Believe And Budget
Money Talk with The Maloneys
Is A 529 Savings Plan Right For You and Your Family?
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Is a 529 Savings Plan right for you and your family? By adding just one simple savings vehicle you could save thousands for your family and leave a legacy your family remembers forever. Plus the new year is right around the corner, and we all have been thinking about goals to add for our finances in the new year. We’ve figured out how to save more of our hard earned money!
What is a 529 plan first?
It is a place to save money for college.
Recently new: A 529 Plan can be used as a saving vehicle for K-12 Tuition too.
What are the benefits?
The earnings are tax free and are not taxed federally when you use the money to pay for college. Say you put $15,000 in the account and it grows to be $25,000. That $10,000 is not going to be taxed, which usually would be taxed and could be as low as $7,000 from your original gain of $10,000. Putting $3,000 back into your pocket for expenses!
Saving you money in taxes, which did you know it is one of your top expense in your budget? Yes, taxes that you pay every single paycheck.
Check out your payroll statement to see for yourself. How much do you pay in taxes every month? Is it more than your mortgage payment? Your rent? Utilities? Food?
Some states offer a state income tax deduction too for a 529 plan, meaning you save more of your hard earned money.
Example) State tax 5.75% in Virginia and you can contribute $4,000 per year. You will save $230 in taxes each year.
You can also repay federal and private student loans with it!
Plans are flexible allowing you to change beneficiaries (the person who the money goes to).
You are in control of your account and you can link it to you mint.com, which we love! Plus include it in your networth and watch it grow!
What if my child does not want to go to college?
That is okay, but you will pay for it in taxes and a 10% penalty.
But did you know, you can move the money to another family member. Say, you have 2 kids and one decides not to go to school. Change the beneficiary and bam more money for that other child or say neither of your kids go to school. You have a huge start for your grandkids or even a niece or nephew or 1st cousin. You can continue to move the beneficiary so you will never lose the money. You can change the beneficiary once per 12-month period. Think of it as a savings vehicle to save money on taxes and pay for school within your family.
Just like a health savings account (HSA), is a saving vehicle to save money on taxes on health expenses. If you are in medical debt, we want to help you. The HSA is another way to avoid paying more taxes – one of the biggest expense in your budget!
There are also exceptions to the 10% penalty too for the beneficiary if:
- Receives a tax-free scholarship
- Attends a U.S. Military Academy
- Dies or becomes disable
Be sure to get more information if you believe you should be able to waive the fee.
How does your child use the 529 plan?
Most accounts allow for you to get the money out directly from the account to you or your child, but some plans make you pay the school directly from your account. You will need to research the one you open.
Can I choose a 529 plan in a different state than you live in?
Yes! Though most states offer you an incentive to keep the account in it your place of residents to keep the money in their state. Plans are good nationwide!
When you are researching here are some questions to think about:
- How much money can you save if you stay within your 529 plan in your state?
- 5.75% state income tax; $4,000 limit; is a savings of $230
- When is the fee paid?
- When do you add the fee to it?
- When is the tax break?
- Is there a difference in interest rate growth?
One of our favorite places to compare is savingforcollege.com
What could saving early with a 529 Plan really do for your family?
First off, you are leaving a legacy for them.
Let’s take a look.
Invest $89 per month. Total $1,089 per year.
Total Contributions over 18 years is $19,224
Growth $15,250
Your investment in 18 years could be worth $34,474 with a 6% annual return.
Less time?
Lets show a 10 year span; start investing when your child is 8 years old.
Invest $89 per month. Total $1,089 per year.
Total contributions over 10 years is $10,680.
Growth $3,905.
Now let’s look at this version. If your child decides to go to college, and they have to take out student loans.
They take out a loan of $25,000.
It will take them 10 years to pay off.
They will pay an extra $6,790.15 in interest with a 4% interest rate.
You choose the way that is right for your family. The lower/middle class will more than likely choose the loan option. The middle class that wants to be the higher class will choose the 529 Plan to use interest as their game changer.
It is a benefit that is offered to everyone, but it is how you choose to make your legacy.
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Why we choose Virginia Invest 529 Plan?
Before choosing the plan we choose though, please do your research here to make sure it is right for you and your family too!
These are the 3 we looked into. Invest 529, NY 529, and Ohio 529.
