any idea for saving more household budget?

Hopefully this won't be a problem long but i have a few tips for money saving. Buy generic everything, most brand names are made at the same places as generic so its the same thing! Skip the deserts! Before you go to the store make a list of what you want so you don't spend money on things you don't need. Don't buy snack food, instead buy meals that would produce leftovers, you'll save a bit that way. I think that is all i got, sorry i couldn't be of more assistance.

We buy what we need and nothing else cut down on chips and cookies which is good for us. and go more for the fruits for snacks.We still spend around 150$ a week sometimes $200 depends if we have run out of thing but we try not to do that if we are down to one item we buy another before that is opened. as with Gas we go only when we have too.

i think its really hard for us now. best way still i think is to go for casserole type of food. here you can mix chicken/meat with vegatable and cereals. also try to cut down use of electricity and all. make a note how you have spent and what was budget in day to day basis.

yes it is really difficult to make a budget specially prices are up everyday. you must priorities all your needs daily. forget for the meantime all your wants because it will ruin your budget. although i ma not responsible to do budgeting but still i am aware of are we going to priorities those goods that we need daily specially the foods.

The first thing that I did was when I went into the store, I would have in mind what I needed and I would purchase only what I needed and not just what I wanted. If I needed and wanted something, that was fine. :) The next thing was finding ways to make installment payments on rent, etc. as I am working part-time and did not have enough to cover rent in full near the first of the month. Also discovered that electric and phone bills can also be paid in installments if need be. This was most helpful to me. I also found a place called Big Lots and purchase things like canned goods there for cheap. It is helpful to browse on the net to see what bargains there are and to negotiate to pay reduced payments if needed.

The best thing I can advise is to only buy what you need.

You can trim a lot of the fat I know what your talking about our income just went down by $157 a month. We live on $14,695 a year. We don't have satellite t.v that went four years ago. We cut out the newspaper completely last year. We have only one credit card for EMERGENCIES only like hospital or dental or car breaks down or appliance goes out. Getting a new dress even for special occassions is NOT an emergency it is an inconvienence and you make do with what your have. Pool rides to town and make the trips all count doing as much as you can in one trip. Buy bulk and generic foods, learn to cook from scratch it is not all that bad and much healthier for you. Stop the junk foods, chips, cookies, soda, popcorn, pizza, pre made and pre packaged boxed dinners. don't buy them. Only go out for very special occassions, you anniversary for example. Say NO to things you do not need. Turn off lights take a 5 minute rather than 15 minute shower. Use one not two cell phones use one car not two cars. Put down what is important you NEED and what you can do without Mortgage/Rent Utilities/Electric, water, sewer, garbage Telephone: Use one line, one cell if a must Internet use one service not several ISP Tell your kids NO and mean it, NO cell phones etc Find free or low cost recreation, walks, hikes, photography, picnics, kite flying, fishing to do or biking and games. Make a list what you NEED and what you LIKE AND want Make a second list of what you can afford of the NEEDs being priority. Then add the most needed or what you feel must have of the wants if you can afford it. Do NOT use or charge up credit cards or accounts, pay cash. "Make do or do witout"

What we do is we now shop at a store that sells items in bulk at a cheaper rate than normal size packages. we just rewrap stuff into smaller packages as far as the meat etc goes. We also shop at Aldis which sells their own brand or generic as it is called. A lot is good foods but way cheaper. Turn the thermostat down at night when you're covered and sleeping. make you car trips all in one time instead of running around a lot each day. Always wash all clothes in cold water wash and rinse cycle to save on hot water as well. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

The only thing that I know to do to try to save money is to buy in bulk quantities. that will save you money because it is alot cheaper and you will have to make less trips to the store also. I always buy things that will feed the whole family at each setting instead of just buying things for each individual person. I also shop at discount stores to save money also.

The most important thing I have always done to save money is to be very honest with myself as to whether I NEED something, or just want it... we need food, but we don't need a lot of expensive meat when vegetables are better for us, anyway. We need water, but instead of buying expensive bottles, we got our own purifier. Sometimes buying the least expensive item will give you immediate benefits, and when it wears out, you will probably be able to afford a better one... we did that with our first furniture. Learn to repair things... don't just throw them out and buy new. My husband is a great mechanic and fixes our (inexpensive) cars. I have sewn, knitted, crocheted, etc, all my life and can add things to my wardrobe for just the cost of materials... and I bargain-shop for those. When you think this way, more and more ideas come to you... we have lived, for the past 9 years, on less money every month than most people make every week... and we are very comfortable.

