Jan 14 2008
How can we afford it?
Here in the United States we have for several years lived by the seat of our pants when it comes to money. We are use to having the best and are often not willing to settle for less. Earlier people were not as materialistic as we are today but we have become a spoiled society.
The problem is that prices of everything have gone through the roof. We are seeing record increases in items we need every day. Our recent fuel oil bill for our house was $532 for three weeks. Gas has jumped to $3.26 a gallon and our grocery bill has climbed up about 20% a year.
We are fortunate in the fact that we have decent household income but many are not as lucky. However, even with a nice income, we struggle every month to make sure we have enough to cover all the bills with a little left over for the occasional fun stuff.
People in other parts of the world have faced these prices for many years and we are now seeing the effects in our own country. The jobs are getting scarcer and the cost of living is going up faster than the income is. It is a scary thought of the way things are going.
There are way to fight off the costs. One is to plant a garden. You can supply your family with healthier produce for a small cost of money and some good old fashion physical work. The garden offers you many benefits. You can quit paying those gym memberships because the exercise you get from the garden is some of the best exercises available. You save money on your food bill. You save on medical expenses because you know where the food is coming from and it is healthier than anything you buy in the store. Gardens also offer great family time without the added expense of finding things to do. A garden is a win win.
Another way to cut cost is to barter with others. The old ways of neighbors helping neighbors has all but faded out but it can be reborn. In my neighborhood, one neighbor has a tractor and he does all my tilling in the spring. In exchange, I help out where I can when him and his wife go out of town. I also have a neighbor who is a mechanic and I pay him much less than I pay a commercial garage but often times, I trade computer work by me for him fixing the car.
Another way to save money is to cut down on eating out. Also pack your lunch instead of eating out everyday. Instead of expensive coffee out, make some at home and add favors if that is your thing. When you do eat out, drink water instead of soft drinks. That alone can save you $2-$3 per person plus it is healthier for you.
When grocery shopping, use coupons. The Sunday paper cost anywhere from $2-$3 most places and you will get much more than that in savings from the coupons. Also when possible, buy things you use often in bulk. Use stores like Sam’s Club and BJs to save you money. Just be careful, some items cost more in the big packages than it does in the small.
Other ways to save is to buy used when possible. Yard sales are great places to find bargains and you can cut your cost by 75% or more on items you need. Shopping your local classified ads can land you a super bargain. There are now also numerous sites like eBay, half.com, craigslist, and more that makes it easy right from home to find a deal.
These are just a few ideas of how we can adjust our spending so we can afford it. Current prices suck and they can end up getting you down. You can sit and bitch and complain all day or you can use our philosophy, say That Blozzz and stand up and do something to save your family money.
