What I have learned from Budgeting

A year ago I started researching couponing because I saw that silly show we all know and have seen.  I was so impressed with it and then realized they were buying a lot of stuff they would never use.  I mean really pallets of cat food when you don't own a cat?? That's just crazy!

I started reading and reading and found Crystal from Money Saving Mom.  I spent days reading every possible thing I could on her blog and eventually saw her love for Dave Ramsey.  I decided to start following his debt snowball plan. I have paid off several credit cards, hospital bills and just small bills that really add up.  While doing all of this I learned something....I waste a lot of money and have for years!  I look back on the last eleven years and think of how much money I could have saved and how I could have paid a lot more for a down payment instead of borrowing it.  I wouldn't have had a bankruptcy or credit cards.  I could have started a college fund for Marcus. There are so many things I could have done but I didn't and now I am making up for it.  It is hard but it will be worth it and honestly I enjoy making things homemade, and constantly finding ways to save money.  It feels great and it keeps me busy! We live and we learn!

As far as the once a month shopping goes I will start it completely next month.  This month was already split so I had to wait until I have the full amount.  It is kind of exciting to figure it all out and make it work.

I have been progressing pretty well with my goals at the end of last month.  My laundry room/entryway is half painted, yes half painted. Its half yellow half brown haha.  Sadly my body hasn't been feeling well enough to tackle it, maybe this weekend.  I made my own bread, did meal planning and have started on the once a month shopping.  It feels good to reach some goals!  

Cash System

I have been following Money Saving Mom for about a year now and have learned many things.  I was raised in a household where my mom was a money saver and my dad was a money spender.  Being a money spender always seemed like more fun.  I started reading her blog and many others and couldn't get enough information about all the different tricks to saving money, I was a sponge.  We used to spend 600 dollars a month on groceries.  I never used to think it was a big deal, my thoughts were always isn't everyone else spending that much? The answer was a definite NO!  After watching the show Extreme Couponing I decided that was what I was going to do.  Many months later when I wasn't saving 90% every time I went to the store I came to the realization that Extreme Couponing wasn't reality.  I realized the average person that coupons saves 30% to 50%, sometimes even less.  There aren't always deals to match with coupons and there aren't always coupons for the things we need.  Even as an adult it seems we are always learning.

When I read about Dave Ramsey and his envelope system I thought it was crazy and that it wouldn't work for us.  We live out in the country where things aren't exactly convenient.  I kept telling myself to use cash for groceries but always ended up using my debit card.  I always thought as long as I stayed on budget and used my debit card it wouldn't be a big deal.  Truth is every time I went I ended up spending a little more than planned because I saw a good deal on something.  Today for the first time I used only cash and ended up 3 dollars under budget, I've gotta start somewhere right?  I plan on continuing to use cash for groceries and maybe eventually branching out to other bills.  I have learned that every household is different and just because someone does something one way does not mean it will work for you.