early start for the year? any ideas?

[mommyof3princess27]

okay i have started my new years resolutions early because they have gotten out of control! I need to lose weight this year(cant be pooh sized at disney world!!!) and I need to save money!!! Our spending is out of control! I need tips/ideas on how to cut out the unneccessary spending...i do have cc that need paid off so I want to start doing that too but i want to only buy what i need at the grocery store instead of things that are on sale! I love bargains so i stock up! I need to cut my grocery bill, evaluate where every penny of our budge is going....

 

[cjnix29]

I'm right there with you on both fronts! My plan is first...to start writing everything down. Both what I put in my mouth, as well as what goes out of my wallet. Once you start tracking, you can see what you are doing.Where you spend too much, and what you eat. I did a weight loss program about a year ago that worked, until I lost my motivation. Had to track everything, and check in daily with my weight loss coach on what I ate. Hoping my sister will be my coach this time, but not sure if she will really keep me accountable. We'll see. But I had to put my fat pants back on, although they are still a little big, but others were just a tad tight. Good luck!

 

[happymommy]

One place I found support was at www.flylady.net. I also read her book Sink Reflections, then gave it to a friend.

She helped me get on track! She helps with organization, but also has ideas about meal planning and such.

I have also lately spent too much, especially on getting food out for me and the kids. We're always running somewhere, and stopping for fast food. It adds up so much! I need to get back to meal planning, so we're not grabbing junk (wasting money and it's not healthy at all). I used to plan my whole week's dinners, then know what I needed. I plan on doing that starting next week, when the kids go back to school.

Good luck!

 

[minnie1928]

I've found that one of the places I save the most money at the store is cleaning supplies. I've found that you can make an awful lot of stuff with some cheap basics like vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, etc. I make my own spray cleaner, use vinegar as a fabric softener, vinegar instead of jetdry in the dishwasher, drain cleaner (vinegar + baking soda), and the list goes on....

My mom makes her own dishwasher detergent (I have to get the recipe...) and she says she likes it better than store bought.

I've also taken to using re-usable things instead of disposables. For example, fabric napkins, cloth towels in the kitchen, microfiber cloths instead of swiffers, etc.

 

[reelmom]

I'm with you on both fronts. I want to lose weight and save money. Maybe we could all help each other out. We got the Wii fit plus for Christmas and just started doing that. Not sure if it will help with the weight loss but it gets me moving and it sure is fun. Now if only I can stick to it. We grab a lot of fast food also due to our hectic schedule so maybe we can help each other out with ideas on meal planning and what works for you.

 

[MickQuinn]

The best piece of advice I can offer is to simply Stay out of the stores!
If you have trouble with willpower, don't purposely put temptations in front of yourself.

We have a few relatives that use shopping as a form of recreation. Yes, they occasionally come across a great deal, but they have a house packed with useless junk that they "just had to have"... and credit card debt that is mind-boggling.

I use the grocery store sales flyer and the family calendar to plan meals for the week. Check the cupboard for what you already have to complete the meals so that you aren't throwing extra stuff into the cart "just in case". Don't buy anything that is not on your list. I make healthy meals and we eat plenty of fruit and veggie... on less than $75 per week for 3 adults and a 7 year-old. My husband and I take leftovers to work for our lunches.

Doing things with a plan and on purpose makes it less likely that you will slip. Dave Ramsey's website also has some great tools to deal with debt.

Good luck to you!

 

[minnie mouse]

I agree just stay out of the stores and for me it is to stay off the computer. I shop WAY too much on line. There is always a good deal to find and I fine them and buy it. I just received a coat from UPS just now and I realized that I already have it...a good sign I have too much.
I know I shop and spend too much so I need to cut back.
For grocery I am going to make a list and stick just to that. I will shop the sale adds and plan my meals for the week instead of going daily.
So I look forward the new year, I fresh start for me and a new challange.

 

[bear74]

I've found that one of the places I save the most money at the store is cleaning supplies. I've found that you can make an awful lot of stuff with some cheap basics like vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, etc. I make my own spray cleaner, use vinegar as a fabric softener, vinegar instead of jetdry in the dishwasher, drain cleaner (vinegar + baking soda), and the list goes on....