Virginia’s Invest 529
The VA Invest 529 Plan had these benefits for our family:
- Low fees – $
The fees we are paying is a .13% expense ratio.
- Good returns – 3 Stars
The performance for the VA Invest 529 plan allows us to invest via Age based for easy hands off investment plus target risk portfolios. Currently, we are investing in the aggressive growth portfolio which is 80% equity and 20% fixed income.
Here are the returns:
- Easy for family members to contribute with no fee
Friends and family members are able to contribute online, by gift card, and by mail. This allows us to be happy that our child is not missing out on anything during holidays and their birthdays since we live tiny. Our family is able to give to their grandchild’s future. Since we live tiny, we do not have a lot of room for a bunch of toys and other items. We have to think twice about the things we receive due to lack of room.
- State income tax deduction of $4,000 per account per year
Virginia has an income state tax of 5.75% and we would save $230 per year on top of the other tax benefits we would receive. A total of $4,140 for 18 years of savings if we invest each year $4,000. Want to see your state? Yes, please this is based on 2020 numbers.
Now that you have more information about 529 Plans you can make the decision that is right for you and your family. We want you to think about more important things – your families future. A 529 plan is just another savings vehicle to use to save money on taxes, invest, and grow wealth instead of take out loans.
We cannot make you open up an account, but we can tell you all the benefits. We will tell you we have your best interest in mind when we write to you each week. We never tell you anything that we do not believe in ourselves and have completed.
Like it if you know someone who can benefit from a 529 Plan.
Like it if you want to leave a legacy for your family.
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How to move away from the bigger, better, and more lifestyle.
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It is hard. It will take time. It will take time just like sleep training a baby, which we are in the process right now in our household. It is exhausting… but we can do it. It is horrible letting her cry in a less than 300 sq ft home, but I know we can do it. I continue to pray for help and remember that the Lord has given me a baby and he will deliver me in this time of trouble. Lucky, we made it with only 3 rough days and I’m here to tell you you can do succeed too!
1. Delay Gratification
It is easy to see something and want it right away. Our world makes this easy because of financing. Our world wants to you want things right away and “buy” it now. Amazon has even made this so easy with one click away. If you get caught in this trap try to do this. It has helped me personally. I place anything I want in my shopping cart. After a few days, I review my shopping cart and see if anything I really want or need. Most of the time it is nothing that I want anymore and to see what I put in my cart a few years later is funny.
Like a few years ago, I lived in my apartment and I wanted a hairdryer holder off of amazon and put it in my cart. Looking at it now, it probably would have been given away to good will and I do not need it living tiny. Glad my little sister taught me this delayed gratification trick.
Another cool thing about this delayed gratification trick is most of the time they send a coupon to you saying, “Don’t forget to buy! Here is a coupon for you!”
2. Be content
This is hard to do and I am learning this right along with you. There is always more we want, I want, but learning to be content with what we have around us is important.
Take some time to breathe deep and think about what you are most happy about in your life. What are you proud of? When are you the happiest? Who can help you in your life to be content? Maybe your friend, your spouse, or a neighbor?
Look at what you have.
I remind myself daily. I have a Lord who loves me. My spouse is so supportive and does what he can for our family. My child is a blessing to our family that allowed me to stay at home with her and start sharing my passion of budgeting with you and motivating you to manage your money better. Want to set up a one on one session with me? Let’s do it!
We also have fresh water to drink, food to eat, a home over our head, family that comes and visits us, and we are able to go outside and enjoy fresh air most weeks. Even though we live tiny, we have everything we need right around us and God who continues to bless us with miracles.
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- How to Change your Language about Money
- 102 Ideas for Money Goals To Grow Your Networth
- 7 Reasons Not to Limit Yourself With a Lack of Giving
3. Believe in yourself
You can be successful. You are honorable. You will glorify him. I am telling you this because often people can find your talents before you notice them yourself. This is so true.
My husband is the one who motivated me to help others with their money because I have always been pretty mature with my money. I paid off $32k worth of student loan debt. I paid for a car with cash. Saved up enough money for our wedding and our baby fund. We paid for another SUV with cash, and right now we are working on being debt free as a couple. We will be debt free again in 2021! We will stay out of debt too!
If you are on your money journey too, we believe in you too! You are strong! You should not fear, because God is with you. He will hold your hand to help you out of debt. Believe in yourself. Tell yourself daily what you are going to do.
