Don't Bust Your Budget!

Be disciplined in saving vs. spending. Resist the urge to just splurge once... usually a one-time splurge turns into a habit! Focus on the long-term goal. If you need an incentive, plan to reward yourself with ___________ (fill in the blank) each time you have saved $_______ in X category. Then you'll feel like you can see a light at the end of the tunnel and have added motivation to save hard! :)

Or make a list of things you need or want but can't currently afford. Hang the list on your refrigerator or another place where you'll see it every day. Visual, constant reminders can help you avoid impulse buying and increase our motivation to save.

Finally, assuming you are using a budget, a psychologically helpful tool can be to include in your budget plan an "allowance" for you and your spouse. Sometimes the feeling of "bondage" seems oppressive when there are little things that you want, and have to choose between sticking with the budget or rewarding yourself. If you allow yourself a small amount of spending money on a regular basis, it will be much easier to stick with the plan and resist impulse buying with money you shouldn't be spending! :)

~Kate Boyer Brown

Penny Pinchers

Look at your "need" with a critical eye. Recently I needed some more organizational-type storage containers and drawers, but was reluctant to spend the money to buy new ones. I realized I have about 4 of the type of container I was looking for in various rooms of my house, each holding about 1/4 of its capacity in storage. I can combine them, even if I need them in two different rooms, and still have 2 free for my homeless "stuff." This applies to cabinet space, pantry space, etc. -- go through the clutter zones and look at them differently than before. What can be thrown away? What can be stored in a different place with items of like kind to make your storage system more effective? This "out-of-the-box" type of approach can often help you see things you wouldn't notice otherwise and be able to creatively solve your problem and save you money too!
~Kate Boyer Brown

Household Tips and Dollar Stretcher

Here are a few household tips that have been passed along to me over time from one person or another. I cannot say I have tried all of them, but I have tried a few, and plan on testing out more. These should help your dollar stretch a little further and give you some practical help around the home, too. Enjoy!


~Dryer Sheets- 21 New uses

~Also on the subject of dryer sheets, be sure to tear one in half with your load of laundry, instead of using it whole. It works just as well and it makes your box last twice as long!

~Peroxide- 13 New uses

~Homemade Glass Cleaner
2-3 parts water
1 part ammonia
A Few squirts dish detergent

-pour all into a large spray bottle.

I have tried this one and it works Great! An entire bottle of Ammonia is around $1, so you can see how economical this one is!

Little Things

"It's the little things that make a big difference." It's true in exercise and dieting; it's also true in exercising control over our wallets! Here are some of my favorite random "little things":

-Know the policies of your local grocery stores. A store in my hometown doubles manufacturer coupons up to 50 cents, and I took a cue from my sister-in-law to check the Sunday paper for a 50-cent coupon for a certain brand of toilet paper that sells for 99 cents per 4-pack at this store. By using the coupon whenever it was in the paper, I was able to get free toilet paper for several weeks in a row. Many grocery stores match competitors' prices. A simple phone call to the stores around you to learn their couponing and price matching policies can end up saving you a pile! Also, be alert in any store for brightly colored "price reduced" tags. I was in the drugstore the other day looking for something completely different when such a sign caught my eye and I saw bottles of barbecue sauce marked down from $2.39 to .66! I bought the last two bottles on the shelf.

-It sounds funny, but I couldn't resist challenging the theory Clark Howard mentioned on his radio show. Apparently a caller to his show informed him that by thoroughly drying one's razor after each use, one can significantly increase the life of the razor blade. Clark tried it with the razor in his vacation home and was still using the same one 4-6 months later! It seems silly, but it really can reduce the frequency that disposable razors are on your grocery list! This principle, of course, can be applied to other things as well -- proper maintenance always pays off, even down to the "little things!"

