Budgeting

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The other day, I was having a conversation with one of my friends and some how we got talking about my checkbook and that I had made a simple addition mistake that got everything out of whack.

Fortunately {since I check my online account and balance my checkbook at least once a week} I caught my error early on and could quickly go back and make the appropriate changes.

Yes, I do still use a paper checkbook register! 

Even though I do almost ALL our banking electronically, automatically pay all our bills electronically, and rarely ever write paper checks, I’m still in the habit of regularly monitoring our different checking and savings accounts to make sure everything balances out. Maybe this is old fashioned, but you would not believe how many mistakes I’ve caught because of this!

However, as I was talking with my friend, it quickly became apparent that she didn’t balance her checkbook… or even HAVE a checkbook register! She just relied on her online bank statement to be an accurate account of how much money she did or didn’t have.

So that got me thinking…

• what if you write a big check or make a big payment but it takes a week or more to “clear” from your account… so you think you have more money than you actually do and run the risk of over-drawing your account?

• what if your bank makes a mistake — but you never catch it because you don’t keep your own checkbook register balanced and up-to-date?

• what if someone gets ahold of your debit card or account number and steals some or all of your money — but you might not notice because you don’t keep your own records?

• what if you get charged the wrong amount for something but didn’t realize it because you threw your receipt away and never wrote it down in your own checkbook register?

I know I’ve caught mistakes and errors in the past — only because I had things accurately written down in my own checkbook register. However, my friend seemed to think it was not necessary to have her own checkbook register.

Why I Use a Checkbook Register:

• I feel like I’m more “in control” of my money and my spending

• I know exactly how much money is available to me at all times {and this is not necessarily the same amount as my online statement might show}

• I can more quickly and easily catch any mistakes that might have been made either by myself, by the bank, or by the company I purchased a product from.

• It’s a great habit to get into and helps me stay on budget

Do You Balance Your Checkbook?

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Am I the only “old-fashioned” person left who takes time each week to balance my checkbook registry and check for any issues?

What are some of the reasons you do {or do not} take the time to balance your checkbook?

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For the first 5+ years of our marriage, Dave and I got by on a measly $20 – $25 per week grocery budget {the picture above is food that I purchased for only $22}!  We ate well, we ate healthy, we had a good variety of foods, our pantry and freezer were always stocked, and we never went hungry. The crazy thing is that it wasn’t even that difficult to do!

However, the past 2 months have been somewhat of a rude awakening to me as our grocery bills have jumped to $40, $50 and even $60 per week! 

Yes I’m still using coupons, yes I’m still faithfully shopping the sales, and yes I’m still meal planning… but we’ve had a lot of changes over the past 2 months and all those changes have really put some pressure on our super small grocery budget.

1. We have 2 extra mouths to feed.

Even though our international students don’t eat a lot, they eat a lot of “expensive” items like fresh fruit, fresh veggies, milk, cereal, and chips {they LOVE chips!} Fruit, veggies, and milk aren’t usually very discounted and there are hardly ever coupons for these items. Plus, has anyone else noticed that the price of cereal and chips is outrageous! Now I know why I stick to egg sandwiches, oatmeal, and granola for breakfast!

They also go through crazy amounts of toilet paper and tissues — and you know that paper products aren’t cheap!

2. We finally got a deep freezer.

The picture above actually looks empty compare to what our freezer looks like right now! Our freezer is fully stocked with meats, cheeses, baked goods, extra meals, etc. That means I’ve been buying a lot more food lately, but hopefully it will mean lower bills {and less cooking time} in the future as we eat from our freezer.

3. Our pantry is bursting at the seems.

We re-purposed a few storage containers from our garage organizing project this summer and are using those as our new pantry. It is a vast improvement over our previous system and offers so much more storage — which has been extremely useful, especially since the girls like to purchase their own Vietnamese and Korean pantry staples as well.

4. We haven’t gone out to eat ONCE since the end of August.

Dave and I rarely went out to eat before — but if we did, we always used gift cards we receive throughout the year.

Well, we are almost completely out of gift cards {feel free to send us a few if you like!!} and going out to eat would be a lot more expensive with 2 extra people. So we have eaten every single meal at home since the end of August. Yes, that means I have prepared every single meal since the end of August — and our grocery bill has gone up as a result!

