Need some advice badly...

[schellie69]

I have been away from FV for a while due to health and chronic depression, and it seems that I have really missed FV and all the help I get here on staying on the frugal wagon Things have gotten even worse here with gas prices and food prices going up my food budget seems to not go as far is anyone else noticing this. I went to get a bag of pototoes and they went up by a whole dollar and eggs and milk went way up. It seems that everything went up except dh wages. so has anyone else had to raise there food budget or what other things are others doing to help stretch the food budget. I have plans to make some bread and rolls and freeze the dough, I have also went back to making things from scratch I plan on starting to go to the farmer market here which is only open on Saturdays from 7am to 11am sometimes with health problems hard to get started that early, I am also mixing powdered milk half and half with whole milk Been watching sales and using coupons but still not helping like it used to did get $40 worth of free food for have 2 perscription filled at Dillions that helped, what other corners have any of you did to help with raising prices I could really use some new ideas I did raise the thermostate to 78 degrees that is as far as dh would go, He works outside all day and really needs the cool air after work. we have started turning off or unplugging appliance when not in use, keep lights off for as long as possiable hung heavy curtins in rooms where sun comes in all afternoon. Have been hanging all clothes up. limited showers to 15 minutes. been using fans to circulate air I have an HE washer so it uses alot less water but still have not seen water bill go down at all, I am thinking of getting dishwasher fixed and see if that helps lower water bill. need to switch light bulbs in basement to floresents-or lcd bulbs-I am trying to buy healther options with food, but am stuggling to make things streatch any help would be greatly appricated.

[leezza]

Hi Pam,

I think a lot of folks are seeing there budgets change drastically it sounds like you are doing a lot of the right things already. It seems like one of the things that helps me the most is just staying home, (even if you are out of the house on a real errand you still spend money). See if you can use items in your stockpile instead of going to the store?? Change your menu, hand wash your dishes, (I think the older dishwashers use 15 gallons of water per load).

Are all of your kids still living at home??? They are all old enough to help you out and contribute to the household if they are working, (no not pay rent.....but the older ones could help out with food some if they are eating at home). The roommate can get his part of the rent, ect... raised. With things the way they are now everyone can help out, if not with money then with helping in other ways......

Mostly read here so many folks here give really good idea's. Most of all good luck to you and yours.

Kind Regards,
leezza

[Greebo]

Can you post your budget? It might give us some ideas.

[pecunierrant]

Food prices make me wanna faint! We bought a freezer and try not to drive to costco ( a ways away), whose prices are so much better than the local stores as often as we normally do.

I've cut out several things completely, like premaid frozen foods. cranberry juice, etc.
I only have moderate success with coupons as we don't have doubling stores but I do try.
Good idea returning to FV, you can get much needed encouragement as well as spot on advice with your budget. Can't beat it.

[schellie69]

Budget
Moragae 600 (this pay extra on it)
Electicity varies in but on average is 250 to 400 depending on what month
Water is 95 a month this includes water/waste water, trash and recycling
Dish is 75 a month (I use alot of channels for homeschool)
Phone is 75 a month includes dsl and land line
cell phones are 200 this if for 5 phones just went and got a lower plan cut 60 bucks off this so should start to see a savings soon
house and car insurance is about 125 a month
roomates car insurance is 91 a month
car payment is 155
motorcycle payment is 65 every 2 weeks
student loan is 75 a month
sears bills is 50 a month
2nd mororage is 195 a month
Food 200 a week this includes all food, household supplies and pet food for the week will have to go to every 2 weeks roommates paydates changed with new jobs
Gas for cars/motorcycle is about 170 a week thats for my car roommates car and dh motorcycle if he does not use his truck it saves some money.
this is all of the regular bills I can think of do not have household book in front of me but this is what is consitant every month, I have worked really hard at lowering the water bill but nothing I do helps we have been washing by hand and it seems that the bill might have gotten a little higher, Roomate give most of his check he is our 2nd income my oldest daughter is also giving her check(she works part-time she is going to have a baby in a few months) it just seems that with gas prices we have less money to deal with.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Hey Pam,

We're feeling the pinch, even up here in Canada. The economy may be good here but prices on things are going up just the same as they are in the states. Our family had to adjust and start doing some things differently also. We're starting to see the savings and it sounds like you're doing some really good things.