-If you receive a large income tax refund each year, chances are you could change the number of deductions being taken from your paycheck so that you receive that chunk of change in smaller increments in your regular paycheck throughout the year instead of loaning it to the government. It's nice to feel like you get a "free" lump sum with your refund check, but if your daily budget is a little tight, this could help ease the stress.

Penny Pinchers

I have recently finished reading (and greatly enjoyed!) Karen Ehman's book A Life That Says Welcome. Although the book is primarily about hospitality, and we might not think of "penny pinching" going along with hospitality, I found the following excerpts to be inspiring as she shows us that it isn't the "stuff" in our homes that matter when we reach out to others -- it's what's in our hearts. Her stories also demonstrate that God honors our desires when we are truly striving to be good stewards of the money He's entrusted to us. I hope you are as encouraged to trust God a little more by her story, as am I!

"Often in our life we have made a prayer list of items we feel we need. We learned years ago that before venturing out to buy an item at full price, we should give God the opportunity to provide the item at a great sale price, used for still less, or sometimes even for free. We have seen God answer our prayers over and over again. We document these in our family's 'I Spy' book -- a simple spiral notebook that chronicles the faith stories of how God blessed us with material possessions that we needed and prayed for."

Karen goes on to share the story of when they moved from their first, 900-square-foot home to another which nearly doubled their square footage. Money was tight after the purchase, and there certainly wasn't enough to buy all the new furnishings the house required.

For the sake of space, I can't quote her entire story here, but she goes on to tell of specific items they looked for and specific answers to prayer God provided.

She concludes, "We found many other items over the course of the summer... When the time came for us to move in, we had all the rooms perfectly furnished with nice pieces that matched and fit. Our 'I Spy' notebook began to burst at the seams as we recorded our Creator's faithfulness. At the end of the summer we added up what all of those appliances and furnishings would have cost us if we had purchased them new and at full price, and the grand total was nearly $10,000. But God saw to it that we only had to fork out a little over $1,500. Isn't He amazing?"

~Kate Boyer Brown

Penny Pinchers

Brrr... it's cold! And if your electric bill was anything like mine last month, you're looking for ways to cut it in the future! The following list of penny-pinching ideas is adapted from Richard Paul Evans' book "The 5 Lessons A Millionaire Taught Me." I have personally used some of these tips, plan to implement more, and included others that you might find helpful as well. •Contact your energy supplier. Your local electric and gas companies may have carious reduced-rate plans depending on your age, income level, or dwelling.
•Check windows and doors for air leaks. Use caulk to seal them. A package of caulk will cost less than $5. Check your local home-improvement stores for more ideas.
•Insulate your water heater. Although your water heater and pipes may be insulated on the inside, they can lose heat and energy through the outside casing. Insulating blankets are available at most home-improvement stores. They are easy to install and can save you up to 3 percent on monthly heating bills.
•Turn down your heat by five degrees and wear a sweater. This could save 15 percent on your heating bills.
•Replace 100-watt bulbs with 60-watt bulbs.
•Unplug appliances.
•Install dimmers in living areas such as dining rooms and bedrooms. Lights dimmed 15 percent reduce energy consumption by 15 percent.
•Lower your heat when you're not home.
•Use high-energy appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines on off-peak hours. (Call your utility company to find out about different rates for on-and off-peak times.)
•Close heat vents in any room that odes not need to be heated.
•Turn off lights, television, and other appliances when leaving a room.
•Check your utility bill. One study showed that four out of five companies overcharged on their utilities. Utilities' auditing companies report that on average most homeowners are overcharged by 20 percent.