5. I’ve been canning a ton of produce.

I usually only can every other year — and this was the “on” year, so I’ve purchased lots of extra produce from local farms — but now I won’t need to buy peaches, pears, applesauce, tomatoes, salsa, or jam for the next 2 years. {I actually have much more than the picture above shows}

6. The price of groceries has gone up.

I’m sure this is happening nation wide, but the prices of groceries in West Michigan has slowly risen over the last couple of years — and I’m still shocked every time I buy bananas for $0.59 per pound!!! I can remember when I would shop with my mom and we’d never pay more than $0.25 per pound! These rising food prices are no-doubt, one of the reasons our bill is continuing to increase as well.

7. We’re getting ready for the baby.

I can’t tell you how many coupons I’ve gotten for free baby items — which has been great for stocking up. However, I’ve also gotten some very high-value coupons that make baby items extremely cheap {like formula, diapers, wipes, etc.} So even though the baby isn’t here yet, it just make sense to use these coupons before they expire to get baby necessities for ridiculously low prices.

I’m not sure if I will continue to include baby items in our “grocery budget”, but I am for now.

8. I don’t have a garden for the first year EVER!

Since we were so busy with all of our massive house renovations this winter, spring, and summer, we knew we would not have time to plant or maintain a garden. {We had enough of a challenge just finding time to mow the lawn and weed!}

So for the first year ever, I didn’t have a garden to pick from on a daily and weekly basis. This meant that I had to actually BUY all of our vegetables this year… expensive!

9. I’ve already started stocking up for holiday baking.

I know it’s only October, but with a new baby due only weeks before Thanksgiving, I figured I better start stocking up on Holiday baking items now — which aren’t cheap!

10. We’re entertaining more.

Since our house renovations are finally complete {for the most part!} and our living room isn’t filled with tools, wood flooring, and tons of dust; we’ve been taking the opportunity to actually invite people over! We’ve had company a few times this past month and have several large groups coming in the next 2 weeks.

And as you all know, entertaining costs money. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, but there are additional expense involved in feeding people {big shocker!} but it’s something we want to do and are thoroughly enjoying sharing our newly renovated home with family and friends!

So those are just a few reasons why our grocery bill has jumped from around $20 – $25 per week to $40, $50, or even $60 per week. 

Part of me feels disappointed that I’m no longer able to keep our grocery budget SO LOW, but I just have to remind myself that there is a time and season for everything, and our growing family is an excellent reason for this increase!

Plus, for a family of 4 {and a half!} who never goes out to eat and has a freezer and pantry FULL of food, I think I’m still doing OK if I keep our budget around $40-$60 per week!

What do you think? Do you have any tips for keeping costs down?

Linked to Top Ten Tuesdays

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{Dave and I eating at a really fancy restaurant on our honeymoon}

Although Dave and I enjoy going out to eat every once in a while, we make it a habit of eating at home, packing our own lunch, and making food from scratch as a way to significantly reduce our monthly expenses.

However, I know there are TONS of people who aren’t like us and frequently go out to eat — either because they are too busy, on vacation, or just as a treat. And ever since I mentioned that restaurants were one of the 10 things we don’t spend money on, I’ve received so many questions asking about different ways to save money at restaurants.

So… here are a few ideas to save money AND enjoy a night out.

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1. Use coupons:

There are SO many different restaurant coupons available in magazines, the newspaper, on deal blogs, on Facebook, and even simply by visiting the restaurant’s website. Dave and I have had several occasions where we wanted to go to a specific restaurant and I found BOGO coupons after a quick internet search.

2. Visit the restaurant during a special sales or promotion:

Yes, the restaurant might be a little busier during a sale, but this is definitely one of the simplest ways to save money at your favorite restaurants.

3. Ask for gift cards:

One of the main reasons Dave and I rarely spend money going out to eat is because we get lots of gift cards. We ask for them for Christmas, for our birthdays, and he gets a bunch for coaching different sports at school. Plus, gift cards are one of the easiest gifts to give so I’m sure no one would be upset with that request!

4. Go early or late to get happy hour and late-night specials:

Most restaurants have great Happy Hours specials; and even though Dave and I are still too cheap to buy alcohol, it’s a great time to go and get really great deals food — plus, you miss the dinner-time rush!

5. Eat something other than a full meal:

You can save a lot by skipping the full meal and just going out for coffee, dessert, or even splitting an appetizer. You’ll still get some time away, you’ll still get to relax at your favorite restaurant, just at a fraction of the price!

6. Skip the drinks and get water:

No, I’m not just talking about alcoholic drinks, but any drink! I simply can’t stand spending $2.99 for a glass of lemonade or pop when water is free — and much better for me. Just think, a family of 5 would save $15 by drinking water!

