Guest post by Anita of Traveling Along
2013 was a rough year financially.
Just the year before we were out of debt, put 20% down on a house and had finished paying off the last of our student loans. Then 2013 met us with a change of job, a lower salary, various expensive car repairs, remodeling, and a costly hospital stay for our sweet girl with Kawasakis disease.
At the end of the year we were worse off than when we started, with just over $3000 in debt and no remaining emergency fund, let alone savings. Blast!
So this year, we are switching things around and prioritizing savings.
The breakdown of the budget was a little bleak, the amount of waste was already super low… but, somehow we have managed to cut back. Every line item that we cut back is an actual dollar amount that we are putting into our savings account.
Here is how we went from saving $0 to $136 a month.
- We started by deleting our Christmas savings of $40 per month. Christmas 2014 will include homemade gifts of wood, pottery, food, photography, and fun! I will also set out to earn at least one $5 gift card from Swagbucks every month. I do this primarily by using them as my search engine and watching cooking videos while I’m in the kitchen or folding laundry. Any Ebates cash back checks will also go in this fund.
- We don’t have cable, but we did have Netflix for $7.99 per month. Not anymore!
- I am making our own dog food. Having a large breed livestock guardian dog means at least $25 per month in dog food. We are now making it with leftover vegetable peelings, free organ meats, and rice. This costs only about $5-7 a month.
- My husband got a very modest raise for 2014 and $40 of that will go directly into savings.
- One goal for 2013 was to teach our kids how to manage their money. We will still continue on this route in 2014, but instead of allowances, we will allow them to do extra jobs for money if they desire. This means a savings of $20 per month.
- Cut back on milk by half… or right around $10 per month. This needed to happen for some health issues, but it represents a savings so I am including it on our list.
- Our next goal = POTTY TRAIN THE TWO-YEAR-OLD! This will save another $20-40 a month!
I’ve always “wished” I had a smoking or soda-drinking habit… then I could quit and save money! Well, I don’t. So, I’ll do what I can and find cash where I can.
Here’s a quick summary:
$40 = no Christmas fund
$8 = no Netflix
$18 = homemade dog food
$20 = no allowances
$40 = small raise
$10 = milk reduction
———————————————————-
$136 monthly to restart an emergency fund!
One more thing — take your small amounts, add them up, and put your savings on automatic monthly transfer for that amount. Money that isn’t allocated in a budget can be easily lost or used for other things!
Where can you cut back? How many little things can you add up to make something BIG?
Anita lives in Virginia with her husband and kids on a hopeful micro farm in the city. When she is not fine-tuning the budget, she can be found canning, cooking with spare parts, helping with math, praying the garden will grow, attending to a sick chicken or covered in mud at the potters wheel. She blogs at Traveling Along.
Patricia says
Its 2018 now neflex is $13.99.. i feel if i cut that from our budget my husband will not be happy its his own’ escape’.
We are stuck in 2 car leases ,when they are up we will have no traport .my husband has a work truck only for work .ill walk the hour each way to the store .its the Dr.appointments and sick calls from school that worries me.
Our phones are paid for soon .
I quess im like every one else what more can i cut…our co pays and meds take a huge chunk of our monttly income.
Ruth says
Good job cutting back!
One thing that I’ve found that helps us is to budget variable categories at a higher amount and then do our best to conserve so that they come in lower. (i.e. electric bill, cell phone bill, etc.)
After the bill comes in lower than expected, we transfer the difference to savings.
We also rent very cheaply. Our rent is only $400 per month. However, on our budget, we put down $650 for rent, as that’s around the going rate in our area. We pay our landlord $400 and pay ourselves the extra $250.
Jenni/Life from the Roof says
I like stories like this because they reflect the reality that you can have one great year financially where you are moving forward, and then a tough year (or more) where you feel like you are moving backwards. I think there are quite a few people out there who have similar situations.
