Need some money saving tips

Monkeygirl26

!st if you moved to an apartment to a house was your mortgage a lot more then your rent and about how much?

Now how did you cut back and save?

Thanks we are purchasing a house and after all the bills there is not much left!

k_warren8

Cut excess in the budget as needed, No home phone, no cable, basic cell plans, eat at home more. Check out all our insurance rates for max discounts, home,auto etc.  Cut coupons, switch to a cheaper grocery store. Look at debits see if anything to be pay down to add wiggle room in the budget.  

orangecurls

Pack lunches
Make coffee at home/work
Reduce or eliminate fancy alcohol purchases

gremaud07

We turned off our home phone, only have basic cable with Netflix, prepare more meals at home, meal plan , always try to haggle a discount with insurance, cell phone and other services.

Our big thing was grocery shopping , we shop at Aldis for almost everything, we save about $40-60 a week just by doing that. 

Anne Mommy

We program the thermostat so it's used less when we aren't home. We also got on a budget plan with the utilities so we pay the same every month.
We ad match when grocery shopping and plan meals so we eat at home more. My friends do a meatless Monday to save but DH would freak if I tried that.

sschwege

All really good suggestions so far.  With the exception of holiday outfits, I always buy the kids' clothes second-hand.  It saves a lot and then there is the added benefit of not caring if they ruin them.  Also check out ebates.  Make purchases online through this site and you get a percentage back in the form of a check.  It's SUPER easy to sign up for and use.  I've been doing it since Christmas and have gotten $55 back so far.  Not a huge amount, but if you are going to be buying it anyway, might as well get something back on it.

kmh2201

I second using Ebates.  I also check Retailmenot.com to see if I can find a code for a discount and/or free shipping.  I clip coupons for groceries and I have an account for online coupons with our main grocery store. 

When DH and I were planning on having 2 mortgages 2 years ago while we waited for our old house to sell (luckily it sold fast and there was only 1 month of overlap), we cut out all extras - turned off cable, stopped buying unnecessary clothes, packed our lunches, didn't go out (I think McDonald's would have been considered a splurge at this time, lol). 

I try and plan out my errands so the route doesn't require backtracking, mostly right turns, etc., to save even a little gas.  I also tend to drive 65 on the highway to save a little gas.

I also sell some of my clothes and some of my LOs' clothes to consignment.  Might as well get some money back if it's not going to get worn anymore. 

Alexandrap

Since we live in MA rent is astronomical. For example a two bedroom one bathroom can avg at least 1,000 a month most likely with only hot water included.

We actually with my parents before baby for a couple years and a year after he was born while we looked for a house to purchase. It worked out much better that way.

We now live in a 3 bedroom, one bathroom with a partially finished basement and pay 650 a month for a mortgage.

We did a lot of budgeting and you really need to work together to make it work but it can be done. We eat in a lot. Although we do try for a date night ever other weekend. I am a huge bargain hunter so our clothing bill is minimal. I don't understand couponing so I don't do that but I know people who do and it works well for them.

Start by looking at you current expenses and then make a projected expense cut from where you need to and stick to it. The first couple years are kinda tough but you get used to it and it gets easier. Good luck.

ASmallWonder

Alexandrap:

Since we live in MA rent is astronomical. For example a two bedroom one bathroom can avg at least 1,000 a month most likely with only hot water included. We actually with my parents before baby for a couple years and a year after he was born while we looked for a house to purchase. It worked out much better that way. We now live in a 3 bedroom, one bathroom with a partially finished basement and pay 650 a month for a mortgage. We did a lot of budgeting and you really need to work together to make it work but it can be done. We eat in a lot. Although we do try for a date night ever other weekend. I am a huge bargain hunter so our clothing bill is minimal. I don't understand couponing so I don't do that but I know people who do and it works well for them. Start by looking at you current expenses and then make a projected expense cut from where you need to and stick to it. The first couple years are kinda tough but you get used to it and it gets easier. Good luck.

Holy smokes.  Where in Massachusetts did you score a 3 bedroom house for $650 a month?  Did you put down like 50%? LOL