Sweet Frugal Life

Being Frugal Doesn't Make Life Any Less Sweet

Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Looking for more ways to cut your budget?  This is for you!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about budget cuts.  I get a lot of comments and messages on Instagram; and a few of them just break my little heart!  These messages are from those that feel they have done every single thing they can think of to find extra money in their budget, but there is just nothing left to find.  These people have cut ALL unnecessary spending, only paying the bare minimum to live and they STILL can’t find any extra money in the budget.

If you can relate to this in any way; I want you to know that I hear you.  Financial stress is one of the scariest and hardest things to go through.  This article is for you.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I may receive compensation for purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

1.  Make a Budget

If you don’t already have a budget, make one!  This step seems obvious, but it is a step often skipped.  It’s easy to assume your spending is minimal enough that a budget won’t change anything (I know this, because I use to be one of those people!).

I’m here to tell you that your budget is EVERYTHING when it comes to overspending!  Even if you think your spending is already under control, I can guarantee you will spend less if you have a budget in place.

Don’t know how to make a budget?  Read my article, Zero Based Budgeting, and grab yourself my free budgeting cheat sheets below!  These two resources will give you everything you need for a successful budget.

 

 

2.  Check Your Budget ONE MORE TIME

I know that you have probably looked through that budget a bunch of times this week.  But, I want you to look one more time.

Try to look at your budget with a new eye.  I have found when I am desperate enough, we can usually find something else to cut from the budget.

Here are a few ideas to look for:

Monthly Subscriptions

Do you have any subscriptions you can cancel?

Often we are willing to cut out the cable, but leave Netflix. Now would be the time to consider cutting out the other TV subscriptions, such as Netflix, Hulu, etc.  Instead, rent movies from the library for free, or spend your time doing something other than watching television.

Other subscriptions to cancel are:  subscription boxes, magazines, etc.

Smart Phones

In today’s day and age it is hard to function without a smart phone, I get it!  However, I do know a lady who does is able to do it!  This sweet lady has a cheap flip phone, and a cheaper phone bill because of it!  Could you consider getting rid of that smart phone and the huge monthly data plan?

If canceling your phone plan completely doesn’t feel right, consider switching phone providers to a more affordable option.

We are currently using Tello mobile.  Our unlimited talk and text plan only costs us $5/month.  It’s the best thing ever!

Internet

If you truly feel that you MUST have a smart phone (no judgement, I totally feel that way!), consider getting rid of your internet service.  If you’re not streaming movies, and you have internet available on your phone; this can be a great solution to get an extra $50 a month.

My husband and I went without internet for about 9 months, and it was hard, but we got use to it.  The library was an absolute lifesaver during this time.  Once a week my laptop and I would take a trip to the library, plop down on a chair, and use their free WIFI to take care of all of my internet needs.

It wasn’t easy, but we made it work, and you can too!

Fuel

I get it.  You’ve got places to go and things to do; and unfortunately fuel is expensive.

I’m not going to suggest you stay home and never go anywhere (I mean, you’ve gotta earn a living and live a life, right?).

What I am going to suggest is to look at ways to consolidate your driving.  Consider shopping at a store closer to you, or buying online instead (use free shipping!).  Plan your errands for only once a week, and try to only drive to one area and get everything done in just that area.

I was talking to a friend a few years ago, who was very poor, and I mentioned to her about a free kids playground she could take her kids to (it was on the other side of town, about 15 minutes away).  She told me that fuel in her car is just to expensive, and so she tries to not drive that far away.

It was such a good example to me about watching every penny spent.  I have been much more mindful of unnecessary driving habits ever since.

Adjust the Temp

Turn your house thermostat down a few degrees in the winter, and up a few degrees in the summer.  Research shows that you can save at least 1% for each degree change.  We shoot for 68 degrees in the winter months and 78 degrees in the summer.  Honestly, we aren’t always perfect at this, but we try!

Another easy tip is to adjust the thermostat while you are sleeping, or if you will be gone for work all day.  If you don’t need that extra heat, there is no sense in paying for it!

Groceries

Groceries are one of the biggest expenses in most budgets; food is expensive!  But, it’s an area that can always be improved, if you are willing to put forth the work!

Here are a few ways I have been able to spend less on groceries:

Make a meal plan each week.

Making a thorough meal plan will save you money in two ways.  It decreases the temptation to eat out, and helps you plan meals based on what you already have at home (so you won’t impulse shop at the grocery store).

Cook from scratch.

Cooking meals from scratch, rather than buying prepacked meals, will save you HUGE in your grocery budget.  Consider making your own bread, snacks, etc.

If time is an issue, consider spending one day a week cooking a few meals to keep in the fridge or freezer to eat throughout the week.  Weekends are perfect for meal prep days.

Buy in bulk.

Watch for grocery sales offering you a huge discount when buying in bulk.  I love to buy my meat in bulk, and then freeze it in dinner sized portions.  This requires some time and effort, but can be a big money saver!

A few other cheap items to buy in bulk are:  snacks, cereal, canned goods, and paper supplies.

Use Cashback Apps

Cashback apps are one of my favorite ways to earn a few extra bucks.  Download as many as you can onto your phone and use each of them every single time you shop.  Here are a few of my favorite cash back apps.