Is there any one that can go to the Farmer's Market that early for you? If you're having trouble because of health problems, I'd ask a relative to do some trips for you.

DH and I have about the same budget that you do, except less with the cell phones because we only have two and we're on a family plan. Does your cell phone plan include a family discount? How many people are you feeding on 200 dollars a week? We spend 200 every two weeks on four people and that includes lunches for the kids and snacks for them (like yogurt), lunches for DH to take to work, and nighttime snacks for everyone. Unplugging things that you don't use is a good start. I'd look for every way that you can cut your electrical use. Things like putting all your plugs into a power bar/surge protector and turning that off when not in use, not using the lights during the day, etc are good things to do.

[schellie69]

The food budget feed 7 people plus pets and includes lunches for me and kids plus lunches for dh and roommate, also breakfasts for kids. plus all household items tp, papertowels, shampoo, laundry deteregent ect. we are on a family plan and have a great deal with free nights and weekends and mobil to mobil plus have 10 numbers that we can call that are like mobil to mobil, plus are evening hours start at 7pm plus unlimited texting for everyone. we just took are anytime minutes down from 1200 to 500 anytime minutes plus some old games that were on old phones that no one had, between both of those save 60 bucks...

[i.m.cheap]

Hi Pam,

We are in Kansas, too. I have given up on the monthly grocery challenge, it is just too depressing. We live on less than $25,000 a year for a family of three. I am staying home as much as possible to save gas. Our thermostat is set on 80 during the day, but we do turn it down a little at night, so we all sleep better.

I wish I had advice on the food prices. We are trying to eat healthier foods (I have lost 30 pounds!) and that is expensive. Our grocery budget has gone from $250-300 a month to around $400-450. My DH's income has actually gone down (he is a full-time student and works two part-time jobs), I work 13 hours a week in a student job for minimum wage (I am also a full-time student).

I can hardly wait until May, when I finish my associate's degree and can look for full-time employment. I don't know how we are going to hang on until then. Our rent went up another $20 this summer (to $690).

The only thing I can recommend is having a garage sale, raising your roomate's rent, or looking for additional income from a part-time job. I wish I had more answers.

[i.m.cheap]

I forgot about cell phones. DH and I both have Tracfones, and use them very sparingly. They cost us about $9-10 a month for each one.

[frugalandsimple]

Hope things get better for you soon. (((hugs)))

[treeluva]

My water bill just went up another 15 dollars a month... not for my water usage, but it is another line item fee for Fuel Charge... yes, the city tried to pass a tax to generate more income for gasoline for the city vehicles. The citizens voted against it, so the city just added it to the water bill. The thing is, they added the fuel charge line AND added more fuel costs into all the other line items on the water bill. The city also started using the bigger trash cans and whatnot for refuse, but only about 1/3 of the citizens have received the new trash cans. I haven't received mine, but I still have to pay the higher cost for the "new" trash services.

My water bill has gone from $50 a month to $90 a month within 7 months. It is irritating.

Good luck to you in finding ways to keep costs down!

[Greebo]

Can you also please post income, and debts - for debts, give balance, interest rate, and minimum payment please.

[Michelle]

Do your 19 and 21 yr old children live at home? I am assuming so from what you've read. Do they contribute financially? I am thinking that they should be able to help out with room & board as well as paying for their own cell phones (maybe dividing the total by the number of people--your 19 and 21 yr old paying a portion as well as your dh & you paying for the rest?)

I don't know if those are viable options for you, but it doesn't hurt to brainstorm

[chettasmom]

I do not understand why people use dishwashers..in the short time it actually takes to wash dishes you can be done and on your way by the time the first cycle is ended..I'd lose the dishwasher entirely.

[Pemberleyan]

I do not understand why people use dishwashers..in the short time it actually takes to wash dishes you can be done and on your way by the time the first cycle is ended..I'd lose the dishwasher entirely.

I do it for two reasons:

I have tendonitis and carpal tunnel, and utilize every convenience possible to avoid pain.

Even if I did not have these problems, I could not wash and rinse the dishes as fast as I can load the dishwasher.

My dishwasher is also very efficient.