Is anyone making less than $16,000 a year. I make about this much a year. I am very frugal to the bone. I do get child support, but I don't count that with my income, since it will be there for only a few more years. I do have an emergency fund, a savings account, I have $200 deducted out of my check each month in a credit union that I very seldom go to. I cook by scratch, turn off lights, turn heat down, buy at thrift stores, if it's not on sale for 50% or more it stays in the store, bulk shopping, stay out of the stores unless I absolutely have to go, consolidate all my shopping so save on gas, do laundry twice a week to save on water. Was wondering what others do to save to keep the bills down? Would love to hear everyone suggestions. The one thing I do have going for me is where I work at I don't have to pay a dime for my insurance as long as we use their doctors. Was using their doctor anyways. My two girls can get on for free. Whatever their dad's insurance don't pay mine pays. Prescriptions I only have to pay between $2 to $15. So don't have to worry about medical expenses. Any suggestions where I can cut more I would greatly appreciate. Also, went through all my bills to see where I could cut more expenses. Thank you Renee

Wow! Yove done great!

Your doing great!
What kind of phone plan do you have? We got the cheapest plan available.Our bill is $24 a month. We got rid of the long distance(hated all those surcharges) & bought a calling card that's about 3¢min.

Cable?If you have it, try going with the lowest tier of service.

Maybe, menu planning could help?

You are already doing bunches to lower your cash out, keep up the good work.:thumb:

Sounds like you're doing well - we actually make less than you, but we do many of the same things.....

I agree with Darlene - we use a calling card (2.9¢ a minute) instead oflong distance......also the menu planning thing is the only way to go - otherwise (for us anyway) the cost per person per meal skyrockets.....

:thumb: WTG!!

Thanks everyone. I do have a calling card from Sam's. Think it's 2.9 cents per minute. Been using my daughters cell phone to make long distance after 9 pm or on weekends. You can get free minutes than. Renee

Now you just knew I was going to mention using your library didn't you????;) :toothy:

Instead of renting videos, borrow them from your local library along with books, books on tapes, cd's etc.. I just finished putting out a bunch of new Christmas cd's out at our branch and I know I will be listening to some fo those this holiday season. I also borrow lots of books on space saving gardening, container gardening, how to stretch your money, cooking, etc..

If you have some room on a porch or a small yard you could grow some tomatoes, salad crops and even strawberry plants in hanging baskets this Spring.

hmsclmom, believe me the library is my best friend!:cool: I love to read and go to the library about every two weeks. Glad you did mention the cd's to listen to christmas music. Don't know why I didn't think of getting music cd's while I was at the library. Duh!:eek: I love to listen to christmas music. I was playin christ-mas music from Frank Sintra (sp). The girls thought I was nuts. I just told that them that it relax's me and calms me, so anything that relax's me and calms me down they should be glad. If mom's happy, everybody's happy!;) Thanks again about reminding me about the cd's at the library. Renee

Do you have family close by? I used to eat one meal per week at my family's house. :D

Can you ebay anything or do you have any hobbies that can bring in extra cash? With the holidays almost here, a lot of people are willing to buy lots of different things.

I do housekeeping on my day off and one day after I get out of work. This keeps me from getting money out of the bank and tell the next time I get my paycheck. I hate getting money out of the bank that I have in savings or my emergency fund. Will only do that if it is an absolute emergency. Very seldom do get money out of the bank.

We live on around $20,000/year or so, but my husband is in law school and we are trying to pay for his schooling without going into debt, so it keeps things quite tight here!

I have done all sorts of things to help supplement his part-time income. I just finished writing a book/ebook with lots of those ideas in it. I also have my own business, mystery shop, and write/edit for pay. My business has been growing quite a bit recently and so I have been able to do less supplemental stuff, and spend most of my time focusing on the business. I am hoping it continues to move in that direction.

We save money any and every way we can and God continues to take care of us and provide for us so faithfully!

Crystal Paine
http://www.CovenantWeddingSource.com

Don't buy cleaning supplies when you can make them! For example, a fifty-fifty mix of vinegar and water works great as an all purpose cleaner. I use it on mirrors, counters, rugs (to spot treat), etc.

Use rags instead of paper towels and cloth napkins instead of paper. It goes without saying that you'll get the napkins from the thrift store and the rags are worn out tshirts, sheets, etc.

Barter for services. For example, let's say you make killer brownies and your neighbor is a chocoholic, but a lousy cook. However, this neighbor knows how to change the oil in cars. Well, you bake her some brownies and she changes your oil! Bingo--everyone wins!

