So, husband went to work early, leaving me alone with a sleeping baby (a good thing), two pups, and a bunch of shows on the DVR. One that I watch (and not sure why I even do) is "Extreme Couponing" on TLC. This show is unrealistic, and many of the grocery stores that have participated have regretted their involvement (Lowe's foods was the most recent that released a statement prior to the season's start already apologizing to its loyal customers). Anyway, it got me to thinking about how we make it work on mostly just a Navy man's salary, which isn't enough for the work and hours he dedicates to his job protecting us (that is a whole other post).
So what do we do?
1) Our house is within our means. The military budgets for us how much of our paycheck should go to housing; its called a housing allotment. If we lived on base, we would forfeit this money each month. We don't live on base (our choice), so we budgeted our house, taxes, and insurance to just about equal our housing allotment (we are pretty darn close). The bank said we could have twice the money, but we said "no thank you"!
2) We pay everything on one credit card and then PAY IT OFF EACH MONTH. By doing so, we are building up rewards with the card (and Discover has the best programs all around), which we either use to pay down our balance, or ask for gift cards (for gas and such) when the amounts are high enough. It makes it easy to pay just one bill, and not have something get lost in the shuffle.
3) I do coupon. Every month I get better, and I hope to see real returns in the future. Our food budget hasn't changed dramatically, but you should see our pantries (yes, two). My new goal is to try to cut what we normally spend on food each month down by half by the end of the year, and I think we might make it. It is difficult, but by spending some time each week checking just two websites (Hip2Save and Southern Savers) daily, I have helped purchase for pennies on the dollars things we use everyday and things we have wanted to try. I also shop a great military benefit... the commissary. We still eat out, but we do so with coupons, promotions, and specials that bring our bill down to about what we would have spent on a meal at home. We aren't afraid to ask for discounts (being military does have it privileges sometimes), and have learned different stores' policies (did you know the Home Depot takes competitor coupons?! ... and still gives us our military appreciation discount?!) to help with the bottom dollar. So, yes, I coupon!!
4) As the Duggars (from TLC's "19 Kids and Counting") say all the time (yes, another guilty pleasure), "buy used and save the difference." Elijah and I love to garage sale, we check out thrift stores, and I am on a couple of Facebook swaps. We have bough several pieces for our home that I am sure you couldn't pick out used, or found on the curb. A little elbow grease, and they look terrific. Several of the Goober's recent toys have been bought used (the most recent was today's train table; normal retail cost, $150 (sale price!), we got for $80 and HE LOVES IT). We don't mind hand me downs, and we are still using some of my college furniture.
5) We just do without. We've been wanting bikes and a bike trailer. Last year for Christmas, my parents were gracious to give us money to buy bikes. Anticipating an out of the country trip (which sadly fell through), we used that money for passports instead. Elijah was lucky to buy a used $800 mountain bike with all the bells and whistles for an 1/8 of that price, but we are still looking for a good deal for me and on a bike trailer. So, we wait.
6) We don't go without... on certain items. I do try to buy organic, or green, items when the price isn't too far out of reach. Thankfully, coupons are starting to come out for these products making them a bit more in the budget. We have for the past two years been members of the South Carolina Aquarium, and we have the "plus" package so we can bring in guests for free. This has more than paid for itself within two visits, because I usually bring a friend and their child along. We do spend money on The Little Gym for Goober; this is not cheap. It is a luxury item. Yet, to us, it is so essential for him. He loves it, he gains such confidence and great skills, that we will cut elsewhere before we deny him this. That being said, that is the only activity we pay for him to participate in. I will not pay to be in a "Mommy and me" type group; it is not me.
7) We are paying off our debts... which, like most Americans, includes credit card debt. We both made mistakes prior to our marriage when it came to credit cards, but we hope to be out of that soon. Each month, we try to pay whatever is leftover to lower them more. Progress is being made! Now if only those pesky school loans would just disappear ;)
8) I do work... out of state. This is a per diem position, meaning I may not work one month, then maybe have a week of work the next month. I love my employer, and my fellow coworkers, and it is conveniently near my parents. This provides me with not only free lodging but also free babysitting. Goober gets to enjoy his extended family while Mommy works, which works out for everyone (especially those grandparents!). It does take me away from Elijah, but I would have to say 50% of the time, he comes with me. Or, I plan to work around family events, so I would have been in Virginia anyway. Why not pick up a shift?
Well, at this time, either because of fatigue or because I really can't think of anymore, that is how my family is getting by on an enlisted man's salary, a mostly stay at home mom, with one child, one on the way, two large dogs, a car payment, school loans, and a mortgage.
If you find any extra money, maybe share just a little? ... :) ;) ... E
No comments:
Post a Comment