3.  Pay with Cash

Do you use cash for purchases?  If you don’t, I highly suggest you start!  Paying with cash is one of the best secrets to spending less and saving more.

I prefer the cash envelope system to help me keep track of my cash and spending.  It’s simple really.  Instead of pulling out my credit card every time I shop, I use my cash from the envelope instead.

It truly helps me to see where my money is going….and once the envelope is empty, I can’t buy any more in that category for the month.

If you are feeling a little hesitant to use cash envelopes, consider trying them for one week.  If you can see a difference in that week, try it for another week.  Baby steps!

more money

 

4.  Negotiate Your Bills

Your bills are negotiable!  Many companies are willing to work out a lower price when asked and given good reason.  We have negotiated a few of our bills with success every single time.  I always remind myself, “It never hurts to ask.  The worst thing they could say is no, so why not try.”

Many of your bills are just non-negotiable (like your mortgage), but there are some companies worth calling and asking for a cheaper rate.  You will see the most success with your:

  • Cable TV Service
  • Cell Phone Provider
  • Medical Bills
  • Internet Provider
  • Insurance Premiums

Keep in mind these tips during the negotiation:

  • Know your competitors prices, and don’t be afraid to mention them during the phone call
  • If you’ve been a long time customer, mention it!
  • Be polite, but firm in your request.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask multiple times.  You’ll be on the phone with different people each time, chances are you’ll get someone who will listen to you eventually.
  • Threaten to leave as a customer; this is when they really begin to listen.

For more details about bill negotiation check out this article.

5.  Increase Your Income

After following the above steps and you still can’t find extra money in your budget, it might be time to consider increasing your income.

Here are a few tips to help you do this:

Ask for a Raise

Prepare a statement to bring to your boss.  Explain why you are an asset to the company.  Give concrete examples to show exactly how you have  helped the company to be successful and earn more money.

Change Jobs

I know it’s not easy to change jobs.  It’s hard to start back at square one, get out of your comfort zone, and learn a new job.  But, look at the big picture.  If a job change will bring you closer to your financial goals, than it is probably worth the switch.

Find a Side Hustle

A side hustle is a job you can work in addition to the job you already have.  You might do this job during the weekends or evenings.  Anyone and everyone can have a side hustle, and I know many people who have multiple side hustles!  I LOVE side hustling!

If you’re needing some side hustle ideas check out the article, 12 Legit Side Hustles for Stay at Home Moms, for a few ideas.  Many of these side hustles are for ANYONE, not just stay at home moms!

Sell Unused Clutter

Look around your house.  I bet there are a few items you haven’t touched in months (maybe even years….).  You can easily sell this unused clutter to earn extra money.

6.  Go to the Extreme

If you are looking for even more extreme ways to cut costs, consider downsizing your home and car.

If you have a current car payment, sell that vehicle and buy a cheaper one with cash.  I know this is not the cool thing to do, I know it’s much more convenient to have a newer car.  But, I also know that being debt free is important!

The older vehicle will only be temporary.  Once you have saved up enough cash, you can buy a newer one again.

And lastly, move somewhere more affordable.

I know this will be difficult, but I also think it just might be worth it!

You can reduce your rent or morgage by moving somewhere smaller and more affordable.  Look at the bright side…smaller also means less to clean (I like less cleaning!).

In Conclusion

I believe whole heartedly that when there is a WILL, there is a WAY.  You can do this!  Find a support system to help you through.  I’m always an email away!

 

Related Articles:

What we cut from our budget to save over $2500 a year

The 6 Step Plan to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

11 Things to do Today to Lower your Monthly Expenses

 

Don’t Forget to Pin For Future Reference:

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You can cut your budget with these simple tricks!

Have More Money With The Cash Envelope System

By: Sweet Frugal Life11 Comments

How to Save Big Using the Cash Envelope System.

I remember when I first heard about the cash envelope system years ago.  I was so judgmental, so snobby about the whole idea.

“Ew!  What a stifling way to live,” I responded to my husband.

Growing up is such a good thing.  I now use cash envelopes proudly.  There is no shame on my face as I pull out money from each envelope and can pay for my purchases with zero guilt.

It was a few years ago when I finally changed the way I was spending money.  I decided to quit using my debit card for purchases and try only using cash.

I’ll be honest, I did not think this change would make much of a difference.  I am a little bit prideful and a lot of stubborn and I really felt that I was strong enough to spend smartly with my debit card.

It only took one month of paying with cash to realize that I was so so wrong!  I couldn’t believe how quickly my wad of cash depleted.  It was a huge wake up call as I watched my cash fly out of the envelope in what felt like an instant.

I still use my credit card on a lot purchases….it does EARN me money after all.  But, I try to use cash on everything else.  It’s a bit of a hassle, but I know that it saves me a lot of money.

If you are looking for ways to cut back and have more money in your bank account, today I’m sharing with you how cash envelopes will help you do just that!

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Why Use Cash Envelopes?

As I mentioned above, cash envelopes will help you have more money in your bank account?  Why, you might be asking….Well, I will tell you why!

 1. Cash Envelopes Force Discipline

Once your envelope full of cash is gone….it’s gone!  There is no card to swipe, no back door to take.  You simply have no more money for that category.

