R.D. asks from Lake Jackson, TX on July 21, 2008
Budget Advice
Hi Moms. I know we are all feeling the pinch with the increase in prices in EVERYTHING, however I was specifically wondering if any of you have have survived on about $70 a week for a family of four? After working out our budget with the increase in gas and electricity etc... we will have about that much to buy all of our food and household items (paper towels, toilet paper, light bulbs etc... but not gas, or baby stuff). If I want to continue to stay home with my kids (and I really, really, really do) then I really need to make this work. Any advice would be so helpful. We have already cut out all eating out, coffees,treats, and new clothes so I really need some ideas on cutting down food costs. I know we are all being affected by the economy right now so even knowing I'm not alone in this struggle will help. Thanks so much.
Featured Answers
J.S. answers from Killeen on July 23, 2008
I love the advice you've received so far! AND I've read Total Money Makeover, too.
Have you thought of working from home? I actually left my corporate job 3 years ago to work form home. It was a huge financial impact initially, but it's amazing what you can learn to live without when money is tight. You can also make extra money by selling things you don't NEED (and don't have sentimental value). I've made money on ebay and craigslist and garage sales, too. A $100 here and there helps!
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M.S. answers from San Antonio on July 22, 2008
I cook a lot of meals like my grandmother used to cook...ones that really make food go further. Like meatloaf, you can add a lot of filler (crackers/bread crumbs) to make the meat go farther...salmon croquettes (one can of salmon) can feed the whole family (once again those fillers)...pastas are cheap and go far...beans and rice go a long way. Stuffed bell peppers when they are on sale...I can make four of them with half a pound of ground meat. Frozen store brand veggies are second best to fresh.
Oh, this might not be an option for you, but we have a garden and for about $20 to $30 in plants and seeds we have whole seasons of vegetables and fresh spices. Right now we have tomatoes coming out our ears, basil, rosemary, thyme, snap peas, zucchini, squash, mint, and blackberries. In the fall we have lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, arugula, more squash, etc. My husband helps me out doing on line research on when we should plant each item and then the kids and I go water them and pick the veggies...oh we had carrots last year and so many onions it was unreal. We also grow cilantro, oh and peppers.
It is getting tougher and tougher to make that money go as far!! Filling up my car with gas is over $70...one of my friends fills hers up now at half a tank, so she is only spending about $30 at a time...she says it makes her feel better. She still spends the same amount each month it just feels better at the time to only spend $30 dollars.
Well, I have rambled on...sorry...{{{hugs}}}
3 moms found this helpful
K.N. answers from Austin on July 22, 2008
There was a story a few weeks ago on NPR about coupon websites. Check out this archive of the story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9234... It mentions a lot of different resources available to help stretch your budget by using coupons and the "tricks" for coupons.
Goes without saying that certain items should stay out of your shopping cart because they boosts your grocery bill higher... alcohol and tobacco. Easy to dismiss tobacco if you and your DH are not smokers, but you should also nix beer and wine... and that includes all fixings for margaritas...
You can always use white distilled vinegar as a cleaning solvent instead of windex & 409 type products. Cost per liter of vinegar should be cheaper than cleaning supplies.
And stop using the clothes dryer as much; hang wet clothes outside. Shouldn't take long for it to dry in this darn texas heat! That should help on your electric bill. Same with dish washer--although with 2 small kids at home, you might need to use your appliances just to preserve your sanity!
I thought a while about your question and honestly, it struck me as odd that you feel you have a choice in whether you work or stay home... With the current cost of full-time daycare for 2 children, can you afford to go back to work? Do you have free childcare available... Like, a friend or relative who is willing to watch your kids for free?? Otherwise, you would need to pull in a salary that, after taxes, covers the daycare costs plus a few thousand for the additional cost of gas, car maintenance, work clothes, formula, etc.-and that's just to break even.
The only other thought I have to pass on is, wow... $70 per week equals just under $3700 a year or $10 a day... $3 for each meal to feed a family of 4?! How much savings are you and your husband able to put aside right now? You should have at least enough in savings to cover the mortgage for 3-4 months, plus a thousand in the event your car and refrigerator break during the same month. Because all it takes is your husband to get laid off or injured... if he lost his job, what a pickle you'll be in! It sounds like you're already living paycheck to paycheck... Sweetie, you really need to figure out a way to work from home or do something that will bring in a second source of income for your family. You're in a very precarious financial situation, especially in this economy.
