If you read my last post you know that we had to bite the bullet and buy a new car. Well a new used car.
I guess we could have waited and gone carless for a while, but with family out of town and my husbands parents getting older (his dad is 82) we feel better having a car at our disposal.
Now thanks to our big, unexpected, purchase we’re not going to have any money to spare for months or perhaps even the next year.
We’re already pretty good about watching how we spend our money, but I’m going to have take another hard look at our bills and spending and see where we can cut. I’m pretty sure we can get a better long distance plan with our phone company, and I can cut out a few things on our cable bill too. I’m also pretty sure I can cut down our grocery bill a little bit as well. I’m sure our savings between all of those things won’t be all that much since we’re pretty careful already, but with any luck I might be able to cut an extra $100 or so. Even that will help.
When it comes time to buy new clothes we can always try an online wholesale apparel store for deals. Oh and we shop at Costco – mainly to fill my many prescriptions, but if we buy more things in bulk we might save a bit there too.
Oh well … I guess we’ll just have to be really careful with our money for a while. I hope nothing else breaks down! We’ve already replaced our washer, drier and a TV this year … The furnace is probably next on our list.
Whenever I try to cut costs, something always gets broken…It’s like bad karma or something 🙂
Hey I know what you mean, I have 4 kids and things are either constantly breaking down, or I’m spending money on keeping my kids busy with activities. One thing that my wife has gotten into is shopping on ebay. She has created this awesome little system where she has gotten some amazing deals.
Cutting the budget is not easy job. Your idea for shopping online is very good.
Necessities always need to be replaced, no matter how much budgeting we do.
I guess defining what’s our needs and wants will make our budget easily to manage. Always prioritize the things we need before our wants will resolve this issue.
Hi Tricia! I have read your blog and you stated that you want to cut down your cable and phone expenses. I used to work as a customer service representative with one of the biggest cable companies in the US. (But I took off because the pressure is really killing me). I might give you some good advise on how to cut it down. But I need to know what is your current provider. But your post is really something that can be an eye opener or those who are splurging here and there without thinking what will happen in the future. Being a spend thrift is not bad at times. It can definitely be helpful most of the time. Spending wisely is the key for not having some financial difficulties. 🙂 I hope you respond to my question about cutting down your bills for cable. 🙂
I know what you mean.
I have been in the same situation and the only thing to do is analyze what is really necessary and cut other expenses.
Writing it down help to have a better idea of what can be done.
I tricia!! Owning a home is an American dream, but without careful planning homeownership can turn a family budget into a nightmare. From the beginning of the homeownership process — securing a mortgage — to the monthly expenditures such as heating and cooling costs, expenses add up quickly.
17 ways to save on energy
*Get a home energy audit every couple of years with your power company to find ways to cut costs.
*Check with your utility company for rebates whenever you install energy-saving equipment.
*Add more energy-efficient insulation to your attic, with the appropriate R-value, or resistance to heat flow, for your climate and the type of heating in your house.
*Turn down your home thermostat two degrees and save 24 kilowatt hours a month. It might not sound like much, but it adds up.
*Buy a programmable thermostat, especially if your home is vacant most of the day. Set it to turn on a half hour before anyone arrives home.
*Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and wait. *Turning your thermostat up or down dramatically wastes energy and increases your heating costs.
*Lower your hot water thermostat 10 degrees, but no lower than 120 degrees. You’ll still get all the hot water you need and save 25 kilowatt hours a month.
*Fix leaky faucets — one drip a second is 20 kilowatts a month.
Invest in weather-stripping kits if you’ve got drafty doors.
*Trade your standard incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. They are more energy-efficient, last for years instead of months, consume little power and generate little heat.
*Turn off your computer when not in use, or use the energy-saving “sleep” mode.
*Seal energy leaks. Caulk over cracks and small holes around windows and exterior walls. Look carefully around plumbing pipes, telephone wires, dryer vents, sink and bathtub drains and under countertops.
*Participate in your power company’s special energy-saving program. *Some programs shut down electric appliances for short bursts of time during peak hours. You hardly notice the difference — except in your bill.
*Buy major appliances that sport the “Energy Star” sticker. That shows the appliance meets or exceeds standards set by the U.S. *Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
*Consider a front-loading washing machine. They use 50 percent less energy and one-third less water. Plus, they remove far more water in the rinse cycle, and that translates into big savings in dryer time.
*When building a home or replacing a roof, select a roof based more on energy efficiency than on how it looks. Light-colored roofs, such as white, galvanized metal or cement tile, do the best job of reflecting the sun, and cool quickly at night.
*Landscaping with the right mix of trees and shrubs can lower your energy bills by blocking winter winds or the summer sun.
Hope you like it!