Are you looking at every household budget line item?
When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.
Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?
Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.
I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.
But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:
- Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
- Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
- Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
- Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
- Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
- Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
- Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
- Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
- Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
- Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
- Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
- Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
- Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
- Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
- Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
- Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
- Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
- Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
- Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
- Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
- Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
- Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
- Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
- Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
- Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
- Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
- Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
- Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
- Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
- Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
- Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
- Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
- Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
- Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
- Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
- Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
- Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
- Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
- Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
- Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
- Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
- Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
- Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
- Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
- Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
- Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
- Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
- Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
- School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
- Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
- Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
- Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
- Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
- Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
- Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
- Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
- Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
- Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
- Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
- Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
- Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)
Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Are you looking at every household budget line item?
When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.
Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?
Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.
I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.
But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:
- Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
- Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
- Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
- Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
- Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
- Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
- Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
- Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
- Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
- Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
- Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
- Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
- Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
- Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
- Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
- Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
- Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
- Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
- Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
- Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
- Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
- Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
- Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
- Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
- Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
- Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
- Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
- Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
- Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
- Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
- Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
- Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
- Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
- Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
- Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
- Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
- Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
- Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
- Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
- Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
- Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
- Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
- Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
- Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
- Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
- Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
- Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
- Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
- School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
- Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
- Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
- Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
- Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
- Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
- Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
- Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
- Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
- Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
- Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
- Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
- Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)
Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Are you looking at every household budget line item?
When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.
Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?
Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.
I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.
But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:
- Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
- Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
- Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
- Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
- Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
- Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
- Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
- Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
- Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
- Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
- Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
- Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
- Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
- Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
- Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
- Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
- Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
- Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
- Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
- Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
- Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
- Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
- Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
- Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
- Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
- Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
- Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
- Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
- Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
- Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
- Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
- Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
- Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
- Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
- Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
- Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
- Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
- Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
- Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
- Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
- Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
- Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
- Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
- Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
- Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
- Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
- Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
- Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
- School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
- Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
- Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
- Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
- Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
- Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
- Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
- Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
- Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
- Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
- Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
- Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
- Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)
Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Introducing: new blog header art
I’ve got new blog header as of this morning. So if you are reading this post on an auto-feed or my facebook fan page, come over to the main blog, Monroe on a Budget, at www.blogsmonroe.com/budget and look at it.
The Monroe Evening News webmaster did this up for me. I liked the photo collage look at Doug Donnelly’s sports blog, Welcome to the TCC, and asked if I could get something like that. I learned that a photo morph could be done very easily, and all I had to do was supply the pictures!
I went digging through my photo library for images that would illustrate recurring themes on Monroe on a Budget. These are all pictures that have appeared at some time on this blog. From left to right:
- One of my grocery shopping carts, filled with groceries I got in Monroe, Mich., on sale prices and / or coupons. I’m posting pictures like this at least once a month.
- The ladder and newspapers on the floor show one of my DIY projects. This is from when I painted my daughter’s bedroom in summer 2008. The green paint, by the way, turned out far prettier than I expected.
- A massive pile of coupons. Yes, I’ve been couponing for more than 20 years. Coupons are not not my only money-saving trick, but that’s often what gets people’s attention to this blog.
- The table setting is a deliberate statement about frugality: it’s not all about paper plates and skimping on your family’s comfort level! Sometimes you just have to be resourceful. Example: I built up this collection of pattern dinnerware through several years of birthday and Christmas gifts from my grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law. We really do eat on the pretty dishes everyday, even though the fabric napkins are saved for special occasions.
- The Monroe on a Budget sign is a promotion card my co-workers created for me in March 2009 as I started doing public appearances and speaking engagements about frugal living.
Continue reading Introducing: new blog header art …
From Monroe on a Budget.
The story that inspired this blog
If you are new to this blog and feel like you are jumping into the middle of a conversation, I wrote a sidebar the other day for my “about” page to help you understand what I’m doing here and why. Here’s what you’ll find on The story behind Monroe on a Budget:
“What’s your frugal story?”
I’ve been asked that question in recent weeks. Yes, there is a story – actually many frugal stories! - behind the Monroe on a Budget blog.
The first thing most new readers notice is that Monroe on a Budget isn’t the typical frugal living blog.
