Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.
Hello people,
I was posting about tightening my belt earlier this month because of funerals that have happened. Well here is what I do to tighten my already tight budget.
1) I brown bag it, taking my lunch instead of the employee lunch saves me $4.00 a day, 4/days at $4 is $16, I save $64 dollars a mo, eating a lunch from home
2) If possible I car pool with someone to work, that way I can pay half the amt for gas to work and home, at the casino it is hard because many have different hrs.
3)at times like this my SO and I, share our cell, because we have prepaid, and so we use one phone and use that phone for the month until we can breath again and then add the mins on the other phone
4) stay home. we use less gas by staying home and not planning any trips like to the store or we run errands on one day of the week, so that we don't have to go anywhere and use all our gas up.
5)I don't know how frugal you want to be but you can water down concentrated stuff like your shampoo, dish soap, anything that can be watered down, but this is a bad habit I picked up from when I was in an abusive relationship, he was financially abusive, I no longer do this. But it did save me a bundle
these are some tips.
I was posting about tightening my belt earlier this month because of funerals that have happened. Well here is what I do to tighten my already tight budget.
1) I brown bag it, taking my lunch instead of the employee lunch saves me $4.00 a day, 4/days at $4 is $16, I save $64 dollars a mo, eating a lunch from home
2) If possible I car pool with someone to work, that way I can pay half the amt for gas to work and home, at the casino it is hard because many have different hrs.
3)at times like this my SO and I, share our cell, because we have prepaid, and so we use one phone and use that phone for the month until we can breath again and then add the mins on the other phone
4) stay home. we use less gas by staying home and not planning any trips like to the store or we run errands on one day of the week, so that we don't have to go anywhere and use all our gas up.
5)I don't know how frugal you want to be but you can water down concentrated stuff like your shampoo, dish soap, anything that can be watered down, but this is a bad habit I picked up from when I was in an abusive relationship, he was financially abusive, I no longer do this. But it did save me a bundle
these are some tips.
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Tomorrow is National Relaxation Day but seeing how we already had a Moment of Zen this week and today happens to be a Friday, how about some relaxation jokes instead?! Namaste... enjoy! Happy Friday!
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If you only know one thing about me, it should be _____________________.
Those are all good ideas. We do those also. Well we don't water down soap, but I've found much more economical brands of shampoo and find super bargains at BigLots for better shampoos for less.
Just eating out of your cupboard & freezer, you know, the stuff you usually ignore in the back, can help you get through a tight spot I find.
I started forcing myself to dig through our bathroom closet and making myself use all the old products and samples before I bought anything new, no matter how much I disliked the products. That saved a lot too.
We try not to run the A/C unless the heat is unbearable and try to consolidate trips out so we go less often, like you said.
I try to do as much bill paying online instead of buying stamps and labels. I try to make as much from scratch as I have the energy for.
I think it all adds up don't you?
I know it costs money to leave home...I usually end up buying a cup of something to drink at about $0.75 or so when I am out in car....and I am using gasoline then too...I try to stay home even though I am alone and somewhat lonely for people...but I do get out to AA functions/meetings usually once or twice weekly...
dye my own hair at least 2-3 times in between special trips to the haircutter, drink coffee at home.....play boggle, monopoly, sudoku with friends, take turns cooking for each other so you get out/and then stay in and hang out instead of spending what I don't have on movies, restaurants etc tv is fun too,....
1. Cut fabric softener sheets in half. Half works just as well as a whole one.
2. Use designated wash clothes instead of paper napkins and throw them in your regular wash.
3. Place your electrical appliances on power strips so that you can turn them off at night to save on energy.
4. Plan your menus around the sale items at the grocery store that week, cook enough for several meals and freeze those extra meals in sandwich bags for later use.
5. Get a magic-jack instead of a land line and since the magic jack includes free long distance (all for 20.00 a year) there is no need for a regular cell phone, use prepaid cell phones for emergencies.
6. Extend your time between hair cuts by a week or two.
7. Extend your time between doctor, dentist visits by a month or two when possible.
8. Keep your air conditioning thermostat at 80 and use ceiling fans.
9. Use stick margarine instead of soft margarine or butter.
10. Use one tea bag for two cups of tea.
11. Use toilet paper instead of facial tissues (Kleenex)
12. Use fold over bags instead of Ziploc bags when possible.
13. Extend your meat dollar by making soups and stir fry dishes.
14. Use Walmart to price match items from other stores.
15. Split restaurant meals with your spouse or significant other.
I hope more will share their suggestions.
I cut mine and my daughters hair (hubby and son go to cheapest place for theirs).
No cable ( but do have netflix and Hulu plus).
Have a prepaid phone that has unlimited text, data, and minutes each month.
Count calories so me and hubby don't eat too much (using a free online program: SparkPeople).
When we rent movies we return them the next day for store credit.
Have a reusable water bottle that has a Brita filter so that I can just drink water at work.
Eat leftovers.
I refuse to pay more than 2.00 per pound of meat, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables.
Don't buy anything unless it's on sale and usually with a coupon.
When friends come over they bring their own food and drink.
Game nights at home with friends instead of going out.
Alter and redesign my son's old clothes to fit his sister (as long as they weren't too boyish to begin with).
Mend and reuse clothes instead of throwing them away.
Yard sales and church consignment sales for the kids' clothes.
Walmart is much cheaper for buying meats than the local price chopper.So I go there.I save money if the kids dont come with me..:)I try to ask myself before I buy anything if its a need or a want.
I also dropped my landline.. My husband & I use our iPhones 3G at home and find places that have free wifi when we're out.
My husb also set uphis phone as a 'hotspot' in order to get wifi at home to use our laptop. I'm looking into some wifi apps for our phones as well.
dropped my cable also, like others here. Have netflix and hulu.
use tupperware containers for everything that you might be tempted to put in a plastic baggie.
use cloth rags instead of paper products as much as possible.
use simple cleaners, like baking soda or cheap old comet and do more scrubbing (except on surfaces that just need something gentler, then I just use water or baking soda). this saves a lot. you can also use simply water for mirrors. it extends their life anyway (no chipping on the corners)
scavenge your basement or garage before buying household items. often you'll find something there that will work but may just need a cleaning or something.
I shop at aldis. we try to eat a lot of cheap food, like rice and beans.
we plant a few veggies to save some money. as much as our land will yield.
we also consolidate trips out like others here. we buy ice cream at aldis to avoid expensive visits of temptation to the ice cream parlor. : )
we use stainless steel water bottles and fill them instead of buying bottled water. I try to never buy beverages when I'm out.
I started buying suave shampoo recently and I love it! It's so cheap and works just like the expensive brands.
I shop at goodwill for my kid's clothes. If I have to buy him something new at all, I buy it big.
anything I want to buy, I check the price with amazon first. many times I've found huge savings doing this. and shipping is usually free.
I've saved a lot just by using what is in my bathroom cabinet. I might not like this new bath soap I bought, but I use it anyway and find I can go for months before I buy anything new, just using the bland stuff I have. sounds simple, but if you are like me, you are a cosmetics junkie lol.
we try to recycle wrapping paper and bags in creative ways.
we try to find creative gifts to make instead of buying new all the time. I just had the idea today to take old clothing that I really liked but no longer fits or the cut isn't in style and I'm going to make little pillows out of them for family. The kind where you sew in stripes or add special stitching to make it look custom crafted. I hope I follow through with this one because its should be fun and almost free!
we try to avoid convenience stores at all costs. it always helps to pack your snack or lunch before leaving home.