Monthly Monetary Goals
Since I've gone from two incomes to one, I've had myself on a strict budget. Every dollar that goes out of my checking account is accounted for. One thing I've noticed in the past three months is that I am hemorrhaging money from two areas: gas & groceries.
Gas - People, I live two whole miles from work. Every errand I have to run, with the exception of one or two, are on my way home. There's really no reason for me to be blowing clear through $130 a month for gas.
Groceries - I am one person. I eat cereal for breakfast, canned spagetti for lunch, and rarely ever eat dinner. It's ridiculous that I'm spending $140 a month on groceries. I'm nickle & diming myself to death - running to get milk after work, going to grab yogurts during lunch.
This month, I'm going to try a new approach. I'm going to stray from my tendencies of $130-140 a month for each of these and I'm going to give myself $25 for each thing once a week. I'm a sporadic person with grocery shopping & filling up my gas tank. I will go two weeks without going to the grocery store and then drop $100 in one trip. Or I'll get $10 in gas one day and $15 two days later.
I'm setting rules for myself: $25 for gas once a week. If I end up on E before my week is over, I'll be walking everywhere I need to go. If I still have gas at the end of the week, I'm going to put another $25 in there anyway, and adjust accordingly next month. $25 for groceries once a week. I'm going to make myself go to the grocery store once a week, and if I run out of something mid-week, I'll have to make due until it's time to go again.
In the end, this should save me money. It should save me about $70 a month. I'll let you know how it works out, but in the meantime, do you budgeting mommas, newlyweds, and single girlies have any money saving tips (aside from couponing, I already have that one on lock, when I have the time to invest)??
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Also, a question to those of you stay-at-home-ers: For those of you that do, how do you supplement your income? If you have an Etsy shop, how do you bring in traffic that results in sales? If you do any freelance work, what do you do? I'm looking for a second job to bring in some spending $$, but am debating between trying to find something I can do at home in the evenings and trying to find a job doing something like waiting tables on the weekends. I've seen listings for jobs like freelance transcriptionists and proofreaders (no $ down - not scam jobs), but are they legit in the fact that you actually get work that results in a decent amount of money? Any help you have to offer is greatly appreciated!
Meal planning is important. If I don't meal plan each week, we end up spending a ton on groceries. I've cut our usual bill in half. I also started using coupons. I don't have a job right now, but I babysit. It's not every day, but I usually have a few days a week where I'm watching kids. In the evenings too. That's my way of helping out even if it's just gas money or for something else.
ReplyDeleteI am very strict with my monthly budget for food, gas, etc. and I have found that once I set that budget, I am more apt to stay within it and not overspend. I allow myself $60.00 a week for food and gas and I have found at the end of the week I usually have $20.00 left over. I am like a hoarder with the mulah. I think your goals sound reasonable. Good Luck :)
ReplyDeleteHow'd the no sugar for a week go?
ReplyDelete$140 a month for groceries is cheap! I spend $300 a month and include eating out and stuff like toilet paper/household cleaners/paper towels, etc. in that budget. I'm impressed with the $140!
ReplyDeleteIt was really hard for me to adjust to grocery shopping once a week with the hubs but now that I'm used to it, like you said, I make do with what I have until it's time to shop again.
ReplyDeleteYou can totally do it! :D
I'm surprised you don't already walk to work being it's 2 miles!! I would LOVE that - except when it's freezing or raining, of course!
ReplyDeleteI budget our grocery and gas spending, too. It really helps us to save money by buying generic brands on most things. Some things I wont do generic on - you just have to try some things to see if you cant tell a difference.
Great goals! I waited tables during football season one year and made great $$. But I am sure if you can find somewhere to either wait or even bartend you can make great tip money. Good luc k!
ReplyDeleteHilary, I'm about to start going to the grocery store weekly too, with a $25 limit. I do the same thing as you where I can go 3 weeks w/out going to the grocery store & them suddenly I'll drop over $100 in one trip! We just went through our budget last night, and I'm trying to find ways to cut costs, esoecially with a baby in the house now too! :)
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