I work on this project with a newspaper reporter’s eye for news and information, but also as someone who has needed to juggle a real family’s lifestyle on a small budget. Any topic relating to family and household expenses is fair game for discussion and links – including faith celebrations, holidays, hobbies, music for your mp3 player and rants.
My examples often are “thinking out of the box” compared to what is usually considered as penny-pinching. For example, here is a photo of my dining room table, set for a relative’s birthday party. No, we didn’t expect our dinner guests to eat off paper plates. I actually do own pattern-quality stoneware and happily use it every day. How could I afford such niceties? I asked for those dishes as birthday and Christmas gifts, and it took several years to build up the set!
But the most noticeable aspect is that this blog is written for a specific community: Monroe, Mich. If you are one of my national readers, Monroe is in southeast Michigan, near Detroit, Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio.
Here’s the background: in late 2006, the newspaper where I work, The Monroe Evening News in Monroe, Mich., decided to launch a community blog network called BlogsMonroe.
I thought for a couple of months about how I could get involved in that project beyond the local news items that go on the reporter blog, and an idea bubbled up out of my print duties. In January 2007, I went to our managing editor and made a pitch for what I called “Monroe on a Budget.” This translated to: “How to live in Monroe, Mich., on a budget.”
“I’ve got five press releases on my desk that would fit right in with such a topic,” I said.
I knew, based on conversations with customers, that these public service announcements were overlooked by online readers who thought the front-page headlines on our web site was all the information that our newspaper had to offer. It was time to find a way to get those notices on the web. The news team also was starting to hear of layoffs at Monroe-area workplaces, so I thought this topic would be timely.
The managing editor liked the concept. He suggested mixing in my personal stories with the practical information, and within a couple of hours, Monroe on a Budget was up and running.
My co-workers and I didn’t know at the time there was any such thing as a personal finance or frugal living blog. This was just another topic to add to our network. The nickname my co-workers and I settled on is “the budget blog.”
Now, what makes me a good candidate for writing a budget blog? As readers soon realize, my family actually does live on a budget.
Both my husband and I grew up in middle-class families where both parents worked for a living. We remember childhood days when money was tight, and times when our parents could splurge.
My husband and I graduated from college in the late 1980s – a time when journalism and media graduates could expect to find entry-level jobs in small markets, and then work their way up to bigger cities and bigger paychecks. I have a newspaper journalism degree. He has a radio broadcasting degree.
I have since worked as a reporter for more than 20 years at newspapers in Michigan and Ohio. My husband kept his college-days job as a shipping clerk until he landed his first professional radio broadcasting job in 1994. That job fizzled out in 2002.
Some of the stories I tell of tight funds happened during my single parent days. My ex-husband and I split in 1990 when our daughter was a year old. I was remarried in 1994. My experiences relating to that situation is why I tag some information specifically of interest to single parent families.
But even during our first years of marriage, my husband and I didn’t have a lot of big expenses. For example, our crazy work shifts resulted in minimal day care bills for the daughter. I used coupons, we had only one car payment because the other car was paid off, Christmas presents were low-budget, our rental home had both reasonable rent and a responsible landlord, most of our furniture was hand-me-down, and “date nights” were usually a restaurant buffet lunch.
One day, I saw a job posting for The Monroe Evening News and followed up. I was offered the job and started working here in January 2000.
It was an hour’s commute for my husband to keep working at the radio station in Ohio; but, the upheaval from local to corporate-owned radio stations had begun and that job market was collapsing. He wanted to ride that job out as long as possible. That radio station was sold in 2002 and he was among those laid off in the shuffle. Another workplace where he had made to second-round interviews fell through that same week.
My husband was unemployed for the first time in his life.
The radio station layoff – and the aftermath – is the inspiration for my layoff recovery plan posts. It’s also the main story behind or this blog, because we were living in Monroe when that happened and we had to figure out how to live on a tight budget HERE as compared to the resources we could call on in our former hometown in Ohio.
