The reality hits now. Once again I am joining Frugal Makes Cents for the 2013 Money Saving Challenge.
If you at all pay taxes or rely on an earned income for your living, you are going to pay higher taxes. The payroll tax holiday ends and everyone working will pay 2% more in taxes. If you earn $50,000 that is a $100 month less you will have to live on and if you make $100,000 that is $200 less you have each month to pay bills. Wow!!! I am sorry, but that is a lot of money to me. A weeks worth of groceries or a couple of utility bills worth. This with higher and higher costs for food and utilities, we are all going to have to get by with less. Plus like many others our health insurance has gone up once again. Hundreds less when the New Year turned over. Scary stuff!! Let me say this. I would happily pay this, I am not kidding, if I knew it would really go to pay down our countries massive debt. If other areas of the government spending were cut, but they are not and will not make any cuts. They just want more money to spend MORE AND MORE money. Can you imagine if you ran your house that way?
Okay, the rant is over. No onto the brass tacks. Here is where we have to make serious cuts in our spending.
My husband and I are pledging a year of austerity. Not as if we lived high on the hog before. Every facet of our budget and home is being examined. Our church just finished the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University. Whether you like Dave or not, his idea of every dollar on paper before the first of each month rang home to us. A plan for every dollar. We are not going to take a real vacation this year, nope, first time in all of our marriage. We will take long weekends to visit family and use points to take a long weekend at the beach in a hotel this summer and that is it. We are committing to reaching some of our financial goals this year. You cannot cut the every day expenses you have to pay that much, but we can cut out a vacation and use that money for other goals.
We are looking at our utilities and other monthly bills. When our cable TV contract is up, we are going to go without. We will watch movies online and just watch regular TV. Basic cable is so high, that at least for a period of time, we will go without to recoup that money. We are listing line by line all areas we think we may be able to cut back on. Don't be afraid to call and negotiate for a lower price. All they can do is say no.
Our monthly grocery and household supplies expenses need to be cut. I am not sure how I can cut any more but I think what I need to do is really get back to making as much of my own supplies as I can. Here are a few recipes I will be using. I also want to make more food from scratch. Growing as much as I can from the garden. For a packet of seeds, what I can harvest is really amazing.
We will continue to maintain our vehicles. They are ten years old, nine years old and four years old. Every month I don't have a car payment is a blessing. I HATE car payments. Even with repairs, we are money ahead. It also means lower insurance rates and state registration fees. I am beyond caring about what I drive. If it starts and gets me there, I love the car even more when it costs me less to drive it.
Sitting down and looking at every facet of your finances is not always fun. Not fun at all but I am determined to really examine our budget more than we ever have. We have committed time to sit down and see what we can cut line by line. What choice do we all have? I am not excited about living on less through no fault of our own but it is the reality. I will share with you our progress.
Sharing with:
Southern Hospitality
Open House Party
The Mommy Club
Share Your Cup Thursday
Katherine's Corner
Home Sweet Home
Feathered Nest Friday
Farmgirl Friday
46 comments:
Yes it is that time of year to sit down and go over everything. I cut back $300 a month last yr but doubt I can find anything this yr..but I will try!
I to have decided to examine the budget line by line to see where I can cut, not gonna be that much fun I am sure...your blog is always so sunny & cute!
my husband got his first 2013 paycheck yesterday and that 2% less was a big ouch!
We cancelled our cable several years ago and don't miss it even though we still watch lots of TV. We have an antenna and get quite a few local channels. We also have Roku boxes on our tvs, hooked up to the wireless internet. We watch just about what we want to, mostly in reruns and on demand but it is suits us perfectly. We also have Netflix. All are much cheaper than that cable bill was.
best wishes to you! our govt. does not seem to be making things any less stressful for us though
We have old vehicles as well and I told hubby that as long as we were spending less a year to maintain then we would on payments, we would just keep fixing them up! I hate payments as well!
I'm with you and madder than Hell!! If we didn't have to work to keep our roof over our head and food on our plates - EVERY American needs to go to DC and picket and yell at the white House to STOP spending our money!! To the tune of trillions of dollars!! Cutting our SS and GIVING it away to countries that hate us and want to kill us???? GIVING our money to companies that go belly up within a month of the receiving the money??? EVERY single company who was given money- went bust??? GIVING money to Ethonol which causes more pullution, decreases the car's MPG and gunks up the motor???? When that corn can be sold to livestock and bring farmer's expenses down to feed their animals???
