i need some advice...money related

cearleyjay

anyone have any good money saving tips?  my DS is about to start daycare and the new bill hurts.  we couldnt get him into DDs daycare cuz there is no room, we are on the waiting list, but god only knows how long that will take.  it will be cheaper once we get him in, and she starts VPK. but what can i do till then?  plus it being summer here in FL the air is always on.  im going to go crazy!  its almost making me wish i had the option to stay at home!

gibs

uhmmmmm without knowing what stupid extras you blow your money on, how could we really give you any helpful advice on how to save?

 

post your expenditures and we'll help! 

Lisa102304

Without knowing details ....

 

No coffee/tea/soda out. Buy and make at home only.

No lunches out and minimize dinners out.

Limit number of pre-packaged foods (small snack bags) - buy the big bag and use snack-sized ziplock bags.

When grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it.

Put the AC up 1-2 degrees. It can make a difference.

Be watchful of gas mileage - combine trips.

Use coupons.

Go meat-less 1-2 dinners a week. It will save money.

Watch for sales on food items you ALWAYS use.

 

jettagurl

First - Congrats on DS!  Cute pics. 

To save money....you need to sit down see exactly what you spend where....you can get rid of all the things like eating out, netflix, movies, etc.  Then see if you could do with out phone/internet/cable.  You can do the whole couponing/sale thing - but it's time consuming.   If you need to free up a lot of expense and you have a car payment, consider getting an older car that you can pay cash for and sell your current car.   

cearleyjay

ok, well lets see....hhhmmm.  im trying to think.  i used to get my nails done and all that, but stopped a while ago.  i already stopped taking my DD to sweet and sassys for a bang trim, doing it myself now.  i shop all the resale stores for the kids clothes and barely buy any for myself or DF.  when we do its always stuff on sale.  i buy all my groceries at walmart.  i have a huge issue with paying full price for things.  i think a lot of my money goes to spoiling my DD and eating out.  activities for her like the zoo and ollie koalas.  now that DS is here we have formula and diapers.   

gibs

then what do you think we're going to be able to tell you?

emilykristene2006

Eating out?

We used to eat out twice on the weekends almost every week. Spending no less than $50 a meal, that's $400 a month.

How often do you guys eat out?

omurray

I think everyone has a different style that works for them with regards to saving.  Similar to how some people like to do all their house cleaning on one day, and others like to do a little each day.

For us, we have a monthly budget and we track all of our spending against that.  For expenses that are not paid monthly (like auto/home/life insurance), we figure out what the monthly amount would be and transfer that amount to savings each month.  That way, when the time comes, all we have to do is transfer the money from savings to checking to pay the bill.  For instance, property taxes are due twice a year.  So, I divide my total property tax bill by 12 months and transfer that monthly amount to savings each month as if it were a monthly bill.  When the actual bill comes, I have the money already set aside in savings. 

cearleyjay

why are you always such an a-hole?  GAWD!  i think your just bored with all the cute pictures being posted tonight and need someone to take your anger out on. 

im just wondering if there are some tricks out there. like PP said buying big bags of chips and using zip lock bags.  thats good.  combing trips in the car. another good tip.  doing with out some of the bills i have like the internet or cable.  another good tip.

this was meant for gibs.....

omurray

cearleyjay:

ok, well lets see....hhhmmm.  im trying to think.  i used to get my nails done and all that, but stopped a while ago.  i already stopped taking my DD to sweet and sassys for a bang trim, doing it myself now.  i shop all the resale stores for the kids clothes and barely buy any for myself or DF.  when we do its always stuff on sale.  i buy all my groceries at walmart.  i have a huge issue with paying full price for things.  i think a lot of my money goes to spoiling my DD and eating out.  activities for her like the zoo and ollie koalas.  now that DS is here we have formula and diapers.   

I really like to eat out too, but have cut some expenses by packing picnic lunches to eat at the park now that the weather is nice.  DS loves having picnic lunches and its still more fun that eating at home, but without the restaurant expense.  As far as activities go, just try to get a little more creative.  Summertime weather means your DD can have tons of fun with a $1 bag of water balloons or some sidewalk chalk.  In our area, the libraries have a program where you can check out free passes to the zoos, childrens museums, arboretums etc.. and I've saved a ton of money doing that.  Those places often have one day a week that is a discount day anyway, and also sometimes have days that are totally free.  Or, try setting a limit on the number or price of activities you are comfortable doing each week.  That way, you're still enjoying the things you like, just not overdo-ing it to the point you are wasting money you don't have.

Oh, at least one restaurant in our town also has a reading program for the summer where the kids get a free kids meal for each 10 books read.

omurray

Also, the movie theaters in our area have summer programs where they show kids movies one morning each week for $1.  Any chance they have that in your area?

cearleyjay

omurray:

Also, the movie theaters in our area have summer programs where they show kids movies one morning each week for $1.  Any chance they have that in your area?

these are some awesome ideas.  i guess i just have to start looking in the right places for things.  thanks to all the ladies for your help.  i got some great ideas. 

almostjennifer

Some good books to help you are "All Your Worth" by Elizabeth Warren and "The Complete Cheapskate" by Mary Hunt. 

A few months ago I went down the list of all our set monthly expenses and cut like crazy.  Reduced our channels and cut the insurance on the satellite (saved $16), cut call waiting and caller ID from the home phone (saved $10), raised the deductibles on our homeowners and car insurance (saved $17), cancelled the newspaper ($9) and Netflix ($6) and reduced my cell phone plan ($5). 

For groceries I menu plan weekly and shop only from that list buying mostly store brands.  I sell our extra stuff on consignment or Craigslist.  We eat out rarely and find free/cheap entertainment (easy in the summer).  We buy in bulk at Sam's Club for paper goods and things we always eat and can freeze.  I'm shopping garage sales this summer for my kids winter clothes. 

Hope that helps.

 

omurray

Home Depot and Lowes both have FREE kids clinics on select Saturday mornings where the kids and a parent build a little project together.  My DS LOVES these.  FWIW, I think they say they are for school aged kids, but my DS is 3.5, has been going for close to a year with DH and he loves it.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Default.aspx

goodheartedmommy

Cut the chips completely. Convenience foods like that aren't cheap. Limit yourself to like one box of crackers or something per week and snack on fruits/veggies/yogurt (big tubs, not the ones plastered with cartoon characters or yoplait)/cheese (buy the big block). Cut the eating out. Get a zoo membership--it saves so much money. Ours is a gift each year, but I think it's like $70 for the family--we'd spend over 30 just to get in once.