When I first started using cash envelopes I felt like I had plenty of money at the beginning of each period, so I spent freely.

And, I couldn’t believe how quickly that cash flew out the window.  I found myself with empty cash envelopes waiting impatiently for payday.

Did I want to keep spending?  Absolutely!  But, I couldn’t.  There was literally no money to spend.  This forced me to be discipline, I had no other option.

2.  Cash Envelopes Are Visual

If you are a visual learner, you will really benefit from using cash envelopes.  Watching the cash go from bank, to envelope, to hand, and then to store is very humbling.

It shows you how quickly you might be spending money, and how fast the cash goes.  For some reason it’s not very hard to swipe a credit card….but it’s very hard to visually watch cash leave my hand (anyone else agree???).

3. Cash Envelopes Are a Proven System

The cash envelope system has been used by hundreds of thousands of people for years….and it’s still popular.

The reason?

Because it WORKS!  I have heard a countless number of stories over and over again of people who have seen success while spending with cash, who have gotten out of debt, grew their savings and more.  All because they implemented cash envelopes.

Start With a Budget Meeting

If you are not already having a regular budget meeting, it’s time to schedule one.

A budget meeting is the time when you and your partner (or this can be done by yourself) will sit down and discuss the budget.  You will to look through the previous months budget, discuss any successes and failures, and then make a new budget for the upcoming month.

Schedule this into your calendar, otherwise….they probably will not happen!  We like to have our budget meeting on the last Friday of every month.

Setting Up Your Cash Envelopes

The budget meeting is also when we decide how much money we will put in each cash envelope for the new month.  The cash envelope categories do change regularly, based upon what needs/expenses we currently have.

Our most common cash envelopes are:  clothing, house expenses, pet food, children’s extra curricular activities, groceries, fun and other.

We also have an “other” category for any extra expenses that come up throughout the month.  We have NEVER had a month go by without something coming up that we forgot to budget for.  Always make sure you have an “other” envelope.

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Once you have your budgeted amount, go to the bank, withdraw the amount of money you will need and start stuffing my envelopes (this is the fun part!).

You do not need fancy envelopes, you can use them if you want….but they are not necessary.  We use boring cheap white envelopes and just write the names of each category on the front.

Now that you have your cash, simply put your budgeted amounts into it’s corresponding envelope.

 

Making Cash Envelopes Work

This money will need to last you for the entire time of your budget.  In many cases this will be paycheck to paycheck, we budget our cash monthly.

Remember to watch these envelopes closely.  Spend with caution and be aware of any upcoming expenses you might have later on in the month.

To track my cash spending I like to use a simple note card, stuffed into my envelope alongside the cash.  This is my “mini-budget” where I take note of all expenses and income for that particular envelope (yes, one note card per envelope).

Once the month (or pay period) is over you will repeat the process.

If you have any extra money in your envelope you can do a few different things with it.

1. Keep It There

You can keep the extra cash where it’s at, and for the next month you will have MORE money in that envelope.  This is a great way to save up for something big.

2. Use It Wisely

If you have debt that you are trying to pay off, or any big expenses, you can use this extra cash to help you reach your goals quicker.  Throw that money at your debt, or contribute to your retirement fund.  Use it in a way that will help you  most!

3. Spend It

Even frugal people love to treat themselves every now and then.  If you have extra cash leftover, there is nothing wrong with buying yourself a little reward.  We all need to celebrate!

how to use cash envelope system

Cash Envelope FAQ

Do you still have questions about cash envelopes?  I get it!  Here are a few of my most asked questions, and how I answer them.

Do you worry carrying around that much cash?

I definitely don’t just leave this amount of cash laying around for the world to see.  But, I have never worried much.

The cash envelopes stay home 90% of the time.  The only time I might bring one with me is if I need it for a particular purchase.

For example, last week I went to Target to buy my daughter some shoes.  (I am a recovering Target addict by the way…..).  Before I left I grabbed our “Clothing” envelope, and nothing else.

I used this envelope to pay for the shoes.  And, because I didn’t have any other envelopes with me I wasn’t tempted to impulse shop.  Woo-Hoo!

Can you “borrow” from one envelope for another?

Personally, I am fairly loose with the envelopes and will occasionally switch some of the cash around in the envelopes mid-month.

This probably should be a practice used sparingly, but I think it is a personal decision.  Always do what works best for you and your budget goals.

What if I buy something online?

There is no getting around the fact that we live in an online world.  More people are shopping online now than ever before.

You can still use cash envelopes AND shop online.  Here’s how I make it work.

Let’s say I had $50 in my clothing cash envelope.

And then I spend $30 on clothes while shopping online.

I will then take the $30 from my clothing cash envelope and put it into another envelope I have labeled “bank.”  This leaves me $20 for clothing.

The bank envelope sits tucked away at home, not to be touched.  When the new month rolls around and it’s time to re-stuff cash envelopes I take the money from the “bank” envelope and use it to help distribute to the envelopes.  Any other cash I need I will get taken out of the real bank.

