I'm just kidding. Please read this, then leave me comments and tell me how much you love me...or don't (no, no, please do!)! Anyhow. I've got lots of topics I could talk about today, but I'm not sure I've really got the time I need to do those topics justice.
Right now whats been on my mind is saving money. I've been watching a little too much CNN (thats whats always on at the gym) and I've been very worried about the economy. We are fine right now, but what if gas goes up to $5 a gallon. It's about $3.91 here but will probably be up to $4 by the weekend. So I've been researching ways that I can save our family money. I'm trying to cut our grocery bill. I'm not getting in the car and going places like I was. I'm thinking long and hard about unnecassary purchases before I make them. I'm trying to cook at home more instead of us eating out. So, how are you saving money? Does anyone have any tips they'd like to pass along?
12 comments:
You and me both, sister! I've been trying to come up with new ways to save money, and it is definitely not easy. The worst part is that healthy food is so much more expensive than the fatty stuff most of the time. It sounds like you are off to a good start. One big thing I've done is try to break my loyalty to brand names when it comes to food and just buy what is on sale (now there are some things I just won't part with, like JIF, Fiber One, Tide or good toilet paper). It has made a pretty big difference in my grocery bill. We even switched to the generic brand of soft drinks (which we shouldn't be drinking anyway) and we like them just as well. I don't know if you read Ashley's Closet, but her family is going through a financial crunch right now and she had some great tips on how she's been saving money. She's even been making her own baby wipes and house cleaning solution. Here's the address for that post:
http://www.ashleyquitefrankly.com/2008/07/comprehensive-guide-to-being-poor.html
Good luck (and let me know if you come up with any great ideas on saving money)!
Wow...after I published that, I realized that was a really long comment!
www.thegrocerygame.com I've been saving lots and getting to eat name brands! I've been doing it for 2 weeks now and I have saved a couple hundred dollars. The key is stockpiling..buying things on sale so you don't have to buy them at premium price. I've bought shampoo, body wash, toothpaste...all free! It's using coupons & store sales together. Read the website before you sign up to see if it would work for you. I'm enjoying it...it's taking lots of time now, but I can tell that I can get quicker in the future. If you sign up, add me as a referral and I get free weeks (jitterbug0312@netzero.net) is the email address I used. Good luck!
The first thing I would say is to not stress. God takes care of the birds in the air, so aren't we more important? Wouldn't he take care of us just the same? He will, so don't fret.
Gas is $4.91 here. Honestly this energy crisis doesn't bother us much since we've always been ones to pinch our pennies, even when they don't need pinching...but here are some simple things we do.
We line dry anything that can be dried on a line. Got rid of *waste* products such as paper towels when a rag does the trick, no plastic wrap in this house either, we save bread bags and use those. Generic all the way, on everything. You can say that you won't go generic on whatever you want, but there are people who would kill for generic toliet paper to wipe their tushies with, so be thankful in all things.
I don't wear makeup unless it's a special occasion, (except for mascara-I am a girl, not a machine.)The hardest thing for *me* has been clothing. My husband grew up in a family that they have 4 shirts for each person. That's how poor they were, thankfully we are able to buy more than that, but I have not bought the girls one article of clothing this summer. My mom is such a blessing to buy them clothing, and so I make due with what she blesses them with. Alright, just a few things...sorry I know this is long. One more thing, tendency is to stop tithing with the budget gets tight...Christ rewards those that give their FIRST fruits to him. ;o) My plug of the day.
Whoah I reread that...gas is $4.19 here...not $4.91!!!
I have been trying to do the same. I have cut back on eating out..especially with the kids. We eat lunch at home and then go to the pool or to whatever activity. They know before we go to the club what they can and can/not have. The club doen't accept cash..you leave your name and then you get a lovely bill each month. They know they can't get whatever they want. I have also tried to cut back on gas and driving all over. I am also not shopping over the internet..this is very hard for me but I have been pretty proud that I have not "shopped"!!!
Pray! Staying out of WaL-MART! Grocery shopping @ ALDI (milk $1.99 all summer), not going all over the country gas is $3.87($90.00 of gas in my van - ouch), teamed up with a friend and helped in their garden and putting up fresh veggies. Now we need a cow and a pig for the meat;)(my grandparents would be proud), gonna check out what jitterbug is doing also.
Really weighing whether something is a "need" versus "want" or "like to have", especially when it comes to the boys. Hubs does our groceries. He is so much better at that than me and he watches coupons and sales. The only stock pile we have is Diet Pepsi and that is because it was on sale at Kroger and Target not to long ago.
I have to laugh at AR's comment about needing a pig/cow for meat...Ken's uncle buys a cow every year for meat and we have thought about halfing one with him!
I love The Grocery Game!!! Some things we're trying...visit the library for books, dvd rentals; ride bikes to nearby stops; selling on eBay.
Hi, CM! Thanks for stopping by this morning. Responding to your comment, if your husband is not enthusiastic about some of the things you are trying, I have some suggestions for you.
First, I think sometimes husbands feel "trapped" when we start changing things without consulting them. I would recommend that you talk to your husband about some of the things you want to try BEFORE you start implementing them. He may be more inclined to support you if he sees that you're giving him a choice. If he doesn't want to do something, I would suggest that you honor his wishes even if you don't agree. You might ask (sweetly, of course) if he has any suggestions.
Second, make the changes yourself. Don't go after his cable first thing. Take your lunch to work, even though he's eating lunch out. Hang the clothes on the line when you do laundry, even if he uses the dryer when it's his turn. Buy some of your things at the thrift shop, even though he only shops at Macy's. (I haven't read your blog so I don't know your circumstances, I'm just throwing out general examples here.) Do all of this CHEERFULLY, not disdainfully. Don't resent him for not joining the band wagon. When he sees you are willing to give up some things, he may be willing to do the same.
I've been thinking that too, not that I'm hurting right now, but it just seems that I spend money too quickly these days. I especially want to try and cut my grocery bill. For 2 people (who are not overweight so we can't eat that much right?) we spend more money than I am willing to admit on food, not counting the times we eat out.
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