Sweet Frugal Life

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Allowance For Teens: A Great Teaching Tool

By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

Teaching Teenagers To Manage Money Well.

It’s so important for kids to learn how to manage their own money from a young age.  I truly believe if we teach them to do this while they are young, they will have much less money problems when they get older.  And this is the reason why I think that an allowance for teens can be a great teaching tool.  

Perrsonally, I begin giving my kids an allowance at age 8.  You can read more about my reasoning why they receive an allowance and how much I give them here.

Once my kids turn 13 their allowance is increased, but they are also required to pay for most of their own clothes and a few other expenses.  This is an important teaching tool to help prepare them for the adult world.

Why An Allowance?

I know many of you might be wondering why an allowance for teens is a good idea.  This is honestly a question I get a lot, and I understand the confusion.

An allowance is not a handout.

Let me repeat, An allowance is not a handout.

If done the right away, giving your teenager an allowance is not going to spoil them, make them lazy, or teach them to look for handouts (these are all things I’ve been told when I tell people my kids get an allowance).  

Let me explain using this example:

Child without an allowance comes to me and says, “Will you buy me these $50 pair of jeans?”  My response would probably be, “Those are to expensive, let’s try to find something cheaper.”

This child might learn two things from this moment:

  1. Mom is cheap and won’t let me buy what I want.
  2. Mom gets to decide what is worth spending money on, not me.

But, if your teenager is given an allowance along with the responsibility to buy their own clothing the situation could go like this:

Child with an allowance comes to me and says, “Mom, I really want to buy these $50 jeans, but that would take all of my money.  Do you think I could fine them cheaper somewhere else?”

In this situation the child is learning to:

  1. Make their own decisions about how to spend their money.
  2. Deciding for themselves what items are splurge worthy.

Either way the money for the jeans is still coming from the moms pocket, but with the allowance the child is able to learn how to manage their money themselves.

My Experience.

So, this afternoon I had a fun shopping trip with my 13 year old daughter.  I happen to love shopping (yep, frugal AND a shopping lover!) and I love quality time with my kids, so it was a GREAT day!

However, shopping trips with my daughter tend to bring some stress (for me) and anxiety (for her).  Read more below for what happened today….

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My daughter has inherited my frugal ways…..to the extreme.  She hates to spend money, it actually gives her a little bit of anxiety to even consider spending any money…..and I get stressed because there are times when she NEEDS to spend her money, and I wish that she would.

Spending money is part of living…..I mean….we all need to wear clothes, right?!?!?.  It’s important for kids to learn that spending isn’t the problem, over spending is the problem.

Today’s Shopping Trip

So, today we were on a mission.  My daughter had a list, and she wanted to buy it all….without spending a lot of money.

I, on the other hand, wanted her to buy everything on the list without feeling any anxiety or guilt.

Our list included:  2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of track shoes, a dress, and a swimsuit.

It was QUITE the tall order for my daughter the saver, but we were determined to make it happen!

I let her make the decisions about where to go (she chose the discount store Ross and the second hand store Runway Fashion), what to buy, and how much to spend.

She thought carefully about each decision, she calculated and recalculated how much she was spending, she said no to many things and yes to a few things.  I was a proud mama as I stood by and watched!

A few times she looked at me for advice, and I would always reply with the same questions; “Do you NEED it?  Do you LOVE it?  Will you WEAR it often?  Is it WORTH the money?”  As I walked her through these questions she was able to feel confident in her decisions.

The Perfect Shoes

Three hours later we ended the day at the mall sipping on Jamba Juice and feeling proud to have found everything on the list, all at the right price (yay!).

While at the mall we noticed a store having a big going out of business sale.  Ignoring my advice about spending triggers, we decided to pop in for a quick browse.  This is where my daughter excitedly proclaimed that she had found “the perfect shoes”…..and I’ll admit, they were pretty darn cute!

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The price was right, the fit was perfect, and she was smitten…..but they weren’t on her list…..she didn’t need them….and she was feeling a lot of anxiety and guilt about buying them.

My sweet daughter worried that she shouldn’t make this purchase, she didn’t want to waste her money and spend unwisely.

I assured her that she has always been wise with her money, she saves a large sum of her allowance each month, she always pays her tithing, she still has plenty of money in her “spending” jar…..and it is OK to spend a little bit of money on something that just makes you happy!

So.  She bought the shoes!  You better believe this frugal-tight-wad-mom was so proud of her for making that decision!

And….guess what, she has been on cloud 9 all day because of it!  The shoes haven’t left her feet, she’s been showing them to everyone in the family and has been pairing them with different outfits.

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In Conclusion

THIS is why we give teens allowance.

Today, I kept my mouth shut and let my daughter take control of her shopping experience.  She made the decision to only buy used or discounted clothes.  It was up to her to decide what was “splurge” worthy and what wasn’t.  She learned to budget, she learned to say no, and she learned to say yes.

She was able to come home with less money in her pocket, but also a feeling of accomplishment and confidence.

This is a girl who is preparing for the adult world of spending.