 

Cash Envelopes will save you big bucks

I highly recommend everyone at least TRYING doing most of their spending with cash each month and see how much less you spend.  It truly opened my eyes to my spending habits!  Let me know if you have any questions about how to use the cash envelope system!

Pin this article for future reference:

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You might also be interested in these related articles:

How to Recover your Budget From a day of Impulse Shopping

Budgeting for Beginners: FAQ

Overspending Triggers and Solutions

I hope this helped you learn how to use cash envelope system.

7 Apps That Will Help You Save Money

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Sharing my favorite money saving apps!

We are so lucky to live in a time when the world is literally at our fingertips.  I mean, how awesome is it that we can find the answer to almost all our questions with only a few minutes of researching on our phone???  So awesome!  Not only does my phone answer all of my questions it also saves me money!  Here are 6 money saving apps!

best apps to save money - how to save more money

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made through links in this post.

1.  Flipp

Anyone who buys groceries needs to use the Flipp app, seriously!  Flipp is a completely free app that helps you browse store ads so you can find the best deals in your neighborhood.

It’s super easy too!  Just enter your zipcode, click on your favorite store, and look through the weekly ad.  Done and done!

The ads (and deals) change every Wednesday, so try to get in the habit of checking Flipp every week. This helps me make my menu plan and stock up my pantry with the best deals.

2.  Digit

If you struggle saving money each month, you might want to look into the Digit app.  Digit uses an advanced algorithm to help you determine just how much extra money you have to save.

All you have to do is download the app, connect your bank account, set a savings goal and then let Digit do it’s thing.

This awesome app promises no overdrafts and will give you daily updates so you will always know exactly how much you are saving.

Digit is completely free for the first 100 days, and then $2.99/month after that.  Try it while it’s free and see if it helps you save more!

3.  Mint

Mint is my husbands favorite savings app.  He loves that Mint pulls all of our financial information into one easy to find spot.  With one quick look at the app we can see our credit card balance, retirement investments, bank account info and more.  It truly makes tracking your net worth easy.

We also love the spending reports that Mint creates.  The app will automatically show your spending “trends” so you can see what categories you are overspending in.  This has been so helpful for us when we make our budget.  Sometimes it’s hard to really see my bad spending habits, but with Mint there is not hiding it!

Best of all, Mint is completely free to use!  If you are unsure where to start budgeting and managing finances, start with Mint!

4.  PocketGuard

Similar to Mint, PocketGuard links all of your finances (bank accounts, credit card balances, investments, etc.) into the app for quick viewing.  PocketGuard will also help you create a budget based on your spending habits and looks for ways to encourage you to save more.

One of my favorite parts of PocketGuard is the spending alerts!   All you have to do is set up your spending limit and then the app will alert you when you’re getting close to your spending limit!  It’s so helpful, especially if you are needing some extra encouragement to stay within budget.

You can get the basic version for FREE or spend a little extra to get PocketGuard Plus for $3.99/month.

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5.  Coupons

Coupons is an app that helps you coupon, without having to print or cut out anything! All you do is hit “click” and your coupon will be loaded onto your linked store shopping card.

I use the Coupons app every single time I go to the grocery store.  It is packed full of coupons on many products that you probably are already buying regularly, sweet!

Simply link your store shopping card to the Coupons app and your coupons will be automatically applied to your total at checkout (when you use your store shoppers card).  It’s so easy and I’m always able to save a few extra dollars!

6.  YNAB

Oh how I love You Need a Budget (YNAB).  We have been using this budgeting software for years and years and years and it just keeps getting better!  Truly.

YNAB is a budgeting software/app that makes budgeting and tracking spending a breeze.  We have tried other budgeting softwares, but love how easy to use YNAB is and that it lets usto fully customize our budget.

It does cost a small fee of $84 a year, but I promise it is worth every single penny!

7.  Honey

I have recently started using the Honey app and I am so in love with it.  You can use this free app either through a browser plug-in, or the app on your phone.

Honey is a great money saving app because it automatically searches for the best deals, coupons and promo codes for the items that you want to buy.

For example, if you are shopping on Amazon Honey will search through the website to find the lowest priced product you are shopping for, and will give you the history about the item.  Honey will even show you if the item has increased or decreased in price recently, giving you the knowledge to decide if it’s worth the buy.

When shopping other store websites Honey will do the research to find any eligible coupon codes, so you know when buying that you are getting the best price available.

I have a little rule to not buy anything unless it’s on sale, and Honey makes that rule much easier to follow!

In Conclusion

I am challenging each of you today to download at least one or two of these apps onto your phone.  If you already use three of these apps, well download a new one.

There are so many helpful tools to encourage us to save money and spend less, but it’s up to us to use these tools in a way that will help us.

I’m curious….what other apps do you use to save money??  Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear about them!

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How to Make a Zero Based Budget

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to set up a zero based budget, for beginners.

I have been getting so many questions lately about how to set up a successful budget.  I decided it was about time I talk about this important subject!  Today, I will be teaching you exactly what you need to do to set up and maintain a zero based budget.

What is a zero based budget?

A zero based budget is a form of budgeting where you budget all of your expenses to equal the same amount as your income.  The simple formula is:  Income – Expenses = 0.

Why do I need a zero based budget?

