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Free Computer Screen Cleaner

Baby Phat Fabulosity Fragrance

Neutrel Honey Wheat Digestive Bar

UnderJams Disposable Nightwear

Prilosec OTC

Out and About...and Frugal

Is it possible for a household to live frugally, even when all the adults work or go to school outside the home? Donnie and I have found that the answer is, “Yes!”

It can be very challenging to maintain a frugal lifestyle without a full-time homemaker to keep things running smoothly. Nevertheless, with a little careful planning, it can be done.

Here are some of the ways Donnie and I balance frugal living with full-time work outside the home:

We use the crock pot. Slow-cooking our food serves two major frugal purposes: it makes even the cheapest, toughest cuts of meat tender; and it means dinner is ready to eat the moment we walk in the door. There’s no temptation to stop for fast food when we’ve got a home-cooked meal waiting for us!

We minimize clutter. Keeping our home free from excess “stuff” means we devote less time to cleaning, organizing, and maintaining some semblance of household order. We have more time to spend on side-income ventures, frugal planning and budgeting, or simply enjoying one another’s company.

We keep couponing simple. There are many brilliant frugal experts who create elaborate coupon schemes every time they shop. I admire them, but I can’t emulate them at this stage of my life. I maintain a coupon file, do some basic CVSing, and always try to combine sales with coupons to get the best deals. Our grocery expenses are still low, but I don’t feel overwhelmed trying to create complicated shopping scenarios.

We budget for convenience. We try to leave a little room in our monthly spending plan for whatever time-savers we think we’ll need. Personally, I think it’s better to get takeout for which we’ve already budgeted, than to find ourselves spending money on a last-minute fast food dinner when we hadn’t planned to do so!

We don’t shop for recreation. Donnie and I don’t go to stores, or even check out online retailers, unless we have a very specific purchase in mind. This prevents us from buying things impulsively, and also means we don’t feel deprived by spending lots of time looking at things we want but can’t have.

We plan, plan, plan. Having a weekly menu plan means we never have to ask ourselves, “What’s for dinner?” Creating a detailed shopping list prevents us from making impulse purchases at the grocery store. Keeping our freezer stocked with a few last-minute meals ensures we almost always have lunch or dinner at hand. Knowing how much we can afford to spend guarantees we won’t overdraw our bank account. In other words, planning ahead saves us time, money, and hassle!

How do you balance a two-career family and a frugal budget?

Making a Difference

A tight budget doesn’t mean you have to forego helping those in need. In fact, there are many ways you can make a difference in others’ lives, without spending much at all!

• Share items from your CVS stockpile with a family in need.
  
• Give the money from your change jar to your favorite charity.
  
• Volunteer your time and talents with a worthwhile organization.
  
• Donate your gently used clothes, books, and household items to your favorite charitable group.
  
• Write to elected officials about causes that are important to you.
  
• Invite a family going through tough financial times to your house for a delicious frugal dinner.

How do you make a difference on a dime?

Budget for YOUR Life

If you want to manage your money effectively, you absolutely must have a budget. Fortunately, developing a workable budget isn’t difficult. I personally recommend creating a yearly budget first, then narrowing it to a monthly breakdown (i.e., if your annual clothing budget is $700, do you want to divide that up by month, or would you rather do a major shopping a few times per year?)

No two households will have the same budget, because no two households have the same priorities. The key is to decide what works best for you through careful thought and experimentation. There’s no such thing as a budget that’s written in stone. Some expenses obviously can’t be changed—your mortgage payment is your mortgage payment, no matter how much you would like it to be lower! However, your discretionary categories, like entertainment and family vacation money, offer a great deal of flexibility. You can also get really creative and think of ways to lower your utility bills, freeing up more money for fun things. I provide lots of tips for lowering your monthly expenses on this site, so be sure to look around.

There’s only one aspect of budgeting in which I recommend you be absolutely inflexible, and that's savings. Regular saving is essential to building a secure financial future. I suggest setting aside 10% of your net income before spending so much as a dime. In especially lean times, this may not be possible, in which case I still recommend putting away something—even if it’s only $5 per paycheck. “Found” money, such as bonuses, gifts, or a tax refund higher than anticipated can help bolster your savings during times of greater financial hardship. If your employer matches contributions to your 401(k) up to a certain percentage (usually 6-10%), take advantage of the free money and sign up for the maximum matched payroll deduction.

