OK so I actually had been thinking about this subject before the economic crisis, and before Ms. Winfrey decided to do a show about it - How can my family save some money and cut back on our monthly expenses? It all started when gas prices were soaring and summer was on the radar. Many people could not afford to travel, let alone take the entire family along. That's when I started hearing people talking about "Staycations" (aka vacationing at home). Huh? Basically they were encouraging people to find fun activities to do in your own community, city or state. I thought it was a clever idea. And while Mike and I haven't taken a "Staycation" this year, it's just one of the many helpful hints I've heard in the last few months on how to live within your means and save cash.
Being a member of the Church, we have been counseled for many years to set aside for a rainy day, increase our food storage, and avoid debt. So, I find it understandably amusing when I see people talking about being frugal on television like it's a new concept. However, there is nothing wrong with implementing new and creative ideas in your daily routine. Some things that our family has conciously been trying to do to save some money -
- Hanging up my laundry to dry.
- Cooking more with my food storage items.
- Clipping coupons and watching for sales.
- Homemade birthday/Christmas gifts.
- Checking out books and movies from the local library.
- Dilligently turning off lights.
- Checking the community calendar for free or cheap family events.
- Closing off rooms and heater vents that I never use.
- Buying household items second-hand.
I think the last idea is one of my favorites. I love finding things that are gently used or second-hand for a fraction of the price. Kid-to-Kid and Ross are the greatest stores ever! And of course I have purchased many second-hand gifts for friends and family from the local D.I. where I hang out way too much. Recently, I had been interested in a filing cabinet to get organized, but was counseled by my husband to wait until the right deal came along. I found some second-hand cabinets which were very used at D.I. for around $20. However, last week BYU had a surplus sale and Mike got me a mint condition filing cabinet for $10! It's deals like that which make all the difference!
Now don't get me wrong, I am hardly the paragon of a money-saving domestic diva. Which is why I am really interested in hearing what all of you have been doing to save money. Where did you get your ideas from? How much have you been saving? Do you have any tips or suggestions for me? Please share your discoveries in the comment section. Being frugal is fabulous!
10 comments:
I loved this post, I was going to do a post just like it today but I like how you did it. I am trying to be better about my spending. Here are some things I have conciously been doing...
I used to Buy Huggies for Ryan and now buy Smith's Kroger Brand (much cheaper and work good for a 2 year old)
Eating our leftovers for lunch the next day or for another dinner
Eating out less! I am trying to cut back and eat more healthy meals at home..
Not driving so much, thinking about saving on Gas wherever I go..
Saving more in our money market account..building our 3-6 mo. emergency fund.
Took out some cash in small and bigger bills to keep on hand in case of banks doing crazy things...
Planning meals around cans of food and other items in my pantry so they don't expire and go bad!
Anyways these are just a few things we have done!
I also just started buying the generic diapers from Costco for Preston when I saw they had gone up 5 dollars since the last time I bought them (42 dollars a box!!). They seem to work just as well for us.
We also get a free Redbox movie on Mondays with the free code.
A girl I grew up with does a blog called Frugal is Fabulous and does coupon clipping and rebates which is a little overwhelming for me, but she also puts free samples on there that you can sign up for. I have started filling them out and love to find little treasures in my mailbox about once a week. I have recieved free lotion, cookies, diapers, body wash, soap, a roll of toilet paper, and much more just by filling out my name and address. You don't even have to do a survey on most of them. I love getting free stuff! Thats just a few...
I have gotten the free samples just like Heather too. I LOVE, LOVE them!!!!
We are on the Dave Ramsey plan. You really need to listen to the Book. I have it id you want to borrow it. It really makes you think about money and credit cards differently.
We try and pay cash for everything. Notice I said TRY. We just had paid off Gall bladder surgery, and then $2,000 for the blazer, so we have had to use the credit card a bit, but we will get back on track..
Chad and I have a date budget, eat out budget for each of us, and food budget etc.. It's nice, because I still have my spending money, but have to be careful.
I tend to cook recipes that don't call for really expensive items right now.
Our money situation isn't perfect, but we keep trying! I have to keep telling myself bathrooms will happen. Have faith Ann.. Have Faith.
I'm glad you waited on the cabinet. Way to go Mike!
You know how I feel about 2nd hand stuff. If we were millionaires, I'd still be doing the garage sales, and thrift stores.. There is something so satisfying getting a good bargain, or a good deal!~ And going with fun people to scout!
Great post!!!
And this is my passion right now!! Saving the mula and getting on the right track.
We follow the Dave Ramsey plan, but I thouroughly believe that it all comes down to 2 things that are the keys to saving money.
1. Cash for EVERYTHING!! And I mean EVERYTHING!! When Brian and I get our paychecks, I sit down and fill out my budget (if you would like to see mine, I will be happy to share. I am even considering doing a post just about budgets). I figure a certain amount of cash for the needs of our week and then the rest and all of the money goes to our debt. I pay cash for groceries, hair, dates, side cash and even gas. Yes, I get my rear into the gas station Pay the attendant $50 and walk back out to my car. There were many weeks that I never got a full tank, but funny the tank always lasted a little longer that week. Thankfully gas prices our coming down and I am getting cash back!
SAWEET! Yes, emergencies happen and you should have an emergency fund set up to pay for those things or put them on the credit card and then work hard, hard, hard to pay it off as quickly as you can.