My mom makes her own dishwasher detergent (I have to get the recipe...) and she says she likes it better than store bought.

I've also taken to using re-usable things instead of disposables. For example, fabric napkins, cloth towels in the kitchen, microfiber cloths instead of swiffers, etc.

will you post the dishwasher detergent recipe, Please?

 

[minnie1928]

will you post the dishwasher detergent recipe, Please?

I'll email my mom and see if she can send it to me. She swears by the stuff...

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm right there with you on both fronts! My plan is first...to start writing everything down. Both what I put in my mouth, as well as what goes out of my wallet. Once you start tracking, you can see what you are doing.Where you spend too much, and what you eat.

Absolutely!

It's amazing what you forget and what you can lie to yourself about, both with eating and spending.


Also, switch to buying groceries with cash. Make a list of what you need, bring the cash for it, spend the cash. Only. If you see something that you don't have the cash for, if you NEED it, you can always come back.

Right now for my weight I'm focusing on exercise, but for my wallet I've been following the Dave Ramsey program. I'd avoided it for ages, though I keep seeing Disers talking about their fabulous success with it. A perfect storm finally happened for us (fear with layoff, fear of paying full insurance with a contract position after the layoff, bunches of money coming to us all at once with severance, contract job pay (no insurance or 401k taken out), then signing bonus) AND we started reading about Ramsey's program, and I gotta tell ya...best thing EVER.

I enjoy the site llnoe.com (living like no one else) and the discussion of the little principles and "baby steps" of finances. Its astonishing the changes we've made just since July, and how much better we're doing (knock wood) by following his steps.


Best of luck to you!

 

[minnie1928]

will you post the dishwasher detergent recipe, Please?

Mom says she uses equal parts borax and baking soda. She says it leaves a slight white residue, but if you use vinegar or jet dry that it should remove it.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I like the idea of tracking all eating and spending. That would be a great way to start losing weight and saving money.

 

[PebblesMK]

I am a clearance shopper and I see things and think "Oh, I might someday need this!". I can tell you that all of the things that I might someday need, are things I have never needed. If you're a scrapbooker, I'd be your dream come true! I have always planned on scrapbooking and have bought TONS....I have a drawer full of nothing but Disney stickers! Also, I took 35 games out of my daughters closet that have never been opened...tons of toys, puzzles, books, crafts, art stuff that has NEVER been touched....and if you want to talk about her clothes....I pulled 12 pair of jeans out with tags still on. She still has 32 pair that the tag has been ripped off, but she hasn't touched.
All in all, I could save THOUSANDS throughout the year if I didn't buy random clearance items. Maybe I'll start putting what I would have spent into my Disney jar and see how quickly that adds up! Oh, eating out too will add up. I need to cut that out!

 

[pudge the fish]

for FREE weight loss tracking etc..healthy menu planning and FREE exercise videos
Try www.sparkpeople.com
it's the best budget weight loss site I have found

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I am a clearance shopper and I see things and think "Oh, I might someday need this!". I can tell you that all of the things that I might someday need, are things I have never needed. If you're a scrapbooker, I'd be your dream come true! I have always planned on scrapbooking and have bought TONS....I have a drawer full of nothing but Disney stickers! Also, I took 35 games out of my daughters closet that have never been opened...tons of toys, puzzles, books, crafts, art stuff that has NEVER been touched....and if you want to talk about her clothes....I pulled 12 pair of jeans out with tags still on. She still has 32 pair that the tag has been ripped off, but she hasn't touched.
All in all, I could save THOUSANDS throughout the year if I didn't buy random clearance items. Maybe I'll start putting what I would have spent into my Disney jar and see how quickly that adds up! Oh, eating out too will add up. I need to cut that out!

With 5 kids I need to clearance shop in order to afford quality clothes for them so what I do to avoid buying too much is to keep a list of what they NEED, especially clothes. I take inventory at the start of each season so I know what they have and still need, what can be passed down so I don't buy too much. I keep lists for gifts, too. When I buy something that's supposed to be a gift for someone I write it down on a paper I keep in my gift closet and I ONLY buy gifts if I have a specific recipient and occassion in mind. That way I can still bargain shop, I'm just more selective about doing it.

