A frugal couple with nine children owns a home in Brunt Hill, New York, has zero debt, and spends $364 per month is coping with the nation's inflation by being frugal and not spending much money on things.
To save, the Shillito family grows fruits and vegetables in the garden. They buy their groceries in bulk, choose the marked-down items, and shop directly with restaurant supply stores, Daily Mail reports.
The couple has nine children aged from two months to 19 years, and they share the strategies that help them save a significant amount of cash. The father, Art Shillito, admits that inflation does not affect them as much because of how they shop.
How they kept their monthly expenses at $364
According to Shillito, people find their saving techniques interesting, but when they find out how much work it entails, they become disinterested. Most people want easy solutions, he added. The couple shared that they spend an average of $364.74 a month to feed their family of 11. The amount is way below the monthly average, which costs $500.
The family has been sharing their tactics on a blog and Youtube channel called Parsnip and Parsimony.
Some secrets include buying from wholesalers for distressed foods or foods with damaged packaging. The family establishes no-spend months when they do not purchase non-essentials and examines expense categories to see where they can save on the cost, The Wall Street Journal reports.
To save on milk, they joined a Milk Club at a local dairy that gives them free half-gallon if they buy five gallons.
The family also saves on food by growing fruits and vegetables in their garden and raising 38 chickens which supply them with eggs.
Recently, Shillito repaired the roof of their family home, spending only $1,065.34, way below the $7,356.08 estimate that someone gave them for their services.
According to their blog, they spent $666.81 for Shingles/Nails, Lift rental for $200, and Flashing/drip edge for $124.20. They borrowed the nail gun/air compressor at no cost. The couple saved $6,290.74, they noted.
Other ways to save at home
Amanda Grossman, a certified financial education instructor in El Paso, Texas, said frugality is now in fashion. Still, she advises everyone to be frugal in good and bad times to get ahead.
As the country's inflation rate skyrockets to 8.3 percent in April, citizens have pointed to rising costs of commodities as the reason for scaling down on vacation, dining out, and routine services like haircuts, manicures, and house cleaning to lessen their expenditures. Car sales also dropped by four percent. Credit card spending also showed that Americans started cutting routine expenses such as services.
Financial planners cite that the first step to saving is understanding where the money goes. From credit card and bank statements, track how you spend your money and see expenditures that need cutting or redirection.
Fortune also suggests setting aside a time for meal prepping, such as Sunday, to make a few days or week's worths of meals. The move can help save money on groceries, food waste, and deliveries when you are too tired to cook. Also, refrain from buying new items. Instead, consider buying from second-hand stores for slightly-used clothes, home goods, and furniture.
