Tips for Saving Money

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I recently graduated and will be moving to a new city with a job. I am buying a house (with the help of my parents) and this will be the first time I am not a dependent of them. Admittedly I have always pretty much sucked at budgeting and saving money, but I'm trying to turn that around. There are several things I am planning to do to save, but would apprecaite any *legal* tips:

-I have a teaching job and will be applying to an amusement park for a second job as soon as I get settled.

-I plan to definitely look at prices in various stores and look for coupons online and elsewhere. Food may be harder for me because I have several health conditions that limit what I can eat and it seems like the cheapest food is the food that is off limits to me. This is one place where I know I will really need some help as it seems that healthy food is much more expensive.

-I'm not getting cable or internet until after the first of the year. I get internet and can even watch tv shows on my cell phone and will just get the free stations for now on my tv.

-I am going to write out an incredibly strict budget and pay cash as much as possible. Does anybody know of a good free budgeting software? If not, I will just create my own using excel, but figured initally it might be easier using a free program.

-Instead of buying DVDs I'm going to just stick with what I have. Instead of buying books I plan to go to trade a book shops or the library.

Any other suggestions/advice?

 

[Mickeyorbust]

Congrats on graduating, your new job and new home. Scary isn't it? I don't have much advice in the budget area because it sounds like you have a good plan. I just wanted to suggest applying for a summer position at the zoo or aquarium if there's one nearby incase the amusement park doesn't work out. Some hire extra educators during the summer for summer programs and may pay a little more then an amusement park because they require you to have your teaching certificate. Good Luck.

 

[mikewdw]

congrats on new job. i'm finishing my 18th yr teaching so i know what you are feeling. dont forget about getting a higher degree if your state pays more for it (mine does). example: if you get $4,000 more for a MS than a BS then over a 25 yr career that is an extra $100,000. not too bad for doing the same job. otherwise your plan sounds like a good start (MUCH better than i have done!). i have also heard that many people here like the Dave Ramsey program. you could probably check out his book (total money makeover) at a library.
good luck with everything,
mikewdw

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Congrats on graduating, your new job and new home. Scary isn't it? I don't have much advice in the budget area because it sounds like you have a good plan. I just wanted to suggest applying for a summer position at the zoo or aquarium if there's one nearby incase the amusement park doesn't work out. Some hire extra educators during the summer for summer programs and may pay a little more then an amusement park because they require you to have your teaching certificate. Good Luck.

I work at a chain grocery store so I have them as back up. I'm not worried about the amusement park not working out though, my boyfriend is a supervisor there and they are in need of good employees. With my Disney experience, he said I should have no problem. In fact, when I got my bachelor's they actually offered me a management position right off the bat strictly because I had worked for Disney!

 

[goofyforlife]

hmm My first comment would be...

If this is a new city for you... don't buy a house right away....

Buying a house will tie you down and there's a huge chunk of money you spend in closing costs and/or realtor costs if you find out that you've bought in the wrong neighborhood or want to move somewhere else....

If your city has REDBOX ...(for dvd rentals) use the free promo codes to watch movies on Monday nights...

 

[Karenj2]

I recently graduated and will be moving to a new city with a job. I am buying a house (with the help of my parents) and this will be the first time I am not a dependent of them. Admittedly I have always pretty much sucked at budgeting and saving money, but I'm trying to turn that around. There are several things I am planning to do to save, but would appreciate any *legal* tips:

-I have a teaching job and will be applying to an amusement park for a second job as soon as I get settled.

-I plan to definitely look at prices in various stores and look for coupons online and elsewhere. Food may be harder for me because I have several health conditions that limit what I can eat and it seems like the cheapest food is the food that is off limits to me. This is one place where I know I will really need some help as it seems that healthy food is much more expensive.

-I'm not getting cable or internet until after the first of the year. I get internet and can even watch tv shows on my cell phone and will just get the free stations for now on my tv.

-I am going to write out an incredibly strict budget and pay cash as much as possible. Does anybody know of a good free budgeting software? If not, I will just create my own using excel, but figured initally it might be easier using a free program.

-Instead of buying DVDs I'm going to just stick with what I have. Instead of buying books I plan to go to trade a book shops or the library.

Any other suggestions/advice?

First of all, congrats!! And, it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders - start being a good budgeter now, and you'll have a much greater chance of staying out of debt! (Barring any unforeseen illnesses, etc.)