4. Find joy with what is around you
What is joy to you? A feeling of pleasure. A feeling of happiness. Bringing you good cheer.
When are you the happiest?
For me personally, it is when I have my quiet time. It is when we are walking in nature as a family. It is when my husband fills my love tank. It is when I know God is with me in both the valley and the mountain top.
For you, you have to find your path to bring you happiness. Find a journal. Get into deep thought about what it is that brings your that happiness.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presences there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11
5. Prep yourself
Do not go just one day decide I am going to start getting myself away from the bigger, better, and more lifestyle in one day, but prep yourself.
Meditate on it. Communicate about it. Write in your journal about it.
You need help around you to do it. You will need people around you to remind youself that you can get yourself out of the mess you might be in.
Maybe you have too big of a home and it does not really make you happy. Maybe you have so many cars or cars that cost too much and are causing you stress. Maybe you have so much stuff that does not bring you joy. Find out what you want to move out of your lifestyle.
Write it down to yourself and then talk to someone else about it.
You got it!
Just like sleep training you cannot do it yourself. Your partner will have to be patient with you. Your partner and you need to be on the same page. You need to believe in yourself and prep yourself. You got this. God made us to be good parents and teach our children to sleep by themselves. God made you to be content with your lifestyle and live belong your means. He does not want you to be caught in the bigger, better, more lifestyle.
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Positive Thoughts Achieves Positive Actions
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We all want the life of someone else, the body of someone else, and the money someone else has to be happy in life, but what if I were to tell you it is not about all the materialistic things, and the Pinteresting, the Instastory, or the Facebook post. We all want a life to pass down to the next generation and our children.
Download for free the budget calendar to you this year!
The funny thing is why we budget is just as important as our thoughts and actions we have in life to have a financially stable journey. We want to have a life where everything goes the way we want it to feel a sense of pride and worth in life, which is not what the good Lord wants. He wants us to be humble and kind and loving. Us as humans fill our minds with so much negativity and it builds and builds until we explode and have to spend money on counseling to get us fixed.
What if I told you there is an easier way to do this, a non-expensive way to do this to help our lives including our loved ones, our closest friends, or someone who just needs you as a listening ear.
…it is having positive thoughts to achieve positive actions.
The life journey is not an easy journey…it includes people, money, and society in itself. We can overcome that with our thoughts. I challenge myself to wake up from bed NOT thinking, “Ughhh, I have to go to work.” Or “Is it Friday yet?”, but thinking things like this…
“It is going to be a great day! I am going to do something through me to positively influence someone else today! We are going to make this day a day I remember my entire life.”
Or even…
“I know I have this meeting today; it is not going to cause me struggle, but it is going to gain me confidence and success!”
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[[ It is starting and training our brain to think positively now]]
TODAY!
With the generation we have to influence, you have values and those values need to be positive for our world to get better. When my sister had her first baby girl, she would not allow us to say things like, “Ahhh, she is a cubby baby.” or “She is so big.”
Why…
Because this effects the babies mind at a young age. This generation is influenced all the way from when they get out of the mom’s womb. Instead we started to feed her with positive words, such as “Ahh, she is so cute!,” “I love her cheeks!,” and “She is beautiful.”
We influence more people than we think we do…starting today and changing our thoughts can influence so many people who matter the most to us.
We love this planner because it allows us to be thankful for one thing everyday. The flower is the designed to be your thankful spot. Bonus: it has a spot to budget too!
On my financial journey, I started to fill my mind every day with positive thoughts, which then made me achieve my positive actions of being debt free and even with a successful career. I remember telling myself on hard days, on days, that I wanted to quit because I did not have a job when I decided to move all the way across the country. Positive words that I came across in my journal were, “I am going to get through this step of life and enjoy this time not having money coming in.” “Life is a journey and I need to enjoy.” “Casting all my cares.” “The career I am supposed to start will come when it is ready.” “Bring me favor!”
Now looking back, I am so lucky… my career I thought about every day, every positive thought has now come true. Worked at Kroger and have moved two additional times with huge financial benefits, which is a piece to my puzzle that led me to being debt free.
Remember, during this life journey or if you are on this debt free journey, we want to be remembered as a legacy. This is why we need to be remembered as a positive influencer and not filling our mind with negativity. No matter what you believe in, or how you got to where you are. Your positive thoughts and actions play apart in your life! People want positivity in their life and not people who bring them down.
