Vegetarian mom saves money on food

Toby Singer, 39, of Edgebrook, is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters, Emma, 8, and Anna 5. Her husband, Jeff, is a project manager for Chicago's 311 service. She tells how she saves money:

•       •       I am a vegetarian, so I do not buy meat. Veggies are a lot cheaper and healthier.

» Click to enlarge image

Toby Singer (center) talks with her daughters, Anna, 5, (left) and Emma, 8, while serving them lunch at their home.
(Sun-Times)

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Vegetarian mom saves money on food

•       •       I don't drink alcohol or coffee, so I do not buy either.

•       •       Except for rare occasions, I only buy groceries that are on sale.

•       •       I don't go to movie theaters. I prefer to wait till movies come out on cable/DVD/pay-per-view. Watching them at home with my family is a far more pleasant viewing experience to me than watching them at a crowded, noisy, sticky theater.

•       •       I buy most of my children's toys, clothes and books at garage sales or consignment shops. When they outgrow them, I sell them back.

•       •       I use the public library constantly for my whole family for both books and movies.

•       •       I comparison shop online and look for online coupons before I make a major purchase.

What are you doing to make ends meet? Write to psmith@suntimes.com.•       •