Less is More - saving in little ways

You may feel that you are at the edge of your own personal fiscal cliff.  And, probably, you can't do alot to immediately and significantly increase your income.  So the focus needs to turn to how we can control the "outgo".There are lots of little things we can do that, individually, don't amount to much.  But collectively, they can make a big difference. We just have to convince ourselves that all these things will matter! If we do 5 things that save us $10/month each, that's $600 per year.  It's so tempting to think, oh that's just $10.  Think of it as compounding savings instead. Here are some household tips to spending less:

1.  Wash in cold water.  Your clothes will still come out clean and your power bill will be cut significantly.
2.  Make your own laundry detergent.  Pinterest is full of recipes to make your own laundry detergent.  And dryer sheets.  And cleaners. This month, I have done all three and am so excited.  I made a year's worth of laundry detergent for less than $15.  Dryer sheets for less than $3. TRY ONE this week and let me know about it!
3.  Wear sweaters.  Turn your thermostat down (try 2 degrees less than you are currently used to) and wear an extra sweater! At night, turn that thermostat waaaaaaay down.  Then snuggle really close to your hubby....
4.  Switch to online billpay and save a stamp!
5.  Use 1/2 a paper towel and dryer sheet instead of a whole one.
6.  Cut out cable.  (I realize that can cause marital distress in some households so I do advise conferring with your spouse before doing this one!)
7.  Change filters in HAC units to keep them running efficiently.
8.Take shorter showers!
9.  Only run the dishwasher when it's full.
10.  Don't pay someone else to do what you can do (maid service, oil changes, etc.)
11. If you MUST eat out, order water instead of a soft drink and have your kids do the same. And not just when you eat out, drink water at home, too!!
12.  See how long you can stretch out that bottle of shampoo.  Mark the date you open it on the bottle with a sharpie.  Then add the date you finish and see if you can beat it next time!
13.  Put off replacing things as long as possible.  (OK, don't be unsafe -- if your cardiologist tells you to get a new pacemaker, do it now!)  But otherwise, see if you can make do a bit longer with those boots.  Or that coffeemaker.  Or that sofa....
14.  Train your kids to turn lights off when they leave a room.  And not to waste things. 
15.  Use cloth napkins instead of paper.  Seriously.
16.  Swap services with a friend.  Maybe she can cut your hair and you can babysit her kids for free.  Whatever.
17.  Repurpose and reuse. Paul just built a new deck with the boards from the old one!
18.  Discover new ways to do things cheaper -- I wanted a way to hang my scarves.  Decided, of course, against the pricey options for sale at the boutique and found a frugal idea online.  I bought shower curtain rings and slipped them on a wood hanger.  Presto!  20  scarves neatly hanging in my closet!  easy to access and even looks pretty, too!
19.  Cook at home.  And use your freezer to store those great deals you stock up on.  AND THEN, use what's in your freezer!!! Also, don't fall into the trap of thinking that you have to prepare expensive gourmet dishes.  There are plenty of healthy, low cost, tasty recipes out there.  Oh, and when you have friends over, know the difference between "entertaining" and "showing hospitality".  Entertaining is bound to be more expensive....because the focus is on receiving praise.  Showing hospitality focuses on ministering to others and meeting their needs.  Much less pricey!
20.  Hang out with homeschool Moms.  That's where most of my tips come from.  This group seems to always know how to do things for less!!!

What are some things you do at your house to cut costs?

Sharing

Don't buy, borrow.  And share .  It's a mindset.  You don't have to purchase everything you need.


Here are some things that are great for borrowing and sharing among friends:

1.  Maternity clothes
2.  Lots of baby items that are only used for a season
3.  Tools that you don't need frequently such as a pressure washer or a chain saw
4.  Special occasion dresses
5.  Serving pieces such as a punch bowl or silver service
6.  XL suitcases or luggage carriers
7.  Vacation homes!!


And, always, always, always, return items in better condition than you received them!

Gotta close with this thought from my friend Christine.  She said that the mentality of the world is to accumulate more and more and more in order to achieve happiness.  She is training her children in the opposite view - the way to happiness is to give and give and give.  Her idea is to "shed something" every day.  Some days it will be something tangible, material.  Other days, it might be a wrong attitude, a grudge, an emotion or a mindset that is weighing you down.  I think that is fabulous.
We can "shed" the stuff that needs to go and "share" something our friends need...especially smiles and encouraging words. 
I think I have the greatest group of friends in the universe. They make the most wonderful contributions to my life!