 

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You Might Also Be Interested in These Other Articles:

A Financial Tale of Two Sisters

Money Lessons for Kids: The night we taught our kids the TRUTH about money

The life lessons that taught me to budget for JOY while living in the present!

How do you feel about an allowance for teens????

Which is best: Debt Snowball or Debt Avalanche Method?

By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

The differences between the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche.

Are you looking for the best way to pay off debt?  You are not alone!  One of the most important things to do when paying off debt is to develop a plan.  This plan should give you motivation and direction for your debt payments.  Two of the easiest ways to pay off debt is by using the debt snowball or debt avalanche methods.

Neither of these methods are superior to the other.  They both have great qualities and offer excellent motivation for getting rid of debt.  I’ll explain all of the pros and cons to these two methods in this article.

quickest way to pay off debt - best debt pay off plan

How to Pay Off Debt With The Debt Snowball

The Debt Snowball is the method Dave Ramsey recommends, and probably the most popular of the two.  The Debt Snowball was designed as a way to help you gain confidence with paying off debt.  The idea is that as you pay off your smaller debts first you will become more excited to pay off the larger ones.

To use the Debt Snowball method you will first list all of your debts in order from the smallest debt to the largest.  Do not pay attention to the interest rates, instead focus on the amount owed.

While continuing to make minimum payments on all debts, begin actively trying to pay off your SMALLEST debt FIRST by paying more than the minimum payment each month.

For Example:

  • $800 Credit Card with 5% interest
  • $5,000 Car Loan with 7% interest
  • $25,000 Student Loan with 15% interest

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.

This will mean that you will use ANY extra money that comes your way to paying off this one debt.  Try to cut out any unnecessary expenses and use that extra money to tackle each debt.

As you pay off those small debts you will have more practice and motivation to be able to tackle the larger debts.

Debt Snowball Pros

There are many pros to using the Debt Snowball to get rid of your debt.  A few of these include:

  • Builds Confidence
  • Keeps you motivated
  • It’s simple to follow

Debt Snowball Cons

The biggest con to using the Debt Snowball is that there is a possibility you will spend more money because you aren’t paying off the highest interest first.

If you choose to pay off a debt with only 2% interest and wait to pay off the debt with 15% interest, you are having to pay that extra interest rate longer, making it cost more in the long run.

This is where the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche methods differ.  Next, I’ll explain all about the Debt Avalanche.

How To Pay Off Debt With The Debt Avalanche

The biggest difference between the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche is that 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.

For Example:

  • $25,000 Student Loan with 15% interest
  • $5,000 Car Loan with 7% interest
  • $800 Credit Card with 5% interest

In this example you will pay off your student loan first because that is the debt with the highest interest.  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.

Debt Avalanche Pros

A few pros to the Debt Avalanche method are:

  • Possibly become debt free quicker
  • Saves you money in the long run

Debt Avalanche Cons

  • It takes longer to see results
  • Requires more patience

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Which Debt Payoff Method is Best For You?

So, 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 debt payoff method.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, unsure of yourself and needs some help to get going with your debt, than the Debt Snowball will probably work best for you.

If you are already 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 methods.  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.

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.

You Might Enjoy These Other Articles To Help You Save More Money:

The 6 Step Plan to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

The Best Frugal Living Tips You Need to Know

What to Cut From Budget to Save Thousands

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I hope this article helped you understand the differences between the debt snowball and debt avalanche methods.

How to Start Budgeting for Beginners

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Your Budgeting Questions Answered!

I receive so many messages on a daily basis from people wanting to learn how to start budgeting, but they don’t know how to take that first step.  It is always so amazing to me when I see others who want to improve their life and financial situation.  This isn’t an easy thing!  It can be scary trying to make such a big change into the unknown.  There can be a lot of questions when you first start budgeting and I want to answer some of those for you. 

Disclosure:  “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

 

How do I start budgeting?

The very most asked question I receive on Instagram is from people wanting to know how to start budgeting.  I think one of the hardest parts of most new habits is starting.  It is always hard to take that first big, sometimes scary, step in a new direction.  I have three suggestions to help you get on the right track for a successful budget.

1.  Make A Zero Based Budget

I recommend making a Zero Based Budget.  This is a budget where your expenses and income will be the same, in short…..you give every dollar a job to do within the budget.  This does not mean you SPEND every dollar, it means that it has a purpose and place within your budget.

If you are new to budgeting, it might take you a while to figure out just how much money to budget for each category.  This is normal!  A budget is fluid, meaning it is always changing. 

I had about a year of FAILED budgets (no lie) before I finally learned what works for me and my family.

A great resource to get started is my Free Budget Worksheet.  Grab it by signing up below!

 

 

2.  Track All Expenses

Once you make your Zero Based Budget I recommend tracking all of your expenses throughout the month.  Yes, this means writing down every.single.thing you spend.  Even that $1 pack of gum.  Write it down and track it!

Tracking your expenses keeps your budget accurate, and gives you a great window into your spending habits.  By tracking your spending habits, you will be able to see what areas you are over spending in and areas you could cut back.  This is crucial knowledge!

