Buy it Used

So yesterday I was a little caught up in the car trouble that I didn't post about my one little victory. We did hit up some yard sales. I am sure everyone has been to a yard sale before but since this is my blog about cutting back I thought I would report my findings. It wasn't fabulous but it was something. We spent 6.50. I think we did alright.

We got:
Thanksgiving hotpad and dish towel (we don't have any Thanksgiving decor and at least it is useful decor, it will help make it feel a little more like Thanksgiving)
A notepad that I am going to decorate for Hannah (since she is an artist at heart)
An ornament that Hannah insisted on leaving the yard sale with that will now be her ornament for the year (we get her an ornament and us an ornament each year at Christmas)
tea candles for our jack o lanterns (the plus side is that they are scented so I can use them to frangrance our house as well.

A huge box of books, not that I need more books in our house but it was such a good deal and we can gift a lot of them (please don't hate me for giving you a used book as a gift, just think of it as saving the planet by reducing and reusing) and some of the books will go to family members that could use them and what is left we will donate to our super library for their book sale to raise money to keep the library open (seems only fair since we are saving so much by using their services).

We also got a puzzle for rhymes, which I can use for teaching and preschool.
a pair of shorts for my sister's son
a fancy full lenght mirror that I plan on painting to match my room.

So some of it we may not have needed but for only 6.50 I can't complain. So the idea of the day, look for used items, search the yard sales, you may hit a lot of duds and one really awesome sale that makes it worth it. Check out the thrift stores, goodwill, salvation army. They may have a great find that makes it totally worth it.

Lesson Learned

So today I learned a lot, probably not in the best way I could have learned it. I think the best thing to keep in mind while starting to cut back is that it isn't going to happen overnight and there will be some bumps along the way. There will also ALWAYS be things that come up. Like today, it started out with me taking the car in to get a free alignment and brake check. Our car has not been so smooth while breaking and I was concerned. I figured a free check wouldn't hurt and we have never had it aligned so I was pretty sure that was it. Well, our check engine light was also on and I was getting nervous about that too so I asked if they would be able to check it out while they were at it. They said they could but it would cost. After consulting my husband we decided we had better get the problem solved or it might cost more in repairs later. I really wish I hadn't done it.

So 10 minutes after I left the shop they called to tell me the engine light was on because the gas cap hadn't be put on properly. Nice. They said since they had done the full engine check it would cost the hour labor to do it. Yeah, it took them way less than an hour. Then they said the breaks were really worn and also the roatars needed replaced. I was really skeptical but I had been told a year ago that they were about half way worn (by a very reliable person) so I figured it was about time. They then said it would be 450 to fix. Yikes. So much for a free inspection. They also recommended that I get the wheels balanced and rotated. Add that to the bill. I opted out of the later two options. My husband then called and said he found another place that could do it for 100 less but by the time we called the place back they had already started putting new parts on and would charge us for labor anyways. Then they called again saying the alignment was horrible, which I new at the start but I figured that was the only problem. So to say the least, I poured out an aweful lot of money today to fix a problem that really could have been done so differently.

They did end up waving my fee for screwing my gas cap, took 20 off the parts (out of pitty for me being in tears), and upgraded to premium brakes for free but I still feel like we would have been fine with just an alignment and waited on the breaks for another couple weeks while we shopped around. We did get a good price for the alignment but I really wish we hadn't had the breaks replaced there. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

So shop around. Ask people who know about cars your questions first. Take it to two places to see if the people say the same thing needs done. Check on the internet for answers to your questions. Check out a book about cars from your library. Check online for ratings of auto repair shops. I really pays to know what you are doing before you do it. I hope someone can learn from my lesson. I feel really foolish but the up side is that because we have been saving here and there it made it just a little easier to swallow the total bill.

To buy or Not to buy

One thing that I think everyone deals with is deciding what is a necessity and what is a want.

Quote: "Sometimes we can not distinguish the difference between essential and nonessential. We want an iPod, we yearn for it. Thoughts about that wonderful iPod comsume our life for several days. So we go and buy the first iPod we see. It satisfies us for about a week then we put it aside. Our yearnings change. We want something else."

Think about your purchases. When you pick up an item hold it for 30 seconds before putting it in your basket so you have some time to think if you really need it. For large purchases like a car, boat, etc. wait 30 days. If you still want that item it is probably not going to be an impulse buy.

