On a Strict Budget...Venting

I totally know how you feel......we've been broke this whole first year of being married, and we didn't even buy a house!!!

We've budgeted so much and cut out so much, and you know, it's not that bad. I've gotten so used to not eating out all the time or even cheap fast food and we only bought some clothes this past weekend because NOTHING fits me anymore.

I've learned alot from various websites too, which has helped.

and what websites would those be? Pls share!!

you know what is sooooooo hard about being on a budget. Let's say at the end of the month, DH and I have a little extra left over, you would think to enjoy and buy something for yourself, but no, I keep getting more and more invites in the mail for showers, weddings, b-day's, confirmations, and I hate May, every weekend is a communion.

I get alot of free samples from www.weeklyfreebie.com I have gotten laundry detergent samples, dishwashing detergent samples (it was 3 tablets..that is 3 loads!), shampoo and soap samples!

Also, www.stretcher.com is a website that has SO many ways to save/live on a budget.

I was reading up on household cleaners...it's amazing how much cheaper it is to make your own than to buy the fancy ones at the store.

Also, DH just got a settlement, so we are paying off all our loans/debts (No credit cards!!) and refinancing our new car payment...it's at 18% now, but when we refinance, it'll go down to around 4.5% through the credit union. The only payments we'll have are the new car and our mortgage and then our various monthly bills.

We use Vonage for phone...$24.99 a month for unlimited local and long distance...I'm on the phone with NY for hours at a time! You also get one month free if you find a special and then if you refer a friend, you can get 2 months free from them signing up!!

We wear certain items of clothes more than once (jeans, DH button down shirts b/c he wears an undershirt).

I stockpile big time when it's on sale and then I have a coupon! Also, Walmart will honor other stores sales prices, so I will go through all the stores circulars, write down what we need, look through my coupons, and then go food shopping. For instance, I've seen CVS have Alberto Vo5 shampoo for $.79 a bottle, then I had a $.50 cent coupon off 2 bottles!

Food wise....a crockpot is amazing. I make a homemade sauce (using walmart brand canned tomatoes which are like 30 or 40 cents a piece!) and that feeds us 4-5 times!

We use store brand on so many things. Walmart brand stuff is pretty good (their french fries, tomato stuff, etc.) I get my hair cut at Great Clips for like $13.00. Every once in awhile, I get a coupon in the mail for a $7.99 hair cut. My hair is one length, so it's not a huge deal. No manis or pedis...I'll paint them myself.

Also, check out Meat Farms up on LI...they have their fruit and veggies DIRT cheap....I used to shop there when I lived by myself.

FYI...ramen noodles, while cheap, are not very healthy. They are packed with salt.

If you'd like some crockpot recipes, FM me. I have a huge book. I also clip coupons for my best friend (she has 2 kids) and mail them to her. I wouldn't mind trading with others if they'd like!

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Posted by btrflygrl

I get alot of free samples from www.weeklyfreebie.com I have gotten laundry detergent samples, dishwashing detergent samples (it was 3 tablets..that is 3 loads!), shampoo and soap samples!

Also, www.stretcher.com is a website that has SO many ways to save/live on a budget.

I was reading up on household cleaners...it's amazing how much cheaper it is to make your own than to buy the fancy ones at the store.

Also, DH just got a settlement, so we are paying off all our loans/debts (No credit cards!!) and refinancing our new car payment...it's at 18% now, but when we refinance, it'll go down to around 4.5% through the credit union. The only payments we'll have are the new car and our mortgage and then our various monthly bills.

We use Vonage for phone...$24.99 a month for unlimited local and long distance...I'm on the phone with NY for hours at a time! You also get one month free if you find a special and then if you refer a friend, you can get 2 months free from them signing up!!

We wear certain items of clothes more than once (jeans, DH button down shirts b/c he wears an undershirt).

I stockpile big time when it's on sale and then I have a coupon! Also, Walmart will honor other stores sales prices, so I will go through all the stores circulars, write down what we need, look through my coupons, and then go food shopping. For instance, I've seen CVS have Alberto Vo5 shampoo for $.79 a bottle, then I had a $.50 cent coupon off 2 bottles!

Food wise....a crockpot is amazing. I make a homemade sauce (using walmart brand canned tomatoes which are like 30 or 40 cents a piece!) and that feeds us 4-5 times!