7. Split a meal:

Dave and I do this all the time because portions at most restaurants are SO large. Sometimes we’ll just order an extra side salad or cup of soup to go with the meal and that’s plenty of food for both of us.

8: Order a full-size meal, not a half:

If you don’t want to split a meal, but can’t eat the full meal yourself, simply take the leftovers home. Ordering a “half portion” is usually only a few dollars cheaper for half the food. If you take the other half of your meal home, you can eat it for leftovers the next day and get two meals for the price of one!

9. Go places where kids eat free:

There are TONS of restaurants where kids eat free. Sometimes, the restaurants even allow two free kid’s meals with each adult meal purchase.

10. Eat dessert at home:

I know dessert always sounds so good at the end of a delicious meal, but is it really worth the extra $4-$8.00 {and the extra calories}? Skip dessert and have a chocolate candy or brownie when you get home.

11. Sign up for birthday freebies:

If you think about it, one time you will almost certainly go out to eat is for your birthday, so by signing up for birthday freebies, you’ll get all kinds of great deals to use during your birthday week and month. I just had a birthday in June and received so many completely free meals and desserts that I think Dave and I ate out every night for the whole week — and it was almost all free!

So these are just a few of my ideas to help you save money at restaurants; however, I’m fully aware that there are plenty of occasions which call for a celebration and just wouldn’t be the same unless you got drinks, appetizers, a full meal, and dessert. For those situations, it’s totally fine to indulge and splurge a bit {or a lot!}. Just keep my ideas in mind for the “I don’t have anything planned for dinner and we’re hungry” kind of days!

Don’t Forget the Tip:

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Even if you do use coupons, split meals, and get great deals; it’s still important to tip your waiter/waitress at least 15% of the total value BEFORE any coupons and discounts. We almost always tip at least 20%, especially if they did a great job. Your server should not be penalized because you’re trying to get a deal! 

I actually know someone who always orders water and splits a meal with his wife. However, he tells the server right up front that he will tip them 20% of whatever it would cost for two full meals and two drinks. He says it’s amazing how the server instantly perks up and gives them great service for the rest of the meal!

Isn’t that a great idea! 

How about you? How do you save money at restaurants?

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UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to Bri: briana_cady@… I will email you today to get your shipping information!

As many of you know, I have a mini obsession with finding great deals, shopping the sales, and clipping coupons — and I save thousands of dollars every year — so it IS worth my time!

However, in order to save that kind of money, I have to be organized.

Several months ago, I showed you how I organize my coupons. It’s a pretty simple method, nothing fancy, but it definitely works for me.

I know my method won’t work for everyone — especially not for extreme couponers — so today I want to share another really cool {and much prettier} method for organizing your coupons!

The Qubie System:

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The Qubie System is a  fast, simple, and fun way to organize ALL of the coupons in your life. You’ll spend less money and save a whole bunch of time each week as you make your shopping lists and look for coupons.

Also, if you’ve ever thought about getting started with this whole “coupon thing” the Qubie system would be a great way for you to learn the ins and outs of using and organizing your coupons.

One of the things I really like about the full Qubie System is that there are actually 3 different components.

1. The Qubie Pro – for Grocery and Pharmacy coupons

2. The Qubie Plus – for Specialty store coupons

3. The Qubie Pal – for Gift Cards and Restaurant Coupons

So you can literally organize every single coupon you have!

I’ve been using and trying out the system for a few weeks now, and while every piece serves its purpose well, if I had to choose my favorite, it would be the little Qubie pal!

It’s the perfect size to fit in any purse and I’ve been looking for someplace to store all my gift cards and restaurant coupons {my old method broke so they’ve just been sitting in a manila envelope.} Now that I have the Qubie Pal, my gift cards are much safer and my coupons are so much easier to find when I’m in a hurry!

Since I like to carry my coupons with me all the time, I’ve actually been using the Qubie Plus {the smaller binder} for most of my coupons. It fits in my bag a little easier than the Qubie Pro but still offers a lot of coupon storage.

However, if you are an extreme couponer and/or deal with lots of coupons, the Qubie Pro will most definitely be your best bet. It’s already completely set up with every category you need and tons of clear plastic page inserts to keep every single coupon in it’s place.

Want to win a FULL Qubie System?

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Thanks to Jennifer, the founder of Qubie, one lucky Simply Organized Living reader will win the full Qubie System!!

1 Qubie Pro – the large binder for Grocery and Pharmacy coupons

1 Qubie Plus – the smaller binder for Specialty store coupons

1 Qubie Pal – the pocket size book for Gift Cards and Restaurant Coupons

15″ X 16″ X 3″ Durable Gusseted Tote Bag

Oh, and if you are new to couponing, this giveaway also comes with an instructional brochure sharing tips and tricks to make the most of your Qubie System and the time you spend clipping coupons.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me why you could use the Qubie coupon organizing system.

