This post was written as part of the monthly Simplicity Parenting Carnival hosted by The Lone Home Ranger and S.A.H.M. i AM. This month we are discussing how we balance finances, family, and simplicity. Be sure to read to the end to see a list of the rest of the excellent carnival contributors.
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Ok. I'm not always a cheapskate, but I do always try to go the cheaper route. Mostly, out of necessity, but also out of the Biblical conviction that our treasures are not to be stored here but in Heaven. Why waste money/time/resources on something frivolous when you could use it to bless someone else? Don't get me wrong. My husband and I budget and spend the money we have when and where it NEEDS to be spent. But, if I can make do, barter, make it, or find it cheaper somewhere else- I'm going that route for sure!!!! There are very few areas that we splurge.
I actually hate finances. I hate having to think about budgeting. It is for sure the worst part about being a grown up. But, this is where I am at the moment and I DO have to think about it and make wise choices. I try to keep it simple by not dragging out the budgeting process and by making lists. I love lists! I have a list of what I want, what we will need in the near future (think shoes for growing girls, bigger car seats, etc) and then what I will need to get the next time I go grocery shopping (groceries and small 'somethings' that fit within my household/grocery budget). So far it is working for me.
We have also found that since we have ditched the cable TV our 'Want list' has shrunk. We really don't desire many things. We think more in terms of places we want to take the girls and practical items that would make our home run smoother or stop future spending in a certain area (new vacuum, canning items, etc). The list is always changing and evolving, but it is just a list that we can scratch out something that we realize later isn't a true need.
Then, there are groceries...... *shaking head* our grocery budget is anything but simple. Every. Single. Month. We discuss how much we are spending and how we can lower it. I pour over recipes and ingredient lists to find new, better dishes that we can all eat and enjoy and not just choke down. I loathe meal planning and grocery shopping. If I could farm out one job within my home it would absolutely be meals/cooking/grocery shopping. Our restrictions are
Of course, we dream of the day that our finances will be even simpler because we will be living off of our own land. *dreaming* Land, animals, a large garden providing ALL of our food, a cellar filled with home canned goods that last us all year...... Then I wake up and realize I need to pay the electricity bill and run to pick up some bananas. *sigh* We do pray that at least part of that dream will be a reality one day. But, we do so knowing that not everything will come from our land and bills will still need to be paid. So, our budgeting meeting happens again and we discuss places to cut down spending in our current home and budget..........
How do you keep your finances simple? Do you barter/make do/make your own to shave your budget down? If you have any ideas or meal plans you want to share that my family could eat (No gluten, dairy, corn, additives, colors, preservatives), PLEASE send them to me! *smile* I'm always open to suggestions!
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Thanks for reading the Simplicity Parenting Blog Carnival! We hope you’ll take time to read these other great contributors’ posts (Note: Links will all be live by 3pm ET on February 26th):
- Keeping Finances Simple - Becky at Crafty Garden Mama shares how using the Neat scanner, price books and setting a budget helps her family keep their finances simple.
- Living Within Our Means - Emily at S.A.H.M. i AM discusses how her family attempts to simplify their financial life by not spending money they don't have.
- A Confession: I'm a Cheapskate - Jade at Faith in the Shade confesses her frugal nature and shares the stresses of simplifying her budget in all areas of the home.. even the most hated- groceries.
- frugal living - Justine at The Lone Home Ranger recaps how participating in a frugal living challenge last year changed the way she approached family spending.
I do the same thing with lists! I find that making lists of what we need now and want down the road helps so much with controlling our spending. We make sure the item stays on the list for at least 30 days, and sometimes after that period we have figured out a way not to buy the item at all.
ReplyDeleteAs for groceries, I know what you mean about quantity going through the roof! Our chest freezer has helped me a lot; on months that I didn't spend the entire budget (few and far between, but it happens), I buy freezer goods with the leftover money, which helps me on over-budget months.
I frequently pray for the Lord to give me wisdom and creativity to be a better steward of our finances. Here's what I do so far:
ReplyDeleteI buy the majority of our groceries at Aldi
I coupon. Mostly I play the drug store game, getting gobs of essentials for super cheap or free: diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairspray, hairgel, razors, shaving cream, bandaids, feminine products, wipes, etc.
I scour the grocery store ads when they come in the mail each week. I find the cheapest prices on meat, produce, and possibly canned goods and circle them. Then I price match at WalMart. I always have gobs of produce this way and I always get the best price on meat.
When things are cheap, I stockpile. When red bell peppers are 30c each, I buy about 30. We have a chopping party and freeze them. Ditto avocados. I mash them with a tad of lemon juice and freeze them. I have about ton of frozen avocado right now. When diced tomatoes were 25c each at Albertson's a couple weeks ago, I bought about 50. Price-matched at WalMart so I don't have to go to a bunch of different stores.
We unplug appliances before we go to bed at night. Our electric bill went down by $10/month with just this!
I'm embarrassed to admit that I've taught the kids now to only flush {ahem} messes. This rule does not apply to the guest bath. ;)
Only stinky dirty kids get a bath more than once a week. I wash their hair in the sink to save on showers. That way I can turn the water off when I'm not using it.
I'm sure there's more.
God is always faithful to give me ideas when I ask. I'm ever impressed with that.
Behind rent, food is definitely the biggest part of our budget. I think I just have a family of big eaters. Making a menu ahead of time definitely helps. The fewer trips to the grocery store the better! Budgeting, shopping, creating menus is super exhausting. I don't know how you do it!!
ReplyDeleteWe have just started to meal plan and it is definitely helping us to stay focused on our grocery spending. We keep adding more to our list of things to make at home, so that helps as well.
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