This form of budgeting forces you to think about every single dollar.  When you have to scrutinize exactly where, how and when to spend each of your hard earned dollars you will look at your spending differently.  A zero based budget will keep you on track with your money goals and encourage you to spend less, while saving more.

how to make a zero based budget

How to set up a successful budget:

Setting up a zero based budget is really easy once you learn the basic steps.

Step 1:  Write down your income.

Write down all the income you expect to receive over the next month.  Don’t forget to include any money you might receive from side hustles!

Need a budgeting worksheet?  Download one for free by clicking the link below!

Step 2:  Write down all monthly expenses.

This is the most time consuming part of making a zero based budget, but don’t let that scare you away!  You need to write down every expense you will be making over this next month.  And when I say everything…I really mean everything!  That $2 shake you get on your way home from work???  Yeah, include that in your expenses.

Spending plan

Fixed Expenses

First, write down all of your “fixed expenses.”  A fixed expense are the bills that cost the same amount every month.  The most common fixed expenses you should include in your budget are:

Variable Expenses

Next, you will write down all of the variable expenses you will have throughout the month.  Variable expenses are the items you spend money on regularly, but the amount changes month to month.  Here are a few of the most common variable expenses:

  • Groceries
  • Entertainment
  • Eating out
  • Fuel
  • Clothing
  • Hair care

Seasonal Expenses

Now, write down all seasonal expenses.  Seasonal expenses are those expenses you will have to pay sometime throughout the year, but usually not every month.  Don’t forget these seasonal expenses in your budget:

  • Home repairs
  • Christmas
  • Birthdays
  • Tuition
  • Dental/Medical work
  • Vacation
  • Property taxes
  • HOA fees

It’s so important to plan ahead for these expenses.  If you start saving for them now, you will already have the money set aside when the time comes.

The best way to plan for seasonal expenses in advance is through sinking funds.  A sinking fund is like a savings account within your budget.  You will add to these funds each month, and then when that home expense comes, or your HOA is due, you will already have the money saved for it.  You can learn all the nitty gritty about sinking funds here.

Savings

Don’t forget to include setting aside money for saving.  I highly encourage you to always be saving a little bit here and there.  You might want to be saving for retirement, a rainy day, or college.  Don’t forget to include these in your monthly expenses.

Step 3:  Subtract Your Income from Expenses To Equal Zero

Once all of your income and expenses have been written down you will want to subtract the income from your expenses.  The goal is to get the number to equal zero.  This might take some trial and error, but you will find what works for you.

If your expenses are higher than your income, try to rework your budget and find areas to cut.  Here are 5 things we cut from our budget to save thousands each year.  Don’t think you have anything left to cut?  Check out these ways to cut your budget when you don’t have anything to cut.

If you find your expenses are lower than your income, this is great, but you will still need to keep working the budget.  Every dollar in your budget needs a job, don’t leave any of them sitting around with no where to go!  If this is the case for you, find a category within your budget for those extra dollars.  Add more money to a category, save the extra for a rainy day, or use it to pay more towards your debt.

Step 4:  Track Your Spending

Now that your budget is ready to go, it’s time to track your spending!  Throughout the month you will need to write down everything that you buy.  Yes, everything!

Tracking your spending is important because it helps you see if you are staying within your budget….or if you are overspending in certain categories.  I have also found that when I know I have to write down my spending….I think twice before spending!

Step 5:  Check In With Your Budget

You must be checking in with your budget regularly.  I recommend taking a quick glance at your budget at least once every day.  Get into the habit of checking your budget before making any purchase.  This helps you be sure that you have the money available.

Have a more thorough budget check in once or twice a week.  This thorough check in will be the time to look through your budget and make sure your spending is right on track.  Your weekly check in should take about 15-30 minutes.

Step 6:  Close Out the Budget

It is now time to close out the budget!  This should be done at the end of each month (or budgeting period.)

Closing out the budget simply means to make sure all spending is accounted for.  You will look through your spending tracker, fill out your budget to report how much you spent in each category, and make adjustments as needed.

This is an important step to learn more about your spending habits.  If you find yourself continually going over budget in groceries, you might decide you need more money in that category.  Perhaps you notice a lot of overspending on clothing each month, you can use this knowledge to make a plan to spend less.  Thrift shopping or using cash envelopes are both great ways to keep the clothing budget down!

At the end of each month you will rework each of the 5 budgeting steps.  This is the time to rewrite your budget and assess your needs and living situation.  Your budget will change from time to time, and that is necessary!

Be willing to work through these changes and put in the work to keep your budget properly maintained.

The goal is to have the amount spent equal the amount budgeted.  Through time and adjustments, you will find what works best for you!

how to make a budget - what is a zero based budget

Budgeting FAQ

How much should I put into each budget category?

I like to follow Dave Ramsey’s advice when it comes to budget categories.  You can find how much he recommends in each category here.  We don’t follow these suggestions completely, but they make a great guideline to help us budget.

What should I do if I go over budget?

It happens to all of us!  Don’t get discouraged if (and when!) you find yourself in this situation.  There are a few things you can do to fix your budget.