2 moms found this helpful
K.B. answers from Houston on July 22, 2008
Hi R.-
You've already been giving a lot of good advice, so I just have one more thing to add. Look at everything that you buy that ends up being thrown away after use and look for something reusable to replace it with. For example, instead of using paper towels for drying hands or cleaning the house, how about using clothes that can be washed and reused? Do you use plastic baggies or brown lunch bags for sack lunches or leftovers in your fridge? Use tupperware and reusable lunchbags instead.
As far as grocery shopping goes, you might already do this but each week I sit down with the ads for the 3 major grocery stores near me. I make a list for each store based on their best deals. I then match up my coupons with each list. For me, two of the three stores are right across the street from each other so it's not a problem to hit both stores to get the deals. The 3rd one is further away so I plan that trip for a time when I will be in the area for something else. I have a second refrigerator/freezer so I can stock up when there is a particularly good deal.
Also like the other mom said, plant a garden if you can. It will help with budget and it's a lot of fun for the kids to watch things grow.
Good Luck,
K.
2 moms found this helpful
J.S. answers from Houston on July 21, 2008
$70 a week is TIGHT! But here's one thing that might help:
Angel Food: www.angelfoodministries.com
They sell boxes of food at wholesale. You can find a sponsor church in your area. It's for families of any income level. You could probably take a small portion out of each week to set aside to place orders.
Other than that, just the usual advice. Plan your meals, use coupons when you can, but only on things you'd buy anyway. Buy store-brand.
And it may be worth it for you to look into something you can do as a stay-at-home mom to earn just a little extra money to supplement the food budget. Maybe mystery shopping? I know a lot of direct-sales companies have start-up costs, but mystery shopping usually doesn't if you're going through a legit company. Or maybe take in a child for a few hours a week to earn some babysitting cash. Just some ideas.
Good luck!
1 mom found this helpful
H.P. answers from Houston on July 22, 2008
I buy bathroom tissue once a month or so because I buy it in big bulk when I see a good price (4 toilets, so I have to be watchful!). This way it's not part of my weekly budget. We buy the folded paper towels from Sam's. They're the ones with the "flaps" folded over on either side. The quality is good, and we don't have to worry about shopping for them for a few months at a time. Also, I use my paper towels over and over. Example: When I wash my hands, I hold on to the paper towel after drying, using it for when I eat or need to wipe something up. That might help you go a little further with them.
1 mom found this helpful
B.R. answers from San Antonio on July 22, 2008
Your best advice would come from Dave Ramsey!! Go get his bok The Total Money Makeover. It has saved me and my husband. You could even call into his show and he will tell you what to do. He is really good. He is not in it to make money. He will even tell you not to buy the book. I will give it to you! I really mean it. Dave Ramsey will save you!!
1 mom found this helpful
L.F. answers from Austin on July 22, 2008
I totally understand.
I cut anywhere I could. Do you have cable? Call them and see if there is a cheaper bundle. Do you use disposable diapers? Switch to cloth, it saves us about $75 a month. Call your insurance company to see if you qualify for any additional discounts. Call credit card company to get interest rates down.
Go to the dollar store for paper towels and household stuff.
I know it's not specifically cutting food costs, but doing all the above mentioned saved our family a lot of money.
1 mom found this helpful
A.P. answers from Austin on July 22, 2008
You've gotten some great advice so far!
I'd just like to add that you can eliminate baggies, paper towels, etc. from your home and save tons! We also refill our soap dispenser only half way and the other half with water - makes it last longer. Vinegar, bleach and windex are pretty much the only cleaning products I buy besides dish soap/dishwasher soap and laundry stuff. I have tile floors and don't even use a mop anymore. I take a wet towel and walk on my floors - makes the grout stay cleaner longer too!
I love to shop the "reduced for quick sale" meat section at the grocery store. I stock up when I can on those things. For example, last Tuesday was the last day of our local Randalls ad. Well, the ad had stawberries for $1.47/lb. Well, by Tues. night all the strawberries they had were gone and the boy was restocking with fresh, huge strawberries, but I got them at the sale price because the ad was still good. They had also reduced a lot of meat that didn't sell over the weekend and I got about 2 weeks worth of meat for $28! So I say, learn about your local grocery store - ask the butcher when they clearance the meat and go check out what you can stock up on!
When I was in a real pinch - I used Angel Food Ministries almost exclusively. Here's how: the menus provide you basically a weeks worth of food for $30. You'll still need to add a few things like bread or milk or cheese and veggies, but the bulk is there. Order 4! Yes, you'll eat the same thing each week, but some creativity will shake things up.
Best of luck to you sweetie! Hang in there! :)
1 mom found this helpful
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