Goals For Cutting Corners

All of us who have been thru BK whether 7 or 13 need to set reasonable and obtainable goals for our future to prevent us from suffering financial stress again if possible.
There's many things we can do to improve our financial status. To get us "back on track" for a better future!

1. Take a look at your lifestyle. Can I afford this? What can I do without for a while till things are better financially?
2. Make a budget. Budget out all household bills, gas, food, etc. Get an average of what you payout each month on each one. See where you stand with your expenses against your income coming in.
3. Limit yourself to 1-2 credit cards in the future to help rebuild your credit score. Pay them off monthly, do not carry over balances (this eliminates finance charges, etc)
4. Pay your bills on time or ahead of time. A good rule of thumb is when it comes in - mail it back out.... This way you will never be late on a payment.
5. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul on your bills.
6. Carry you lunch to work, instead of eating out. Remember $10 a day for food and pop is $300.00 a month extra going out in food expenses..... (and how many times have you eat half your lunch and throwed the rest away?)
7. Where you buy lunch out makes a big difference also.
Specialty stores like Chinese, Pizza, Fish ad Chips, will cost your at least $10.00 a day... compared to McD's or BurgerKing dollar menu....
8. Don't buy items out of snack machines....... $1.00 a day runs into $30 a month on the snack machine.
9. Throw you change back everyday in a coffee can. Make this your "free money" for the month.... it will add up.
10. Start a savings account and a Christmas Fund....
11. Have a checking account for Household Bills only... you will know from your budget how much absolutely has to go into this account. Always allow more to help create extra for emergencies. Do not touch this account for anything else...
12. Have a yard sale, eliminate stuff you need to get rid of, put this back for vacation time.
13. Buy food, clothes, etc on sale..... as you can find them.
14. Always round your checking account up to the next dollar, will create extra funds you don't even realize and quickly.
15. Think over nite before you really go buy something you see or want. We all have the "I want's"............. it's the "do I need?" that is important right now in trying to repair our financial situation.
16. Be continous in accomplishing your goals.... don't be on one day and off the next.
17. Don't be so strict on your budget that you can't enjoy life..... but also don't try to keep every dime you can out to play with.... Life often has little surprises on those rainy days we need to be prepared for.

It's amazing where you can "cut a corner" or "find an extra buck" to enjoy the things you want too. Its the stuff you can live without that will help you acheive your goals.

Many of us are really spoiled in life.... We like our eating out, our 3-4 pepsi's a day, our weekly trips to the Mall (even window shopping can get expensive when we slip and buy). Some of us think we have to buy the best cars, name brand clothes, and shoes that cost $125.00.......

Be aware of WHERE your money GOES and WHAT FOR!!

REMEMBER how hard it was to make that dollar.... AND make it just as hard to spend it on something foolish!!!

Make your budgets, set your goals, and gradually work towards them.... And soon you will reap the benefits from all your efforts.... And you will be so surprised how easy it was!

My thoughts,

Minny :D

We're doing better on most all of these, but I've really got to work on my diet Coke "addiction." :D

Now me, I'm coffee and a Pepsi addict...... BAD.........
Been trying to subsitute water for some of my daily Pepsi at work - NOT EASY..... never have been a water drinker...
LOVE MY PEPSI........

In our case we are really trying to build a savings account so we aren't caught off guard when emergencies like car repairs come up. Those were the kind of things that drove us to BK before so we are really trying to change our ways and plan ahead better.
That and of course trying to pay cash everywhere we can. We tended to do that anyway, never really had a CC problem, but still spent money where we shouldn't have. Now, the savings comes first, and since the chapter 13 got us used to living within a budget, now that we are done, the good habits should continue! : )

Last month we did so well! We have been for some time writing down every penny we spend. Before filing Chapter 13 we got used to living on a very strict budget so hopefully it won't be too hard. We are really trying to save every little bit we can for emergencies. Speaking of savings, do they allow that in Chapter 13? We know what got us into this mess and are determined to not let it happen again!!

