What are your plans to save money in 2013? - Page 2

[LoveOurBabies]

My plans to save money this year include:

-Staying out of the mall! This is a biggie for me. I walk in for one item and walk back out with 5... Best solution is to just stay the heck away.

-Cooking everything from scratch. We are gluten free and mostly paleo, so our grocery budget is struggling at the moment.

-Line drying clothes instead of throwing them in the dryer. I admit, I'm lazy. My rule is now that they are only put in the dryer if it's pissing down outside.

-Staying at home more often and only doing close trips - Save on fuel. I'm trying to turn our little home in a haven for all of us, so that staying here is actually a pleasure. Another 2-3 weeks and we'll be there.

-Budgeting and sticking to it. Joining the no spend challenge!

-Purchasing all fruit and vegetables at the market and they must be in season.

-Re-purposing old items instead of throwing away (I'm not very good in this department but I'm looking to improve).

[momma,mia]

Oh goodness, I need help staying motivated but here are some things ....

Plan meals around healthy local or free (sons deer and cow meat from neighbor as rent payment) foods

Get my clothesline put up and use it

Plant a garden this year

Eating out less and much less processed foods (more water to drink too)

Selling our excess of clothes and toys (using money for summer trip fund)

Sell my second vehicle with worse gas mileage

Finding more ways to get things I want such as trading, sharing, or recycling

Use craft supplies and books I already have to enjoy my craft and reading hobby

Giving myself allowance every month so I still have money to just enjoy

[wildmonkeys]

I already cook a lot, but I am going to be more planful so I cut out extra trips and am sure we are eating inexpensive and healthy meals more often.  I am also, going to try to bake more.

Turn the thermostat down in the winter and keep the air off in the summer.

Declutter, keep the house clean and do some inexpensive home improvement projects to improve the house without spending loads of money.

[Jaxy]

Dh and I together bring in a little less than 2500$ a month and I really don't know what I could cut... Him... He could cut on cigarettes & booze, that would be good for his health too! But I know whatever I say he won't do it. He cut back a lot on booze since the baby's born, but still smoke a pack of cigs a day, which is way too much!

We don't have a car so I bike to work or take the bus if the weather is bad. We don't have cable, no cellphone fees (using assurance wireless and magic jack as home phone). We have both WIC and foodstamps and still we end up broke a few days before payday... We don't go out, don't buy "stuff" beside necessities... At least we are not in debt and have some savings (which consist in b-day and x-mas gifts from my parents, I try not to use it but had to to get my bike and buy post-maternity clothes) so I don't freak out but it would be nice to be "ahead" for a change! Will try my best!

[sk8boarder15]

Ohhh. I also want to get a clothes line. I have the perfect spot right out side my laundry room door! 

[PumaBearclan]

Folding drying racks, radiators, wire shelving units, and temporary indoor clotheslines are all good ways to dry clothing naturally regardless of weather and climate.

[PumaBearclan]

     In addition to a clothesline, of course!

Edited by PumaBearclan - 1/1/13 at 12:50pm

[ariahsmum]

Jaxy,

What does a pack cost in LA?  $5/pack?  Wowee that is $35 a week, $150/month or $1820 annually and that is not including health costs.  Yikes!  In this household $150 a month pays for our entire dance/gymnastics enrichment program for two kids...  Or it could send 3 children to boarding school (read: house, clothe, feed, and educate) in Rwanda (or name another country).  Could you convince him to quit based on cost?

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm planning on putting my mileage checks from work in a separate account and not touching them. I get between $400-500 a month (gov pays .55 cents per mile, which is a lot more than the cost of gas). I figure that's an easy way to increase savings, as our actual paychecks are direct deposited; whereas my mileage are physical checks.

[colsxjack]

Our plans to save this year:

* only buy necessities.

We have three growing children, and my partner is just post maternity from a twin pregnancy, so there are clothing needs. We already buy most clothing etc from re-sale stores or craigslist. But we will keep a list of things needed, and only buy that. I have a bad habit of buying the kids more clothing than they actually use. Or I buy things because they are available and will be needs in the nearish future. Only thing is that sometimes the kids grow out of the said item before it is usable. Or I find I am not very good at guesstimating my DD future show sizes.

* budget for eating out/delivery and stick to that budget.

* bake more muffins, breads, etc.

* plant a garden this year. Although will only supplement.

* join the local canning CSA workshops. Not really save money now but will gain me skills that will last forever and save lots in the future.

* student loan is paid off in two more months. Have been paying it for 4 years. Plan on directing that payment into other small debt and then onto mortgage and savings instead of absorbing that payment.

* replan our budget for new year and stick to budget.

We already do quite well on our budget and finances.

We do not use too many prepared foods. Although we do eat more granola bars and crackers when we aren't baking regularly.

I get fed lunch at work, so do not need to bring or buy lunch.

We put savings away automatically.

We do our laundry during low peak hours.

We keep our termostat lowered.

We shop resale and used.

We rarely go out, go to movies, etc.

Hang dry clothing in the summer.

Cloth diaper and wipes. Don't use paper towels, etc.

[mamarhu]

I am going to be moving into a larger house, together with my mother. Our combined expenses will be a huge reduction. Rent, groceries, and utilities will all be far less than the 2 separate budgets.

We get income from several different sources, all direct deposit. We are going to set up a new account, and have one check (almost$1200/mo) go into that - and hopefully forget it exists!

I am considering buying a hybrid car. I have never bought a car on time before, never even had credit card debt. But as I spend a fortune on gas, I can justify monthly payments with the gas savings. Seriously, I need a new car, and soon! My current old beater is losing functions and is getting less and less trustworthy. I have been averaging $300/month on repairs alone.