Powdered milk is your friend. Use it in cooking even if you can't stand to drink the stuff. When you're making mac & cheese, save 1/4 of the water the mac was cooking in and dump it back in the mac after you/ve drained the rest. Add a couple of teaspoons of milk powder and stir it in when you stir in the cheese powder and margarine. Works great and is cheaper than fresh milk!

Glean--that is, find wild or leftover food in new places. If Americans picked up just the apples that rot in this country every year, we wouldn't need to buy apples for the entire country!! Pick blackberries, pick up walnuts, offer to help weed your neighbor's garden in exchange for a few tomatoes...well, you get the idea.

Hope these help! It sounds like you're doing a great job.

Crystal what kind of business do you run? Lori I'm with you I don't buy cleaning products either when I can make them myself. I also use rags and cloth napkins. I did buy some powder milk, but always forget about it when I bake something! I get lucky where my girlfriend has a garden and gives me some of her garden surplus. Always want to get to the farmer's market each year, but always forget.:( Everybody has such great ideas here. I use to come to this forum, but didn't read direction very well and thought we had to pay to get on this form. Tell's you how good I follow directions at times. Well I am glad I did pay attention, because this is one of the best forums on how to save. Thanks everyone!:smball: Renee

Rebecca,

My business is Covenant Wedding Source ~ an online retail bridal business specializing in custom-made wedding attire. We also sell a lot of other things, but that is our main focus. You can check out our website below.

Crystal Paine
http://www.CovenantWeddingSource.com

Looking for ways to earn an income from home?
Check out our new book/ebook:
http://www.covenantweddingsource.com/MerchantMaiden.htm

Ok maybe this is really cheap, LOL, but some banks have free checking, and free bill pay on line. It saves the cost of a stamp and sometimes envelopes, to go on-line if you get the bill pay for free.

Powdered milk is your friend. Use it in cooking even if you can't stand to drink the stuff. When you're making mac & cheese, save 1/4 of the water the mac was cooking in and dump it back in the mac after you/ve drained the rest. Add a couple of teaspoons of milk powder and stir it in when you stir in the cheese powder and margarine. Works great and is cheaper than fresh milk!

I do this too!


Renee, I think you are doing a wonderful job! All of these suggestions are great!

Originally posted by MysticalRain
Ok maybe this is really cheap, LOL, but some banks have free checking, and free bill pay on line. It saves the cost of a stamp and sometimes envelopes, to go on-line if you get the bill pay for free.

Yep good idea! Dd had her first job this past summer & opened up a checking account that even gave her free checks.She tried another before that but had to keep a min balance or be charged a monthly fee & had to buy your own checks. Pays to shop around.;)

With just about anything, shop around, see if they will meet or exceed what a rival company advertises. A little time spent checking out competetors prices can save you big bucks or small change, it all adds up.:)

Mystical Rain I do the free checking also, and on line billing. I don't think it's cheap! A penny saved and a penny there all adds up to our savings or whatever we plan to do with the money we save. Michelle Annette I agree with you that all the above ideas everybody gave me are great. Some I didn't do and now I am implementing. Again, thank you everyone for your ideas and encouragements!! Renee

Hi Rebecca:
I went through all of my expenditures and determined which ones were wants and which were real needs. Then I cut out the wants and figured out a frugal way to fill those wants. ( I think cable tv is one of the most useless inventions of mankind, and my children are starting to agree with me!)
I also pick up any short-term jobs through word-of-mouth and sell (canning) at craft sales. I have managed to increase my income by about $2500/yr by doing this.
I have learned my country's (Canada) tax laws and taken advantage of any legal methods of reducing my taxes.
I have shopped around for auto fuel: I found a bulk company I could buy my home and auto fuel from, and receive a volume discount.
I love your idea that if it's not on sale for 50% off or more, it stays in the store! I hadn't thought of that, so thanks for the tip!
I take it that you're a single mom too; cudos to you!
When the going gets tuff, the tuff get tougher!
I wish you all the best, and know that you aren't alone!

SCDowney Yes, I am a single mom. Oh my goodness you are a very busy mom with four children! Cudos to you!;) I also, do part time jobs by housekeeping. Do get child support from their dad but, in a few more years that will not be their so don't rely heavily on that. Does help though. I am lucky where if the girls need something extra their dad is will help them out. I also, donate clothes to my local thrift store for a tax dedcution. Where I live you get tax deductions on your medical bills and prescriptions. Have withholding exemptions on my check. Have four of five of them. Welcome to frugal forums. I have only been new here for a few weeks and I'm so glad I found this forum. They are so caring and will give you very good advice. Renee

Hi,

That would also be me (in the 16,000-or-so category). Do you have to pay for child care?
It's tough, isn't it?
It sounds like you're doing really well though... and I also appreciate all the great ideas...
thanks.
-ST

Hi ST & welcome!
Thankfully, I haven't had to pay for childcare/babysitter for a few years, glad that's over!
I chose my lifestyle/situation when I left my husband. It is much much much easier without him! I knew what I was getting into.
I look at it like a puzzle; how can I get it together?
How can I win, not just for me, but for all of us?

