When this time of the year comes around I am always trying to figure out what to get everyone. Last year I tried something new, and it was a hit! I made my son pajama pants for Christmas!! It saved me so much money. I found a pattern by Butterick and made several pair for under $5 each! I purchased the fabric at my favorite craft store using 40% off coupons. If you have a sewing machine and a fabric store near by, it is well worth it.
Happy Saving!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Nervous.......
I am getting very nervous now. I thought my husbands first check would come through direct deposit, but he said it would come in the mail. I was looking forward to seeing how much taxes were being taken out, and what the actual take home pay was. Now I have to wait for the mail to come.
I am good on food. I stocked up on a whole month of meats, pasta, rice, and canned veggies. All I need to purchase this month is milk, eggs, and fruit. My food budget is $200 a month ($50 a week). It can be done, it just takes effort and lots of cooking from scratch.
I will have to start making things and selling them on Etsy again. I will also have to start CVSing again. This is a great way to get your bath and kitchen products for pennies on the dollar.
I want to encourage you to look at your budget and see if there any ways to scale back or even cut out completely. We have not had cable for about a year, and it has made a huge difference in our budget. And to be honest, we don't even miss it any more!
Happy Saving!
I am good on food. I stocked up on a whole month of meats, pasta, rice, and canned veggies. All I need to purchase this month is milk, eggs, and fruit. My food budget is $200 a month ($50 a week). It can be done, it just takes effort and lots of cooking from scratch.
I will have to start making things and selling them on Etsy again. I will also have to start CVSing again. This is a great way to get your bath and kitchen products for pennies on the dollar.
I want to encourage you to look at your budget and see if there any ways to scale back or even cut out completely. We have not had cable for about a year, and it has made a huge difference in our budget. And to be honest, we don't even miss it any more!
Happy Saving!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A New Month ~ A New Budget
Some of you know that my husband lost his job in April. He found a temporary job, but that only lasted through the first week of June. The last 3 months have been hard. We have been living on our 401K retirement fund. NOT something I recommend doing, but we had no choice.
My husband recently found a part time job, and took it since jobs are scarce out here. It pays 1/2 of what he would normally bring home which makes me kind of nervous. My husband is a school teacher, and they don't get paid much to begin with. Now, to only have half, made me really buckle down and delete things from the budget.
Or budget was set pretty low to begin with (compared to others I have seen), so I was confused as to how I was going to get it any lower. Then I decided to cut the extras....cell phone, long distance, past medical bills, fast food, etc. We just can't afford this stuff. I cut $500 off the budget in the matter of 15 minutes.
Now we just need to stick to it!
Stick with me as I document how we live on $15,000 a year! It should be very interesting, and a very big challenge!
My husband recently found a part time job, and took it since jobs are scarce out here. It pays 1/2 of what he would normally bring home which makes me kind of nervous. My husband is a school teacher, and they don't get paid much to begin with. Now, to only have half, made me really buckle down and delete things from the budget.
Or budget was set pretty low to begin with (compared to others I have seen), so I was confused as to how I was going to get it any lower. Then I decided to cut the extras....cell phone, long distance, past medical bills, fast food, etc. We just can't afford this stuff. I cut $500 off the budget in the matter of 15 minutes.
Now we just need to stick to it!
Stick with me as I document how we live on $15,000 a year! It should be very interesting, and a very big challenge!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Babysitter Savings
This is not about how I save money, but how my neighbor does. I babysit her newborn daughter for...well....whatever she can give me. She is a single mom and can't afford $200 a week for daycare. We agreed on the terms of 'paying me whatever she can, in whatever form she can'. Last week I got a gallon of milk, bananas, my lawn mowed, and a 50% off coupon to my favorite craft store. I love having her daughter (who sleeps most the time anyway) so I don't feel the need to except cash. Plus, as a single mom, she has enough on her plate without worrying how to pay the bills after she pays for daycare.
So...the tip in this story...barter with your neighbors, friends, and family. You may not have to pay cash for goods or services. Think outside the box, and you may be able to save lots of money!
So...the tip in this story...barter with your neighbors, friends, and family. You may not have to pay cash for goods or services. Think outside the box, and you may be able to save lots of money!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Pressure Cooker Cooking
Several years ago for Christmas my parents gave me a pressure cooker. I kind of looked at it and gave a disappointed thank you. I didn't cook very much at the time, and had no idea what I was going to do this new contraption. It sat on top of the fridge for about a year looking pretty and shiny. Then one day I read someones blog and they were talking about all the stuff they made with so little prep time. So, I gave it a go....and loved it!
With pressure cookers you cut up your ingredients, put them in the cooker, add some water or broth, and your part it done! The cooker does all the hard work! And mine has a non stick coating so it takes less than 5 minutes to clean.
The cool part about it is that I save so much money. I can put a chicken, veggies, water, and spices in and have 3 meals worth in less than 2 hours.
Cost of last nights dinner:
Chicken: $6.00
Veggies: $2.00
Spices: $ .25
Total : $8.25 (Divide that by 3 and you have $2.75 per meal.)
I made a pot roast this weekend with some veggies and got 3 meals out of that for about $2.50 a meal. I also cook beans in it. I have super soft cooked beans in 30 to 45 minutes! And I only spent 5 minutes doing my part!
So, next time you are looking for something to cut your cooking time in half, consider a pressure cooker. It saves time and money! Maybe you can put it on your Birthday or Christmas list and get it as a gift!
Happy Saving!
With pressure cookers you cut up your ingredients, put them in the cooker, add some water or broth, and your part it done! The cooker does all the hard work! And mine has a non stick coating so it takes less than 5 minutes to clean.
The cool part about it is that I save so much money. I can put a chicken, veggies, water, and spices in and have 3 meals worth in less than 2 hours.
Cost of last nights dinner:
Chicken: $6.00
Veggies: $2.00
Spices: $ .25
Total : $8.25 (Divide that by 3 and you have $2.75 per meal.)
I made a pot roast this weekend with some veggies and got 3 meals out of that for about $2.50 a meal. I also cook beans in it. I have super soft cooked beans in 30 to 45 minutes! And I only spent 5 minutes doing my part!
So, next time you are looking for something to cut your cooking time in half, consider a pressure cooker. It saves time and money! Maybe you can put it on your Birthday or Christmas list and get it as a gift!
Happy Saving!
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