What are some of things you will change in regards to frugality in 2006

[homesteadmamma]

I won't be changing a whole lot of what I already do, other than trying to find more new ways to be frugal.

I do know we have to look at:

~gas for our vehicle. We make so many trips back and forth to the city or to the nearest towns. There has got to be some way to change that.

~my grocery amounts and keeping track of it each month. I'm notorious for losing receipts, especially when it comes to grocery bills.

~our water bill. We've had 2 major increases and more coming. I need to find ways to cut down the amount we use.

[thrifty gal]

I will be making a lot of changes in regards to frugality in 2006. Mainly because we have become so unfrugal. And, it has really taken its toll on our financial situation.

What I plan on doing:
*eating out much less
*tracking our spending the entire year
*using less of everything, making everything stretch
*stay out of the stores more
*post here more for motivation and accountability

[AmyMCGS]

I have really not been doing well over the last two months with using coupons and refunds. I've had a lot of other stuff going on, and I've just gotten out of the habit. I HAVE to get back into the habit of never shopping without coupons-- I save a ton of money when I work at it just a little.

We've also got to start eating out less (another habit we've slid back into). Once or twice a week we hit a fast food place for either lunch or supper-- that really adds up.

[Pepper]

*Not eating out so much
*Keeping track of "where" the money is going
*Starting a stockpile
*Planning a weekly menu
*Cutting coupons


That's my starting list anyways....!!

[my4littlebuffaloes]

Well, I need to keep track of the grocery budget better. We have gotten to where we spend $400 a month easily for our family of 6. As the kids get bigger, they sure do eat more! I remember when I started having to double recipes. WE always had a ton of leftovers, but doing the normal recipe was not enough. Now I am doubling recipes and not having any leftovers! I want to lower our grocery bill by $50 a month. I have to do better at shopping the sales and using coupons to accomplish this.

I also need to do better on the clothes shopping - buying for 6 is expensive! Just last week we had to get dd a pair of shoes, ds some new socks, dh a new white dress shirt and other dd a pair of tights. Luckily I had the money in our clothes envelope to cover these things, but now it is empty! I need to plan ahead better and shop the clearance racks as well as garage sales and consignment.

So those are the 2 ares I want to work on this year.

Jennifer - SAHM mom to 4

[Mom23boys]

For 2006, we will be:

~applying for scholarships/grants for Richard's college tuition (Fall 2006)

~work at keeping our grocery budget down

~find ways to save on gas

[rebecca]

-hang dry my clothes, since our electric is going up
-keeping track of where money is going
-not touch my savings due to having an EF for emergencies.
-use everything up before I buy something of the same
-try to cut down on snacks pretty good here but at times I get the munchies
-when get a check with OT put it on my car to get it paid off sooner

I'm sure there's more but can't think of any right now.

[catzz64]

I will hopefully working on a number of things:

Cutting the electric bill down (the kids like to have lights and sometimes TV's on when they are sleeping, so sometimes one or the other is on 24/7).

Build an emergency fund...started today with $100!!!

Build some sort of stockpile, though I'm not sure how much I can fit in my little condo

Definately eat out less...we eat out WAY too much, if I'm not feeling well there normally is nothing quick and easy enough for the guys to fix so I need to find remedies for that in advance...menu planning and stocking the freezer...thank you FV for being here to guide me!

And being accountable for where all the money goes...good lord...at the end of the year I wonder where it all went I've never "budgeted" or tracked my money for more than 2 months as I lost motivation but hopefully being here and participating will help make me pay more attention and realize what I'm doing with it all!

There is more...like decluttering to simplify and just be able to walk through without stepping on lego's and such, make time for me....the list is endless...but those are my top priorities

[Mojjo]

I have a few:

~starting an EF

~cooking even more from scratch

~smarter grocery shopping (loss leaders and coupons)

~eating more portion size (should help with my weight loss plan too)

[Blessed]

There's a lot I need to get back to, like not using the dryer. I haven't used many coupons lately either. Fortunately I haven't had to buy much. I'd like to keep better tabs on my pantry/stockpile and utilize it more efficiently.

[cheapgeek]

The main thing I'd like to do is resume my grocery spending tracking. I did it for Sept, Oct and Nov. I took Dec off since so much of my "grocery" spending was really for gifts and party foods. It's not really an accurate reflection of the cost of feeding ourselves.

[pammy]

Main goals for 2006:

~Start my gift closet and be diligent about getting it stocked before next Christmas.

~Attempt some sort of garden, my first.

~Keep challenging myself to find more ways to cut back and save.

~Learn at least one new skill.

[dwallyfam]

Track spending
Lower grocery bill and all bills in general
Gas for vehicles
Coupon and refund.

Kellie

[forestdale]

I'm like you, CJ. Frugality is part of my mindset now. We've eaten out twice in the past year, I cook from scratch every day, I'm counting my pennies till they add up to dollars.

However, I do want to start menu planning and organising my stockpile better than I am now.
I'm going to grow many more vegetables and fruit this year - hopefully 80% of what we eat.
I want to give away a lot more this year to the 3 Fs - family, friends and freecycle.
I'm going to sew more.
I want to be more generous and show anyone who wants to learn, how to do garden, cook, knit, save, reduce, recycle and nurture.

[AmyBoz]

I plan on kicking my everyday frugality into high gear. Hard to pinpoint exactly what I'll be doing, because I'll basically not be changing much; just doing more of what we already do.

Through the New Year, New Home challenge, I will be, like Rhonda, giving away or throwing away a lot of stuff, so that there is less stuff to take care of. Taking care of "stuff" costs money, so getting rid of it will be frugal in and of itself.

I also plan on organizing my stockpile better so that I have a better handle on exactly what we have and I would like to expand my cooking repetoire so that I can cook more meals from my freezer and pantry. I would consider it a good thing if by the time I go back to work in June, my pantry is empty because I've used every last thing in it.

I also want to lower my grocery/utility bills big time.