New Here

**LisaRH** · 05-20-2010, 01:12 PM

I have been reading some of the Dave Ramsey threads and thought I should get out of lurking mode! My husband and I are in week six of FPU and almost to the end of our first official month on the budget. We have our BEF and are working on our debt snowball. So far, we sold some stock that my husband had bought and we were able to fund the BEF, pay off one card, and pay about 1/3 of another card. I am really motivated and am looking for ways to put more towards the cc debt. Does anyone have any advice on how to increase your snowball and cut expenses? It looks like we will be able to send about 500 to the card we are working on 1st, but I want to do it FASTER!! We have about 16,000 in cc and then we are going after the HELOC

**qsaver704** · 05-20-2010, 01:46 PM

I have found that I already live a pretty frugal lifestyle. No new clothes, no nail or hair appointments, no coffee. The main two areas I can find to cut expenses are groceries and car gas.

Groceries:
eat at home, coupon shop, make menus, don't fear leftovers, eat cheaper foods (beef is expensive, so buy chicken), plant a garden, even a small one will help

Fuel:
do all your errands on the same day, plan a trip that makes sense-no backtracking,

This applies to both:shop less often-buy groceries every two weeks instead of each week or more often. It saves gas money and you are less tempted

It isn't much, but you can save any leftover budgeted money to pay towards CC debt.

**Ceashels** · 05-20-2010, 01:59 PM

Welcome! No new advice but keep looking through the old threads. There is so much information already entwined in the threads.

**LisaRH** · 05-20-2010, 02:09 PM

Thanks!
Groceries:
We were definitely eating out WAY too much before the budget so we were able to cut back a lot there. We should end up spending about 100 this month on eating out (which is a huge improvement for us)! We ate mostly at home and I planned the meals ahead of time this month, and we were able to keep our grocery/toiletry budget at 300 for a family of three. We don't eat meat so that does help, but I am terrible about coupons. I am pretty good about planning around the weekly BOGO grocery ads though! I would like to reduce the grocery budget a little more, but I am not sure what it should be. Toiletries were a little more than I would have liked too, but we didn't do too bad.

Fuel:
"do all your errands on the same day, plan a trip that makes sense-no backtracking." Good tips... I didn't really change my driving habits this month to conserve gas. There is room for improvement here.

We also cut some channels to lower our Dish Network bill, reduced our Netflix membership to 1 DVD instead of 2, and we are planning on getting rid of our home phone.

**mateosbaby** · 05-20-2010, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by LisaRH

Thanks!
Groceries:
We were definitely eating out WAY too much before the budget so we were able to cut back a lot there. We should end up spending about 100 this month on eating out (which is a huge improvement for us)! We ate mostly at home and I planned the meals ahead of time this month, and we were able to keep our grocery/toiletry budget at 300 for a family of three. We don't eat meat so that does help, but I am terrible about coupons. I am pretty good about planning around the weekly BOGO grocery ads though! I would like to reduce the grocery budget a little more, but I am not sure what it should be. Toiletries were a little more than I would have liked too, but we didn't do too bad.

Fuel:
"do all your errands on the same day, plan a trip that makes sense-no backtracking." Good tips... I didn't really change my driving habits this month to conserve gas. There is room for improvement here.

We also cut some channels to lower our Dish Network bill, reduced our Netflix membership to 1 DVD instead of 2, and we are planning on getting rid of our home phone.

Cutting some channels is a good first step, but get rid of it altogether. Get rid of Netflix and use your library for free movies/books. We have a family of 6, and while we do eat out sometimes, we try to budget $40 a month. Yes, that's for all 6 of us (OK, one's a baby, so he just eats little bits of mine LOL). We try really hard to only eat out once a month, and then only at a place with free kids' meals.

Do you have an Aldi or other really cheap grocery store near you, rather than the traditional grocery store? I love Aldi, and I find most of their food to be as good or even better than the name-brands. This saves me time of clipping coupons, because Aldi nearly always beats even coupon pricing. I don't know how old your child is, but if they're diaper/Pull-up age, switch to cloth diapers or underwear if they're old enough for potty training. Skip the crackers, juice, chips, candy, etc. They're not good for you anyway. Stick with the real stuff, and cook from scratch. It's healthier, and better for your wallet in the long run, as well.

OK, those are just a few things off the top of my head. Good luck, and welcome!

**mek42** · 05-20-2010, 04:25 PM

Hiyas! Welcome! We're in week 6 of out FPU too! We're even being frugal with the class by carpooling part of the 25 mile drive with another couple that lives on our way.

**mauimagic** · 05-20-2010, 11:43 PM

I don't do coupons either primarily because coupons usually don't reflect our buying habits as we are making most of our meals from scratch.

Really think a garden is the best way to get ahead of the grocery game - this would give you fresh produce now and you can freeze of can for later also. Even though I do not have a green thumb, I am definitely going to have at least a small garden this year.

Glad that you and your husband are so focused and already are enjoying success. Stay tuned to FV - this is definitely and supportive and creative (as well as fun) place to be!!

**AnW819** · 05-21-2010, 12:28 AM

Welcome!! I need to teach you how to CVS for all those toiletries. Do you have a CVS near you?

**wwe11** · 05-21-2010, 08:42 AM

Hi and welcome!

**Jethro33** · 05-26-2010, 11:26 AM

Really excited for you guys that are in the middle of FPU. My Wife and went through the class almost 4 years ago and have been debt free for 3 years and counting.
Its a great feeling and I just wanted to encourage you guys to keep it up.
Good Luck and have fun paying stuff off!!!

**frugal is fun** · 05-28-2010, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by AnW819

Welcome!! I need to teach you how to CVS for all those toiletries. Do you have a CVS near you?

Teach me Teach me! I really don't get the whole CVS rewards thing. I read in amazement at all the free or nearly free things that you can get at CVS. So yes, please tell us all how you do it!!!

**Debbie-cat** · 05-28-2010, 09:40 PM

Hi and welcome!

**porembam** · 05-29-2010, 11:56 AM

CVS is awesome - you need to get a reward card
Almost every week they have something free - you pay first and then get reward money which you use the following weeks deals.
Between CVS and Rite Aid - I haven't paid for razors in over 5 years.

**kita** · 05-29-2010, 04:34 PM

couponmom has a link with the best deals each week. The key is to use manufacterers coupons, cvs coupons (if offered), and reward money in combination.

Here is a column that explains how it works...