We aren't drowning in debt, we don't live paycheck to paycheck, and we aren't hurtingin the the mortgage meltdown. So why do I want to live frugally? I want to save money for my family, become COMPLETELY DEBT FREE, and invest in retirement. I got this lightbulb a few months back. I joined Quicken Online and went OMG I did not realize we wasted that much money. At first, it was just trying to buy with coupons and beat CVS at their own game. However, as I get more and more into saving money......my OCD has taken over and I am obsessed. Here are some of the things we have done to live frugally:
(1) We have cut out most of our dining out. Can you believe there were some days that we spent about $25 a day eating out. We began eating in and clipping coupons.
(2) We stopped buying pull-ups for the 3 year old and went to underwear/plastic pants. This saves us about $20 per week. I think I will be potty training until he is 20.
(3) We switched to cloth diapers with the newborn. It's an investment at first. The diapers we got will last him until he is 30 pounds. This saves us roughly $20 per week right now.
(4) We switched from driving our van (the one with the car payment) to the paid for car and cut our fuel bill in half. This is roughly $200 per month. We look like poor folks driving it. It will be more now that gas is going down.
(5) We stopped shopping at retail stores (with the exception of Ross) and started shopping at Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. We actually have fun doing this because we get to spend Saturday morning as a family.
(6) We paid off our credit cards and stopped charging on them.
(7) I started looking for supplemental online. J is already making supplemental income as a Network Administrator. He gets about two jobs per month on the weekend and loves it.
So far, the family is really enjoying the savings. I am thinking about starting my own website. I want to be able to add more content and post checks received. Remember, I am pledging 10% of all savings and supplemental earnings to charity. My chosen charity is a Humane Shelter.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
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