We need to cut back on spending period. Now we grow a lot of stuff - and have freezers full of meat - so that end of grocery shopping is not a big deal. But it occured to me that this summer we will have 2 extra kids (from Ireland through Project Children), and then we are going to be in the process of adopting. Here's the thing. We lived in a nice neighborhood and were debt free besides our house payment. We paid everything off every month no problem. We moved because we didn't like the exposure our kids were getting and honestly we couldn't stand neighbors Now we live on 32 acres, have been here for 3 years and though we have come a LONG way - we are not debt free any more. And with more kids coming (we are hoping to adopt at least 2 more through the foster system within the next year) I need to figure out how to personally penny pinch. I am awful at it My husband handles money very well - we aren't hurting in that department. I'm just trying to find extra money and where/how I can pinch the pocketbook. Someone on another thread was doing homeschooling penny pinching but I woud like more "household" penny pinching.
Pay cash for everything. We are not getting a pool ticket this year, but I WILL be investing in some good squirt guns! (Five, so Carl and I can join the fun!) Also a good sprinkler. I'm trying to cut back on trips to the library (which is VERY difficult for me!).
We have had a few threads of this nature. There were some great ideas. Bake and grow what you can. Only purchase what you can afford and pay with cash. Purchase clothing at thrift stores. You can find a lot of new or gently used clothing there. Reuse plastic bags. (gallon and sandwich bags) Make your own cleaners.
There are many ways that you can learn to be frugal - if you google that you will find many sites that will give you ideas. I have a family of 10 so I am always looking for new ways to save. We garage sale for some things we need/want. When things are on sale I stock up. I always use coupons and shop at discount and dent stores. We have a garden. I dont use my clothes dryer in the warm months, we hang our clothes outside on the washline to save on our electric bill. If you like skim milk you can buy a gallon of whole milk and spring water and mix the two half and half and have two gallons of skim milk. I cloth diaper. Buy in bulk. Ok, gotta run but will think and get back with more!!
One way that we save money is to wash all of our clothes in cold water. They come just as clean and we spend about 20.00 less a month on our energy bill, also when we give the kids a bath we don't fill the tub very full at all...maybe 2 inches of water and then they get in and take a bath and play. they still have fun and we spend less on the energy bill. Also when we are gone during the day for long periods we turn the a/c to 85 and then turn it down to 78 when we get home. this also saves us about 30.00 a month on our regular energy bill.
