Living on a budget.

You CAN Live Better On A Budget
In today’s economy, we all need to stretch our dollars. Spiking gas prices and grocery bills means a little less splurging and a bit more budgeting. We know that scrimping and saving is never fun, but here is five ways you can save without totally giving up the luxuries you love.



5 Money-Savers
1. Save on groceries. The key here is to plan, plan, plan. Put together a grocery list of items that you’ll need for the next two weeks. Then cross check to see if any of those items are on sale at your local stores. Look for money-saving coupons online or in your Sunday newspapers. Sometimes you can even cut costs by buying certain items in bulk. ( I look at all the sales adds first, and make menus with what is on sale and what I have allready in my cupboards)



2. Smart cooking. Now’s the time to really think about the foods you want to prepare and be creative with them. For some recipes, you can modify them to substitute with cheaper ingredients that would still give you the same results. Also, there are recipe ideas out there that are easy on the wallet but still deliver delicious results – from simple delicious recipes that just use a few ingredients to recipes that use most ingredients that you might already have in your pantry. Check out our budget-friendly recipe ideas here!



3. Learn to find deals. Are you a self-proclaimed “shop-a-holic”? Learn to skip the mall and find better deals online for clothes, shoes, and accessories. Plus, if you buy several items at once, you can usually save big on shipping costs. If there’s a store at the mall you just can’t give up, sign up for their online newsletter for access to coupons and to get the heads up on their next in-store sale. (lots of times shipping is free, and you can get coupons for these stores. I have coupons right now for Menards, Kohl's, Target, Best Buy, Big lots ect.)



4. Find a less expensive way to socialize. Meeting up with friends often means shelling out lots of cash at a fancy restaurant. Even budget-friendly restaurants can wreak havoc on your budget if you go too often. So try a new way to socialize—set up a dinner club schedule with your pals. Each person can host the group for dinner and everyone brings a potluck dish. This lets your group spend time together and showcase their culinary skills, while saving you all on pricy restaurant bills, parking, and tips.



5. Bring the fun and experience home. Don’t feel like you’re missing out on that overpriced cup of coffee every morning. You can save money by setting up an at-home coffee bar. Buying a new coffee or espresso machine will ultimately save you a lot. Get a few extras, like chocolate shavings or a bottle of flavored syrup, and you can enjoy a hot cup of Joe at home for much less.And instead of heading to the theater, rent a flick at home. Lots of mail-in services make it much cheaper to watch a recent release. As an added bonus, you’ll save on those outrageous concession stand costs—pop your own popcorn or make your own snacks at half the price. (also for those in the know. You can get codes called redbox rentals to use ( mine is in our Wal-mart) and the movie rental is free for that day.