I've had a pretty long stretch of unemployment and times were very hard but my wife and I managed to learn quite a few things about budgeting during the course of that year (worked as a real estate agent once I gave up the job search but am now happily back at a 9 to 6). Here's some things we learned, please share!
1. Cell phone bill: OLD BILL: $300+, NEW BILL $90. Savings $210/month
2 lines with data on verizon was costing us over $300 (they forced me to go to the highest minutes plan after consecutive overages. Switched to two unlimited prepaid plans and couldn't be happier. First step was porting over to google voice for $20 a line, then we're free to hop from service to service if we'd like (but we're happy with straight talk)
2. Groceries: From $400/month to $200 a month, Savings $200/month
Stopped buying prepared/convenience foods to a very specific, healthy grocery lists of raw meats (bought in bulk), brown rice, almond milk (can buy and store in bulk), etc. We're also much healthier these days by skipping the frozen pizzas/tv dinner life style
3. Packing lunch: $200/month to $100, saving $100/month
Even though I was "unemployed" I was spending money eating out while trying to find work and during my limited stint as a real estate agent. Walmart's store brand slim fast was an easy solution to two of my problems and my wife packed leftovers
4. Cable TV/Internet: Was $200/month now $108, a savings of $92
I planned on (and still do) cutting the cord and just getting internet service for around $60. Talking to retentions knocked almost $100 off of my bill with the same services. I still plan on getting a professional antenna installation and going all the way down to $60/month. OTA works GREAT with TIVO ($28/month for two boxes) especially since Hulu and Netflix apps are built in and it's much more wife friendly compared to an HTPC
5. Baby products/clothes: SLICKDEAL ALERTS FOR THE WIN! With our 6 month old baby we need a steady stream of diapers and the occasional new piece of gear (next on our list is a high chair). I've added alerts for everything we need so, when a good deal comes through, we jump on it and stockpile. Combined with Amazon Mom/Prime, we now have 3 months of diapers/wipes/etc. stockpiled and are crossing things off of our list ahead of schedule and lower than expected. For example, we needed a nicer umbrella stroller and was able to get a Maclaren for 50% off amazon's price, just because we weren't in a rush and waited until a slickdeals deal came through
6. Insurance - my wife's insurance wanted about $800 a month to add my daughter to her plan. Since I had time on my hands and our income low enough we qualified for a state program that had a $45 premium (not medicare/ medicaid, care provided by a major provider). Now that I'm no longer unemployed I do not qualify, but they're allowing me 6 more transitional months, which is awesome
So, now that I'm back to work and making a little more than my old job, these money saving simple (so simple I feel dumb) means we can easily add $500 a month into the baby's college fund, and we're living healthier and less drama filled lives. SHARE YOUR TIPS!
1. Cell phone bill: OLD BILL: $300+, NEW BILL $90. Savings $210/month
2 lines with data on verizon was costing us over $300 (they forced me to go to the highest minutes plan after consecutive overages. Switched to two unlimited prepaid plans and couldn't be happier. First step was porting over to google voice for $20 a line, then we're free to hop from service to service if we'd like (but we're happy with straight talk)
2. Groceries: From $400/month to $200 a month, Savings $200/month
Stopped buying prepared/convenience foods to a very specific, healthy grocery lists of raw meats (bought in bulk), brown rice, almond milk (can buy and store in bulk), etc. We're also much healthier these days by skipping the frozen pizzas/tv dinner life style
3. Packing lunch: $200/month to $100, saving $100/month
Even though I was "unemployed" I was spending money eating out while trying to find work and during my limited stint as a real estate agent. Walmart's store brand slim fast was an easy solution to two of my problems and my wife packed leftovers
4. Cable TV/Internet: Was $200/month now $108, a savings of $92
I planned on (and still do) cutting the cord and just getting internet service for around $60. Talking to retentions knocked almost $100 off of my bill with the same services. I still plan on getting a professional antenna installation and going all the way down to $60/month. OTA works GREAT with TIVO ($28/month for two boxes) especially since Hulu and Netflix apps are built in and it's much more wife friendly compared to an HTPC
5. Baby products/clothes: SLICKDEAL ALERTS FOR THE WIN! With our 6 month old baby we need a steady stream of diapers and the occasional new piece of gear (next on our list is a high chair). I've added alerts for everything we need so, when a good deal comes through, we jump on it and stockpile. Combined with Amazon Mom/Prime, we now have 3 months of diapers/wipes/etc. stockpiled and are crossing things off of our list ahead of schedule and lower than expected. For example, we needed a nicer umbrella stroller and was able to get a Maclaren for 50% off amazon's price, just because we weren't in a rush and waited until a slickdeals deal came through
6. Insurance - my wife's insurance wanted about $800 a month to add my daughter to her plan. Since I had time on my hands and our income low enough we qualified for a state program that had a $45 premium (not medicare/ medicaid, care provided by a major provider). Now that I'm no longer unemployed I do not qualify, but they're allowing me 6 more transitional months, which is awesome
So, now that I'm back to work and making a little more than my old job, these money saving simple (so simple I feel dumb) means we can easily add $500 a month into the baby's college fund, and we're living healthier and less drama filled lives. SHARE YOUR TIPS!
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