3.  Check Out Dave Ramsey

I highly recommend everyone new to budgeting, frugal living, or paying off debt read the book, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  This book changed my life and was the one thing that put me on my path to frugal living and mindful spending.

Check it out from your library, borrow it from a friend, or order it from Amazon.  No matter how you get it, just read it.  Dave Ramsey uses easy to understand terms as he explains exactly how to fix your financial situation.

 

What is the best way to keep track of day to day spending?

Ok.  So now that we understand it’s important to track spending, let’s talk about exactly how to do that!

Truth is, there are many different ways to track spending.  There is no right or wrong way to track spending, the most important thing is that you stay consistent.  Here are a few options to try:

1.  Excel Spreadsheet

When we first started budgeting my husband put in hours (and hours and hours) making us an excel spreadsheet budget.  It was full of details and catered to our spending and needs.  

We loved this method.  It was free and easy to customize and liked that we could make it exactly how we needed it.  However, it was very time consuming to make and upkeep.

2.  Budgeting App or Software

After using the excel spreadsheet for a few years we moved on to a computer budgeting program.  It was seriously the best decision ever.

We have been using the You Need a Budget budgeting app for about 10 years now and have never looked back.  It is so user friendly and very affordable!  I love that you can download the app onto your phone and update it as you spend.

A few other great apps available are Every Dollar, Mint, and Pocket Guard.

3.  Paper and Pen

There is nothing wrong with tracking expenses with old fashioned paper and pen.  As a matter of fact, I know many who prefer budgeting this way.

When tracking spending it is important to stay consistent.  Pick a day of the week, schedule a time, and develop a routine for tracking your spending.

 

How do you use cash envelopes?

Cash envelopes are a great way to limit your spending and stick to your budget.  I always recommend them to anyone who consistently is going over budget.  Plus they are so easy to use!

Just make your budget, and then get out enough envelopes for your spending categories.  Label each envelope, “Clothing”, “Groceries”, etc.  Stuff the envelope with enough cash to cover your budgeted amount.

As you go throughout the month, use the cash envelope to purchase items in each category.  Once the cash is gone, your spending for the month is done!  

 

How do you make a grocery budget?

First, I want to remind you that grocery budgets will vary greatly!  There is no secret amount or right/wrong way to budget for groceries.  Food prices vary in different parts of the world, and different families have different needs/diets.

It will take some trial and error to find the right grocery budget for you.  A good rule of thumb is $120/person/month.  So, a family of four would have a budget of $450/month.  However, if you find yourself needing more in your budget that’s OK.  Make your budget work for YOU!

 

How do you save money on groceries?

Groceries are one of the biggest expenses for most budgets.  But!  I have learned a few ways to ease this burden!

1.  Meal Plan

The number one way I have found to keep those costs low is to meal plan.  Plan out every meal you want to eat for the week.  As you meal plan, write out your grocery list, and stick to this list while you shop.  Having a plan reduces the temptation to impulse shop and eat out.

2.  Walmart Grocery Pickup

Another fantastic way to stick to your grocery budget is to use Walmart Grocery Pickup.  It is completely FREE and you get to shop at home (in your PJs!) and then pick your groceries up at the store.  You don’t even have to get out of your car!!

The thing about Walmart Grocery Pickup is that you are able to watch your cart total on the app as you shop.  If you find you are spending more than your budgeted amount, just delete a few items from the cart!  So easy!  So helpful!

 

What are the easiest cashback apps for frugal beginners?

I’m always getting asked about the best cash back apps.  And, I love answering this question because cash back apps are one of my favorite things ever!!  I mean you get paid to buy things you would be buying anyways!  It just doesn’t get much better than that!

Here are a few of my favorite:

1.  Ibotta

Ibotta is the cashback app I have been using the longest.  It’s easy, straightforward and always has a few rebates available!  Sign up using this link for up to a $20 sign up bonus!  Whoo!

2.  Fetch Rewards

The easiest cashback app ever is Fetch Rewards.  Fetch Rewards takes less than a minute to use, and rewards you with points for every receipt.  These points can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite places (Target and Amazon!!).  Try it for yourself here and use code FETCH2K to get 2,000 bonus points!

3.  Rakuten

Another very easy app to use is Rakuten.  Rakuten gives you cashback when you shop online at participating retailers.  I never buy anything online without first checking the Rakuten website!  Sign up today and get $10 bonus when you spend your first $25!

I share more details about cashback apps here!

 

What should my budget look like?  What is normal for our family?

When you are learning how to budget it’s important to remember that no two budgets look the same, and that’s how it’s suppose to be.

My normal will be different than your normal.  What I spend on groceries, will be different from what you will spend on groceries, etc.  This is one of my favorite parts of a budget.  You can customize it and find something that works for you personally!

With that said, I do recommend following Dave Ramseys budget percentages.  These aren’t the law, but I do like that it gives me a basic number to shoot for.

 

 

What can you do when you cut back, budget and still don’t have enough money?

I loved this question; because it is so relatable and a very real situation for many of us.

