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Discover How to Live on a Budget & Save

More Money Than You Ever Thought

Possible - Without Giving Up All

the Things That You Love!

If you are concerned at all about how much money you spend each month … if you are currently living above your means ... or if you just want to be able to save money for the future or to buy something special ... then this is absolutely the most important letter you will read today!

Here's why:

There is now a comprehensive ebook available that offers several simple budget tips that if followed will make a huge positive difference in your finances!

Introducing

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How Much Should My Grocery Budget Be? by Terry Rigg

You talk about a question without an answer! But, I'm going to try to answer it anyway.

First, when we are talking about setting an exact dollar amount for groceries for each family that asks, that's almost impossible. What we can do is allot a portion (percentage) of our income for food.

There again, you have all of the variables like the size of your family, eating habits, etc. Also, a family with a low income may have to allot a larger percentage of their income toward buying food.

The question I would like to ask you is how much are you spending on groceries per month? I would have to say that most people wouldn't have any idea.

Better yet, how much could you be spending on food? In other words if you are currently spending $600 on food for your family let's try to cut that down to $500 or even $400. But first you will need to know how much you are spending now.

This is going to be a real hassle for a month or two because you will need to keep track of your grocery purchases. All of them!

Now, we can make that a little easier but you will need to have your finances set up a certain way. I always suggest that you only use 4 categories for your budget. These are Housing, Other Bills, Household Expenses and Savings.

Your grocery bill would come under that category of Household Expenses. If you have your finances set up this way each member of the family will have an allowance each payday for things like car gas, lunches, parking, snacks, etc. Doing it this way would eliminate the need to keep up with each family member's food spending except for the family pizza night.

All you would have to do is save your grocery receipts for about 30 to 60 days and add them up. This should give you a good idea of how much you spend on a monthly basis for food.

When you have this information it's time to start looking for ways to cut that figure down as low as you can and still provide good nutritious meals for your family.

If I started telling just the ways I know of how to save on groceries, this article would turn into a book. There are endless ways to cut back on your food spending. The best way to start learning is to search the web. Here are a couple of web sites you can start with:

The Frugal Shopper http://www.thefrugalshopper.com

Money Saving Grocery Tips http://homeparents.about.com/od/groceryshoppingtips/

Grocery Saving Tips http://www.grocerysavingtips.com/

With all of that said, the bottom line is that you need to spend what ever it takes on groceries to survive. In too many cases people will pay their bills out of their grocery budget. This won't work. Water, Food and shelter are the basics. Put them first no matter what your bills are or how many times they call to harass you.

I know you are still looking for a dollar amount for your family. If you pin me down I would have to say about 15% to 20% of your income could be spent on food. For a family making $3000 a month that would mean you would set aside about $450 to $600 for food. This is great unless you have teenagers that go through the kitchen like vacuum cleaners.

About the Author

Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage3.html and editor of the Budget Stretcher web site. To Subscribe to The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and receive The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer absolutely free just visit his home page at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com

Managing Your Money Positively by Martin Lukac

When it comes to money, we all have our bad days.

For many of us, it comes when we pay bills and see how far that check doesn't go. For others, it happens when we spend more than we should on stuff we don't need.

It is widely thought that if you cannot manage your life, you can't begin to manage your money. This is because the management of money takes self-control and discipline. It is similar in many ways to the formation of habits, patience and the control of our temper. Time management, goal setting and forward thinking are all required in life and money management.

One of the most important parts of money management is proper attitude. Managing your money isn't sucessful if you think of it as putting yourself in a money prison. In fact, proper management doesn't hold you back, it frees your money up for things that really matter -- such as your goals.

With the proper management, you have the freedom to do as you will. Your money no longer controls you, you control it. You don't have to worry about your debts. You don't have to worry about not paying a bill on time. You don't have to lose sleep over your situation.

You learn to make your money work.

And it does take time. It takes the formation of habits. It takes a little trial and error to see what truly works.

