Any advice?

[shepav]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to this forum, and have been a SAHM since my dd was born five months ago.

My husband and I are hoping to save quite a bit of money over the next year or two for a down payment on a house, and to finish paying off out student loans (we did pay it down from $40000 to $20000). Anyway, we need some tips on how to save money.

This is what we're doing now:

No cable/cell phone (won't give up internet!)
Renting the cheapest yet safest place we can find
Making dd's baby food
Making meals from scratch (much of the time - eating out is my weakness)
Washing much of our laundry in cold
Line drying
Using cloth diapers
Making our own cleaners
Finding something else to do vs. shopping

We are trying to eat healthier, so I don't mind spending a little more on that.

Anyone have any great ideas that I can implement? I'd love to hear what others are doing!

Thanks!

[onemoremom]

If you haven't already read it, get hold of a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. Lots of her ideas may not apply to you but it can really get you into a good mindset for saving, thinking creatively about ways you can save.

Can you grow any of your food? Even container gardening indoors can make a difference.

You're already cloth diapering and line drying, so I assume you also use cloth napkins and things instead of disposable? Washcloths instead of paper towels.


Congrats on the babe and good luck!

[LilMama23]

We're also working on paying off student loans and putting money towards a down payment. We do all the things that you mentioned and I sell Avon on the side to make some extra money.

Can you look into a local food co-op? We have one not far away and get all locally grown veggies & grass-fed organic meat for less than the price of conventional grocery stores.
Clip coupons if you don't already.
Make homemade gifts for birthday/Christmas/etc.
Sell everything you don't use on Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon, etc.
Cloth wipes, cloth paper towels, mama cloth, etc.

Good luck!

[Mallori]

Go through your bills. What can you eliminate (you already mentioned cable), and what can you pay off? For the rest, research how can you lower them (water, electric, heat, etc). This forum is great for that.

One idea that has been mentioned here and many other places is to track all expenses for a month or two. If you spend money, write it down. Even a nickel. See where you are spending most. Can you eliminate it or make it cheaper?

Simplify living: Streamline clothing, make gifts/cards, buy secondhand.

Take a class. I took a basic sewing class, and now can do simple mending or follow easy patterns. I learned to can food from my parents, that reduces eating out, as there are handy soups and meats to heat with a loaf of fresh home-baked bread. I also took a cake decorating class, and now make birthday cakes instead of paying a baker.

Look at the products you buy. How many can be eliminated or replaced with cheaper alternatives? Examples: Don't buy Tide laundry detergent, instead buy a 50# sack of non-food grade baking soda from the feed mill for $7 and a bottle of cheaper detergent. Use 1/3 cup bsoda and a smidge of detergent in a wash. Use vinegar in a downey ball as softener. Line dry clothes. Take that 50# sack of baking soda and use it other places, as a soft scrub mixed with water. Baking soda and vinegar will replace the majority of household cleaners.

Entertainment: board games, cards, books, free places to visit. There are so many places to spend little or no money, that are enriching.

Read this forum.