mix in each day. This way, i cut my breakfast prices in half buying filling, good-tasting instead of eating fattening, expensive cereal or toaster stuff. For lunches, you can make sandwiches with a pesto-mayo mix, which will keep you from having to buy expensive jars of mayo by making you use half as much. These are two small examples of getting mileage out of your food.

I'll try to post more stuff about energy and bills later on. Time for dinner, now.

I won't necessarily agree with all of this, but I will agree with the general idea: learning how to actually cook food and not just buying it in a box is one of the most valuable things you can learn. Expecially if you're cooking for more than one person.

I quickly present Satsui's Guide To Cooking Nearly Any Sort Of Meat Product In An Oven. This isn't the only way to make food, but it is simple and usually gets good results. I cook most everything this way.

1 - Preheat to 350 (unless it's pork chops, then go 425)
2 - Take your thawed meat (VERY important to thaw it) and coat it in whatever you have handy. Develop your own personal tastes, but a quick guide to what I like: Teriyaki sauce on steaks, Italian breadcrumbs on pork chops, BBQ sauce on chicken, and Lowry's Seasoned Salt on nearly everything.
3 - Bake it in the oven. Time will depend on what you're cooking. Steak (and you can get come cheap steaks. Don't let The Man tell you otherwise) is usually about 7-10 minutes a side, be sure to flip it, it's done when it's not red in the middle (cook to taste, of course) Pork chops take 25 minutes or so, cook all the pink out of them. Chicken can take about a half-hour (boneless) or nearly an hour (boned), look for full white flesh in boneless, or when "the juices run clear" in the bone-in (I just watch the leg, when the skins curls up, it's done). Roasts take an hour or more, you tell they're done the same way your smaller versions are. Hell, you can even make hamburgers in the oven.
4 - Cut it up, serve it with a veggie and maybe some instant potatoes or stuffing. Invite the female of your choice over*. Congrats, you've made a great dinner for 2 for about 5-6 bucks.

*Unless they're a vegetarian female friend. And what the hell are you doing with one of those anyways?

Posted: Jan 18 2009 04:45 am

If you wanna be frugal like myself

1. Try limiting going out to eat,bring food from home and buy high quality food(You will be more satisfied instead of filling up on Ramen)
2.turn heat down at night, use more blankets
3.sell your car, use public transportation(Gas is cheap, this was more applicable last summer)
4. Have neighbor and U split Wifi bill(High Speed access for 20 bucks a month)
5. Have money set back in case of crisis(Roomate loses job etc)

But even the most frugal people have their issues because life can get boring on a routine. Last night I ordered a pizza and it ended up being 22 dollars. I realized today that I could have saved that 22 dollars and gotten better value at the grocery store with that money. I was lazy because it was cold and didnt feel like riding the bus and catching it late at night. Those are the kind of moments you slip on just because you want a hot meal then and there,which is why fast food will never be going anywhere.

I am more for "good value" than saving money. I will buy the top of the line product if its going to last in the longrun and not breakdown. I also tend to buy stuff that has a higher resell value. I bought an IPod touch for Christmas which I can sell easily. I could have bought computer parts but those are much harder to sell when you need cash.Apple stuff hardly ever depreciates itself.

In terms of food/beverage I am not big on "Sam's Cola" or knockoff brands where you can tell the difference between the name brand ones. Stuff like Trashbags,laundry detergent I can skimp on and be ok.

I only use 10 dollar a month unlimted text on my phone and have regular service through a landline(saves me 500 or more a year compared to others).

I shop at Target(Walmart is ok, but Target has some deals that are just as great along with a more relaxing shopping experience).

I am a bigfan of blockbuster movie passes/netflix rentals for cheap entertainment and 2 dollars movies.

I fill up on coffee in the morning, buy 11 dollar jugs of red wine to drink to help wind me down at night(beer takes longer to get you buzzed}

Smoke cigarettes only if you can bum off someone else's pack Very Happy

Visit Sydlexia.com twice a day for good fortunes and longlife.