My husband signed up with a temporary agency and his first post was an office job. The severance check from his radio job helped ease the cash flow transition until we got used to the new pay scale. He took some classes at the community college to update his skills. Because 2003 and early 2004 were relatively calm financially, we were able to buy our home in February 2004.
Three months after we bought our home, my husband was unemployed again. The company where he was assigned was starting to downsize its staff. He started a two-year roller coaster of off and on low-paying, very short-term, blue-collar factory temporary assignments and unemployment.
Our long-established frugal living routines weren’t enough to keep up. There really was a point when I had four days’ worth of food in the house. I put my cell phone on pay-as-you-go service. I shopped at thrift stores. I looked for every possible way to cut grocery expenses. I was desperate enough to try old school remedies for cleaning the house. My ex-husband, who was going back to active duty in the Army, encouraged us to use the military family benefits for our daughter to help stretch our funds.
Every time a little bit of cash came our way, I would paint a room or buy some cabinet hardware so to get our house in a more livable condition. After all, we were spending quite a bit of time at home.
The immediate cash flow issues were frustrating, but didn’t overwhelm us because we expected our long-term prospects to be OK. The home values were rising, our retirement funds remained intact, and the daughter was a good candidate for college scholarships.
When my husband landed a permanent job offer in 2006, it was at an auto supplier in the Monroe area. We thought that that financial craziness was past us.
And then the recession hit.
When I launched this blog in January 2007, recession was a word only seen in the headlines when describing Michigan. The recession has now rattled the entire country, but Michigan is still one of the worst-hit states.
When Detroit’s auto industry shuts down, so do the auto suppliers. No, my husband doesn’t get supplemental pay when his factory is off line. He gets only unemployment benefits.
Our household income dropped quite a bit from 2007 to 2008, and sunk again in 2009. During the past two years, we’ve watched our home value slide as the real estate market collapsed in southeast Michigan. Our retirement accounts have taken a beating.
The daughter got into her first-choice college on a partial, four-year renewable scholarship. We apply for any and all financial aid to make up the difference. Even as a student on a budget, my daughter was able to work out arrangements for a study abroad and she is currently overseas.
When we look at our income and expenses for the past few years, it’s obvious to my husband and I that frugal living kept the bills paid when we didn’t know from week to week how much money was coming into the home.
“Treading water,” is how I once explained our finances to my father-in-law when he asked how we were doing in light of the repeated layoffs, and he understood that picture very well. The bills are getting paid. We just have to be very resourceful on doing anything extra.
Yes, we’re living on a budget in Monroe, Mich.
And that’s my story.
– Paula Wethington, Feb. 5, 2010, paula@monroenews.com
Continue reading The story that inspired this blog …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Online Finances & Password Organization
In the last year I’ve become a solid convert to online banking. I love the fact that it saves me time, stamps, envelopes and checks.That’s hard to beat. After the initial setup, it takes me only a few minutes to pay my bills a couple of times a month. I also like being able to go online and quickly see when I last paid a specific bill as well as the amount.
I pay for the bulk of my other purchases with my credit card. I DON’T recommend this unless you are very disciplined and really WILL pay the card off each month. But, for me, I’m able to rack up reward points that I use to pay for Christmas gifts each year. Today I thought I’d share a few tips I follow to help me with my online accounts.
One thing I do, is to check both my bank account and my credit card account at least weekly. This helps keep me aware of my balance and I can immediately spot any questionable charges. I generally make payments on my credit card 2-3 times a month, rather than only once.
One difficulty with online banking and bill pay is that every site will ask for a password and, of course, they’ll all have different requirements. Soon you’ll have a dozen different passwords, making it hard to remember which goes with which site. Fortunately, there are several free online password managers available. Clipperz, Mitto and Passpack are all free, encrypted sites that allow you to access your passwords from anywhere. I keep mine in a password protected page on One Note, that came with Microsoft Office. However, the benefit of the online programs is that you can still access the passwords if your computer is stolen.
