Budgeting is one task I cannot let go of, my mom who is an accountant has taught me well the value of money and how little savings, when combined, become big amounts. One venue where this lesson can be applied to suitably is at the grocery.
It’s a no-brainer, but I was thinking twice of buying take-away fried chicken OR that I can cook by myself. 50% difference in price, I just had to spare around 30 minutes in cooking dinner.
Another thing I like to practice is spending money on things that you can see. Big ticket items like appliance and furniture. Hence, I push my other half to think before splurging on insane food purchases, travel expense, and small gadgets/accessories. Before you know it, your wallet is empty and you have no evidence of your hardwork.
On the otherhand, if you get say, a TV – you and the entire family can admire, use, and be inspired to work even harder. I do the same whenever I get gift cheques, I pool them all together and buy something for the home rather than things I can only enjoy. Though, be wary of the traps of technology. It’s easy to want the latest models everytime. Think practical.
Having a list saves me loads of time and money too. “Shopping with a Purpose” prevents me from window shopping and end up with accidental purchases. When I need to buy something but is not urgent, I practice comparison shopping. I check out online product reviews, designs, and other moms’ experiences with the products.
Most of us will agree that we spend a huge percentage of income on food. Especially when family members have their own favorites, the frige is easily filled with leftovers. That, or the ants will be feasting on the food we bought.
To save on food, I am addicted to using cling wraps which are microwave oven safe. Observe how properly kept food end up being finished compared to leftovers simply shoved into the fridge. Use clear microwable containers, if you must – label them. For your family to eat it, heat it for them and serve. Otherwise, leftovers will remain leftovers and pile up on the fridge.
Anything you put in the freezer will stay consumable for a longer period of time. I also put in bread on the fridge to protect them from early spoilage due to changes in temperature (read: molds and other green icky webby stuff).
How do you strecth your budget?