WHY AREN'T AMERICANS YELLING AND SCREAMING IN THEIR FACES??? IN DC??? If we ran our households they way DC did - we'd ALL be homeless!! They ALL need to be FIRRED!! Starting at the top!
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for the tip on the hand soap,
what a great idea...........
I have the duggar Family washing detergent recipe and the stuff to
make it, just haven't gotten to it yet, but soon!!
Yea, we do the same with our cars,
but our 19 yr. old van was on it's last legs so we had to break down and get a new used van again, hate those payts., but fortunately, they are not too high, and we do love the new van.
Yea, I am with you on this political deal they just cut, you really wouldn't mind so much if they were gonna pay off our debt at least our children/and grandchildren would benefit from that.........but no.........that makes too darn much sense!! lol
Do you have dollar tree stores where you live?? I find great deals in those stores. Don't really like the dollar stores cause everything has different prices, at dollar tree everything is a dollar,
like it should be...............
You can even shop online.
You have a good day, and you and hubby are wise to be looking at the budget, we believe Dave Ramsey has great ideas......both our grown kids have gone to one of his conferences and read his books.
They love him!! and they are very good with their money. It always seems there is something we can cut out.
Well, take care hon,
Blessings, Nellie
I know that we are concerned as well. When you are already frugal it's hard to find more money that can be cut back. Good luck to us all.
I just posted along the same lines this morning - we've been working Dave Ramsey (on a limited basis) for a few years, but my impulse spending is out of hand - I will see how long I can go into 2013 without buying anything we don't seriously need, and I am using my blog as a platform for accountability. We haven't had cable but our cell phone bills make me crazy, I'd like to go back to one landline for $25 a month. I couldn't agree with you more, someone else made this ridiculous debt and now we are being called upon to sacrifice to the gills to pay on it, and you're right, they will KEEP SPENDING. Mary
We will be doing some major cutting this year as well. I am also looking for full-time employment.
I am right there with you on cutting the budget. Not sure how much more we can cut. Hubby works for a defense contractor and the future looks very uncertain for his job.
Looking forward to your money saving tips!
Yep...we are looking to cut back too...and girl, when you live already cheaply...it is hard to find a place to cut! We already buy our meat on the clearance section. But, we are all in the same canoe...hmm, maybe we could see that thing!!
Good for you, I hate what the government is doing. 2% is a lot of money to "real" people, I'll never understand trying to milk the family man's wage.
I need to read Dave Ramsey's books, I have a lot to learn. Then I will need to convince my husband.
Hugs, Cindy
We would all be very surprised to see how much we really can do without. I know from much experience :) Blessings and I pray these choices work well for your household...sounds like a great plan.
I worry so much about the increase in taxes. I'm already on a very limited income so I have cut pretty much to the bone but will look further to cut more. It's so rough on those with children still at home. Great ideas and I think Dave Ramsey is amazing and right on!
hugs, Linda
Regarding TV Americans have many choices for free TV online - you can also hook your laptop up to your tv if the whole family wants to view with a cable (for less than $10). Canadians are blocked from many of the choices unfortunately but there is still some free tv.
My husband and I just finished going over our budget for the year, but didn't factor in the higher taxes we'll be paying. Ugh. So we'll probably have to edit quite a bit.
I'm with you on the car payment thing. We paid our 2nd car off last year and I feel so free! I hope I can go without car payments for the rest of my life.
It is scary Elaine! We too, will be looking at the budget a lot more closely! I am not sure what else we can cut though. I will be tuning in to your frugal challenge, and appreciate your many tips along the way!!
xo Kris
I LOVE Dave Ramsey!!!! I also depend a lot on Moneysavingmom.com as she lists all the deals for the week and the coupons too...and all the freebies online. Im also going to cut way back...I would like to have my house paid off by retirement and that is coming very soon!!!
Iam also going to start selling things....on craigs list and on everything under the kitchen sink on facebook...I have sold a few things there and its very easy.
I totally agree with you...I would gladly pay more taxes if they were going to good but this president seems to be on a spending spree, Im scared for all of us!!!! I havent been blogging lately or keeping up...too busy, but now that things have settled down I look foward to watching how you do it!!!!