In addition to savings, basic budget categories include:

• Taxes – real estate; per capita; local, state, and federal income; capital gains (it's best to see a tax professional to plan for these)


• Food – meals, snacks, and party foods prepared at home


• Housing expenses – mortgage or rent, homeowners' association fees, homeowners' or renters' insurance


• Utilities – electric, water, heat, phone


• Transportation – car payments, bus or train fares, car insurance, vehicle registration fees


• Insurance – health, life, and disability


• Personal items and toiletries – non-food expenses like diapers, feminine products, toothpaste, shampoo, and toilet paper


• Healthcare expenses – prescriptions, over the counter medications, co-pays, deductibles, vision care, braces, diabetes supplies


• Charitable contributions – tithes, monetary donations, or major gifts to benevolent organizations


• Household purchases – furniture, home décor, appliances, supplies for renovation projects, fees for paid services (such as professional painting or landscaping)


• Education – tuition, books, tutoring, school supplies, after-school activity fees


• Clothing – outfits for school, work, and weekends; uniforms; shoes; coats


• Personal care – barber, beauty shop, and spa expenses; gym memberships


• Entertainment – cable, high-speed internet, movie rentals, DVDs, books, games, children’s toys, sports equipment, restaurant meals, day trips


• Holiday expenses – holiday gifts, decorations, activities, party supplies


• Vacation money – airline or train tickets; hotel, motel, or campground fees; theme park tickets; souvenirs; meals

Balancing these household expenses in a way that makes sense for you is the secret to good budgeting. Trimming excess where you can, without feeling deprived, is the key to being frugal fabulous. Fortunately, there are many ways to cut corners without feeling pinched, freeing up more of your hard-earned income for the things you really want!

Originally published November 27, 2007.

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Breakfast on a Budget

In this era of sugary cereals, Pop Tarts, frozen waffles, and Egg McMuffins, breakfast has become the least frugal, least nutritious meal of the day for many families. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Start your morning well by following some of the inexpensive, wholesome suggestions listed here.

• Make a batch of homemade pancakes or waffles on the weekend, then freeze. These can be easily reheated in the toaster or microwave all week long. Preparing your batter completely from scratch is the most frugal option, but even using a mix is cheaper than buying these products pre-made.

• Whip up some delicious, nutritious smoothies by blending whatever fresh fruit you have on hand with yogurt, milk, or orange juice.

• Prepare old-fashioned oats on the stovetop or in the microwave. They’re cheaper, healthier, and tastier than instant oatmeal, but the preparation time isn’t significantly longer. Serve with a variety of toppings, such as fresh or dried fruit, honey, milk, brown sugar, or nuts.

• Assemble a platter of whatever fresh or dried fruits, cheeses, and nuts you have on hand.

• Create wholesome breakfast parfaits by layering yogurt with fresh or dried fruits, applesauce, nuts, homemade granola, coconut, wheat germ, or other toppings. Use large cartons of plain yogurt, which is more frugal and more nutritious than flavored, single-serving cups. If plain yogurt is too bitter for your taste, sweeten it with honey, molasses, or brown sugar.

• Bake your own tasty breads, muffins, cakes, or cookies. Even if you use a mix, your creations will still be cheaper than buying packaged baked goods (“from-scratch” is still the most frugal option, though!)

What are your favorite frugal, nutritious breakfast options?

Originally published November 30, 2007

Fabulous Weekend Freebies

Escada Moon Sparkle Fragrance

Bounce Awakenings Fabric Softener

Degree for Men Deodorant

Parent's Choice Gentle Baby Formula

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Oil Absorbing Sheets

Thank Goodness for the Crockpot!

Just a few hours ago, I realized Donnie and I don't have any lunches for tomorrow. Thankfully, we have a crockpot, which means we can whip up an easy, frugal meal with almost no effort!

As I type, I have a small roast from the freezer simmering away in a pot of water and Italian spices. Before I go to bed, I'll drain and shred the meat, stir in some of my homemade sauce, and leave the mixture to finish cooking overnight.

Served over noodles, this simple Italian pot roast will make a delicious, filling lunch. And that certainly beats getting expensive takeout!

Menu Plan Monday: Week of 8/11

Breakfast:

Homemade cornbread

French breakfast puffs

Fresh fruit: apricots, blueberries, strawberries

Lunch:

Chicken soup from my freezer stash

Leftovers

Homemade whole wheat bread

Fresh fruit: apples and oranges

Dinner (in no particular order):

Pasta topped with Italian sausage, homemade tomato sauce, and cheese; steamed broccoli; homemade whole wheat bread

Creamy basil chicken over noodles, fresh green beans

Nachos topped with steak, refried beans, salsa, sour cream, and cheese

Baked chicken, carrots roasted in the pan, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade whole wheat bread

Italian pot roast over noodles, steamed broccoli, homemade whole wheat bread

Chicken fried rice loaded with veggies

For more great menu plans, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!