Sunday 26 June 2022 05:48 PM Frugal New York couple with nine children who own their home and have zero debt ... trends now
A frugal family with nine children who own their home in upstate New York, have zero debt and spend just $364 a month, say they're coping with the nation's record-high inflation doing what they've always done: not spending money.
The Shillito family of Burnt Hill, New York, grows fruits and vegetables in their garden and their grocery shopping is limited to buying in bulk, buying marked down items, and shopping directly with restaurant supply stores.
Americans have started changing their spending habits as inflation is hitting pockets hard and economists warn a recession is inevitable.
But frugal families, like Art and Janelle Shillito, who have nine children, ages 2 months to 19 years, say they have a few tactics that could help Americans save some cash.
'It doesn't affect us as much because of the way we shop,' Art Shillito told the Wall Street Journal, adding that the way they save money is not always easy, which doesn't appeal to everyone.
'People find what we do interesting but when they find out how involved it is, they're not interested. They want a couple easy solutions.'
The Shillito family of Burnt Hill, New York, grows fruits and vegetables in their garden and their shopping is limited to buying in bulk and shopping directly with restaurant supply stores
The Shillito family has been sharing their tactics on a blog and YouTube channel Parsnips and Parsimony, for years
The New York couple told the WSJ that they've spent an average $364.74 a month this year to feed their family of 11. This amount is below last year's monthly average of $500.
As high inflation hits Americans pockets even harder, the average American has become more interested in how extreme money-saving measure can help with more than 80 percent of consumers planning to cut back on their spending, the WSJ reported.
The Shillito family has been sharing their tactics on a blog and YouTube channel called Parsnips and Parsimony, for years.
The channel documents grocery hauls, gardening tips and DYI projects.
Some of their secrets include: checking wholesalers for sharply reduced 'distressed' foods with damaged packaging; designating no-spend months when they abstain from buying nonessentials; and auditing one or two categories of spending to see where they can shave costs.
Art Shillito recently repaired the roof on the family home himself, spending only $1,065.34, which is considerably less than the $7,356.08 estimate they received for someone else to do it.
Art Shillito recently repaired the roof on the family home himself, spending only $1,065.34, which is considerably less than the $7,356.08 estimate they received for someone else to do it
The New York couple told the WSJ that they've spent an average $364.74 a month this year to feed their family of 11. This amount is below last year's monthly average of $500
The breakdown included, Shingles/Nails $666.81, Flashing/drip edge $124.20, Lift rental $200, Trash disposal $124.20, Nail gun/air compressor $0 (borrowed). They saved $6,290.74, according to their blog.
Prices for groceries rose 11.9 percent in May from the same month a year ago, according to Labor Department figures.
The Shillitos noted that a gallon of milk, which now costs them $3.89, is up 8% since January when they paid $3.59.
They didn't want to reduce the milk the drink, so they save money through a Milk Club at a local dairy that gives them free half-gallon of milk after they buy five gallons.
The family also has 38 chickens which provide them with