Elaine-
I love Dave too! (we are split in the household on that issue) But Dave's ok with that--he knows he is either liked or not!
Anyway--I've read his book the TMM and am pulling it off the shelf today, after reading your post!
I agree-- it's not fun talking about Less income vs MORE in living expenses. But like you, I'm not sure where else we can squeeze...but will squeeze anyway.
I'm going to check out your household cleaners recipes...and we are alike in the area of paid for vehicles rather than a car payment!
Looking forward to reading this. Thanks for you comments on my Frugal Fodder post...you are a big encourager!
Pat
I agree my husband and I need to sit down and do some figuring our first 2013 checks were disappointing to say the least. Anxious to get tips from you:)
Big Ramsey fan here. We've been using the envelope method for about two yers and being a cash only family has really made a difference. Buying the house has taken a big chunk out of our savings and moving is just plain expensive but we are trying to watch our pennies. I love all your tips and look forward to your next frugal post.
Hi Elaine...
I like your determination, and the fact that you are actively seeking out ways to live a more frugal lifestyle, and to do more, with less.
We don't really know anyone, that isn't working harder, and doing with less. It's a sign of the times I think.
Best of luck with all your endeavors!
your friend, K.
We need to "find" the money to cover the 2% also. I think that it is wonderful that you are telling people how you are cutting back and reminding them of the cut.
Good luck and a wonderful 2013.
Yes- It is going to be a hard year and getting harder and harder for lots of people. I don't know how the elderly that live on social security do it. It is a scary future we are facing-but the public spoke and that is where we are at.... xo Diana
have i told ya ... we go without cable all together. ...only netflix & hulu plus. we use the ps3for streaming both of them. the are the lowest of what they offer deal wise. you could check into that. it is amazing what you can get with "rabbit ears"... we were shocked ... you live in a bigger area, you might get even more??! check into it. our cable bill was running over 100 bucks a month & we had the lowest one. lowest internet price they offer. eating out as less as possible. trying meals that last & have lots of leftovers. traveling is something we do ...but we do it on the cheap. always. i say i totally understand your rant & it is ok ... i agree. i wonder how you & your family do it? we are 2 people & it is tight. i keep hoping for a part time job but until then fingers crossed. ( :
Thank you for encouarging me by your example to examine expenses and see what can be cut.
I think all the people op there, that are running our Government, should take an INTENSIVE Dave Ramsey course!! Frugal living is the only way to go...but it will come a time that there will not be much spending to cut anymore...
Happy New Year Elaine. I'm going back through and reading some of your money saving ideas today. I really like your take on things. The new year new taxes are making me nervous!
We have lived very frugally for most of our marriage...no other choice...so I understand how it is. Since I got laid off 3 years ago and haven't found another job...and Don's retired...we have found that we are living better with less.We also have older cars that have been paid off for years. We don't buy any prepared type foods...and make lots of different things from our leftovers...our latest thing is making home made pasties and soup. These are tough times ahead I'm afraid...but we can get through it if we are more self reliant...Good luck to you and your family!! Happy New year!!
It's really scary when you look at it. You do NOTHING wrong and yet have more money taken away. Our insurance is going up too. We own our cars and our home and it's still scary to think about. Our kids are in private school and that was never an issue but now it's really pushing our budget. We have to cut so much more out this year so that we feel comfortable again.
It's really scary when you look at it. You do NOTHING wrong and yet have more money taken away. Our insurance is going up too. We own our cars and our home and it's still scary to think about. Our kids are in private school and that was never an issue but now it's really pushing our budget. We have to cut so much more out this year so that we feel comfortable again.
Yes, new year and new taxes are happening here too and it always doesn't make my January complete. Thank you for the saving our dollars idea, it is just what I need to do this year...be less of a buyer, I'll make it a new resolution for 2013! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your sweet and kind comment. Looking forward to our visits in the new year. Wish you a very happy 2013, dear Elaine.
FABBY
I was actually able to save money when my ex was living up to his responsibilities. Now I'm holding on and trying to cut back in every way I can. I admire your resolve, Elaine. I'm right there with ya.
Brenda
Hi Elaine,
I will be right there with you on the austerity. Our country is headed toward tough times and we all need to tighten our belt to ride it out.
I love the goals that you and your family are planning. I will be cheering you on.
Thanks for sharing the recipes.
I am right there with you on being seriously upset at our government. They just keep taking away more and more from the hard working public and it makes me sick to my stomach.
