Frugal New Year's Resolutions?

**lukesmama** · 01-08-2008, 05:03 PM

Just wondering what everyone's specific goals to improve their finances this year are. I started out with the resolution that I'd "be more frugal" but that quickly evolved into two specific points I need to work on:

-stop throwing food away! I waste a lot of leftovers, and my husband even commented about it recently (he's very laid back and usually leaves this stuff to me, so I took it as a sign that I need to work on that area)

-start budgeting for clothing. I never track this but am sure I'd be surprised how much I spend each year on me and my small children. All of us got some new things from the in-laws for Christmas, so this definitely helps, but I need to have a limit in mind so that I don't go nuts during those splurges that occur every several months.

What are your frugal goals for this year?

**FrugalMomof3** · 01-08-2008, 05:10 PM

Ok here goes mine:

- Pay off the little debt we have ($800)
- Eat all food even leftovers, no throwing anything away
- Declutter some more and put away unused things for a bit or sell them
- No using CC's for anything
- If I dont have cash, I ain't gettin it

**Tango** · 01-08-2008, 05:53 PM

This year I would like to:
-pay off all remaining student loans
-pay off dh's car
-reduce utilitie bills by not using more than we need

**OliveOyl** · 01-08-2008, 06:16 PM

I need to get my garage cleaned out! Everything goes out there that I want hidden from view.

**Katybird** · 01-08-2008, 06:17 PM

Menu plan better than I have in the past year.

Eat healthier for less this year.
Excerise more and be more diligent about a cardio workout.

**dcompton** · 01-08-2008, 08:29 PM

Keep a really tight rein on spending.
Try to juggle healthy eating and rising food costs.

**changed4life** · 01-08-2008, 08:52 PM

Help my husband clean out the clutter in the garage!

**KJayEsq** · 01-08-2008, 08:59 PM

Mainly - to pay off all cc's (tall order, but I'm already making decent progress). In order to do so, it has resulted in other "resolutions" so I now cook at home a lot more and live by a written budget.

**CristiK** · 01-08-2008, 09:37 PM

-walk dogs in neighborhood more instead of drive them to the dog park (I get exercise and save gas)
-severely cut back eating out...special occasion only
-save all coin change from my grocery envelope
-install my laundry hanging system in the back staircase and use it instead of the dryer

**Jskell911** · 01-08-2008, 10:03 PM

We would like to pay off the CC's (total right now @ $3000)
and build up a $2000 EF.

**redhead68** · 01-08-2008, 11:20 PM

By August, we would like to hit our savings goal for purchasing a house. We have ~$15k to go.

**tryingtodobetter** · 01-09-2008, 07:52 AM

My fundemantal goal for this year is to live off £5000 for everything except our mortgage . With the money that we will be saving we want to pay an extra £100 off the mortgage each month, have £10,000 in savings by the end of the year (£5000 to go) and be able to pay my tutition fee of £3200 up front in Sept (currently standing at £550). Good luck to everyone else.

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-09-2008, 08:47 AM

Okay, here are mine:
~We have set our "frugal" budget. I'd like to stick to it with minimal slip-ups!
~Pay off our truck loan this year, and begin putting that money in savings. We hope to never have another car loan again,
~Not setting foot in Wal-mart this year. (So far so good). A. not a fan of their business practices and B. I tend to overspend there. If I shop at Aldi's for groceries, I do much better!
~And the big one...QUIT SMOKING! THis is a huge finanacial drain on me...so this is a big one. I'm doing really well too! I got a late start, but I am on Day 3, cold turkey and so far, not really missing it!

**cab54** · 01-09-2008, 11:59 AM

To be more careful about using food up as far as it will go. Freeze leftover stuff for soup, make up dinners for my dad, even use the rest for dog food and save there.

Try to have as many no-spend days a month as possible.

Make my mantra---"Use up, wear out, make do, recycle, make your own."

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 01-09-2008, 06:02 PM

-Decrease the food budget by another 50.00 a month
-Less trips to WalMart
-Only buy what I need off of Ebay
-Unplug appliances,turn off unused lights in an effort to reduce electric bill
-Get rid of Netflix
-Sell clothes on Ebay and use that money to buy replacement clothes as opposed to just buying more right quick.
-Limit buying of Coke
-Less Meat, stretch the meals with rice or grits.