Also, make sure to visit the Qubie website and store for lots more information and to purchase these great products!

This contest is open until Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 10:00 pm EST. ONE winner will be selected at random and announced later that week. Please read my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you might have. I received a complimentary Qubie System for review, however my love of coupons and all opinions are my own!

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Last week, I talked about how we sold our house on Criaglist in just 3 days — and I got SO many emails asking more questions about selling a house and moving!

Unfortunately, I don’t know a ton about real estate and selling homes, but I DO know a little bit about moving {here are some of the posts from our move this past year}. I know, first hand, that moving can be stressful, so I’m really excited to share the following guest post from Transit Systems, Inc. (TSI).

And believe me, they know what they’er talking about!

Millions of people move every year. All of those people, although excited for where they are going, are instantly stressed out by the process of moving — and one main factor of stress is the expense.

However, there are several SIMPLE and easy remedies to help trim some of the costs involved with moving. Here are five tips on how to save during your move:

1. Ban Buying Boxes

Rather than buying cardboard boxes from U-Haul or UPS, why not check out your local recycling center? Some other places that you may not think of as a source for boxes are restaurants, hospitals, and shoe stores.

Why these of all places? Well, they’ve got a ton of boxes because their supplies are shipped in boxes. Second, most use double walled boxes ensuring sturdy and reliable boxes for safe shipping or moving of your items!

2. Eliminate Excess

What about all those old bins and boxes in the storage room? You know, the stuff you’ve kept all these years but you’re not really sure why.  Since you don’t want to be packing things that you will just throw away after the move, take some time to sort through those boxes before you begin packing.

This way you will only pack the things that you need to.  You’ll not only lessen your packing workload, but you’ll also remove the frustration of packing unnecessary things that will just be thrown out anyway.

3. Pad with Paper

Packing material expenses can add up. You can trim costs by not having to buy bubble wrap, and instead, find substitutes within your own home.

Why not use old newspapers to wrap the fragile dishes in the kitchen? Why not use bed linens, sweatshirts, or towels as padding for other fragile items that need to be boxed? Since boxes that you hand-pack are not usually insured, at least you can add enough fluff until you’re confident your items won’t break!

4. Tear Down the Tables

Some moving companies charge extra to take apart furniture items like tables, cribs, play sets, or bunk beds. You can save some money by disassembling the items yourself. The same thing goes if you’re shipping furniture to a new destination.

5. Ask for Assistance

Asking your friends and family for help can save on labor costs. Some ground shipping companies will charge you less if you carry your items to the curbside so that all they have to do is scoop it up. Luckily, the most your friends will cost you is some pizza and wine.

So dig a little less deep into your wallet by embracing these five costs-trimming tips!

Have you recently moved…or are you in the process of moving? If so, what are YOUR best money-saving moving tips?

This guest post comes from Transit Systems, Inc. (TSI), a professional moving company providing nationwide moving and shipping services for over 20 years. TSI specializes in small moves, furniture shipping, and much more. For more information about TSI or to request a free quote, visit their website or follow TSI on Twitter @TransitSystems.

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Our less-than-perfect economy has created a frenzy of budget related questions. I’m not even a coupon or finance blog and I still get loads of questions about how I save more, spend less, simplify our spending, and stretch our small budget.

Now, I’m not a financial expert but I do know a thing or two about frugal living, budgeting, and getting something for nothing! I also LOVE talking about money management because I see how stressful people are when their finances are out of whack. Seriously, it’s nearly impossible to live a simple, organized life with loads of debt.

If you are looking to turn your financial condition around, here are five simple tips that might just help you to simplify your spending.

1. Create a Budget:

It doesn’t have to be fancy, just as long as you’re clear on the amount of money you can spend in each area of your life (food, home, utilities, automotive, entertainment, clothes, savings, medical, misc, etc.) You can even download my Free Budgeting Workbook to help you keep track of everything.

2. Use Credit Wisely:

I’m all for using credit cards as long as you pay them off {in full} at the end of each billing cycle. We charge everything to our credit card — it’s just easier that way — but we only buy things we could pay cash for.

3. Keep a Financial Journal:

Are you one of those people who hates budgets? Try creating a financial journal instead. Basically all you need is a pen and a notebook. Then, every day for an entire month, keep track of everything you buy, even if it is only 50 cents.