If we get the house we looked at today, it has a big basement for line drying, and no air conditioning. That will be a big electric saving. And the house we are looking at is stone - excellent insulation, should save in heating over this drafty house I am in now. I will also be able to have chickens for eggs (current house doesn't have a yard that works for chickens).

I have just started a serious herb garden in the kitchen. Eight different plants. I love cooking with fresh herbs, but they are way too expensive in the market. The pots can go outside in the summer.

I am going to start meal planning as soon as we move. Then I think I will be able to start planning my shopping better, and avoid the near daily grocery store trips it seems I do lately.
 

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by sk8boarder15 

Ohhh. I also want to get a clothes line. I have the perfect spot right out side my laundry room door! 

I need to get one of those. I just have to find where to buy the t-posts, and have DF help me set them up. Right now, we have a *huge* backyard, but nothing we could use to hang clothes line on. But I do *love* line dried laundry, and it saves *so* much money. 

Originally Posted by Jaxy 

Dh and I together bring in a little less than 2500$ a month and I really don't know what I could cut... Him... He could cut on cigarettes & booze, that would be good for his health too! But I know whatever I say he won't do it. He cut back a lot on booze since the baby's born, but still smoke a pack of cigs a day, which is way too much!

We don't have a car so I bike to work or take the bus if the weather is bad. We don't have cable, no cellphone fees (using assurance wireless and magic jack as home phone). We have both WIC and foodstamps and still we end up broke a few days before payday... We don't go out, don't buy "stuff" beside necessities... At least we are not in debt and have some savings (which consist in b-day and x-mas gifts from my parents, I try not to use it but had to to get my bike and buy post-maternity clothes) so I don't freak out but it would be nice to be "ahead" for a change! Will try my best!

DF is like that, except not nearly as much with regards to smoking. Maybe 2 packs a week. And he drinks beer sometimes. I kind of wish he wouldn't, but it's not a lot and he doesn't get drunk, so I don't say much.

[janina47]

So many great ideas for savings!! My husband and I agreed to set up more budgets for our family. We started a college fund for our son. We're working on better grocery budgeting & more cooking at home! It helps to set up a schedule and try recipes that some of the moms posted here . I think one of the biggest things for us was also cutting down our costs for health care but we started that a few years ago. My husband's company offers a flexible spending account which is useful to put taxfree money away on health. It's saved us a lot! He signed up for an flex spending account 3 years ago, and we've been able to use it since for doctor's visits and to get products. I initially had no idea where to buy these products (thought it was CVS only), but my friend Anna told me about this site fsastore.com to buy flex spending eligible products (got my breast pump, band aids, contact lens solution and heat wraps online) and also learned a lot more about the FSA. thanks for sharing these great tips :D

[EmsMom]

Plans to save $ in 2013:  Not quite sure where I can cut more, but I guess that I can.  For the last 4 years I have re-establishing a home because a divorce left me without many household things.  That is pretty much done now so I am only looking at replacing existing things that have broken.  So that is a good thing.  One thing that I will do is let go my family Y membership; eve though we have financial aid for it, now that I work far away, even the $20 a month is a waste.  For fitness, I continue to walk and run and do strength training with equipment purchased here and there at yard sales.  I am currently paying a trainer to learn more ways to use them and I think I will keep that up for another six months or so.

Food:  used to save money by cooking cheap food for a long time (beans, soups, etc.)  Now I work full time and have some commuting time.  Need to relearn how to eat cheaply on the run.  I assume that will mean the crock pot and I may buy a pressure cooker.  And I need to bake more to keep my kids happy.  Plan:  find or create recipes for small batch cookies.  Current grocery budget is $350 a month.  Think I can cut that maybe by $50. 

Cable: I installed basic cable for $20 a month so we could watch network tv, but we never, ever actually use it so it is going to go. 

Clothing:  Again, I am in a place where I only need replace worn things for myself and my kids have a uniforms for school, so these expenses are minimal.

Christmas/birthdays:  Really need to keep an eye out all year at yard sales, etc. for things like stocking stuffers. 

If I buy a house this year I will have a place that I can use to change my own oil and do other car maintenance.  I think that will save money and be empowering.

Last year I learned to can jam and fruit.  I really enjoyed it and have been eating it all on a daily basis every since : ).  This could be the year for a pressure canner.  I would love to can all of my own tomatoes/sauce. 

I would really like to earn some extra money.  Best options:  buying at yard sales and selling on ebay, Negotiating my salary.  I was promised a 3 month review when I started and that did not happen yet (now at 5 months).  I am also continuing to look for a better paying job to jump to.  I need to maintain my updated resume and linked in profile.

[Wolfcat]

Just went down to a one-income house, and NOT the bigger income. So, we are cutting, big time.

I am using my new-found spare time to work in the garden. We have 8 potato plants and 10 random plants in hills (we don't know what the seedlings are but they are things like cukes, melons and squashes. I'll be putting in 3 tomato plants and a pepper plant tomorrow.

DH is string me a clothes line on the patio tomorrow, so no more dryer use (until winter) and I'm only running the dishwasher in the evenings. We are looking for cheap screen doors so we can open the doors to the air. We should be able to cut about $100 off our monthly electric bill that way. Our gas, water, etc are all set costs, so we cant change those without doing something hugely drastic.

I'm planning on trying out some homemade ricotta and maybe add some mix ins and sell it as a dip or spread at the farmer's market this summer. Just need to figure out the packaging.

Oh, and my first book should be out within the year, so I'm going to work on other writing projects and marketing.