Don't know that I'd open a savings account while in Chapter 13. Trustee just might decide that is "disposable income" also........
Create your own savings account at home..... Save and turn it into big bills (less likely to grab and spend) and tuck away in a safe place.... (hole in yard, garage, shoe toe, etc...... somewhere safe)... till you can get out of the Chapter 13.

My friend right now is trying to save money. She has no checking account and does not fool with a savings account SOOOOO I'm her banker....... She gives me so much to put back for her each pay period.... and she can't get too it!!! We keep a running bank total we both sign off on as too how much is there.....

If she needs money and its NOT A GOOD REASON, she don't get it................ LOL - that's her own words..........!!
She is a "impulse shopper"......... buys anything and everything.............
After several months she has almost broke her bad habit............. And she has saved quite a bit also.....

Everybody needs an emergency fund or rainy day money..... that way it doesn't take away from the every day expenses.

Good idea, Minny! We are doing the "envelope system" and since my husband just got a promotion we will sock away that money. I didn't even know he'd applied for the promotion and was shocked when he told me he got it! We filed Ch. 13 ten days before they offered him the job! While I do want to pay my debts, I feel that the CC's have made their money off us and we need to put money away. Any other ideas on this?

Oh, and I love coffee, too! Coffee and diet coke: --the breakfast of champions!:D :D :D

When my Mom and Dad first built their house, they nearly lost it and their butts. They were on propane heat the first winter. Then my dad had to have surgery and there was no medical insurance or short term disability in those days. Keep in mind, we're talking 1950's here.

My Mom told me how she made it was she carried a little memo notebook. Everytime she spent a penny, she wrote it down in that memo book. One of those small, pocket type, the kind that flip over the top. Stick a little pencil or pen thru the wire loops and you're good to go.

If us kids got a piece of gum, she wrote it down. When she paid a bill, she wrote it down. Shop at the grocery store, write it down. Go the drug store, write it down. That way, she had a running tally of where the money went all the time. At any one time, she could compare her little memo book to cash in the pocket and checks written on the bank account, and know where every penny had gone.

It wasn't fancy Quicken or Money software, but it worked.

You're right, Minny, it's easy enough for lots of little expenses to add up to a significant amount by the end of a month.

I think that is such a great idea I spend like 15 a day on lunch and breakfast. But I have made a copy and stuck it on the fridge

Reuse those plastic bags they bag your stuff in at Wal-Mart, or the Dollar Store, or the Grocery.

You can use those bags to line small garbage cans instead of buying the liner bags.

Wadded up, they make great packing material if you have to ship something somewhere, plus all tolled together, their light. Keeps your shipping bill down on the whole package.

Those bags are great to scoop the potty into if you have a cat.

If you need a trash bag right handy for prepping veggies or what not, you can hang one on a cabinet door knob or drawer pull. Your trash is right there and you don't have to keep running to the garbage can.

Just make sure you pick ones that don't have holes in the bottom! :D

..try to get a job with health insurance benefits (this is partly what got me to bankruptcy..medical bills w/o insurance and racked all the doc bills onto my credit cards)

..find a good mechanic who won't rip you off and that can actually fix a problem correctly (the other half of my credit card debts...too bad I couldnt afford an attorney at one point with what I went thru getting ripped in repairs)

baybreeze,
That is some "excellent" advice.
Insurance is soooooo important.............and a good auto mechanic is really a necessity.....................

Minny

I'm gonna have to promote the website of one guy I've found very inspirational and helpful.

I'm on a budget now, I have money in savings, I'm building my 401k, I have no credit cards, I live on a cash-only basis now, and I have a plan to pay off the car and home in just a few more years.

GO DAVE!!!!!

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER NO MATTER HOW BROKE YOU ARE, TAKE OUT A PAYDAY LOAN!!!!!!!! If you can't afford it that payday, you wont be able to afford it and interest the next. UGH Been there, done that, LEARNED FROM IT!!!
Its a never-ending cycle of horror!!!!! (can you tell I hate payday loans?) LOL

ahmen!!!!

