I'm REALLY gonna need your help!

**pammywammyv** · 11-13-2002, 10:14 AM

Hi, everyone! It's been a LONG time since I've been here, but I'm back to STAY! I really need help! Due to my illness and inability to work, we just faced foreclosure on our home. The only way to keep it was to agree to a repayment plan of...get this $2300/month to catch us up!!! I know we can do this if I just buckle down and practice the frugal skills I've learned (but have set aside lately). I'm going to be checking in every day and really need ideas/support on how to do this!!! Right now, I don't use coupons. I DO only shop sales and stock up...that's about it. We're VERY bad and eat out A LOT!!! I want to cook more, but it just doesn't interest me. Any suggestions?

I knew if anyone could help me it'd be you guys! TIA!

**mylittle4** · 11-13-2002, 10:26 AM

Same problem here the eating out. I don't mind to cook its the cleaning up I hate. So maybe if you did quick things that didn't require too much time in the kitchen. I know the quick things are more expensive but still cheaper than resturants. Also sometimes I will make sandwich and chips for the kids on a Sat. night and after I put them to bed I will go get take out from our favorite resturant and come home and eat it with my dh and watch a movie. It comes out cheaper because it is just for 2 people and we do not have to pay for drinks and a tip, but it is still a treat because I don't have to cook. Good Luck I know you will find many good answers here.

**pammywammyv** · 11-13-2002, 10:28 AM

Thanks! I really like the idea of a date with my dh once the kids are in bed! You're right - 2 is cheaper than 4, especially when my 8 y.o. doesn' seem to ever finish her meal! (skinny minny!)

**~Sherry~** · 11-13-2002, 10:31 AM

Welcome back pammywammyv.

We'll do what we can to help ya out!

**mustang80** · 11-13-2002, 10:36 AM

First to go is the eating out! Besides the meal is tax, tip, gas, etc. You can eat at home for CHEAP if you shop sales. There are lots of great threads with good shopping advice. Good luck with that repayment plan, I couldn't do that.

**bmiltimore** · 11-13-2002, 10:43 AM

I need to stop the eating out also. I am also really bad about going to Starbucks on my way to work. That is almost $4 a day!

Not to mention I take the toll road to and from work each day! Yikes!

**MANDERS** · 11-13-2002, 10:56 AM

WElcome back! we are all here for you whenever you need us.Keep on looking threw the threads and lets get back in that frugal groove.

LOL Hut hut.Ok i'm a nut

**QuilterMom** · 11-13-2002, 11:12 AM

Coupons aren't always a good thing - only use them if it's on an item you would be buying anyway OR if you are in an area that offers double coupons it could be to your advantage because you could get items for free or very cheap.

There are lots of ways to cut down on your bills to help give you the extra $$$ you need to make your payment........

* Tear fabric softener sheets in half (or even fourths) to make a box last longer - works just as well as a whole sheet.

* If you can, don't even use the dryer! I am not allowed to have a clothesline in the neighborhood where I live, but I hang as many loads of laundry in the house to dry as I can (I dry dh's work uniforms and towels in the dryer - everything else is hung to dry). I use the showers and a clothing rack for the items.

* Run your errands all at once instead of over the course of several days. You'll cut down on how much gasoline you use and it'll cut down on wear and tear on your vehicles.

* Don't rent any movies, don't buy any books or magazines, etc. Check them out for free from the library instead.

* Turn your junk mail into scrap paper instead of buying note pads or paper.

* Reuse plastic grocery bags as trash bags.

* Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, consignment stores. Hit the clearance racks at stores like Marshall's, Ross, and TJ Maxx.

* Make your own laundry detergent and cleaners (I have a link to a laundry detergent recipe if you want and baking soda, water, and plain white vinegar will clean practically anything and it's cheap!).

* Do home haircuts if possible.

* Keep your water heater set to 120 degrees.

* Time your showers - example, a time limit of 5 minutes each (or take a military shower - turn on the water and lather up, turn off the water to wash, then turn the water on again to rinse). Don't fill bathtubs so full for bathing the kids. Reuse bath water to water plants (it won't hurt the plants).