Your mission today -- "shed" something and "share" something. 

Saving on groceries

Cutting costs is like cutting calories - a little bit here and a little bit there will add up.  Just be faithful and make those cuts, even if it doesn't seem like much.  You will develop a mindset that becomes focused on reducing unnecessary costs, finding ways to save and repurpose and even, do without. 

These are just a few ideas to get you started on cost-cutting in the area of your grocery budget.  (You DO have a budget for groceries, don't you???)  What other suggestions do you have?


Tips:

1.  Stock up when it's on sale. 
2.  Shop stores that match prices. Use the sale flyers to see what's on sale and then stock up!
3.  The pantry principle - plan menus based on what's in your pantry rather than running to the store to get what you need. Trips to the grocery store are to replenish what's been depleted...when the price is right.
4.  Be alert to deals in the store.  Take advantage of markdowns - buy meat that is about to expire and then freeze it.
5.  Reuse plastic bags!!!!!!!!
6.  If a recipe calls for 1 lb. ground beef, use 3/4.  You won't be able to tell the difference.
7.  How do you know if it's a good deal?  In her newsletter, The Tightwad Gazette, Amy Dacyzyn suggests making a price book.  Make a list of the items you commonly purchase for your family.  Over a few grocery trips or perusals of the sale flyers, note in your price book what a good price is for that item.  Take the price book with you and don't purchase those items unless they are at or below your best price.
8.  Don't buy convenience foods.  Make your own.  Seriously.
9.  Drink water.  And refill water bottles instead of purchasing them.
10. Use your crock pot.  It turns less tender - and less expensive -- cuts of beef into delicious meals.  Saves time and keeps you from resorting to UNfrugal fast food, too!
11.  Use your freezer.  Not only to stock up on sale items but especially to prepare meals in advance.  If you are always prepared, you can serve others more easily, avoid the "what's for dinner" frenzy, and prevent expensive trips through the drive-through.
12.  Serve oatmeal for breakfast instead of more expensive cold cereal.  Don't whine to me that your kids don't like oatmeal.
13.  When bananas get too mushy for a snack, swirl them in a blender with milk and peanut butter and serve "monkey milk" as breakfast.
14.  Make friends with the butcher at your grocery store.  Might provide some inside information about what's about to be on sale or let you have first pick of what's about to expire.
15.  Lots of folks make use of coupons.  I have gotten a lot of help from a website called "Southern Savers."  Give it a try.
16.  Wal Mart matches advertised prices  Saves me from going to 4 different stores.  And, if you live in the Athens GA area, the eastside WM matches the Publix BOGO free...at the WM price.
17.  Don't throw food away.  Eat leftovers (we call it "CORD" at our house -- "Clean out refrigerator day") or be creative in repurposing -- smoothies, fried apples, soup, casseroles, muffins, etc.

Here's a great resource for you - Eating Healthy for $50 a Week" by Rhonda Barfield. And The TIghtwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn. 

What are some of your frugal grocery tips?  I am always looking for more!

Less debt

Yep, we need to address the "D" word.  Debt.  You need to get out of it.  You WANT to get out of it.  But how?  The same way you eat an elephant...one bite at a time.

First, you need to know how much you have.  Debt, that is. That is an uncomfortable step to take but it is vital.  Crown Financial ministries has great counselors that will help you personally.  Or you can utilize their website - tremendous resources are available to help you climb that DEBT mountain...and conquer it.  But first you gotta know how big that mountain is. 

Write down what you owe and to whom.  Medical bills, credit card debt, car loans, student loans, any kind of consumer debt.  Then commit to a plan to take care of it.  Get someone to help you set one up and someone to keep you accountable.  This time next year, you will be in the same place you are now -- or worse -- unless you do something about it now.  Baby steps.  You can do it!!

Less debt means more peace.  And joy. And freedom.  LESS is MORE!!

Oh, and another declutter activity....go to each bathroom in your house and clean out the cabinets.  Just like you did last week in your den - two bags: 1 for trash, 1 to give away.  Your extra sheets, towels, shampoo, and soaps can be put to great use at homeless shelters.  Now, word of acknowledgement -- if you stock up on things like deoderant and soap and toothpaste when they are onon sale, you don't have to feel like you have to get rid of them now.  But those little travel sizes or the ones you will never use, etc need to go. 

I hope you are finding less clutter and more freedom.  Just don't make the mistake of thinking that you need to replace those things you are shedding :)