Want to make a week’s income spread to two weeks of spending? Amy Daczyn put it as “living on one income in a two income world”. You can make a week’s work of income spread to two weeks if you learn tips and ideas and store them away in your mind, in your journal. (Bullet Journal) or on a typed list to go back to – to remind yourself.
- Assess all the advantages you have where you are. Your advantages will be different from someone else’s. i.e Maybe you have chooks. You have a vegetable garden. You can swap produce. You can sew. Where you live has a lemon tree. You have a skill you can swap for needs. If you are not in a productive situation – be patient and work towards change. Educate yourself – particularly in physical skills. Don’t worry if you do make mistakes – that is how you learn.
- Keep a list called your “Wish list” and see how long you can last before buying an item. Unless of course it is an item that will earn income i.e. sewing machine, electrical tool. Or it saves you a great deal of time and gives good health. Leave it on your wish list for awhile anyway. At least until you find something just at a good at a good value price. Don’t rush in to buy. And lastly research the item well – so you can know as much about it before making an informed decision.
- Make things from scratch. I’ve even made my bread from scratch – even grinding the wheat. But do factor in your time. Do educate yourself to be more organised. Being organised in itself is an income saver. Income can mean other people’s items and produce – not just money. And remember sometimes what you spend time making can be swapped for other’s items.
- Start a vegetable garden. It’s a boon to your health – gardening can exercise every muscle in your body. Sunshine is said to increase the quantities of minerals in your blood (for one!). And you get produce. Like great and fresh ingredients. Start small and increase in knowledge and what you can grow. Build your soil up with lots of prunings, grass, leaves and anything green as well as household scraps. Start with easy things like tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, radish, zucchini, green beans or beetroot. Container gardening is possible if you don’t have “land” space. Join produce exchange groups in your local area so you can swap seedlings or manure.
- Never think that you can make a good product from cheap ingredients. I was taught in an Aged care course that how you look after your body in one decade will be how it responds in the next. So think quality. It’s less expensive and so much better for your health.
- Join a co-op. Organic fruit and vegetables are more economical The co-0p near me is cheaper than standard fare at the supermarket! And they have other items available such as grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and other sundry items. Network and get others on board and they can pick up your order and likewise you save them trips. And organic is healthier too.
- Think twice before taking children shopping unless you have educated them in “cost effective” buying. Make it fun.
- If you shop the Supermarket/s consider the outside aisles the major part of your budget and the inside aisles a place you visit for items on your “list”.
- Learn how to cook vegetarian. It is a science – so learn it bit by bit as you substitute items. I have been one since I was 17 – so it’s 40 years this year and you are always learning. Did you know soaking well, actually allows more nutrients available to your body. This is for grains, legumes, nuts, seeds. And more nutritious food adds up to more vitamins and minerals.
- Understand the notion than Fast Food is not cheap and Slow Food is much better for you. Consider your home better than a business and become a wise CEO or steward.
- Consider investing in a Slow Cooker. New isn’t necessary and you will find taste is better because things are cooked at a lower, slower more budget friendly temperature. Make a Slow Cooker your new “best friend” and pre-plan to use it.
- Pay off all debts – as quickly and methodically as you are able.
- When debts are paid – put a little away from your income no matter how small even 1/2 or 1%.
- Don’t go into shops. Ignore catalogues unless you need to stick photos of appliances/items you are selling at a garage sale and want to show what a new price item is worth.
- Build yourself a capsule wardrobe of quality garments. That is basics that can mix and match. Quality is counted by how many wears you can get from a garment. Consider classic and do consider pre-loved. Your whole wardrobe can be made up of pre-loved – you are a CEO who is on the search for good and wearable “stock”. Look not only at Thrift (2nd hand stores) but Garage Sales (cheapest) and online in lots of Groups on Facebook.
- Don’t necessarily have a meal plan as you can learn to shop “your pantry” and make up new meals. But do have a list of meals that are options and have a list in your journal – so it reminds you of what ingredients to have on hand. So write down all potential everyday meals that you can ever have and look at this list for inspiration. Don’t forget to trial a new meal once a fortnight.
- When doing Supermarket shopping consider waiting more than a week (particularly if you have a garden). Even adding an extra day each time can mean you have in hand over 5 to 6 weeks – one lot of food spending money.
- Not only use warmer clothing in winter consider a flat heater you can double as a clothing dryer. Consider timing it so as the chill comes off in your room turn it off. Set a timer also so that you get up every 20 minutes to “do something” – it helps with your health and helps your body to keep warm.
- Consider shopping with cash – it helps keep you focused on what to spend within that week.
- Consider planning to see how many days straight you do not spend a thing.
- Shop your fridge for mystery meals. Educate yourself on cooking simply and not grocery shopping until your fridge’s supply is getting lower. There are ideas to put in left overs i.e. salad leftovers – such as baby spinach & rocket, tomato, sweet potato on Pita bread for quick pizza. Vegies for soup or stew. Or vegies grated into a noodles – with more emphasis on the vegies and less on the noodles.
- Eat slightly less and stop when nearly full and chew slower. Both are better for your health particularly if you have weight issues. You will also find that chewing slower can help if you have bowel issues as the start of digestion is in your mouth.
- Consider down-loading a short-term free online expense list so you can see where your money is going. It can be an eye-opener. Please don’t be obsessive – but do consider the benefits of seeing a 12 month spread of where you actually spent your money. It does help you stay focused.
- Consider going on picnics – less expensive and healthier. Also doing movies and documentaries at home with some home-made healthy treats.
- Put small amounts of coin in a jar for a savings goal.
- For hard times start building up a library of such things as the book “The Tightwad Gazette” Amy Daczyn or if things get really tight consider Extreme Cheapskates (On YouTube) which you can watch at the library if you don’t have large download inter-net options. All can inspire you with ideas or at least make you think you don’t have it so hard!
- Educate yourself on making your own cleaning, beauty, household and useful products with simple ingredients. These are healthier and cost effective. And you may also be able to swap for other items. Win/win.
- Consider re-purposing items you already have from the smallest to the largest. There are a myriad of ideas out there. In our society today – we have a lot of wants in items rather than needs. Simplify.
- Don’t stress too much if suddenly you lose your job – Trust. It will work out. I will do a future post on what to do if you suddenly have a different amount of money coming in. And remember there is a God out there who likes to take on board your trials.
- Consider giving to others – it’s good for your health. And it’s not just money. Your time, that quick note or email, some item you have produced or made. Good health – now that’s a good payback. And remember being a good manager is payment within itself.
~ My Salt & Seasons ~ 