We use store brand on so many things. Walmart brand stuff is pretty good (their french fries, tomato stuff, etc.) I get my hair cut at Great Clips for like $13.00. Every once in awhile, I get a coupon in the mail for a $7.99 hair cut. My hair is one length, so it's not a huge deal. No manis or pedis...I'll paint them myself.

Also, check out Meat Farms up on LI...they have their fruit and veggies DIRT cheap....I used to shop there when I lived by myself.

FYI...ramen noodles, while cheap, are not very healthy. They are packed with salt.

If you'd like some crockpot recipes, FM me. I have a huge book. I also clip coupons for my best friend (she has 2 kids) and mail them to her. I wouldn't mind trading with others if they'd like!

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WOW-- good job!

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Posted by SandraLynn

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Posted by btrflygrl

I get alot of free samples from www.weeklyfreebie.com I have gotten laundry detergent samples, dishwashing detergent samples (it was 3 tablets..that is 3 loads!), shampoo and soap samples!

Also, www.stretcher.com is a website that has SO many ways to save/live on a budget.

I was reading up on household cleaners...it's amazing how much cheaper it is to make your own than to buy the fancy ones at the store.

Also, DH just got a settlement, so we are paying off all our loans/debts (No credit cards!!) and refinancing our new car payment...it's at 18% now, but when we refinance, it'll go down to around 4.5% through the credit union. The only payments we'll have are the new car and our mortgage and then our various monthly bills.

We use Vonage for phone...$24.99 a month for unlimited local and long distance...I'm on the phone with NY for hours at a time! You also get one month free if you find a special and then if you refer a friend, you can get 2 months free from them signing up!!

We wear certain items of clothes more than once (jeans, DH button down shirts b/c he wears an undershirt).

I stockpile big time when it's on sale and then I have a coupon! Also, Walmart will honor other stores sales prices, so I will go through all the stores circulars, write down what we need, look through my coupons, and then go food shopping. For instance, I've seen CVS have Alberto Vo5 shampoo for $.79 a bottle, then I had a $.50 cent coupon off 2 bottles!

Food wise....a crockpot is amazing. I make a homemade sauce (using walmart brand canned tomatoes which are like 30 or 40 cents a piece!) and that feeds us 4-5 times!

We use store brand on so many things. Walmart brand stuff is pretty good (their french fries, tomato stuff, etc.) I get my hair cut at Great Clips for like $13.00. Every once in awhile, I get a coupon in the mail for a $7.99 hair cut. My hair is one length, so it's not a huge deal. No manis or pedis...I'll paint them myself.

Also, check out Meat Farms up on LI...they have their fruit and veggies DIRT cheap....I used to shop there when I lived by myself.

FYI...ramen noodles, while cheap, are not very healthy. They are packed with salt.

If you'd like some crockpot recipes, FM me. I have a huge book. I also clip coupons for my best friend (she has 2 kids) and mail them to her. I wouldn't mind trading with others if they'd like!

---

WOW-- good job!

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ditto.

We have started budgeting so that we can put as much money as possible towards our future house. But we're really not doing enough yet. These are great ideas.

Where does everyone get all these coupons?
I get Newsday. There is never many coupons I need.
Any websites?

Shana you are relaly thrifty, those are GREAT tips!

FH would save a lot of money if he would take the time to launder his own shirts rather than sending them out. and if he hung up his suits after work he wouldn;t have to get thempressed/cleaned as often. He's not good at this whole thrifty thing. He is also always changing his clothes...it annoys me so much. When he comes home form work, he';ll change itno casual clothes and a clean undershirt, then when whe come home, he'll change it again
...I don't change my bra all day long..LOL

i totally know your pain. we closed on our house last week. and now we will be poor :(
every weekend i go shopping and now it will have to be cut back alot. i used to not worry about my credit card but now, i am limiting myself to a certain amount each month. if i go under, i will use that money for clothes or nails or whatever.
it will be hard but your house is the best investment you can make and in the end, it will all work out!!! :)

The paper down here will sell a double edition which gives me double coupons, plus we get another free paper on Sundays that will give us coupons also...so thats triple coupons sometimes!


Also, visit your favorite products websites...sometimes there are links for free coupons.

You can also try calling or writing a letter to either complain or praise your favorite product, sometimes they will send you coupons!!