My parents both worked for various grocery

• tips - grocery store
  • my 18 yo daughter will be working for a grocery chain out here starting Saturday. - California
  • Yes, I tip. Usually a couple of dollars but - sm
  • We have Publix - MAJOR stores all over....sm - baggers take to car and tipping....
    • It is because - sm
  • My husband usually does the shopping - these days, but . . .
  • My parents both worked for various grocery - Carol D
  • Tipping - mt47
  • I personally thought everyone tipped them.... - TM
    • So why not tell them "Thanks anyway, I can take them out myself" NM - ?????
      • Here in AL there are 2 grocers that HAVE to take the food to your car. I got into it one day with sm - Me
        • It is because the carts have a habit of crashing - into people's cars. They prefer to take them
        • The reason I don't tip is because I NEVER have a dime on me. I don't carry cash, ever! I don&# - Me again
          • How about at Christmas with the bell ringers? - no cash, no tip
            • I give once a day if shopping and don't bother explaining if I gave elsewhere. nm - Me in AL
  • My local store always takes them out. s/m - Californian
    • No......I never had this happen until I moved to VA - sm - Laura E.
    • Ummm, nope. I never heard of it in all of NJ! - But must be nice! LOL
    • very few - grocery store
  • sm - Southerner
  • We have Ukrop's here (VA) and they take - sm - Laura E.
    • To Tip or Not to Tip??? - Grocery Shopper
      • It is a service job and they should - JMO -- NM
      • I go to Kroger's too, our store here does not do it - sm - Laura E.
        • They make darn good money at most large grocery stores - that offer it. sm
        • My husband - IMA_MT
          • LOL! I know the feeling - my last trip was $350 - one cart! - Yikes!

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summer camp AND it wasn't cheap for them either.  Three kids going to camp 5 days a week (Thursdays were skate day), compare that to what that would cost today.  My brother, sister, and I were at camp from 8 AM to around 5 or so and yeah we were beat when we got home, but my folks made sure we weren't "latchkey" kids or running the neighborhood getting into who knows what kind of trouble.  My folks spent quality time with us, too, in the evenings, on weekends, holidays, and vacation, but they BOTH had to work to support us.  So, for the person who has unjustly persecuted CampMom, please try to be more considerate. 

P.S. I should also add that my siblings and I have some of the best memories of summer camp.  Did I say that I'm 42 years old?

We shopped at Aldi Foods when all our kids were at home - teenagers and toddlers at the same time - this was a big help with keeping grocery $$ lower.  I think they take only cash or ATM (no credit cards - which is probably a good thing).

Gardening and canning your own produce can help save money on your grocery bill, as well as homegrown produce is better for you nutritionally.  It is time consuming, however.

A favorite web site - The Dollar Stretcher     http://www.stretcher.com

or tennis shoes.  It's within walking distance of my house.  I have a set schedule and get paid and can cash my check right at the store every other Thursday.

I get a vacation, health insurance, there is Workman's comp.  Istarted at $8/hour and getting raise in 30 days.

I don't work constantly, there is an ebb and flow of customers.  I'm not wrung out at the end of the day, and I know what my paycheck will be at the end of the day!  They aren't jerking me around with "no work" and there is overtime for when I may work over 8 hours in a day!  I NEVER STAND THERE AND HAVE NO WORK/GETTING NO PAY! 

Who knew I would be throwing away 30 years of medical knowledge to slide some groceries across a scanner, put them in a plastic bag, and say howdy to some really nice people-------for the same amount as sitting in a chair, searching for work 24 hours a day, and being treated like a machine.

I miss learning about medicine but I certainly love having a life again.

I will probably pick up some overflow transcription from a local doc's ofc from a girl I know who has some contracts.  OR NOT....who knows.....I may throw this whole computer in the closet and shut the door.  It feels so good not to worry constantly what MQ's next trick will be. 

advertising homemade pies, cakes, breads etc.  A lot of the famous and rich people in this type of industry started off this way.  I think it isn't that big, at least not in the smaller cities, but we have people that come into your home, plan a menu with you and then cook so many meals a week.  There is also a business that just started near me where you go to their store, they have all the makings for 6 different meals and you just put them all together.   One place has cooking lessons for kids and also opens to kids cookie parties and he is doing very well.   Work with a caterer prn.   I live in a city of about 230,000 and we have events that are seasonal where caterers are hiring dozens of people, with June coming up they will be hiring to help with weddings.

