Wow, Jay, I wouldn't have been able to give $99.25 change that early in market - some weeks not at all. I carry less than $100 in small bills b/c I don't do that much business. Malna - thanks for taking our rants as constructive criticism ;-) - not that you do ANY of those things! But to answer your questions (IMPO): I really have to say "Thanks!" for posting your stories. I will be a much better farmer's market customer from now on. I always do save up my ones and fives and change for shopping there (actually, I apologized when I only had a $20 bill two weeks ago for a $3 purchase). And I'm a cash in the front pocket of my jeans kind of person anyway. I don't do purses. Not a problem unless *every* customer does it. It's hard to plan on how much change to bring, but I really do appreciate exact (or close to) change. I didn't realize that a lengthy chat with a neighbor right smack in front of your booth was annoying. Guilty of that one a few times! I sure can understand it now. Thanks - most markets have open space in the middle, or even if set up in a (g)alley sort of configuration, leaving 4-5ft between your group and the front of the stall so people can walk between you and the stall, and see what we have, is appreciated. So here's some questions from "the other side of the table". Do you appreciate us (customers) bringing reusable bags? Seems like most vendors automatically grab one of theirs and I have to say "No, no, put it in here" even though I have it out and available. Maybe they think it's my purse? Then I get the big sigh as they take stuff out, throw their bag back on the pile and put it in my bag. I love reusable bags to put all the purchases in (I have to buy more plastic T shirt bags - didn't see any at BJs this week). But I do like to use paper lunch bags for jars or tomatoes, plastic produce bags for beans, etc., then you can put them in your bag. As long as you don't set it down on top of my tomatoes or knock my display over ;-)! I don't wash anything (just hydrocool greens and those are bagged) so you have to wash before eating, but I don't want anything getting broken or squished (or beans or cherry tomatoes getting lost in the corners of your bag). I figure it's a courtesy to offer you a bag (and really a necessity when I'm selling cherry tomatoes or beans by the pound, so I can weigh them without them rolling off the scale) but I won't push it. Plus do you wash your reusable bag in between shopping trips? If someone is struggling with purchases from multiple vendors, I'll offer them a large bag - I've even given plastic produce bags to people who have bought cut flowers from other vendors, so they don't drip all over their car. I try to tell vendors when I've gotten really good produce on previous trips, but I feel like they are too busy to listen. I do go early, and they can be very busy, and I don't have time to hang around to talk to them - I specialize in combat shopping; get in and get out as quickly as possible. Would leaving a Thank You note be more appreciated for when you have time for a compliment? I love compliments! A quick compliment (preferably as you're buying something this week, and loud enough for others to hear) is always appreciated! So is a good review or comment on my Facebook page. One of my biggest complaints is that the vendors don't always know what they are selling. I asked one what variety of garlic they were selling (I buy local garlic and replant it myself); she shrugged and said "Lady, it's GARLIC." Needless to say, I don't go to that stand anymore. I know all my produce - esp. tomatoes. I may not have tasted a particular variety, if it's my first time growing it, I have limited supply, it's early in the season, it's a large beefsteak, etc. But I can at least describe what the seed catalog said about it. I haven't tasted Golden Queen, Orange Minsk, or Mark Twain yet, b/c I haven't harvested many this year, but I will tell you what I've read about them. I'll also tell you if a particular tomato is ripe, needs a couple days on the counter, or will last a week until the next market and help you pick out individual heirlooms to eat throughout the week, to serve the number of people you plan on. I had 1 lady buy just 1 of each type of cherry tomato I have this year so she could try them. She asked if I'd have them next week and I told her yes - she wants to stuff them. So I recommended Dr. Carolyn in particular b/c it's large, blocky, and solid - if/when she comes back next week I may have her look at my "salad" tomatoes such as Camp Joy, Bloody Butcher, and Moravsky Div if she wants to make them a little larger. I am always willing to chat with people (esp. about tomatoes) as long as I'm not busy. If we're chatting and someone comes up, I will excuse myself to wait on them, and hope you will move to the side and wait to finish our conversation, or tell me Thank You and See You Next Week. This post was edited by ajsmama on Fri, Sep 12, 14 at 15:19

Nice update on the chain letter. Illegal as hell. 99.999% of people will never see a penny. These morons hit a forum where I'm a mod. Stayed visible for less than 3 minutes before they were banned and the messages deleted.

