Does anyone know?

Question

of something that can help on home budgets. Are there any good ideas that you can share with me that might help, or books that I can read that are really good help?

Answer 1

Here is a way to save money AND pay for most if not all of your christmas presents. People, for what ever reason, don't take advantage of coupons! Use them, clip them out as a family project. Every Sunday my wife and three kids and myself go through all the coupons in the paper (and we look every where else too - Walgreens is always putting out a sales flier) and cut and snip and file coupons for things we know we use all the time and for things we think we might splurge on. Then we use them when we go to the stores. We then take the money the receipt said we saved and put it into a savings acccount we marked for christmas. Every year for the last six years we have had $800.00 or more in that account and we used it ti buy or gifts. Of course you can use the money for anything needed. We even had to dip into it in a family emergency two years ago and we still had over $800.00 left. I'm telling you, get over feeling we're too good or above clipping and using coupons and there is a lot of money to be saved instead of giving it to some grocery company whose employees don't receive the benefits for anyway.

Here's an example, I have last weeks grocery receipt- it indicates that we saved $32.12 from coupons and club membership on today's purchase. We deposited that $32.12 into our account. This is August and our christmas acccount is currently over $700.00. You need that money or do you mind gicing it to Safeway or whatever store you shop at? And don't forget, some places that have club membership cards also accept coupons (for double the savings) you just need to ask.

Answer 2

You have internet access, you can find hundreds of good pages to help set up a budget.
If you are just looking for a piece of advice on the subject, don't buy what you don't NEED or what you cannot afford.
Too many people want a really nice car and they can't keep up with the maintenance, insurance, gas, taxes, etc. and they end up getting their car repossessed and ruining their credit.
Cars, TVs, furniture, it's the same thing,. Know how much you can afford to spend, do a little research and shopping around before you buy. And you don't have to own everything at once, save up for the big stuff and don't get into credit debt that you can't get out of.

Answer 3

I plan my menus. We get paid every 2 weeks. So that is when I grocery shop.I plan exactly what we will eat every nite and make sure I have all the ingredients for each meal. This way I cut down on trips to the store. I find any time I walk into the grocery store I spend at least $50! I also plan to have leftovers to take to lunch or sandwich meat.
If you need a really strict budget you may need to cut out cable or a phone. If you have a home and a cell one may need to go.

Answer 4

1. pay bills first, i always try to stay one month ahead.
2. don't buy magazines, go to the library
3. drink water
4. don't go out to eat, but maybe once a month
5. pay cash for a nice used car
6. don't go to the mall except if there's something specific that u need and then take the amount of cash u will need and leave all cards at home.
7. have children eat their big meals at school, then have breakfast like type of food for dinner.
8. eat sandwiches instead of buying meat, it's cheaper
9. walk to the store.
10. buy one good dress and wear that to all special occassions and church. don't waste money on clothes.
11. live off one income.
12. put the other income in savings, etc....


check oprah.com, i know they did a show on budgets a while back

best wishes

Answer 5

Well when it comes to budgets and such matters, for me it's just a matter of prioritizing. I seperate my needs from my wants, and then deal with them in order of importance or value. I take care of my needs before my wants, and sacrifice some of my wants to save just a lil'. It's taken me a while to get to this point because everything seems to always be in your face. I used to write a list for greater impact. and periodically rewrite it until doing such became a mental process. Like everyone had to learn 1+1=2. There are two main ingredients in good budgetting: diligence and commitment. You shouldn't need books or websites. "For me a waste of time." You know what you need and want. So you decide and just do it. I say that matter-of-factly because if you can express your concerns as well as you have in your question, then I am confident that you can achieve your goals where your budget is concerned. Now evaluate your situation, recognize your needs, identify your wants, determine priority and engage (do what it takes to make it happen). "live -within- your means, and -live- within your means!...doing so is very rewarding, and you can do it, K...take care...

Answer 6

You can research it on Google for ideas.
I did a home budget by taking my last 12 months of bills and estimating the monthly cost. I divide the outgo by 2 as I get paid bi-weekly and take that much out of my check and put it into the accounts I have set in a binder. (Utilities, credit, food, mortgage, savings, household expense, school, gas/insurance- make accounts for your own current bills)
During the months that I get 3 checks the extra money is put into a slush fund toward gifts, vacation, unexpected expenses.

Answer 7

The best book is The Richest Man in Babylon. (about 6.99)
Also try one of the Dome record books. Write everything down an try a budget you will be amazed where you money is really going.

Answer 8

There's a ton of books on it at Borders. Ask to be pointed to Personal Finance.

Pointers. I'm still trying to get above water myself. School starting and high summer electric and water have me scrambling trying to get everyone their money... ....Sigh...

Answer 9

Helping with a budget I always reccomend always spending your money that you intend to spend for that week only one day per week.

Answer 10

Thats a tough one there.. When you figure out how to straighten it out.. get it patented and budget troubles will be over..