January 6th, 2008
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not!
I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not!
I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.Making contact
Posted 01-15-2009 at 07:56:24 AM by kmmmom
Have you ever wondered how people score those fantastic coupons for frees or high value $$$ off items? One of the best ways I have found is to contact the companies. People think to complain when things are bad, but what about letting a company know when they are doing good. You may be surprised at the results. I have gotten free coupons for seapak shrimp, country bob bbq sauce, pledge, toothpaste, dog food and a plethora of other things. All I did was email and compliment the company on their product.
So, here is a challenge to you and me. Tomorrow, I'm going to contact no less than 5 companies with a compliment and see what happens. I used to do it all the time, writing to a few companies everyday. Now my mailbox is sad. It's missing all those great freebies and coupons. So, just to give my mailman a little more job security, I'm going to start writing again.
My list for tomorrow:
Baber foods:
Barber Foods Contact Info
Bird's Eye:
Birds Eye Foods : Consumer Relations : Contact Us
Boca Burgers
Contact BOCA Foods | Wholesome Veggie Burgers, Chik'n, Breakfast and More
Bumble Bee
Contact BumbleBee | BumbleBee.com
Del Monte
Contact Us
These links were compiled from http://www.hotcouponworld.com/index.php , my favorite source for news on sales and coupons.
I'll start with those, and move on from there. Hopefully, I will score some freebies to get me moving in that direction again. In today's economy, I'll take all the deals I can find.
***************
Spending today: $14.52 (Meijer, Walmart)
Savings today: $85.48
Spending YTD: $113.05
Savings YTD: $431.51
So, here is a challenge to you and me. Tomorrow, I'm going to contact no less than 5 companies with a compliment and see what happens. I used to do it all the time, writing to a few companies everyday. Now my mailbox is sad. It's missing all those great freebies and coupons. So, just to give my mailman a little more job security, I'm going to start writing again.
My list for tomorrow:
Baber foods:
Barber Foods Contact Info
Bird's Eye:
Birds Eye Foods : Consumer Relations : Contact Us
Boca Burgers
Contact BOCA Foods | Wholesome Veggie Burgers, Chik'n, Breakfast and More
Bumble Bee
Contact BumbleBee | BumbleBee.com
Del Monte
Contact Us
These links were compiled from http://www.hotcouponworld.com/index.php , my favorite source for news on sales and coupons.
I'll start with those, and move on from there. Hopefully, I will score some freebies to get me moving in that direction again. In today's economy, I'll take all the deals I can find.
***************
Spending today: $14.52 (Meijer, Walmart)
Savings today: $85.48
Spending YTD: $113.05
Savings YTD: $431.51
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