Yes... I know what you mean. Sometimes you have to make that decision. As hard as it is. I wish my child had a father around, but I'm glad that she doesn't have Him... none is better than him.

That's great that you don't have to worry about childcare anymore. Looking forward to it!


-ST

:hug2:

You are brave & wise!
Sending love & hugs your way!!

I make very little money and I am a single mom. To help myself out I sell on ebay. If I sell the stuff I have on there now it will help (alot!) pay some of my car repair costs. (car went to the shop last week for a new engine. And thank you ! to the wonderful Anglee for helping me out so much with getting to work). I've looked at how else I can cut costs and I'm at a loss. I can't find anything. So I just needed to find away to add money . By selling out grow clothes and my hand crafted items on ebay ( it's working slowly, but it is! like I said it will help in my repair costs ) As a single frugal mom I don't think your going to find to many places to dig a hole (save more money). To me it sounds like you have it down to bare bones. you may need to look into auctions on ebay and yahoo. and your gotten this far with 4 you'll do fine. I sure know how it feels to wonder how do I make this work, where does the money come from for this... and all those yucky feelings and having the need to voice them to somebody. hoping that somebody can be smarter then you... somebody who can see that something your waisting your money.... Your not! Sorry your to smart! your on the right track.... now pat yourself on the back and and take a bath (saving water with the bath over the shower LOL) Keep going!
~Kyria (feeling yuck over money too! pinching pennies for a car repair & move in the next 2 weeks)

:confused: :bang: :eek:

I was just looking at DH's last paycheck of the year yesterday, I we *netted* about 16,000 this year. We have a TON of medical bills--way more than we could manage so some are being taken out of DH's check as garnishment:( We have 5 children and living on 16,000 a year is not easy. My New Year's resolution (well, one of them anyway, lol) is to become more frugal so that we can get some of these bills paid down and get some money saved. We would love to buy a house...but thanks to 2 ex'es our credit is in the toilet and we have been making payments on those bills as well. DH has had a heart attack, and 2 cardiac stents placed within the past 2 years. Unbelievable what all that costs! I am new to this forum and excited to start learning more frugal tips.

dhmunoz I know at some hospitals if you go to them and show them how much you make some of them may cut some of your medical costs due to your income. Go to the human resource center at your hospital and ask where you can talk to someone at the hopital about your bill. If they don't know have them direct you somewhere else. If not write a letter to the president of the hospital and explain to them your situation. If you have been paying on it pretty regular sometimes they will might give you a break. Even if they don't pay the whole thing, but pay only a part of it, it will help you a little bit. I figure it don't hurt to ask.

Welcome, dhmunoz!
:hug2:
I'm here for you, cheering you on!
:grwave:
Kyria, thanks for the advice. I suppose I shouldn't really be in this thread, as I make slightly more that 16000/yr, but is that US$ or CDN$??
I can't imagine doing more than I already am; I often feel overwhelmed with everything. One of my long-term goals is to get into a financial position to give up the extra work that I have. Another one is to take the college courses I need to become an accountant, to increase my earning power.
Well, my income exceeds my expenses, so I feel good about that.
I am being careful about what I do with the extra.

I think as singlr parent we don't have that somebody elso to talk to so we often feel overwhelmed with everything. Somedays I don't know how I do it and others I say it's all in days work. I know that having a place like this were I feel safe to talk to others about where I'm at is such a great thing. I can't see them judge me and some have great tips and have been there before. That makes me feel a little better.

I hope to work less outside the home, work on my business (tv production company w/mom and friends) and go back to school for an Art degree. All things that seem so far away when my cars in the shop eating all my money I saved for my move next week.

You have 3 more on your plate to deal with then I. Just know your in the right place with the good people in here. Wish I'd been here a long time ago.... ~Kyria :cool:

:hug2:
thanks Kyria, you hit the nail on the head! I hate being judged, have a friend who should be in a courtroom! It doesn't help one bit. I too feel safe to express myself here.
Good luck with your move!

Thanks! Me too! most of mine should be also! But I have to say I have a friend real world frien in this group who isn't like that at all. Anglee is great! ~Kyria

It sounds like you are on the right track. Are your children in day-care? I know that is one budget breaker for many families. I am so glad that we bought and stayed in this house so many years ago.