I need some advice about saving money

sue witt · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 05:58 PM

Ok i know how to stock pile and i am a champion grocery shopper. And i have a black belt in homemade cleaners. The question is I never seem to save money the way that i want to. I feel like that i should be doing better than what i am i have cut alot of things out of my budget that i felt were money wasters. I paid off my car and i thought i would have that extra every month to save and somehow it has got lost and i dont know where it is. I have kept the money journal and i know where its going for bills but for the life of me i dont know where the rest is. I buy grocerys at the first of the money because here that is when the sales are good. And if i cant get it then i make due with what i have on hand. And i always use my 10.00 to stock with. Can someone help me i really dont understand what it is i am doing wrong maybe i am planning to much i dont know got any ideas.

**Crafty Amanda** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 06:44 PM

Hi Sue

I know how you feel! Really I do. My biggest problem is my husband. :P He likes to buy big things. Not just material possessions, but every time we have a little money in the bank he wants to make big improvements to the house. Now I realize that these are GOOD things, but jeez! Wouldn't it be nice to have some money actually IN the bank for a change???

Anyway, you said you are keeping a money journal, but what are you keeping track of? Are you keeping track of all the little items too? They can really add up!

You said that you paid off your car, but you don't know where that extra money went. Did your bills increase at all and fill the gap of the car payment? Did you pick up any new bills? Have you started making higher payments on anything since you paid off the car?

Just trying to brainstorm a little with ya!

Mom2twoboyz · #3 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 08:44 PM

Maybe you could make the car payment into an envelope for a couple of months to see if it's still there...maybe you'll find you are spending it here or there (when you see that thing you have to have and realize you don't have the money 'coz it's in your envelope). It's so easy to spend some little something for the kids here, or dh there without thinking to account for it. Like Amanda.....just trying to brainstorm with you
;-)

Shawn · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2002, 02:29 AM

Great Idea Amanda.

If I ever pay off a bill, I always did that, put that money into an account. I did it for a few months and that helped save up some money.

Also, Try putting the lose change away and then roll it and deposit it. If possible, just put 5 or 10 dollars away every week as a savings.

Renee · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2002, 09:19 AM

We have paid our cars off too. Every month though we write a check and put it into savings to save up for our next car. It has worked too. Last fall my MIL, who is a real spend thrift, traded her less than 3 year old Ford Escort in for a new car because
1. it needed new brake pads and 2. she saw a car on the dealers lot that "Was the prettiest shade of blue ever made" She called my DH at work and told him what she had done. He hung up from her, called the dealer and offered him a cash sale for $500 more than the dealer gave his mom.

My point ........ we had the money to jump on a deal. We know MIL took good care of her car and the Escort is just the right size for our second car. We don't miss the money each month because it's like a bill to us. (We also have an imaginary college bill that we also pay each month.) When I see all that money in our account I remind myself how good it feels to pay cash.

I aso challenge myself to see how low my utilities will go. It's like a game. This month I am learning to use my slow-cooker better to use less electricity in cooking and to keep from heating up the house.

This is the longest post I have ever done. OOps

sue witt · #6 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 05:32 PM

WENT OVER MY BUDGET TODAY, AND I WROTE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT WE OWE AND HOW MUCH ME MADE AND I WENT THROUGH CANCELLED CHECK AND I REALLY DONE SOME P.I. WORK TODAY THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERD

ALL OF OUR BILLS TOTAL 777.00 PER MONTH (YES THAT IS RIGHT NO LIE) OUR HOUSE PAYMENT IS DIRT CHEAP AND WE HAVE A LOAN PAYMENT AND CREDIT CARDS AND FOOD MEDICAL BILLS ETC I LISTED EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF.

2. I RELIZED WHERE ALL OF MY PAY WENT I LOST IT I WAS NOT AS FRUGAL AS I THOUGHT I WAS I ATE OUT ALOT AND DID NOT PUT IT DOWN. I DRINK WAY TO MANY DRINKS AND I SMOKE I KNOW I AM TRYING TO QUIT.

3. I DECIDE THAT WE COULD MAKE IT ON ONE INCOME AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. AND STILL SAVE MONEY

4. I RELIZED THAT WE EAT WAY TO MUCH CONVIENCE FOOD EVEN THOUGH I BUY IT DIRT CHEAP STILL I COULD TO IT FROM SCRATCH AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER I WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT LATER

5. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE CONTROL NOW AND I FEEL BETTER BY THAT NOW I HAVE TIME TO COUNT MY PENNYS AND PUT THEM IN MY JAR.
6. I RELIZED THAT TO BE FRUGAL YOU NEED TIME TO DO SO,IF I WERE AT HOME AND WAS ABLE TO DO THINGS I THINK WE COULD BENIFIT AS A FAMILY INSTEAD OF JUST DREAMING ABOUT IT.

SO I AM GOING TO BEGIN MY FRUGAL TRANSFORMATION A REAL ONE. I AM NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT MY PAST MISTAKES THE ONLY THING I AM WORRYING ABOUT IS MY FUTURE AND NOW THAT I HAVE A PLAN I DONT THINK I WILL WORRY AT ALL.

kimmyo · #7 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 06:39 PM

I think you have a great plan Sue! Good job! Hang in there and keep hanging out here we can all help each other!

Mom2twoboyz · #8 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 07:03 PM

Good P.I. work.

Knowing where the $$$ is going is half the battle. Happy for ya!!!

RobertaD · #9 (**permalink**) 12-31-2009, 06:12 AM

I know how hard it is to save even when doing your best to be frugal. Our biggest downfall is over the past 5 yrs DH has been out of work more than half of that time so just paying the bills has been the goal.

I do save surprise money Birthday, Christmas, tax return, etc. to use to pay for unexpected or unplanned for expenses so the credit card keeps a zero balance each month.

Roberta