Putting away $6,000 is a lofty goal for me. I’ve never been able to save that much, and it will take diligence and creativity to stretch each quarter as far as it will stretch and bring in extras to supplement the savings. I’ll be testing as many ideas for finding and earning extra money as I can, and documenting it along the way. Here are a few of the ways I’m planning on saving, and what you can expect to find on the blog:
Scratch vs. Store Bought
In this weekly article, I’ll be determining whether it is more cost effective to make from scratch such items as condiments and convenience foods, household cleaners, and bath and beauty products, testing recipes and reporting the results.
Dialing for Dollars
Our service providers will be receiving a phone call to reduce rates for regular expenses, like auto insurance, phone service, and even the water company. I’ll post the outcomes of my negotiations, hopefully finding significant savings!
Menu Planning
Wasted food wastes money, and having a plan is the most effective way I have found to reduce food waste. I’ll be posting my low-cost menu plans each week.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Use it up, wear it out, make do, do without
Finding creative uses to keep things out of the landfill, keeping spending on new products mindful and to a minimum, and keeping our things in good working order will certainly keep money in our pockets. As I try new ways to use items up and do without, I’ll be sharing them with you.
No-Spend Days
Clearly eliminating all spending for a set period of time will save me money, but it may also help me to redefine and focus in on needs vs. wants, hopefully helping me to spend more mindfully when I do shop. My goal to start is 7 No-Spend Days each month.
Money Making from home
I’ll be exploring a number of options for making money at home, with a more detailed list of ideas tomorrow. Your suggestions for legitimate, legal ways to make money from home without upfront costs are welcome!
You’ll also find a monthly wrap-up to see what’s working and how well I’m doing at reaching my goal, tips for frugal home making, crafty goodness, and inexpensive activities, projects and products for the family.
Sound interesting? Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing, and post your comments with ideas, questions, or encouragement!
Just found you posted at Under $1000 Month blog.
Looking forward to following your journey!
Post some info about your family. I love to read about families who are in similar circumstances to mine:)
Thanks for stopping by! I posted a bit about our family on the About section, but I’ll be sure to expand on us as I post.
I also saw your link at Under $1000 Per Month, and I’m excited to see how you do with your goals. My husband has always been the budget/finance person in our house, and I’m taking over for him in 2010. Today I researched local phone/internet plans with the goal of “dialing for dollars,” too. I hope it works for both of us!
Great idea for a blog, I wish you much success. Please, I hope your blog is more positive than the under1000 blog. Too much drama there. I used to blog and I would never allow such foolishness (the blogger sets the tone, not the other way around).
If you don’t mind to share, just wondering if your income of $25K is net or gross? Looking forward to your posts.
Thanks for your comments and encouragement! I hope you’ll continue to come by as this blog picks up speed.
Last year’s $24,000 was net and includes the Earned Income Tax Credit. I’ll post more about income in an upcoming post.
Hi! You can check around for different rates on your auto insurance , but sometimes the cheap ones don’t pay when you need them to.Right now we have Geico & it has been good & paid for towing several times, but checking rates & found that Allstate offers around the same for less , so checking into that.Water rates those are set by the town & can’t be changed. They are going up everywhere. One town in same county I live in , the water/sewer basic rate no matter what you use is $200 a month. Our water/sewer bill runs around $45-$58 for a small apt .with no washing machine monthly.I know that phone companies have a thing called Lifeline basic phone service & it goes on your income.You would qualify with your income. My friend pays only $11.50 a month for basic phone service which is local calls.If you received earned income credit you qualify for sure , as that’s one of the programs they use for qualifying you.
Excited to find this blog. I’m trying to save a bunch of moohla as well during 2010–and the menu planning/not wasting food really hits home with me. I’ll be checking back for inspiration!
http://www.savinglattes.wordpress.com
Oooh, I like this post! I’m trying to do some of these things myself at the moment. I think I will add your blog to my sidebar!