Take Some Time And Save Some Money
So much of what we get today…we are used to getting very quickly. Dinners are made microwave-ready so we can pop them in and out…with very little work or effort. Clothes are hurriedly tossed into a gas or electric dryer rather than the time it takes to hang them out on the line. Gas stations that are also convenience stores stock their shelves with food at twice the price…because it is easier to grab it from the same place you’re buying your gasoline rather than make the extra stop to the grocery store.
Time is often taken up with work, school, sports activities…all of these things are good. However, taking an hour or two each day to prepare for quick dinners or convenience items that can be packaged at home will go a long way in saving your family money. Buying meat in bulk and separating it into individually wrapped packaging doesn’t take long at all, and will make it easy to grab for quick defrosting and preparation. You can also take a couple or three days a month and prepare individual or “TV” dinners to be frozen for later use.
Other household duties can benefit from taking a little extra time as well. Rather than throw all the clothes that are washed into the laundry…try hanging some out on a clothesline when the weather permits. It will save on your weekly gas or electric consumption, and I’m sure most will agree that nothing smells better than clothes dried by the sun!
Taking some time can do more than save you money. It can bring more focus and perspective back to what you are working so hard for in the first place…which is time with the family. Make it something that is done together. Back in the “old days”, a lot of bonding between children and parents took place during daily chores. A lot of that stopped being necessary in the age of modern conveniences, and bringing at least a little of that back could have more than just financial benefits.
By Angela Sangster copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Saving On The Essentials
When planning a family budget, one must take into account the “little things” that you are always going to need…and therefore always running out of. Things such as soap, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, and the like are necessities that always have to be considered.
To avoid running out of these essentials, buy the items in bulk as you are able to. Be sure and check the unit price if you are buying a large container of something to make sure it is really the better deal. This will save you extra trips to the store, and as a general rule, the more you buy the more you save.
Rather than spending top dollar at a grocery or convenience store, go to a dollar store for these items. Often you can buy the dollar store brand of a certain item for much less than the name brand. If you do insist on using a name brand, many dollar stores offer these as well. They are more expensive than the dollar store brand, however they are cheaper than a grocery store.
You also might consider making your own soaps and detergents. A simple laundry soap can be made from sodium carbonate (not to be confused with sodium BIcarbonate, or baking soda) sodium borate, or Borax and a gentle soap. One third of a bar of soap to one half cup each of the other two will create a very inexpensive and effective laundry detergent that costs less than half of what you would pay in a store.
With a few steps and some planning, you can avoid spending more than you have to on those “little things”.
By Angela Sangster, SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Avoid Stress Shopping
It may be a bit of a lift to go to the mall and max out the credit card when you’ve had a bad day at work, or the kids have stressed you to your limit. However, shopping to relieve stress is a paradox. Sure, you might feel good when you make the purchase and take it home..but the amount of money you’re spending will come back to haunt you..and cause you even more stress.
Rather than going shopping when you are having a bad day…try taking a walk in the park. Look at the leaves just coming out on the trees if it is springtime..or the many colors they change to in the fall.
If it is inclement weather, try going to the library. It’s free, and there are many books, DVD’s and CD’s that are available for absolutely no charge (as long as you bring it back on time!)
If you enjoy doing things outdoors, I have found that a day of fishing brings me back to nature..and out of the stress-filled world of every day. If fishing isn’t your thing, try a nature walk. You would be amazed at the things you will see and hear that will take your mind off of what is going on to cause your stress.
Planting some flowers or growing a vegetable garden is another great way to relieve stress..and is practical as well, adding beauty and sustenance to your home. If you aren’t able to do this, consider scrapbooking or finally organizing that photo album you’ve been putting off.
Shopping will only make you feel better until the credit card bill comes..and then you’ve got twice the stress you had before. Appreciating some simpler pleasures will not only give you joy…it will give you peace when the bank statement arrives!.
By Angela Sangster, copyright SaveMoneySpot 2010?
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Categories: Entertainment Tags: budget, Entertainment, Shopping