Bank and Grocery Shopping Day

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At last it is the first week of the month.

A new month, March. 

 The month that we get glimpses of Spring.

The month that the time changes and it stays light an hour later.

Love that!!

Anyway, I withdrew the amount of money from the bank needed to fill my envelopes for the month.

Then headed to the grocery store.

I first had to stop at an in town store to refill some water jugs and while I was there, I picked up a few organic things that I knew Aldi didn't carry.

Then off to Aldi.

I did my shopping from my list and it will be for 2 weeks.

I hope I will only have to shop one more time this month.

Here's how I did.

First stop:

Then Aldi for main shopping:

Total is about $87.00

If I do about the same in the middle of the month, I'll have a monthly total of about $174.

That would be a lot better than the over $300./mo. that I have been spending!!

Even if I add another $20. for stopping for milk or bread etc. it will still be a big improvement.

We'll see how this plays out.

So far so good.

Shirley 

Ways I Saved

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I'm keeping a little list of small ways I am trying to save money each week.

This is last week's list.

•Instead of buying books or audio books, I use the library

I got 3 new audio books this past week to listen to in the car.

•Made a week's menu and only used things I had from the pantry and freezer.

This kept me from having to shop.

•Using whole milk in my coffee instead of buying half n half.

•My chickens gave me 3 eggs and are starting to lay better as spring and longer days approach.

•Collecting all my food scrapes for my chickens or the compost pile.

•Using up one cake mix and frosting to make a cake to take to the barn.

(well half of it anyway : ))

•Used my Starbucks gift card to stop for "free" coffee and lunch one day.

•Darned a pair of socks and fixed my down jacket zipper.

Share the ways you all save every week.

Shirley

Saving $$$ Things That Work, Things That Don't.

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Yesterday I posted about my written budget.

I listed the categories that I use.

You have to personalize your budget to your own lifestyle.

My biggest expenses are my equity loan payment and my horse's board.

I can't do much about either one of those.

I don't have a house payment.

The things I could think about changing are these:

I could get rid of my land phone which I think I will do.

My cable is my mobile phone and my computer service also so I can't get rid of cable.

My TV is satellite. 

I have very minimum basic so I don't want to get rid of TV altogether if I don't have to.

I cannot get rid of my lawn care or snow plowing because I can't do those myself.

My handyman is also a necessity now as he does things or helps me do things around outside in the summer that I cannot do myself.

I can possibly get rid of my cleaning service.  I only have them come once a month mostly to clean my hardwood floors.  But I could cut that if necessary, which would save about $80./mo.

I was getting a massage twice a month and foot reflexology every week but I have cut those for the past 2 months which is a savings of $177./mo.

I decided not to buy or lease a new car so I am keeping my 2003 Honda.

So I have no car payment.

Maintenance has been minimal so far.

I don't drive far so gas is also minimal even when the price was higher.

As I've gotten older, especially the last couple years, my medical expenses have been higher.

I have good coverage and drug coverage but there's still things that you have to pay out yourself.

I have upped the deductible on all my insurances.

I have unsubscribed to all magazines and newspaper.

I have no automatic payments going out to charities anymore.

I will always have vet bills because I will always have pets!

Unfortunately, I am still over budget every month!

A lot of it is from those expenses that come once or twice a year that I haven't set aside a fund for.

I have to figure out how to do that.

I think I will try to call my utility, cable and satellite companies and try to get my fees reduced.  

I heard you should try that!

I also know I can get my grocery bill for the month down.

That's something I can work on right now.

How?

Cook at home.  Don't eat out.

When possible use what you already have in your freezer and pantry.  

Be creative.

Menu plan and buy only things from the list you take to the store.

Don't ever forget your list and try to wing it!

Don't shop when you're hungry.

If you have Aldi, shop there!  

It's amazing how much less you'll pay and their brands are just as good.

Buy fruits and vegetables in season.

Don't scrimp on quality.

I buy organic when possible and I won't stop that.  So look for sales and the best prices elsewhere if Aldi doesn't have it.

Go meatless at least twice a week.

These are the things I know will work.

The thing I am having trouble with is my willingness to give up some things 

and 

how I am distributing the money in my envelopes at the beginning of the month.

I don't think the answer is robbing from other envelopes to buy groceries I want.

The answer has to be to reduce the money in the other envelopes because obviously I've put too much in them!

And CUT DOWN MY GROCERY SHOPPING!!

How will I do that????

The first thing I am trying is menu planning.

Also, ONLY SHOPPING AT ALDI!

I'll let you know how that goes.

PLEASE,

if any of you have any ideas about any of this, please leave me a comment!

HELP!

Shirley

My attempt at Saving Money; The Written Budget

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You have to have a budget!!

A written down, black and white budget.

It took me until last year to actually come to this conclusion!

It makes you accountable.

I think that's the biggest thing!

And also, it is what showed me that I was spending way more than my monthly income!

When I finally woke up to that fact, I sent for Dave Ramsey's book, "Total Money Makeover" to help!

HELP!

I had been listening to his program on the radio and online for a few months and knew I had to get rid of my credit card debt first.

Credit cards!!!

No wonder I didn't realize what I was spending.

Using credit cards doesn't seem like you're really spending your cash!

As far as my monthly income goes;

I'm not counting my savings and what is in the stock market.  My monthly income is just that.

Social security, my pension, my husband's partial pension (which was quite a bit larger when he was alive of course,) plus another benefit from my husband's police and fire group.  The biggest amount comes from interest on a note I'm holding from selling our FL house.

I had to decide what categories that I should have listed on my budget.

Here are my categories for Expenses:

•Emergency Fund

•Housing, which includes:  heat, electricity, phones, cable/satellite, lawncare/winter plowing,

                 house cleaning, plumber, garden, handyman

•Transportation:  (all things car)

•Food:  groceries and restaurant

•Lifestyle:  personal, misc., pets, vet, horse board

•Insurance and taxes

•Debts 

Yes, Housing is the big category and adds up to be the most money,

but groceries is the second and I think that's the one I can do much better at.

Here are some things to consider:

#1.  I'm 73 and can't do as much as I used to do so I have to have some help.

So that is the reason for house cleaning once a month, handyman, lawn care and snowplowing.

#2.  It is a lot more expensive to live in the country.

So let me know what you think about my budget.

And tomorrow we'll start on ways I'm working to cut my expenses.

Shirley