Are you still finding ways to cut back?

[vickilynn]

This is the year we are really tightening up the belt. We have a ton of hospital bills from last year (2 DGS born and my surgeries). I have also transitioned to being a SAHM. Last night was the first time DH sat down and actually reviewed the budget with me. Was awesome feeling to be 100% on the same page.

So happy for you and hubby - unity works! My dh is now telling others about how saving a little saves a lot. It took a year...but now we're working together and how fun it is! Our savings accounts (different ones for different goals ie Christmas, repairs, emergency) are growing and we're enjoying new ways to save a little to save a lot. Paying off debt early is our celebration time - We have one coming up in April (camper) and then in Nov (car). Woo Hoo time!

[jettsmom]

This year we are really tightening our belts too. Something we should have done long ago. Dh may lose his job. Things are uncertain right now. Got only a partial pay check. Luckily ds was reimbursed for his plane ticket that I purchased so took that and paid a few more bills this time.

We did eat out Friday. Took nephew, wife and baby to dinner. They struggle too. DS gave us money for our anniversary, so we used that. We ate sandwiches all weekend, no runs to McD's.

I'm doing very little shopping. Only for fresh fruit, milk and bread and eggs. I did make the white sandwich bread recipe that someone posted here. I adapted it for my bread machine. I'm going to try it for a sandwich for lunch. Then I may not be buying bread for a while. We will eat out of the pantry more. I told dh that some days may just be soup and grilled cheese or oatmeal and toast. Youngest ds is the picky one and he's working out of state right now, so we can eat more cheaply when he's gone.

We will be getting a good tax return this year and plan to pay off all the little debts we have. Dh put his credit card away this morning. No more charging for us. That is our goal for this year to pay off what we can and to incur no more debt.

It will be tough for us, since we've always just bought what we wanted, not thinking about the future. I know we'll get through this. Oldest ds is so tight it's not funny. The only thing he spends money on is gas for his car and his tuition/books. He doesn't buy a lot of clothes or shoes and rarely eats out. We need to be more like him.

[peanut]

I agree jettsmom. I'm trying to not spend on my CCs too. Just because I see it as a $200-300 monthly habit I have that I don't need. Most of the items purchased on CC are impulse buys anyway.

I'm finding as we become more adept at being frugal, money is freed up, and we are spending more time planning how to save it to create a buildup of wealth to see us through retirement. More of an attitude shift is happening. Money is becoming a tool not a panic button!

I look to ways to multiply wealth...like spending wisely on things that accumulate value, rather than depreciate. Or things that can be used to increase our income...such as my sewing machine, spinning wheel, rug hooking frame. All the proceeds of those 'hobbies' can be sold to augment income. I'm looking at increasing our number of income streams.

[shoiji]

Finally started to use vinegar and water to clean the floors and cabinets. Will definately be saving money on cleaning solutions.

[ladytoysdream]

I am getting better with coupons. I know one thing...it pays to cut them out and have them on you, when you go shopping. Currently I am stocking the TP. I had 3 coupons for $ 1 off singles today, and had $ 2 coupons off the bigger packages but did not expect to find any. Well came around the end cap in the store, and there was my deal. 24 pkg size that is normally $ 8 plus was 4.99 this week...and I had 2 coupons for $ 2 each

Wanted to get our income taxes done early this year. Locally they were quoting me $ 180 to do them. I went to the IRS site, and found me a place to do them online. One was free and second one was $ 17.95 . My other option was to do the forms and send them in and wait. This way, they are already done

[my4littlebuffaloes]

I find there are always areas to be more frugal in. It seems to be a work in progress. I am making more and more things from scratch and finding new areas to reduce utility costs. Plus I think we are at different levels of frugal as different times in our life.

