I also feel bloated financially, if that is possible. I used to be SO good at not spending money. It was easy, because there was never any there to spend. If I tried we would just bounce something, so I quickly became accustomed to not spending money, however tempting it may be. However, now we have a little cushion of money that we still cannot spend (it is what we have to live on for the next couple of months) but it gives the false illusion of having money to spend. This is dangerous. So I have not been as disciplined as I have in times past. This is not to say that I have just gone buck wild, but I still need to exhibit some more self restraint. (As far as food and money both go) Mom gave me $20 for Valentine's Day so I used that and then some at Target to score some of the Heidi Swapp finds. This picture is what I ended up getting... But I have made a goal. I am only going to scrap with the supplies I have on hand. (At first I said I would do this until my birthday which is in mid-June. Then I came to my senses)I am going to start with a month, and see how I can extend it. The only exceptions are photo developing, and the occasional small stipend for paper. (Once your out of paper, you're kind of stuck.) So I'm going on a scrap diet. No buying supplies, no matter what great and latest thing comes out. It will still be there later when we might have more money to spend on that kind of thing. I am also going to exercise great caution with grocery shopping like I used to. I stocked up on chicken a couple of weeks ago when it was on sale, so I am only making chicken recipes next go-around. (sorry Timm). I am going to raid my pantry to see what I have on hand to cook with so I can minimize the ingredients I need to buy. Basically I am tightening the screws, pulling in the reigns with the food and money in my life. I am already a spaz about turning off lights etc, and we never go out to eat or go on dates. (unfortunately)So I need to know
**What do you do to save money???**
(We seriously need the help, so answer dangit!)
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I try to limit my trips to the grocery store. If I really plan ahead, I can get lots at one time and have a lot fewer trips. I find that when I have to go get a few things, I always end up getting a bunch more things that I wasn't planning on buying. So the less I even go in, the better. (This is the case with all stores, by the way.) I remember when I was young Patti decided to go for a year or something without shopping. I thought it was totally crazy. But maybe if you didn't go in stores, you wouldn't want so much...
That is true... I don't even go window shopping b/c then I just yearn for things. The only stores I typically go into are scrapbook related ones. And target. Crap. That's a huge downfall right there. Maybe patti had something...
As soon as I read your posting I thought of Patti's "monotary fast" i believe she called it. She did it for a full year, much to the dismay of her children. I remember being awestruck that she could do it! She felt like she never denied herself anything and it was a fault she needed to correct. She didn't buy anything for herself, and if the kids needed something, they had to go without her to shop. She really stuck to it for one whole year!!! After her example, I was able to go on my own monotary fast , but for only 3 months. That was the time frame I set for myself. We lived in Pittsurgh at the time and I still remember when I "broke my fast", I went shopping with Annie Kaminski! It as pretty exhilerating! It's odd, I was just contemplating making some kind of committment in that vein--like not looking at any mail order catalogs, just throwing them away, unseen! That would be a start. Would taking things home from the store have to halt too? YIKES! My sister Patti had many many years of being a fine and inspiring example to me which I love recalling. Great idea--a monotary fast! Try it!
A monetary fast--yikes. I don't think I'd want to commit to that, but I think trying to cut down is a great plan. As for tips from me (though I fear I don't have much credibility) I would say that doing the one-car boogie helps a lot because you stay home a lot and I consider all those days successes because I didn't spend money. Also, selling old stuff on ebay is a great way to at least get some money coming and even if it just stays in your paypal account then you have some spending money to reinvest through ebay or other websites (even scrapbooking ones) with the paypal money. I agree with the grocery store visits being a drain as well. Other than that you could always donate plasma or something. NOT.
A monetary fast does not sound fun at all, but I guess we kinda did that after Mya was born for a few months since I was not working. Now, we just have a really, REALLY tight budget. I think it has worked the best for us to save money having both of us involed in the budget on a weekly basis. It was much easier not spending $$ on those misc things when you are accountable to eachother. There are times when something is on sale or whatever, and we talk it over. I find that sometimes when I find something I think I just gotta have, I can think it over and dismiss it 'cause really there is no justification for said item, ya know? Also, both of us doing it helps to keep our financial goals in sync with eachother- so we both are in the know and agree with where the money is going.
My brother swears by this site and their services :http://www.mvelopes.com/index.php
I have not tried it 'cause what we are doing is working for us, but I think the site is free for the first 30 days, then like $10 a month, which in my opinion would be better spent on something else, or saved. If you ever want to know more info on what we are doing, let me know and I will be happy to fill ya in. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Saving money isn't easy, but it really is worth not having the debt and stress.
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