This post is because it's been a month that I haven't worked, and was seen as being selfish (mainly because my husband doesn't want to talk about the budget). He thinks if I work a full-time that it will help out the family. REALITY: Little one is sick this week, so that would mean that one of us would have to be home, and it wouldn't have been him because he holds the benefits. If I were to work, that means money to buy clothes for all for seasons at work, including shoes. Nothing is cheaper than wearing cute jeans or slacks with a cute tee, OR tank with a blazer/cardigan. I've searched for pt jobs, but that would mean money for transportation to NoVa which would be at the max $40 a week ($160 a month). Didn't mention child care, I'm free whereas a daycare provider is roughly $1400 a month for an untrained toddler. So pretty much I would be able to contribute at the max $400 a month, if that. They way I worked out our budget, we would have at least $300 left over....it would work if only he would let it work.
Well, I found some articles that I sent to him, which he probably won't read unfortunately. I want to share it with those who are in the same boat. Back to clipping my coupons, and rocking my little one to sleep. Happy budgeting folks!
Tips for How to Make Your Budget Work with a Single Income
How I went from $60k to $30k per year and am barely making it- the tools we all need to survive.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1055789/tips_for_how_to_make_your_budget_work.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4839697_survive-recession-one-income.html
Top Tricks for One-Income Living
Think you need that second income, but wish you didn't? Here are a few tricks from a veteran stay-at-home mom for cutting expenses, finding extra money, and enjoying life on one income.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/55006/top_tricks_for_oneincome_living.html
http://homeparents.about.com/cs/frugalliving/a/frugal.html
Showing posts with label budgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budgets. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tips for How to Make Your Budget Work with a Single Income
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Food tips for the budget friendly
It's lent over here in my house, so buying any type of beef (I gave it up, but not my bacon!!!! lol), is not even going to happen. Only family sized packs of ground turkey or chicken come in here, and I can get those from my neighborhood shoppers for under $6. The family pack equals 2 different meals (baked ziti and turkey burgers).
A roasted chicken equals about 3 meals: chicken with mashed potatoes and spinach one night, chicken hash (shredded chicken, thinly sliced potatoes, onions, salt and pepper with some oil), and of course some type of chicken soup (w/ veggies and rice or pasta). Yeah I've been good at this.
Also you know those turkey breast you can find at Wal-Mart, well that'll save you a lot of money when it comes to deli meat. You spend $8 for that breast, and bam you have sandwiches for at least a month (for a family of three).
When it comes to buying cheese, buy a block of cheese. That way you can use it for more than one thing (shred it go with your pasta, shave it to go on your sandwiches, cube to eat with your fruit/or crackers, etc.). You'll save at least $2 from your food bill.
Buy generic! This is coming from a certified food snob, but hey sometimes we have to budget. Who knows there might be that certain yogurt that you have to have because it has all of these health benefits (yes I am referring to myself, and my love of Kefir lol). You buy that store brand sharp cheese, pasta (Richfood and Nature's Promise are good brands), making it easier for you to get that special item.
Beans, beans the musical fruit. The more you eat, the less you have to worry about your fiber intake lol. I have a tasty version of black bean soup, that even steak lovers will love, and it's vegan friendly. It requires a a crockpot (have no fear you will be using this), a bag of black beans (don't get the can, you'll be spending more), 2 cloves of garlic, some olive oil, 2 plum tomatoes, 1/2 a habanero pepper, and onion soup mix (make sure there is no beef or chicken stock added). Soak your beans for at least 6 hours, overnight if you can. After soaking the beans, heat up a small pan with the 1/2 tsp olive oil (or margarine if you don't want to spend the money for oil), Add the 2 cloves of garlic (smashed), and sautee' until softened. Add the beans, tomatoes, garlic oil, the pepper, soup mix, and add water until the beans are covered. Put the pot on low (if you're going to work), or you can put it on high until the beans are tender. Make some rice, and if you want to get fancy you can add some cheese on top OR chopped onion and tomato.
Okay little one is up, courtesy of her Daddy, so I must retire. We have a busy day of playing and learning!
A roasted chicken equals about 3 meals: chicken with mashed potatoes and spinach one night, chicken hash (shredded chicken, thinly sliced potatoes, onions, salt and pepper with some oil), and of course some type of chicken soup (w/ veggies and rice or pasta). Yeah I've been good at this.
Also you know those turkey breast you can find at Wal-Mart, well that'll save you a lot of money when it comes to deli meat. You spend $8 for that breast, and bam you have sandwiches for at least a month (for a family of three).
When it comes to buying cheese, buy a block of cheese. That way you can use it for more than one thing (shred it go with your pasta, shave it to go on your sandwiches, cube to eat with your fruit/or crackers, etc.). You'll save at least $2 from your food bill.
Buy generic! This is coming from a certified food snob, but hey sometimes we have to budget. Who knows there might be that certain yogurt that you have to have because it has all of these health benefits (yes I am referring to myself, and my love of Kefir lol). You buy that store brand sharp cheese, pasta (Richfood and Nature's Promise are good brands), making it easier for you to get that special item.
Beans, beans the musical fruit. The more you eat, the less you have to worry about your fiber intake lol. I have a tasty version of black bean soup, that even steak lovers will love, and it's vegan friendly. It requires a a crockpot (have no fear you will be using this), a bag of black beans (don't get the can, you'll be spending more), 2 cloves of garlic, some olive oil, 2 plum tomatoes, 1/2 a habanero pepper, and onion soup mix (make sure there is no beef or chicken stock added). Soak your beans for at least 6 hours, overnight if you can. After soaking the beans, heat up a small pan with the 1/2 tsp olive oil (or margarine if you don't want to spend the money for oil), Add the 2 cloves of garlic (smashed), and sautee' until softened. Add the beans, tomatoes, garlic oil, the pepper, soup mix, and add water until the beans are covered. Put the pot on low (if you're going to work), or you can put it on high until the beans are tender. Make some rice, and if you want to get fancy you can add some cheese on top OR chopped onion and tomato.
Okay little one is up, courtesy of her Daddy, so I must retire. We have a busy day of playing and learning!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Did somebody say fashion on a budget?
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm truely on this "the look for less" kick. I'm a big fan of TJ Maxx and Ross, but I sure do love a good online sale from Old Navy and Torrid. I also love to find little coupon codes online that will help with my shopping. So, while reading Glamour magazine (I haven't bought one in so long since I've been reading parental magazines) I saw they had an article for recession-proofing your life. Of course that meant recession-proofing your wardrobe. There were a couple of sites that I had to share with you (my audience), and maybe you might already know about them. First there's www.retailmenot.com, where you can find all of the coupon codes in the world along with their approval rate (meaning if they worked or not). I have used this site before, and it does come in handy especially when you want to get free shipping. Also there's www.hautelook.com, now on this site there are designer sampler sales with the prices marked down to almost like how much you would pay for a GAP silk tank (but it's designer!!!!). Now I didn't see anything plus-sized friendly, but I did see some of the tops that would be good under a cute blazer or vest (meaning if you just need a shell these could actually work out). One of my favorite blogs about being fashionable on budget is www.thebudgetfashionista.com. So many fly items on her blog, and you don't have to go broke in an attempt to keep up with the Jones' and Johnsons lol.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)