@veronica-combs
active 8 years, 5 months agoForum Replies Created
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My kids are still in elementary school, but my husband and I are already thinking about how we are going to downsize. I think the biggest problem for most people is thinking about stuff. How do you get rid of enough of it to be happy and have all your stuff fit in a much smaller space?
For me, location is more important than size. I want to live in a place where I can walk to the library, the grocery, a park and a wine store. I would be willing to go under 800 feet to get the right location.
I have to say this is one motivation I use to slow down on the freeway. I am always running late (another challenge I need to work on), so I am always rushing.
I remind myself that my blood pressure and my gas mileage will both be better off if I slow down and take deep breaths, instead of mashing on the gas and complaining about the other drivers.
Thanks for the reminder.
This is actually my least favorite part of budgeting. I do tend to lump too many expenses into “misc” which makes the category meaningless.
When I try to be more specific, I end up with way too many categories.
Still looking for the right spot in the middle between the two extremes.
Verizon called me recently and actually offered me a good deal in changing my cell phone plan. I am always skeptical of offers from big companies like that, but the sales rep cut my monthly bill down by $30. Again, not much, but I’ll take it.
Whenever someone asks about the small dent on my refrigerator door, I say, “Floor model discount! We got an excellent deal!”
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many more health insurance plans are covering or helping to cover programs that help people quit.
You can read more here:
http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/tobacco-control-advocacy/reports-resources/2014/helping-smokers-quit-required.pdfCheck with your insurance plan and see if you can get help to quit.
I think it depends on your current situation. Do you have kids or a spouse? My husband and I got term life insurance when we had kids. If something happens to one of us, the kids’ education and other expenses will be covered. The policies expire when the kids are in their 20s – hopefully they will be paying their own way by then!
In my experience, insurance agents have tried to sell me universal life insurance, but a financial planner said we only needed term life policies. That is what we bought.
I have read that “wash your hair every other day” advice many times. I think that one is definitely falls in the “works for you, but not for me” category.
I have definitely cut back on highlights to save money and I only get pedicures for special occasions. I go without otherwise, because I don’t have the skill or the patience to DIY.
But I think your initial advice is perfect: “Beauty expenses are not necessarily superficial or trivial, so cutting back on them should be done as thoughtfully as with any other expense category.” Beauty standards create so much pressure for women – whatever makes us feel confident and prepared is not a luxury!
I would add Boden to the high-quality list. They are a British company and a bit pricier than some other companies, but the clothing is well made and lasts through many washings.
They have a unique style too – I always get compliments on my Boden dresses and skirts.Karina Dresses is another good one. The dresses are well made, feature gorgeous prints, and easy to care for. You can pick up a couple on sale – well worth the money.
An herb garden is a good choice also. Some plants will come back every year. Cilantro reseeds itself each year, so if you get a start from a friend, there is no need to buy another plant next year.
We have a small collection of herbs, and the oregano comes back every year, and the sage does too.
We buy a basil plant or two every spring. It’s easy to grow and a much cheaper way to make pesto than buying it in stores. If you are really ambitious, you can buy several plants and make enough pesto to freeze. There is nothing like good pesto in the middle of January.
I had heard about Tradesy but was a little skeptical. I do love my local consignment shop, but it does require an appointment and a trip to the store. Including an envelop is a genius move – very persuasive!
Thanks for the tip – your experience has convinced me to try it!I think that credit card debt is such a big problem for so many people that anything that chips away at it is a good thing.
The envelope system wouldn’t work for me, and it would never work for my husband. He never has cash. We have joint accounts, so any system we use has to work for both of us.
I’ve found having a weekly spending target helps me manage our spending. I don’t worry about how much I’ve spent down to the penny, but I do have different targets for each week. For instance, we don’t eat out during weeks that we have a lot of money going out for the mortgage or other payments. I’ve also gotten better at planning for annual expenses – association fees, car registration, etc. That helps me manage the cash flow to avoid debts without having to count expenses down to the pennies.
