How We Save Money - and have lived to tell about it {Part 5}

Eek! Another SUPER-late post! Can't believe I did that two days in a row. Well, okay, yes I can! It's been just a busy couple of weeks for us, and when I thought things would slow down, they just haven't.

Anyway, this post is primarily focused on self-discipline and self-control. Again, I just want to say that this is how we do things. It may not be right for everyone! But please, don't hesitate to ask questions! :) I'm doing this series to share what we do and how we do it, and hopefully help someone else along the way!

Tip #14: Differentiating needs and wants. This may seem like a "no-brainer" type of suggestion, but I want to explain a little further. If you've never had to go without anything (like Robert and me), and you've never had to worry about where your next meal was coming from (again, like us), it can be extremelydifficult to train yourself to think that way - even if your circumstances don't cry out for necessity. But for us, frugality became a must, as we suddenly could not live on what we used to have! It simply was not available to us! Granted, we made plenty of sacrifices for me taking a job that was beneath our standards: cuts in pay, horrible stresses, long hours, etc. BUT, there were perks, too: close to home, lunches at home, no commute, etc. Give and take. However, when that job was ripped out from under us, we just had to deal. That meant that I immediately re-focused our budget. And it's changed and evolved a lotsince then. But we were still able to have a very generous Christmas celebration, as well as nice clothes to wear, great food in our fridge, and have our bills paid. What I started with was very simple: Figure out what we absolutely cannot live without, and subtract everythingelse. That list included: food, shelter, clothing. Period. Of course, that wasn't allthere was to it. I had to add in electricity, gas, fuel for the vehicles, etc. It was not a fun - or easy - task. But I had to do it. Once I'd crunched numbers as far as I could, and then added some give into the budget, I showed it to Robert. He was shocked. He thought there was noway we'd make that work. We were used to SO much more!

But the truth is, learning and discerning a need versus a want became essential to our lifestyle. At the grocery store, this has meant that I will put something back if I don't think we need it, or if it's not in the budget.Yes, that does mean that we feel frustrated at times! But it's worth it. We're being grown and stretched through that process. This also means that if I don't think we absolutely have to have something, we simply don't get it. This year our softball coach changed the color of our team, and advised us to purchase new t-shirts. Since we just purchased new jerseys - really nice ones, too! - less than a few years ago, I emailed the coach and explained that we'd be wearing our old jerseys, but that I hoped it didn't take away from what his plan was for the team. He said it was fine. He understood. And that's important: Just because someone may not understand why you're making budget cuts or how you're choosing to do it, does NOT mean you shouldn't! Which brings me to my next point.

Tip #15: Make your own decisions - and stand by them. We don't let other people tell us what to do. We figure, as long as we pray about how and what we spend, we are accountable only to God. Many people have opinions, and those are GREAT to share with each other, but unsolicited or sage advice doesn't always help us out. I had plenty of people telling me not to make my own laundry soap for a plethora of reasons, but because I am so stubborn, I just HAD to do it myself. And it worked! It may not work great for everyone else, but we love it. The same goes for deciding the difference between wants and needs - everyone has differences. Don't think for a second that Robert and I agreed on every want and need, either. Some things I feel are wants, he definitely feels are needs. And visa versa. Figure out what works for you, and stick to it. All the coupons in the world, advice from friends and/or judgment from family won't help you if you take them ALL into consideration! Do what you need to, be confident in your decision, and move. Don't sit still - MOVE!


Basically, we're plan for the worst and hope for the best people. Truthfully, the bottom line here is you never know! Job today; gone tomorrow. Need today; want tomorrow. Re-evaluate as often as you need to. It's worth the time and effort to better your future, prepare, and save money in the process.