[Julie Vazquez]

If you are living pay check to pay check, you need to cut expenses somewhere. What are some of the things you are cutting back on?

[azucarmoreno]

My husband and I don't go out as often as we used to, and when we do we try to go to free places, like some museums, and public parks - when the weather is nice! - we keep our bills to our bare utilities plus things like insurance that we need to protect our home. When we go to the movies, we usually choose the early bird session that cost only $5 or so per person vs paying full price. For a while I wrote down our expenses for the week/month and keep track of how much we actually spent, but I have become a bit lazy lately. I will start doing that again, because I am surprised of how much we have managed to do now with less money!! Doing things like shopping at discount stores, shopping for cheaper cable/phone/internet services, setting a limit for our dining out ($30 max.) has allowed us to still go out occasionally and enjoy ourselves without feeling guilty or breaking the piggy bank.

[azucarmoreno]

Vee, on 03 November 2010 - 02:19 PM, said:

I make a decent salary of 45K - bringing home 2600.00 each month working for a large company. After paying all utilities, car note, insurance, groceries each pay period I am right back to zero. My husband pays the mortgage and childcare for our pre-schooler. I also have a parent that has limited social security income of less than 500.00 (yes, 5 hundred) a month. So she needs support from time to time. How does this madness stop...I don't have any credit card debt at all...can't even get a credit card right now. So how do I break this cycle. I have tried selling Avon, nutritional products, makeup...you name it to make extra money.....selling has never proven successful. How to I change this...I feel stuck with no way out. By the way...my husband can't do anymore than what he is doing to help me...so that is not an option for me. HELP!!!

I so feel your pain! That is how things were at my home when I was working. We lived paycheck to paycheck despite bringing home two salaries. We were so unhappy and overwhelmed. After I lost my job due to outsourcing, we started falling behind in our mortgage payments, and daycare was like a 2nd mortgage payment!!!

We talked to our bank, and followed their requirements and our first attempt at a mortgage modification was rejected. We found out later that the turned us down because we did not sign and date EVERY page of information they requested from us. We did so with the first page only, and were unaware that we needed to do so with every single page. So we restarted the process and the bank has been working with us.

Unfortunately, we will not get granted a permanent reduction on our mortgage rate until I find a permanent job, since the bank considers unemployment insurance as temporary income...Still it has been a blessing to count with the mortgage reduction so far. Maybe if you contact your bank they may be able to help.

[nicki2mb]

i have two girls 2yr and 8 months, so staying home is really my own option right now bc paying for daycare would take most of my check. so everything i buy is generic brand and i coupon like crazy. i also am addicted to coffee so i bought an espresso machine and make my own (i have had it for two months and probably saved at least $180 since) i buy clothes at resale shops and at the store if its not on clearance or sale i dont buy it. Also i have made my own laundry soap and dish washing soap.

[azucarmoreno]

Vee, I one more suggestion...concerning utilities I've noticed that basic things like keeping the A/C at 78 degrees in the summer and closing all windows before heating or cooling the house, also not turning on the heat until it is really cold have helped with keeping my payments down. It seems obvious, but you'll be surprised how many times we assume the windows are closed when they're not, and we keep the A/C or heating running and wasting energy.

I also, use warm clothing at home rather than turn on the heat unless it's really cold (below 70 degrees). I have lined window treatments in many of my windows, and they do make a difference in keeping the house warm in the cool winter months; I have sheers to allow light in, but still have privacy, and then heavier curtains to block the light all the way at night.

Also, you may have to consider shopping around for cheaper utilities, if possible. I found out that I was paying around $125-$130 with AT&T in phone and internet alone + $ 50 for direct tv. After switching to Comcast I bundled everything for $160/month. You'll be surprised how many companies will fight for your business and offer you great introductory deals...

[azucarmoreno]

nicki2mb, on 03 November 2010 - 06:50 PM, said:

i have two girls 2yr and 8 months, so staying home is really my own option right now bc paying for daycare would take most of my check. so everything i buy is generic brand and i coupon like crazy. i also am addicted to coffee so i bought an espresso machine and make my own (i have had it for two months and probably saved at least $180 since) i buy clothes at resale shops and at the store if its not on clearance or sale i dont buy it. Also i have made my own laundry soap and dish washing soap.

I have a 4-year-old and daycare killed our budget!!!! We were so overwhelmed with our expenses, especially during the first year...Now that she is on pre-k we went from paying $145/week to paying $85/week which is such a relief! But as much as we wanted to go for a second child, I'm afraid we simply could not afford it. We do not have family near to help us, so it is just my hubby and I, and occasionally my sister-in-law. I really want another child, but staying at home is simply not an option for me with the amount of bills we have and our current income, and like in your case, daycare for two is simply out of the question!!!

I hope things will change for us soon so we can fulfill our dream of having a bigger family. I am currently in college and I hope that eventually I will be able to land a great paying job (despite the economy) because I am going to need it to pay back the student loans among other things...