We follow the Dave Ramsey philosophy and have for years. I make monthly budgets and it's not fun, but totally necessary. We still have HUGE TV's for pete's sakes, and haven't had cable for years!
Good luck to you. Those of us who live frugally have to stick together!
Great challenge Elaine! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!
We have already scaled right down, but I will be looking at our budget once again. I dont think we can trim much more off though.
We own just one car these days, and that is second hand. Our kids are grown so no running around for them anymore. I only go to the shops when I really have to. I would walk if we lived closer, but 4.5 miles is a bit far. I go quite a few days sometimes without going anywhere, so save money there. These are my no spend days.
We have no cable, rarely watch any TV, it is off most of the time, this saves on electricity, which is expensive here.
I already make my own liquid laundry soap, and that saves us heaps. I dont use fabric softener, but instead add bi carb soda to the water to soften it. I want to try making my own soap soon. We hang our washing outside, therefore saving more electricity. I dont iron if I dont have too, just hubby's work uniforms.
I cook our meals from scratch and make our own dog food. Our chickens dont cost much as my dad sources free grain for them. Not sure that I save money on our veggie patch, because water is expensive here too. But it certainly tastes better...
Our only debt is our mortgage, and we are making extra payments on that to reduce it down.
I look forward to learning other ways of cutting down. It seems there are a lot of people out there in the same situation looking to do the same thing. I am a member/moderator of the down to earth forum and there is heaps of information on there.
Good luck with your challenge.
x
It's a scary time isn't it? Good for you guys for being a team on this though...it makes a world of difference when both husband and wife are on the same side!
Many Blessings,
Melissa
Hi Elaine...I feel your pain. In November you and I were on the same page politically. These are uncertain times and the middle class (faithful taxpayers) is going to really feel the pinch.
Today, I bought two "new" pairs of shoes...at the thrift store. Sketchers for $6.99. Felt good to find a bargain.
Hang in there, my dear friend!
Carolynn xx
We cut our cell phone bills down by a huge amount as the kids either started paying their portion on our plan (all our kids had aprt time jobs as teenagers) or their own plans, & we cut internet, etc. It pays to shop around. Change your deductibles on your car insurance, etc...
We alos sold off excess stuff we didn't need on craigslist- furniture, a tv, misc. stuff and made $100.00s of $! Easy and fast! Yard sales are good for collectibles, but big items are great on CL.
It's kind of crazy... a car now costs what a modest home used to
My husband went with me to the market the other day . He had severe sticker shock. He said you just bought milk, eggs, and bread and it was 15.00 what the......great post Happy New Year wishes and thank you for sharing at the hop. I hope you will stop by again soon. I posted the new giveaway! xo
Nice Post!
We choose to live extra frugally last year so my son could go to a better high school. I thought we were doing okay financially, but with added taxes coming this year, I worry a little about 2013. We didn't take a fancy vacation in 2012, and will probably choose to do the same this year.
I love all of your frugal living ideas and I too follow much of the advice taught by Dave Ramsey. His show is often on the radio as I do housework.
Elaine, Our health insurance just went up by 25%!! Hubby and I will be sitting down soon to go over our budget. Thanks for linking to the Open House party.
xx, Sherry
Hi Elaine, now that it is just hubby and I and he makes a nice income I am not as budget minded as I was when we had a family of 5 children. I still am a bargain shopper and try not to be wasteful. Just raised that way and it's in my blood. I use to cut coupons and use them alot. Now not so much. Still, we have to save and plan for our retirement. Before we know it Social Security will be a thing of the past. I think it's great to include the kids in on budgeting so they realize that you can't just write a check. That there has to be money in the bank. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
Hugs,
Jann
I totally feel this too Elaine! Here in IL we will be in the same type of situation soon with the decisions the state and government have made! I have some friends that have just started their families. They have children under 2. I thought it was fair to share the sobering fact that to raise 4 children right now from the ages of 16-21 it will cost over a half a million dollars! Yes, that is a basic 4 year degree, $2K used cars (for each child), insurance, food, clothing and medical care. I really don't think anyone realizes how much this is going to cost when they have kids. I know we didn't. So to make a long rant short...LOL! Here we are in this time raising our children at the most expensive stage in their lives! I feel the pain! I know you do too because our kids our around the same ages. Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
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