My first piece of advice is to keep your head up!  You are NOT alone!  There are so many dealing with similar struggles.  I strongly believe that together, we CAN help each other reach our financial goals.  Reach out to facebook groups and instagram accounts that discuss this issue.  Surrounding yourself with others in this situation should give you the strength, support and ideas to help get you through it.

When you have done EVERYTHING you can think of and the money is just still NOT adding up, that means it’s time to take more extreme actions.  Here are a few ideas to take when you need to be “gazelle intense.”

 1.  Sell items in your home

Look around your house for items you don’t use very often.  Sell these to earn a little extra money.  My goal is to always earn about $50 each month just by selling my clutter.  It’s possible!

10 Items In Your House You Can Sell Quickly To Make Money 

5 Places Online To Sell Your Clutter and Earn Cash).

2.  Start a side hustle

Try to find another way to bring in extra money.  A side hustle is a job you can do during your free time.  Here are a few side hustle ideas you can do at home.

3.  Make some sacrifices

Look through your budget one more time and find a few things you could cut out to have more money.  Could you stop going out to eat, or maybe you could switch cell companies to lower your phone plan, could you cancel your TV subscriptions or maybe not going to the movie theater?

I know that each of these can and will take a huge sacrifice, but remind yourself that the sacrifice is temporary.

4.  Earn more money

Consider asking for a raise from your current employer.  If you have been working at the same location for over a year, many employers will consider giving you a raise.  It never EVER hurts to ask!  Just ask politely and confidently.

If a raise won’t happen you might want to make a job change.  Begin searching around for a job that will pay better and still make you happy.

5.  Downgrade

If you are in desperate need of more money and none of the other suggestions will work for you, you might want to look into downgrading in a few areas of your life.  This might mean trading in your car for a cheaper model or moving into a more affordable home.

I understand it is NOT easy when the money just ISN’T there.  ESPECIALLY when you feel as if you have sacrificed again, and again and again.  I get it, I have been there!  Keep your head up.  Keep trying.  I believe in you!

In Conclusion

I hope this article answered all of your questions about budgeting and gave you the tools you need to know how to start budgeting!  Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.  I’m always happy to help!

Remember that learning to budget takes time, and that’s OK!  Don’t give up if you fail the first few times…..keep trying and keep learning.

 

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budgeting questions and answers

FAQ from Budget Beginners (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this helps you understand how to start budgeting for beginners.

Unemployed: What I learned the hard way.

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

My husband, three kids and I experienced months of being unemployed.  This is something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy.  This post is true, honest and raw about our experience.  I hope it can help others feel heard in similar situations.

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I’ve tried to write this story many, many times.

I’ve typed, and deleted more times than I can count.

It’s hard to share about a time in my life when my thoughts were so dark, my joy completely gone, and my shoulders heavy with burdens.  This is a time in my life when I would wake up every single morning with tears in my eyes and panic in my chest.  The moment I opened my eyes was the hardest part of my day.  The realization that I was going to have to live another dark day was almost more than I could bear.

I still have some PTSD from this situation.  My heart still clenches every time someone says the word “unemployed.”  The memories come back into my mind and I am reminded about the pain and stress during this time of my life.  It is hard to talk about, hard to relive it all.

And, yet, I know that others deal with much worse.  This small trial in my life is so small compared to what others go through.  I am so embarrassed that I wasn’t able to handle it all with more strength and courage.  I am embarrassed that it affected me so deeply and sent me into a dark depression.  I am embarrassed that others go through heartache after heartache, burden after burden, all with a smile on their face……and I couldn’t even handle this.  It makes me feel weak and full of shame.  I wish I would have, could have been stronger and better through it.  But, I wasn’t.

4 years ago my husband came home and told me he had lost his job.

My world immediately came crashing down on me.  I still shed tears every October 8 at 1:36 PM.  The moment everything changed.

The next 7 months was a nightmare.

I found myself checking and rechecking our bank account.  Calculating and recalculating how much we spend each month and how much we can cut out.  Every penny spent was like a kick in the gut.

I found myself worrying about all of the “what ifs.”  What if he can’t find another job.  What if we have to relocate (for the 4th time!).  What if I have to go back to work and leave my favorite job in the world as Stay at Home Mom.  What if we will never be able to afford to retire.  What if we won’t be able to send our kids to college.  What if we have to take my daughters out of gymnastics and piano lessons.  What if we can’t afford to buy the kids Christmas presents.  What if life will never be the same again.  What if we lose everything.

I worried about my husband.  Worried about his confidence, self-esteem, and pride.  I worried about my children.  I worried about the stress and burden they would have to feel.  I worried about our future, our present, and everything in between.

We began conversations about medicaid, unemployment and food stamps.

We felt like failures.  Failures as parents.  Failures as adults.  Failures as people.

We didn’t want anybody to know.  We didn’t want the judgments or the whispers.  They all found out……but nobody said anything, and that felt almost worst.

