Stumble It!
Time for me to fess up, this post is about money or the lack there of. Tomorrow Sconicle, Gator and I will round up all the cans we can find. I have gone through the process of pay per post, so I will have that possibility. Other than selling my kids or myself, I have to look at anything or anyway I can make some change.
The gas prices is still killing our budget, oh yeah it is lower but a year ago I never dreamed I would think $3.55 was a cheap price for gas. Hubby has to drive a long way to work, there is no other option, and the only jobs are not close by. With the animals, and the farm you have to stay close to the farm. This is the part of being a farm family that no matter what happens you can’t move land to be close to you.
I am sure I am one of millions of families trying to scribble a new budget trying to find the extra money for gas and all the other things up from a year ago. Misery loves company, and it seems to me there is enough misery to go around. Certain numbers I cannot seem to find a way around, auto insurance for us with an 18 yr old male is sky high. In the past, we could always cut out a few things and it would be a good fix. Right now, I just cannot see enough places to cut.
Here is where you come in I would like any ideas you have that could help my budget as well as any reader reading this. Great ideas are born from a need. My basic budget is mortgage, groceries, phone (land line no frills bottom-line), internet, satellite TV(not changeable unless we have no income), utilities (electric I am on a 2 year contract at a low rate, gas I barely use any, water just went up but what can I do?), auto insurance, cell phone but part of it is farm related.
So get to posting and let everyone know your expertise!
Stumble It!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Budget Cutting Ideas
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8 spoke out:
I wish I had a solution for you...that would mean I had a solution for our family, too. Our budget sound about like yours and I, too, can find nowhere to cut, either. So, what they say is either spend less or make more, so I'm working on the making more part.
I've began using coupons for groceries and household necessities, I've been trolling the "frugal" blogs/websites, a garage sale is scheduled (a short-term help), let my girls move home and pay rent (our mortgage is HUGE)...if you figure it out, let me know. I'm in the same boat.
I was in the same boat a few years ago and I tried something that may or may not work for you. I started buying up old video game systems and cartridges (primarily Atari stuff) and started unloading all that stuff on eBay. I took out a classified ad and ran around buying all kinds of stuff -- I could shell out, say, $25 for an Atari 2600 and some games and unload all that on eBay for $150.
That helped like crazy around my place. Just weird little hobbies like that can turn into some real cash, so you might want to take a look at something along those lines -- what quirky hobby do you have and how can you make some $$$ from it?
I don't know. I'm certain a lot of people are in the same boat as you. Good luck and I hope you figure it all out!
Visit the Natural State Hawg!
I too will be grateful for any suggestions as we are also feeling the pinch over here. The price of everything has rocketed over the last 8 months and wages have not risen to reflect that, so I know just where your at. What's worse they are saying this could go on for the next 5 years!
shopping resale shops for bargains and re-selling on ebay is good. I work from home for Working Solutions, that is actually great money and they train you. Right now i work for a major bank through them taking calls regarding their fraud program.
If i think of anything else i'll let ya know .
Craft Junkie,
I do think we are in the majority of a group. Beingfrugal.net has some wonderful posts, I was featured on one. I am just out of tricks. Making more has to be an option right now for me as well.
Hawg I am thinking that is what will help me most getting rid of the stuff I got.
Charmaine according to Hubby with the price of food it could last five years. The growers have been taking hits for decades, they want a piece of the pie now.
Nessa that company is one I looked at, I can work all night long. My days are just way to loud for me to work. Since I still have Sconicle at home I am thinking it may work for me!
Thanks for all your imput!
More on our barn re-model: we borrowed the money from my 401(k) to do it. Everyone treats that like a BIG no-no, but it saved the farm for us, and we consider the farm to be our true retirement plan anyway. We convinced the bank to let us make interest-only mortgage payments until we could get the veal barn up and running, which they allowed us to do because we had it worked out on paper when and how we would be able to resume payments. We had to sell off ground too, which is a bitter disappointment because that never comes back... but the veal barn has been successful for us, the 401(k) loan has been paid back, and we're still "rowing ahead of the storm" as you said.
I was going to make a crack about how we managed this without government intervention, but now that I think about it, we did take advantage of the Clean and Green tax break, which was actually helpful, so can't complain.
Kathy,we are right there with you on trying to cut back and make more money. Over a year ago, I quit selling on eBay, but have recently started again.
To help with the outgo of our funds, we are on an even pay plan with our utility companies, so there are few surprises. Even so, I was afraid that the increases would cause our payments to rise, so I began looking for ways to cut back while helping the enviroment. My efforts paid off in a 30% reduction in electrical usage comparing July this year to last year. Last year, we quit using central air and only cool the rooms we occupy. This summer I put my electric clothes dryer on hiatus. What a huge difference! Because I was having to water my new garden so much, I was worried that my water bill would increase, so we started recycling gray water. I keep a dishpan in the bathroom sink to catch the water from washing my hands umpteen times a day and we use it to flush as well as limit the amount of times we flush. (Is this just too much information?)
Unfortunately our outgo includes a few more bills that you mentioned that you have, so I have one year to get those bills paid down and off...or it is back to the mill for me in August of '09.
I will be checkging back to see what new suggestions are made, because I could sure some myself. :)
Heb great ideas there! With income that varies you do need to plan for the storms. we don't know where we end up in retirement the whole family land issue you know.
anajz,
I think grey water is a great thing, my only problem is from time to time I use bleach. I would have to figure a way around the bleach. As farmers we have never watered anything that does feed us. Occasionally Hubby will stand outside and water in the dark with a hose. That way he knows exactly where and how much he uses.
We installed a front loading washer, and you really save water with it. We also installed an instant hot water heater just for the washing machine. The gas bill went to less than 20.00 a month for hot months. My A/C is a precious commodity, I think I would give up TV before my A/C. But I am thrilled you were able to!
I think this is the point for all of us, if you are frugal to begin with. Then you cut back, you have to find the creative thought provoking ways to really cut back more!
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