I have been thinking a lot about one income families. With the state of our economy many families are forced into this thinking.
If you know there is a pending unemployed time. What should you do?
- Add to your stockpile. I am surprised by buying a few extra things each shopping trip I have a nice little stockpile.
- Look at your bills… Is there is anything you can eliminate. newspaper, cable or maybe home phone.
- Check with your child’s school about free or reduced lunches.
- Angel food or Great food for all both offer a box of groceries for a reasonable amount. Go to their sites to find a location and box types.
- I love the Library….a frugal girls dream! You can rent movies, magazines and books. They offer all kinds of classes and have computer help. If you get rid of you internet this is somewhere you can go and use their computers. They even have the newspaper to look for job listings.
How to save everyday at home
- Shut those lights off?
- Only wash full loads in the dishwasher. In the rinse aid container I use vinegar.
- Potlucks- church potlucks are a free will offering or want to have a family get together….make it a potluck!
- Laundry- wash in cold water, use less laundry soap and hang dry what you can.
- Plan and prepare I don’t know about you but when we are the most broke I seem to prepare/plan more. Knowing I don’t have the money to go out and buy I use what I have in my cupboards…my stockpile.
- Be creative with Leftovers- A great example was this weekend we were at a party and My friend gave me a giant bag of chunk cheese. I cooked it down in a big pot with some milk and added it to cooked macaroni noodles. I baked it and added bread crumbs as a topper. The whole meal was less than $2.00.
- Grow a garden- What a great feeling when you have your own produce.
For our family leaning to say No has helped. I have a friend that told me “No is a complete sentence. you may feel uncomfortable at that moment but you will be glad you did.” I have also learned I can’t keep up with the Jones…..
Have a great night and I’ll talk more on this tomorrow. Candy
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August 19, 2010 at 5:13 am
Since my hubby is a roofer we have periods of time when he is not working due to slow work or weather. All of your ideas are great but a would a few
Pay off all credit cards
bank as much as you can and do not touch it!
learn to freeze or can ( this saves me tons of cash each year!)
garage sale or thrift store shopping (be sure to pack a lunch for everyone when you go too and don’t forge the drinks!)
get used to drinking water instead of soda!
learn how to do your own home repairs and car repairs (this can save you hundreds of $)
August 24, 2010 at 10:46 am
Save a buck whenever, and where ever, you can. You need the flexibility to just deal with basic expenses when you drop to one income.
We have had only one car payment for most of the past 15 years – and only for about two years did we have to make two car payments at once. That really made a difference on monthly expenses during the times when my husband was on layoff / unemployment benefits.