OMG I love budgeting!!!!

[Katie P]

My goal for October is to only spend $200 on groceries for myself. Let me tell ya, it is so much fun.

I went to a local produce stand/ market & totally bargained my cherry tomatoes! They were kinda wrinkley (which is fine by me) so I mentioned that & asked if they did like a 2 for 1 b/c of that & she was like"yeah that's cool" so I saved 2bucks!

THEN she had all her ripe bananas in a box---4# for $1!!!!!!! I about freaked b/c I use bananas in my smoothie just about everyday

All her honeydews were $3 so I found the most massive one! I think if that was all I ate it would last me like 2days!

Anyway, I'm just super excited :) I'm gonna try bargaining more often!

[Veganforlife]

Cool beans! Fun, isn't it? Amazing what we can do too!

[katchmoleen]

Being in control of your money is a powerful thing. Our country would be in such different shape if everyone watched their pennies, saved, and got out of debt.

[green jeanie]

i am so loving it too

hmmmmmm i am hungry..time to walk through the ally for some apples and blackberries ;))
or head out to the garden for some greens

[Green_Woman]

Budgeting IS fun!!! I've done 90% RAW on less than $75/month before so I KNOW it can be done... location matters, this I know, so for me, $75/month is probably comparable to $200/month in other States. :D

You can DO THIS!!! And I'm happy to see you're enjoying the experience!!

I LOVE RAW! :D

[appifanie]

i suck at budgets. my most fav thing to buy is food.

my one high point is that i know a guy who sells spotty bananas for $.10/lb!!!

[katchmoleen]

Here is the BEST way to budget, the thing that finally worked for us after years of failing: CASH ONLY. Withdraw your set amount from your checking account for food or entertainment or whatever. Keep it in an envelope marked for the category. When you leave the house, take only the cash you need for the items you need, no credit or debit cards, no checks (my dh still hasn't got that part down, lol). And when the money is gone, you are done. If you blew it all on day one and run out of food except for some lame old stuff in your freezer, well you will know next time, right? Planning your shopping list ahead of time is also essential. I look at what's on sale and even write down the amounts I need to buy so I don't overspend. Yes, I am one of those few people you see in the produce section using the SCALE! :rolleyes:
In the SAD days I used to only shop every other week, on payday. Now with a lot of fresh produce, I shop once or twice a week so I don't have as much spoilage. I try not to go back to the store till I have used up all the produce I have. I buy nuts and seeds in bulk from our food coop. Right now in my freezer I have 50 pounds each of walnuts, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds! Much cheaper that way

If you can get REALLY disciplined, then make your meal plan from what is on sale, either before or after you shop. Sit down and write out your meals for the next week using JUST what you have in the house, so you are not tempted to run back to the store again. If you can do this before you shop, even better. I am still working on that!

My dh and I will have paid off about $10,000 dollars in debt by the end of this year, if we can stay on track. And we are not high income people, we make about $50,000 per year and have 5 kids still at home and one in college. If we can do it, anyone can.

[green jeanie]

thanks for the pep talk!!!

[Bananapie]

these are great tips. Thank you so much.

[Green_Woman]

My dh and I will have paid off about $10,000 dollars in debt by the end of this year, if we can stay on track. And we are not high income people, we make about $50,000 per year and have 5 kids still at home and one in college. If we can do it, anyone can.

Katch, are you guys TMMO'ers??? (http://www.daveramsey.com)

:D

I am! I paid off nearly $11,000 this year, and was unemployed the entire year except a few months this summer. I budgeted insanely and sold everything that wasn't tied down.

But now I'm back in Classes and can't work as much as I'd like/need to in order to continue Snowballing my Debt into "Hell", where Snowballs don't stand a chance. ;)

However, I am the Girl Who Never Gives Up... so every Summer I'll keep working, working, and paying off what's left... and I hope to be Debt-free within the next 3 years that way!

[katchmoleen]

Well, sorta. I actually was inspired by a book and website called Radical Debt Elimination. My husband just gets dragged along kicking and screaming! :D But, yeah, the envelope idea I believe is original to Dave Ramsey.