How to Create a Frugal Household Budget
Have you ever wondered about those people that may not have a high paying job but seem to have a lot. Maybe it's the family down the street who is living well on one income or the single mother that makes much less than you but has so much more to show for it. The truth is, those who practice the art of living frugal are the ones who have learned to create a household budget that they can live with by cutting expenses on the things that don't matter. Here are a few steps to help you cut expenses by creating a frugal household budget that you can live with.
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Instructions
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Cut back on cable. Do you really need all those extra channels? Our first step in living frugal was lowering our cable bill from almost $50 per month to just $13 per month. This alone saved over $30 per month for our household budget. We are still able to watch the basic channels that our favorite prime time shows are on. We may not watch as much tv as we used to but that means more productive activities.
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Change your phone plan. Do you have a cell phone? For most people it is a way of life. If you can get by with just your cell phone you can cancel your land line. Or, if you use your cell phone just for emergencies try a prepaid plan so that you aren't tied to a monthly contract.
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Start paying attention to how much energy you are wasting. Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load. Try using less detergent unless clothes are really soiled and while you're at it, give your dryer a break by hanging clothes outside in the nice weather and inside on drying racks on dreary days.
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Save on heating bills. Turn the thermostat down just a bit before bed and when you aren't home. Using heavy curtains will keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the Summer.
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Be a savvy grocery shopper. You can really trim your household budget by stocking your kitchen pantry with what is on sale. Use coupons when you can but keep in mind that the store brand may still be the better buy. Purchase meat in bulk, re-wrap in family size portions and freeze. Start planning your meals around what is on sale that week and buy extra non perishables whenever possible. Living frugal means that you can always have an abundance of good, healthy food. You just need to plan ahead.
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Never pay full price for clothing. There is always a sale going on somewhere. Buy clothing at the end of the season for next year and you can easily save 50% to 75% or more.
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Spend less on entertainment by staying home more. Renting a movie and making your own popcorn is always cheaper than going out. Better yet borrow movies from your library. A family trip to the library is also a great way to spend time picking out books and reading to the kids.
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Eat out less. If a family of four cuts back from eating out four times per month to two times per month you could easily save $100. When you do eat out you can save a lot on your food bill by ordering water, skipping the appetizers and having your dessert at home.
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Tips & Warnings
Living frugal doesn't mean deprivation. It means making sure your hard earned money is spent wisely so that you can easily live within your household budget. It also means being able to splurge on things that do matter once in a while, like something special for the family.
Don't deprive yourself too much or you may have a hard time sticking with your household budget. Take it slowly at first by cutting back in just one area at a time.
Resources
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