And now that has been figured out... You'll need to know to scroll down, click on the double screen icon so you can see what's being said and reply at the same time....(took me awhile to figure that out, I was scrolling up and down until the screen filled out) And you type you response under the icons in a very pale yellow long box. We should try tonight so everyone can join in... Get your Java loaded today so you'll be ready.. Thanks Iowagirl patti

The primary thing to keep in mind is what works for one will not work for another so stay flexible. I really push people to read the Tightwad Gazette series. Get it at the library but I can justify buying it as a reference manual. No, don't buy it for an instruction book nor as a cookbook or as a manual of how to live your life. Use it as an inspiration to think differently. Instead of I need to go buy a new dresser, you'll think how can I repair, reuse, recycle or otherwise make use of this, sell, give away or whatever It's light reading. The recipes can give you an idea for things if you don't like it. There's a good simple sounding recipe for pizza crust in there too. I found it entertaining reading and occasionally pull it out and read it again. Here's a bread recipe I enjoy. It's a smaller loaf and something I can handle. Very tasty. One warning, it might give a strong beer smell as it's cooking so you might want to make it when you can open a window and vent a bit. I didn't notice it the first time or two I made it but did the last couple times. Might be it was holiday time and windows closed. BEER BATTER BREAD 3 cups flour 1-tablespoon baking powder 3 tablespoons sugar 1-teaspoon salt 1 (12 oz) beer @ room temp. 1/4 C melted unsalted butter, Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Add the beer all at once, mixing as little as possible; the batter should be lumpy. Pour the batter into a 9"x5"x3" loaf pan and brush with the melted butter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Cool on a rack. Makes 1 loaf. I've tried to cut down on paper products but still use them for convenience. I can't find anything that compares to the price of the 1000 sheet rolls of bath tissue. When you compare the generics and everything nothing compares in price. For instance, I bought 1000 sheet rolls for 33¢ per roll. Do the math, that's 33¢ for the equivalent of a 5-6 roll package! I can even buy Scott on sale for 40¢-55¢ per roll, again far cheaper. Couple that with concentrating on how much I use and there can be a noticeable savings. Another thing I try to do is look at the per-use cost. Buying huge quantities of perishables that won't get used is not cost effective. Sometimes it's better to throw some away than to buy the small size though. Canned veggies are a perfect example. However there too you can freeze leftovers too. TV, phone and long distance are areas many people can economize substantially. Many people would be far better off dumping their contract cell phones. Often it's a good idea to have a cell but I use a prepaid cell. I use a phone card and bought a digital converter box so I have no cable or satellite and don't miss it in the least. I did splurge and get DSL so I use that a lot for entertainment. I can use it for business too but mostly it was a splurge. I watch programs and videos online. If you do a lot of bread baking that is one item that the warehouse store can save you some money. I understand they sell it for a couple dollars a pound or so rather than the little packets or a couple ounces for $5. Again, it depends on how much you use and if you share it with someone it's a better deal. Yeast will keep almost indefinitely in the freezer if kept dry. Sounds like you're definitely on the right track. Try to look for waste. Cut down on or use leftovers. Turn off appliances when not being used. Close off rooms that aren't being used to save a/c and heat. Use the shades to your advantage. Open shades on cold days, close them on hot days. Again what works for some doesn't work for others. Sometimes I find the "fooling yourself into saving" methods backfire. For instance some will dilute shampoo to fool themselves into using less. But it's easier to measure a small dot when it's thick than when it's runny so that can backfire. The saving change thing works for some but I prefer to save the bigger bills and avoid the trap of the more I spend the more I save. But it works for some so do what works for you. Definitely having a grocery list is helpful and I agree that you need to be flexible on specials. Don't be too strict on a budget either. You might find massive specials so you don't have to go to the store for months. Use a price book of some sort. I log the things I always get a certain stores. When I see something quite cheap, I add it to the list and then when I'm making a trip to the X store I can look at the list and see what I need from there that is usually cheaper. The usual combine trips is a big saver. If you don't go somewhere, you don't spend gas money and don't spend money in the stores and no problem with impulse purchases. If you're in a colder climate, turn down the thermostat 1°. You won't notice it. Then a few weeks later, turn down one more degree and so on. Keep a sweater, sweatshirt or an afghan or blanket handy to cuddle up with when you watch TV. Hang quilts over doorways to zone heat/cool areas. You'll spend less and be more comfortable. Why heat and air condition your closets and unused rooms? There's a lot of people out there that will criticize, harass and insult you. Thicken up your skin. When people criticize me I ask them what their utility bills are and we compare them. Then I laugh at them. Something will motivate you. Perhaps it's the satisfaction of lowering bills, seeing your savings grow, compliments from a SO or whatever, but learn to appreciate those pleasures. An out of town (also frugal) friend was in town the other day and we splurged. Went to a fast food joint and had stuff from the $1 menu, came home and sat outside watching the stars and airplanes. A runway was closed so traffic was directed over me and that's unusual so we watched planes and talked, then it got late and we watched the stars and a planet and the moon and caught up on our chat. Had a thoroughly great time. Be flexible. Maybe something won't work for you but maybe you can gleen something out of it. For instance perhaps you don't want to use 1000 sheet bath tissue but learn to use less at a time. That's progress in itself. Compare notes. Share ideas. Have fun with it, don't try to make yourself feel deprived.