I would add that I have tried selling things on eBay and it wasn’t that hard to sell at least one item a week for $10 or so – it may not seem like much, but it would add up over time and only takes the time to list the item.
Kelly K says
I am doing the 52 week challenge putting money in an envelope..so far so good..atleast till I start getting to the higher weeks and more money saved a month;p…At any rate I woulda just continued the $40 christmas fund..just considered it a savings instead of spending it on stuff;)
Anitajoye says
I DID continue the savings, but i discontinued the fund!
Connie says
I have cut our grocery bill this month by almost 1/2 – I started shopping at ALdi, making one meatless dish a week, and one breakfast for dinner…
Megan C says
I think you’ll have a fantastic Christmas. My husband’s family has done Secret Santa the last two years (limit of $20). My family limited gifts to under $20 AND it was supposed to be something the gift receiver needed/would use; homemade or bought from a second hand shop was highly encouraged. And you know what? It was one of the best Christmases we’ve had in a while. 😀
stephanie says
One thing I do, for anything that comes out of my account automatically, I budget up to the next 5, then put the rest into savings. For instance, one thing is $45.76, so I budget for $50, then when it comes out, $4.24 goes into savings. This added up to an extra $62 into savings for me every month!
Elizabeth Martins says
You are so inspiring. So no netflix so how do you even watch any tv? I’m trying so hard to get rid of directtv , I may just have to pay the penalty. We’re thinking of hulu, netflix, …not sure how to bring television in our home without the cost. I’m open for suggestions. Thank you
Nina says
We got rid of Dish Network to save money and purchased an “air antenna” from Best Buy for about $50. We get all of our local channels – 28 in all! The bonus was my 9 year old daughter said she didn’t know what to put on her Christmas list because she didn’t know what was “out there” — no over saturation on kid-targeted commercials! To help the transition, you can watch a lot of your favorite shows online if you have high speed internet (a luxury I haven’t parted with yet).
Anitajoye says
We do have Amazon Prime, which we got for free shipping and had never used for free shows. Well, now we use it for free shows, not as much as Netflix had, but oh well. We often use the FREE Redbox codes that are sent from Moneysavingmom.com!!
Kim says
I grew up on a farm and had a dog who lived for over 15 years. She ate only scraps from the table and whatever she hunted for herself.
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Great job, and wonderful creative ideas! I would never have thought of making homemade dog food!
Cary says
I am so encouraged by your savings. So,etimes it feels like the tiny amounts will never make a difference, but they do. One thing I am trying to do differently is keep a ledger of all of my tiny savings, so I can remember them, and how they added up.
Anitajoye says
Exactly! The key to making the small bits count is keeping track of them!
Anne Mai says
Kids are grown and we have added some weight, so we have cut back on the amount of food we eat intentionally. We are healthier, have more time, less money on groceries and more energy!! Try it, it feels good to be hungry and not stuffed all the time!
wanda says
I’ve just started the total money makeover by fave Ramsey and am inspired by ways to cut spending. I used $10 in coupons yesterday and am looking at all avenues to save money. Every little bit does help being a single mom with a teenager. Still working in my emergency fund.
Crystal Paine says
Yay! I’m cheering for your success!
Missy Homemaker says
I just read an account where the people tried really hard to stay under budget on their line items. When, for instance, they came in under budget on groceries, they didn’t roll that money over or spend it for fun money but added it to their debt payoff amount. The little bit of under-spending really added up in debt repayment. This could easily be applied to savings as well.
athena says
We must all have flat belly’s, not drinking soda 🙂
I gave it up a few years ago, and hubby was on board too. It cut about $10 a week. My mom and best friend send me their coke rewards, so we do indulge once in awhile.
Thanks for sharing Anita! This was a reminder to me, to go tackle the stack of coupon ads I had been neglecting. Keep us posted on your progress!
Anitajoye says
Thanks Athena! I hope to be able to give a good report by the end of the year!