As an extra security measure, you might come up with a “trick” you follow with each password you record. Perhaps you put the first letter or number at the end of the password. You will still know your password, but it would be difficult for someone else to figure out should they somehow gain access.
You might also consider keeping the contact emails for your credit cards somewhere that you can access online. Even storing them in an email draft in your Gmail account would work. If your card is stolen you will still be able to access the number to call and report it.
What about you? Do you use online bill pay? If so, what do you like most about it? Do you have a neat trick for organizing and accessing passwords?
Continue reading Online Finances & Password Organization …
From Econobusters.
Outfitting your frugal kitchen
Couples who are soon to be married traditionally are given kitchen items at a bridal shower.
Back in the day, the couples-to-be were moving out from their parents’ homes and setting up their first home. Even today, the future newlyweds are often moving out of college dorms or apartments, or bachelor pads, and don’t have a complete kitchen that allows for home-cooked meals on a regular basis.
If you are getting married soon, take advantage of this tradition and ask for practical kitchen items as shower or wedding gifts.
If you are not getting married any time soon, or you need to rebuild your kitchen supplies, start asking for these items for your birthday gifts or Christmas gifts instead of the usual sweaters and DVDs. You should also be checking out the second-hand stores and garage sales and speaking up for family hand-me-downs.
For example, my first coffee pot was a family hand-me-down. By the time it broke, I had a good idea of what features I would use in a coffee pot and didn’t buy more of a coffee pot than I needed.
Here are many of the items I frequently use in my frugal kitchen:
- Stock pot set. The ones I use most frequently are one small pan that will cook about a can’s worth of veggies or soup; the 2-quart saucepan that many pasta recipes ask for; and the big stock pot that will cook full ears of corn.
- Cookie sheets. Get about three or four. These are used not only for cookies, but for baking frozen items such as chicken strips and French fries.
- Pizza or bread stone. I forget to use my pizza stone because the only place I can store it is above my refrigerator. But it’s a really great item.
- Cooling racks. Get about three or four cooling racks to set the cookies, cakes, hot cookie sheets and other items on.
- Cake, pie and bread pans. Start with two circle pans (I prefer 8 inch), two pie pans, two standard cupcake pans, one 13 by 9 pan, a fluted tube “Bundt” pan, two loaf pans, and two square pans. You’d be surprised how many cakes, pies and breads you can make with just those basic pans.
- Hand mixer. Don’t spend money on the brand name stand mixer until you can afford to upgrade. The hand mixers are cheap and do the job most of the time.
- Assorted mixing bowls. One should be enough to hold two quarts of batter, one should be smaller so you can whip up an egg or prepare dry ingredients.
- Coffee pot. Don’t buy the fancy coffee pots until you can afford to upgrade. My current coffee pot is a four-cup machine I bought at a drugstore. It perks coffee so fast there is no need for a timer.
- Tea kettle or hot water pot. You need boiling water by itself for a variety of recipes and beverages.
- Circle cookie cutters. These are used to cut biscuits, not just cookies. If you want other cookie shapes, that’s fine, but you absolutely want a set of circles. An alternative method is using a drinking glass to cut the circles into the dough.
- Assorted cooking utensils. You’ll want a set or two of tongs, at least one spatula, two or three wooden spoons, a slotted spoon and a pasta spoon. A couple of paring knives, vegetable peeler, a set of dry measuring cups, a set of measuring spoons and a liquid measuring cup also are essential.
- Toaster. You want a toaster that has slots big enough for a bagel so that you don’t have to spend the money on a separate toaster oven.
- Skillets and fry pans. The ones I find most useful are a 6 or 7-inch pan to fry an egg or two; a large skillet with a lid big enough to make a casserole; and a stand-alone electric fry pan or a griddle top to make pancakes.