We wanted everyone to stop pretending like everything was normal.  As neighbors would smile at me and say in passing, “Hey, how’s it going?”  I knew the response they expected was, “Good, how are you?”  When really I wanted to scream at them, “I am miserable!  My husband is miserable!  We are crying every second behind closed doors and yet here you are wanting me to smile and make fake conversation!”

Or, there was the family members who planned a family get together that would require everyone to spend a lot of money in order to come.  I couldn’t understand how anyone could be so inconsiderate.  Do they not realize that we have ZERO money coming in right now and every penny spent feels like we are one step closer to living on the streets?  It hurt.  It hurt really bad.

These are not easy things to admit.  I told you that I wasn’t in a good place at this time.  A better person would have handled it all better.  A better person wouldn’t have gotten so upset…..but I wasn’t that person, and I am ashamed by it.

Not everyone was insensitive to our situation.  Their was the neighbor that held me for 10 minutes as I cried and cried.  My sister who allowed me to vent all of my frustrations day in and day out and never judged or condemned my feelings.  My dad who hired my husband for odd jobs and used his personal connections to try to network for us.  The many secret envelopes of money that showed up at our doorstep right in time for Christmas.  We had many many earthly angels placed in our life at this time.

My husband is an amazing man and an extremely hard worker.  He immediately updated his resume and spent every single day visiting local businesses, trying to network and make connections.  He would call and stay up to date with everywhere he placed his resume.  He spent hours browsing the internet looking for any new positions posted.  He picked up every side job he could find.  He hung Christmas lights, worked for a sod company, stained a pig pen, bottled milk at a dairy plant, and hired himself out as a handy man.

We started out with the hope that he would only be out of work for a few weeks.

Weeks turned into months.  7 months went by and he began sending his resume further and further away.

He had a few interviews.  He even had a job offer, which suddenly disappeared one day.  And that was my breaking point, the moment I felt as if I had been thrown in a deep dark hole and all hope was lost.

And then a miracle happened.

He decided to look on Craigslist again (which had always been a dead end in the past).  He found a job posting for what looked like the perfect fit.

The ironic thing about this posting is that this was the very first business he stopped by that first day of being out of work.  They had told him they weren’t hiring.  7 months had changed that.

He sent in his resume.  Didn’t hear anything.  He called them a week later to check up.  He was offered an interview.

He showed up for the interview the next day and was shocked when he was greeted by two of his good friends from college.  They had graduated in the same program together, worked on research projects together, and then had gone their separate ways.  That was 10 years ago.  These friends vouched for him and were a huge part of him getting this job.

The interview went well, but we had gotten our hopes up far to many times and feared another letdown.

Three days went by without a word.  Again, my husband called to check up on his status.  He was offered the job on the spot.  This was his dream job.  A perfect fit for him and our family.  Do you believe in a higher being?  Because I do.  And, I believe He helped my husband find this job.  The friends that were vital to him getting this position, both left the company just two months later.  Coincidence?  I think not.  This all happened as it was suppose to.

Why am I telling you this?

So that you understand why am I am the way that I am.

I am a natural spender.  (Read my post A Financial Tale of Two Sisters for more info on that).  Before this experience I lived fairly frugal.  I didn’t have any debt, I made 80% of our meals at home, and I tried to save a little from each paycheck.

Yet, I didn’t stick to a budget.  I didn’t blink an eye when I would drop $200 at Target.  I impulsed shopped.  I bought what I wanted, when I wanted.  I used the phrase, “I deserve this, so I will buy it” far more than I would like to admit.  I assumed life would always be easy and there was really no reason to worry about money.

I was wrong.  So very wrong.

When we spent these 7 months unemployed and I felt all of the many heartaches and pressures of finances, constantly worrying and wondering if we would have enough to survive; I learned just how important the value of a dollar is.

I vowed to never feel that way again.

I can’t control whether my husband loses his job again or not.  But, I can control my spending and my saving.

I realized that when there’s a will, there’s a way.

We learned to live life without ever going out to eat.  I figured out how to cut my grocery budget (something I had always deemed “impossible” before this).  I learned to shop at the thrift store, to use what we already had on hand.  I learned to say “no.”  I realized just how much unnecessary spending I had been doing, and just how wasteful it all was.  I learned that all of my excuses, were just that, excuses.  When we absolutely HAD to cut our spending, we DID it!

I worried a lot about my kids…..I didn’t want them to feel these adult burdens.

Immediately after losing his job, my husband and I sat our children down and told them through tears what had happened.  We explained to them that things were going to have to change as we needed to be more careful with our money.  Our kids cried and cried as we hugged them and told them everything would be ok…..all the while I was secretly wondering, “would it be ok?????

About 5 months into unemployment my oldest child announced, “Nothing has really changed!  It feels the same as it did before!”  I was so relieved to hear her say this.

The thing is, everything had changed.  I was spending 75% less each month than I had been before.  Yet, my kids were obviously not hurting.  This taught me that kids do NOT need a lot of money spent on them in order for them to be happy.  They were perfectly content with the simple life we had created.

