Hubby and I are trying to save, big time. We finished paying for the older ones, but we’re by no means flush. We have to save for the younger ones’ educations. And a chunk of money had to buy a new car for the expanding family. Plus, we just did some necessary home renovations. So, things are tight, really tight. That means we’re like a lot of folks. We use the free budget tool vilkri provides to set up a family budget, but we are always looking for as many financial strategies as we can to save more and reduce our expenses.

I’ve been thinking about this a little while (incentive provided by nagging hubby who opens the household credit card bill regularly) and wondering what to do about it. If you’ll let me share with you the fruits of my worrying so far, this is what I came up with.

(1) No more lettuce

One of my big problems is produce. I’m always wishing that my family is eating better – I need to, especially. I’m trying to live longer, and to maintain what’s left of my formerly svelte figure. So, what’s the answer? Veggies, of course. But in a way, it’s not. First of all, I’m not a salad gal. No matter how I try, I just cannot get my brain to agree that leaves will miraculously become a satisfying meal if you put a lot of stuff on them. And I was even a vegetarian for many years! I am a bean and rice or polenta kind of veg-lover, so salad never did it for me. But it took me many years of rotting lettuce before I figured that out. Don’t buy leaves or onions or fruits that’ll just go bad on your counters or in your crisper drawers. If you’re lucky enough to pass a store on your way home from work or taking the kids to school, just pop in for the stuff you need every few days. You’ll save yourself the heartache of emptying the refrigerator on garbage day, watching your hard-earned dollars end up in plastic garbage bags. (Not to mention saving yourself from cleaning out absolutely yucky crisper drawers!)

(2) Women, buy your clothing in outfits, not as separates.

Another one that has taken me years – no, decades – to figure out. I am doing what my friends on all those Bravo and TLC shows tell me. If you’re not wearing it within a year, get rid of it. And get rid of all those clothes that are too small. And those that are too big. I did the trick of turning all my hangers backwards in the closet during spring cleaning. (Or, you can choose your birthday.) If they’re still backwards a year later, you know you haven’t worn that thing. Even if the tags are still on it, get rid of it. It means it never fit your body or your lifestyle anyway.

After making just too many trips dropping off my clothes at Goodwill, number one, and having “nothing” to wear in my closet every day when I’m rushing to get ready for work, number two, I realize that the problem is that I don’t have any outfits! Hubby just walks over to his closet and gets a shirt, pants, belt, and he’s done. Me? I’m struggling with “does this shirt go with this?” Even if the print does, the styling doesn’t, maybe, or the shirt flares where the skirt is slim or something like that and it just doesn’t go. I used to think “Wow, I just got this great skirt on sale!” But it’s no bargain if it doesn’t make it out of the closet, just sitting there waiting for its very own trip to Goodwill after just a few wearings. So now, I only buy things that I know go with another thing I have, or I just buy a whole outfit at the same time, shopping less often, but buying more in one trip. I just won’t buy separates without the other separates to make it an outfit, anymore!

(3) Comparison shop

You might think this is a no brainer, but there are a whole new set of ways that merchants and manufacturers are hiding costs. First, did you know that large size products are often the most costly? That extra large box of cereal might cost more than two smaller boxes that hold the same amount. Ditto for detergent, and all kinds of other things that come in different sizes. To really comparison shop, you must look at the number on the LEFT hand side of the price listed on the grocery store shelf. It tells the unit costs of the item you’re contemplating. Compare that, and you’ll see that sometimes you’re actually paying MORE for the things you need just because you pick up the large one. Ditto with those discount stores where you buy things in bulk compared to your local grocery store. I do have a membership to such a place, but do I do the majority of my shopping there? Heck no. I think I do just as well, or even better, when my local grocer has sales. But the big box store is best, I think, if you just have to have the name brand. Like I buy “high end” paper towels – with little kids, I rinse and repeat, to clean first the face, then each little hand, then the table, then the floor around where they ate. It’s way more economical than using “wipes” (hey, aren’t they just pre-wet paper towels?) and the cheapo ones that tear up just getting them off the roll. For these brand name items, those stores are cheaper, but they are not cheaper for a lot of things. I tell you, the non-name brand stuff I buy there include meat, bananas, American cheese, and diapers, but that’s about it. I find that I end up paying more for other things there. Or, I buy that extra large box of fresh baked cookies, and I end up with problem number one (see above).

(4) Think smart about beverages

It’s 100% clear to me that food service folks make money on beverages. Look at the price of a cup of coffee made in your own home compared to one made outside of your house for purchase. How much is a case of cola in the supermarket compared to one can or cup bought at your local guy/gal? Let’s not even talk about water! (I love Lewis Black, whose act has the taunt that when he was a kid and wanted water, he knew there was some at the end of every garden hose in his neighborhood.) There was a time I risked dehydration rather than pay exorbitant prices to wash down whatever I was eating. Now, I do something different. I have travel mugs for me (normally bought at IKEA, or wherever they’re cheap. Yes, I need more than one – sometimes I leave ‘em at work, sometimes I lose the top, sometimes I drive off with them on the roof of my mommy car. But replacing these has paid for itself over and over and over.) I keep a box of tea in my desk at work, and make tea all day – I love tea! For my kids, I have sippy cups I wash and refill daily. They’re just as good as juice boxes, and even better ‘cause they don’t explode juice all over if you squeeze ‘em, and the kid can lay down on the couch with it and watch Diego or Dora when he or she is grouchy. Not to mention that “strawberry milk” that is asked for at every livin’ opportunity from my three year old (i.e., Nestle Strawberry Quik in warm milk) doesn’t come in a juice box.

I’m sure that I will come up with more ways to reduce expenses and fight against “hidden” costs of living life in America on a family budget. When I do, I will post some more!

Tags: famliy budget, household expenses, reduce expenses, save money, setting up a budget