I should have said 'Cook from scratch' at home. Clearly, it doesn't work if you just buy a half-dozen Hot Pockets and microwave them.
I learned to do this when I moved to Scandinavia, where restaurants are super-expensive. College-age people go to cafes and stuff, but once you have kids restaurants are for family birthdays and not much else.
I agree, cooking at home will save you a bunch of money and you will be less likely to catch a cold or the flu. One winter we were doing some sort of diet and all our food had to be prepared at home (of course). We went the whole winter without eatin out once. Everyone we knew got sick with something or other, and we were healthy all winter. The first time we ate out after we quit the diet, we both came down with something. Think about all the people/things your food gets exposed to when you eat out.
On top of cooking all our meals at home, we shop our closet a lot. LilSnarky especially--why do kids fixate on one or two outfits? Every so often, I re-arrange her drawers so she wears "new" (shoved to the back and forgotten) things.
Could not agree more! One of my biggest money savers was when I started bringing breakfast, lunch and snacks to work. I also recently purchased a giant (20oz) travel mug, which cut out my need to go to the bakery mid-morning for a 2nd cup of coffee...which often led to an impulse muffin or pastry. I also stocked my desk with healthy snacks, plus cup of soup packs and herbal tea - again cutting out that mid-afternoon dash for a snack/drink that cost $ and lbs!
Stop using credit cards. It's obscene the amount of interest one pays on charges. If you must use credit, pay it off immediately - don't carry a balance.
Pay off all the debt you can (a snowball calculator is a great tool).
Set a realistic budget - bills, household expenses, savings, fun money.
Stop impulsive spending. Seriously consider a purchase before you buy. If you want to become debt free (or just live within your means), be thoughtful about spending.
Make a list and a budget before you go shopping for anything: food, clothing, things for your home. That way you stay on track and don't make impulsive buys.
Avoid taking a toddler with you on shopping outings. (I kid! Not really.) If he goes with you, set the ground rules: You're getting ONE lollipop and no more, You're getting ONE book at Target. Nothing else. Don't even ask. This also helps prevent shopping cart meltdowns.
I'm on a shopping hiatus right now. I am so loving it.
If you order takeout every night or go out to restaurants, try to set a goal of cooking at home a couple of those nights. You do save a ton of money, plus you have leftovers for lunch. There are some women I know who cook one day a week for the entire week and freeze the food. I don't roll like that but it may work for you if you are super busy with your job and stuff. My husband and I maybe order takeout once a month. No joke. We would rather go out to a really amazing restaurant once a month instead of eating at the shitty local restaurants every week just because it's easier. But, I am a cooking whore so this is not a huge issue for me. If you hate cooking, I don't know how to help ya!
I've worked solely from home for the past 7 years, but I do think I wasted a ton of money on Wawa coffee and sandwiches and eating out for lunch during my office gigs. Plus, it just makes you feel disgusting. Pack a lunch and buy a thermos. Bring coffee from home.
Workout from home instead of joining a gym. So many people waste money on gym memberships and never use them. I'm totally getting a pedometer this week. I am so curious how many bazillions of steps I take each day just in cleaning alone.
Clean your house yourself. You burn calories and save a ton of money.
Iron shirts instead of dry cleaning. When I'm ironing my husband's shirts, I'm not going to lie: I want to take the iron and throw it at his head, but that savings helps us with paying for my son's preschool, so I just breathe and let it go and drink a glass of wine.
Use the library for books. Or swap the ones you have with friends.
Open a bank account 2 or 3 towns away. DO NOT GET A DEBIT CARD THERE. Deposit whatever amt u decide every week. I started with ten. Since it is far away, and there is no debit card and you have to adhere to the banks hours, the chances u are gonna use that money are extremely low. Another good idea is cashless monday or any day really. On that day you simply dont buy anything- have coffee at home, meals at home- like that. Sometimes try 2 cashless days.
If you have a employer who deposits your paycheque direct into your account I think some will also divert funds to a savings account if you wish, a friend of mine saved up money for a trip to Italy that way and will do this for her next trip, I use the automatic transfer options available on my online banking to do this.
I also found out where all the ATMS are in town that I can use for free, I did not realize my bank had ATMs in places I did not expect so I don't get dinged extra fees for a W/D
I put back $1 for every $10 I spend and have my check direct deposited to my checking account. So say if I go and buy a new video game, I use my debit card (tied to my checking account and not my savings acct.) for $60. When I get home, I deposit $6 from my checking acct. to my savings account.
I do my own hair, better than any pro when it comes to a few (thicker) highlights, that way I can pick up same pieces to touch up roots and leave the rest of my hair virgin (now)medium blonde and I trim it myself too.
Savings est $800 year
Also wash my own car unless i have no time before a special outing, I love to be in the sun and playing with the hose. It helps that my car is half the size of most.
Make more of it.
ReplyDeletePay yourself first, out of every paycheck.
ReplyDeleteDon't put it in a bank!
ReplyDeleteDon't spend it... duh!
ReplyDeleteCook at home. No restaurants, no take out. This is also my best tip for weight control.
ReplyDeleteI should have said 'Cook from scratch' at home. Clearly, it doesn't work if you just buy a half-dozen Hot Pockets and microwave them.
DeleteI learned to do this when I moved to Scandinavia, where restaurants are super-expensive. College-age people go to cafes and stuff, but once you have kids restaurants are for family birthdays and not much else.
