Oh, the ECONOMY!

My girlfriend and I were talking the other day about the economy! (I know, can you believe it?) We are both pretty disgusted about how much food has gone up and the packaging is shrinking, gas is getting better, but it seems as though times are just tough! We were talking about odds and ends in our budgets, lack of money, going and having fun, cancelling out the diet coke runs, so I decided to post a few things I have done, that have really shrunk my budget!

• Grocery shop only once a week or bi-monthly. Make sure you have a grocery list, a menu planned, and just in case your hubby might need ice cream one night, put that down to! I found that this eliminates going over your spending budget if you have one, you stick to a plan, and you aren't just "going shopping!"...
• Run your errands on one day. My day is Wednesday. I know I will be going to the park to picnic with friends anyways, so I plan any errands that day. Cleaners (which I finally eliminated), odds and ends, grocery shop, library day, pretty much everything!
• Make a menu! I know, amazing concept, huh! I make my menu on Tuesday nights, so that on Wednesday, I go do my shopping. I make sure I clean out the fridge, have the basics for baking, I don't want to have to go to the store for baking soda or cinnamon later on. We have the same menu every single week. It is not as bad as it seems. For instance, on Monday- Chicken, Rice, Vegi, and Salad. This can be stir fry, casserole, marinated... you get the point.
  
• Breakfast- don't buy cereal! Yes, you heard it hear first! I have found that if we don't eat cereal, I only buy 2 gallons of milk a week for our family of 5. We rotate our breakfasts, eating oatmeal and fruit, eggs and potatoes, and then waffles/crepes/french toasts. It is a lot more work, but less expensive.
  
• Create a babysitting swap! Find 3 other families who you are friends with and rotate babysitting on the weekends. Our day is Saturday from 4:30-9:30pm. We drop our kids off, whoever is babysitting all families kids that night, feeds the kids, and we have our date night! We don't have to use a sitter anymore, and now we can go out and be a couple!
• Date Night! Plan something inexpensive and fun. I am so over going to the movies and paying full price! I know, I've changed with the times, but we've had to! We will go to the dollar show, and take our own treats (yes cheap!)... Go to the park and have a picnic, go swimming, go on a walk... There is so much to do here in Utah, for very inexpensive, you have options! If you have to have a steak, go buy 2 steaks, grill them up at home and have a cooking night!
• Gas Stations... they will get you! Yes you have to fill up with gas, but you don't have to spend an extra $3-5 bucks on drinks and a snack. My tip: if you are a diet coke drinker like myself, keep a 12 pack at home (only buy when on sale!), and buy goodies when they are on sale. Just think, you can usually buy 4-12 packs for $11 bucks when on sale, and that would get you through at least 3 weeks (I hope!). That would save you a bundle.
• Eating Out! Ouch on the pocket book! If I take my younger kids and myself to McD's (gross I know), I can guarantee to spend at least $12 bucks. That is on the low end. I am done doing so. On picnic days, I would get them each a happy meal and me just a coke and that was about $8 bucks. Ridiculous. Now, a sandwich, fruit, chips, and water, maybe $1.50 if that, and much more nutritious!
• PAY CASH! I have a small pink holder with 13 different files. I take cash with me, yes even for the gas station. I take my kids out and take them in, or I send Colton in to pay! It is divided by: food, gas, clothing, activities, hair, birthdays, christmas, etc... You can divide how ever you want, but if I don't have the money, I don't buy it. It has been a hard lesson to live by, but very rewarding.

Last but not least, just simply stop spending money. Look over your budgets, see where you can cut out, or spend less. I have cut my grocery budget to under $60 a week, and we eat very well. I just saved $75 on my tmobile bill because I took off a few things we weren't using. I started shopping and buying name brands off of craigslist and ksl. I look now at garage sales, and thrift stores, amazing what you can find that you need, and not spend much for it! You will die when you see "my" new dining table, and I spent $50 on it, and that was with all 6 chairs!

Over and out!

Happy Savings!