My favorite newsletter--Everyday Cheapskates

http://debtproofliving.com/

and Jean Chatzky's Money Tip

http://www.jeanchatzky.com/default.asp

I'm on free mailing lists for both of them and find them helpful.

I try to "feed my freezer". You know, where you premake your dinners for the week/month/ and freeze them, either ready to be cooked, or already cooked and to the heat and eat stage. Last saturday, I bought a bunch of cheap ground beef and made meatloaf mix. I then formed it into meatballs and cooked them. Froze them on cookiesheets and transferred to ziplocks. Now I can either take out enough for spaghetti with portion controlled meat, or can serve it as mini meatloaves, again, with a controlled portion. Have also used them in soup.
And I love to cook up chicken quarters on sale and make cornbread dressing and chicken spaghetti for the freezer. Really cheap, especially if you save your leftover bits of cornbread and you don't have to have a lot of chicken in your dishes to make everyone happy. And you will find that the flavor on both of these is better after it has been frozen. Just don't overcook your pasta.

Lots of casseroles freeze well, if your family will eat 'em. DH calles them
"The Lazy Woman's Excuse for a Meal" But by george, he eats it or fixes his own.

Here are 2 websites I use:
http://organizedhome.com/content-84.html
After reading the tip page that comes up, if you are interested, look to the lefthand side of the page. Under the message board find the group Simplifiy-feed the freezer. You will find all kinds of recipes,tips,questions about freezer cooking.

http://30daygourmet.com/
They have a newsletter you can sign up for that comes out every few weeks with recipes and tips. I just this morning made instant oatmeal mix for the kids from a recipe from them. DH says it needs more sugar, but everyone else ate it. Best of all, I made up 20 (1/2c) servings ( would be equal to 2 packets of premade- so actually 40 servings): 1.99 for the oats, 1.00 for the brown sugar, cinnamon I had already, and I bought a big box of raisins for 2.50- used 1 cup of them, rest are for DD's snack time. So cheaper than the store, healthier, and the girls and I had fun making it together.


Here is the recipe for instant oatmeal(from 30 day gourmet)

For 4 servings:
2 cups Oatmeal, quick or regular
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Optional: 1/4 cup dried fruit/ chocolatechips/ chopped nuts

Put all ingredients together. Add optional ingredients if desired. Store in sealed containers( ziplocks for me) on pantry shelf or in freezer.
To make- mix 1/2 cup mixture with 1 cup water in a microwave safe bowl. Nuke for 2-3 minutes, until thickened. Stir and let stand 1 minute. I used quick oats and cooked it for 2 1/2 mins.

Hey minnie I read above that you cant kick your pepsi addiction for water lol. I had the same problem but discovered that I love crystal light mixed in water better than cokes. It is sugar free with only 5 calories and I drink about half a gallon a day at work.

Since one person on another thread was saying how they wanted to get a store card because the store offers "discounts" to people who use their store card, and they wanted to save money on children's clothing ... I'd like to make a humble suggestion based on my own experience: consignment shops! They are heaven for buying children's clothes, and especially shoes. Things that cost $15-$20 on sale in a store are literally between $2.50 and $4.50 at the kids' consignment shop I go to. If you consign clothes and toys there too, when they sell them, you get credits that you can use to buy more clothes. It's been a great money saver for us.

tess

Let me briefly address saving...since generally, you will not have enough money to make a minimum deposit on bigger return savings vehicles, start with a regular savings account or money market account.

Of all the things that you can do to improve you situation is to budget (MS Money or Quicken is worth the investment, to save money, buy last years version online).

The FIRST LINE, highest priority line, should be "Savings". Most people go about savings backwards, they just say "I will put aside what ever is left over", but we all know what happens, nothing is really ever left over at the end of the month.

So even if all you can spare is $10 per week, set it aside FIRST, then pay your bills. You need to treat savings as "non-discretionary" spending, i.e. like rent/mortgage, utilities, etc.

