Budget Tips
5 Tips for Saving Big Dollars on Groceries
The budget seems to get tighter every month. Growing families see those budgets growing as well and the income does not always grow to match the need. There are some things that can be cut and trimmed to help make the budget work but groceries can be an item that is difficult to trim. It [...]
Stretching the Grocery Money
Groceries are getting outrageous! I figure the only way I can stay on budget it to: 1. Stop eating, 2. Get rid of the children, or 3. Find some creative solutions. Since there is not way I’m about to stop eating and my husband says I can’t get rid of the kids unless I can [...]
Chaos Will Affect Your Budget
Keeping records is not as easy as I thought it would be. The theory is simple enough, I just don’t do it. I’ve got all the receipts in one place this month (which is definitely a leap forward), but the amounts are being kept a secret until further notice . It’s connected to everything else [...]
Save $7000 a Year
Circumstances are usually the only reason we tighten our financial belt around here. This time is not exception. As I was digging deep into the budget to see where we could purge, I got a rude awakening. If we had just done this earlier, we would have been able to save enough money to build [...]
The Shopping Dilemma
Shopping is a dangerous activity for me – especially if I go with my husband and we get caught up in the moment. It is easier for us to spend big when we are together than it is when we are apart (and have to justify our purchases). Christmas can be particularly difficult. This year [...]
Saving Money by Making a Menu
Budget saving ideas usually involve some organization. My husband will be the first to raise his hand and tell you I was not born organized (or orderly – nearly drove him batty for the first 14 years of our marriage). Since food is the place we seem to spend the most of our money, I’m [...]
6 Tips for Spending That Refund
The idea of getting a huge check from the government is always exciting (even it if is your money to begin with). It is fun to have a windfall, but are you using that money to benefit you the most? 1. Pay it back. If you only tithe or donate off of you net income [...]
Confession of Credit Card Misuse
This is my confession. Rebate offers and cash back plans finally won me over and we got a credit card. For a long time, we paid it off every single month, without question. Having the credit card was a blessing (easier to keep up with spending AND the cash back program paid for Christmas). The [...]
Budget During Crisis
There is one way you are sure to never successfully overcome a problem – and that is to try and ignore it. Even if you can bury it for a while, it will find a way to dig itself to freedom. This is especially true with finances. Recently we went from a household income of [...]
5 Free (or Nearly Free) Things for the Family
Saving your money doesn’t mean avoiding fun and excitement. There are plenty of things that you can do (yes with a family) that will cost you little or no money. 1. Rent a movie – FROM THE LIBRARY. It’s free and often if they don’t have the movie you are looking for you can request [...]