When there are weeks that money is lower than usual, I get no free cash, we cut back on our grocery bill, and we happily eat Top Romen.
2. a new word that a lot of Americans are not familiar with and I had to learn is the word "NO!" I use to buy whatever I wanted on a whim, hey I was working and I deserve a little splurge. Ummm....no, not really. Now, when I want to buy things for myself or spare of the moment ideas, I try to find extra cash from things I didn't spend in the budget. Like the extra gas money, or grocery money or our coin jar. Right now, is the time to pick and choose and what we should be spending our money on and we have to stop not knowing where our money goes.
If you are in charge of your money and know where every dime is going, you will find the extra cash and can start paying off debt or stashing it away to savings. Trust me, I know this plan works. We have paid thousands of dollars of debt off and I am hoping to have the car payed for next month. Yup, it is a 2007 model and I will have only made payments for 2 years instead of 5.
Happy frugality to you! And remember, the sacrifice will be well worth it when you have lots of money and no debt eating you alive! You will find peace in the finances and will feel powerful that you are in charge and your money is working for you and not you working for interest! -Suzanne
I also wanted to say that we are doing the Dave Ramsey plan. I love him. We are on step 3 in building our 6 mo. Emergency Fund. So I can tell all the people doing it that debt does get paid off. We paid of 50 thousand with both our cars included. That was school loans, credit cards, and cars. It was hard but it has been so nice the last 2 years not having any debt at all except our house. I love love love Dave Ramsey and cannot say enough good things. We even went to his live show which was amazing!
But Suzanne said Cash for everything. We do that too, I pay with Debit at the pump especially with small kids.
Can you tell I love finances and talking about them!!! I am a nerd that way!
So, ever since I read the Dave Ramsey book, it really changed my outlook on finances and our debt. I used to deal with finances, the same way I would deal with dieting and exercise. It was all or nothing. I have the personality that works best with throwing myself completely into it, but I end up getting burned out and or frustrated. But like the cliche' it is everything in moderation that works best. You can't deprive yourself. But you can't go nuts and binge.
So this is what has worked for me.
* Made a microsft word doc of all our debts. Least to greatest. I put that list on our fridge. Everytime I pay off a debt, I cross it off with a bright red crayon.
* Make a budget each time we get paid and key words - STICK TO IT!
Use cash envelopes for groceries, fun money, and eating out. And I use debit for gas only because I fill up with Ben in the car. But, I still stick to teh gas budget money I gave myself at beginning of month.
* Realize that I can say no when shopping. If it's not in my budget I don't buy it. And if I don't LOVE it, I don't even think of getting it.(Example: When we went to Tai Pan, I had given myself some extra spending money. And saw multiple things that I liked. But nothing I couldn't live without, needed, or loved.)It actually felt good to leave and not have bought something that just would have sat around and I didn't love.
* Because I am so currently focused on paying off our debts, I rarely visit the mall, or look at shopping mailer ads. Not seeing it, keeps the tempation away. I also stick to my grocery list that I make ahead of time. I have to think WANTS vs NEEDS.
* Just had a garage sale to sell things that I did not need.
* When I got serious about our debt, I took a look at our weekly expenses; (satelite/cell phone plan/home phone/internet/online video rentals/ordering pay per view movies)I knocked down about 100.00 per month with making a few changes. We still have our fun things(not deprived) but yet got rid of a few things. You have to do what works best for your family and personal budget.
*********I am happy to say that since we started the debt snowball plan(Dave Ramsey)back in August, we have paid off 2,035.00 worth of debt. And as of Nov 1st we will have paid off a certain debt completely that was lingering over our heads. It is the most exhilerating/freeing feeling to be paying off our debt.*******
Also, I try and do the things you mentioned.
*Library - free books and dvd's
*Check out local resources in our area for activities that are free.
*Coupon and freebie websites on-line
* Christmas/present time - I research prices in different stores and keep updated on sales. And try and shop at places that have coupons or incentives on shopping.
I think my personality of throwing myself into something has come out in this comment. It just makes me happy to be paying off debt. In comparison of stressed out/ always on my mind debt feelings. :) I know it sounds cheesy, but I am much happier person since August of starting the debt pay off plan.
PS - One thing I am currently trying to work on. Not eating out so much!!! After looking over our extra/non bill money in the budget, that is what I spend the most on! So even with less energy from Dan gone and being way prego, I really try to prepare meals ahead of time, so I have no excuse to eat out!
We are remodeling and I just found a store called "Re-store" funded by Habitat for Humanity. Great for projects. I have a list of everything I want to do and when I find the material for free or cheap, I do it. Re-store and craigslist have saved us hundreds of muhlah. I can do more for less! I love the "Barter" section on craigslist. I recently traded our old bathroom mirror for a new front door, well used, but new to me! Works much better than our old one.
Thank you so much for all your comments, tips and suggestions! I guess it's time this little cupcake joined the Dave Ramsay bandwagon, eh? I'll let y'all know how that goes. Thanks again!
Just eating out less has helped us more and more. Which is hard when you work at the mac grill. We eat there all the time, especially when new dishes come in and even tho i get a discount, it still adds up! So we've cut back on that and its helped.
ps- i love your fall decor!
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