* Turn off any lights throughout your home when no one is using them or in need of them.

* Unplug appliances, etc. when not in use. Even though you aren't using them there is still an electrical current running to them when plugged in.

* Use appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, crockpots, etc. for cooking as much as possible. They don't use as much electricity as the oven or stovetop. Use an outdoor grill if possible.

* Reuse the linings from cereal boxes as a substitute for waxed paper.

* Call your electric company to find out when peak time and off peak time rates are. Do as much as you can during off peak time (running the dishwasher, the washer, dryer, etc.).

* If you do have to use your dryer, wash and dry in consecutive loads - that way the dryer doesn't have time to cool down and doesn't use as much energy to heat back up.

All those are just a FEW ways to cut down on expenses. Check your library for some of these books full of fantastic ideas........

Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

Shop, Save, and Share by Ellie Kay

How To $ave Money Every Day by Ellie Kay

Money Doesn't Grow On Trees by Ellie Kay

The Frugal Almanac by Melodie Moore

Marnie's Kitchen Shortcuts by Marnie Swedberg

The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn (also available in volumes I, II, and III)

Cheap Talk with The Frugal Friends: Over 600 Tips, Tricks, and Creative Ideas for Saving Money by Angie Zalewski, Deana Ricks

Eat Healthy For $50 A Week by Rhonda Barfield

365 Quick, Easy & Inexpensive Dinner Menus by Penny E. Stone

The $1.98 Cookbook: How to Eat Like A Gourmet and Save $6000-Or More-A Year by Carl Japikse

Living On A Shoestring by Ann Chodakowski

Saving Money Any Way You Can by Mike Yorkey

Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

1001 Ways to Cut Your Expenses by Jonathan Pond

Also, you said you don't enjoy cooking - how about crockpot cooking (very simple way to get a homecooked meal!). There are tons of great recipes available online and I also suggest Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good.

**mustang80** · 11-13-2002, 12:04 PM

Quiltermom-those are GREAT tips! Thanks for posting them!

**pammywammyv** · 11-13-2002, 12:06 PM

WOW, QuilterMom! THANK YOU!!! Actually, I do some of that stuff already. I started hanging stuff over the past summer because we have propane and it's SO expensive! I use closets, showers, doorknobs, etc. I shop for clothes and house stuff at a Salvation Army in a ritzy neighborhood nearby and the ONLY racks I shop from are CLEARANCE! I have a crockpot and stuff in the freezer, it's just a matter of reminding myself to PUT IT ON!!! We use the library religiously! I also keep everything unplugged when not in use - just my "quirk"!

I have read some of the books you listed, but I'll have to get the others. I have many of them, actually, I guess I just need to refresh my memory and re-read them!

Thanks so much! You guys are the BEST!

**captclearance** · 11-13-2002, 09:05 PM

Wow, you have a task ahead of you, but one worth doing.... Do whatever you can to save money.... Ask yourself... Do I really need anymore clothes ??? If not don't even bother going to the Salvation Army.... Coupons are alright but, they mean you are spending money..... If it were my house at risk I would just stop the madness !!! It's hard I know but it may take some great sacrifices on your part to get there..... You can do it !!!! It won't be forever and once your out of the woods you will have learned to live with so much less and will find life to be much simpler....
Get the kids involved, challenge them to find ways to save money, children are very resilient and resourceful.... They will benifit from making some sacrifices too...

**Mom23boys** · 11-13-2002, 10:40 PM

You are awesome Quiltermom! I loved reading your post and your ideas!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 11-14-2002, 02:11 AM

One thing a lot of people don't think about is the food banks. IF you need to go there, DO IT. Swallow your pride and get the food you need to get you over this tough time. You can always pay back the favor when you get back on your feet. Start TAKING food to the food bank when you can. It's a "pass it along" sort of thing.

Also, tell your family you don't want more stuff for Christmas. Have them buy you gift certificates to your grocery store. Hey, I would much rather have food in the pantry than another useless knick knack!