West Coast Florida Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
August: Limitied spending, and a non-clicky poll.
This month is our "Limited Spending" month, and I am trying to come up with creative ways to save money.
What does your family do? Any tips?
Re: August: Limitied spending, and a non-clicky poll.
Do you have a goal in mind? Like to spend 30% less than you normally do? Or just to spend "less"? I think a big thing is eating out or eating prepared foods from the grocery story (like buying grilled chicken strips instead of just buying a breast and grilling it & cutting it yourself). That's not really anything creative, but I know that's something we spend a lot on.
I don't do a lot of this sht, but I'm recommending it.
No kitchen paper products - plates, napkins, paper towels, etc.
Reuse ziplocs.
Cut cable/internet/phone plans to bare necessities (unless it costs more to break your plans).
Take public transit
One-dish/pot meals.
Hand washing dishes.
Family cloths - you know, for when Shark Week comes along or wiping Bean's bum.
Casseroles - you can really use a few things and stretch out your meat/veggies/grains budgets.
Make your own cheese.
Only flush for #2s.
No a/c.
Ummmm. IDK. I don't live like a dirty hippie.
Food - eat out of what you already have in the cupboard freeze.
Save gas - walk or bike anywhere you can, or try to carpool.
Unplug everything you aren't using and turn off all lights, turn off water when not using, etc. Take FAST showers!
Don't carry cash - if you don't have it, you won't spend it.
This is more long term than just this month, but call your cable, internet, insurance, etc. companies and see if they will lower you rates.
We are doing a limited budget for everything non-essential (like car payment, rent, bills, etc). We have $125 the first week, and drop by $15 each week thereafter. This includes groceries, travel and entertainment. The amount will be in cash, and after that it's gone. No debit cards or credit cards.
lol@nicole. We already do a lot of that... (my husband is a dirty hippie) but I think we have a plan with Progress energy where we pay a set amount every month... so it won't be an immediate savings.
Thank you ladies for your suggestions! Keep 'em coming.
When?
If you drink soda, stop. It is amazing how much money is spent on drinks. Also, if you are a coffee drinker, make your own. I take my coffee every morning and I was surprised when I was really paying attention that 1 pound of coffee is expensive... I know, I should pay attention more but it just hit me when chicken was $2.99 a pound or something and coffee was $8.99 for a pound...Fill up a big reusable water bottle and take it with you everywhere so you are tempted to stop and buy bottles of water.
My husband and I take all both breakfast and lunch with us and I cook dinner every night except weekends.. I do lots of crock pot meals so whatever is on sale and then freeze the other 1/2 for the following week or so.
Our entertainment usually consist of a movie on demand but not the ones you pay for... we are pretty boring, so I don't have any real suggestions on saving money there.
Good Luck on your saving plan. Let us know of any tips you discover.
You may already do these.
Eat mainly vegetarian meals. Beans and tofu are way cheaper than chicken and fish.
Buy in bulk from the natural foods store for things like quinoa, barley, rice, lentils, dried fruit, etc. It's much less expensive, and you can buy in small amounts for only what you will use this month.
1. Keep yourself busy. I find that I tend to spend money when I have free time on my hands -- surfing the internet, walking through walmart, etc. Fill your time with free things and you won't be as tempted to spend.
2. Use coupons and make sure you know the sales. I assume you're in Tampa and shop at publix, so I would highly recommend the blog iheartpublix.com. She does all the sale match ups with coupons (Even if you don't have the coupons from the paper, many can be internet printed). Plan your meals around the sales (this will also take up more of your time so you won't be out shopping). Make your grocery list and stick to it. No extras!
3. Learn how to distinguish needs from *really* wants. I struggle with this all the time : )
4. Lurk on the money matters board. Those ladies are always offering great advice and always inspire me to better with money. If you have a budget, they are happy to critique it and tell you how you can cut out unnecessary spending.
I hope some of this helps!
With DH being out of work we've been doing a lot of this.
I only buy what is absolutely needed, no more stocking up. We do use paper plates, but we can make a pack of 48 last an entire week, so we can save on water. We turn up the ac as high as we can stand it when we are home. We do not run wash unless it is a full load. We have cut the cable to the minimum. I can't tell you the last time we went out to eat (for us eating out to eat now is going to dinner at my mom's). I've stopped buying lunch, and bring leftovers or a cheap frozen meal. We use coupons when we can, but a lot of the time it is cheaper to buy generic than name brand. DH and also share body wash so we aren't paying twice as much. We also eat cheap--hot dogs and burgers, tacos, grilled cheese, eggs, etc.
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