Pinching Pennies...

In an effort to buy a home this summer, Mike and I have finally decided to start pinching every penny and saving every dime.  Like, EVERY dime.  We sat down last week as a family to go over the budget and see if there weren't places we could trim the fat.  And boy was there a lot of fat to trim.    Here are some of the things we came up with with an explanation to follow:

• No More Eating Out
• Half Our Food Bill
• Lowering the Utilities
• Haircuts At Home
• Second Hand It
• Babysitters On Trade Only
• Giving More Back
• PRAY!

No More Eating Out
  Ok, so we eat out.  Not a ton but way more than either Mike and I did growing up.  It happens on crazy nights when dinner just didn't come together. And since we don't like eating fast food we then choose healthier and MORE EXPENSIVE options.  And those days have come to an end.  In their place will be simple dinners like oatmeal, waffles, sandwiches, etc.


Half Our Food Bill
  Now some of you may think this is INSANE but my food bills were pretty cushy.  I hear about those moms that can get their grocery bills to somewhere around $200 a month and I am just not even close to that.  I'm more like 4 or 5 times that.  Now, when you hear that number you may think our home is full of an amazing amount of goodies and treats but it isn't.  I just have always been a food snob, having a hard time buying much prepared stuff and cheap cheeses, meats, and breads.  But experience in the kitchen and some really great gifts have made it possible for me to continue to expect a lot of goodness out of my food without paying the high price.  Meaning, I am making a huge amount from scratch.  My mom gave me a wheat grinder about a month ago and so we have finally been able to make the whole wheat bread we like without ANY additives and fluff but for about a quarter(or more) of the price.  And Mike gave me that great pasta maker which makes for VERY inexpensive meals that are REAL food and healthy to boot.  And we also are making homemade pizza once a week.  And our pizzas are killer good - each one costing us less than two dollars to make.

Lowering the Utilities
  This one is pretty self explanatory.  It basically means wearing a sweater around the house and trying hard not to turn the fire place on in the evenings.  As well as being aware of turning off lights and fans when we're not in the room.

Haircuts At Home
  Oh goodness, heaven help us!  I am so not good at this one yet but I think the only way to learn is practice.  Or if anyone out there knows of any good books or friends willing to teach me on trade???

Second Hand It
  As many of you know I love to buy second hand furniture and books but I have not ever been good at buying used clothing.  I just get so overwhelmed by the racks of ugly clothes to find the desire to rummage through them to find things.  But I am going to have to get over it.  My boys just grow TOO fast.

Babysitters On Trade Only
  Ok, Mike and I LOVE to go out together and though we don't go out weekly we try to make it out at least a couple times a month.  And when you pay the sitter between $20-$30 plus $20-$30 more for whatever you did - that adds up!  So now we're gonna try and trade sitting.  And then go on free dates which should get easier as the weather warms up.


Giving More Back 
  I remember during a finacially tight period of time growing up my Dad said that we would be trying to save money and we'd also be giving more to the Lord.  We believe everything we have is a blessing from the Lord and as we give more of it to those in need we will be able to make better use of what we have.  Works every time.  Thanks Dad for always being such a good example of this!


PRAY!
  Last but not least - actually as a base for everything that we're doing we are praying.  We're praying that we'll be able to see ways in which we can save money.  We're praying that Mike's efforts at work will go well, as well as mine.  I'm praying that I'll be able to make healthy, yummy food and know how to make it cheap.  And we're praying that we'll find the house that is supposed to be our home.  I know that our Heavenly Father WANTS us to come to him about everything we need, desire, are concerned about, are happy about, etc.  

Here are some of my favorite verses from The Book of Mormon in Alma 34:

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

So in the end, it is good.  It is hard but it is also something we've needed to do for years.  And I'd love to hear how you pinch your pennies.