The other day my dear husband had a few days off (supposed to be the whole week) while his parents were here. Unfortunately he got called back into work before his time off was done. Because of this frustration, he has been exploring options to not be so tied to work. Finding a different job in this market would likely not be a beneficial move, so he was instead inspired to pay off our mortgage much earlier than planned. He has it all calculated out how it can work, but it's going to take some dedication on our part to make it happen. I (nor he) has the energy to be "gazelle intense" (to quote Dave Ramsey), but at least have some tangible goals we're going to try to reach. If we were to get as intense as we could, that would mean no vacations, no eating out ever, etc. for a few years, and we're not inclined to be that enslaved to the budget. Although the freedom of no mortgage is very enticing!
If you are in a mindset to save more money, I would get yourself a copy of The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn as well as Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover to start. It will give you a base to know where to start. I had never budgeted at all nor had I even balanced a checkbook until Luke was born, and at that point decided I'd better get on it if I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Many people may find a budget limiting, but I would say that being a slave to debt is much more limiting. I look at a budget as the freedom it gives me, rather than the restrictions it gives me.
Here's a few money savers (some of which I do, some which I hope to do, and some which I don't do but probably should...I won't tell you which!)
~make a written budget, spend each dollar on paper at the beginning of the month, and ask each dollar "who are you, and where do you think you're going?" (to quote Dave Ramsey)
~use the cash envelope system, no matter how much easier it is to use debit/credit, you'll automatically spend less because it hurts to give cash
~cut up your credit cards
At home:
~hang dry your clothes
~cold wash, use half the detergent called for
~cloth diapers, potty train as young as possible, fabric reusable feminine products
~breastfeed and get in touch with La Leche League for support/to answer questions
~buy bulk (family packs of meat, grains), buy clearance foods
~get rid of high speed internet and do dial-up, no cable/satellite
~home phone only and get rid of cells (updating your gadgets is expensive!)
~pay cash for cars, even if it means driving a clunker while you save up for a nicer one
~garage sale for as many items as you can - this means thinking months in advance but it reduces impulse buying. Be willing to wait to find the perfect deal! Start at your lowest price store and move up to more expensive stores if you can't find it at a garage sale. For me this is: Goodwill/other thrift stores, Once Upon a Child, Kids Resale, Ross, Walmart, Target...I rarely have to buy new items, plus your selection at used stores is much more varied than new stores. This also means setting a budget for shopping garage sales. For me, for clothes I will pay a maximum of $0.50, unless it's a shoe size I need or a nice jacket. If you plan far enough in advance, you rarely will have to exceed that. $0.25 is even better! Being patient is the key, and having a chart of sizes/clothes needed (as I've posted before in a previous post) so you know what you need, much before you actually need it. Even at 90% off in a regular store, you can't even come close to $0.25!
~meat free meals 1-2 times a week (eggs, beans/rice, lentils, pancakes), cut the meat in half in recipes that can take it (spaghetti, chili, etc)
~drink water more, and less juice/milk
~learn to make your own cosmetics/shampoos/cleaning products out of staples
~microfiber cleaning cloths (I'll have a separate blog on this one!)
~do 80-90% of your shopping on the perimeter of the store. The inner aisles should only be for staples (oatmeal, flour, beans), no prepackaged foods
~ let your baby eat off your plate, get a baby food grinder and don't buy prepackaged
~ find free food whenever you can (trees with the fruit falling off) and learn to can/freeze it
~ cloth napkins, super absorbent microfiber cloths instead of paper towels
Things I haven't figured out how to save on:
~ gas (this is one of our biggest budget blowers every time) and even if I increase it, we still go over
~ health care premiums
~ fitting odd things that are sporatic into the budget (chiropractic, vehicle licensing,etc)
~ life insurance (term vs. whole life policies)
~ can I really save money by going to many different stores, when I have to drive further (eg. Costco) and have membership fees? How often do most people shop? (we go every 2 weeks, but I know some people go weekly, and yet others seem to be able to do monthly trips)
I also would like some "cheap food" recipes. I'm willing to eat more beans and rice, rice and beans, lentils, etc., but my repertoire is quite limited. Expanding that would be much appreciated. Please comment, or email me your favorite recipes or money saving tips.