- Casserole dish. You’ll want an oven-friendly covered casserole dish to make a variety of “one pan” family dinners.
- Tabletop griddle. We actually have two George Foreman grills – the small one cooks up enough meat for just my husband and I; the bigger one is used more frequently when the daughter is home or we have guests.
- Slow cooker. I have two – a 2-quart and a 1-quart. A slow cooker is absolutely the frugal cook’s best friend. I’ve never bought slow cooker plastic liners. I spray my cooker with kitchen spray before adding the food, and use a plastic or yarn-based scrubby to help with clean up.
- Storage containers. You need plastic or ceramic containers to hold the dry goods such as flour and sugar after those bags are open. You also want a variety of freezer-quality leftover tubbies.
- 2-quart pitcher. Yes, this is the size you need for Kool-Aid. It’s also useful for orange juice.
- Basic cookbook. You want at least one overall beginner cookbook such as those published by Better Homes and Gardens and Betty Crocker. You can expand to other cookbooks based on your eating preferences, but you really do want at least one book that details typical homecooked American foods such as meatloaf, apple pie, chocolate cake, homemade bread, oven baked chicken and common specialty salads.
Other items that you may find useful:
- Rice cooker. My daughter loves using the rice cooker, but we do eat more Asian foods when she is home than she is away to college.
- Bread machine. I cook in the bread machine quite a bit. We eat the homebaked bread at dinner and the supermarket sliced bread is for sandwiches.
- Iced tea maker. I got my first tea maker as a hand-me-down. When it died, I asked for a new tea maker as a birthday gift. Iced tea is an incredibly frugal beverage.
- Blender. Young adults might already have this item in their bar supplies. We use it on occasion to make milkshakes.
- Potluck-friendly serving dishes. Look for carry-around items such as a cake or pie carry set, or a casserole set that comes with a hot pad.
- Food processor. I don’t use my food processor very much because it’s kind of a pain to get all the parts assembled. If you do get a food processor, make sure it’s big enough to manage the quantities required for your recipes.
- Microwave. I don’t consider this to be a “must have” for a frugal kitchen because its most common use is reheating leftovers or making popcorn and there are alternative methods for both. If you plan to cook full meals in the microwave, and it can be done, you will need a special set of cookware. Single serve frozen dinners are NOT frugal.
Continue reading Outfitting your frugal kitchen …
From Monroe on a Budget.
A family donated to a food pantry in my name
Today was the last day of Sunday School before Christmas. I’ve taught various grade levels of Sunday School for about 15 years. This year, I have a first-grade class.
I consider my teaching to be my gift of service to the parish and community, so it took me by surprise when Christmas gifts started coming my way from the students over the years. I’ve learned to have a big smile, a gracious thank you and enjoy the blessings.
When I got home and opened my envelopes and gift bags today, one of the cards said that the family had donated to a food pantry in my name.
It’s been a few years since anyone made a charity gift in my honor.
But what a perfect charity gift to make in my name.
I don’t think that family knows about this blog, or at least, has made the connections on who is writing it. We know each other only at church. That family is quite involved with parish activities and volunteer service. My guess that the food pantry was selected because they knew of the needs in that ministry.
But yes, I most certainly applaud their choice.
Continue reading A family donated to a food pantry in my name …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Frugality and Your Sense of Value
Earlier this week, I offered up a post detailing how I wrap Christmas gifts, utilizing brown paper and yarn. The response was mixed – some people didn’t like the aesthetics of the packaging, while others did (obviously, I’m in the latter camp, as I love the aesthetics of brown packages and yarn).
Guess what? We’re both right.
For some people, there’s a lot of value in a certain gift aesthetic. Having a bundle of beautifully-wrapped presents under the tree adds value to their holiday season because of the visual appeal it brings to their home. That’s cool.
