At first it may sound like a huge sacrifice, but one way to save a huge chunk of money every month is to cancel your cable tv. Wait! Before you say, "No way!" - hear me out.
First, in this electronic age, MANY of your favorite shows are available over the internet for FREE and with fewer commercial interruptions. Just go to the channel's websites. You may be suprised at what you can view at no charge.
Second, Digital TV (mandatory in February, 2009) offers more channels captured free out of the air than what is currently available through analogue. The picture and sound quality is equal to cable. If you do not own a digital TV you will need to buy a converter box ($40-$70) but the federal government will supply each US household up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of converter boxes. Visit http://www.dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-388-2009.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Low (or no) Cost Entertainment Tips from Libra
Libra Gysel shared some reduced cost and no cost entertainment ideas:
1. Wait for movies to come out on DVDs and then don't buy or spend money on rentals. Borrow them from your Library. They have a huge selection of dvds, cds, and audio books.
Thanks for your suggestions Libra!
1. Wait for movies to come out on DVDs and then don't buy or spend money on rentals. Borrow them from your Library. They have a huge selection of dvds, cds, and audio books.
Note from Jerri: The Library has a huge selection of DVDs, CDs, and audio books. Go on line at http://www.jpl.coj.net/ from the comfort of your home and reserve the movies, books, or cds you want. You will be notified by email (or telephone, if you prefer) when they are available. Movies are due back in 7 days. Important tip: Plan library visits into your weekly routine because overdue fines on movies are steep, $1 a day.2. When you must splurge on a night out, try Atlantic Beach Experimental Theater, http://www.abettheatre.com/ or Players by-the-Sea, http://www.playersbythesea.org/. Libra says these venues charge 1/2 the price of a play downtown.
Thanks for your suggestions Libra!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Food-Meals for less than $10
I can't think of a better place to save money than on the food budget. Post your ideas.
Dan L. and I discovered we share a common pastime: We like to make the best meal we can for a very small cost. So let's start there.
The goal is to make a balanced, nutritous meal, a protein, starch, vegetable or fruit, and a dessert. If you can do that for a family of four for less than $10 you're awesome, but I bet several of you can do it for $5 or less.
Here's my first offering. Red beans and rice. If you add meat it will be in the $10 or less category, without meat, I bet I can do it for less than $5 including dessert. Let me know if you want the recipes.
Dan L. and I discovered we share a common pastime: We like to make the best meal we can for a very small cost. So let's start there.
The goal is to make a balanced, nutritous meal, a protein, starch, vegetable or fruit, and a dessert. If you can do that for a family of four for less than $10 you're awesome, but I bet several of you can do it for $5 or less.
Here's my first offering. Red beans and rice. If you add meat it will be in the $10 or less category, without meat, I bet I can do it for less than $5 including dessert. Let me know if you want the recipes.
What are we going to call this thing?
On Sunday (November 24, 2008), Penny Pfab announced that we’d be offering a structured program about personal finances and methods of surviving the current economic times. She asked me what we would call this program and I hadn’t really focused on that question until now.
My perception as of right now, is that we need a two-fold process. First, we need to exchange ideas of how to reduce costs and survive the economy to fight another day, to provide support and comfort to each other, to be there to listen, and to provide individual counseling when needed.
That need is being addressed right now by this blog. You can participate in two ways. If you have a money saving tip, you can email it to Jerri Moats at jmoats@spbts.net. She will post it to the blog. Or you can post comments to any entry on the blog and I’ll make sure it appears. In either case, you need to subscribe to the blog and follow the instructions of how to “follow” the blog. You also need to remember to log on and see what’s new. If something works for you or doesn’t work for you, post a comment telling us why.
The second step of our journey is to learn biblical principles of giving, saving, debt and spending. We now have a structured six-week program that teaches these principals. From these principles, each participant can prepare personal spending plans (or budgets). If you want more information on the program itself, go to www.goodsenseministry.com and read about “Freed Up Financial Living.”
We’ll adapt our program to your needs as we learn what they are. To know that, you’ll need to tell us. One other point, these programs, while held in group settings, are confidential. You needed share anything you don’t want to share. Anything told to a counselor in confidence is and will be kept in confidence.
So what we are going to call this program? How about “Getting By-a journey to financial freedom”?
My perception as of right now, is that we need a two-fold process. First, we need to exchange ideas of how to reduce costs and survive the economy to fight another day, to provide support and comfort to each other, to be there to listen, and to provide individual counseling when needed.
That need is being addressed right now by this blog. You can participate in two ways. If you have a money saving tip, you can email it to Jerri Moats at jmoats@spbts.net. She will post it to the blog. Or you can post comments to any entry on the blog and I’ll make sure it appears. In either case, you need to subscribe to the blog and follow the instructions of how to “follow” the blog. You also need to remember to log on and see what’s new. If something works for you or doesn’t work for you, post a comment telling us why.
The second step of our journey is to learn biblical principles of giving, saving, debt and spending. We now have a structured six-week program that teaches these principals. From these principles, each participant can prepare personal spending plans (or budgets). If you want more information on the program itself, go to www.goodsenseministry.com and read about “Freed Up Financial Living.”
We’ll adapt our program to your needs as we learn what they are. To know that, you’ll need to tell us. One other point, these programs, while held in group settings, are confidential. You needed share anything you don’t want to share. Anything told to a counselor in confidence is and will be kept in confidence.
So what we are going to call this program? How about “Getting By-a journey to financial freedom”?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Why make a spending plan
People hate budgets. They're worse than diets. You start out with the best intentions only to give up the first time your budget doesn't fit your wants.