I know lots of people with psychology degrees and none of them are working in their field because there just aren't any jobs. 

You don't mention a husband or kids, but if you are young and no responsibilities now is the time to go out on the limb. 

None of the above would require a huge time commitment or financial commitment and you could test the waters while still having a FT income.  If it took off you could scale back your hours, or try and do both for a while and get your debts paid off and then be in a position to jump in with both feet.

Our local community college has a culinary program.  I think it is still largely male dominated, but still lots of females too.   I don't know if this is a 1 year or 2 year program, though I think it does require a lot of hours.  You could do it during the day and work nights/weekends.  It wouldn't be easy, but nights/weekends usually pay more.

If you want it bad enough you'll find a way.  

This got buried on the second page, but I pointed out that Bounty paper towels are more at Walmart than my local grocer.  Someone replied back saying that overall the grocery store is more.  Nope.  This is my reply:

The paper towel price increase is not a momentary thing.  I started comparing prices a few years ago between Walmart and the grocery store.  I used to buy food at the grocery store and everything else at Walmart.  Until Walmart got to be just as expensive or MORE expensive in some cases than the grocery store.  It is NOT just paper towels.  Same with Era detergent.  Same with a multitude of other products.  Walmart has gotten GREEDY.

Now I clip coupons for the paper goods, cleaners and what not and the grocery store doubles any coupons 50 cents or less (I don't use them if they don't double).  So with the prices being less than Walmart to begin with, plus using coupons, I come out WAY ahead.  So I don't even make a Walmart trip at all anymore.  Might as well just buy everything at the grocery store.  It's closer, more convenient, and CHEAPER.

It will be interesting to see if she gets any tips ... or will be allowed to. She's going to be starting at $1 over minimum wage but has to pay union dues. She just quit a restaurant job where the business received tips that were to be divied up between the staff. She got lots of tips at her tables that she had to put in the tip jar. She never saw a penny in her pocket from those tips.

Personally, I've never tipped the baggers, but they do work hard!

My favorite cheap meal is cooking chicken leg quarters in a crock pot with an 1/4 onion and tumeric. Serve them with rice and lentils.

Here is a list of cheap foods: PB&J, bacon (cook two 2 slices at  a time to put in eggs and beans), carrots, potatoes,  beans (lentils are the easiest to cook IMHO), pasta, rice (use oil instead of butter to save $), eggs, Totinos pizza, and frozen mixed veggies.

www.stretcher.com under groceries has some good ideas.

www.hillbillyhousewfie.com has good ideas too. She has a good list called Everyday Bargains.

Do you have a bakery outlet close by? They usually have great deals on bread and bakery junk food. For $4 you can walk away with a big bag of bread, bagles, cake, ect.

I'm a single mom so I can't do this but if you can go grocery shopping without children that will help. Most stores have a loss leader for meat on sale each week. I would buy that meat and make mix it with rice or ramen noodles for dinner.

Most churches have food pantries. If you call one that does not have one, ask where there is a food bank. Church secretaries get so many calls for help they are usually experts at what the organizations available.  Some Catholic Churches have St. Vincent DE Paul societies, they will either give you food or a gift card to a grocery store. Call the parish office and ask if the is one.  We recieve food stamps now but I have been to food banks.  They usually give canned food, pasta, and bread.

HTH

You have to be disciplined to make yourself work when baby is napping instead of maybe watching TV or doing housework, etc.   