  1. Use money from another category.  If you have already overspent in groceries, but still have money left in your entertainment category, you can use that entertainment money to cover the cost of your extra grocery spending.  This will mean less entertainment for the month, but it might be necessary to keep your budget on track.
  2. Sell something.  Look for items in your house that you can sell right now to earn some money.  I highly believe everyone has a few things they could make money from.  This extra cash can be applied to the area you overspent in.
  3. Side hustle.  Try to find a way to earn extra money to cover your extra expenses.  Need a few ideas?  I have a great side hustle list here.

The most important thing is that you find a way to cover that overspending.  Do not pull out a credit card.  You can fix this!

What should I do if I go under budget?

The very first thing you should do if you go under budget is give yourself a big ‘ol pat on the back.  Be proud!  That’s great!

But.  We don’t want to leave that hard earned money just sitting around.  Give it a job!

Here are a few suggestions (in order of priorities) for your extra cash:

  1. Pay extra towards your debt.
  2. Build up your emergency fund.
  3. Put it in one of your sinking funds.  Perhaps a vacation or car you might be saving for.
  4. Reward yourself.  Treat yourself to something fun!  It’s ok to use that extra cash on you!

How can I make checking my budget a habit?

Habits are so hard to form!  If I’m being completely honest with you, it took us years (yes, years) to form a good budgeting habit.  I hope it doesn’t take as long for you!  Here are a few suggestions to make budgeting a habit:

  • Set an alarm on your phone.  This alarm will be your daily reminder to check your budget and stay on track.
  • Schedule it.  Write “budget” write into your daily planner/schedule.  Set aside a time each week that is your budget time, and no matter what stick to this schedule.  Sunday evenings are a quiet time in our house, so we use it to look over the budget.

Need more budget help??

Be sure to check out my Quick Start Guide to Frugal Living for even more in depth lessons, including video tutorials to help you make a budget and stick to it!

It’s now time for you to make your zero based budget!

how to make first budget

Dollar Tree Easter Basket Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life10 Comments

Cheap kids Easter basket ideas!

I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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A common misconception is that the only way for kids to have a childhood full of memorable holidays and fun traditions is to spend a lot of money…..I’m here to tell you that is just.not.true.

This is one of the many reasons why I LOVE The Dollar Tree.  I love watching their season aisle.  It’s fun to see what they bring in every year.

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Every year I buy my kids Easter Basket Stuffers from The Dollar Tree spring section.  This year I spent a total of $6 per basket, making the grand total for 3 Easter Baskets only $18!  AND!  I know my kids will love them (yay!).  Today, I’m sharing these Dollar Tree Easter Basket ideas with you!

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The Baskets

Fortunately I didn’t need to buy baskets, grass filler or plastic eggs because I save each of these things to use year after year.  These current baskets have last me over 5 years and I’m sure they will last another 5!  This saves me a few bucks every year, but those few dollars add up to big savings!

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However, if you are needing new baskets or plastic eggs The Dollar Tree has you covered!  Their Easter aisle is packed full of eggs and grass in every imaginable color and Easter Baskets for every personality.

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Teen Girl Easter Basket

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My 13 year old daughter loves all things artsy, tendy and girly; and I found the PERFECT items for her basket that fit these categories.

I was so excited when I found these darling faux potted cactus’s at The Dollar Tree.  My daughter has a slight obsession with cactus’s at the moment (and tells me so do all of her friends….) so I knew this would be PERFECT in her basket.

I also found a fun Calligraphy book to help teach her pretty lettering, white nail polish, and a colorful kite.

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Tween Girl Easter Basket

Next up was my 10 year old daughters basket.  She is pure girl and loves using her hands in the kitchen or at the table crafting.

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I found a nice selection of hands on science kits at The Dollar Tree and ended up buying this Crystal Growing Kit.  We have tried to grow our own crystals at home and have failed every time!  I’m hoping to have much more success with this kit!

She’s also getting a kite, some chapstick (don’t you love those spring colors!) and a Spiral Art set.  Did you love Spiral Art as much as I did as a kid????  So fun!

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Boy Easter Basket

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Last, but certainly not least is my 6 year old sons Easter Basket.  He is all boy through and through and just wants to be busy and active all of the time.

I found a box of sidewalk chalk at The Dollar Tree and decided this would be the perfect way to get him outside during spring.

His basket is also filled with a kite, a cute robot on canvas to color and a slinky.  He has ALWAYS wanted his very own slinky (little bother problems, amiright???) and I can’t wait for him to see this one.

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The Candy

What’s Easter without some candy????  The Dollar Tree has you covered!  I’m serious.  I have a slight (ok, serious) addiction to Sweet Tarts Jelly Beans….have you ever tried them???  So good!  I was very proud of myself that I left the bag at the store, otherwise, the entire bag would have been gone before I even left the parking lot (only kinda kidding…).

I DID buy a few pieces of candy for the kids though.  Starburst Jelly Beans (also so good!) and chocolate bunnies to name a few.

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Do you love filling Easter eggs with candy?  I totally do!  There is something so fulfilling about it!

 

My kids will wake up on Easter Sunday, anxiously walk into our living room area, run to their Easter Baskets and proclaim with excitement about what it’s inside.  They will laugh, they will smile, and they will remember their childhood with all the warm fuzzy memories we want them to have…..and all it cost was $6.  Thank you Dollar Tree.