What kinds of things do you tell yourself in the morning that is positive?
How has it influenced your life?
Have you written down any of our thoughts in a journal?
Let me know if you believe in having positive thoughts achieves positive actions.
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How I paid off 32k of Student loan debt fast!
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I went to a private school my first year of college. I will admit I took out student loans because it was the thing to do. It was okay. It was “NORMAL.” I played soccer on a scholarship and went out of state. It really did not help me in the financial world.
I was lucky to have my older sister tell me, just “transfer to an in state university and live with me for free to take out less loans.” Luckily, I listened, I lived with her for a year then did something stupid again. I lived back on campus in an expensive individual dorm. Next, I did something even worse lived by myself in my own apartment because I had an “adult” job.
So, here we go…I wanted to kill my student loans. I built my net worth to be -$32,000 in 2014!
Here is what I did and you can do it too to build your net worth to be positive instead of negative!
Put your mind to it!
Start here with the free budget calendar.
1. Create a Plan
Just like weight loss, eating healthy, your job, school, and anything else in life.
You need a plan.
It was the “normal” to create this debt plan to go to school. It was for me, but once I figured out it should not be normal to be in student loan debt. I knew I needed out of it fast. Sit down and think about what you can do to get a little bit more ahead. Once you knock that first loan out, your plan will get done faster because you will be more motivated.
Similar to when you work out — it feels good — you are consistent with it until you stop. Similar to eating healthy — it makes you feel good. Think about those sweets you gave up and lost a pound how great you felt! This is how you will feel when you kill your debt.
Know how much debt you have — FIRST STEP!
Find a debt tracker you like and list all your debt.
I can relate to you that it can be scary and embarrassing, but I promise you — you are not the only one in debt. 80% of Americans are in debt — what does this mean 8 out of 10 people have debt! If you want to get out and you must create a plan.
Here is what my plan was…
“Get out of debt in 5 years.” — real life I got out of debt in 3 years!
Yes, my plan was that easy. I used a calendar for progress plus a debt tracker and listed all my student loans too.
We want to give you a free calendar for you to get started! We show you how to use it — it is simple, easy to use, and you can print it off or use it digitally. You can use it if you get paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly or even using just your savings while you find a job! It has been proven to work with all!
We hope you love it just as much as many others do!
2. Debt Snowball It or Avalanche it or Both?
1:1 Remote Budget Coaching
1:1 Budget Coaching Session – 45 minute budget sessions – Set up one budget – Follow up with one budget – Accountability to help you pay off your student loans
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Debt snowball – list all your debt smallest to largest. Do not care about the interest rates.
Avalanche – list all your debt from highest interest rate to lowest. Do not care about the amount.
Both – I listed my smallest amount with the 2 biggest interest rates then listed my biggest student loan debt with the highest student loan. Then went back to another small student loan to get me motivated again. Can there be a term for this too? Mountain/valley debt recovery?
Similar to the first workout — you are going to start on Monday and eat really good, but then what happens you might fall of the train…right? Well, if you are anything like me that usually is how it happens unless I am already in it for awhile and I am in my dedication mode!
If you hit the smallest debt first, you will be more motivated by the time you get to the largest debt you have.
Kill it!
Knock it out with me!
Hit a home run!
I actually did a little bit of debt snowball, and avalanche then switched it up because it motivated me to kill a big debt in the middle of my journey. As mentioned above…mountain/valley debt recovery helped me because just like when you are running. You start up a hill once you get to the top of the mountain you want to go down to a valley and get the momentum to make it back up another mountain. Yep me too! Our minds think a lot alike!
I killed a $1,800 debt first with a 6.8% interest rate.
Then killed a $2,000 debt with a 6.8% interest rate.
Then killed the big debt at $6,500 with a 6.8% interest rate. Yes, these were all the highest interest rates of mine, but it made sense to me.
Then went back down to a $1,000 debt with a 4.66% interest rate.
Do what is going to motivate you. After I demolished those small debts, the $6,500 one was one of my fastest to go.
So which are you going to do? Snowball? Avalanche? Both? You do you as long as it is to get out of debt!
Student loan debt is not good debt so don’t let anyone tell you that!
