Husband is between contracts at the moment meaning he is home until another job comes along and despite being fairly savvy with our money we always go into tighten the belt survival mode..well I do he just continues on his merry way until the office calls with a job. He is a dream big stick your neck out and all that me I’m the other way hold it (money) tight and consider everything in between but between us we balance each other out and here we are.
Yet in the mean time until the office calls we keep that belt tightened furiously and here is my five tips to (plan) getting through some tight times.
- Have a budget and stick to it. Really watch your money and treat yourself OCCASIONALLY so you don’t blow and splurge it just like you would when you’re on a diet. Just like healthy eating a budget is a lifestyle. Ideally you should be saving for times like this between 5-15% of your wage. Realistically we are 5% but as long as there is a little its better than none but at times like this its budget time not consider a Parisian holiday time. Need help creating a budget there a plenty of app’s available this is my favourite here.
- Pay your bills on time {or even get in a little credit ie ahead not pay on credit; ditch the credit card} it will save you in late fees and if you’re going to be late call the provider to tell them and most often they will help work out a payment plan.
- Watch your incidental spending ie really watch your budget. Every time my husband stops at the servo to fuel up he buys milk drinks and chips for the kids but it’s not just the husband I was for a while buying two magazines a week to satisfy my magazine compulsion. And as small buy it doesnt seem much but it can add up to be a lot. To see how much all those ‘little incidental purchases’ can add up to try this handy little tool here to see how much money you can save by kerbing your every day coffee, fashion fix , or beers at the pub.
- Pool all your spare change at the end of the day. I throw mine into an old Milo tin {because I’m too cheap to buy a fancy money-box} and it pays for a good majority of Christmas but also comes in so handy to fuel up the car or buy some groceries when things are at a pinch.
- Meal plan and really watch the grocery bill consider buying generic or read my previous blog about saving money with food.
Xx Deb
{image source with thanks to here}
