Here are 11 things we’re doing and or implementing immediately:
We use what we have on hand and/or make do with what we have. Sometimes this means a project can’t be completed right now or not completed in the way we originally wanted.
We say ‘no’ a lot more to activities that cost money. With the holiday season approaching this will get harder and harder for all the holiday activities are nice but so is being able to pay the bills when they come due.
We sacrifice our personal allowances more and more to meet expenses. We haven’t always been able to budget personal allowances for ourselves, but we have enjoyed having it when we could. At the same time, we both know that our personal monies are a luxury and during hard times, luxuries get put on the back burner.
We shop less and when we do shop, we shop more carefully. Staying out of the stores when you don’t need something is as important as shopping carefully when you’re in the stores. Think about that and let it sink in … the store merchants know what they’re doing and go to great lengths to separate you from your money whether you need or can use an item or not.
I’m reorganizing the whole house, one section at a time taking inventory as I go, of what we have and of what we need. Is this extreme, maybe, but every little thing that I can do that will help me know what we have and what we need helps me stay ahead of the game!
I’m setting up a spreadsheet to track where every cent of our money is going (except for personal monies). I already do a decent job of this but can stand to tighten the belt in this area too. You've got to know where your money's going in order to make the best financial decisions possible for you and your family. If there ever was a time to keep track of your money, it’s now!
I’m a watchdog over monthly utility bills taking note of increases and implementing plans to counteract them. It’s vital that we ‘nip these increases in the bud’ to the best of our abilities as soon as we know about them.
We accept that things are economically different now and that we must change our lifestyle accordingly. It does no good to look back and lament over what was, this is our new reality.
Every month that we can pay our bills, I give God the glory. It’s no secret that I pray on a continual basis for God to prepare us, go ahead of us, and make a way for what’s to come. Does this mean that I can sit back and do nothing. God forbid, that kind of thinking flies in the face of everything that Scripture teaches. It does mean however, that I need to realize that quite often God’s way for us involves hard work and sacrifices so every month that we are able to earn enough to pay our bills, I say thank you Father!
I tweak our budget on a regular basis, every month is different as expenses change and our budget must reflect those changes.
I have to be steadfast and serious about this new ‘job’ of overseeing our finances in a new and deeper way. I’m setting aside specific times of the day to do certain tasks and specific times of the week to do others.
That’s 11 things we’re doing or working on implementing. I would love to hear what you’re doing to
combat rising prices both mentally and physically.
patsi
Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal living and pantry building (if you include my frugal childhood, well that would add a few more years to my experience!)
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I am doing much the same as usual, but a bit more rigorously. I try not to waste any food and always take any food that is offered by neighbours (turn it down and they don't offer again!) Gluts are preserved and if I see a bargain price on something we use regularly I stock up. I refuse to buy things I think are too expensive and look for alternatives or wait until the item is on sale at a more reasonable price. I also keep a close eye on supplies of food and household goods, toiletries etc. Like you, I recognise that this is the new reality. "To everything there is a season" and this is the season of paying close attention to ALL of our spending.
ReplyDeleteTracy, you summed it up well when you said this was the season of paying close attention to all of our spending. That's what we're trying to do as well. Great comment!
DeleteThanks Patsy for this timely reminder. I do all of the above, but it may be time to look at the budget again. It works now but will it continue to work in the future. Kwashiorkor going to retire in 2023, but, my health is good, I enjoy my position and I think it is wise to hang on a bit.
ReplyDeleteFun Under the Prairie Sky, staying on top of the budget is just one avenue of surviving the constant rising prices of most everything. Absolutely everything has to be examined and re-examined now, including whether it's best to work an outside job or not. Sounds like you are being wise for your situation!
DeletePatsy, as usual great advice. I need to get better organized. I have bought all the grandkids their Christmas gifts but then we have a bunch of birthdays in Jan and Feb.
ReplyDeleteTracy's comment about the season of paying close attention to ALL of our spending is spot on. Thanks for all you do.
D Fuller, sounds like you're doing well in the gift-giving area and yes, paying close attention to all that we do and spend is one of our most valuable tools.
DeleteWe have really put a stop to wasted food. We throw out almost nothing now and I am ashamed to think of all the years I did not do this like we do now. I have adjusted ingredients to cheaper options on a lot of our every day cooking. We are eating less protein overall and not just meat. We are using different fats in cooking such as more saved bacon grease and vegan butter that we get for $1 a pound. Our 🛒 shopping includes more salvage shopping than ever before and only buying the best deals everywhere. I also think through overall cost of preparing foods. I can make good pancakes from scratch but this week when I saw Krusteaz mix on BOGO I knew it was the cheapest option since I only add water. More and more we are covering unusual expenditures out of our Swagbucks gift cards or personal funds and it is okay. When we stop and think we know that we lack for nothing and are better off than many.
ReplyDeleteLast week we received a letter from our electric co-op letting us know that rates will not be raised this year and no more than one percent next year. What a big relief for which we are very thankful.
I used the Bisquick I packed for pancakes this morning and figure I added 50 cents in ingredients. That was eye-opening. The BOGO Krusteaz mix is definitely a money saver in the long run even if they had been completely from scratch.
DeleteLana, it's amazing what we discover we're doing when we really start paying attention isn't it! Cracking down on wasting food is just one example.
DeleteYou really did well on buying the Krusteaz mix and doing a cost breakdown on Bisquick showed you how well you did do! You go girl!
We do pay attention. Otherwise, expenses would be out of control
ReplyDeletePractical Parsimony, it's easy to not realize how much one is spending without some kind of 'paying attention' accountability method in place, isn't it!
DeleteI was very very thrifty for awhile. When Covid blew through, my family insisted I stop going to the grocery store. My husband is still doing much of the shopping. I need to get more involved again. I'm the frugal one. You've given me a push. Thank you you!
ReplyDeleteLaura, it takes diligence to stay on the frugal bandwagon and from time to time all of us frugal zealots fall off.
DeleteAlso, when we shop we try to go at times when the store is less crowded, early morning is a good time for our area and the stores we shop. If it happens to fall at other more busy times, I wear a mask and use hand sanitizer as soon as I'm back in the vehicle and have the mask off. Having underlying health issues means I have to be more careful than others might need to be, but it is what it is and I just deal with it, making the best decision based on each situation.