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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: Dec 31 2012 at 1:56pm | IP Logged
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I've been projecting our budget in Excel and plugging projected expenses into our Quicken account for 2013. It sure helps to see things all laid out, while looking for new ways to tweek the budget and cut expenses! I used to think I needed to purchase new software or find just the right record keeping supplies, but our trusty Excel and Quicken survived our recent computer crash and are doing the job perfectly!
I'm so thankful for the many ways God graciously meets our needs, while still helping us limit wants and desires ~ case in point, I'm truly thankful for dh's recent ingenious decision to purchase an extra small refrigerator for just over $100, rather than buying the new, larger frig I was hoping to purchase ~ a much better, more fiscally responsible solution, which suits our needs and lifestyle perfectly!
Another small example ~ I've been trying to limit our purchase and use of disposable products wherever possible, so I was thrilled to find 8 unused Irish linen hankerchiefs this past Friday, just in time for the flu that hit this weekend!
We've been trying to pick up extra groceries whenever possible, especially when items are on sale. Our pantry cushion sure will come in handy in months when money is even tighter than usual or when we have unexpected expenditures.
I've always wondered just HOW we can stretch things even further, and the Lord always, always miraculously pulls it all together! God is SO very good ~ ALL the time!
Anyone else care to share ways you're cutting corners or stretching your $$$ for the coming year? Or just care to share how grateful you are for God's provision and care? With many prayers for all your families in 2013!
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JodieLyn
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I was just thinking about it.. so I don't have any ingenious ideas.. except, I was thinking about a garden, and I think I'm going to make the older kids partially *financially* responsible for the garden as well.. meaning that they'll have a set amount they lose if the garden isn't cared for.. BUT they'll also get a small amount (figured out somehow) for a garden that produces. So both the negative incentive for not wasting the money put into the garden but also the positive that they'll make money by taking care of the garden to get it to produce well.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Pilgrim
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That's a neat idea Jodie. 
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Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
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guitarnan
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Jodie, my friend did that with her chickens...her daughters had to help care for the hens, but got to sell the eggs and keep the proceeds. The results were, well, mixed - which I found interesting.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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Money is not always a motivator.. at least non-essential money  so obviously I'll still need to be involved.. but I have older kids that need money for various endeavors so hopefully this will help them stay motivated.. or at least feel compensated for the work 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Pilgrim
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I was thinking the same thing, that money is not always a motivator here either, but sometimes it works! 
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Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
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Martha
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Something I did mostly as a science project, but seems to be working..
Anything with seeds gets tossed in our "garden" bed. Maybe it will grow, maybe it won't. It's a rather haphazard gardening. But we had pumpkin come up! And lettuces. And some other stuff that I have no idea how it ended up in there. LOL. Oh and an apple tree!
My theory was it won't cost me anymore to toss it in some dirt than tI toss it in the trash and it might take root. Can't hurt to try.
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Martha
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Kristie 4
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I am all ears. We are trying to shave off the budget again- seems like there is so little room to do it though!
~I am going to create menus again- for all meals. When we do this we eat better and for less. There are so many less random costly trips to the grocery store.
~Create a pantry in the basement (for free hopefully!)
~Look seriously at our 'fun' budget. We are very thrifty already, but it would be helpful to have a little set aside for fun that we can use guilt free.
That's all for now...
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lapazfarm
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We recently installed low-flow heads on our shower and faucets. Not sure how much it will help, but at 10 cents/gallon any water we save will help.
Like Kristie, I need to get back to menu planning. I've strayed from that discipline and it is costing us in extra store trips and eating out $$$.
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Theresa
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Barb.b
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I need to get back to menu planning! That way I go to the store once per week - with a short trip mid week for milk and maybe produce. It helps. One thing I did in December is keep track of my spending on a "numbers" (apple's excel type thing). I have categories and when I spend ANYTHING - that night I go to my computer and put in what I spent. For me - it works much better then some software that automatically puts the expenditures in categories. It may sound silly - but I have been spending less knowing I will have to put down on my spreadsheet whatever I buy. Its a built in accountability system. I also hired a handyman to caulk and I really think that helped keep utility bills down - he caulked EVERYWHERE he could in and out.
Also, at my local grocery store they have an online digital coupon system and it helps. I log in and click the savings and print my list. It even gives my personalized savings based on my purchases. Nice for my since I never stick with cutting out coupons from a paper (nice for the store since that is where I usually shop now!).
Barb
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JodieLyn
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Oh Barb, that's how Safeway does it.. and it's one of only 2 stores locally.
