Comments on: Things I Learned Living on a Budget – Part 3 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/ Good Habits for a Great Life! Thu, 24 May 2012 21:42:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Nico http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-12246 Nico Mon, 30 May 2011 09:08:31 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-12246 Very good advice! Thank you for sharing! Budgeting and planning are just the keywords for a having a good financial situation! Very good advice! Thank you for sharing! Budgeting and planning are just the keywords for a having a good financial situation!

]]> By: Jeff http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1173 Jeff Wed, 14 May 2008 21:27:01 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-1173 @JM - Great ideas on ways to be more frugal! My wife shops a lot at consignment stores. She finds some excellent deals on clothing for herself and our two daughters. I agree that buying just because something is on sale is a bad idea. Starting with a list like at the grocery store is best. Thanks for the fantastic input! @JM – Great ideas on ways to be more frugal! My wife shops a lot at consignment stores. She finds some excellent deals on clothing for herself and our two daughters. I agree that buying just because something is on sale is a bad idea. Starting with a list like at the grocery store is best.

Thanks for the fantastic input!

]]> By: JM http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1172 JM Wed, 14 May 2008 20:50:34 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-1172 Even on a budget you still need stuff, but you can save a lot by cutting down on what you need, and more importantly what you pay for it. While it may be a temptation to impulse shop, YARD SALE and FREE are my frav words. Make a list of stuff you need, or things that are useful, like cloths for the kids. Hook up with the local FreeCycling mailing list in your town and watch the emails to get thing you need for free. Get up very early on Saturdays and do YARD SALES in good neighborhoods. Poor people sell stuff to make money, rich people giveaway stuff to make room. We have two teens girls who are 80% clothed from yard sales and they love getting new stuff that's cool. Often items are less than $1 each and we are picky about what we pickup. They are thrilled when they get $75 jeans for $1. It helps if you give them $5 to spend at the start of the day and they figure out what they want to spend it on, or if they find nothing nice to keep the money in their pockets. You can also find a lot of things like paints, markers, drawing paper and craft stuff at yard sales. This then turns into other projects. Last weekend I got 200 gel pens in a big kit for $1, and a large set of oil paints for about $4. Just don't buy stuff because it's a deal. Start with a list of stuff you need and set a YARD SALE budget. Break the budget when you see stuff you are shore you can re-sell immediately for more money and little hassle. Teaching kids how to barter, how to buy, and how to re-sell at a profit is an important education that most never have. Even on a budget you still need stuff, but you can save a lot by cutting down on what you need, and more importantly what you pay for it.

While it may be a temptation to impulse shop, YARD SALE and FREE are my frav words.

Make a list of stuff you need, or things that are useful, like cloths for the kids.

Hook up with the local FreeCycling mailing list in your town and watch the emails to get thing you need for free.

Get up very early on Saturdays and do YARD SALES in good neighborhoods. Poor people sell stuff to make money, rich people giveaway stuff to make room.

We have two teens girls who are 80% clothed from yard sales and they love getting new stuff that’s cool. Often items are less than $1 each and we are picky about what we pickup. They are thrilled when they get $75 jeans for $1. It helps if you give them $5 to spend at the start of the day and they figure out what they want to spend it on, or if they find nothing nice to keep the money in their pockets.

You can also find a lot of things like paints, markers, drawing paper and craft stuff at yard sales. This then turns into other projects. Last weekend I got 200 gel pens in a big kit for $1, and a large set of oil paints for about $4.

Just don’t buy stuff because it’s a deal. Start with a list of stuff you need and set a YARD SALE budget. Break the budget when you see stuff you are shore you can re-sell immediately for more money and little hassle.

Teaching kids how to barter, how to buy, and how to re-sell at a profit is an important education that most never have.

]]> By: Jeff http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1165 Jeff Tue, 13 May 2008 12:56:40 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-1165 @Kit, I think you misread my article. I do NOT spend $50 per week on lunches. I get $25 per week in my lunch envelope and generally I have some of that left over that I put in a date fund for my wife and I. I commend your frugality! If you are able to feed a family of four on $60 per week, then you are being very resourceful. Great job! @Kit,

I think you misread my article. I do NOT spend $50 per week on lunches. I get $25 per week in my lunch envelope and generally I have some of that left over that I put in a date fund for my wife and I.

I commend your frugality! If you are able to feed a family of four on $60 per week, then you are being very resourceful. Great job!

]]> By: Kit http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Kit Tue, 13 May 2008 04:48:56 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-1162 Ultra-frugal ? ROFLMAO ! You spend $50 a week on lunches ? I spend $60 a week on groceries. For a family of FOUR. This must be The Onion version of the Tightwad Gazette ! Ultra-frugal ?
ROFLMAO !
You spend $50 a week on lunches ?
I spend $60 a week on groceries.
For a family of FOUR.
This must be The Onion version of the Tightwad Gazette !

]]> By: Weekly Roundup: Flu of 2008 Edition | Frugal Dad http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Weekly Roundup: Flu of 2008 Edition | Frugal Dad Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:23:14 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-175 [...] Things I’ve Learned Living on a Budget (@My Super-Charged Life) is a great read for anyone currently living on a tight budget, or planning to head in that direction.  My favorite nugget from the article was the lesson on library books.  As a recovering bookstore junkie, I can say that I find the ability to check out and read books for free really appeals to the frugal side of me. [...] [...] Things I’ve Learned Living on a Budget (@My Super-Charged Life) is a great read for anyone currently living on a tight budget, or planning to head in that direction.  My favorite nugget from the article was the lesson on library books.  As a recovering bookstore junkie, I can say that I find the ability to check out and read books for free really appeals to the frugal side of me. [...]

]]> By: Jeff http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Jeff Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:13:20 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-168 @MyDollarPlan - I think being conservative in my spending is built in to who I am, but I'm glad we are now able to ease up a bit on the intensity of our frugality now that we are debt-free. Maybe our family and friends will stop thinking we've joined a bizarre cult or something! @Ciaran - I can't emphasize enough the positive impact this budget has had on our lives. Also, I believe it is changing the legacy that I will leave for my children. My oldest knows all about Dave Ramsey. I believe this will impact her financial behavior in a very positive way throughout her life. @MyDollarPlan – I think being conservative in my spending is built in to who I am, but I’m glad we are now able to ease up a bit on the intensity of our frugality now that we are debt-free. Maybe our family and friends will stop thinking we’ve joined a bizarre cult or something!

@Ciaran – I can’t emphasize enough the positive impact this budget has had on our lives. Also, I believe it is changing the legacy that I will leave for my children. My oldest knows all about Dave Ramsey. I believe this will impact her financial behavior in a very positive way throughout her life.

]]> By: CiaranFromChance http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-164 CiaranFromChance Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:00:54 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-164 All excellent points, I enjoy reading about how you customize these things to your specific situation. I guess I like hearing about the positive effects they've had on your life. All excellent points, I enjoy reading about how you customize these things to your specific situation. I guess I like hearing about the positive effects they’ve had on your life.

]]> By: My Dollar Plan http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-160 My Dollar Plan Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:12:23 +0000 http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/things-i-learned-living-on-a-budget-part-3/#comment-160 We've also loosened up a bit over the last few years. After awhile the "ultrafrugality" wears off a bit. I'll second the library books too! I own very few books, less than a dozen, the rest I just check out. We’ve also loosened up a bit over the last few years. After awhile the “ultrafrugality” wears off a bit. I’ll second the library books too! I own very few books, less than a dozen, the rest I just check out.

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