thankful for being on a budget

[Owl_Feather]

Adam and I live comfortably. I am blessed to have the option to be a stay at home mom. Adam works very hard and provides for the family first. But sometimes our budget is very tight! We live paycheck to paycheck, rarely have money to save, sometimes we skip a bill so we have grocery money. But we always have a roof over our head, food in the kitchen, the electricity is always running, we always have enough gas in our car..the list goes on. This week has been a tough one. Only $10 to "live off of" till pay day, and very little food to feed three. But after asking for advice and suggestions on here, and being consoled by Adam, we will be ok! It's amazing what meals can be made with a little of this and that. I've learned that it is time for us to be accountants and really manage our money. We need to plan our meals ahead of time and just get the ingredients we need at the store instead of buying stuff we don't really need, whether or not we have a coupon or it's on sale! We aren't at the point of food pantry assistance, but this situation made me feel blessed that option is available. If you have any money saving tips that works for your family and if you have the statistics of how much you saved, I'd be delighted if you shared that with me! thanks for reading =)

[coffeemom86]

Jul. 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM

spendfreely.blogspot.com

i get some great tips from her site.

[homemommie]

Jul. 28, 2009 at 10:11 PM

I save about 30-40 a month clipping coupons. Overall, going to Kroger I save $160 a month buying things that are on sale or generic brands. To me canned veggies, some potato chips, store brand shredded cheese things like this I will buy generic and take advantage if it is 2 or 3 for a certain price (if I know next week I would save more now and use next week). I try to every week plan that weeks meals. We do not eat out at all and always make coffee at home, lol.

[flowrchild77]

Jul. 31, 2009 at 10:58 AM

I don't know if you have a Kroger nearby, but they double coupons up to like 50 - 60 cents every day.  Fred's doubles coupons every Saturday or Sunday (can't remember which day).  Not sure if you have a Save-A-Lot, but their stuff is dirt cheap.  They don't have a lot of stuff you find at most grocery stores, but you can buy the basics there & then go somewhere else for things you can't find there.  Do you get the grocery store ads in your mail?  You could look through them all and circle the things you want that are on sale before you head to the grocery store.  I print off tons of coupons online.  They really have some great ones out there!  I'm addicted to that!

I know you're already smart and buy used things at thrift shops and garage sales, so I think you're doing well with that. 

[swimmachic23]

Aug. 7, 2009 at 6:33 PM

Meal planning is definitly the way to go!!!! Also making something (like say a roasted chicken) and eating what you would off of it, and using the extras for another meal down the road. Buying veggies from the local farmers market also saves a bunch, when it comes to CERTAIN veggies, the hydro pack of 3 tomatos for a dollar is still a better deal than the 99 cent beefsteak tomatoes at the farmers market. Another helpful hint is, try canning some of your foods. I can my tomatoes and make spaghetti sauce, I also can my tomatoes for other reecipes. Other things like applesauce or beets just to name a few are so much cheaper to can. And yet another suggestion is to buy a bit extra (a dozen and a half ears of corn) and freeze half of it. Just cook it and cut it off of the cob. Hope at least a few of these ideas help a bit.