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Related Easter Posts

How we are going to help our kids remember the TRUE meaning of Easter

Easter Egg Sun Catcher

cheap easter basket ideas for kids

I hope these dollar tree Easter basket ideas gives you some inspiration as you stuff your kids baskets this year.

 

 

Debt Snowball Or Debt Avalanche

By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Two of the most common methods for paying off debt is the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche.  Neither of these methods are superior to the other.  They both have great qualities and offer excellent motivation for getting rid of debt.

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Debt Snowball

The Debt Snowball is the method Dave Ramsey recommends.

When using the Debt Snowball you will list your debts in order from the smallest debt to the largest.

While continuing to make minimum payments on all debts, begin actively trying to pay off your SMALLEST debt FIRST.

This will mean that you will use ANY extra money that comes your way to paying off this one debt.

The reasoning behind the Debt Snowball is while starting small, you will gain confidence and traction.  As you pay off those small debts you will have more practice and motivation to be able to tackle the larger debts.

For Example…..

$5,000 Car Loan

$800 Credit Card Payment

$25,000 Student Loan

Pay off the credit card first, while continuing to make minimal payments on the other two debts.  Next you will pay off the car loan, and then lastly you will tackle the student loan.

Debt Avalanche

In the Debt Avalanche you will list your debts in order from the highest INTEREST to the lowest interest.  You will then continue to make all minimum payments for all debt while focusing all extra cash to paying off your debt with the highest interest rate.

The point of the Debt Avalanche is that by getting rid of the debts that charger higher interest you will be able to pay off the debt quicker.

The Debt Avalanche WILL have you spending LESS money overall than the Debt Snowball.

For Example…

$5,000 Car Loan with 4% interest

$800 Credit Card with 10% interest

$25,000 Student Loan with 5% interest

If following the Debt Avalanche method you will pay off the credit card first, followed by the student loan and then you will pay off the car loan.

What Works for You?

Soooo……what does this all mean for you?

The answer to that question will be personal.  It will be different for everyone.  There is no RIGHT or WRONG method.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and unsure of yourself, then perhaps the Debt Snowball would work best in favor.  It helps you start small and gain quick wins at the beginning.

If you are feeling super motivated and you want to get rid of that debt ASAP, then you might prefer the Debt Avalanche.  This method will get you aggressively paying off that debt and will cut out some of those interest costs.

What do I recommend?

I personally recommend you research, research and more research.  Study everything you can about both the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche.  Once you have studied everything you can, make your decision.  You will naturally feel more comfortable and be drawn to a certain method.

Once you make the decision best for you, GO WITH IT, own it.  Do everything in your power to get rid of that debt.  Check out the article What we cut from our budget to save over $2500 a year, for a few ideas on finding some extra cash in your budget.

I promise paying off debt WILL be hard…..but I also promise that your future self will THANK YOU for being willing to put in the work.

 

What to Cut From Budget to Save Thousands

By: Sweet Frugal Life34 Comments

How to budget to save thousands of extra dollars each year!

I am not naturally a frugal person.  I was raised by two frugal parents, but I lean more towards wanting to shop and buy all of the pretty things (I’m looking at YOU Target).  It has been a huge learning process for me to become more frugal and to realize the value and beauty in cutting back and saving money.  Learning my new frugal lifestyle has been over the course of years, and quite honestly, I’m still trying to better myself.  Today though, I started thinking about all the things we have cut from our over the years, and I was blown away with the amount of money we are saving ourselves just by making a few different lifestyle choices!  If you don’t know what to cut from budget, this article is for you!

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Pack Your Lunch:  $1000

Packing a lunch for work, instead of eating out with coworkers, has been our biggest money saver.  Every night I pack a lunch for my husband to take to work.  A packed lunch doesn’t need to be anything special or fancy.  Most days it’s just leftovers from dinner, occasionally he will bring a sandwich.

It’s important for my husband to be sociable and build strong relationships at work.  So, a few times a year he will bring some cash to work and go out to eat.  There has been a few times he has joined them for lunch, and ordered something small.  You can keep these strong relationships, while bringing a lunch from home.

I was so surprised to find out this simple habit is saving us over $1000 a year!

Change your own oil:  $210

My husband taught himself how to change the oil in our two vehicles, all it took was watching a few YouTube videos.  It takes him less than an hour to do and he claims it’s super easy.

He uses this oil drum to drain the oil.  You can deposit the oil for free at most auto parts stores.  This is not some natural talent he has, he had to get out of his comfort zone to learn this skill.  If he can do it, you can do it!

Once you master changing your cars oil, consider looking into other car maintenance you can DIY.  My husband has changed our brake pads and spark plugs from time to time.  Honestly, I get a little nervous when he does it…..but we haven’t crashed yet!

This simple task DIY oil changes saves us $210 a year.  It’s not a huge savings, but every penny adds up.

Cut the Cable:  $480

A few years ago we decided to get rid of our cable TV.  We were actually already on a fairly cheap rate, but we decided we could do without it.  There are so many budget friendly alternative TV options available now.

You can sign up for Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime and more!  I recommend limiting yourself to one or two subscription services.  If we join all of them, you’ll probably end up paying more than you were paying for cable!