This is why I am frugal and why I would rather have money in the bank than stuff in my house.  Saving money brings me the security and assurance that we will be taken care of if we ever find ourselves in this situation again.

I have learned that I can live on MUCH less than I had originally thought.

It is not always easy for me to live frugally.  I make mistakes, I get lazy.  But, when the thoughts and emotions of those horrific 7 months come back to my mind I am reminded that it is ALL worth it!

And THIS is why a spender learned to be a saver.  THIS is why I live a frugal life.

 

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When my husband was unemployed I reached my lowest low. I'm sharing all the truths about this experience now. | unemployment | unemployed support | experience a layoff #housewife #unemployment

Have you experienced a season of being unemployed?  Share your experience below!

A True Story of a Saver and Spender

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

A financial tale of two sisters.

I’ve heard many people wonder if your spending habits truly make a difference, or is it the income that matters.  I believe it is some of both.  Here’s a story about a true saver and spender and what exactly happens when you change your spending habits.

The story you are about to read is true.  The names have been changed to protect those involved. (Note Sarcasm 😉 )

a saver vs. spender - saving money is important

Once upon a time there were two sisters.

One was named Jane and the other Melissa.

Jane and Melissa were raised by two hardworking, frugal minded parents.  These wonderful parents raised the sisters to understand the importance of saving money,  spending wisely, and budgeting.

Jane and Melissa both began receiving an allowance at age 12.  They were both given the same amount of money and were taught to save at least 10%, tithe 10% and the rest they could spend.

Melissa began babysitting at a young age.  The majority of her weekends and summers were spent babysitting for multiple families.  She was able to earn a good deal of money from this job and she followed her parents counsel by saving and tithing 10% of her income.

The Teen Years

As Melissa grew, so did her social life.  She loved to spend her weekends with friends.  She enjoyed using her spending money, and because she had saved and tithed, she felt no guilt in spending the rest.  Melissa and her friends spent the majority of their time together going to movies, eating out at restaurants, and shopping at the mall.

At age 16 Melissa got a job.  This job provided her with part time hours during the school year and full time during the summer.  She was earning more money now, and was diligent about saving money and preparing for her financial future.  Melissa was very proud of her bank account, and proud that she had been able to save faithfully during her teen years.

When she graduated from high school she had $3,000 in her savings account.

Jane

Unlike Melissa, Jane didn’t babysit very much during her younger years.  She tried to do extra chores around the home and was able to earn some extra money that way.

At age 16 Jane began working at the same store Melissa had worked at.  Jane was also able to earn a steady income with part time hours during the school year and full time during the summer.

Jane worked hard at her high school job and enjoyed earning money.  She was diligent about tithing 10% of her paychecks, but decided to save even more than the 10% her parents had asked of her.  Instead, she saved 70% or more of each paycheck and kept very little for personal spending money.

Her social life grew, as most teens did.  She chose her friends wisely, and found friends who had similar goals and aspirations as she did.  Instead of going to movies and shopping, like Melissa and her friends did, they instead chose to spend time at each other homes and enjoying frugal activities together.

Jane graduated from high school with $16,000 in her banking account.  (Remember Melissa only had $3,000)

Here's why your spending habits matter more than your paycheck

So What Happened?

Two Sisters.  Raised the exact same way.  Given the exact same allowance.  Worked at the exact same job, received the exact same paychecks.  Yet, Jane ended up with four times the amount of money that Melissa had.

The difference?

Jane was much wiser in her spending.  She chose to participate in frugal activities and understood the value in saving as much money as she could.

Melissa, on the other hand, did the bare minimum.  She didn’t worry much about the future, and figured as long as she was saving a little bit, she would be fine.  Melissa didn’t realize the life she COULD have given herself if she had only practiced a little more self control.  Her vision was not as big as Janes.

Spending Habits Matter

All good stories end with a moral, and this one is no different.

The story of Jane and Melissa has taught me many many financial lessons.  However, there is one lesson that sticks out to me more than the others.

Jane and Melissa received the EXACT same paychecks, for the EXACT same number of years.  Their parents taught them the EXACT same money principles in the EXACT same way.  But, Jane chose to save and save and save, while Melissa chose to spend.

This teaches me that our financial situation is not always about how much money we might MAKE….it is more about how much money we SAVE.  The paycheck isn’t the problem, the way we spend money is the problem.

Just imagine what a difference your savings account could make over the next few years if you just cut out going out to eat, or going to the movies, etc.  Little baby steps can make a big difference.

I am able to say this, because this is MY story.  I am Melissa.

20 Years Later….

It has now been 20 years since Jane and Melissa grew up together learning how to manage money.

Jane Update:  Jane continues to save money, live frugally and budget.  She has found a good balance between spending money to enjoy life and saving for emergencies and the future.

Melissa Update:  It took a little bit longer for Melissa to learn smart money skills.  But, through time and a few financial hardships, she is now a diligent budgeter and loves to save money.  She also writes a little blog called Sweet Frugal Life where she shares that living on a budget can still be a sweet and happy life!  😉

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FIRE: Here’s why I don’t participate.