It doesn't really have to be that painful if you remember that you control your budget, it doesn't control you. Its your money, you get to decide!! There's one tiny, tiny catch, however, you can't do or have everything.
And that's the problem. Too many people want what they want (not need) right now, this instant. Isn't that the reason God created credit?? (A whole different debate is who did create credit)
A good budget is really nothing more than a plan, created either by you or with your unique imput, about how to spend your money but no more. It avoids credit. It teaches patience and intentionality. It distinguishes between wants and needs. It creates priorities, and when those priorities are driven by Godly principles, the spending plan will bring us closer to God.
If you take it a step further and assume that you pay what you have to pay first, that is giving, savings and fixed expenses, that all you really have to plan for is how to spend your discretionary income. For most of us, that isn't a whole lot to worry about.
It doesn't really have to be that painful if you remember that you control your budget, it doesn't control you. Its your money, you get to decide!! There's one tiny, tiny catch, however, you can't do or have everything.
And that's the problem. Too many people want what they want (not need) right now, this instant. Isn't that the reason God created credit?? (A whole different debate is who did create credit)
A good budget is really nothing more than a plan, created either by you or with your unique imput, about how to spend your money but no more. It avoids credit. It teaches patience and intentionality. It distinguishes between wants and needs. It creates priorities, and when those priorities are driven by Godly principles, the spending plan will bring us closer to God.
If you take it a step further and assume that you pay what you have to pay first, that is giving, savings and fixed expenses, that all you really have to plan for is how to spend your discretionary income. For most of us, that isn't a whole lot to worry about.
Monday, November 17, 2008
My 1st $-Saving Tip
This one may be a "no-brainer", but I think it's the first step to saving money. Use cash instead of credit cards. Using credit cards tends to feel more like spending “Monopoly Money” than hard earned cash. If you're used to charging all month and then paying your bill at the end of the month it may take a few months to turn that around, but when you do you will definitely notice a change. It's a little harder to hand over a $5 bill than a piece of plastic to that coffee barista!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
More on Store Brands
So far the only Publix store brand I've found that doesn't match up to the 'original' is graham crackers and they weren't that bad. I probably wouldn't have noticed except I used them for a pie crust.
The breakfast cereals, sour cream, cream cheese, refrigerated biscuit tubes, dairy products, OJ, and the rest I've tried are all just as good.
The breakfast cereals, sour cream, cream cheese, refrigerated biscuit tubes, dairy products, OJ, and the rest I've tried are all just as good.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Dave Ramsey-Fox Business News
Every weekday night at 8pm, Dave Ramsey hosts a show that focuses on personal finance. Worth watching!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Shopping
Learning the difference between "wanting" and "needing" is a great step toward financial independence.
Our culture of spending tells us, "Live for today, because tomorrow we may die." However, there's nothing like a severe recession to make us revisit that one! So what is one to do when you just gotta shop?? I can think of three ideas:
Prolific shoppers can shop in their own closets. I bet you have a bunch of clothes you've not only never worn but that you forgot about?
Been to Fifi's consignment shop?
Then there's always Target. It boasts several well know designers that have produced lines of clothes at moderate prices. Other discounters do too.
Our culture of spending tells us, "Live for today, because tomorrow we may die." However, there's nothing like a severe recession to make us revisit that one! So what is one to do when you just gotta shop?? I can think of three ideas:
Prolific shoppers can shop in their own closets. I bet you have a bunch of clothes you've not only never worn but that you forgot about?
Been to Fifi's consignment shop?
Then there's always Target. It boasts several well know designers that have produced lines of clothes at moderate prices. Other discounters do too.
Store brands
One quick way to save money on groceries is to seriously consider using store brands. Store brands are much better than they used to be and are usually just as good as what you've been using. You'll never know until you try them.
Friday, November 7, 2008
There's no need to face this economy alone
Author, Bo Boshers, tells the story of a group of mountain climbers who had set up their base camp at 9,000 feet. One clear day the group decided to take a day hike to the summit at 11,000 feet. Two of the climbers took their sleeping bags in case they wanted a nap, others took snacks, none thought they'd be gone long.
Near the top, they were overtaken by an unexpected snow storm. The leaders decided it was too dangerous to return to the base camp and decided to spend the night where they were. Temperatures were plunging to below zero.
The leaders lined up the climbers in a seated position so that the back of one was pressed into the chest of the one behind. The first and last persons were given the sleeping bags to cover their unprotected sides. The shared warmth of the group kept all alive and well.
Community is one of the best ways to survive any threat and certainly helps in dire economic times. The purpose of this page is to share ideas of how to control costs, survive layoffs, share misfortunes and victories and emerge "alive and well."
Our community is the spiritual community of St. Pauls By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida but you are welcome to read and post no matter where you live or where or whether you attend church.
Near the top, they were overtaken by an unexpected snow storm. The leaders decided it was too dangerous to return to the base camp and decided to spend the night where they were. Temperatures were plunging to below zero.
The leaders lined up the climbers in a seated position so that the back of one was pressed into the chest of the one behind. The first and last persons were given the sleeping bags to cover their unprotected sides. The shared warmth of the group kept all alive and well.
Community is one of the best ways to survive any threat and certainly helps in dire economic times. The purpose of this page is to share ideas of how to control costs, survive layoffs, share misfortunes and victories and emerge "alive and well."
Our community is the spiritual community of St. Pauls By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida but you are welcome to read and post no matter where you live or where or whether you attend church.
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