Have you seen the Extreme Cheapskates show on TLC? Using the show as a baseline I am probably an eight. I prefer the term, “fiscally conservative.” I’ve noticed over the last several years a green trend to have a “zero waste home” and a shift towards the minimalist movement. I am originally from Sebastopol, CA home of the Gravenstein Apple, fine Burgundian-style wines, and the Bohemian lifestyle. For me, this is not a trend. I was raised this way. 

Below are a few of my frugal mama tips. These are easy-to-do, entry-level money-saving tips. I know if I start my blog about how I diapered two kids for free using cloth diapers you’d stop reading! These are easy habits you can implement today! 

Meal plan & eat at home 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of groceries for U.S. households is $387 per month. (1)  In California that average is $773. (2)

Every Sunday morning, I scour the fridge and pantry to see what odds and ends foods we have leftover. This helps us reduce food waste. There are several websites that you can do a recipe search by ingredient. I usually just Google, “what to make with left over_______.”   I often repurpose leftovers into tacos, pizza, or any kind of pasta for easy mid-week meals.  

On the topic of repurposing, I buy meat with at least two meals in mind. For example, If I am making a beef stew on Wednesday I know I can use the leftovers to make a pot pie on Friday. The key is preplanning, so you have all the ingredients for both meals. 

Meal planning helps me stay on budget at the grocery store. My favorite mama hack is shopping online and opting for the grocery pick up. I like this because I don’t end up buying stuff we don’t need. I am also able to shop for items in multiple variations. For example, if I need flatbread I can shop the bakery section, the bread section, and the frozen section with one click. It also helps me compare the per-unit cost very quickly.

I think it’s important to note that making your coffee at home is also a big way to save. In the personal finance world, this is known as the “Latte Factor.(3)” Investing $5 a day in a high yield savings account helps you retire comfortably. Rethink that daily cup o joe. 

Shop second hand.

To me, this is second nature. Recently, my kids had a few friends over. We were riding in the car and I said, “Cool a garage sale!” My kids’ friends both asked, “What is a garage sale?” I could not believe they had never been to a garage sale. After a few treasure hunts at the garage sales, I took the kids to Community Projects. They picked out a few books and a couple of fun graphic tees. I also enjoy Facebook Marketplace and Craiglist. These come in very handy when you are raising kids that grow out of their toys & clothes quickly. My family is fortunate enough to be able to shop new, but we choose to shop second-hand. Shopping at thrift stores not only saves money but helps reduce the amount of waste that is polluting our landfills. Additionally, most second-hand stores benefit charitable organizations.

I am proud to say that my entire wedding attire was used. My dress was vintage, my shoes and hat were from LoLo’s Consignment in St. Helena, and my wedding jewelry was from a hole-in-the-wall thrift store in Sacramento. Speaking of jewelry, my wedding ring is an antique, estate piece from Patina in St. Helena. Call us frugal? Sure. However, the thrill of the hunt and the bargain is what drives us! 

Double-check all your subscriptions 

I follow many financial advisor podcasts & blogs. I teach Personal Finance at Napa Valley College. I have a monthly budget via the mint.com app and I am very mindful of our subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, the gym, etc. However, I still found that I was being overcharged for a membership subscription. A friend of mine who was also a member questioned why I was being billed so much. It wasn’t until I did more research on the website that I realized I was paying $40 more a month because I was in the wrong membership. That is nearly $500 a year! 

I suggest you wake up early one Sunday morning. Before the kids and your partner wake up go through at least three months of your debit and credit card statements. Identify what recurring charges you have. Make sure you are being billed correctly. Also use this time to ask yourself, “Am I really watching shows on the Peacock channel?” $10 a month here, $14 a month there, and $5 month over there equals hundreds of dollars in savings annually. 

I am proud of our fiscally conservative lifestyle. My husband and I have zero consumer debt, the cars are paid off and we live a comfortable lifestyle. If shopping second-hand is not your thing, I get it. But meal planning and staying on top of recurring charges are an easy way to save! 

About Claudette Shatto 

Claudette is Napa savvy! Coupled with her upbeat personality she is the perfect addition to The Vine on-air team.  

She has lived in the Napa Valley for 21 years. She is married with two elementary-aged children. 

When not on-air, Claudette is a Professor at Napa Valley College. She teaches Social Media and Digital Marketing for the Napa Valley Education Foundation. She is also a contributing blogger for Napa Valley Kids.  Her passion project is teaching leadership to first graders. She is currently writing children’s books incorporating the entrepreneur/ growth mindset. 

You can listen to her on-air Mondays & Fridays from 3 to 7 pm. Follow her on social @claudetteshatto or online www.claudetteshatto.com 

Work cited

1. “How Much Should I Spend on Groceries?” NerdWallet  3 Mar.  2021
2. “Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Support a Family in California?” California Budget & Policy Center, 24 Oct. 2019
3. The Latte Factor Calculator  Moneyunder30.com 24 Sept. 2021