By: Sweet Frugal Life9 Comments

I’ve been asked a few times my opinion about spending money on life experiences right now, or if it’s best to keep saving and wait for the future.  The obvious answer from a frugal, budget loving blogger, who loves to encourage everyone to spend conservatively and plan for their future, would be to advise everyone to wait until later and build your wealth now.  The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Movement continues to gain popularity.  I love the idea of sacrificing now to enjoy life later, and completely support those who are working towards FIRE.  However.  I actually believe in the importance of budgeting for joy.  In THIS moment….because, you know what, those golden years you are anxiously waiting for, they just might not come…..

My sweet mother was a huge saver.  I have learned ALL of my frugal ways from her.  And, the truth is……I’m still not as frugal as she was, I don’t think I’ll EVER be as frugal as she was.

I think the thing I admire most about her is the fact that she did not need to be frugal, she had a very comfortable income.  She chose to be frugal because she understood the value of saving money.

She passed away when she was 48.  I was 22.

Losing her at such a young age has had a HUGE impact on the way I view life.  I have developed the mindset that life is temporary, short, and fragile.  It is a gift to be treasured and celebrated.

I am fairly confident in saying that my natural instincts would be to work towards FIRE; to save EVERYTHING for the future and look forward to enjoying life once that comfortable retirement kicks in.

But…..my life experiences have taught me a different lesson.  Sure, I do believe in saving for your future…..I also believe in spending some money on enjoying life in the present.

It’s important to focus on BALANCE.

It MUST be a priority to pay off all debt, save aggressively for your retirement, save to send your kids to college, try to build wealth, etc…..

At the same time, you need to budget for a little bit of JOY.

This does NOT mean it’s ok to go on a luxury vacation while charging everything to your credit card.  And it’s definitely NOT an excuse to blow your budget because you are “enjoying life.”

It does mean it is ok (and I would argue important) to give yourself some fun money, take a break every now and then, explore the areas around you, and LIVE life to it’s fullest.

This will look different for everyone.  For some this could be a weekend road trip, others might prefer a quiet stay cation.  Do what sparks joy for you, this will look differently for everyone.  (and…you know what, it actually doesn’t need to cost a lot of money to have meaningful, joyful experiences!)

In conclusion, be intentional with your spending.  Intentional with saving money and intentional with budgeting and building wealth.  But also, be intentional with your life experiences.  Life is to short to only enjoy it when you get older…..make sure you are experiencing it right now too!

I would love to know your opinion on this subject!  We each have had different life experiences that have shaped us into the people we are today.  Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts?  Are you trying to be intentional with budgeting AND enjoying life?  Do you budget for joy?  Let me know in the comments!!

 

Pantry Challenge Tips to Save Money on Groceries

By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

How to save money on groceries with a pantry challenge.

I just finished a month long pantry challenge!!  It was such a great way to learn more about my spending habits and how to cook frugally.  I’m excited to share some of those pantry challenge tips with you! 

A pantry challenge is a challenge you can take yourself (or as a group) that is meant to encourage you to eat food items you already have at home (pantry, fridge, freezer, shelves, etc.), instead of spending money at the store on groceries.

For my pantry challenge I decided to cut my regular grocery budget of $400 a month in half.  This would mean I could only spend $200 for our family of five.  Honestly, this was no easy task and I was incredibly intimidated from the beginning, but I was determined to make it work.

The pantry challenge is now officially over (thank goodness) and I am proud of how the challenge went.  I would LOVE to say that I met goal….but I didn’t quite accomplish that…..I went over budget by $1.98.  My grand total spent was $201.98 on groceries for our family of five….and you know what I am so PROUD of MYSELF!!!

I wanted to share all about how I was able to make it work and what I learned during the process.

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Make a Plan

One of the most important pantry challenge tips is to plan ahead.  A detailed meal plan is vital to being able to see success with a pantry challenge.  I learned quickly that if I planned every meal and snack with great detail I wasn’t as tempted to go buy something at the store.

At the beginning of each week look through your pantry and cupboard and make an inventory of the food you already have in your home.  I was always shocked at how much food I could find…when I kept thinking, “We don’t have any food at home.”  We did, we had food at home, I just needed to look harder!

I was able to eat out of the pantry exclusively about 50% of the time.  The other 50% of the meals I tried to only plan really frugal meals with only a few cheap ingredients I would need to buy.

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Successful Meal Plans

I listed out a few of the meals and snacks I found to be the most helpful in keeping the grocery costs low.

Breakfasts

Fluffy Eggs

Pancakes

Eggs and Toast

Oatmeal

Breakfast Potato Casserole

Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Lunch

Muffin Tin Lunch

Sandwiches

Salad from Garden

Leftovers

Dinner

Freezer Burritos

Layered Zuchinni

Spaghetti

Taco Soup

Balsamic Chicken

Pasta Bake

Taco Tortilla Soup

Grilled Chicken

Korean Beef

Baked Island Chicken

Snacks

Pretzels

Homemade Cookies

Energy Bites

Popcorn

Canned Fruit

Bananas

Homemade Pudding

Homemade Bread

 

 

Grocery Shopping

When it comes to a pantry challenge, grocery shopping can get stressful.

