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Post by Jennifer on Mar 1, 2011 22:40:12 GMT -6
Ok so DH and I are really starting to look into how to lower our bills with this new move we are making. Our monthly bills are outrageous where we live now! By moving we will save almost $1000/month!! So it was a no brainer..... So our lease(rent) will be $800 less than our mortgage payment (enabling us to save so much money for our dream (and last) house we want to buy in 3-4 years.... Vehicle gas will be soooo much less because we will be in town about 1-2 min away from everything apposed to 8-10 min away from everything (one way) DH will also be closer to work so less gas.... I posted another dinner thread too, we are 'trying' to cut down on our food bill and I have decided to start grocery shopping just once a week, opposed to everyday which we spend sooo much more money doing! Oh and we also just switched over our 'hometown' internet/phone and TV to charter bundle and will save about $80/month doing that yay!
Anyone have any other ideas? What do you do? I am just so sick of our monthly bills being outrageous and wasting money each month, no matter how much money you make it just gets old!
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Post by shell2011 on Mar 2, 2011 7:47:10 GMT -6
Menu planning saves a LOT. Also, be aware of your utilities. Lower you thermostats. It will take some getting used to, but turning it down a couple degrees really helps on those gas bills. We have a large home so I am adamant about keeping the heat down. My DH often complains its too cold when he works from home (the kids and I are used to it) so we just suggest he puts a sweater on  Also, stop eating out - completely! Have your DH pack lunches for work. Get rid of your gas guzzling vehicles. We got rid of our SUV and my DH bought a little manual stick Corolla for commuting. It gets 41 mpg as opposed to the 12 mpg the SUV was getting. He still has his truck, but we only use it when a truck is required. Stop buying new when possible. For example, I buy a LOT of books for homeschooling, but not new. My boys also play a lot of sports so we buy the equipment used as much as possible. I'm SERIOUSLY considering cutting cable because that is a HUGE expense for something we rarely use. My DH and I are trying to get to the point where we are free from the bonds of debt. We have two payments left on my car, a student loan for his grad school, and the house. We will pay the student loan off in the fall and then start working on the house. We don't carry cc debt at all. I think you and your DH are doing a great thing and I'm curious about what others do to save money. I am surprised how little you can live on. Our friends are missionaries in Africa and when they lived here, they made about $12,000 a year for a family of four. |
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 2, 2011 8:30:25 GMT -6
Shel, Yes i am going to start making a weekly menu (hate to say I do not even do that now!) Lowering the thermostat is something I always want to do but our house is so drafty it is hard! But when we move I am hoping to be able to lower it a couple of degrees because that place is not as drafty etc... Yes eating out takes so much money and we try to limit it now but still do ever so often, at least once a week. Both our vehicles are pretty good on gas, thank god! As for clothes I do buy my kids all brand names but only shop sales that saves a bunch!! Honestly our kids aren't into sports right now so that helps! Our cable bill isn't too bad, we actually just lowered it so I feel good about that! As for debt we have just regular utilities, a van payment that will be paid off next summer so I am hoping to double up on some payments to get it paid off quicker! And I only have one $300 credit card!
One expense that drives me crazy is our cell phone bill!! Ahhh wayyy to high every month, my DH and I have phones and then our 3 oldest. I know we could cut down there but don't want to take away their phones, I like them to have them for emergency purposes....
Thanks for your input, I can't wait to hear what others do to save money monthly!
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Post by carrie1013 on Mar 2, 2011 11:06:03 GMT -6
I am having a really hard time reducing our expenses. We by no means are extravagant. From the year my daughter was born until about 2 1/2 years ago we seriously struggled to make ends meet and I skimped a lot and just simply did without. I refused to take any sort of welfare as I felt that there were other far worse off that us, but it was still hard. Remembering the stress of paying bills and the anxiety of how we would be able to pay (every months for 5 years--aacckk!) is nauseating, the memories make me feel sick.
So now that I am working an contributing to the income I do not want to give up being able to buy a name brand or the more expensive hair products. Anyway, those feelings creep back up whenever I try to get rid of the satellite or drop the YMCA membership--funny how those things are luxuries!
I think our biggest money wasting happens when we eat out so that is the only area I am willing (right now) to reduce, although I need to get back in the coupon habit.
Sorry for the sob story--no sympathy wanted, just trying to explain where I come from in the saving money arena!
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Post by hsmom24 on Mar 2, 2011 11:40:25 GMT -6
Menu planning is a huge time and money saver. I make up a menu for each pay period (we get paid 2x a month), and we are very good about sticking with that menu. Also, as Shel already said, keeping the thermostat down. We have a programable one, and I have it set at a pretty low temp during the night, and because we're already sleeping and under the covers we don't even notice.
Also, we don't have any form of cable, and haven't for the last 10+ years. Seriously, I battle laziness enough, I don't need to PAY for another reason to sit on my rear end! lol
And I'm sure you already do this, but buying in bulk is a really big money saver.
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 2, 2011 14:30:32 GMT -6
Yes, we definitely buy in bulk! Costco is our best friend!