I have to do this constantly now, a lot more than before. I tend to think about things for a long time then buy it and have buyer's regret. This is especially true with strollers. Don't ask me how many strollers I have owned and returned. I have started to walk away more from items and in the course of a few days I can't remember what it was that I wanted so badly. So try rethinking your purchases. Walk out of the store without that item and return later, even if it is the next day, if it is something you absolutely must have. Try it and let me know how it went. Or just share something you were able to walk away from.

Another thing you could do is write a list of things you purchase and categorize them as essential or non essential. Even if you cut back on half of the nonessential things it will add up.

Cash and Carry

So another idea is to carry cash and nothing else, that way you give yourself a limit and don't spend anything above that because you can't. So today I went to the farmer's market with just cash. We were out of just about everything so I knew it would need to be a big shopping trip. I gave myself $60, which is less than a big trip to the grochery store in our house. It may seem like a lot but we actually ended up with a ton of food. I love going to the farmer's market because everything is so fresh and local. Shopping at the farmer's market supports local farms which in a small way is improving the local economy. It also usually has less pesticides if any at all. Most farmers at this market practice sustainable farming. I really tried to think about what would give me the most for my money since I only had so much. So here is what we got:

2 lbs. greenbeans, 5 tomatoes, 1 cantaloupe, 2 garlic bulbs, 1 pound of mushrooms, 1/2 lb of shitake, cheese, 2 dozen eggs, 7 ears of corn, 5 apples, 1 head of cauliflower, 2 lbs raspberries, 6 bell peppers, 4 zucchini, 1 onion, 1 eggplant, 1 lb of grapes, 2 big pumpkins, and 2 small pumpkins.

Most things were cheaper than the grochery store, some were more (like the free range eggs) but I felt like I brought home a good amount for what I spent. And I didn't go over, I actually was under a couple dollars. My total for today is added to what I have spent so far, and when I reach the end of the money, that is it. I can't spend more, and I will have to get creative on meals if I have spent the limit before the month is ended.

The thing about food is that you have to have a plan for it or it will be wasted, which means you are throwing away money. Here is my plan for the food: The green peppers were much cheaper than what we pay at the grocery store so I bought a lot and plan on chopping them and freezing them for the future, same with the onion and green beans. The mushrooms we use to make veggie burgers, they were a lot cheaper than the store so I bought a lot so I can make the veggie burgers and freeze them. That means I have some on hand any time I need them. I have recipes I all planned out for the cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and we have already cooked some of the corn. Yum. The pumpkins I got will act as a decoration until Halloween, I just got it early because I am super excited about it and it was cheaper than the Walmart ones. One of the pumpkins is specifically for making pumpkin pie, so I am using it for decoration and to eat. So when you shop (not just for food), take cash. When you cook, use up all your food.

Quote: " Some families have found that the best way to stick to their budget is to take cash to the store. Leave the checkbook and the credit card at home. You will stick to the budget because you have to."

A Library of Savings

So I wanted to tell everyone how awesome libraries are. They are a free resource for just about everything. Not only books. I absolutely love books but there is more.

At our library there are puzzles, games, music, and books on cd. I have been wanting to get my daughter some puzzles that have interlocking pieces. Typically the puzzles run about $7-10 for one puzzle, unless you buy used or find a super good sale. Our library lets you check out the puzzles for 3 weeks. Plenty of time to learn the puzzle then you can switch for new ones. They have tons of melissa and doug puzzles, which I love, so I am already saving a ton by using this resource. Another upside is that when she grows out of the puzzles we won't have them laying around the house taking up space.

The library also has several classes going on. I just signed up for a knitting class, yoga class, and walking group, all free. I know every library has events happening so go find out what they offer. The library we went to is only one of several in our area, think of how many more resources we could find if we check out the other ones.

They also have a weekly book babies story time. It is interactive with games and songs and rhymes and of course books. So I am saving by not enrolling in costly mommy and me classes.

I have no idea why this picture turned out sideways but you still get the point. A couple weeks ago I looked into getting a subscription to a baby magazine called "Baby Animals." They are very cute and have poems, games, stories, and pictures of baby animals, which my daughter LOVES. I was so temped to get the magazine but then we started the cutting the budget experiment so I decided not to. I am so glad I didn't. The library has tons of copies of the magazine. I was thrilled to find them. Now we don't have to wait for them to come in the mail, we can pick one or two up any time we want.