At the end of the month you can tally up all your expenses and see where you are overspending. Unlike a budget, a financial journal doesn’t restrict the amount of money you may spend; it simply shows you what you already spent. The idea is to see where you are overspending and then try to cut back. It’s not as ridged as a budget!!

4. Shop with a List:

Whether you’re at the mall, a thrift store, or the grocery store; prepare a list of the items you want to buy and ONLY buy what’s on your list.

5. Don’t Shop:

Ok, so this may seem overly obvious, but if you don’t go to the store {or to an on-line store} you probably won’t buy anything! So if you’re looking to simplify your spending, try simply NOT shopping for an entire week!

These are a few things that have worked for us. What are YOUR best tips to simplify your spending?

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Do you have a budget?

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Yes a budget; a system to monitor and/or restrict how much money you save and spend each week, month, and year.

Personally, I’m a big believer in budgets.

I’ve had one for as long as I can remember {even all through college} and I think they’re an essential tool for reducing stress and creating a simple, more organized financial life.

Since I have seen the benefits of living with a strict budget, I really can’t comprehend why everyone wouldn’t want to jump on the band wagon and create their own budget! However, I know lots of people who, for various reasons, refuse to create and/or use a budget.

The list below compiles a few of the reasons I’ve heard…maybe you’ve used some of these same excuses!

10 Reasons People Don’t Use Budgets:

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1. Accountability:

This is a biggie. Most people don’t like to be held accountable…for anything! And they certainly don’t want someone or something telling them how they can and can’t spend their money. Accountability means limits…and those are never fun.

However, by implementing a few limits, you might just be able to save up for something really big….

2. Apprehensiveness:

I find that most people simply don’t know how to create a budget or where to start. So if you’re looking for a really simply budgeting tool, I’d encourage you to download the same system I use…for free!

3. Image:

I think some people are just too proud to live on a budget — they feel it makes them look poor. However, I know quite a few people who look rich, but are really struggling financially.

I guess I’d rather look poor and have my finances under control!

4. Denial:

Without a budget, or any knowledge of how much money is available (or unavailable), it’s very easy to justify every dollar spent —  and sometimes we just want to spend without thinking about it. This is why American’s are so far in debt.

Unfortunately, embracing denial only works until you lose your job, get sick, or receive a foreclosure notice. Then the mess is unavoidable and undeniable.

5. Laziness:

Yes, it takes effort to create and maintain a budget. However, if your budget is too much work, then you’re doing something wrong. I only spend about 5 minutes a day updating my budget (yes I do it every day).

It might take a little longer when you first get started, but budgeting should be very easy.

6. Fear:

Starting a budget can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Plus, what if you start a budget…but then don’t stick to it? You don’t want to be a failure to you? Believe it or not, I know lots of people who don’t have a budget because “they’ll probably just mess it up anyway” — what a pessimistic attitude!

Seriously, I’m definitely a “live by the rules” type of person and even I splurge every now and then! A budget doesn’t have to be perfect, and if you slip up — just try to do better next time.

7. Time:

Many people think that in order to save money and live on a budget, they have to spend time clipping coupons, planning their weekly meals, going to five different groccery stores each week, etc.

Well, I only spend about 2 hours a week planning all our meals, clipping coupons, making my grocery list, finding deals, etc.  And even if you don’t want to do any of that, there are still a bunch of ways you can stick to your food budget without cutting coupons or spending any extra time.

8. Money:

I’ve honestly heard people say that they don’t have a budget because they don’t have/make enough money. Um…well, how do you expect to get/save/make more money if you don’t have a budget or a plan?

I can guarantee that Dave and I do NOT make a lot of money {he’s a Christian school teacher and I run my own business}. Yet we are still able to save over 50% of our income, contribute monthly towards various investments, put a chunk towards renovating our home, give to our church, and still live comfortably. This is ONLY possibly because we have a really strict budget.

And even if you can’t save 50% of your income; I bet you CAN save an extra 5% just by being more conscious of how and where your money is spent.

9. Spouse:

Yup, I know people who don’t use a budget because their spouse doesn’t want them to. This sounds absolutely crazy to me… and unfortunately, I don’t have a good solution for this one.

But keep trying… if they like to travel, set some type of savings goal and use the money you save for a family vacation. If they like going out to eat, encourage them to save $5 every day and then use that money for a fun weekend night out.

10. Did I miss anything?

What excuses have you heard?

What about you… Do you use a budget, or use excuses?

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Find a budgeting system that works for you, and start using it!

Linked to Top Ten Tuesdays

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