The Passionate Penny Pincher planner that helps me live a better life and organized life as a mom.
3. Live Below Your Means
I can tell you…you will be like everyone else if you do not live below your means. Personal loan, financing your furtniture in a house you cannot afford, car loan, another mortgage to do home projects, student loans, the list goes on… and on…
Personally, cars get me from here to there. Yes, I had a dream to get my dream car and you know what! I did, and I had the biggest buyers remorse after paying cash for it. I could not believe I bought a car with cash — that much out of my savings account that was for the car I was saving up for. But hey, that is off topic and that’s for another post.
Here is to say, I did not have a car payment. None! I lived with an old car I bought my senior year of college. I did not need a fancy new one. By the time I gave it to someone, it was 3 different colors. It had spots on it. I had a job for an entire year that I drove from store to store because I was working in the district and you know what… people saw my car. I would say to them often, “I am going to be paying cash for my next car.” “My car gets me to store to store. Why would I need a new one? Do you want to buy me one?” I remember telling my district manager this and he laughed at me, but then once I paid for my car with cash that was new…he bragged about me to everyone. He told people, “Yes, she bought that car with cash.”
How else did I live below my means?
Often I would say, “No I cannot go out this weekend.” My friends knew I was on a budget and most of the time they would work around me. We would go to someones house instead of go out without a cover and I could just drink water. We would go out for ladies night where there was not a cover. It is okay to say, “It is not in my budget.” Your friends will understand and if they do not… you do not want them to be your friend. Just to be brutally honest.
What else?
I buy a lot of things off of craigslist or facebook marketplace. I have moved to a lot of new places and sold my items I have bought to start fresh. I moved from Nebraska to North Caroline with nothing and then moved to North Caroline to Virginia. Yes, I bought all my furniture to furnish my apartment off of facebook marketplace and had a lot of people say to me, “Wow, your apartment looks great!”
There is more…yes!
I do not have the newest phone.
I do not have the newest clothes — I still have a pair of jeans I wear from high school!
I do not have cable and never did! I think that is pretty normal though now-a-days.
I do not have subscriptions – no to Fabfitfun! no to Stitch Fit! no to Fabletics! The only one I do have is Netflix for 12.99 a month and we are actually thinking about cancelling it because we have amazon prime that we pay for yearly to save on shipping, have 1 day shipping, so why not use their movies too!
Yes, you have to learn to live without a few things for a little bit, but then it becomes normal.
Right now with my family. We are learning how to budget with meal planning to save at the grocery store to only spend $400 a month for our family. When we were first married the first 6 months — we spent over $600 – $700 a month at the grocery store plus would go out to each spending $300+. We were spending over $1000 each month on food! YES, food! YES, crazy — even a pro budgeter makes some life mistakes, but we learn and I want to teach you off my lesson so you do not make the same mistakes I did!
You win with money faster than I did!
4. Live with Roommates
I lived with roommates for years!
I paid at the most $500 for rent. At one time I was paying only $300 per month. When we first moved into our RV we paid $360 for rent. Currently, we pay nothing for rent by work camping and traveling the country.
Why?
Because I lived that lifestyle of being “house broke” it is not fun. I spent almost $1,200 on my apartment with utilities. I loved the lifestyle being close to everything. I loved being able to have people come over and just walk places, but there is more than being house broke. I think God placed me in this situation for a year to be able to talk to others about that lifestyle of being house broke or apartment broke.
I do want to tell you something…even better!
I was not any happier living in the $1200 apartment than I am now living in my tiny home for rent free and volunteering our time. We fell into this opportunity and it has been a blessing.
Living with less is the best life.
“How to Get Through These Hard Times with the Unknown!”
We share secrets with you to win with your money plus how to have a successful day!!
5. Create Multiple Sources of Income
A lot of talk about creating multiple sources of income and how you can do it. I want to start with telling you it is just for a season to get you out of debt and start dominating your life.
Personally, I work 4 jobs – at the grocery store, baseball stadium as a cater, babysitting gigs, plus I also taught Jazzercise as early as 5:30 AM! I remember holidays such as 4th of July — I would start at the grocery store at 6 AM work there 6 AM – 2:30 PM and then go to the stadium and work 3:30 PM – 10 PM. It was okay for me because the stadium job was with my friends and it was working with being social. Plus I was able to network with a lot of people who would cater in the suites.