As for tips - you've got a good start... Here are some of my (off the cuff) ideas:
- Start into your 401k (or 403b since you're teaching) with your first paycheck - what you don't realize you are missing will keep you from spending!
- DEFINITELY get into the habit of budgeting!! I use a program called YNAB Pro (from www.youneedabudget.com) - it's not free, but IMHO it's worth it. They have an excel version that's cheaper than the pro version, but does most of the same stuff. (You just can't download your balances, etc.) If you really want to do free, if you go to Microsoft Gallery you can look at their budgeting templates - that's what I used before I found YNAB, and it served me well at the time.
- Speaking of budgeting, if you're actually buying a house, make sure you budget for repairs and stuff you don't think you need... Our house is only 11 years old, and we ought to replace our windows because the builders used a cheap brand, and the windows were rotting. You'll need to maintain the house, and it can get expensive!
- Don't try to scale back too far on your budget, 'cause you might just rebel against the strictness (even if it's self imposed)... Budget for impulse spending!!
- Regarding food - see what you can buy in bulk! At Costco, I've bought their huge thing of ground beef (5lbs?) and spent about a half hour making hamburger patties out of it. (I plan to do something similar by buying 1/4 of a cow this fall...) Also buy food that's in season from local places... It might be a wash on savings, but you'll be eating healthier and supporting the local markets!
- Don't go crazy feeling like you have to furnish the whole house immediately... We left our formal living room/"library" empty for close to three years before we finally painted it and added furniture. (It's still not done yet - needs bookshelves and books before I'll call it a true library.)
- Also, post college tastes will change even just two years later, so don't buy a lot of artwork. Get a feel for your new area - perhaps buy local sidewalk art - especially so you can remember your new found freedom after you've moved on.


Anyway, good luck!

 

[Princess April]

CVS has been great for me, a real budget saver! Check it out!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I found out this weekend that Target takes coupons printed off the internet and I saved a ton of money there, on everything from food to deodorant, even cat sand. The girl behind me was saying Wow as the number dropped. Our Walmart won't take internet coupons, so I can only use those we get few and far between there and that was where I was doing most of my shopping.

I watch the Walgreen's and CVS ads and compare them with Target for the best deal. I find that if I send Dh to the store for me, I save big time, because he only buys what is on the list and I don't , because I always find something else on sale or something that didn't get added to the list.

My biggest money saving tip for grocery shopping, EAT BEFORE you go the the grocery store, you will spend less.

I keep a medium sized notebook with my bills and I write down each bill and if I know the amount (like the house payment) and mark it off as it is paid for the month. As soon as a bill comes in it gets stuck in the, but first I write the due date and payment amount on the envelope and put them in the book in the due date order and since we have money coming in every week (Dh & I get paid opposite weeks), I just pull the bills for the week and pay them online, then write the paid date in the notebook, that way I can keep track of what has been paid and what hasn't.

Suzanne

 

[PinkRhombus]

hmm My first comment would be...

If this is a new city for you... don't buy a house right away....

Buying a house will tie you down and there's a huge chunk of money you spend in closing costs and/or realtor costs if you find out that you've bought in the wrong neighborhood or want to move somewhere else....

If your city has REDBOX ...(for dvd rentals) use the free promo codes to watch movies on Monday nights...

It looks like her boyfriend already lives there. Probably knows the area okay so far.

But I think, personally, if she can get the house now, it's the best time ever to buy.

The biggest "budget buster" is entertainment expenses. You may feel that you need to "get out and play" with friends because you've worked your rear end off through college, and it's time to play a little. Just be careful of that.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It looks like her boyfriend already lives there. Probably knows the area okay so far.

But I think, personally, if she can get the house now, it's the best time ever to buy.

The biggest "budget buster" is entertainment expenses. You may feel that you need to "get out and play" with friends because you've worked your rear end off through college, and it's time to play a little. Just be careful of that.

Yeah, the house is a done deal. I have friends in that area and my parents used to live there. We did a lot of checking out of the neighborhood (crime stats, talked to the local police, etc.). The house is an amazing house for an amazing price and we have already had it inspected so there are no surprises. The interest rate is greaet and there is also the tax credit right now. My montly payments are actually cheaper than what I would pay to rent in that area and we have had a hard time finding a decent rental.