Making it on one income

Natalie - posted on 04/29/2011

Thanks we have done pretty much everything you girls are suggesting. Thanks for the ideas.

Erin - posted on 04/29/2011

Hi Natalie,

We are kind of in the same situation as you are, but we live up in Saskatchewan Canada. I work part time on the weekends and that money is going to pay off the cc so I can stay home full time. So in reality we are living off one income. Some things to consider that we've done and seem to be helping are...

Cutting out cable/satellite which you've already done, but if you're still running the kids dvds all day long then you're still wasting electricity. Cut back tv to around 1/2 hr a day.

Change your cell phone plans...find out how much it is to terminate your plans and switch to prepaid and just text. We each have unlimited prepaid text and we pay under $30 a month for the both of us. I had to pay just over $600 to terminate my plan, but if I stayed in the contract I would have spent over $1500 being stuck in it.

Cutting costs in grocery spending is a place to start. Try to buy less pre processed foods. Baking your own bread saves me at least $150 a year. Start a garden if you have a yard or if not start container gardening. Try not to eat out. Cut out junk food. If you smoke, quit. It's a very expensive habbit. Make a weekly menu plan, it's so easy and you only need to shop for what you need that week. But always look through your cupboards, never assume you just need something. And if you can, don't take hubby or older children with you. It can turn a $60 shopping trip into $150 shopping trip. I was able to come in under $80 this week grocery shopping, and the husband and kids were with me lol! With careful planning and discipline grocery shopping doesn't have to be an enemy to your budget.

Have you drawn up a budget? Do you know what's coming in and exactly where it's going out? If you haven't, grab a few months back of your bills and banking statements and google Gail Vaz Oxlade website. She has an interactive Budget work sheet under her articles section that's dead simple to use. There you'll know where your money's going.

Natalie - posted on 04/27/2011

i will look into this. i am always going to the thrift stores and getting his baby clothes and my step sons out side clothes since he is going to get them dirty but i will check this site out. thanks

Heather - posted on 04/26/2011

For under $30, you can fill your child's closet for a season. Zearly.com is a good way to save on kids clothes and earn gift certificates to stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon for trading hand-me-downs in. Since you don't have a car, it is especially great because you don't have to leave the house to shop or trade anything in. Good luck, Natalie!

Tami - posted on 04/25/2011

If your clipping coupons look for a store that will take competitors coupons too and save you trips to multiple stores. Clip everyones coupons and use them at the one store. I go to the store later in the evening and they will sometimes mark the hamburger ground that day, way down in price to sell it all. If you have a freezer, get what you can and freeze it. Check the prices per pound and sometimes bulk is cheaper, if you have the storage freezer or shelf space. I reuse ziplock bags, not used for meat, to save money. Depending n your income food banks are a good place to get food, but I am not sure if they go by income or if anyone can go there. Check into food stamps or the WIC program if your in the States. Those programs are there to help people and their children eat healthy. These also depends on your income. A Clothes line is great way to save electricity from the clothes dryer. (If you have a yard) Just beware the make money from home scams. Most of them are scams and pray on people in your position. Good Luck!

Natalie - posted on 04/22/2011

i have posted things in our area about watching other children or even house cleaning for people in the area. I am learning about coupons, I am trying to figure out ways to save big time so that my finance will not be so stressed.

Carrie - posted on 04/22/2011

Have you thought about watching 1 or 2 children in your home.Possible one around the same age as yours.I want 2 other children(brothers) I make $800 a month doing so.Plus my kids each have a kid their age to play with

Natalie - posted on 04/21/2011

meant to say one vechicle.