~Kate Boyer Brown

Christmas Penny Pinchers

Christmas time is a great opportunity for penny pinchers! Start now making a list of Christmas-type supplies you want to stock up on for next year, and be ready to start shopping on Dec. 26th! For example, my list includes large red Christmas tree ornaments, ornament hooks, potted artificial poinsettias (to save me buying one each year, plus great props for photo shoots... think next year's Christmas pictures!), tree skirt (making due for now...), set of 2 small artificial potted trees for my den, etc. Other things that would be great to stock up on are wrapping and tissue paper and gift bags, bows and ribbons, and any other decorations, including more generic winter motif items with snowflakes, snowmen, etc. that you can use for a little longer this season. Clear your schedule and plan to just bargain hunt for a day or two after Christmas, and hold off now on buying anything you don't really need. I wouldn't recommend planning to buy ornament/wreath storage containers... wait a little until everyone is done packing up their Christmas supplies, and then look for markdown signs!

Another idea that we did this year, which I am absolutely loving, is to set aside a certain amount from each paycheck and put it into a pouch marked "Christmas." We don't touch it until we're ready to start Christmas shopping. (Of course you could also do this through your bank's "Christmas club" program and make a little interest on it too!) This really helps relieve some of the financial burden at Christmastime. Figure out approximately how many gifts you need to buy and how much you plan to spend on each gift for the total of how much you need to save, possibly allowing extra for decorations, Christmas cards, party supplies, etc. if you like. We also keep a birthday pouch and a "random" gift pouch, for less specific things such as wedding/shower gifts, etc.

This makes it easier and guilt-free to buy an "I'm thinking of you" gift as an encouragement to someone who needs a lift. This could also be used to buy ingredients for making a meal for a new mom or family with sickness or bereavement without stretching your own food budget too much. Planning ahead always pays off!

~Kate Boyer Brown

A Little Less = A Little More

I've noticed lately than I can make due with a lot less of many everyday things, which in turn yields more savings for my grocery allowance. For instance: do I really need 2 paper towels, or will one work? Do I really have to use a sandwich bag for that snack, or can I put it in a Rubbermaid food container? I've even noticed I use unmerited amounts of spray cleaners for some jobs. It may not seem like a big deal, but I've practiced using only what I need for such tasks, and have been surprised at how much longer these products last! After all, that's the essence of penny pinching!

Also to help stretch the grocery money, here is a healthy, yummy recipe I've used many times for my breakfast burritos, chicken fajitas, chicken and black bean quesadillas, etc. I think they taste so much better than storebought tortillas! They are more time-consuming than opening a package, but SOOO much better, healthier and cheaper! Once you get into the swing of it, too, it goes faster. Consider making several batches and freezing the extra to save time for later. (Time is money too!)

Whole Wheat Tortillas
1 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour*
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 c. warm water (110 degrees)
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Cornstarch, for dusting tortillas

Stir together the first 6 ingredients. On a floured board, knead until smooth. Divide dough into 12 equal balls. Dust lightly with cornstarch. Roll into a circle as thin as possible on a lightly floured board. Drop onto a very hot, ungreased griddle or nonstick, ungreased skillet.

Cook until brown spots appear on pan side. Turn and cook on second side. Yield: 12 large tortillas.

*I have used all whole wheat flour and they come out fine... and healthier still! Regardless, these tortillas are lower in saturated fat, with no cholesterol, and higher in fiber than traditional tortillas prepared with lard and white flour.

Kate Boyer Brown

LAUNDRY DETERGENT- Make your own for $.01 cents a load!

I admit, when I first heard of homemade laundry detergent, I was quite skeptical and thought only a Laura Ingalls Wilder wannabe would try it! But after a couple trips to the grocery store, where prices are constantly rising at a breakneck pace, I decided to give it a chance. I love the fact that I can buy a container of each of the ingredients I need and still not pay as much as I would for a medium-size jug from the store. The ingredients should last a long time, depending on the number of people you have to do laundry for, of course. My friend, who gave me the recipe, estimated the cost to be a penny per load! Now that's true penny pinching! :)

1/3 bar Ivory soap, grated
1/2 c. washing soda (NOT baking soda... mine is Arm & Hammer brand and I could only find it at one Kroger in town)
1/2 c. Borax
2 gallon bucket (preferably with lid... otherwise cover with towel for storage)
Water

Grate soap and put it in a saucepan. Add 6 c. water and heat until soap melts. Add washing soda and Borax, and stir until dissolved.