I agree, cooking at home will save you a bunch of money and you will be less likely to catch a cold or the flu. One winter we were doing some sort of diet and all our food had to be prepared at home (of course). We went the whole winter without eatin out once. Everyone we knew got sick with something or other, and we were healthy all winter. The first time we ate out after we quit the diet, we both came down with something. Think about all the people/things your food gets exposed to when you eat out.
DeleteOn top of cooking all our meals at home, we shop our closet a lot. LilSnarky especially--why do kids fixate on one or two outfits? Every so often, I re-arrange her drawers so she wears "new" (shoved to the back and forgotten) things.
DeleteCould not agree more! One of my biggest money savers was when I started bringing breakfast, lunch and snacks to work. I also recently purchased a giant (20oz) travel mug, which cut out my need to go to the bakery mid-morning for a 2nd cup of coffee...which often led to an impulse muffin or pastry. I also stocked my desk with healthy snacks, plus cup of soup packs and herbal tea - again cutting out that mid-afternoon dash for a snack/drink that cost $ and lbs!
DeleteTotally.
DeleteSaves weight and money. And sometimes even saves time, believe it or not.
Stop using credit cards. It's obscene the amount of interest one pays on charges. If you must use credit, pay it off immediately - don't carry a balance.
ReplyDeletePay off all the debt you can (a snowball calculator is a great tool).
Set a realistic budget - bills, household expenses, savings, fun money.
Stop impulsive spending. Seriously consider a purchase before you buy. If you want to become debt free (or just live within your means), be thoughtful about spending.
Stay away from Lindsay.
ReplyDelete^ answer of the day!
DeleteJason FTW!
DeletePay off credit cards in full every month.
ReplyDeleteMake a list and a budget before you go shopping for anything: food, clothing, things for your home. That way you stay on track and don't make impulsive buys.
Avoid taking a toddler with you on shopping outings. (I kid! Not really.) If he goes with you, set the ground rules: You're getting ONE lollipop and no more, You're getting ONE book at Target. Nothing else. Don't even ask. This also helps prevent shopping cart meltdowns.
I'm on a shopping hiatus right now. I am so loving it.
If you order takeout every night or go out to restaurants, try to set a goal of cooking at home a couple of those nights. You do save a ton of money, plus you have leftovers for lunch. There are some women I know who cook one day a week for the entire week and freeze the food. I don't roll like that but it may work for you if you are super busy with your job and stuff. My husband and I maybe order takeout once a month. No joke. We would rather go out to a really amazing restaurant once a month instead of eating at the shitty local restaurants every week just because it's easier. But, I am a cooking whore so this is not a huge issue for me. If you hate cooking, I don't know how to help ya!
I've worked solely from home for the past 7 years, but I do think I wasted a ton of money on Wawa coffee and sandwiches and eating out for lunch during my office gigs. Plus, it just makes you feel disgusting. Pack a lunch and buy a thermos. Bring coffee from home.
Workout from home instead of joining a gym. So many people waste money on gym memberships and never use them. I'm totally getting a pedometer this week. I am so curious how many bazillions of steps I take each day just in cleaning alone.
Clean your house yourself. You burn calories and save a ton of money.
Iron shirts instead of dry cleaning. When I'm ironing my husband's shirts, I'm not going to lie: I want to take the iron and throw it at his head, but that savings helps us with paying for my son's preschool, so I just breathe and let it go and drink a glass of wine.
Use the library for books. Or swap the ones you have with friends.
Open a bank account 2 or 3 towns away. DO NOT GET A DEBIT CARD THERE. Deposit whatever amt u decide every week. I started with ten. Since it is far away, and there is no debit card and you have to adhere to the banks hours, the chances u are gonna use that money are extremely low.
ReplyDeleteAnother good idea is cashless monday or any day really. On that day you simply dont buy anything- have coffee at home, meals at home- like that. Sometimes try 2 cashless days.
If you have a employer who deposits your paycheque direct into your account I think some will also divert funds to a savings account if you wish, a friend of mine saved up money for a trip to Italy that way and will do this for her next trip, I use the automatic transfer options available on my online banking to do this.
ReplyDeleteI also found out where all the ATMS are in town that I can use for free, I did not realize my bank had ATMs in places I did not expect so I don't get dinged extra fees for a W/D
ReplyDeleteMY EXACT THOUGHT! Don't buy shit you don't need!
ReplyDeleteGet a good job and don't have kids.
ReplyDeleteOr animals!!!!!
DeleteDon't do drugs that's for sure..Stopping most vices can give you a big boost too.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's stay away from the casino.
ReplyDeleteAnd shoes.
And Michael Kors' outlet stores.
And Petco.
Hide your cash in the crawl space, but keep Skyler AWAY from it!
ReplyDeleteBut if your savings go tits up...you better call Saul!
Also: never go grocery shopping when you are hungry.
DeleteI put back $1 for every $10 I spend and have my check direct deposited to my checking account. So say if I go and buy a new video game, I use my debit card (tied to my checking account and not my savings acct.) for $60. When I get home, I deposit $6 from my checking acct. to my savings account.
ReplyDeleteI do my own hair, better than any pro when it comes to a few (thicker) highlights, that way I can pick up same pieces to touch up roots and leave the rest of my hair virgin (now)medium blonde and I trim it myself too.
ReplyDeleteSavings est $800 year
Also wash my own car unless i have no time before a special outing, I love to be in the sun and playing with the hose. It helps that my car is half the size of most.
Savings est. $240 year.
don't shop on the internet when you're drunk
ReplyDelete