Any helpful suggestions on how to stay on a budget when your spouse is laid off?

Question

How can you make it? Ideas for cutting back or how to bring in a little extra income?

Answer 1

I am the queen of cut-back! :) LOL You can do little things that will add up: don't go out to eat ANYWHERE. Even the dollar menus are more than you would spend on a meal made at home. Wash in cold water, and hang your clothes out to dry. That way, washing costs you next to nothing. Plan your meals on Sundays, and shop for only those items that you will need to cook those meals. If Monday is beenie weenies and salads, then buy just those things you need to accomplish that meal. Make sure you have plenty of inexpensive snacks in the house, such as popcorn or pretzels, that will fill you up with little cost. Make tea, or koolaid to drink instead of sodas, and visit your local fresh-air market to see if they have soft or very ripe veggies and fruits that you can buy for lots less than normal. Cook large amounts at one time, and freeze any leftovers; this will save on time and energy by only heating up your stove once. Only cook one serving per person in your home... leftovers rarely get eaten, and then are thrown out... money down the disposal!
Plan your trips out, and combine as many as you can to save gas. If the kids have lessons and you need to visit the store, go while you have them out. If possible, write down an itinerary and then look everyone's over and plan your moves for the following week. The gas you save will be noticable immediately!
Shop for clothes at second-hand stores. You can find name brand clothes for a song at such shops, and with simple cleaning, you can have a wardrobe that no one knows cost you next to nothing, when brand new it would have set you back a bundle. Even my 15 year old gets into this one, shopping at a little local re-sale store where she can exchange her own Gap and Old Navy clothes for bigger or different Gap and Old Navy type stuff! I can outfit her for under $100.00, and she'll never wear the same thing twice!
So, hope you got some ideas on how to save a bit...and every little bit adds up! Good luck to you! :)

Answer 2

Coupons for food come in handy at the grocery, try to sell old stuff (clothes, silverware, china, books, etc.) you don't use or need by having a garage sale, cut down on junk food, and just get the basics - list down the most important things you can't do without to the things you can buy later when finances are better. If you know how to cook or bake, maybe you can make special cookies or cakes for neighbors who might be willing to buy from you. Recycle since aluminum cans are bought by some stores for recycling. Cut down on utilities as well - less water, less electricity. Don't buy anything on credit. Buy only what you can afford to pay with cash.

Answer 3

Cut out all unnecessary expenditures and expenses . Save gas by doing all shopping trips once a week instead of running out everyday . Reset your thermostat to higher AC in the summer and cooler temp when the nights get chilly . Cut out dinners and movies and things like that cause you can live without them until your spouse finds work. Good luck as it is tough to do but worth it in the long run .

Answer 4

Local flea markets are a good way to get some money under the table. For those who don't know what a flea market is, its like a HUGE weekly garage/ yard sale held in a specific spot every so often (weekly, monthly.) Sometimes they're held in airports, sometimes in drive-ins. All depends upon the area. I also recommend looking in the PG brad saver that comes with the Sunday Paper for coupons.

Answer 5

The best way to cut back expenses is to stop going out to eat and make meals at home.

Answer 6

Both you and your husband need to get jobs.
Go to Walmart, they pay a good $8/hr without any experience.
Then, you can go looking for better paying jobs while you have that job.

Answer 7

hi,I don`t know what ur question means,sorry, [e-mail] i`ll be glad to chat with u