One of the easiest ways to cut your expenses is to eliminate unnecessry spending for a 2 week period, then a month to build savings and consumerism that fills your house. One of my oldest friends has found herself in dire fiscal circumstances, yet again. She and her husband lost their house, have racked up 30,000 in consumer debt, and utlilites. She has asked to come stay in our tiny house rent free and asked me to loan her the fare to come out there. I said no, I have advised her in the past, I have loaned her money, she doesn't listen. I don't believe in discarding people, however, these are patterns she has had for years. My husband and I talked about it and prayed about it. We can't help her any longer. We have never loaned her money. I have loaned her money way before I married my husband. They have divorced. My husband and I sat with her ex- husband last night on Facebook to help him budget with 4 kids on his own.
Ignoring the fiscal frivolity of a spouse or being completely in the dark about fiances can be devastating for a family. Fiscal infidelity is a very real strike against a marriage. My friend ruined her marriage with not paying house payments and running up huge debt.
Inflation is not getting any better. It drives me crazy to see prices continue to go up and quality go down. We eliminate more and more things as economic protest I refuse to purchase GE products.They are manufcatured in China and increased in price and the quality is poor. Purchasing products that are long lasting and appropriately priced. There are products that I know I can replace with basic ingredients. Citric acid, yeast, vinegar, baking soda can repace man cleaning prodcuts and treatments. I make sour dough for breads for a fraction of the cost. You can freeze sourdough starter which a trick I just started using.
Keeping your fiscal life in balance:
Create a budget and stick with it.
Shopping is not entertainment
You only need 1 streaming service, maybe two.
Experiences rather than things are what children need.
Don't lend money, give a gift or resources you can afford to lose. This will help to not feel resentment when people don't pay you back.
Shop clearance to save on produce if you are going to use it up.
Always have a second stream of incoem
Develop a new skill very few months. that will benefit your day to day life.
Keep your professional requirements up to date especially when you marry. Life changes and you may to provide for your family. Even Proverbs 31 women did this.
In previous employment, I didn't disclose a few professional trainings I had because I was giving access to those skills unless they paid for my renewals. This saved my position during state budget cuts because I had skills my coworkers didn't. Did it create resentment with my co-workers? Yes, however, I was looking out for myself and my family.
Check my your insurance company for the best rate.
If you can make 5 cleaners, 5 snacks etc, you can save at least 100 dollars a month. This is a saving of 1,200 a month. Think if yoiuare a smoker, how much you could put away by cutting your smoking habit in half or quitting altogether. Put that money in a saving account or pay up debt.
Look for cheaper housing.
Eat all meals at home or bring meals from home.
Leave by the 50/30/20 rule: 50% needs, 30 percent toward wants, and 20 to savings. I will flip this around when we have a big goal.
Haggle when you can. Our repair man gave me 25 percent off and another 50 dollars off rental repairs when we agreed to buy the materials, group the repairs and leave a review online. We put the savings into the renal repair account.
Fish if you live in an area that has plentiful fishing. As a child liviing in Maine we caught fish, lobsters, for mussels and dug up clams.
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