Remove from heat. Pour 4 c. hot water into the bucket, then add soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 c. water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. Use 1/2 c. detergent per full load. The mixture will not be a solid gel, but more of an "egg noodle soup" type of look. (Make sure you use some of the gel-like substance in each load, not just the liquid.)

Easy! Kate Boyer Brown

Kate's Favorite Penny-Pinching Tips for the Kitchen

~Although I've occasionally resorted to washing out plastic baggies for reuse, I don't enjoy it and I feel like more of a cheapskate than I want to feel like! :) I found a solution, though. Instead of constantly going through boxes of baggies, I use food containers for everything from storing leftovers (including things like homemade bread, the last piece of cake, etc.) to packing in my husband's lunchbox. I have cylinder-shaped plastic containers that were intended for freezer jam making; I pack carrot and celery sticks in those instead. One of my husband's coworkers, without thought to cost, complimented him on the brilliance of using such a container for carrot sticks. Little did he know, I'm not a genius, nor even intentionally creative -- just a miser! :) I also bought a couple of containers shaped like a piece of bread, designed to hold a sandwich. They hold so much more than just sandwiches! And I've used them enough to get my money's worth out of them many times over.
~Convenience foods are far more expensive than their whole counterparts. If it eliminates work for you, it creates work for someone else, and they charge you for it. Buy cheese in a block and grate it yourself. (My food processor has an attachment that can shred 2 pounds of cheese in approximately 60 seconds. It saves so much money! If you don't have a food processor, check at yard sales. Mine was a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law who rarely used it.)
Other convenience foods are pre-cut or sliced vegetables (such as in vegetable trays or individual containers), lettuce for salads, baby carrots, etc. Buying the whole vegetable and preparing them yourself saves you money. If you make it a habit to prepare them as soon as you get home, or in advance of when you need them, you won't miss the convenience (or paying the extra money!).
~Do you dread the end of the loaf of bread, like me? I've never liked the end pieces! But I like them now -- just not in sandwiches. I freeze all my end (or heel) pieces, and then, using my hand-me-down food processor, grind them into crumbs. Store in the freezer and use for making meatloaf or meatballs, or mixing with butter for casserole toppings, and as coating for chicken. Your own homemade bread crumbs! -- which, of course, you can season as you choose by adding garlic salt, Italian seasoning, etc.

Family Vacations

'Tis the season for summer vacations! The strain on the wallet can definitely be felt at the gas pump and everywhere else. Here are a few ideas for cutting costs as you hit the road this summer.

~Check out the website www.havekids-willtravel.com. This site offers different destination bookings every day, and is a guide for family travel, world-wide, at reduced rates. Supposedly they can show you, through the book by the same name, where to find free airline reservations, accomodations, transportation while there, and places to visit. I've just been introduced to this site myself so I don't have a long history with, it but it would be worth your time to check it out.

~When traveling by car, try to bring along as many snacks, supplies, etc. as you have room for in your vehicle. Often grocery prices are higher at many vacation destinations. This will also help eliminate the urge to grab an overpriced snack from the convenience store while you're filling your tank. Check out the website www.gasbuddy.com to check the price on fuel at different locations along your route.

Kate Boyer Brown

Comparison Shopping

Practice comparison shopping (and teach your kids, too! This is a great practical math lesson). Look at the unit price listed on the shelf below each item at the grocery/drug store, etc., which indicates the cost per pound or ounce. I priced chocolate chips today from 13-18 cents per ounce at the grocery store (store brand, which I don’t really like, vs. Toll House in average- to larger-sized packages), but at my wholesale club , I could get Toll House chips in larger quantity for 11 cents per ounce. (Note that this is an exception to the rule above!) As my grandmother used to tell me, “Mind your pennies, and your dollars will take care of themselves.” ~Kate Boyer Brown