The best part is, you don’t even need to spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy smart TV.  Just invest in a simple, affordable Roku and you can watch each of your TV subscriptions.

We have saved $480 a year by doing this!

At Home Haircuts:  $200

I have been giving my husband at home haircuts for over 15 years now, my son has been getting them since the year he was born.  I am not a professional, hair is NOT my talent. I have watched a few YouTube tutorial videos and both my husband and son get very basic cuts.  I have made my some a few mistakes on both of them, but I keep learning and trying.  And luckily boys hair grows out fairly fast!  😉

All it took $20 to purchase clippers, and I’m still using the same set 14 years later!  You can find a similar pair to ours here:  Wahl Complete Hair Cutting Kit.  This one quick purchase has saved us hundreds and hundreds over the years.

These at home haircuts saves us $200 each year.

Workout at Home:  $840

Exercise is important for the human heart, body and mind.  However, I have just never been willing to pay $70/month for a gym membership.

So, my husband and I have learned how to get a good workout from home.  We go for a run or bike ride during the warm months.  We love using free YouTube workout videos (my favorites are Yoga with Adrienne and PopSugar Fitness) at home and have even scored some really cheap used gym equipment that we enjoy on a regular basis.

These at home workouts are a $840 yearly savings!

The Results:  $2730

Just by making these 5 adjustments to our lifestyle we save $2730 a year!  So, in five years we have saved $13,650!  Ten years it will be $27,300!  Those little expenses don’t seem like a big deal during the day by day, but over time they add up to be a very very BIG deal.

It really has not been hard to cut any of these things from our budget.  We have been living this way for years and honestly never seem to miss a gym membership or cable TV.  It has just become our way of life, and it’s a great life!  It can be hard to form new habits, but once you do, those habits become your way of life and you often never really look back!

Take a look at your budget and lifestyle.  Can you find a few things that you could change in order to save money?  I promise the pay off is so worth it!

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Cut a few things out of your budget and save more money today!

Why I Disagree With Dave Ramsey

By: Sweet Frugal Life10 Comments

How we use a credit card and earn money!

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will receive compensation from clicks on my links.  All opinions are my own.  I guarantee to never share anything I haven’t already been using for years.

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I disagree with Dave Ramsey about something….and I need to get it off my chest.

Honestly, I love Dave Ramsey and follow his advice and teachings religiously.  Except for one thing….

I have a credit card and use it regularly.

There, I admitted it!

Dave Ramsey advises against using any sort of credit card…..but honestly using our credit card EARNS us money!

I use cash for about 50% of our purchases.  Usually the cash is for things like clothing, decorations, restaurants,  etc.

Our credit card is for everything else.  Items such as utilities, groceries, fuel, etc. always go right on our Discover Card.

I understand the reason why Dave Ramsey advises against using the credit card.  I truly do.  Credit cards can be incredibly tempting.  It’s far to easy to swipe and assume you can worry about paying it off later.

Fortunately, this has never been a problem for my husband and I.  We are very diligent at paying the card off each month and mainly use it for our fixed expenses.  We keep track of our budget daily and always know exactly how much money we have in our account and owe on the credit card.

What we love about the Credit Card

When it comes to choosing a credit card, you will found plenty of great options.  We shopped around for a while until we found the one that worked best for us.

When researching credit cards we decided to open up a Discover Card.  This decision really came down to the rewards.  We wanted cashback rewards so that we can choose how to spent the cash in the way that works for us.

Our cashback is saved throughout the year to use for Christmas presents.  It doesn’t cover the entire Christmas, but it gives us enough to help lesson the burden!

Discover offers a 1% cashback bonus on ALL purchases and a 5% cashback bonus for a variety of purchases.  This bonus 5% cashback rotates between different categories.

Some months you will receive this extra cashback from grocery purchases, other months it will be for fuel.  The category changes enough that we feel we are always being rewarded.

On top of all of that Discover Card has what’s called a rewards center.  The rewards center gives you the option to shop at many popular online stores, (Old Navy, Gap, Target just to name a few) through the Discover link and you will earn 5% cashback on these purchases.

Before I buy ANYTHING online, I always go to the Discover website and check to see if they have a cashback option for that store.

We make about $300-$400 a year just by using our credit card.  (YAY for free money!!)  Think of all the possibilities you could use this extra money for!  You could pay extra towards debt, use it to build your emergency fund, add it to a sinking fund, or buy something you’ve been saving for.  The options are endless!

A Word of Caution

I disagree with Dave Ramsey about credit cards for me personally, but for others this might not be the best option.

If having a credit card will tempt you to spend more money than you normally would then DO NOT sign up for one.  It is NOT worth the temptation.

If this is your situation the cashback Ebates offers would be a great alternative for you.

However, If and ONLY IF you are able to use a credit card responsibly and pay it off monthly, I HIGHLY recommend signing up for one that offers a cashback option.

In the 10 years we have been using our card we have earned around $4,000!   Just by shopping like we normally would!  It’s the easiest $4,000 I’ve ever made!!

And every thing else Dave Ramsey teaches….I do!

Like what you read?  Pin it for future reference!

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This is why I disagree with Dave Ramsey….this one time.

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