But, fortunately Walmart Grocery Pickup makes it all so much easier (hello, shopping in my PJs and groceries loaded in the car FOR ME!  Sign me up!).

With my $200 monthly grocery budget, I was only allowed $50 a week.  One of my favorite things about Walmart Grocery Pickup is the ability to watch my cart total while I’m shopping.  (I know I COULD use a calculator at the store, but I’m just not great at it….) Being able to see how much I’m spending WHILE I’m shopping was crucial for me during this challenge.

If my cart ever went over the $50 amount I knew I needed to go back through the cart and delete a few items.  This was MUCH harder to do than I had anticipated!  My family all had to sacrifice a few items we were use to having regularly in order to make the month work (I totally had to give up my daily Premier Protein Shake!  ;( ).

How to Get Family Support During a Pantry Challenge

It’s really helpful to have your family support during a pantry challenge.  I mean, they are going to be eating the food too!  But, sometimes this is easier said than done.

I would LOVE to tell you that my family was totally on board and excited about my little July Pantry Challenge Experiment……but, they actually hated the whole thing.  They couldn’t believe the lack of food I was bringing home from each grocery pickup trip.

My daughters enjoy baking in the kitchen, so I tried to get them excited about helping me make a lot of our homemade snacks.  They enjoyed this….for a while.

As the month went on my family became more and more tired of our pantry challenge.  The biggest problem was the snacks. 

Unfortunately, my family is use to having snacks available in the pantry, and snacks just couldn’t fit in my budget this month. 

Something that worked well for us was making a list of snacks that we had available.  This sign was hung on the fridge for everyone to see.

So, whenever anyone complained about there being “No snacks”, I pointed them to the list.

I think they had gotten so use to those convenience snacks (not awesome parenting, I know) that they had forgotten about all the other great options we had.

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Even though my family didn’t necessarily ENJOY the pantry challenge, I am really glad they were able to go through it with me.  It was such a good life lesson for my kids to learn about stretching dollars and how much food really costs.

What I learned

My biggest takeaway from the July Pantry Challenge is that I CAN live on less than I usually do. Yes, it took A LOT more effort, (preparing a lot more food from scratch and a lot of time planning), but I CAN do it!  We survived.

Moving forward I have a new sense of motivation to stay in budget, shop my pantry, and really spend with a purpose.  I’ve always told myself the lie that I HAVE to spend money on this food because we NEED it……but, we don’t!  We were just fine having less food around.  I am excited to take this new knowledge and adjust my grocery shopping from here on out.

What’s Next

My pantry challenge is over!  Does this mean I get to spend a lot of money next month restocking my shelves?????  Absolutely NOT!

I will be going back to my regular grocery budget of $400 a month.  Of course, I will slowly try to restock my pantry, but I will always stay within that $400 budget.

I honestly was terrified for this challenge, I really didn’t know if I would be able to meet my goal, $400 a month is usually a little bit of a challenge.  But I did it, and I’m so glad I was willing to try!  If you are wanting to find a way to save a little extra cash, try having your own personal Pantry Challenge.  Be sure to come back and let me know if you did it and how it went!!

Related Articles:

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Pin for The Next Pantry Challenge:

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I hope these pantry challenge tips helps you to save more money.

Small changes in your lunch habits can make big changes in your wallet

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

Finding ways to save money in your budget doesn’t always have to be extreme.  Sometimes all it takes is small consistent new habits to make a big results.

packing lunch for school and work

We decided that instead of having my husband go out to eat lunch with his coworkers every day we would instead pack him a lunch to take.  He usually has leftovers from dinner and some fruit or a salad, sometimes he will make himself a sandwich.

I added up how much this saved us over a year.  I estimated we  spend about $3 a day on the lunch he takes to work.  He works approximately 250 days out of the year making it $750 spending on lunch.  If he were to go out to eat with his coworkers we estimated he would spend about $7 (which is LOW balling it!) a day making it $1,750 a year for lunch.

So, just by packing a lunch for work we are saving $1,000 a year!  Think about this savings in long term value.  In 5 years we have saved $5,000.  In 10 years we have saved $10,000!  The savings over time is huge!  Imagine if I did the same thing, the amount would DOUBLE!

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If you have school aged kids you can also save a large amount of money if you pack them a lunch instead of having them buy a hot lunch at school.

I spend about $1 per kid for each lunch I pack them.  I have two school aged kids so that comes to spending $80 a year on school lunches for them.  If I were to buy a hot school lunch the total yearly cost would be $220 a year.  So by packing them a lunch we are saving $140 a year.  This isn’t a huge amount, but Every.Single.Dollar makes a HUGE difference when you are on a budget.

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These are our two easy secrets that have saved us over a $1,000 a year.  By the time all of my kids will have graduated from high school it will be over a $15,000 savings!  What lunch money saving secrets do you have?

If you are interested in more ways we save money each year check out my article:  What we cut from our budget to save over $2500 a year.

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