Posted: Jan 18 2009 11:58 am

Ermac wrote:

If you wanna be frugal like myself

1. Try limiting going out to eat,bring food from home and buy high quality food(You will be more satisfied instead of filling up on Ramen)
2.turn heat down at night, use more blankets
3.sell your car, use public transportation(Gas is cheap, this was more applicable last summer)
4. Have neighbor and U split Wifi bill(High Speed access for 20 bucks a month)
5. Have money set back in case of crisis(Roomate loses job etc)

But even the most frugal people have their issues because life can get boring on a routine. Last night I ordered a pizza and it ended up being 22 dollars. I realized today that I could have saved that 22 dollars and gotten better value at the grocery store with that money. I was lazy because it was cold and didnt feel like riding the bus and catching it late at night. Those are the kind of moments you slip on just because you want a hot meal then and there,which is why fast food will never be going anywhere.

I am more for "good value" than saving money. I will buy the top of the line product if its going to last in the longrun and not breakdown. I also tend to buy stuff that has a higher resell value. I bought an IPod touch for Christmas which I can sell easily. I could have bought computer parts but those are much harder to sell when you need cash.Apple stuff hardly ever depreciates itself.

In terms of food/beverage I am not big on "Sam's Cola" or knockoff brands where you can tell the difference between the name brand ones. Stuff like Trashbags,laundry detergent I can skimp on and be ok.

I only use 10 dollar a month unlimted text on my phone and have regular service through a landline(saves me 500 or more a year compared to others).

I shop at Target(Walmart is ok, but Target has some deals that are just as great along with a more relaxing shopping experience).

I am a bigfan of blockbuster movie passes/netflix rentals for cheap entertainment and 2 dollars movies.

I fill up on coffee in the morning, buy 11 dollar jugs of red wine to drink to help wind me down at night(beer takes longer to get you buzzed}

Smoke cigarettes only if you can bum off someone else's pack Very Happy

Visit Sydlexia.com twice a day for good fortunes and longlife.

all very good suggestions. especially the wine one.

the other day, i broke out of my frugal/cheap routine and went to lunch at hooters w/a coworker. i had 2 beers, clam chowder and fries = $16 + tip. so whatev. i never indulge myself and i was having a terrible day @ work.

oh yeah, try giving up on soda and get a filtered pitcher and learn to drink water again. you save a lot on that alone and lose weight.

Posted: Jan 26 2009 04:17 am

I'm only bringing this back because it's looking like I might be using this advice myself.

My tip for you (and me): Buy all your furniture/electronic/extra necessities BEFORE you move out, while you can still finance your paycheque as per what you want to buy, then you'll have it when you move out and all your extra shit cash (if you have any) can be used for necessities!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Ross Rifle wrote:

I'm only bringing this back because it's looking like I might be using this advice myself.

My tip for you (and me): Buy all your furniture/electronic/extra necessities BEFORE you move out, while you can still finance your paycheque as per what you want to buy, then you'll have it when you move out and all your extra shit cash (if you have any) can be used for necessities!

Then you have to move it.

Also cheque? Where do you think this is? France? Canada?

Posted: Jan 26 2009 09:41 am

Two words:

Food stamps.

Posted: Jan 26 2009 02:39 pm

Well big deal with moving it GP...I have large friends.

And shuddup.

Posted: Jan 27 2009 02:00 am

This thread reminded me of this ancient thread by the long gone Richo Rosai:

http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5492

Joined: Jun 20 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 802

lordsathien wrote:

This thread reminded me of this ancient thread by the long gone Richo Rosai:

http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5492

Heh, that's a good one. I just fucking LOL'd at McCracken's extraterrestrial abortion comment, haha.

Posted: Jan 27 2009 06:56 am

Find an abandoned house and start living there. If you live there long enough, it's legally yours by Squatter's Rights.

Posted: Jan 27 2009 08:22 am

Syd Lexia wrote:

Find an abandoned house and start living there. If you live there long enough, it's legally yours by Squatter's Rights.

I prefer to use my pocket change to buy house's

http://www.therealestatebloggers.com/2008/08/13/buy-a-house-for-only-1-dollar-only-in-detroit-baby/

Joined: Jun 20 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 802

Ermac wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

Find an abandoned house and start living there. If you live there long enough, it's legally yours by Squatter's Rights.

I prefer to use my pocket change to buy house's

http://www.therealestatebloggers.com/2008/08/13/buy-a-house-for-only-1-dollar-only-in-detroit-baby/

Shit, I should pick that up.