My multiple income now are my dividends that are consistently being reinvested into the market. Sometimes I look at my income and see $50 -$150 dividends coming to me. You might be thinking, wow that’s crazy and it is because I got serious in investing. I put a little away each paycheck and now I have my husband doing the same thing. He loves it — yes you take home less money, but in the long run it is amazing!
What kind of multiple sources of income can you create?
Remember you can do it and imagine the difference you can make in your family.
Do not have a job right now? Let me tell you another secret… you are not alone. If you go work somewhere to make a little bit of income for now, you are being strong, you have courage, and you are smart! It does not have to be your forever job. Let me say this again — it will not be your forever job! Maybe you will meet someone to take you further than you were. You will make a bigger step in life! Believe in it!
6. Call the Student Loan Company each month to place an extra payment on the principal.
Yes, call the company and ask for your student loan payment that is extra to be placed to your principal. Did you know if you do not call and ask this they will put it towards your both your interest and principal plus they will split it up between all your loans. Making it even harder to kill your student loans!
You must have a plan when you call.
I always called and said this, “Hi, I would like to make my additional payment towards my $X amount loan. Please place this payment to the principal only.”
How do I know this because I worked at a bank and saw people do it towards their mortgage. People could pay more for their mortgage too if they place their extra payment and it would go all towards the entire lump instead of just killing the principal. The principal is the main sources of the loan. Therefore say you take out $5,000 loan and it has an interest rate of 5%. You want it to just go to the $5,000 original amount you took out instead of a little bit to $5,000 and the interest that your 5% has accumulated.
7. Track Success Each Month
This is the wonderful part and should make you excited!
You are slashing your debt.
You are killing each loan!
You should want to keep track.
We did this every month and still do this to this day. We still track our success every month. I know what each account has in it since 2015. Yes, for over 5 years I have kept track each month my success because that way I know where my money is. What it is going to and where we are building our networth.
Remember that when you kill your debt. You now do not have a negative net worth, but a positive networth!
We have increased our networth by over 100K in 5 years!
You are making a difference in your family tree. You are accomplishing something many people do not because they think it is “normal” to have debt.
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8. Subsidized vs Unsubsidized Loans
Know the difference.
Subsidized accrue zero interest while in college. Saving you money!
If you can kill the subsidized loans while still in school or during the 6 month period after you graduate you will win! You will not have to pay interest. I made the mistake of keeping them to pay off last. I wish I would have had someone tell me to pay these off within the first 6 months, but I didn’t.
Unsubsidized accrue while you are in college. These are similar to any other loan you would take out. Make sure you are always paying your minimum payment and crush these after your first 6 months. Remember to pay off your subsidized loans first within the first 6 months to win!!
1:1 Remote Budget Coaching
1:1 Budget Coaching Session – 45 minute budget sessions – Set up one budget – Follow up with one budget – Accountability to help you pay off your student loans
$159.00
Like this post if you are going to get out if you want to change your money situation.
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You were looking for advice about how to pay off your loans fast was how you came across us and I am so thankful for you to read my article and support us! Continue to stay in touch with us!
You are amazing and we want to be able to help you.
I always have thought if I can help one more person get out of student loans like people helped me.
When I was starting to get out of debt — I bought items to help me make a foundation for myself. I still buy items I believe that will help me grow and build my net worth.
Whether you have not starting paying off your student loans or you have paid off a little bit of your student loans we have a debt tracker for you!
We want you to subscribe to our blog to stay tuned into the journey! I promise we don’t spam you.
Whether it is tiny living with a baby, budgeting to learn to save more/paying off debt, living your best life, and enjoying what God created us for! Life is just beginning!
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How we spent under 10k for our wedding!
This post may contain affiliate links, and they are no cost to you!
It’s a girls dream to get married and have a huge wedding that everyone will remember. It is a dream to have beautiful flowers, good drinks and food, and the décor to be on point! Oh, can you say the dress…it has to be the best! How are you going to remember it? By the photographer, of course!
Yes, I was there in your same shoes and I can tell you! You can have a wedding under $10,000 and have everyone remember it!
1. Plan 101
First, find out what the most important part of your budget is. You have to have a plan!
Personally, my most important part was to remember the special day and I did not want to miss out on the photos. I also wanted a videographer, but that wish was cut due to the budget. Which will bring us to the next part of the plan.
