I just wanted to say thanks for the recent threads on money-saving ideas. Jan 1st came several "new" deductions out of my husband's paycheck, lowering his take-home pay by $200. We are already living paycheck to paycheck so this has been a very discouraging blow. I felt like I was already being frugal so now comes the work to try to find ways to be even more frugal. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks and great timing
I know its going to be a challenge, I think most of us here face the financial challenges that homeschooling bring and I think the majority of our families are one income. I hope that you find ways to save even more this year........ it will be helpfull if you don't already to use a program that you can keep track of your finances....... we put in everything from how much we spend on take out to gas and rent etc.... our program does a pie chart for where everything goes.
I'm not sure whether it's relevant, but I preempted lower net salary by reducing the amount I contribute to a 401(k) plan. Yes, it may be robbing long-term financial health to address short-term need, but there's just too much uncertainty around right now. Is this a way you could in part recoup that $200?
I know posted on those threads....but I don't remember what I posted and I need to go fix lunch so.. A couple quick easy tips I dont' see too often.... 1. Allen's Naturally Laundry Liquid $36 and it'll last us for over 2 years (in an HE washer) And white vinegar instead of fabric softener (I get 2 gal of vinegar for under $4 at Sams Club) 2. Use reusable instead of disposable in anything you can. No paper plates, buy a sandwich box to pack lunches instead of baggies, I use the plastic ball freezer jar in hubby's lunch daily, etc.
I know what you mean. My husband works for the State Prison System and his paycheck is lower this month as well, and it's very surprising and upsetting. We're also brainstorming ways that we can save money, more than we already do. I feel your pain. Here is a list of things we make or reuse: 1. Homemade wipes 2. No TV, only Netflix 3. No ziploc baggies (we use lunchboxes and tupperware instead) 4. I don't buy disposable feminine products 5. Cloth diapers 6. I took the kid's tattier looking pants from the winter, hemmed them up into shorts and then in the dead of summer when pants are on sale I buy them. 7.Get OCD about the grocery list. I know that there are more but I can't think of them all right now.
Thanks everyone. As for the 401(k)-we don't even have one. We had one from a job my husband had a long time ago and we liquidated it to get into our house. No cable, only Netflix already but I am going to go down to 1 DVD out at a time from 2. It'll save a few bucks a month I like the idea of laundry soap you mentioned. I will look into that. Laundry/paper items really suck up the money so I'll be trying to shave that. Food is the big deal. Five people eat alot! I went into the local Sara Lee bread outlet and was really surprised. I got those Costco-size loaves of bread 2pk (that are 4 lbs) for just 4.00. I bought enough for 6 weeks and will freeze the rest. Every other time I've been to those places, I never see the great prices everyone always raves about UNTIL TODAY! I got enough bread and rolls to last 6 weeks for 8.00! Yay! and it's right near where my dd goes to class on Wednesdays. Double yay!
It really pays to shop around and know your stores in your area. We used to have a bread store but it closed down several years ago I miss it. Now I make my own a lot to save money... My parents do best shopping at our local small, independent grocery because they eat bone in chicken, and cracklings and fat back and such-you can't find those foods in every store even in the south! LOL We eat differently though so I prefer Aldi and Sam's Club - lots of good deals on fresh produce and lots of vegetarian meals. We shop very differently... It pays to check out what's around and what kind of deals they have and if it fits your family...
I tried to make homemade bread, and it worked really well for me. I loved using it, it tasted great, and ti was affordable. However...picky DH said, "OoOoOoOoOo it's not real bread!! OoOoOoOo Uuuuhhhhhhhhh" and refused to eat it. *rolls eyes* So now we buy the cheapest bread we can ($1) and "I" think it's gross (but nobody asked me what I thought...). Oh well. We do all of our shopping at Aldi, with a few exceptions of things that really are cheaper at WalMart. We only shop once a month as well.
When I worked in London and we lived almost 100 miles away (a daily train ride), we brought in significantly less, net, than the family next door who lived on unemployment benefit. As I look back, I don't know how we survived that time. We saved money in every way conceivable: 1) No car. We walked everywhere we could and, when necessary, took a bus. To get to work, I'd cycle every day to the train station, which saved on bus fare and was more healthy. If you can do it, it saves a lot. 2) No television. In Britain, you have to pay an annual license of over $200 to use a TV, so we just went without. This is probably equivalent to going without cable. 3) We ate mostly fruit and vegetables, which cost considerably less than baked goods. I don't think that's true anymore, though. No snacks at all, and I would drink water instead of tea or coffee. 4) Although my wife wouldn't do it, I would stop by the local fish and chip shop sometimes and ask for the hot batter. This is the batter that accumulates over time in the fat as more and more fish are battered and fried. The shop would give it away for free to anyone who asked: unhealthy, but tasty and hot on cold, wet nights. Also, when places like this close, they may be left with unsold food - fried mushrooms, fishcakes, etc. - so we would have them too. I'm not sure what parallels there are, but this is how we survived really difficult times. The single biggest saving was reducing travel costs to a minimum.