Also, EVERYONE needs to open up a ROTH IRA (and for those with lower income, a regular IRA). Once your savings account reaches $500, take half of that and open an IRA, and then keep contributing to it, accordingly.

I like the first tip above all!
It is the lifestyle that counts most. If one has a reasonable lifestyle for his/her financial status, budgeting won't be a problem.
_______________
Features and General Policies about.

I cook most meals and buy food on sale at market. Eating out is expensive and the extra benefit of home cooked meals are better taste and healthier as well. That and I only see a few movies each year and do not buy a lot of junk anymore. I use credit for travel work and thats it. Drive a paid off car and pay cash.

While budgeting and living below your means are important components of personal finance, one thing is far more imperative. You simply have to raise your income. Get a better job or, take on a pt job. The status quo just won't get it done. No matter how much you scrimp and save, inflation wil eventually do you in. Look at energy prices. For us homeowners-every year homeowners insurance goes up. Every 3 or 4 years. property taxes increase. The list goes on and on. Raise your income and then protect as much of your income as possible with long and shortterm disability policies.

This is a good thread. Hopefully our other members will stop by and add their thoughts.

I have been going over all the things I've done over the last few years that were stupid and here's one not-so-obvious thing that I hadn't really thought of. Of course, I always knew that I was spending more than I should when I would eat a fast food meal rather than cook for myself. But then I looked back over my diaries and added up how much I spent. Oh boy.

One job I had between May of 1999 and December of 2000 I would stop of at Carls Jr and eat a doulbe western combo for lunch almost every day. The job I have now, since May of 2003, I would stop off and eat a dbl whopper combo almost every day on my way in. Just a conservative estimate of 740 meals during those two time frames, (it was actually much more I'm sure), at $6 a pop, again it was actually more than that, it comes out to $4,400. Un-freakin-believable.

Here's what keeps getting us in trouble that I have'nt seen anyone mention yet...Houses!!

20 years ago when NENQ mortgages were easy to pick up we bought 2 houses in addition to the one we already owned, putting the down payments on cc, thanks to the advice of the infomercial real estate millionaires! One house we resold with a wrap-around mortgage and the other we rented. Both houses we had trouble with the people paying, the rental was a nightmare. Ended up filing 13 with over 100,000 on cc.

Next biggest mistake was as soon as we finshed the 13 we sold everything and used the cash to put a major downpayment on a house we could'nt afford. Closed on it at exactly one year discharged with an fha loan. I knew the payments were going to be steep but reasoned the bank would'nt approve us for a loan we could'nt afford (yeah, right). Started living on cc and a little over a year later sold that house (at a loss in order to get rid of it) and my husband talked me into buying a fixer upper with what little money we had left. Has anyone ever seen "The Money Pit"? LOL, really! Dont' ever buy a fixer upper when you don't have any money!! About a year later we were able to sell it (again at a loss) and ended up with no cash left and over 50,000 in cc.

Now we are renting and we are not going to rush into buying anything and we are going to make sure we can afford whatever it is we get!!!

I have noticed in our local Chinese and Japanese takeouts, that the lunch specials are CHEAPER than McDonalds & Burger King! You can get an entree, fried rice, and soup or eggroll for about $4-6 that feeds two people. They pack it in.
The dollar menu is the way to go at BK and McD's. You can get a chicken sandwich or double cheeseburger, small fried and coke for $3!!!! If you have to have a cuppa Joe out once in a while Duncan Donuts has good coffee much cheaper than coffee houses. Small coffee and donut is about $2.25 I think?
At night, our chinese places have "combination plates" that easily feed two for $6-$7. We buy two and it feeds four. If you are a big big eater this wont work, but Chinese food tends to fill you up fast.
We eat out about once a month now, but I have it down to an artform at every place.
Kids eat free nights at Lonestar, Applebees and I-hop are good too!!! You can save about $12.00-$15.00!!!
:D
WAM

Here's one:

USE COUPONS.

I never even glanced at the dang things until BK became inevitable.

