Saturday, September 20, 2014

Budgeting 101

It's a quiet Saturday afternoon-all the boys are asleep so I thought I'd have some fun with a post about budgeting! ☺️

Before we had kids and especially before we were married-the word "budget" didn't exist in our vocabulary. If we wanted new clothes, sure why not. Out to eat every other night, you bet. But as soon as our first was born, a magic budget button went off in our brains and suddenly we started to get it. 

Live off what you make, and not any more than that. 

What a concept! 

When you have a little tiny being you're responsible for (and now two tiny beings), guessing if you'll have enough money at the end of the month becomes a little more scary. 

So we put into action some simple ideas:

1. We cut up all of our credit cards (I know, right?!) Paid them all off within a year and have never gone back. We don't have payments every month plus we aren't paying extra (or interest) on anything we buy!

2. We actually MADE a budget. We've done this before, but we made it strict this time around and made sure to include everything we ever spend money on. (Are we perfect at sticking to it-not always, but it sure helps!)

3. We found areas we could cut costs and lower bills. (Lower phone data plan, no cable package, open all the blinds and keep lights off, switched car ins companies)

4. Recently I have started making our own baby food. (Was adding up to over $100/mo just for jars of food!!)

5. Also recently started cloth diapering both kids (investment at first but will save us about $80-$100/mo)

6. We mostly only buy extras like clothes, toys, etc. when we find things on sale (again not always but it has made a huge difference)

7. I cut mine and my husbands hair! (Not a huge expense, but I never have to put it in the budget!) And we've been doing this for years now. 

8. Buying discount meat (don't worry it's still good to eat ha!) for a few weeks and freezing it. Having meals ready to go avoids extra trips to the store or going out as often. 

9. Limiting our going-out-to-eat. We have weaknesses like anyone else-we'll go out because it sounds good or it's fast, but we have really paired down from what we used to do. 

10. Our biggest expense is my hubby's student loans so I find extra ways every month to throw $ at thoseby doing odd jobs online at a website solely for the purpose of paying off student debt. 

Every household is different and every couple is unique, so I'm not preaching that our ways are the only ways-but they sure do work for us!! 

A little nugget of information to think about :)

Blessings!

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