Another thing I found was workout videos. I know work out videos isn't what you typically go to the library for but I used my Netflix account to rent work out videos to see if I liked them or not. I was browsing the workout videos and found one that my sisters both have used and love: The 5 mile walk at home. I am so excited to try it out. They actually had a lot of good ones. So I am saving by not having to buy the dvd. I can use it for the two weeks then get a different one then pick this one back up if I want. It will always be there to try when ever I want to add this to my routine.

And speaking of excercise I joined a 10 week walking program the library has set up. It is totally free and you get a pedometer, shirt, and weekly snack when the group walks. The group walks once a week and then you track your steps on the other days. They have goals to reach and a competition for who gets the most steps. It is so fun. I have met several really neat people. So no need to join a gym for now. Money in the bank yet again thanks to the local library.

And another resource I found at the library. Beautifully cataloged and organized is a box full of coupons. It is a coupon exchange. The "Live Your Life for Half The Price" book talks about a coupon exchange but I haven't ever seen one so I was pretty excited about it. I can browse through the sections pick the ones that I know I would use and choose a coupon. We had bee considering getting the Sunday paper to get coupons to help cut our grochery bill but this is fabulous. The greatest part is that not only are they all cut out for you, there are duplicates of every coupon. I found up to 4 of some coupons. So not every library may do this but it is worth asking about. It was isn't advertised or anything it was just sitting on a table, waiting for me to find. More savings in the bank.


So, now that I have bombarded you with all this info and praise about the library, check out your library, I would love to hear what other libraries offer.

Swag Ideas

So I know most people that also read my sister's blogs have done this but I thought I would put this out there. There is this awesome way to get free stuff just by searching on the internet. I haven't been super proactive about it but my sister has and she has gotten several Amazon gift cards with her swag bucks. What you do is click on the link below and sign up. Down load the search bar and then when you need to search for something type it into the Swag search bar. You will rack up points for searching and then you can trade your points in for products, gift cards, and a ton of other things on their website. It is really cool. I am hoping that I can save up the Amazon gift cards for Christmas presents this year, I already have $10 in gift cards. So check it out. It is a pretty simple way to get free stuff, which is always nice. I promise it isn't a gimmick and it doesn't have you sign up for a million other offers. Just go the the webpage, sign up and you're in.

www.swagbucks.com/refer/EstherM

Pennies Add Up

In the book there is someone who did an experiment where they started picking up pennies and keeping them in a jar. Over the course of 3 years they had picked up a little over 1,000 dollars in change. So for the next 3 months I am going to been keeping a jar and adding to the jar each time I find change. I have put a penny counter on the side of my blog that I will update each time I add to the jar to see just how much change can add up.

Quote: "If a penny falls from a pocket, no one misses it, right? But one hundred pennies add up to a dollar, five hundred to five dollars, etc. The secret to living life on less is to realize that every 'penny saved is a penny earned.'"

First Step: Cutting Back

I am reading the book "live your life for hlaf the price" in conjunction with this experiement of mine so I am going to include a quote from the book with each entry. The first one is about cutting the small stuff: "You can cut 20-30 percent of your expenses by looking at the small stuff. You don't need all those premium cable channels, you need to recognize that you are throwing away your money on things that have no long tterm impact on your life."

So, our goal is to cut our budget in half. First thing we needed to do was to go through our budget and find any unneccessary expenses that we could cut back on. We decided eating out was one of those. I don't feel like we eat out a ton, mostly while I am running errands and it becomes lunch time much sooner than I expect. We are going to start packing more snacks to take with us so that when we need something to eat we can grab a snack to tide us over until we get home. I hope that we can cut it down to once or twice a month.

The other expense I am going to try to do without is my beloved Netflix account. We have had Netflix for a long time. It is awesome because they send movies to your house or you can just get on line and watch a movie any time you want. A part of getting rid of it is because I felt like I was watching too many movies, and so is my daughter. So for at least a month we will not be using Netflix. That means more time for me and my daughter to do other things together and 12 more dollars in our account. It isn't much but hey, you gotta start somewhere. We have found tons of movies at the library so when I am in the mood for watching a movie I can just run down to our public library and check one out for free. I also let my daughter pick two movies each time we go so I have a couple of kid movies on hand. I am amazed at how many good movies our library has.

Any ideas of anything else to cut back on?

Kick Start

This is my new blog for recording my budgeting and thrifting adventures. I am really not sure how this will go but I am excited to take charge and save money. I would really love advice and ideas on money saving tips. Feel free to comment.