After a little work and some time clipping:

Went to the local grocery store armed and ready to do battle against the cash register.

We filled TWO grocery carts top to bottom with nonperishables like canned goods and frozen items, household supplies, detergent, and so forth.

We got to the cashier and she rang up $229.00.

Wife looked at me a little stunned. I had told her how much we were going to SAVE.

Whipped out the coupons and handed them over the counter.

Beep. Beep. Beep, for the next sixty seconds or so as the amount on the screen got smaller and smaller.

Final toll: $89.00

It only took me half an hour to organize those coupons and save that much money on items we needed or could use in the future. There are coupon sites online, though most of mine come out of the Sunday paper. The paper costs $1.25 but saves us hundreds per month.

One cautionary note, though. Some coupon deals aren't quite as good as they seem. If the paper towels are a dollar off but STILL cost more than another brand, trash the coupon and get the cheaper one.

And don't fall into the trap of buying ANYTHING and EVERYTHING just BECAUSE it's on sale. If you don't even OWN a duck, why would you purchase a duck-grooming kit, even if the damn thing IS buy one get one free?

:)

Also, we abandoned almost all brand loyalty. I don't care what company manufactured it, or anything like that anymore. One exception is Mt. Dew. Like others I am an insatiable caffeine addict.

best wishes,

-dmc

Cholesterol, diabete....

Here's one:

USE COUPONS.

I never even glanced at the dang things until BK became inevitable.

After a little work and some time clipping:

Went to the local grocery store armed and ready to do battle against the cash register.

We filled TWO grocery carts top to bottom with nonperishables like canned goods and frozen items, household supplies, detergent, and so forth.

We got to the cashier and she rang up $229.00.

Wife looked at me a little stunned. I had told her how much we were going to SAVE.

Whipped out the coupons and handed them over the counter.

Beep. Beep. Beep, for the next sixty seconds or so as the amount on the screen got smaller and smaller.

Final toll: $89.00

It only took me half an hour to organize those coupons and save that much money on items we needed or could use in the future. There are coupon sites online, though most of mine come out of the Sunday paper. The paper costs $1.25 but saves us hundreds per month.

One cautionary note, though. Some coupon deals aren't quite as good as they seem. If the paper towels are a dollar off but STILL cost more than another brand, trash the coupon and get the cheaper one.

And don't fall into the trap of buying ANYTHING and EVERYTHING just BECAUSE it's on sale. If you don't even OWN a duck, why would you purchase a duck-grooming kit, even if the damn thing IS buy one get one free?

:)

Also, we abandoned almost all brand loyalty. I don't care what company manufactured it, or anything like that anymore. One exception is Mt. Dew. Like others I am an insatiable caffeine addict.

best wishes,

-dmc

Wow, 229 down to 89. I'm going to start clipping coupons!

Here in California you can purchase club cards from the grocery store and it makes you eligible for lower prices when things are on sale. When my money started getting tight I gave up brand loyalty and just bought whatever had the club card price. I think, but I'm not sure, that if the item is on sale I can save even more if I have a coupon for that same item.

So now I have to find the $1.25 for a Sunday paper each week.....

We have come up with so many cost cutting measures. I'll post there here, as I think of them. One I use, weekly, is about eating lunch out. We have a local Chinese buffet, who lets you get the Buffet to go, for $5.45, all you can find in one of those square styro containers. I can fit 2 meals and a late night snack in that box. I just make my own rice at home, and I am set.


We used to hit the coupons pretty hard, but we realized 2 things. First, that my DD and DW are so picky, we were buying stuff that wasn't being eaten, just because we had the coupons. Second, we realized that buying the stores's value brand, was usually just as cheap, as the namebrand with the coupons.

I know this is probably not right, but since we've given up on going to the theater, I discovered a handful of sites, where you can watch films online for free. How legit is it? I'm not sure. I assume it's pretty shady, considering some of the films are in the theater now, but it's a good way to pass the time, when you can't spend any money on entertainment, once in awhile.

