A Simple Time of Year

[nwmissourigal]

I love the christmas holidays and I try to get them more simple each year. Christmas can get so out of hand and expensive. So the last few years my girls have just asked for money. This is easy for me to do, but at first it was hard. But giving them money, they truly get what they want that is important to me, but they have to tell me what they did with the money..that's the rule.

I am hoping that 2007 will prove to be more simple living for us and frugal living....what are your hopes for 2007 as far as simple living goes.

We are giving up cable tv.
We are going to do more bulk buying.
More bread baking.
Be more careful of our purchases.

[emily_hope]

~I want to start stockpiling. I haven't ever really done this before. Not with buying loss leaders, using coupons and such.
~I want to do more couponing and rebating.
~I want to work on a cash basis and not use credit cards. We paid off all our credit card debt this year and I don't want to go there again.

[dwallyfam]

This year we are kicking this area into high gear.

1. Bulk buying.
2. Grow food. Also visit farms and purchase food for canning and freezing.
3. Make more items from scratch
4. Look at each and every bill and find was to reduce.

[mommymath]

1. We've been doing no-shop days to keep ds away from all the commercialism and buy-buy-buy mentality -- we plan to do this until the end of the year at least, and to try to do it often! (It helps that we don't have tv, too) ... we've even been switching off to grocery shop because there's just too much junk in the grocery stores to build "want".
2. Put aside for the summer (dh's contract is 9 months of the year, not 12)
3. Look into redoing dh's pay as 9 for 12 (spread it over 12 months)
4. Build EF
5. Save as much as possible for a car to replace dh's 92 Nissan, which has been a workhorse but is really in need of retirement
6. DECLUTTER! To create more serenity in the house, to find "treasure" we've forgotten about, to make better use of what we have, and to bring in some $ from ebay/consignment, and to help others by donating!
7. Look into volunteering for meals-on-wheels or other senior-care services because ds loves older people and it would be a great activity for us as a family.

[autumnlynn]

1. I've decided to buy no new clothes this coming year and wear what I have.

2. I'm going to start stockpiling things I need when I find them at a good price.

3. No impulse shopping.

4. Stick to my grocery list and cut my food bill.

5. Keep all my doctors apppointments so I'll stay healthy.

[nuisance26]

~My big thing for the new year is to draw up lists of what each kid has, clothes-wise,(I have DS list done) and yard sale like crazy for kids clothes. I did this the 2 years before Ro was born and had enough for almost 2 years. Then I got too busy. I've been buying thrift shop clothes for them but it still amounts to $200-300 year. I keep remembering a yard sale I went to where a lady stuffed at least 10 toddler boys outfits from Gap and Carters and Old Navy and sold me the bag for $2. I want deals like that again! Plus I LOVE yard sales and I miss going. And next year I want a garden. I want to be serious about it and not stop caring for it in July like I have in the past. I think it would be a great teaching opportunity and tradition with my children. And next year we HAVE to get back to church. My children need to be in Sunday School. We need to make our values obvious and habitual with the kids.~

[watchingpennies]

I need to make debt - and saving money to put toward the debt a real priority. Today I goofed (dh is working and I have to take the kids with me) and went to the convenient grocery store with the lovely ambience...and probably paid twice as much for some things. I plan on seriously limiting takeout which we have already improved on immensely! I have to stay smoke free to save my health and my $$$ (one week so far!). I also need to watch the peer pressure at work as far as dressing/hair styles/shoes/takeout lunches goes. I will be strong in 2007!

[Luv2BeFrugal]

We've cut back considerably on who we buy/exchange gifts with. We're going to cut back further after this Christmas (letting family/friends know right after the holidays so they don't get a shocker on Christmas day!).

We decided to start baking at least half (if not all of) the bread we'll use.

We already do soups/stews (cheap!) about 20% of the time...we are going to try to bring that up to 1/3 of the time to reduce grocery bill more.

We've been doing bulk buying for years, but will continue. And buying loss leaders, couponing, etc. It sure does save the $$!! I love that!

Goals are to get hubby thru more college classes, pay off one CC (at least!), and have a more organized life...we're fairly "de-cluttered" as far as stuff, but not too good at saying no when people ask favors. I like to help out...but we need to cut back a bit just because the gas alone from doing favors doesn't exactly help the budget!

[brenda67]

I really want to be dept free..I've not really focused on it till I came to FV..I have learnt so much from this board..it has made me more aware of making financial decisions..turning the lights off when it's not needed,baking a couple items in the oven at once to conserve electric,bringing me and Dh lunches to work everyday,making my own bread,cookies,scratch cooking and so on...

[favesis37]

i need to get an ef going and stay out of it
stock pile
hit sales to get christmas for next year going when possible
make more stuff from scratch

[starsapphire]

Simplifying my life in 2007 -

I need to simplify my mind right now more than anything.

I have a very stressful full time job. My goal is to reduce my own stress reactions at work. Less 'thought drama'. Remember to take it one day at a time, and that it really is only a job. Pray for help in these areas and remain open to whatever God brings my way.

Either that or look for something less stressful. I'm open to that too, and have been checking job opportunities regularly. Problem is, we live in a rural area and there is no other place to work where I would get paid anywhere near what I get paid now. I regularly check other departments with the same employer for other openings, but nothing that I have the skills/education for (or transferable skills) has come open yet. I still have at least 18 years to go before retirement. I don't want to burn out. So, I am working on changing myself since my situation isn't changing, and we'll see what the future brings.

[nwmissourigal]

Hey Starsapphire..I so know about the stressful job. I worked in a very large medical office and it got so stressful that it started effecting my health. I decided that I either had to settle in and disregard the drama or move on. One day I was about to start crying at my desk and I ask God to settle me in and remove me...the very next day i got a job offer, and I wasn't looking yet, at the Cardiac suregon down the hall from where I worked. It was way better money and benefits. I jumped at the chance and I have now been there for 7 months. It is pretty much stress free and I love going to work again. Changing jobs made my life more simple. Hang there in and something good will happen...Blessings Kathy

[britbunny]

My simple living goals for 2007 are

To buy no new clothes unless necessary

To get out walking and enjoying the beautiful British countryside

To smile more and to really internalise that everyone is just looking for happiness.