A budget is the best place to start. Cut out all that is not essential. Drive less; eat less (especially out); live more simply. Get rid of the nice to haves like cable. Shop at discount and closeout stores. Use coupons, take advantage of refunds and rebates. Use the internet to make money instead of just casual surfing and chatting. Joining a site like MyLot can satisfy one's need to relate to others and earn a modest income as well. Shop at thrift stores. Connect with others who are experiencing similar issues and network; you'd be surprised at the ideas you'll be able to pick up. Recycle for cash. There are many things you can do, when you start to do one thing to help yourself it will often lead you to something else. The most important thing is that you not give up.

WOW!! i think we are ALL feeling the pinch.... if we never really did before... we are now! lol Important is the things u cant live without! FOOD, electric and heat,ur home/apt, car... those are important and come first so when ur doing ur budget those get done on he list first... Hubby & I both work but still seems like theres not enough two kids, mortgage, two cars and bills to pay... well for us our expenses are lower mostly because i work from home.. so that saves in clothing, extra food and extra gas - i can fill my car on payday and it would last me close to - possibly a month - i dont go may places other than kids sports and local driving to stores and such. to help save $ Hubby takes lunches from home, we are turning off the cable this summer.. theres no need for it since we are usualy never home in the warm months or were OUTside alot more!! Hubby & I have adopted that *pay urself first* thing -- we put 5-10% of our pay each week - into the bank - that way if *heaven forbid* we NEED it or the kids NEED it its there!! we did a DD of a percentage hubbys pay into the bank for our mortgage -- *out of sight out of mind* ... and paid each and every month on time!!.. I make a weekly menu and LIST before leaving the house ALWAYS!! that way u stick to the list and do not IMPULSE BUY!! and NEVER SHOP HUNGRY! LOL We buy bulk.. we make a month *stock up* trip to Sams club (or the local small market when they have great sales) and get lots of meats( lots of turkey!!) lol and bulk items we use all the time TP, coffee filters, creamer coffee grounds,tuna,soups.. the list goes on... but we have cut back on some things due to my health i have switched alot of how we cook only use vegan mayo and no salt ketchup which if u look around u can find in local health foods for not much more than supermarkets! I clip coupons too and USE THEM!! even in Walmart!! we dont need name brands its all the same .. *sorry to all u name branders but in my years of tasting just about everything its all the same u just have to adjust how u cook it :)* WE ALWAYS wait for clearance sales - the way of shopping I have Always done is *last years deals* the sweats, sweaters, coats and all *winter* things will be on sale now at VERY LOW prices -- so what if u were its *next year* just get a half size bigger or big and when u dry it in the dryer its perfect! lol then to get a new swim suit wait for the end of season sale then stock up!! (my DD and I found her new one for $3!! --- and just got my older DD sweats for her sports at SEARS for $1.74 each!! and a good sports bra for $6!) once u get the hang of shopping thrifty its alot of fun -- i think anyways! :) xx My kids love to go to the thrift shops/garage sales ( be sure to wash things in HOT water and then a HOT setting in dryer-- so be careful of the sizes THEY DO SHRINK!!) and get sweaty hoodies they can take the ugliest looking thing .. take it home and FIX it THEIR way and it looks fantastic!! like jems, a patch, an iron on u name it and its thier work!! same with jeans!! its hard with growing kids to keep alot of them in jeans mostly ...so when they get too short they become capris ( for the girls) ill add buttons to the sides or anything they want so they look * stylish* lol then if they still fit but too short then SHORTS!! lol i also buy bulk cleaning products like *The works* from walmart or buy a huge bottle of vinegar and go to work on really cleaning my house the link for *uses for vinegar* is in my profile :) we dont eat out much- i think if u were to total all the nights u eat out ud be able to afford a trip!! lol - we tend to rent a video or so every now and then - find urself a GOOD video store that has lots of promotons so u can get a free video now and then! :) also reuse ur old flannel Sheets/soft clothing for cleaning, dusting ur house!! make pillows out of some shirts that no longer fit or Give away to a thrift shop in ur area! someone like me would really appreciate them! :) I hope this helps u in budgeting or ideas in *penny pinching* when we need it the most :) good luck XX

Hello plumwish I do understand the hard-core of your story. It is about hardship facing by most housewives around Indonesia.It is still good if -- as you suggested in the story -- that they should be wiser in spending their rupiahs, by buying more stuff that is most needed, in one side, and the other side they should be smarter in managing the limited-budget. But the hard fact makes us get worried that most households has no single dime to spend or to saved. The only way to overcome their problem is by working harder -- although they usually get paid less In this regard, they should more active to seek various opportunities that could give them extra-incomes. More extra-works mean more extra-incomes, rite? If you agree with me, then they should not rely solely to one job. When one job is not enough to support family, then making more cranes is an inevitable-task for all, not only for dad, but also for mom, and their family-members.