What do you do to save money?
By zacsmum
@zacsmum (72)
Australia
April 6, 2007 6:13am CST
We're a family of four on a single low income but would love to one day achieve our dream of owning our own home. Once the kids are both is school I'll stop being a full time SAHM and return to work at least part-time but for now I'd like it if we could at least get a start on a house deposit. We're living comfortably but don't have any savings.
I'd love advice from anyone who has a good way of saving money or who has been in my position and had success.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@sweetee (420)
• Australia
12 Apr 07
~ Write up a set menu plan for the week, look through the pantry to see what ingredients you need to buy.
~ If you are buying a particular fresh item for a recipe, try and organise the menus for the week to include this item so you won't waste it.
~ if something you use often is on special, buy a couple of them and store them for when you need it.
~ try and keep plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables on hand, so throughout the day you can snack on fruit and vege instead of chips and lollies.
~ try and bake as much as possible from scratch.
~ buy in bulk where you can.
~ use cold water only when using the washing machine - it saves lots of power..
1 person likes this
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Hi! Well we are a family of soon to be 7 on a single income. Here are things that can help you.
Open some type of savings account and put even $20 a paycheck into it and that will add up. When you go out make sure you all have drinks from home. They say those bottles of water, soda and juice you can buy at the gas stations or stores really add up. Eat at home for every meal, no eating out. This is a big one! The amount of savings is amazing. If you can do all of those things then you can take the money you weren't spending on that stuff and also put it into a savings. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@zacsmum (72)
• Australia
12 Apr 07
I've spoken to DH and showed him your post and have put your advice into action! DH's agreed to doing the grocery shopping once a fortnight and we then have $40 in my purse to buy fresh milk, bread, fruit and veg during the fortnight. Apart from those things, when something runs out it's too bad and we go without until the next shop. This is already making us much more aware of how much we eat or use things. Any of the fortnightly $40 allowance we don't use is getting put into a tin and only when we've saved up enough change will we eat out as a treat.
I've also started packing the drink bottles wherever we go.
@SavingDiva (45)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I'm currently trying to save for a downpayment for a house. I just started a blog to track my progress. My plan is to set aside any "extra" money that I receive. I signed up for a Citi online savings account (with a free $50 after 90 days) to keep the money away from my spending issues.
I sold some random stuff on eBay and put the profits in the account. I also put any money that I've received from filling out surveys (I would recommend joining Pinecone) into the account. I'm trying to fix my budget, so I can start putting a small amount of money from my paycheck into the account, but I'm not sure how that is going to work.
Let me know how your saving is going!