Melissa Yedlicka says
We just cancelled Netflix also. What is the dog food recipe and what kind of dog do you have?
Anitajoye says
We have a great pyrenees livestock guardian dog. She is outside all the time, a big ol bear of a dog! In the comment above yours I gave a reference for dog food, it is where i started with my research. I start with a lb of white rice, meat (whatever is available), vegetable peelings and peices (we have almost zero food waste household because we give her cooked veg peelings along with the reg veg), i also add eggs depending on how much meat we start with to make sure she gets enough protein, this week we will add flax meal as well. If you look on the back of dog food bags, you will be amazed at how much is just corn and unhealthy carbs. You can also purchase mutlivitamins to supplement should you need to! Ask your vet or check a feed supply store.
Mary says
Anita,
I Loved your article! You give hope isn’t that what it’s all about?
Mary
p.s. please do share the dog food recipe
Anitajoye says
Thanks all! A good place to start is here…. http://homemadedogfood.com/?gclid=CMGaxuHysLwCFQjxOgodO1sASg i then use the meats that i have every week, depending on sales, meat donations etc. She loves it! This week will be beef, rice and probably butternut squash with eggs for extra protein and calcium.
Lydia @ The Thrifty Frugal Mom says
This is awesome! I love how you are doing what you can and are willing to try to look for new ways to save even though you already felt like you were scrimping. You’ve inspired me to take a fresh look at our own budget.
PS. I too had to laugh at your smoking/soda comment. I’ve had the same thought before! 🙂
Joan Wyatt says
When my son was a baby, I used cloth diapers and only used disposable if someone else would be changing him like at the church nursery. I couldn’t imagine (and couldn’t afford) the cost of buying them every week. And that was 30 years ago. Today’s cloth systems are so much better. I just kept a pail by the toilet with rubber gloves. I’d dump out the diaper in the toilet, then rinse it out well under hot water in the sink, then place in pail until I had enough for a load. I didn’t even have a dryer and they stayed very white from drying in the sun. It makes me chuckle, the things we think are necessities these days.
MaryEllen@ImperfectHomemaker says
That is amazing how all the little things can add up so quickly. I am right there with you on wishing I had a soda or coffee habit. It seems like everything that can be cut has been cut since the day we were married. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Turn the heat down yet another degree, crack down on keeping the lights off, and did you have to mention potty training? That’s what I’ve got to get working on!
Anitajoye says
We keep our heat at 58!!!! Sweaters and slippers all around!
Sara says
“The breakdown of the budget was a little bleak, the amount of waste was already super low” That is the situation we are in. My husband won’t agree to cut out the satellite tv but I will call and see if we can get a better deal. I also need to potty train my two year old! Love this post. It goes to show that there is always room to save somewhere if you really look.
Ashley says
where do you get the organ meats?
Julie S. says
I’d love to know more about how you make your own dog food!
Katy @ Purposely Frugal says
These are the kind of posts that inspire me! Thanks so much for sharing!
Emily says
I would like the dog food recipe! 🙂
Cynthia C says
I would love to find out the recipe for dog food. It is a large part of our budget, even without buying the expensive brands. I looked on Anita’s website but wasn’t able to find it. Thank you!
Colby Yeager says
Can I have the dog food recipe? It never occurred to me to make dog food, that’s genius!!
Anitajoye says
This is a good place to start! http://homemadedogfood.com/?gclid=CMGaxuHysLwCFQjxOgodO1sASg hope you enjoyed my post!
Ginger says
Have you considered mypoints to get gift cards that way as well?
Anitajoye says
Yes! Im just shy of a $25 gift card! Thanks for reading!
Stephanie @ Six Figures Under says
I had to laugh about the smoking/drinking comment. We have always been frugal, but now that we are trying to cut back even more so that we can pay off law school student loans asap. Sometimes I think it would be nice if we had a budget with eating out and entertainment expenses, so that I could cut them out and instantly save money 🙂
Good luck with the potty training! We potty trained all three of our little ones (1 girl and 2 boys) right when they turned two. It is a wonderful way to save!
