Imelda Bettinger

More of what I don’t need

I really have taken this coupon thing and store specials to heart. Since my last post I have only bought a few things from the store but have used coupons for about 50% of the items and picked items that were on sale another 25% of the time. I never really even noticed the bright yellow SALE tags and just grabbed the brand I was used to. I’m much more aware now.

I do my monthly budget on the 20th day of the prior month. I thought I would jump start this to see really where my money was going for Oct and really see what I could cut out for November.

Things I am cutting out in Nov.

Lawn Care - Matt can find the time to take care of the yard and not pay someone
Car washes - Will do this at home in the yard
Car services - We just paid a few hundred bucks for a break job on the Trailblazer and want to really hold off on any other car service for Nov., even though the Mercedes has needed repairs. I’ll just drive the TB more in Nov.
Vanpool fees - Already paid up until Jan. 09
Target - I have got to stay away from this store unless I have a coupon for something. I bought about $300 worth of random crap I probably didn’t need
Books - Since the new Barnes and Noble opened up in Pearland we have gone weekly, buying books for each of us at full price books. We should take a few of our old books to the local Half Price Books to try to sell. That way we can get “new to us” books much cheaper. I don’t usually reread books so this could also be a good way to declutter some bookshelves.
Gifts - I bought a lot of gifts this month, just because I wanted to. I have Matt birthday, my dads and my sisters birthday as well and will stick to a budget with their gifts but need to refrain from my random acts of kindness for the month of Nov. I still have a ton of stationery and stamps so I can still keep up with my letter writing
Gym - I don’t go to the gym, I walk on my own in the tunnel system when at work or around my neighborhood. I also bought a new little Yoga book that I will also practice at home so bye bye gym fees
Hair care - Mason, Danielle and I are good for haircuts for the month. I have a coupon for Matt!
Nails - Danielle also are good on manicures and pedicures until the 1st week of Dec. I also have a free Massage coming to me so that can be a free way to pamper myself

My husband’s work also pays for our home internet as well as his cellphone so that also saves us some.

With being more aware of where I spend money, hopefully I can find more money to put into savings. We are also planning a weekend trip to Rockport in November. Would rather do that than buy random crap from Target! Also, I may be able to save enough money to finally buy a flash for my camera!

November is going to be a fun month!

Tags: budget, coupons, money, saving

10/16/2008 | Tags: budget, coupons, money, saving | 2 Comments

What I don’t need

Photo by teamjtx.

I was reading my friend Katie’s new blog about cleaner living called The Curly Light Bulb. I didn’t know she had such an interest in living green but its certainly inspired me.

She wrote a post about what she doesn’t need. As many of us are trying to conserve money and resources, I too wanted to put my own list together. Katie mentions Starbucks, eating out less and dumping the home phone. I have already done all these so what else could I do. I also already vanpool to save on fuel and car repair expenses and to save time.

1. I could recycle more. I took out all the firewood and tools my husband keeps in our Waste Management green recycle container and started recycling in our home again. I am still figuring out what they will and will not take but I’m making an effort and encouraging the rest of the family.

2. I am considering dumping Netflix. I have the 2 movie at a time account but barely have time to watch those. I have mostly been getting movies for Mason and Danielle and they still keep them and watch them a few times. If I do get a movie I really want to watch, I usually only get to watch it late late at night when I should be sleeping. I also have a DVR and record enough TV that I can barely keep up with. Netflix has gone already about 5 times from our house without really missing it. I love that my queue is still there when I want to start having movies sent again.

3. I need to start using more coupons!!! I heard a story on Oprah last week where Stephanie Nelson cut her grocery bill by 70% by using coupons, taking advantage of store specials and shopping at stores that double and triple coupons. She gets a lot of stuff for free. I heard another story about coupon use on the rise on NPR this morning. I am embarrassed to say my average food bill for the month, which includes eating out, snacks, school lunches, and groceries is about $1,600. That’s ridiculous! Something must change.

Here are some Coupons sites I have browsed and liked: