Category: Frugal Living Tips

Building a personal monthly budget is a piece of cake. Get your slice of the action now.

An average of 40% of American families have a monthly budget. You can become one of them!

If you want financial security, creating a budget can change your life. It gives you the knowledge you need to handle your finances appropriately.

You, too, can enjoy the benefits of a budget.

The following information will help you create a budget of your own.

Identify How Much You Make For a Personal Monthly Budget

In order to make a personal monthly budget, you have to identify how much you make. To determine how much you can spend, you need to know how much money you have coming in.

Remember all the details. Subtract your taxes, Social Security, and any other things you need to pay. Be sure to also subtract fixed expenses like rent, bills, car insurance, and other payments.

It’s important to maintain financial awareness. You should always know what’s in your checking and savings accounts as well as any other accounts you have. This reduces your chances of overdrawing your account or making a major financial mistake.

Determine your net worth. To do this, you subtract the amount of money you owe from the amount of money you have. In the end, you should have a number amount you can work with.

Once you know how much money you’re making, you have to know more.

Identify Where Your Money Goes & Set Goals

Now, you need to find out where your money is going. What do you spend your money on?

There’s a lot of ways you can become accountable for your expenses. For instances, you can start tracking your spending by writing down your purchases in a diary or spreadsheet.

You might have a habit or hobby that’s taking up more finances than it should. You might be surprised once you take a closer look at your purchases.

You also need to set financial goals. Paying off debt or saving money are only two of the goals you might choose. These goals can be short-term or long-term.

It matters that you have a plan for your money instead of spending it.

Become a Responsible Spender

Once you’ve set financial goals, it’s time to start achieving them. Put your financial plan into action by becoming a responsible spender.

You can become a responsible spender with the right life skills. See more!

In order to become a responsible spender, you need to be able to tell the difference between needs and wants. For instance: You might think cigarettes are a need, but you’ll find that quitting can save you a lot of money you can spend elsewhere.

Once you have a personal monthly budget, only buy what you can afford. Can you actually afford movie night or can Netflix do the trick? Try doing date night on a budget instead of with frivolous spending.

You need to ask yourself these questions in order to reduce your spending.

Be conscious of every transaction you make. Make sure all of your spending is within the limits of your budget.

Your Budget is Counting On You

A personal monthly budget can bring you a sense of financial security. The more you save, the better off you’ll be.

Learn more tricks about how to budget, save, and lead a more fulfilling life. You won’t be sorry.

Orlando, Washington, Charlotte, New York, and Atlanta.

You probably know a lot about these cities, individually. But with that single sentence, you’re most likely wondering “Why the grouping?”

The simple answer: Couponing!

In a CNBC article, it showed that these five cities are the top when it comes to frugal living. And frugal it is, what with each person saving more than $200. New Yorkers who used coupons top the list in amount saved, at a whopping $476!

This shows just how they’re worth every second you download or cut them out.

And this how to coupon for beginners guide we’ve come up with will show you how it’s done. Time to get all those pennies and dollars saved!

1. How to Coupon for Beginners Starts with Knowing Where to Start

First things first: Know where you can get those coupons.

You don’t have to look hard and long, seeing as there are just so many sites you can obtain them from. After all, the value of distributed consumer packed goods coupons total to a $470 billion in the U.S. alone!

Just do a quick Google search using the keyword “coupons” and you’ll get 141 million results in less than a second. That’s how popular these money-savers are, and how easy you’ll find them to access.

Going traditional is a great way to start though. Start with your newspapers and magazines. These are some of the best sources of coupons. Especially the papers with the most extensive circulation or coverage.

From here, you can go around and ask your non-coupon-using family and friends for their copies of the papers and mags. So long as they’ll just put these up for recycling after reading, they’ll be more than happy for you to put them to better use.

And there’s the World Wide Web of course. Just check out these Enfamil coupons Walmart accepts. With that $5 discount for a price of less than $5, that makes it almost free. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that?

Here’s a how to coupon for beginners reminder though:

If the store you want to use the coupons for don’t have at least five products you’re looking for, save the coupons for next time. It’ll be just a bother, not to mention waste of time, effort, and gas if you can only get a couple of products in one go.

2. Start Organizing

All those cut outs can quickly turn into a disastrous mess. So, before you start cutting them into itsy bitsy pieces, get yourself an organizing kit. It can be envelopes, folders, or binders.

The important thing is, organize them depending on how you usually work things out. For instance, it’s a good idea to color code them based on their use.

Check out this more in-depth how to coupon for beginners tip on color-coding:

• Use a green folder or binder for discount coupons on vegetables and other produce
• Red for meat and poultry
• White for household cleaning solutions, detergents, dishwashers, etc.
• Yellow for tools and DIY supplies

These are just examples, but feel free to use them or base your own strategies on them. They’ll all boil down to helping you save time and energy once you’re at the store.

3. Compare Discount Rates

Just because you’ll already get discounts from them doesn’t mean they’ll all give you the same amount of savings. You still have to do a bit of research to figure out which coupons offer the biggest money-saving deal.

So, take the time to compare the deals each coupon offers. Also, make sure to check out the stores themselves carrying the products you want to get.

This way, you can find out if the store has its own promotion. And if it has a better deal, then you can save up the coupon for your next hugely-discounted shopping expedition.

4. Matchmaking Time

Here’s a must-remember how to coupon for beginners trick: Learn the art and science of coupon matchups!

Sometimes, there are items you can use multiple coupons on. By matching these up, you’re on your way to getting even more savings. A few examples of stores that allow this coupon matchmaking technique are Walmart, While Foods, Walgreens, Target, and Rite Aid among many others.

Since you’re most likely doing your shopping in one go, it’s best you plan for the matchups a few days before. It takes time to determine which coupons match with what, but the huge savings you’ll get is definitely worth the time.

5. Focus on Your Needs

Coupons are definitely some of the most ingenious money-saving inventions for consumers. However, incorrect use can lead to you spending more than your initial goal.

As a newcomer to the world of couponing, a problem you most likely will encounter is sorting through all the rubble of coupons you may not need. Especially those that will make you spend more despite your goal of actually pinching pennies.

So, a how to coupon for beginners you should never forget is to prioritize clipping for items you have the greatest need for. And it starts with figuring out what exactly you need right away.

Perhaps you need children’s milk, such as Enfamil, for your kids. Or maybe you’re low on household supplies, like detergents, bath soaps, dishwashing liquids, etc. Whichever the case is, it’s a good idea to check your pantry and supply storage to find out what you’re lacking or low on supply in.

And from there, focus your coupon search on just these items.

6. Make a List

Making a “To-Do List” is crucial to productivity. It lets you organize and prioritize your tasks. Following this list then results not just in timely completion of your tasks, but better output too.

The same applies to couponing. When you create a list of items you need based on your needs’ urgency, you’ll have an easier time finding coupons and getting those that give you the greatest savings.

In addition, you can use the same list when you do the shopping itself, as it lets you avoid the pitfalls of the aisles. Not having a list puts you at risk of forgetting your main goal, not to mention the possibility of impulse buying.

So, before you head out to your next extreme couponing adventure, don’t forget this list. It can make a huge difference in your expedition’s success, as well as your wallet’s thickness.

Want More Money-Saving Tips?

Looking for more advice on thrifty living and saving money? We’ve got you covered!

Go and explore our blog site for more great life hacks to save money while still living comfortably.

Think of an expense tracker, and two emotions will likely pop into your head. You either feel intimidated, or you see how it can add value to your budget and keep spending on the right path.

We know how people view technology can vary depending on generational barriers or an absence of financial literacy. But in much the same way smartphones had a small learning curve when you first bought one, these tools are no different.

The make the complex intuitive, and they add several life-changing benefits. Let’s look at the top five.

1. They Isolate Spending Problems

Low-income households spend a higher percentage of their budgets on the necessities of life. This makes tracking each dollar of the utmost importance.

Four-dollar lattes just aren’t as appealing when you realize the same amount of money could feed the entire family for a night. Using an expense tracker helps you identify such problems and regain control.

The good news: you can make your dollar stretch further by bulk-purchasing wholesale items. It may take planning and a few weeks of sacrifice while you stock up, but once the routine is in place, you don’t have to look for the money you’re saving.

2. Help Maintain the Household Budget

Any budget breaks down into five essential categories. They are as follows:

• Income/revenue sources: how you meet every other goal; easy to calculate because sources are usually more limited than they are on the debit side.
• Spending and expenses: things you don’t necessarily have to buy, but you feel compelled to (health insurance, grocery bill, entertainment, for examples).
• Bills: what you either have to pay if you wish to enjoy civilization, or what you’re legally obligated to pay (taxes, water/sewer, utilities)
• Planning for future purchases: boats, homes, braces for your kids, etc.
• Long-term savings

To keep it all running smoothly and to meet your life goals, you have to know where each dollar is going. Or else, you could end up getting the electricity turned off.

3. Get You Back on Your Feet Following Missteps

The key to staying on budget is to understand failure is part of it. You must have a contingency for when that happens, because it will.

Using an expense tracker motivates you to do better. But to get the most out of it, find one that’s easily accessible and incorporates with the cloud.

This Tiller Money review highlights a budgeting tool that links to Google Docs, so you can work with one of the most widely supported systems you’re probably already using. Other worthwhile trackers include Personal Capital and Mint.

4. Make April Easier

Tax season is the most stressful time of the year. But it’s much worse if you wait until the last minute to locate and add up a year’s worth of receipts.

Using a tracking tool to do it eases the pressure. Most of the good ones allow you to log receipts as you get them (with images), categorize in compliance with IRS reporting regulations, and easily retrieve the necessary numbers when you need them.

5. Detect Fraud

If you bank online, then you have sensitive data on your email accounts. If your email account is set up through Yahoo, then you’ve been compromised at some point.

To what extent, who knows? The important thing is being aware of it and taking appropriate action.

An expense tracker will bring awareness to fraudulent activity. It also will enable you to act before too much damage occurs.

After Your Expense Tracker Is in Place

Once you’ve got a tracker you can trust, we encourage you to take positive actions with your budget. You can start by making these 10 healthy money-saving choices.

In the meantime, which of these budgeting tools do you use, and why do you prefer it? Drop us a line in the comments section.

Would you be surprised to learn that the apparel industry is one of the most dominant industries in America?

The U.S. apparel industry today is a 12 billion dollar business, and the average family spends $1700 a year strictly on clothing.

There’s certainly no denying that times are-a-changing when it comes to the amount of clothing one has in possession. In the 1930’s, the average American woman owned nine outfits. Today that number is closer to 30.

While the world keeps telling us that we need more, more more, we’re beginning to think we want less, less, less.

Being a fashionista with a small wardrobe may sound like an oxymoron. However, downsizing your closet can save you money and actually better your sense of style.

Spring is the perfect time to minimize your wardrobe. Today we are outlining six of the best benefits of having a small wardrobe:

It Saves You Money

There’s no denying that downsizing your closet can save you some serious money.

Because you are being conscious about spending money on clothing, it saves you from purchasing items on a limb for reasons such as a sale or the item coming in multiple colors or patterns.

This doesn’t mean we have to eliminate shopping from our lives. It just means that we need to find companies that don’t break the bank yet still provide quality items.

Finding affordable, yet still, quality companies such as Fairweather helps to keep shopping exciting while helping to manage your wardrobe and your wallet.

Next time you consider purchasing a clothing item, ask yourself:

• How does this item make me feel?
• Do I have similar items already in my closet?
• Can I see myself confidently wearing this item in a few years?
• Will spending this money evoke feelings of anxiety with my bank account?
• Do I feel my most confident in this outfit?

If you find yourself humming and hawing over your answer, it’s probably best to move on.

It Helps to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

As much as we’d like to ignore this fact, there’s no denying that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

The yearly production of garments consumes a massive amount of natural resources and significantly contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases.

This one is plain and simple: when you focus more of your energy on minimalism and less on consumerism, fewer items are disposed of in our landfills. Choosing to buy less clothing eventually leads to minimizing demand and production of clothing.

Simple? Yes. Effective. Extremely.

When we think back to the clothes we’ve purchased throughout the season, it’s no surprise that a handful of these items have yet to be worn and remain unseen in the back of our closet.

And, so, we ask ourselves: Why do we continue to build our clothing inventory and purchase items that we really don’t need?

It Maximizes Space

Desperate closets call for desperate measure.

For all of those city dwellers operating out of a shoebox apartment, this one is for you. And, New York City urbanites we’re especially looking at you.

The fact of the matter is, small apartments equal small closets.

If you plan to continue living that urban dream, you’re going to have to adjust your clothing inventory and reduce your wardrobe.

The result? A closet that isn’t bursting at the seams, doesn’t stress you out and might actually have a little extra wiggle room.

You’ll also notice you begin to purchase less of the same item time and time again. While before it may have been a task to keep track of your inventory, your new minimalist wardrobe allows you to easily see and keep track of all of your items.

What does this mean? Less “where did those pants go” moments.

It Saves You Time and Stress

Think of minimizing your wardrobe like decluttering your home.

Once you rid yourself of the items that no longer bear use or bring you happiness, you’ll begin to notice your stress levels decreasing. By simply having fewer options to choose from an agonize over, outfit selection becomes a quick, painless and entirely less frustrating process.

How do we begin?

Challenge yourself to get rid of any wardrobe items meeting these criteria:

• You don’t feel confident in it
• You have not worn it for three months
• It does not currently fit you
• You’re keeping it because it was expensive
• You are holding onto it for sentimental reasons

As soon as your closet is only comprised of items you love and actually enjoy wearing, you’re going to wonder why you ever held on these past items. You’ll also notice that you begin to appreciate more the clothing that you do keep.

You’ll be Noticeably More Creative

Continuing to increase our wardrobe rids us of the need for creativity.

Why endlessly browse through your closet when you could just buy a new dress? While this temptation is hard to deny, it’s important to remind ourselves that new is not always better.

Having a small wardrobe to choose from, you’ll naturally become more creative and experimental in curating outfits. Slowly but surely, you’ll begin to notice you are pairing together items you never thought twice about before. And, guess what? It works.

While we once may have bought an entirely new outfit for an upcoming occasion, we are now experimenting with how to make our favorite little black dress a little more new and inventive.

Ready to Kickstart Your Small Wardrobe?

We know, we know -this whole wardrobe elimination thing can be a little intimidating.

After all, we get joy out of buying and wearing beautiful items that we allow us to feel our best selves.

The truth is, having a small wardrobe doesn’t mean you have to put an end to shopping. Instead, it encourages us to embrace a new type of shopping. This is one in which we think more honestly and more rationally about every item we purchase.

Once you embrace this minimalism, you will begin to notice that every item holds a special place in your heart, allows you to feel confident and serves many benefits to your wardrobe.

Goodbye unused items taking up a prime real estate in your closet; Hello ample space, reduced stress and a whole new attitude towards clothing in general.

Leave us a comment if you have any thoughts.

We’ve all been there: it’s Saturday night, and you’re finally going to have an epic date night with your husband.

You’ve gotten your hair done, taken care of your manicure/pedicure, and you’ve even tried out a new makeup tutorial.

The only problem?

When you open up your closet, you realize you have nothing to wear. We all want beautiful outfits — but with everything else you have to pay for, it can be tough to justify the cost.

The good news?

There are plenty of ways to be able to treat yourself to stunning pieces of clothing without blowing your budget.

Read on to learn how to pull it off.

1. Hit Up Etsy

One of the best ways to find beautiful outfits without having to pay an astronomical price for fashion?

Start by browsing through the virtual clothing racks at Etsy, everyone’s favorite shopping hub.

First of all, you’re much more likely to get quality and handmade pieces on Etsy than on fast fashion retail sites that mass produce their clothing. After all, just because you’re interested in affordable clothing doesn’t mean that you’re OK with it falling apart after one wear!

Plus, shopping on Etsy means that you’ll have access to countless designers from all over the world. So, it’s pretty much impossible not to find something that fits both your style and your body type.

Especially if you’re interested in more inclusive sizing, or if you need clothes that go with a specific lifestyle, Etsy is the perfect place to start.

In many cases, you can even communicate with designers directly. So, if you’re looking for affordable custom-made clothing, Etsy is the perfect place to start.

2. Shop Local Designers

Another way to find beautiful outfits that won’t break the bank?

Always make it a point to shop local. No matter which city you live in, we can guarantee that there are plenty of local fashion designers making quality and seriously stylish pieces that would look great on you.

Plus, because they’re just starting out, their price points are a lot more likely to be affordable.

In some cases, local designers may even be willing to offer you a major discount on their clothing in exchange for a promotion on your blog or social media pages.

Going local isn’t just a way to give back to your community. It’s also a way to help young designers get their start. It’s hard not to feel good about that!

3. Take The Thrift Stores By Storm

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that vintage fashion is back in a big way.

There are countless reasons to love vintage fashion and thrift shopping that go way beyond getting access to classic looks, however.

First of all, you can rest easy knowing that you’re not contributing to the endangerment of garment workers because of unsafe (and often illegal)sweatshop conditions.

Additionally, thrifting is an awesome way to be sure that you’re doing everything you can to protect the environment. The clothing industry is one of the most wasteful things on the planet.

Every year, thousands upon thousands of pounds of clothing is thrown out — and fashion brands still keep on producing.

If you’re concerned about the clothing industry’s impact on the planet, then making a commitment to buying vintage clothing is a wonderful way to do your part.

Plus, not only is thrifting affordable, it’s also incredibly fun!

Wearing vintage clothing is an awesome way to express yourself. You’ll also guarantee that you’ll be able to wear pieces that no one else can get!

So, this weekend, grab a few of your best girlfriends and commit to going vintage shopping. The planet — and your wallet — will certainly thank you.

4. Look For Affordable Online Retailers

As a busy mom, we completely understand that, no matter how much you’d like to, you simply don’t always have the time to shop at a brick-and-mortar store.

It’s much easier for you to browse through potential pieces of new clothing online, try them on in the comfort of your home, and then ship them back if they don’t look quite right.

The only problem?

It seems like many online clothing retailers are only getting more expensive these days.

Don’t panic — and definitely don’t give in and overpay. Instead, to find the best clothes at the right price, you’ll just have to do a little research.

Instagram is an awesome place to start.

Scour hashtags like #affordablefashion or #thelookforless to help you find clothes that won’t blow your budget. Plus, you’ll also discover new designers and trends!

If you’re looking for one of the best affordable retailers out there with clothing for every occasion?

We can’t get enough of Morning Lavender.

Not only do they have stunning dresses, beautiful outfits for the office and date night, and seriously chic workout wear?

They can also help you to find the perfect dress for your wedding for less!

Shop For Beautiful Outfits With These Tips

We hope this post has helped to remind you that you don’t have to spend a lot in order to find beautiful outfits that will help you to make a serious fashion statement.

Places like Etsy, local shops, affordable online retailers, and your favorite thrift shop are filled with awesome pieces just waiting to be discovered.

Looking for even more deals on everything from clothing to your next vacation?

At Thrifty Momma Ramblings, we’ve got you covered.

Spend some time on our website to get access to the latest coupons, freebies, and giveaways.

Then, be sure to check out our blog to learn how you can make the frugal lifestyle look like a million bucks!