[3d2002]

I am a mother of 2, ages 14 and 1. I get paid once a month so I have to pay everything out of that paycheck; rent, utilities, groceries, daycare, car insurance, unexpected expenses so that leave me with next to nothing by the 5th of the month, so basically I am not living paycheck to paycheck, I am just living. I do clip coupons and use them every chance I get. I did get on the budget plan for the electricity so that helps especially in the summer when electricity normally skyrockets because of the a/c and it helps with the washer/dryer too. My son's daycare is almost a grand a month, that and the rent are my biggest bills and that takes a big chunk outta my paycheck. Forget about CS, I get that randomly, which is so sad but I still try my best to do what I can. I shop at thift stores for myself and my 1 year old but my 14 year old I buy from department stores with coupons.

I am currently in school working on my business degree so hopefully once I finish that up, I will be more marketable.

But in the meantime, I just pray that I will be able to get outta this rut.

[Sabrina O’Malone]

Hey Julie, Vee, Azucamoreno, Nicki2mb, Riley'sMom & 3d2002,

Oh, how I can relate! I have a family of 8 - so you can imagine that supporting so many little ones often requires me to find creative solutions and ways to "make a dollar out of fifty-nine cents!" But it really can be done. (And you don't have to stress yourself out or deprive your kids - to start saving some money.) Hopefully a few of my tricks of the trade to be useful to you:

• http://www.workingmo...ministries.html (This cut our grocery/takeout budget - nearly in half)
  
• http://www.workingmo...save-money.html (These cut our overall expenses on gas, utilities & more)
  
• http://www.workingmo...money-fast.html (For Crisis situations- how to manage them & how to avoid them in the future)

Hope this helps!

Sabrina

[Jillena]

I am trying this " If you can live with out it " you dont need it..

[Mrs_T_553]

My Husband and I thought it was rough when I was working, but now with our second child just being born, having just purchased a home this past June, and me being a stay at home mom now....we realize now just how much money we had that was being wasted. With the economy in a slump, and one income, we have learned how to stretch a dollar to make it go further. We don't go out on a weekly basis anymore and we have stopped making stupid purchases. I clip coupons, pay attention to every sale in this city, and budget ourselves a whole lot better. I hope to one day be back in a position to where we are not living pay check to pay check and can afford to live our old lifestyle...however, I think the skills we have learned in order to survive this tough time may stick with us which I think will help us out greatly in the future!

[Jewelia]

Hi,
Yes we live pay check to paycheck and are in the process of getting out of debt. We should be out in about a year, that is credit card debt. I am doing things like buying food in bulk when I see good sales, not eat out so much. Bank of America offers something if you are a customer on their site. They offer coupons that you sign up for. The way it works is you put in the supermarkets you shop in and the check the items you are interested in. The when you go shopping there is no cutting the coupons they automatically come off when you shop. I find being consistent is important to get out of debt. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and never again will I allow credit cards to have that kind of hold. But I had to make a commitment to begin and follow through. Credit cards are a trap. The problem is we usually are trapped when we realize what a mess we've made of our finances. But there is always a new day to start, but starting is important. When I get out of credit card debt I will then target my mortgage. Glad to be here and read other people's experiences in life, raising children and money matters.

[brooklynmama]

nicki2mb, on 03 November 2010 - 06:50 PM, said:

i have two girls 2yr and 8 months, so staying home is really my own option right now bc paying for daycare would take most of my check. so everything i buy is generic brand and i coupon like crazy. i also am addicted to coffee so i bought an espresso machine and make my own (i have had it for two months and probably saved at least $180 since) i buy clothes at resale shops and at the store if its not on clearance or sale i dont buy it. Also i have made my own laundry soap and dish washing soap.

Can you share the recipe for the laundry/dish washing soaps? Thanks!!

[lyndsey]

Julie Vazquez, on 13 October 2010 - 02:36 PM, said:

If you are living pay check to pay check, you need to cut expenses somewhere. What are some of the things you are cutting back on?

Julie,

We have a number of things we do as a family of four to save some cash on the luxuries we *think* we can't live without. For example:

First, my husband and I do continue to have our monthly "date night" because I was able to volunteer as a secret shopper for a local restaurant. We get a free meal and all we have to do is rate the service, food, etc.

Second, we utilize rewards points for nearly everything we can. We drink Coke products, so I punch in the rewards numbers and get free magazine subscriptions.

Third, we have rewards point accrued on a credit card. Every Christmas, we turn in those points for a gift card, and use the gift card to buy Christmas presents.

Fourth, our Christmas cards are handmade by the kids. (construction paper, glitter, and glue OH MY!)

Fifth, we MEAL PLAN. I plan out our meals for two weeks and we STICK TO IT. No after work runs to the grocery store to grab something quick for dinner. Is it a pain in the arse? YES. But, it cut the grocery bill in half.

Last, but not least, we split things with other families when we can. My mom and I will split a bag of potatoes or onions; we buy local meat and have quartered a steer with three other families, we've joined a CSA and split that with another family.

All these things help us to put away the extra money we need to pay down debt and start our emergency fund. I love and welcome any new ideas! Great topic!

[Katy]

We live pay check to pay check, but we are slowly building up our savings. We have only had our savings account for about a year so the balance is still low, but we are working hard and working together to reach our goal. We have a 1 year old and a 3 year old so I stay at home with them because we wouldn't be able to afford the daycare otherwise. I have looked into getting an evening or night job, but no one in our area is really hiring. We do clip coupons, we only go out to eat when we have gift cards, our favorite thing to do now is movie night. Every Wednesday evening we eat an early dinner and watch a movie together, the kids LOVE it.

[Mia]

I'm not the original poster, but I've made my own cleaners forever with no problems:

Here is a link for lots of liquid laundry soaps and it also has essentially the exact same powdered laundry soap recipe (it's recipe #4 on the link) I've been using forever. http://tipnut.com/10...ergent-recipes/

Just a bit of a warning...if you're used to commercial soaps, you may be surprised that it doesn't 'suds' up the way you're used to. Don't worry, the suds have nothing to do with the ability to get things clean. Also, Super Washing Soda is NOT baking soda! Maybe this is obvious to you, but it wasn't to me...comes in a yellow box, also made by Arm and Hammer...costs about $3 for a box (one cup doesn't make much of a dent in the box). If your grocery store doesn't carry it, ask them to order it for you and/or try a local hardware or feed store. My TruValue Hardware store carries it. Borax is carried everywhere ("20 Mule Team!" and costs less than $2 a box (again, one cup doesn't make much of a dent in the box). Both boxes last me all year. I use the Fels Naptha soap ($1 a bar) but I've also used Ivory when it's on sale. Essentially, an initial cost of around $10 does literally hundreds of loads of laundry and it really couldn't be easier to make.

Here is a link for household cleaners using non-toxic, green and CHEAP ingredients. It looks a lot like how my grandmothers cleaned, but it still works today, I promise, we use these (or something like them) and it's a great way to save money/packaging/environment. http://organizedhome...eaning-products

brooklynmama, on 08 November 2010 - 05:28 PM, said:

Can you share the recipe for the laundry/dish washing soaps? Thanks!!

[jenelleH]

Do I live paycheck to paycheck? I guess you could say I do, as I ensure that every dollar of my paycheck is allocated before I even get it. That's not to say it is all spent on bills. A very healthy chunk goes to the emergency fund and college savings plan. I had never been on a budget, nor knew how to make one for that matter, before about 2 years ago when I faced furloughs just following a divorce and short sale of my home. With some help of a financial planner and thoughtful revision from two trustworthy friends, both of whom I still go to before I make purchases over a certain amount, I'm proud to say that I was able to follow the budget for all of 2010 and look forward to 2011.

My boyfriend has even taken note about my physical reaction to money talks over the past year. At the beginning of the year I would tremor when we started talking about money (I was in debt, my daughter and I were living at my parents and had no money in the bank. I never thought I would be debt free and out living on my own again). Now, I can handle talking about finances for a decent amount of time before I need a break.

What I've cut back on the most is saying "Yes." One of the biggest things I had to cut was the amount of money I just spent on...well...what ever I wanted. Before, if my daughter, age 5, and I wanted to go somewhere or see a show, we did it. Now she and I both know that if Mama says "No, I don't have the money for that" it means we just can't do it right now. We had spent our fun money on something else and we just have to plan for it and save for it. And let me tell you, except for one time long ago because my daughter was just plainly exhausted and in need of a desperate nap, I have not been that mom in the check out line with the screaming child. It's gone so far as my daughter kicks herself for not remembering her purse to buy that pack of mystery flavored gum when we go to the market because she knows I will not buy it for her. Sorry kiddo...mom's debt free and doesn't give out loans!

[Scoobie]

I love this this thread. My husband and I used to go into major credit card debt each year... we are still barely making it and do have outstanding expenses... but i've learned to negotiate with the doctors office instead of putting all those expenses on credit. "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" is my favorite book... prices are out dated but the concepts and money saving ideas are great. I opened an account for my daughter and make sure her money gifts go into her savings... she's only 6 months old. Last week we packed up her and her piggy bank and took her in for her first official small change deposit ($61.39).. I hope the habits I teach her will put her in a much better financial situation than I am dealing with right now.

[Veronice]

How can I save, instead spending everything I have every month?

[stylinmomma]

My husband works seasonally (construction) so he only works 7months or so out of the year and the rest of the time he gets unemployment. So we try and bank some of the "excess" in a savings account for the months he isn't working and we come up short. My job is more stable but doesn't pay nearly as well as his. I am very adamant about-

*using coupons/getting the lowest price as possible on all items
*comparison shopping for larger purchases/insurance
*if we end up with a little excess after bills/savings- it goes to paying down our car loan or hospital bill from our last child

I am sure there is more but that is the start of it.