If you are in a mindset to save more money, I would get yourself a copy of The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn as well as Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover to start. It will give you a base to know where to start. I had never budgeted at all nor had I even balanced a checkbook until Luke was born, and at that point decided I'd better get on it if I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Many people may find a budget limiting, but I would say that being a slave to debt is much more limiting. I look at a budget as the freedom it gives me, rather than the restrictions it gives me.
Here's a few money savers (some of which I do, some which I hope to do, and some which I don't do but probably should...I won't tell you which!)
~make a written budget, spend each dollar on paper at the beginning of the month, and ask each dollar "who are you, and where do you think you're going?" (to quote Dave Ramsey)
~use the cash envelope system, no matter how much easier it is to use debit/credit, you'll automatically spend less because it hurts to give cash
~cut up your credit cards
At home:
~hang dry your clothes
~cold wash, use half the detergent called for
~cloth diapers, potty train as young as possible, fabric reusable feminine products
~breastfeed and get in touch with La Leche League for support/to answer questions
~buy bulk (family packs of meat, grains), buy clearance foods
~get rid of high speed internet and do dial-up, no cable/satellite
~home phone only and get rid of cells (updating your gadgets is expensive!)
~pay cash for cars, even if it means driving a clunker while you save up for a nicer one
~garage sale for as many items as you can - this means thinking months in advance but it reduces impulse buying. Be willing to wait to find the perfect deal! Start at your lowest price store and move up to more expensive stores if you can't find it at a garage sale. For me this is: Goodwill/other thrift stores, Once Upon a Child, Kids Resale, Ross, Walmart, Target...I rarely have to buy new items, plus your selection at used stores is much more varied than new stores. This also means setting a budget for shopping garage sales. For me, for clothes I will pay a maximum of $0.50, unless it's a shoe size I need or a nice jacket. If you plan far enough in advance, you rarely will have to exceed that. $0.25 is even better! Being patient is the key, and having a chart of sizes/clothes needed (as I've posted before in a previous post) so you know what you need, much before you actually need it. Even at 90% off in a regular store, you can't even come close to $0.25!
~meat free meals 1-2 times a week (eggs, beans/rice, lentils, pancakes), cut the meat in half in recipes that can take it (spaghetti, chili, etc)
~drink water more, and less juice/milk
~learn to make your own cosmetics/shampoos/cleaning products out of staples
~microfiber cleaning cloths (I'll have a separate blog on this one!)
~do 80-90% of your shopping on the perimeter of the store. The inner aisles should only be for staples (oatmeal, flour, beans), no prepackaged foods
~ let your baby eat off your plate, get a baby food grinder and don't buy prepackaged
~ find free food whenever you can (trees with the fruit falling off) and learn to can/freeze it
~ cloth napkins, super absorbent microfiber cloths instead of paper towels
Things I haven't figured out how to save on:
~ gas (this is one of our biggest budget blowers every time) and even if I increase it, we still go over
~ health care premiums
~ fitting odd things that are sporatic into the budget (chiropractic, vehicle licensing,etc)
~ life insurance (term vs. whole life policies)
~ can I really save money by going to many different stores, when I have to drive further (eg. Costco) and have membership fees? How often do most people shop? (we go every 2 weeks, but I know some people go weekly, and yet others seem to be able to do monthly trips)
I also would like some "cheap food" recipes. I'm willing to eat more beans and rice, rice and beans, lentils, etc., but my repertoire is quite limited. Expanding that would be much appreciated. Please comment, or email me your favorite recipes or money saving tips.
