On Monday I got some bad news. I actually had been expecting it for a few months now and was surprised it took this long. I was laid off! It really sucks, but I am actually doing pretty good with the news. That's the nice thing about being a nurse, I can really go anywhere and work and I already have a few options. So, in light of this new development I have thought about a few things that can help Trent and I save money. Enjoy the list!
- When using the bathroom, we (& visitors) can only use 3 squares of TP. We really "can't spare a square."
- We can only shower once a week, that means you too Jill!
- We will be reducing our meals to 2 a day. Hey, I have been trying to get rid of some extra weight right?
- Periodic grocery shopping trips through my mom's food storage. ;)
- Birthday gifts will all be home made. And when I say home made I mean with anything we have lying around the house.
- We will only change the girl's diapers when they are poopy or about to explode with urine.
- Oakley, Paige, and Morgan will have to start wearing the boy's old clothes.
- We will not be turning lights on. Eyes can adjust to darkness, right?
- My Lent project will be extended indefinitely.
- We will wear the same clothes for a few days and only do laundry once a week.
- When we do have meals they will consist of Top Ramen and Saltines.
- Family vacations will be sleeping in the backyard.
- We will be taking extra napkins, utensils, ketchup packets, salt and pepper, and straws from fast food places, that is if we ever eat out again. ;)
- No more fall out for family, garage sales are money makers my friends.
- "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" will be our new family motto!
I hope you all liked my list and I was only serious about half of them. But if you come visit us you might want to bring your own toilet paper, because that is one of the serious ones! HA! If any of you have real money saving tips let me know! We really will be okay, we just have to get used to half as much income. Self control is the key!!!
24 comments:
So sorry to hear about your job! I wish I could give you some words of wisdom on saving money, but alas I'm not so good at it. Have you heard of Dave Ramsey? He's a radio talk show financial guy. His program has helped Bill and I atleast do a budget and stick to it. We have the CD's to his program if you're interested. Good Luck!
Amy you are so funny! Good Luck in the job search! Craig worships Dave Ramsey and even though his program is tough it is really nice being 100% Debt Free. And Craig makes us do all of the things on your list! We also do the envelope system, that helps control your spending and you pay cash for everything! Running is free!
Amy I'm sorry to hear that! That will be next week, so I guess we can be unemployeed together! :)
"WE GOT NO FOOD! WE GOT NO MONEY! OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!!!!"
Sad but true this is really the story of my life!
Oh man, that is a bummer. Maybe you should start taking advantage of the basement dweller and charge her rent... or at least chipping in to pay for more things. I will make sure to reduce my showering as well.
Oh Amy. I'm sorry to hear this this news. It's nice to see that you still have your sense of humor even in these hard situatons. A lot of people (me) could learn a thing or two from that. Oh, and it's a good thing you stocked up on your recess pieces. You forgot to add that to the list...or did you?
I'm so sorry you got laid off! Your list was funny though... reminds me of an article I just saw about a lady who said that you can eat healthy for $1 a day... she ate like a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, skipped lunch, and had a small bowl of soup for dinner. Sure... anyone can eat for $1 a day if they don't eat! ;)
So sorry to hear that! Its like a virus or something.. so many people have been laid off. It sounds like you are in a needed profession and something will turn up soon!
We recently started budgeting too...my biggest $$ saver advice is: DO NOT GO OUT TO EAT! That adds up sooo quickly! We try to only go out 1 night a week now... that is superily duperily hard.
Oh Amy, I'm sorry. It really is about time that the economy picks up again so that our lives can be more secure. Maybe if your'e up for a "real" vacation, you can venture beyond your backyard and go on another walk around the block. I'd even come along. ;)
Good luck with the job hunt!
Money saving tips? Trent could just pull a "Zeldon!" :) Okay...that wasn't funny.
I'm really sorry about the lay off! But it made for a funny post, thanks for the laugh
That sucks Am! You are very funny though!! I have no clue how to save money. When you find out, let me know.
Can't you start hiring your kids out?? With all those kids you should be able to have them bring in a few extra dollars. Paige and Morgan can work as crash test dummies?
I'm sorry Amy. That sucks. My husband and I love Dave Ramsey as well. Although we don't follow his program precisely we do for the most part. One of the things that we have done recently is tried to get more out of our grocery budget. And build up our food storage at the same time. There are plenty of sites out there that will help in saving money on groceries. The one I use is www.dealstomeals.com. The lady that started it lives in Herriman and she goes through the weekly ads and lets you know what the lowest prices are on things. If it's not a low price she reccomends not buying it until it is low. She charges a minimal monthly fee it's $4.95/month. She gives recipes and a shopping list for those recipes too. That's just the one I use though. There are plenty of others out there. Some that use coupons (I don't do well clipping coupons) and some that don't. I've heard that www.pinchingyourpennies.com is a good site as well and that one I believe is free. Ok this is getting long, but I wanted to share an idea. :)
Good luck! I'll keep you in my prayers!
Bummer! Sorry to hear that. If you learn how to really save some mula, let us know...I am not very good at it!
This job market is so lame. But your list made me laugh. Especially since the "we won't change the girls' diapers until they're poopy or expolding with urine" . . . I already do that and I only have one child in diapers. Guess that's just how frugal I am. :)
Good luck. Keep us posted.
Since it is summer, you could just start using diapers only when sleeping and otherwise let the girls run outside naked:) We have been there with the laid off thing and can say it sucks but it ok. I second Tavan on the not eating out thing (but really, how fun is it with a bunch of kids). I also have to find other things to do besides run errands because if I see it, I am more likely to buy it...Costco is my nemisis!!
That is awful ~ I am sorry to hear that. You should call my mom and see if there are any openings at the hospital (I am not sure if you are even wanting another job or not) ~ but she owes you after you took those pictures for her ;) Good luck on the savings ~ I am terrible in that area so I have no advice. Everytime I try not to spend I can only last a week or two.
Loved your list of money saving items--we try not to use too much electricity,gas, and not waste food. If you find any other helpful ideas send them along. Don't give up blogging, though!!!
Wow. Not good. Sorry about the bad news. Your list was hilarious as well as Jill and Brooke's comments. Maybe you could have your kids stand on street corners and during red lights have them run up to the cars to offer to wash their windows for some extra change.
There is always KSL. It's done wonders for my pocket book.
I'm so sorry about your job! That really stinks! But isn't it nice to know you have a skill that you can use any where!
About your taking extras from fast food places reminds me of a story! It is sad and pretty gross all at the same time but one night, before kids, Tom and I went to Arby's for dinner and there was a family there eating as well, parents and three kids. We over heard the parents tell there kids that it was, we'll say Timmy, it was Timmy's night for the drink.
They couldn't afford to get all of there kids a drink and the mother barely had anything to eat and, this is no lie, the dad sat and opened ketchup packets and that was his dinner!
We felt so bad and yet we did nothing! Looking back we wish we had!
It is good to see your spirits are still up! Hang in there!
So sorry about your job! I know you liked it and it worked well with your family life! I wish I could tell you to come work with me, but I haven't worked in about 8-9 weeks and I keep expecting them to call me and tell me they are done with me as well. Let me know if you find anything good out there and maybe I will join you :) It would be fun to work together again!
glad you found something else so quickly. ummm, for the record, i already adhere to the diaper trick but it is out of pure laziness more than frugality!
Girl, you are hilarious. I don't know why you weren't serious on all your money saving ideas, those are such good ones. I especially like the one about the diapers. That would probably save the most right there. Better yet, teach all your kids to do their business on the lawn and get a double wammy, no money wasted on flushing, TP, and free fertilizer! :)
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