When I started printing out the list I fold the list so that I can make my shopping list on the back of it.. that makes it so much easier to have both lists like that.. plus if I need a new list I just switch to a new section of the back of the paper (I fold it in 4ths).
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Barb.b
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Jodie, Yes - its safeway! I like your way of folding the list! I am pleased at how much money I can save!
Barb
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SeaStar
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1. Shop without kids.
I am a master at saying no, but some things still get me- like when they become intrigued by a pomegranate and want to buy one. Then I feel like trying something new is a good thing and buy it when I normally wouldn't.
2. Stop wasting food.
I am much better than I used to be, but lettuce still goes bad, onions get moldy, left overs get pushed to the back and forgotten, etc.
I hate throwing away food that could have been eaten!
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Angel
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SeaStar wrote:
2. Stop wasting food.
I am much better than I used to be, but lettuce still goes bad, onions get moldy, left overs get pushed to the back and forgotten, etc.
I hate throwing away food that could have been eaten!
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This is one of my goals, too, because I am really bad about this. I need to have a regular time during the week to clean out/inventory the fridge. I'm better about keeping up with stuff in the pantry because it's easier to see. But in our fridge stuff just gets lost sometimes.
I've been keeping up (at least reading about) this Pantry Challenge. Our pantry/freezer was actually at a low point recently so I've been trying to stock it back up, but last month I did try to eat a lot more from our stores and it did help the grocery budget. So I guess while I can't do a full-on "pantry challenge" I am finding bits and pieces here and there (like the spaghetti sauce in the back of the freezer) that I need to use up. I think it's helping.
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CrunchyMom
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I thought This article about food waste was timely to this discussion.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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What I don't care for with a pantry challege is that is assumes that you need to use up the food in your pantry. When the pantry imo is so that you can purchase your food as you find it at discount and then work from your pantry. And of course when there's budget crunches we fill it less.. so using up stuff in my pantry is from necessity and not filling it is only done when I can't. So using it up falls into the "bad thing" category. But then we are good about only putting in food we do use and we rotate the food stuffs well because we do have a process already.
Definately the whole food waste problem can be a problem. My issue is in the time it takes to manage the food sometimes.. other times it's a matter of older children dragging their feet on chores so that I never get time with the space to work.. hmm I think I'm gonna start charging them when that happens.
But yeah I really need to be more realistic in how much time I have to deal with stuff regardless of how cheap something is.
But I do have some good ideas on fridge/freezer space to use these items up faster.. I tend to have a shelf in the fridge for leftovers and since I have a larger freezer I tend to freeze leftovers in the inside fridge and put the packages of meat in the bigger freezer.. so that I'm not hunting for stuff as much.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Servant2theKing
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We were just able to refinance our mortgage with a considerably lower interest rate, for fewer years and with lower payments. Thanks be to God for the countless ways He provides for all our needs!
Thank you everyone for the great ideas, especially those pertaining to food and groceries. We recently moved our pantry overflow from my bedroom closet to our office closet which is long and narrow, giving us easier access and better visibility for keeping inventory and rotating. When I thought about doing it I was quite overwhelmed, but many hands really DO make light work and it was all accomplished in a veritable blink of an eye!
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mamaslearning
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Price book! I resisted for years, but finally started keeping a price book and shopping at a couple different stores. Since all the stores are so close, it's not much of a problem but I just hated the work involved with watching ads and buying the best prices according to a price book. But, since I've started doing this I'm amazed at how little I need to spend each week on good food (I don't buy processed or junk, but I also don't buy organic at this point, except for some key items). I also don't coupon because there is rarely anything with a coupon that I actually eat.
I'm also learning to make adjustments in the amounts used in recipes to stretch our food. I find that using 2 scoops to make lemonade is just as good as using 4 scoops. Also, 1/4 bag of chocolate chips is all that's needed for one batch of cookies, so I get four batches from one bag. I use meat as a side dish and utilize soups to fill tummies. Homemade bread has been a big savings as well, plus it makes for a great snack. I also have a different outlook and can now see ways of repairing or using things that in the past I wouldn't have bothered with because we could always afford not to worry about those things (fixing holes in pants, socks, etc.).
I'm so grateful for all the ways that we are provided for each and every day. Just when I think we've hit the bottom, something comes through (someone gives us something we've needed or it goes on clearance)! I read somewhere that it's a good idea to ask God first for what you need and are thinking of buying. If he provides, then you've saved that money. If not, maybe you don't really need it, but if you still think you do at least you thought about it for a while and know that it's the right decision.
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Lara
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: How will you budget & stretch $$$ in 2013