WOW! This week I decided to start buying cheaper foods. I'm going to start eating a diet consisting mostly of PBJ and Ramen. No more bacon and eggs and no more frozen dinners. My grocery bill for this week is $64.22, AND THAT INCLUDES $11 FOR A PACK OF RAZORS! Not only that, I bought bulk Ramen on sale, so I have a three week supply, and I bought the large jar of peanut butter so that will last at least a couple of weeks too. I can't wait for next week's grocer bill, will probably be well under $30. And I didn't even clip coupons either. So, just like the admiral who's ship was about to be sunk and was ordered to surrender by his enemy said he had not yet begun to fight,

I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO SAVE!

With the savings from the grocery store, you can afford the dr bill for eating all of the salt that is in those Ramen noodles.

Do you really think Ramen Noodles and PB&J is a good healthy diet?

I think I'd look for cheaper razors and buy some veggies.

LOL....The great thing about Ramen noodles (pork flavor is my fav) you can add TONS of stuff to them...I add veggies and/or chopped up leftover meats, even kilbasa/sausage...add a little bread and tada..a full meal.

(course I am bad about loading on the butter and cheez, i drain my noodles fully before adding seasoning)

I got an old version of Microsoft Money a couple years ago and started using it. Then kept an eye out for a newer version and found it clearanced in Staples for $5. Everything goes into my records and I have tons of categories to keep my records very detailed. Using that, I was never late on a bill and never overdrawn on a bank acct or overlimit on a CC. Daily I was asked for an update of OUR finances.

But we separated a few months ago, shortly after discharge. Now I find it harder to resist impulse purchases. And I know why I buy things on impulse, it's because for so many years I went without things I needed because someone else in the family needed something else more importantly (like diapers when kid was little).

Anyways, I got my daughter on board with our budget in a unique way. I had several cork boards and spent a few $$ buying some old board games w/ play money. At the start of each month, I pin up whatever amount is in the bank to the cork board. Then as I get paid, cash is added to the income side (rounded down to nearest $). As I receive bills, cash is mved from the income side & added to the expense side (rounded up to nearest $). When I pay the bill, the bill is moved to a third section and the cash goes back into a box for later use.

I have a second board with goals, both short and long term. For ones requiring actual money, I pin up the amount needed and as I am able to accumulate the needed funds, I remove the cash from the board. Goals not requiring cash, such as fitness goals, have a detailed list of how to achieve that goal. I find it very helpful to have a visual reminder of my budget & financial goals.

I have been pondering False Economy: that is, buying cheap things and somehow thinking you are saving money. Cheap things break. You end up buying more of them, thus spending more money.

My experience has been that it is false economy to cut down on many things. Food for example. Without reasonable nutrition, your hospital bills will go up, and your life expectancy will be damaged. Cheap food is not necessarily bad though. Many of the healthiest foods are relitively cheap. Brown rice, beans, pasta and sauce are great ways to save money. When I splurge, I get fresh vegetables.

Don't waste food. Get only what you will actually eat. Eat leftovers or freeze if you make too much.

Learn to make your own. Surprisingly, making bread, or jam, or pot roast takes very little focus. Some people do not cook because they have been led to believe that it is a specialized art and they have no talent, so they end up buying pre-made food. Making your own food costs a lot less, and is a lot easier then it seems.

Plant a garden Even if it is a few pots of herbs on an apartment balcony. Fresh vegetables are easy to grow and give you a feeling of satisfaction unlike any other feeling. (Well, maybe a few better feelings). There is nothing like popping a few organic strawberries in your mouth grown in your own backyard.

Cut down on consumption of goods by really "studying" things to find out what the best option is. Cheap is not always the best option.

Get involved with an art form or hobby that will replace shopping binges, or interests in consumer goods. Some forms of art can be done with relatively little money.

If it is a choice between one good thing and 20 really cheap things. Get the one good thing. The best value is something well made of good materials. For example, shoes, purses things like that. You need only 2-3 pairs of anything. But make sure it will last. I think getting things by really good designers that become "instant classics," is better than throwing money away on junk.