Great job adding up all your savings by making simple changes!
susan says
Great article Anita…looking forward to a creative Christmas with you guys…Expect the same back! Time for Creativity…..
Anitajoye says
Already working on it!
Jenn says
I have seriously never thought of making our own pet food! That is really neat!
Sheryl says
Homemade dog food should be more than vegetable peelings, free organ meats and rice or the soon to come vet bills will eat up any savings. I’ve made my pet’s food for years now (treats too) and a person should only attempt to do so after alot of research on the topic and after consulting their vet. I never gave my dogs vegetable “peelings” and most articles do not recommend doing so. Dogs need muscle meat, meat in addition to organ meats. Unless the dog is a very active breed, they don’t need rice…rice is a cheap filler that many believe contributes to health problems in dogs. Dogs on a homemade diet should also be having plain yogurt, pumpkin, omega 3 oil, a good vitamin/mineral supplement. I typically paid as much for making my dog’s food as buying a “premium” brand but I didn’t do it to save money…it was because I wanted to know what they were actually eating. Both dogs are regularly & thoroughly tested twice a year at the vet (thorough blood panel as well) and both had no health problems. No “normal” old age problems, no blindness/no deafness, no skin problems, no arthritis, teeth are perfect. A homemade diet is best for them but only if it is balanced….
Really says
What did people feed their dogs before fancy store brand food ?? I’m sure the settlers weren’t grinding up pumpkin and yogurt for them.
Holly says
Sheryl, would you share your recipe? 🙂
Anitajoye says
I make sure her diet is balanced, I didnt go into the recipes, but she gets organ meats, muscle meats, has had pumpkin, butternut, sweet potatoes, eggs, many other dog safe foods! She is an outdoor livestock guardian dog, so she does need some carbs as she burns a lot of energy staying warm and active! She sees a local vet and is very healthy. Every week the recipe is a little different but we cover our bases! Thanks for the comment!
Anitajoye says
Oh and i do TONS of research, one of my favorite things to do!
Sonjia says
Word of caution from experience. I feed my dogs raw meat too- been doing it for years. Organ meats by themselves should never be the only source of protein and should be served in moderation. They are too rich for dogs to eat on a regular daily basis. As for calcium supplements, feeding your dogs raw bones are the best way to get the calcium they need. Raw bones are safe when feed with common sense- the only unsafe bone is a cooked bone because it can splinter. While my boxer might be able to eat turkey wing bones with the meat on them, my chihuahua usually gets chicken backs cut into smaller pieces with kitchen shears.
Veggies should be pureed as dogs cannot digest the cell walls of fruits and veggies. Veggies should be rotated to ensure adequate vitamin absorption. My guys love kale, lettuce and cukes right from the garden….and they will do anything for a blueberry.
Theresa says
Very well said JoDi!
Jessica Claire says
I thought I was the only one who wished I had a smoking habit so I could quit and save money! I am glad to have never even tried but had to laugh when I saw you posted that. Lol
Teresa says
I have thought the same thing about cigarettes, coffee, soda, and cable. Then I remind myself that I am already saving that money. It would be fun to be able to see that savings so concretely.
Shirley says
I am a former smoker, almost four months now. I really have no idea how I was finding the money to buy cigarettes, because I sure do not have it now. My goal was to take at least part of the money I was buying cigarettes with to put in a savings account and it just is not there. But I will figure out a way to do it.
Btw, don’t EVER wish you had been a smoker! I know you were joking, but it took me many, many tries to finally kick it! And I know that even though I may not be seeing my savings in physical cash like I wanted, I know in the long run I will be saving lots of money in health/medical costs.
Kelly Webster says
Nice article Anita. So great to catch up with you and see what your year has been like. Love you sister!