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 2, 2011 15:29:26 GMT -6
So I am curious, to those of you who keep the thermostat lowered, what do you keep your heat on day and night?
Oh and we also found not buying paper and plastics (towels, cups, plates etc...) saves money for us! Sometimes they get so convenient but we cut them out!
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 2, 2011 15:32:29 GMT -6
So Leslie, you plan and shop for 14 dinners, lunches and all food then (2 weeks worth) at a time? I have a hard time doing 7 days lol!
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Post by lifesabeach on Mar 2, 2011 17:17:15 GMT -6
I buy everything on sale or clearance. I stockpile clothes for the kids when I get a good deal. They are the same size so that helps a lot. I shop at Belk, which is like Macy's in the south. I rarely pay over $10 for any article of clothing. If I find jeans on clearance, I'll buy 5 pairs in their size. I got sweaters for next year for $6 a piece a few weeks ago.
For food, I don't menu plan yet, though I did make a cute little weekly menu planner sheet a few weeks ago. I shop once every 2 weeks for main stuff, and then fill in with things like fruit and cat food. We buy stuff for the kids lunches at Costco, like string cheese, yogurt, lunch meat and juices. Costco also has the best price on bananas and apples.
Around the house, our house is very old and drafty. During the day I set it to 70, when we are home, it's usually at 72-74. BUT, we also just installed a Geothermal HVAC unit last spring which has already paid for itself. My company does part of the work to install them, so I got a deal on it. Plus with the 30% Federal and 35% NC tax credits (65% total = $5600 back on our taxes), plus a $300 Progress Energy rebate PLUS the $300 a month savings for Dec, Jan and Feb this year, it is already paid for. So a $7000 investment will save us HUGE amounts over the next several years. Our old unit died, and wasn't working well to begin with, so our power bills were crazy. $450 a month last year. This year $160 was our highest. Bug savings.
For regular stuff, we don't eat out often (2-4 times a month). If we do it's on the cheap at a fast food place. Usually there are coupons involved if it is a nicer place.
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Post by carrie1013 on Mar 2, 2011 18:48:22 GMT -6
Jen--during the day when not at home it is 62, 68 when home and 58 at night. We have a drafty old house too, but I hope to insulate the walls and get new windows this summer. In the mean time lap blankets are a necessity.
Our bill in the winter is anywhere from $375-$465. I know the insulation will pay for itself next year in combo with the windows. The windows will pay for themselves next year.
I would love to do geothermal, if our furnace dies.
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 2, 2011 19:13:20 GMT -6
We have a drafty new house lol, just 5 years old (bad builder I guess) I'm going to lower our thermostat one degree per night to see where we can get....I wonder how much you can really save by lower the thermostat?
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Post by carrie1013 on Mar 2, 2011 21:33:31 GMT -6
We save about $35-40 a month from November-February with our current temp settings compared to the last 2 years. With rate increases it is probably more but doesn't show. The previous year we ran it 72/74 consistently.
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Post by shell2011 on Mar 2, 2011 22:01:58 GMT -6
We keep ours at 64 during the day (we are home) and 60 at night. I also have thermal curtains in the room where we do school so it is not as bad as it sounds. I have to tell you that since we lowered the temps about 4 years ago, my kids don't get as sick. One or two kids get strep every winter, but the common cold is VERY rare in our house. Have you ever noticed how cold hospitals are? Anyway, DH complains when he is home during the week because he is used to being in a warm office, but I just remind him that we can spend money on our heating bill or doing something fun and memorable. I also buy in bulk |
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Post by lifesabeach on Mar 2, 2011 22:16:58 GMT -6
OMG, there is no way I'd be able to keep our house at 60! It gets to 70 in here and we are freezing, lol
I guess it's the whole living in the south at the beach thing. We can't handle the cold! Last year I kept it at 68 to try to save money, but with this new system I crank it up because it doesn't cost me hardly anything. We have a few months a year where we don't run the AC or the heat, and our power bill is about $115. So for me to be toasty warm in the winter, it's worth the extra $40 or so.
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Post by carrie1013 on Mar 3, 2011 0:05:00 GMT -6
Our budget billing is $305 year round, we also have about 4 months where we do not need to run anything. We alway try to make it to Nov. 1st before turning on the heat so we all just naturally acclimate to the lower temps so adding heat at a lower temp is easy. Our kids are so used to it that they often just wear shorts and tees after school--I put on sweats.
Shel--We rarely get sick here as well--except for me this year!!! But technically that started when it was still 80 degrees outside! I have been great since kicking that dumb cold, i think I just got wore down with school and the stress that goes with starting a new year and added responsibilities.
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Also, stop eating out - completely! Have your DH pack lunches for work. Get rid of your gas guzzling vehicles. We got rid of our SUV and my DH bought a little manual stick Corolla for commuting. It gets 41 mpg as opposed to the 12 mpg the SUV was getting. He still has his truck, but we only use it when a truck is required. Stop buying new when possible. For example, I buy a LOT of books for homeschooling, but not new. My boys also play a lot of sports so we buy the equipment used as much as possible. I'm SERIOUSLY considering cutting cable because that is a HUGE expense for something we rarely use.