Instead of thinking of it as something that limits you in what you can do with your money or your time, think of it as a plan to get you where you want to go. Do you want to have more money in your pocket out of your paycheck? Then make a plan to pay off your debt. Do you want to retire comfortably? Then make a plan to start saving now.

And stick with it.

With a little work, you can change your attitude about how you spend, save and manage your money. It takes a little time, but it will save you years of worry and a lot of money.

Five Frugal Things You Need To Know by Martin Lukac

Being frugal is a never ending goal. It is something you constantly work on. You can always go a step further, save just a little more.

So if there is no end, where do you start?

There are five things that every person should know in order to live a frugal life.

1. Not every frugal idea is frugal for everyone.

There is a balance between frugality and time that is unique for each person. Some people have time to grind their own wheat into flour and make their own pasta from scratch. Some people only have the time to do simple things, like set the thermostat lower and use less laundry soap/shampoo/hand soap by thinning it with a little water. Some people find the time and it pays for them. Some people find that the time costs them. There are different changes to be made by everyone.

For example, as frugal as I am, I've never been able to shop with coupons. I just forget that I have them or don't have time to use them. So when I shop, I buy a lesser quantity and shop sales.

2. You have to know how you spend your money.

It would be hard to reduce your spending if you don't know what you are spending and where. You need to take the time to track your spending. Look at where, when and why you are buying certain items. You may be shocked at what you find. I know that the first time my husband and I did a budget, we were floored by how much money we were taking out of the ATM and just blowing here and there. But once we saw it, we were able to change it.

3. You can't keep up with others, unless you want to join them in debt.

Life isn't about your boat comparing to Bob's boat. Or having the newest car. Or the latest gismo. Or appearing picture perfect. Or having everything you want.

Life should be about what is important to you. Not what is important to the neighbors. Look at your own goals and dreams when planning your finances. Don't spend or buy anything unless you understand the consequences.

For example, if you are buying a boat because all your friends have boats, that may not be a great idea. If you only take it out once a year, that one trip is costing you thousands. If you take it out every weekend, the trips are costing you a lot less each time.

4. Start saving your savings.

So many people save nothing by saving. How does that work? They use coupons, they shop on sale, they don't buy something that catches their eye. And then they turn around and spend the money on something else trivial. They aren't really saving, they are postponing the spending.

When you save money, you need to go ahead and put the money in a jar until you have enough to put it in the bank. If you save $20 on a shirt you didn't buy, put that $20 in your jar. If you save $1.59 on groceries, put that money in the jar. Many grocery stores receipts will even tell you how much you save. That makes it easier for you.

5. Set your goals and stick with them.

You have to have a reason to be frugal. Whether you want to get out of debt or go on a cruise, you have to have a goal. Don't just leave it vague. Write down the specific steps you are going to take. Look at your goal every day. Keep it at the forefront of your money-thinking. When you consider whether or not you will buy something, look at how it affects your goal.

How to Look Fashionable on a Budget by S.W.Chadwick

Everyone wants to look "in style", no matter if they work full time or stay at home. For many of us, keeping up with the trends, and updating our closets can get pretty expensive. Many times you hear women, especially new mothers, saying that they just don't have the extra money it takes to look fashionable. Even though money can be tight for any of us, mothers or not, looking your best does not have to break your bank account. Here are some easy tips for looking your best on a limited budget:

1)Look for catalogs online that offer "deferred payment". The most popular ones out there today are Chadwicks, Newport News, Spiegel, and Lerner. They don't always offer this, so register your email address with them, and very quickly you should start receiving invites from them to use their "90 day deferred billing option".

Use a debit card if you can, but make sure that whatever your total is, you start saving that amount NOW. For instance, 90 days, or 3 months, should give you plenty of time to save enough money to cover your costs. For instance, if you stopped spending $4.00 day on a gourmet coffee drink, multiply that by 5 ($20.00), multiply that by 4 ($100.00), and you could in reality spend $300.00 on a new wardrobe, and have the money to pay for it in those 3 months.