I'm with the OP also, I need to control my spending and diet as well. I'm not doing so well since I spend some money to buy a gazelle exercise machine for the diet but I need to exercise more. I am going to the grocery store next on New Years Eve so I am going to make a specific list of diet friendly breakfasts, lunches and snacks for me to keep from overbuying "fat free" items and ending up with junk I won't eat.

My biggest budget and diet-busters at the store are the kids and DH. DH wants to lose weight, but doesn't want to change the way he eats so while I can't control what he eats during the workday I can be sure he comes home to a healthy dinner which will benefit all of us.

 

[PaulaSue]

Add me to the wagon. I so need to stop stockpiling. I spent half the day cleaning out the girls closets and the pantry. I have a big bag of girls clothes to donate and I haven't even had time to do mine. (I had to buy an extra closet rod to store out of season clothes and I bet I don;t even wear 1/3 of what I bought.)

Got to make saving, exercise my top got to do for 2010. Also I want to plan meals better. I throw out so much expired food it defeats buying it on sale.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

There's a great show here in Canada called "Till Debt Do Us Part" and I just bought the book "Debt-Free for Life" written by the show's host, Gail Vaz-Oxlade. One of her main strategies is to make a weekly budget, take out the money once and put it in jars, then set up a budget binder where you write down everything you spend and what you spent it on.

Another thing she does is make sure you budget in money for fun and entertainment.

Google her name and you can find her website. It has tips for developing a budget and there are "Gail Groups" of people who support each other in managing their finances.

In terms of weight loss, the most helpful (and healthy) diet I've discovered is the way I eat now: just eat fruits, vegetables and beans; avoid all foods made with flour or sugar, nothing fried, nothing processed or containing strange chemicals, no meat or fish, no dairy or eggs. It's actually fairly inexpensive and I have more energy and feel better than I ever have.

Teresa

 

[tommya60]

I find we eat a lot better, and spend a lot less when I plan in advance...and cook in advance. I belong to the FrozenAssets yahoo group, lots of receipes that you make in big batches and freeze (no huge freezer needed). I also use our Crockpot a lot.

I, too, have overspent on clearance items. I am really cutting back this year---when I went through the holiday gift boxes, I found I have enough extras that I don't need to buy much for the extended family kid gifts next year. There is just no point in storing this stuff forever!

I do use Gottadeal.com to track sales, but I am going to track sales on things we need, only. Need does not mean want.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

I started my resolutions in September. I found a wonderful website to loss weight guillianmckeith.com
She suggests you exercise 20 minutes before each meal, drink plently of water,and eat like PP said fresh fruits,veggies,beans. I didn't tell my DS's I was doing this and I sent for my driver license to be renewed using my 5 year old picture,when I got the new one in the mail my DS's said oh mom you should have gone in and gotten a new pic taken cause you look so much better now!
To save money I decided to save on groceries, thegrocerygame dot com
has a free trial for 4 weeks, I was able to save quite a bit.
On their forum they have the best recipes especially ones for using crockpots.
We used to eat out almost everyday. Now I can put something in the crockpot in the morning and its done when everyone is ready to eat dinner. That alone has savved me $$$.
I also watch Horders on A & E . One woman was a complusive shopper and went to target 3-4 times a week. She bought clearence items. Her house was filled to the brim. Someone told the authorities and they came and took her kids away. Then her husband divorced her and got custody of the kids. She lost everything,her kids,her husband,her house! All for the target clerance items!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't need it do not buy it!!!!!!
Stay out of the stores!!!!!!
Instead of buying tons of clothes put that money in a college fund for your kids!!!!
Feed your family fresh good food! That keeps them healthy.

Good luck in 2010!

 

[tommya60]

Grocerygame dot com is an excellent site, I use it for shopping, but never thought to look for receipes there--thanks for the tip! And the diet/exercise info, too. I am going to get serious about health issues this year.