Budgeting tips, deals, sales etc

[JustGodsChild]

Hey Everyone,

Dh and I are trying to cut WAY back on our finances. And I thought maybe you guys had some good ideas for budgeting, tips, deals, websites, coupons, sales etc to help us cut back. We eventually want to buy a house and so we are trying to cut out certain things and see where we can save.

So keep those deals, tips, budgeting advices coming....:thumbup

And don't you dare advise me to get rid of my internet. :willie :aha

[buzzbee]

Good for you guys! Hubs and I have had great success doing it the Dave Ramsey way.

http://www.daveramsey.com/shop/

He has an envelope system that works wonders. We were pretty much a hopeless case before we started doing this stuff.

[funmudder]

Start with a real budget. Write down what you think you spend, and where.
Then
Write down every dime you spend. Keep every single reciept to see where the cash actually is going.

This will help more than I can fully desribe. We just did this and it has made all the difference in tightening the ole belt :D

[HSmomto4]

Cut out things you don't need like say your....TV! It will almost cut your power bill by a 1/3 also.

[Cindy S.]

Good for you guys! Hubs and I have had great success doing it the Dave Ramsey way.

http://www.daveramsey.com/shop/

He has an envelope system that works wonders. We were pretty much a hopeless case before we started doing this stuff.

Buzzbee, you beat me to it.
I am listening to Dave Ramsey right now
:thumbup
Dave is a Christian by the way.
You will love his call in radio show.

http://www.daveramsey.com/radio/home/

[Amity]

Lose the debit card......I saved $500 last MONTH. :shocked

[toadblossom]

I'm doing the grocery game. Its a site (subscription) that you can
get lists for your local supermarkets. The idea is that deals run in cycles, and if you learn to stockpile while an item is a great deal then eventually you will be able to live off your stock items and only pay regular price for things that are perishable.

Some people who live in areas where supermarkets double or triple coupons while running a sale have been able to walk out of a store with a free bag of groceries and the clerk will give them money also... I've been able to save 50% on things and sometimes get them for free by having the right coupon with the right sale.

Personally I only buy what I know I'm going to use, and only clip the coupons for those items.

[TwilightMommy]

Here is what we did:

Basic cable for a long while instead of all the extras.
Older vehicle to purchase instead of new one.
Clip out coupons all the time and organize them.
We buy all clothing at Goodwill or on clearance racks.
Shoes we try to do the same.
We purchase EVERYTHING on sale at the grocery store.
Equate brand at walmart is just as good as name brand and a lot cheaper.
If you use diapars keep in mind that the ones that are no name or generic are the same as some of the leading brands just different packaging.
We also don't go out to eat unless it's a buy one get one free deal or something along those lines.
Hmmm I will have to add to my list as I think. Anything I can think of to help I will let you know.

[buzzbee]

Twilight Mommy! We clip coupons and we save so much money doing this! I was always always a sceptic about coupons. I thought I would spend more money trying to buy the stuff I clipped out. But not so. My hubs is an absolute genius when it comes to our grocery shopping. He clips them and then looks in the sale ads to see what is on sale. If we have a coupon for what is on sale we use it. We rarely buy anything for full price. When we get the final bill at the register for what we bought and see the savings I always tell him what a good hunter he is (he grew up in the country where he hunted a lot so telling him he is a good hunter in the city makes him swell up like a big rooster).

And I am totally with you on the Goodwill shopping. Why in the world would I buy something for full price if I can buy something in great shape and great quality for a buck? :scratch

We have one vehicle that is paid for. It is not convenient but we have made it work.

Making all purchases with cash in hand (and then throw the change in a jar; it really adds up quick!) saves so much money. We are much less likely to over spend if we take cash in with us than if we take a debit card.

[funmudder]

We are much less likely to over spend if we take cash in with us than if we take a debit card.


I need to put this in practice badly Kick Can :calvin