2)Organize your friends/coworkers and have a "clothes swap" party. All of us have things we don't wear anymore, or can't fit into. Instead of donating them to Goodwill, throw a girly party, include handbags, shoes, etc. You would be amazed how many really nice things your friends are willing to part with.

3)Visit Consignment Shops in Wealthy parts of town. The clothes that are for sale at these shops are usually high quality, sometimes "haute couture" clothing. The prices may be a little higher than a Goodwill store, but if you are looking for more "trendy" looks, this is the place to start.

4)eBay - where else can you shop for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you could imagine? My favorite thing to do is go into an expensive boutique here in town, and find THE best pair of shoes that I HAVE to have. I take note of the brand/name/price, and then go home and see if they are listed on eBay. 9 times out of 10, they are and I can guarantee that they are cheaper on this site. If you have anything you want to sell on eBay, that money that you make selling your item, can sit in your PayPal account, and you can turn around and use it to buy your new "in style" item.

Hopefully the following tips have been able to help you see that you too can look fashionable even if you don't have an endless amount of cash to spend on your wardrobe. Happy Shopping!

About the Author

S.W. Chadwick has been working in online businesses from home since 2000. She has written dozens of articles regarding entrepreneurial pursuits, beauty and other online businesses. To learn more about free fashion/beauty/diet advice please visit http://www.thebeautycrib.com

Follow These 5 Steps To Become Debt Free by Ken Black

If you are struggling trying to get out of debt, there are many solutions available for you. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Follow these steps on your road to becoming debt free.

Since credit exists and it is easy to overspend, we are up and down managing our finances, often in the same way that a sailor without instruments is unable to see the Northern star.

But, if you use the right tools and strategies in your daily life, you can get out of financial hardship and eventually become debt free. That is the ultimate goal of everyone.

Read all you can about the subject of personal debt and budgeting and make a list of what you are paying out each month compared to your income. Write everything down and as is the case with most people, you might be surprised at how much money is really slipping through your fingers each month. If you do not do this, then you will never know where you stand financially and without a doubt, you will always find yourself getting into more and more debt. It has to stop somewhere. If you do not want to take control of your finances, then sooner or later, credit cards and other lenders will control you.

Follow these 5 simple steps :

1. Credit reports - Before you apply for a loan, best to check your credit report to see if there are any errors in it. Lenders will look at this and decide if you qualify for a loan based on your credit history. Get a copy of your credit report at one of the three credit bureaus, namely, Equifax.com, Transunion.com, or Experian.com.

2. Mortgage refinancing - is a convenient source of freeing up needed cash to pay off debts, since it involves purchasing a new home loan with better repayment terms and lower interest rates.

3. Debt consolidation loans - although debt consolidation is an instance used more often to reduce the charges derived from high-interest credit cards, these type of loans are intended for consolidating any debt you are carrying.

4. Money Budgeting is the best way for tackling any financial need. Saving rebate money or pocket change is a good start for anyone along with a written budget and financial plan. Reserve credit transactions for college education, major purchases and emergencies.

5. Consumer credit counseling advisors recommend setting up a budget and changing spending habits before you refinance or make any other credit decisions. Make realistic goals and learn to maintain your budget and live within it.

After some weeks you will begin to see results that will please you greatly. Take small steps like paying off your smallest creditors first and you will start to build some momentum. Also, remember to avoid late payments to creditors because it can hurt your credit rating and your ability to obtain credit (car loans, mortgages, debt consolidation loans) of any kind in the future.

Take some action, read more about the subject and visit and talk to your bank, or go and see a consumer credit counselor for advice.

About the Author

Ken Black is the owner of DebtReog.com, a site dedicated to providing helpful information about getting out of debt and Debt Help that is available.

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