I might also go the route of having a teen come into your home, or either trying a mother's morning out program at a local church/daycare.   I've been home since my youngest was born and he has never been in all-day daycare, but I did have him in a mother's morning out program 15 hours a week at a local church.   It didn't help a lot with my work schedule because I had an older son in school and was a room mom and tutored other kids, but that might be an option.  The only problem with the mother's morning out program is they are around other kids and tend to pick up every germ.  I finally took my DS out of the program because he stayed sick.  You were supposed to keep them off if they had green nasal discharge and I did, but no one else did.  Every time I got him well after 2 to 3 days back he would be sick again.  Other than that it was very good for him because he would not have had a chance to be around kids his age otherwise. 

that they are covering up for the person who did it (maybe the brother).

both deceased, but I have "disowned" all my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews.  I grew up believing I was the black sheep of the family and maybe I am, but their lives are so screwed up and I never heard from them unless they needed something and there was lots of bitterness and anger about various events - mainly my parent's death.  The only way I was able to deal with the issues was to disown them.  I was not interested in making things better because they aren't willing to make an effort and I just don't have time for that. 

My oldest sister hated my mom and was very ugly to her.  My mom did so much for her. All I heard was what a lowsy mother she was.  Well, my sister's daughter had a baby and gave it away, did drugs big time, drinking big time, has lived with several guys.  Her son is gay and can't hold a job, has had so many wrecks he has lost his license twice that I know of.  They just keep buying him vehicles very time he wrecks one.  He can barely make a move without having to ask mommy, is a druggie/drinker/liar.  Only my sister can't see all of this.   We all make mistakes and I don't claim to be a perfect parent, but.....

I am wondering if it's ME or if it's my kids' friends that's the problem.  I just can't stand barely any of them.  We have little sailors running around cussing, compulsive liars, thieves, two-faced "unfriends", blackmailers, anger management problems, slobs, and perverts running around here.  And the violent and graphically disgusting games these kids try to play.  Is this everywhere?  Or am I just overly sensitive?  Parents can't choose their kids' friends because the kids'll rebel against the control, right?  I just feel like I can't have anyone over here because I'm constantly correcting them and cleaning up after them.  They don't listen worth a darn anyway.  I certainly don't want my kids to go to their houses if these kids behave this badly here.

I tried going into details, but this post got so long.  I don't think it's our neighborhood either because we have to drive for playdates with some of these kids.  What, do we just attract the people with issues?  I try to tell myself that these are just kids or perhaps their home life isn't in line with the same value system as we have.  I try to be tolerant because some of these kids have had problems in their lives.  However, having problems is no excuse for bad behavior.  I'm no perfect prude and neither are my kids.  We've had our share of problems.  I also know I can't "shelter" my kids from the outisde world.  But geez, it's just ridiculous.  Whatever happened to the days when parents were parents and kids behaved?  Children should not be cussing, stealing and telling horrific stories of murder and incest.

To give you an example, one of these little punks even told the whole neighborhood that my husband and I were druggies and dealers.  We found out about it when our elderly neighbor came over and told us.  We've always been totally against drugs, not even experimenting with them when we were teens.  Plus, we both have to go through yearly drug screening tests at work, too.  What is with the world today?

My son came to me today to tell me he is quitting football.  A sport he has played since he was in the 3rd grade.  He is now a junior in high school.   He is an awesome offensive linesman - scholarship bound this year with academics with it.  He has a 4.0 GPA, takes AP courses and could have a scholarship coming his way.

Regardless of all of that, I am just heartbroken to see this young talented man just walk away from the game he once loved.  I have been crying all morning.  

He tells me, "it just is not fun anymore. "   He does not want to play.  He wants to concentrate on his academics.  

This is halfway through his camp, and games start next week.  He started on the varsity team as a Freshman.

I am so upset, but I won't let him see it.  I do not want him to play a sport to please me or anyone else, but himself.  I have to hold all of this in and it is killing me.      This is his decision, and I have talked to him over the past few days about, trying to not let him know how disappointed I would be if he quit.  Well, today, he went to camp and told his coaches he is not playing, handed his equipment in, and so forth.

Any advice from any of you parents out there for me as to how to handle it from a loving mother point of view!  I hide in the bathroom and cry so he doesn't see me.   For the simple reason, if he sees me crying, he will continue to play just for me.  I really don't want that.  He needs to play for himself.

Needless to say, the coach called this morning after he handed in his equipment to talk to him.  I am sure there are more calls to come.  His teammates will be over this afternoon after camp, I am sure of it.  How do I handle this - better yet, how do I help him handle this? 

P.S.  If he feels like he is letting his teammates down, he will give in and play just for them or for me -