Some people think of bankruptcy as an easy way to offload a crushing debt burden, and it’s sometimes the first method they reach for. Well, it may well relieve the burden, but it’s far from easy and should be the very last thing you use to do so.
Yes, it is the end of July, summer is over half through and I am telling you now is the time to hit the stores for your summer items, for next year that is. Take a look at the families closets. How do the summer clothes look? Are they worn out or too small? Will they make it through another season? Start of a list of things that you may need for next summer.
Don’t stop with the closets though. Think about other summer items that you may want to buy for next summer. Maybe patio furniture, pool toys or camping equipment are on your “want” list. This is the time to shop for these items.
Retailers are gearing up to move out the summer merchandise. It is back to school time in the retail world and they need room for that merchandise. They are drastically marking down summer merchandise already. Here is where you can save big by buying for next year.
This is not only true for new merchandise. If you are a thrift or consignment store shopper, like I am, you can also enjoy big savings. 50% off of resale items equals very cheap!
Now that you are all excited to hit the stores, a couple of cautions.
1. Don’t go crazy. Don’t buy something just because it is a good deal. If you don’t use it, you just wasted your money. Make your list, and stick to it!
2. It isn’t a good deal if you have to use credit to pay for it. Don’t ruin your good deals by paying interest on them. Use cash or your checking account. If you don’t have anything but credit, you are better off not buying now.
So go, find those deals. Enjoy the savings, but stick with what you need and what you have the budget for.
Food can be a huge area of the family budget. After all, we all have to eat right? While food is a necessity, spending a lot of money on it is not. Here are a few quick tips to help trim the food budget.
1. Limit dining - Even the least expensive restaurants cost significantly more than you would pay to make the same food at home.
2. Put grocery shopping on a schedule - You will spend less if you only go to the store once or even every other week. The “quick trips for just one thing” usually turn into costly endeavors.
3. Make a shopping list - Keep a list of the things you keep on hand as you run low on them. Plan for the meals you will need between shopping trips, and add those things to your list.
4. Cook from scratch - Buying convenience food at the grocery store is certainly cheaper than going out to eat, but cooking from scratch will save you even more. You may be surprised at how easy some things you are accustomed to buying in the convenience form are to make from scratch. A few that come to mind; pancakes, macaroni and cheese, brownies, cornbread, and sloppy joes. Others may take a bit more time, but usually the taste is worth the effort.
5. Cut back on meat consumption - Meat often takes a lion’s share of the grocery budget. One of the best ways to help cut this cost is to use meat as an ingredient, not a stand alone dish. Make casseroles and stir fries that include sliced chicken instead of serving chicken breasts. Watch for sales on meat and stock up!
When looking to trim your budget, food is often one of the easiest places to start. Implement one or two changes at a time and soon you will notice the difference in the amount of your hard earned cash being consumed.