Never buy a new car. Buy old cars from places where they don't salt the roads.

Always have a sideline. Work on ways to get "invisible" income streams coming in.

That is all I have for "advice."

Farmers Markets/Open Markets for fruits and vegatables. Buy whats in season. It will tast better and make you healthier.

Don't go out for dinner. Go out for coffee or Ice Cream. Make it a date!

Crock pot.... After 10 hours even the cheapest cuts of meat are tender. Wal-mart has some decent ones that are cheap.

As One half said, buying too cheap can be bad. After many many tries, I never buy the cheapest stuff. I buy the second cheapest item. Home Depots chepest stuff is usually only good for one or two uses. But the second chepest works fine for most people.

This one is my favorite..... Use your PUBLIC LIBRARY. It is an excellent source of entertainments. Besides books, you can check out DVD of movies and TV shows, CDs, audio books, attend FREE childrens functions, volunteer to host a childrens function and find low cost summer activities for the kids. Your local public library is a gold mine of entertainment and education.

I read the ads, clip coupons and stockpile when I find a good sale. For example name brand cereal is on sale for 1.50. I have coupons for $1 of 2 boxes. I will stock up on cereal this week at a saving of 75% the name brand and even cheaper that Aldi!

My second tip is use high school and college shop classes for car repairs. I only pay for parts no labor! I just got a head gasket fixed for $200. Actually, it was a head gasket, some seals, and a wiper motor. The down side is it may take a bit longer for them to fix it because the instructors are teaching and then checking the work.

I read the ads, clip coupons and stockpile when I find a good sale. For example name brand cereal is on sale for 1.50. I have coupons for $1 of 2 boxes. I will stock up on cereal this week at a saving of 75% the name brand and even cheaper that Aldi!

My second tip is use high school and college shop classes for car repairs. I only pay for parts no labor! I just got a head gasket fixed for $200. Actually, it was a head gasket, some seals, and a wiper motor. The down side is it may take a bit longer for them to fix it because the instructors are teaching and then checking the work.

Hmmm, I like the tip of using a school shop class for car repairs (if you can live without the car for awhile that is)....and it reminds me of something else. The very first hair perm I ever had (and my hair was down past my ass at the time) cost me 20.00 at the Marinello School of Beauty. Took 6 hours just for them to roll my hair but was the best perm I ever had! (prolly cause they were careful and there was a grade riding on it)

Good thinking, 2much. Wonder how much other stuff we could come up with that we could go to schools for that would save money.

That's a challenge for anyone reading. :)

ep

Those must have been HUGE perm rollers!

Schools of massage also give discount work by students who are very interested in pleasing you.

1. Dollar stores....lol they really do have alot of cool things there for cheap. i love buying my cleaning supplies there, sponges, paperplates...things like that.

2. Sams Club- i have a membership there and that helps out alot with food costs, and if ya have cats they have litter for really cheap.

3. i used to go to the hair salon to get my hair dyed....that would run me like 50 bucks, now i buy the 10 dollar stuff from walmart! the only thing i go to the salon for now is a trim once in a while.

4. Walmart! whatever i cant get at sams or the dollar store i get at walmart.

5. go PREPAID CELLPHONE- my actual cell phone had to go to collections cause i was paying 90 a month, i now have a prepaid and cut way down on using it and now i only spend about 30 a month
6.also im a diet coke and coffee addict as well, everyday before work i used to buy a large coffee on my way, now i have a coffee maker, i get my coffee at sams club and have 2 nice big cups before i leave my house, as for the diet soda, i get the diet sams choice can, i pack it with me for my work day and have once can a day.
7. i come to work prepared anymore, no more buying out for lunches, no more vending machines, i pack my lunch and i keep an emergency snack in my drawer that way i dont have to spend a dollar in the vending machine.
8. i also signed up for a free checking account with wamu, u get free checks and dont ever have to pay for checks and as long as you have a dollar in the account you will never get charged a checking acct fee, im going to use that acct and try to put at least 50 away each month for savings.