55 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill I love that my electric company allows us to view our electric and how much we use each day. The other day I was looking and realised we were spending $15 a day! OUCH! Yes I know it's winter and all but still OUCH! So I sat down to think of all the way i know wo to save electric and asked around for a few I didn't know and I got a list of 55 and was able to cut my electric bill. We were able to save $5 a day! This saved us $150 a month! Here is what I came up with! Remember not every option will work for every one, Some will only work if you are remodeling your house! Others you might already be doing every day! See if you can change carried to a lower rate - Many states like, PA offer you a choice of who you can get your electric by. Call … [Read more...]
One Tip Even Beginners Can Do That Can Save You $1200 a Year on Groceries. No Coupons Needed!
We are all looking for ways to save money. One of the biggest variables in everyone’s budgets is groceries. Next to house payments it’s sometimes the biggest bill but that also means it’s budget that can offer you the most savings! Let me be honest we don't all gave time to clip and cut coupons like we know we should. Life takes over, things happen. I know the weeks leading up to baby # 4 being born and weeks after clipping coupon were SO far off my radar! So we needed ways to save money without using coupons for when those times arise. One Tip Even Beginners Can Do That Can Save You $1200 a Year on Groceries. No Coupons Needed! Hubby and I have tried many ways from shopping solely with cash to cutting our budget but this one tick that I have found saves us the most! I call it my … [Read more...]
How to Use the Cash Envelope Budget System
Did you know that using cash instead of a debit or credit card can usually help you cut your spending? The reason behind it is that when you use cash, you typically pay more attention to what you’re spending than you do if you’re just swiping a card. Paying more attention means you spend less because you’re more aware of how much money you actually have. How to Use the Cash Envelope Budget System One of the best ways to manage this budget is with cash envelopes. The cash envelope budget is easy to set up, easy to maintain, and easy to see what you have left. It’s also a fantastic way to see where you’re overspending and where you may be able to lower your budget because you’re underspending! Don't forget you can also add money to your budget with things like earning … [Read more...]
I Lost My Job…Now What?
I Lost My Job…Now What? In today’s day and age, not having a job can be a death sentence for a family. Stress levels immediately jump, worries increase and yes, if not handled correctly, it can tear a family apart. It doesn’t have to be that way though if you’re careful. There are several things you can do to protect yourself and your family in case you lose yours. Lock up your wallets – As soon as you lose your job, all…and I mean all…unnecessary spending has to stop. If you’re not going to have an income coming in, you can’t afford (literally) to be sending the cash you have out. For now, you will need to only spend money on your necessary expenses like rent, utilities, food and transportation. Apply for assistance – As much as some of us hate the idea of being on … [Read more...]
How Knowing Your Grocery Store Layout Can Save You Money
How Knowing Your Grocery Store Layout Can Save You Money Have you ever went to the store for “just milk” and come out with a cart load of groceries? I know I have in the past. You go in for a $3.00 gallon of milk and suddenly? You’ve spent $100.00 that you hadn’t budgeted for and bam, now the electric bill is going to be late, but hey! You’ve got those Oreo’s that were on sale! There are a couple of reasons that this happens. One is that you didn’t shop with a list and got distracted. We all know that shopping with a list keeps you on task and generally can help you spend less. The other reason may be something you didn’t realize. If you don’t know your stores layout? You will almost always spend more. Here’s why: Stores generally place dairy and meat items in the back of the … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Save Big at the Gas Pump
3 Ways to Save Big at the Gas Pump Ask just about anyone who fills their car up on a regular basis and they’ll tell you that they would like to lower their gas costs no matter what the cost of gas per gallon may be. If you’re one of those people (and I’d be you are), there are things you can do to create big savings for yourself when filling up. Regular maintenance on your car – Things like dirty oil, low tire pressure and more can all cause your car to burn more gas than it should. Spending $25.00 every 5,000 miles or so to have the oil changed (less money if you do it yourself) and making sure your tires are inflated weekly both are big ticket tasks to save money on those fill ups. It may seem counterintuitive to spend money to save money, but in this case, it really … [Read more...]
DIY Laundry Soap
DIY Laundry Soap With the new year and my Budget Challenge in full swing, I am looking for ways to save money, while we still have some laundry soap on the self I don't plan on buying any more. I will be making it! This recipe has been used by every from the Duggars to many other bloggers who do DIY laundry soap! Amazon does sell a Laundry Soap Kit with these ingredients and I have priced it out it is cheaper to buy them separately by about $10!! 4 Cups - hot tap water 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar 1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda ½ Cup Borax Related: 35 Uses for Fels Naptha That Will Change Your Life Directions Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with the 4 cups of water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill a 5 gallon bucket … [Read more...]
Holiday Shopping on a Budget
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chase Ultimate Rewards for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. With all of us shopping for the holidays, budgeting can be a real challenge. But, it can be done. There are different strategies you can use like taking advantage of store sales or comparison shop online to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible. You can also consider using a credit card that has a rewards program, so you earn points for your holiday shopping and also on everyday purchases. Have you heard about Chase Ultimate Rewards? If not, you could be missing out! Ultimate Rewards is available to Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Ink from Chase cardholders. When you use any of these cards, you earn points on every purchase, which can then be redeemed for … [Read more...]
How to Plan a Cheap Wedding That is Still Fabulous
Rally the troops and save money on everything from photographers to the Justice of the Peace. Here's how to plan a cheap wedding and still have the wedding of your dreams. Once you have your schedule lined out and your thoughts at least somewhat organized, it is time to start making solid plans and saving money. In every wedding, there are things you will need that you can't really get around, but you can make those things cheaper. This is where most brides will start looking for bargain wedding dresses and venues that they can get at a discount because they are out-of-season, but that's where a lot of issues come in because once you've spent the money on these things you have to come up with money to pay the people you are going to be hiring. Start with making a budget for those that … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud this Holiday Season
5 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud this Holiday Season While Christmas may be the most “wonderful time of the year,” it’s also the best time of the year for scammers and thieves. With more people shopping online every year, it’s a great way for them to steal your credit card numbers, your identity and more. You’re not powerless though! There are a few simple things that you can do to protect yourself from theft this year and still be able to shop online to grab the deals that you want. Only shop reputable sites – By limiting your shopping to sites that you are familiar with, you limit the chance that someone will steal your card numbers. Sites like Amazon, Walmart, JCP.com and more are perfect examples. We’re all familiar with them and know that their security protocols are … [Read more...]