Can anyone refer me to some resources for Catholic families with a small monthly income? Any advice from other CI users would be appreciated as well.

Also, now that the weather is warming up, it's going to be "yard sale" season, so if you are clothing growing children, hopefully you'll have access to cheap yard sales.  Don't be afraid to haggle (offering less than the sticker prices).  Also, check out yard sales at the end of a Saturday, when people are ready to haul everything away to a Good Will.  

I one time saw some things at a yard sale that I wanted but I didn't have cash on hand at the time since I was just out for a walk.  I asked the seller if I could set the things aside and come back with money and she said fine.  When I came back, there was a man with a truck who had come by and offered them $50. to haul off everything left over.  He had a second hand business in town and also an ebay business and this is how he acquires his things for selling.  I figured he had gotten a bargain since there were lots of baby items in very good condition left that would sell at his thrift store.  

God helped me to get meat at 75% off at my corner Safeway store.  I had a conversation with him about the loss of food and how we might be able to get around it.  He agreed and so he told me how the prices are lowered. A day or 2 before expiration date on pre-packaged meats are reduced 30% than day before 50% and day after 75%.  The butchers can overlook items and there are no set laws in our state about when to throw out meats.  I also told the butcher that I could have the meat go to our church for 5 needy families that just need something to get them by.  So, we worked together.  So, instead of giving money to the poor, my husband and I chose to give meats and I add up what my cost was and that is our donation.  You get more that way.  Also, let's say a package of meat is marked 75% off of 7.99, look to see if there is a sale price.  You will get that additional price off at the register.  Also, sometimes, when you buy an item, coupons for the store come out with your receipt for the next time.  Plus gas rewards are accuмilated.
Also Safeway has justforU online for more savings.  One time I got $10. bacon for 25cents.  It was on sale for $5. and the due date was one day passed, so 75% off $5.  And my just4 U gave me another $1. off.  Wow!  That was fun.  Today, I bought 6 turkeys that were !.59 for 49cents a lb.  These were Open nature.  I had no room in the fridg or freezer.  So, the butcher said to buy them, get 2 receipts.  One for me and one for him, because he could store them for me, and that was a day.  It gave me time to get them to the church when the church was ready to receive them.  I baked my and froze the meat in baggies and made broth.  I do the thrift stores, estate sales and etc.  

I find that if you speak up and talk, things can work out like this.

Don't be afraid to haggle (offering less than the sticker prices).  

I typed this once already, so now you get the short version. : )

Matthew was out at garage sales a week ago. There were two "YBike Explorers" (Google it if you're curious) still new in the boxes. They're worth $150 ea minimum (Walmart wants $165). The seller wanted $30 each. That's 80% savings. I would have quickly paid the man and been thankful. What did Matthew do? Offered him $55 for both.  :cool:

From HH site:

$45 emergency menu  - might be more now w/inflation

$70 menu plan - again, might be more now

Marsha

Join a cashback site and when you order something over the internet always check with the site first and click through that before ordering from the retailer's website.

Adds up to at least $200 a year with even modest spending.  I got close to $2000 back last year on a credit card spend of about $5000 per month.  Plus $700 back on the credit card cashback.

And that is CASH.  Not silly book tokens or loyalty points or nonsense like that.

Most stuff is cheaper if you shop around and order it on-line.

What is a cashback site?  I've never heard of these.

Marsha

He might have something else in mind, but here are the two I know of:

shopathome.com
ebates.com

I've tried one of them (don't remember which) but didn't find it to be useful for me.

I know this doesn't sound terribly helpful....but living cheap will just come to you! In my house there are ten of us (& one is pregnant) and there is really only one steady income (it is about $40,000). Don't get me wrong......oftentimes it is NOT pleasant...but we really have made it work. We all eat very well and are clothed...and the wood stove is always cranking (even still in April! =). God has provided us with exactly what we need, it's amazing. That, and we don't let anything go to waste. I pretty much have become pro at salvaging every piece of meat or fat on every animal we cook hahaha. Buying bulk food like rices and flour is good but is not possible for such a small income....we are very blessed to have a cheap (and i mean cheap!) food store around here with damaged food items (not as bad as it sounds). And because of all the liberals in my state....they stock plenty of organic things such as flours and olive oils and walnuts and sardines....so it's not junk. =) Even if it's not terribly close...these types of stores can be great if you find one.
Also, growing potatoes can reeeeaaally be a blessing, if you have the land/time.
You're in my prayers!

Just wanted to say this is really good advice!  :dancing: