Easy ways to stay on budget

[helenahhandbasket]

So, this is a little embarrassing to admit, but this is the first time in my life that I have had to come up with and stick to a budget.

I live/ grew up in a HCOL area and I lived at home with my parents until I was married.  STBXH took care of all of the finances (paid bills, set the budget, did our taxes) for the 7 years we were married and I am sort of lost.

When I knew we were separating and started to divide our finances, I put together a spreadsheet to help me keep track of bills, which has helped a lot, but my rent is high, I have DC to pay for and a few other non- negotiables that I won't be able to save on.

Tell me how you save money?  What do you cut out/ live without? I fully admit to never couponing for groceries--does that really help?  What are your money saving beauty tips?

I have to do this by myself now, so I eager and motivated to learn.

 

[BostonKisses]

If you have cable or satellite, I'd cut that and just do high speed internet, then subscribe to hulu and netflix. You can get something like Apple TV to connect, or you can get streaming sticks on Amazon for cheaper. Once we move, we're ditching cable and just doing internet, then getting hulu and netflix so we can still watch our shows. I read/watch my news online and get my weather online 99.9% of the time anymore, so even keeping local channels isn't 100% worth it, particularly since PBS participates with Apple TV so I can still watch my shows there.

You can try couponing, but if you're getting coupons for stuff you don't really use, it's not worth it to buy it just for the sake of saving money. I'm not into couponing, because I don't have time for it, but I also buy a lot of store brand things because they're just as good or even better than name brand things. I also do a lot of shopping at Costco for non-perishables, cleaning supplies, and paper goods. Yes, it may be a bigger cost when you make your trip, but buying that big bulk pack of toilet paper, for example, saves us a lot of money during the year.

[namastebiotches]

Another vote for store brand items for some things. Even with coupons for name brand stuff, it's still cheaper & taste just fine. I don't coupon.

[queenbabee]

Not sure what to cut, but I use a Dave Ramsey - ish approach to my budget. Cash in envelopes for everything. If the cash isn't there then "I can't afford it". Always a savings envelope, even if it isn't much. At end of pay period or month, whatever is left in other envelopes goes into the savings envelope (deposited in bank). I have saved a ton of money this way! It's very easy to spend what you can't see.
Not sure if this helps much, but if interested, his book is super helpful step-by-step. I don't follow it verbatim at all, but you really don't need to.

[esmerelda]

If you have an aldis near you take advantage. We save hundreds by shopping there over the supermarkets.

Using a not so fancy shampoo is another big one target brand has great razors you get 5 for $10 which isn't too bad.

Walmart has a good face wash I use the equate apricot scrub.

I stopped buying coffee out, bringing lunches to work. Buying staples like noodles and sauces in bulk when their on sale. If you want I have some other tips written down you can pm me and I'll happily talk to you about the budget life. I've been on one since I've been on my own at 19.

[esmerelda]

A few others I thought if don't buy bottled water. Get a few reusable bottles and go that route. Don't buy pop (not sure if your a big pop drinker) you'll save a ton of money just by cutting back on stuff like that. Like when we go grocery shopping we don't but a lot of snacks and no cookies or chips. Not wasting money or calories. Of course I make exceptions when it comes to my cycle but I budget for that as well.

[esmerelda]

Also not to be gross but if you would consider using a diva cup its a once a year purchase I've heard great things about them. I'm still debating making the switch myself. But that would cut out most other feminine hygiene products. We all know how expensive those are.


Sorry I like hijacked this thread but there are so many small things I think of.

[casey]

Definitely start by checking your subscriptions and ongoing services. One call to my phone company cut my iPhone bill from over $100 to $55 with almost identical coverage. Get rid of cable completely as PPs said ... or change companies and scale down. Call around on auto and other insurance.

You can definitely plan your meals around sales. And, in general, I find a spend a lot less on groceries when I plan out my meals for the week and account for enough to cover lunch leftovers. You can re-purpose some food to save time and money -- for example, roast a whole chicken or turkey breast for one night ... then casserole or such a couple days later. This also saves on wasted food, impulse buys, and meals out due to lack of planning.

[casey]

Jan 22, 2015 10:56:29 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

Also not to be gross but if you would consider using a diva cup its a once a year purchase I've heard great things about them. I'm still debating making the switch myself. But that would cut out most other feminine hygiene products. We all know how expensive those are.


Sorry I like hijacked this thread but there are so many small things I think of.

I am huge fan of diva cup.  Huge. 

[sahara78]

A big way for us to save is to eliminate eating out & Starbucks. Cable & cell phone bills are also places easier to cut back.

I have spent time couponing in the past, but most of the food coupons are for highly processed food that we're trying to cut back on.

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 10:44:31 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

If you have an aldis near you take advantage. We save hundreds by shopping there over the supermarkets.

Using a not so fancy shampoo is another big one target brand has great razors you get 5 for $10 which isn't too bad.

Walmart has a good face wash I use the equate apricot scrub.

I stopped buying coffee out, bringing lunches to work. Buying staples like noodles and sauces in bulk when their on sale. If you want I have some other tips written down you can pm me and I'll happily talk to you about the budget life. I've been on one since I've been on my own at 19.

Thanks!  I will have to look into Aldis-- I haven't heard of it before.

I do already buy almost all beauty products and makeup at drugstores/ target/ walmart.  I don't color my hair anymore (for now-- we will see if I start going grey in the next few years).  I have been thinking about quitting the professional manicures and just maybing buffing my nails and only havig them done for special occasions.

I have to work on bringing lunch to work almost every day-- I know that's costing me a fortune.

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 10:56:29 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

Also not to be gross but if you would consider using a diva cup its a once a year purchase I've heard great things about them. I'm still debating making the switch myself. But that would cut out most other feminine hygiene products. We all know how expensive those are.


Sorry I like hijacked this thread but there are so many small things I think of.

Actually, not gross at all.  I have been using my Diva cup for 8 years.  It has literally changed my life.  I do still have a box of tampons and liners on hand usually, but I think the last time I had to buy them was almost a year ago.

Keep the tips coming!

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 10:59:07 GMT -5 casey said:

Definitely start by checking your subscriptions and ongoing services. One call to my phone company cut my iPhone bill from over $100 to $55 with almost identical coverage. Get rid of cable completely as PPs said ... or change companies and scale down. Call around on auto and other insurance.

You can definitely plan your meals around sales. And, in general, I find a spend a lot less on groceries when I plan out my meals for the week and account for enough to cover lunch leftovers. You can re-purpose some food to save time and money -- for example, roast a whole chicken or turkey breast for one night ... then casserole or such a couple days later. This also saves on wasted food, impulse buys, and meals out due to lack of planning.

Thanks-- this is great stuff.  Part of my NY resolutions were to learn how to cook to save money.  STBXH did all of that too.

[helenahhandbasket]

In a related note, I am going to make sure DD knows how to do all of this stuff from a young age. Not that I am trying to make excuses for just now really learing how to budget/ manage my money, but my mom modleded a lot of these behaviors-- always having the "man of the house" do these things for her. I don't want to pass that on.

[eyenigh]

You don't have to be an all the time couponer to take advantage of coupon savings. I find that I get most use out of coupons for personal use items over food. You can follow sites like Totally Target and they post the deals and matchup up so all you have to do is find those specific coupons for those items. I used to do it a lot more when I had more time but even items like razors, shampoo and toothpaste are really easy to get for pretty much free. I have so much free shampoo that I donated 10 bottles recently and still have a ton left. The only annoying thing you have to do is buy the Sunday paper for the coupons but a lot of times I don't even cut them out until I see a deal posted and then I just go and find it. I think though, with couponing, you either have a knack for it or you don't. Like, it's so not a big deal for me to do deal matchups for things I need but I've tried to help a couple of friends through it and they just couldn't deal with having to follow sites, find the coupons, etc.

If you don't want to do physical coupons, online deals. Follow Brad's deals or Slickdeals where they post a lot of best price kind of deals where you can bulk up on necessities (like my 3 year paper towel supply), toilet paper, that kind of stuff. I won't pay more than 50%

Definitely dump cable. I know your day is way too full to even have time to watch tv and once it's gone for awhile, you won't miss it at all. The only people that ever really seem to care are people who love sports.

Grocery-wise, I almost never buy things that aren't on sale or special and I load up when they are. You can freeze almost anything (if you have the space).

Beauty money saving tips: This is the one area that I don't really save anything and is probably the reason why I scrimp and save in other places so I can splurge here. The only thing I don't do anymore is get regular mani/pedis but mostly because I have a weird thing about feeling bad for the people that have to provide this crappy service to me. I buy a lot of cheap shampoo for my husband to use but I use all higher end products but I bargain hunt those online and, you guessed it, buy a lot when I find a great price

[penguin129]

Jan 22, 2015 10:40:45 GMT -5 queenbabee said:

Not sure what to cut, but I use a Dave Ramsey - ish approach to my budget. Cash in envelopes for everything. If the cash isn't there then "I can't afford it". Always a savings envelope, even if it isn't much. At end of pay period or month, whatever is left in other envelopes goes into the savings envelope (deposited in bank). I have saved a ton of money this way! It's very easy to spend what you can't see.
Not sure if this helps much, but if interested, his book is super helpful step-by-step. I don't follow it verbatim at all, but you really don't need to.

My mom and some friends do this too. I am so worried about switching to cash though. I try my best to track spending on Mint.com, but it is hard at times.

[helenahhandbasket]

Thanks eyenigh I was hoping you would chime in after you mentioned your score on the nearly life time supply of paper towels.

I don't know if I will ever physically coupon, but the online stuff sounds fairly easy to manage.

[penguin129]

Cut cable, see if you can find cheaper car insurace, look for cheaper cell plans, meal plan, buy generic, stock up when there are good sales. I use cartwheel (target coupon app) most of the time when I have to buy stuff there. Also if you get the Target Red Card Debit you get 5% off your purchase every time. I buy clothes for DD and I at Goodwill or Consignments shops and on occasion at Target. I don't go to the mall either. You can track your spending on Mint.com and set up certain budget areas.

[esmerelda]

Jan 22, 2015 11:21:09 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

In a related note, I am going to make sure DD knows how to do all of this stuff from a young age. Not that I am trying to make excuses for just now really learing how to budget/ manage my money, but my mom modleded a lot of these behaviors-- always having the "man of the house" do these things for her. I don't want to pass that on.

This is so important and one of the best things you can do for your kid. My mom was single working 2 jobs dealing with mental illness trying to raise 2 kids. In turn my brother and myself both left home super young so we were forced into learning a lot of this stuff really young.being able to survive on your own is such an important thing people take for granted.

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 11:32:20 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Cut cable, see if you can find cheaper car insurace, look for cheaper cell plans, meal plan, buy generic, stock up when there are good sales. I use cartwheel (target coupon app) most of the time when I have to buy stuff there. Also if you get the Target Red Card Debit you get 5% off your purchase every time. I buy clothes for DD and I at Goodwill or Consignments shops and on occasion at Target. I don't go to the mall either. You can track your spending on Mint.com and set up certain budget areas.

::faints::

I'm just kiddding.  We have substantially cut down on our mall trips-- seriously, we used to go every weekend.  Part of the reason has to do with the budgeting, and the other part is that DD has been on a stroller strike for at least the last year, and won't hold my hand.

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 11:35:35 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

Jan 22, 2015 11:21:09 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

In a related note, I am going to make sure DD knows how to do all of this stuff from a young age. Not that I am trying to make excuses for just now really learing how to budget/ manage my money, but my mom modleded a lot of these behaviors-- always having the "man of the house" do these things for her. I don't want to pass that on.

This is so important and one of the best things you can do for your kid. My mom was single working 2 jobs dealing with mental illness trying to raise 2 kids. In turn my brother and myself both left home super young so we were forced into learning a lot of this stuff really young.being able to survive on your own is such an important thing people take for granted.

Totally agree-- my mom always worked full time (elementary school teacher) so I did get the "working mom" thing, and she was single with 2 young kiddos also (my parents divorced when I was 5) but she always had a lot of help from family members with housing and some child care (like I did).

 Then she got remarried to someone that did /does everything for them financially.  My mom told me that if her H dropped dead she would have no idea where to begin-- she's got no access to their bank accounts, can't even turn on a computer (to access bills/ records).  I can't even imagine living like that, and I won't perpetuate it.

[penguin129]

Jan 22, 2015 11:37:35 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

Jan 22, 2015 11:32:20 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Cut cable, see if you can find cheaper car insurace, look for cheaper cell plans, meal plan, buy generic, stock up when there are good sales. I use cartwheel (target coupon app) most of the time when I have to buy stuff there. Also if you get the Target Red Card Debit you get 5% off your purchase every time. I buy clothes for DD and I at Goodwill or Consignments shops and on occasion at Target. I don't go to the mall either. You can track your spending on Mint.com and set up certain budget areas.

::faints::

I'm just kiddding.  We have substantially cut down on our mall trips-- seriously, we used to go every weekend.  Part of the reason has to do with the budgeting, and the other part is that DD has been on a stroller strike for at least the last year, and won't hold my hand.

I think it is because I worked in retail the mall for 3 1/2 years or so and had to be there ALL THE TIME. I was malled out!

[esmerelda]

Jan 22, 2015 11:45:12 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

Jan 22, 2015 11:35:35 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

This is so important and one of the best things you can do for your kid. My mom was single working 2 jobs dealing with mental illness trying to raise 2 kids. In turn my brother and myself both left home super young so we were forced into learning a lot of this stuff really young.being able to survive on your own is such an important thing people take for granted.

Totally agree-- my mom always worked full time (elementary school teacher) so I did get the "working mom" thing, and she was single with 2 young kiddos also (my parents divorced when I was 5) but she always had a lot of help from family members with housing and some child care (like I did).

 Then she got remarried to someone that did /does everything for them financially.  My mom told me that if her H dropped dead she would have no idea where to begin-- she's got no access to their bank accounts, can't even turn on a computer (to access bills/ records).  I can't even imagine living like that, and I won't perpetuate it.

That does sound scary. All bills are in my name and we have separate bank accounts. Just in case anything happens I want to make sure we are both going to be okay. I couldn't imagine not being able to take care of those things myself.

[esmerelda]

Also a lot of chain restaurants do sign up for the club or emails and you get Free meals or appetizers or what ever for birthdays and other occasions. I have a few I get emails from at least once a month.

I love these cause when those special occasions roll around I know were not spending out the wazoo on them

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 11:53:46 GMT -5 esmerelda said:

Also a lot of chain restaurants do sign up for the club or emails and you get Free meals or appetizers or what ever for birthdays and other occasions. I have a few I get emails from at least once a month.

I love these cause when those special occasions roll around I know were not spending out the wazoo on them

This is a great tip!  We don't eat out too often, but when we do it's typically a family friendly chain.

[esmerelda]

Yea I love these its always something good for birthdays too. Some have things for kids as well just got to look into it. I find browsing their websites helps.

[kld2014]

Cell phone is a big one. I called because I ac was planning on canceling a line due to cost and they cut my bill in half for the same plan. I was shocked, I didn't even think it was an option! Of course it took me a month and H hounding me to get the balls to call them before I found that out.

[Deleted]

Echoing a few pp I'm sure as I just kinda skimmed though the tread.

DH and I have always been on a pretty tight budget but it recently got even tighter. Two of the biggest things that help us are cutting everything but internet and very strategic meal planning. If I don't factor in formula for DS, we probably only spend about $300-$345 on food. We always wait to see what food is in sale and then I plan meals around the sales. Pintrest and yummly were great for this because I could search specific ingredients.

Beauty wise I have a few shocking ones. I usually invest in professional base and top coat for my nail polish. That way I can paint my nails and they stay close to perfect for close to two weeks. I keep my eyebrows the same shape by tweezing the stray hairs every couple days. This saves me close to $50 a month. I actually cut my own hair as well. Before you write this off as crazy advice, it's totally doable if you have at least shoulder length hair.


Picture of my hair cut as proof that I'm not hag haired!

[TheEleventhHour]

@priss08 You are gorgeous!

[helenahhandbasket]

Jan 22, 2015 14:10:45 GMT -5 @priss08 said:

Echoing a few pp I'm sure as I just kinda skimmed though the tread.

DH and I have always been on a pretty tight budget but it recently got even tighter. Two of the biggest things that help us are cutting everything but internet and very strategic meal planning. If I don't factor in formula for DS, we probably only spend about $300-$345 on food. We always wait to see what food is in sale and then I plan meals around the sales. Pintrest and yummly were great for this because I could search specific ingredients.

Beauty wise I have a few shocking ones. I usually invest in professional base and top coat for my nail polish. That way I can paint my nails and they stay close to perfect for close to two weeks. I keep my eyebrows the same shape by tweezing the stray hairs every couple days. This saves me close to $50 a month. I actually cut my own hair as well. Before you write this off as crazy advice, it's totally doable if you have at least shoulder length hair.


Picture of my hair cut as proof that I'm not hag haired!

OMG-- you look gorgeous!

I have tried painitng my nails myself and no matter what I do they look like caca.  I think I am going to try the buffed nail thing for a while, and only splurge for events.

I am also a fan of tweezing my own eyebrows-- I have actually never had them professionally "done".