Two Living on One Income

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Times are really tough as we know too well. Jobs come jobs go. We are down to one income now. We have managed with less. A few days ago I made a list of all of our bills. Our bills left us with about $120 a month for food (if we didn't have to pay car insurance). So the next task was to eliminate some of the bills. We did pare down the cable/internet to less than half of what we were paying. We pay $27 a month for trash removal. By obtaining a sticker at our town office to use the dump we can save at least $15 or more by bringing the trash to the dump. This of course involves a bit of recycling and composting. With a little effort we could do this. Our phone is through Vonage. It saves us quite a bit of money so we are keeping that. Our cell phones will go the wayside. Even using a pay as you go phone isn't reasonable. Why have it if you really don't need it? No longer do we dine out or grab fast food. My shopping habits have changed as well. No more prepared meals. I was bringing Lean Cuisine meals to work with me. Now I will bring more sandwiches and leftovers. Chicken has become the main choice for protein. You can use it in a variety of ways and never grow tired of it. Well, at least I won't. I love chicken. We are using more canned and frozen vegetables as opposed to fresh. When warmer weather comes we are hoping to plant a small vegetable garden. Green beans, yellow beans, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, and perhaps a row or two of corn will be amongst the vegetables I hope to plant. Our yard will not support the garden that I would love to have so we will have to use other means. Community gardens are one way to have a garden. Another way would be to ask a family member for use of their yard. We are asking our landlord for the use of a space that isn't occupied and is not in use. I believe that he won't have a problem with this because he won't need to mow the grass! No longer do we toss out things we don't need. If there is a possibility of making a buck or two on something I am keeping it and putting it in a tag sale this spring. I also hope to start making some craft items and baked goods to and setting up a table at a local flea market every-other-weekend. This will bring in a few bucks. You never know what will happen from one day to the next. Don't ever think "it won't happen to me" because it can happen without notice. The one thing to remember is not to let it get you down. Tomorrow is another day, and where there is a will....there is a way.