Ways to save money?

Question

okay there four of us, Me & my Hubby & my Two twin daughters.

We are going under fast with all the Gas & oil prices and the Food Prices Going up.

Everythings going up & we are falling through the cracks.

What are some Ways to Save money @ home && @ the Grocery Store & in General.

We live in a 240,000 dollar house & Spend roughtly 120-160 in Electericity a month and 1000 dollars on our house payment.

Water is like 60-80 dollars a month.

What are some ways to cut down on the Cost of out Payments around the House.

& ways to cut down on grocery cost.

We spend 120 dollars at the pump to just fill up our car, and that Sometimes lasts us a week.

Cut downs at the pump too?

Thanks for helping!

Answer 1

Walk or cycle where you can.  Plan and organise so one trip in the car does all you need; don't keep retracing steps.  Try 'own brand' food products to save--you will find for many there is no appreciable difference; if you REALLY don't like a particular thing, go back to the branded one.  Look out for special offers, like buy-one-get-one -free.  Look for weekly specials and plan meals around those.  Cook meals from scratch, rather than using convenience foods--get great taste too!  Don't be blackmailed by childrens' demands for things they see advertised.  Learn to bake cookies and cakes, don't buy them.  See if you can get by with your house a degree or two warmer in summer and cooler in winter than you are used to.  Don't go food shopping as often as you do now--make it stretch a day or two longer (use pasta and rice dishes, tuna etc.).  Wear your clothes a little longer before replacing them.  Try to sell what you aren't using or needing anymore in a yard sale or on e-bay.  Make e-bay your first port of call when you are looking to buy something.  Use slightly less washing powder or detergent than the packet suggests--you won't see any difference in the wash, but your powder will last longer.  If you can, shop at a warehouse-type of shop like 'Sam's Club.'  Watch the sales for everything you need to buy and buy then.  Bargain with shops for discounts on purchases; you'd be surprised how often all you have to do is ask!!  Think about everything you spend:  Do I need it or do I want it?  Do I need it now, or can I wait a month?  And finally, MAKE A BUDGET, and know exactly where your money is going.

Answer 2

Since you don't say how much you bring home each pay period, it is hard to know if you have adequate cash flow to pay bills.  But, here are some suggestions.

1.  If you normally get a tax refund every year, increase your allowances on your W-4.  This will increase your take home pay.  It will take about a month for the change to kick in.

2.  Stop eating at restaurants.  Food cost is usually 25% to 30% of the price that you pay.  This includes fast food places and coffee houses.

3.  Look for sales at the supermarket and plan your meals around the sales for the week.

4.  Use a lower price grocery store.  There are many local places that have the same quality food at much cheaper prices.  Most of your chain grocery stores charge double for the same food.  Shop around.

5.  Use your A/C as little as possible.  That eats up a lot of your electric bill.

6.  Turn off computers and all other electrical appliances when not in use.  This means shut it down instead of just hibernating.

7.  Get rid of your cell phone plan.  Cell phones are more expensive than land lines.

8.  Use a slower internet connection.  You can get DSL for $15 - $25 a month.  Cable can easily cost $50 a month.

9.  Limit unnecessary driving.  Plan one day on the weekend to do all of your errands.  That includes doctor appts, haircuts, shopping.  The rest of the week only use the car for commuting to/from work.

Answer 3

$60-$80 a month for water?  Take a look at your water use.

Cancel cell phones.

Cancel cable, especially optional packages.

Consolidate trips.

Buy generic brand groceries.

Quit eating out, movies, Starbucks, etc.

Limit shopping for the teens.

Pay cash (not plastic) for everything.  You'll be amazed how much easier it is not to spend when you are parting with actual greenbacks.

Answer 4

I went from someone completely unable to save, to now I've been doing really well at saving.

You have to get drastic, and you have to think EFFICIENCY.

PLAN where you drive. No more 'I'm gonna stop by the store on the way home' c**p.

Make shopping lists, and go without if you have to - shop on set days.

Hang dry your laundry. Yes, you have to plan better, because you have to add a day to how long it takes, but you cannot believe how much juice a freakin dryer eats up.

(Plus, your clothes last way longer if they don't go through the dryer.)

I have a clotheline outside, plus I have one of those nifty little drying racks inside, so I do this even in the winter (takes 2 days to dry clothes in winter).

Turn off lights. Turn off the power strip to your VCR, etc.

Don't run the air conditioner if you're going to be gone more than 2-3 hours. It's a myth that it saves juice to leave it on.

Don't leave doors open - train your kids, they're the worst.

Make your own food, don't buy pre-made packaged stuff at the store, and cut down (or eliminate completely) going to restaurants.

NEVER buy anything from Starbucks or places like them. This is the most overpriced thing on earth, and this really adds up. I'm serious, this is just wasting money.

Don't buy bottled water EVER. Buy one, keep it, and keep refilling it with tap water, which is the cleanest on earth - there's nothing wrong with it.

I don't have Cable TV. I have NetFlix (under $20 a month), so I can watch any movie ever made, but cable is a money waster, and a time waster. Yes, there's some great stuff on it, but if you're in a financial pinch, this IS NOT a necessity!

Get the cheapest most basic phone plan.

When you go clothes shopping, make a stop at the thrift store first. Remember, there's stuff there that looks EXACTLY like what your new clothes are going to look like the first time you wear and wash them.

The little stuff adds up.