Anitajoye says
Thanks Kelly!!
Cathy says
This is a great post. We are doing something similar now, trying to cut out and keep tabs on the little things that can creep in, even when we have a written budget. I like the way you are being so methodical, that’s inspiring. Good luck with your savings!
One caveat on the homemade dog food. Our 2 dogs are on homemade food as well (for health reasons, not savings, but in the end better health = savings), and one thing I was warned to be diligent about is supplementing with calcium. Calcium supplements are expensive but I learned you can grind egg shells to powder, add just enough vinegar to cover the powder (needs a bit of acid for proper metabolism), and then serve on the food, 1/2 teaspoon per pound of meat. We go through a dozen cage-free eggs a week anyway so … free calcium supplement! I mix up about a week’s worth at a time and keep it in a small container in the frig. Swag-search “egg shell calcium supplement” for complete info — and maybe a few swagbucks too. 🙂
Anitajoye says
We do this as well! In fact, sometimes she gets to our eggs before we do and eats them fresh from the chickens! She considers them a tasy treat! I havent done the powder thing, but she seems to like crunching them up just fine. Thanks for your comment!
Lizzy says
Are there other supplements dogs need. I would like to make homemade dog food for my two large dogs. Many of the brands have so much corn gluten and fillers. The specialized types of food from pet stores are really expensive!
Tabitha says
Where do you get the organ meat free or cheap?
I will search for a grain free recipe, but if you have one, feel free to share. (We are spending $50-$66/month for grain free food for our one dog. Would love to compare and see how she does if possible. )
Leslie says
Kathy, thanks for your comment regarding proper canine nutrition. The original recipe of “leftover vegetable peelings, free organ meats, and rice” was troubling; I hope nobody read only that far and made that formula. It is time-consuming and not inexpensive to make your own balanced and nutritious dog food or cat food. This may not be the best way to economize, though there were some other good ideas in the original post. Thanks for sharing.
Sylvia says
I absolutely love this article and know that I should be saving and building up my emergency and long term savings fund.
Your articles always have perfect timing, well at least for me 🙂
Debi says
This is a great article that gives specific intentional advice and is also very practical! I also hope to hear more tips from this person!
Thank you!!
Bobbie Pearson says
I loved reading your article and I hope for more from you. Thank you for reminding us that every penny DOES count and we are stewards of all of the funds that come into our home.
Anitajoye says
Every penny! I will get $28 from ebates in February and met my goal for $5 gift card from Swagbucks last month. Christmas gifts will still happen, but our pennies go where they count most, to the emergency fund!
CJ says
One of my children unfortunately also had Kawasakis disease – among many other health issues over the years, nothing too serious but between my two children it always felt like something was going on (I’m sure many other parents can relate). However, it should teach people to always budget for the unexpected because that is just how life is. I love how you showed that when you add up even the smallest savings, those small savings can result in pretty large savings by the end of the year. I think that if more people thought that way, saved more – they would have the extra money needed when life throws us those unexpected, sometime unfortunate surprises and more people would have a lot less stress (economically anyway).
Anitajoye says
Thanks CJ for the comment,
I wrote about Kawasakis here… http://travelingalong.com/kawasakis-disease-symptoms-and-photographs/ it might interest you since you’ve been through it. Yes, it taught us to save at least our deductible in our HSA account. We had just started a new job and purchased a new house, so it wasn’t possible last year, but I dare say we will be prepared for the next incident!
Stephanie @ Mrs. Debtfighter says
My best friend’s brother had Kawasakis Disease when we were younger. So glad your sweet girl cleared her final heart check!!! 🙂
Jacki says
Cutting back even those small amounts adds up. I applaud you that you are giving up some things that most people wouldn’t be willing to do to have peace of mind and a savings account.
Anitajoye says
Thanks! It is totally worth it!!
kat says
We used to have cable internet due to a download cap we have switched to DSL and no longer have Netflix.