[alotofgooddeals]

We have been being really really good...we received our income tax return and we made a big purchase with it however it is something the whole family will use and enjoy(Unlike previous years when dh would blow it on crap)... so when he suggested we purchase a camper from his sister I was like okay....lets go for it....we pulled the money out to pay cash with it and he looked at the receipt and saw that we still had quite the sum in there... I told him that i willreceive my paycheck next week and he was going to receive his check that would put us right back up to the 4 grand mark... and he couldn't believe that we could have that much money in there... I explained to him that we have been good for a reason....tomorrow we are going to purchase the rest of the tiles for the kitchen floor and possibly countertop. That means the kitchen will be finished.. We are trying to make minimalist improvements on the house so that come spring we can list it... we have the other house listed and hope to be able to sell both and purchase a house and have no mortgage....

[Monroe on a Budget]

Finally started to use vinegar and water to clean the floors and cabinets. Will definately be saving money on cleaning solutions.

Yes that's definitely a money-saver. I've been able to phase out half of our cleaning chemicals through vinegar, baking soda, fleece rags and the Shaklee H2 cleaning concentrate.

[mauimagic]

Although we do not get many coupons in our papers, I use whatever we can. Find I am shopping the perimeter of the stores more - sticking to natural/basic ingredients.

Brown bagging lunches saves us a lot - it's great that DH is finally on board with that too!!

[wanna_homestead]

Finally started to use vinegar and water to clean the floors and cabinets. Will definately be saving money on cleaning solutions.

I am going to start doing this too, after purchasing a pricey (well, it was $6, which I thought was too much) "all-natural" bathroom cleaner at the local Fresh Market (and why was I shopping THERE again?)...when I used it, I smelled the overwhelming smell of...vinegar.

SIGH. Lesson learned!!

[MommyBliss]

I am going back to menu planning, cutting our landline(we just don't use it with cell phones), stopping buying decor items for the house. I love to decorate the house, but honestly I have stuff just sitting in closets. I'm also decluttering our house and selling extras sitting in the garage. I have some family members who have moved and can't afford a lot of "nice" things for their homes, so I'll be passing on some items I have here. It makes me feel better and also helps me to really think before I make a purchase.

[cheles2kids]

I am now using organic extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizer after a shower. And I have to say, it is working well. Still have the virgin coconut oil, but the olive oil is easier to use. I realize that I may be spending more on this type of moisturizer however, I can't help feeling that in the long run it is better for me. I am using the store brand which does save some money.

I also use organic coconut oil and keep mine in a reused artichoke heart, glass jar.
What I do is to place my jar in the sink with hot water while I shower or take my bath. When I get out, it's nice and partially melted so I can kinda take and pour it onto into my hands.

I just thought I'd mention this because I know once coconut oil sets it does get hard. But this might give somebody else an idea of how to warm theirs up as well.

The biggest difference that I've found between olive oil & coconut oil, is that olive oil never seems to "soak" in for me, whereas coconut oil does after just a few mins.

[frugalwarrior2]

We are continuing to coupon. i am working on my savings percentages. By doing sales/coupon/incentive deals I am saving consistantly 50-75%. i am also getting a lot of things free. If i stockpile and fingd I have too mch of something I donate. The donation knocks down taxable income saving more money.

We finally got our property taxes knocked down $595. per yr. Seeing we've lost $100,000 in3 years or less it's not a good thing but to pay more and lose all that is worse.

Picking ins. more carefully this year has cost us less and we have saved much more on medical costs w/ the exception of prescriptions. We were able to add disability ins. increases for no more cost.

I have stayed out of resale shops.It is NOT entertainment truly.

Made my own sales on several items ths year due to product near exp. on pet feed.

Big Lot buzz club 20% off coupons have saved $100's.

Got honest and w/d $50. per mo. for entertainment which saves CC Int. and ATM fees. Not renting from video stores and renting from cable is initially higher but saves us because we always end up w/ late fees.

Just when you think you can't save anymore.. Yeah!!!!!!!!!

[NewLeaf]

Frugalwarrior2, I know what you mean about late fees and video rentals. I signed up for netflix after the trial period bcs I pay less for netflix than going to the video store and ALWAYS having late fees. We also got On Demand on our cable for free, I can watch alot of free movies and programs.

[misfitz]

LOL, I agree with NewLeaf. That's the same reason I can't use the library anymore! It's cheaper for me to buy books at the thrift store or on Amazon. I loooove my Netflix...especially the "watch online instantly" option!