Others don’t really care that much about the wrapping and instead focus on the items inside. It doesn’t matter how they’re wrapped, just that there are presents people will be happy to receive under the tree. That’s cool, too.
Each of those groups will seek to maximize their value in a different way. The individuals who love beautifully wrapped gifts will spend more of their Christmas budget on wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and other decorative elements. They’ll also spend more time wrapping gifts so that they look perfect and wonderfully appealing to the receiver. Others (myself included) will spend more time thinking carefully about the item the recipient will want and view wrapping as merely a way to disguise the item from the receiver. Their Christmas budget will minimize wrapping costs in favor of spending a little more on the gifts themselves.
And there’s nothing wrong with either perspective. Frugality is all about your personal value – maximizing the “bang for the buck” for the things you value. For me, it’s not the gift wrap on a present – for others, it’s all about beautiful gifts under the tree.
This pops up time and time again when you talk about frugality. Some people think it’s ludicrous to make your own laundry soap. I think it’s unnecessary to wash sandwich-size resealable baggies. Some people are simply disturbed that we’ve bought second-hand cloth diapers off of eBay to diaper our children with. I won’t dumpster dive or dig through items people set out by the curb for trash. Robert Pagliarini, in his CBS column, actually called me out for talking about brewing my own beer.
Frugality isn’t just about following a list – and then judging a list to be useless because some of the items don’t match your values. It’s about absorbing lots of ideas and utilizing the ones that fit your life. It’s about thinking about the things that work for you, not tossing aside everything because some ideas work better for others.
The next time you come across a tip for saving money, don’t discard it immediately because you don’t think that it applies to your life. Think about it in detail. Perhaps some aspect of it could be of use to you – wrapping small gifts in cut-up brown paper bags, using yarn as a decorative element, or so on, in the example of the gift-wrapping article. Or maybe none of it is – but someone else you know might find it useful, in which case you can pass it on and increase your own social capital a bit.
Frugality is about value and there’s value in almost everything – but that value is different to some people. Good luck.
Continue reading Frugality and Your Sense of Value …
From The Simple Dollar.
Our Family’s Christmas Gifts
My husband and I have a $50 budget for each other and a $10 budget for each kid. The reason that ours is much higher is that we are the only ones who buy gifts for each other. We get money and gift cards from the rest of our family and that mostly goes into savings or general funds. My kids get a ton of toys from everyone else. Not wanting to add to the clutter, I don’t spend much on them.
Kids
Daniel
Daniel loves Lightning McQueen. I bought him a Lightning McQueen tambourine and a Lightning McQueen block puzzle, each $1.
Bobby
Bobby is obsessed with wallets. So, for a few months, I’ve been saving those cards that come in the mail for him, along with my expired AAA card and used gift cards. I got him a $1 wallet that was distinctively different from mine and Dan’s so he learns the difference.
Thomas
Traditionally, we have bought nothing for our babies on their first Christmas. That may sound harsh, but if you are spending money on a two-month old baby at Christmas, you are buying yourself a gift-giving memory. The baby doesn’t know the difference. However, I wanted to make these super-cute booties. I enjoyed making the craft and I think they are cute. They don’t really affect Thomas’ quality of life.
Collective Gifts
I got four Lightning McQueen toothbrushes on sale for $0.75 each. Daniel was with me when I got them. He is really excited about these. He’s only seen the “Cars” movie once, but he loved Lightning McQueen even before the movie because it was everywhere and he loves cars.
I got this pan
Adults
Dan
Dan and I pick out our own gifts. With a small budget, we find this is the best way for us to get what we actually want. He picked out a book
Emily
I’m the toughest person to buy for. My birthday was a month ago, and I still feel quite satisfied with the gift of the Wonderwash
Continue reading Our Family’s Christmas Gifts …
From Under $1000 Per Month.