2. The Budget
What is your budget?
How much are you wanting to spend on each thing? Estimate it.
See if your families are pitching in any money or not. Discuss how you and your future spouse are going to pay for the wedding in cash.
Do not put one day on a credit card – it will not be worth paying interest for years after.
Having a wedding and want to stay on budget? Get our Wedding Budget Template.
3. Cut cost where they do not matter
Determine where you think it is not a big deal to cut the cost. Our cut the cost was our cake, and we had a friend of ours make it and she even cut the cake and served it for us!
We also cut the cost on invites, because all of my friends weddings…I through the invitation away, so I did not want to waste money on this. We used a free online invitation for it all and sent a text to all our guests.
Which adds to the easy part, because you already have their phone number!
4. Find a way to give extra
You will feel good doing this part.
Yes, it is all of your day, but when you give to others you bless them and it will in the end make you feel better about your day.
Plus it is amazing to look back and think wow, we actually did this!
What did we give extra on? We gifted to the groomsmen their tuxes, so we paid for all of their rentals as a gift to them. We also paid our officiant a lot more than he asked us for.
Looking back we are glad we were able to do this! It feels amazing!
5. Do the décor yourself
You have pinterest. You probably have pinned your entire wedding online already, so why not make it become a reality yourself?
This was definitely all my husbands doing, but I had the vision and he made it happen.
We saved money on the décor by buying off of Facebook marketplace, asked friends for old items, and finding coupons!
6. Flowers – DIY
My husband also had this great idea to do our own flowers and man I am so glad we did!
It is the BEST memory of the entire week of prepping. We saved a lot on flowers by buying them from a grower and not getting them from a grocery store or a flower shop.
The day before the wedding we put the bouquet together and the boutonnieres.
They turned out gorgeous and people still talk about the flowers to this day!
7. What to be careful of…
These were our most expensive items… my dress, the alterations (which are insane!), the photographer, and the food.
Find out what you want your most expensive items to be and put it in the budget. It will work out in the end — I promise! You will love your day and remember to just enjoy the process!
More articles you might like:
Money Discussions before Engagement
5 Reasons To Have a Baby Fund!
8. Ask around for the deals
Which brings me to the food, the food was a hit at our wedding and we discussed food that we had at other peoples wedding and what we liked/disliked. We both agreed we wanted something fun, so we picked BBQ. This was what our friend used at their wedding and it was a hit so we used it too. Plus our friend already did all the leg work and it was a good deal!
Ask around to friends who have already been married! They know where the deals are!
9. Outside or Inside Wedding
When you plan an outside wedding make sure you think of things that are not normally outside.
We had to add a few extra costs, so seating and a restroom was needed at our wedding because it was outside at a cheap venue.
The venue you can find a good deal at if you look around and want it outside.
We did ours at a park and it turned out we were the second wedding at this park! It was so pretty and only cost us $375 and we budgeted $800!
Saved us some money!
10. Party time savings
Don’t forget about the best part of the wedding which is the dancing.
The DJ and the booze.
We had luck with the DJ.
I was discussing with others about the wedding and that’s how we found our DJ! The DJ overheard and gave me his card. Called him and discussed with my husband and he was reasonable priced and even gave us a discount because of how he overheard us talking.
The booze we knew our family could drink so we got kegs for a good price and did it this way, and let me tell you they were a hit and we still had some leftover to go to the hotel.
I want to provide you with our numbers below and show you how we did it on paper.
Bonus point: if you want to plan your own wedding, but do not know where to start and do not want to hire a coordinator. I follow this amazing friend on Instagram, Sam, where she has a DIY wedding guide!
I wish I had this for when my husband and I planned our wedding. E-mail us at believeandbudget@gmail.com and we will send you the discount code!
After marriage you will need to get on a budget together too!
If you have not already discussed money, check out our bullet budget journal this is how we saved up $10,000 to have our first baby!
Another way to stay on track of savings is by downloading our free budget calendar.
Whether it is tiny living with a baby, budgeting to learn to save more/paying off debt, living your best life, and enjoying what God created us for! Life is just beginning!
Join us also on instagram at believe.and.budget!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to stay tuned into the journey!
Bullet Journal Budget Template
Easy way to budget. Each month you can view where you need to cut out your spend a little category. Start small like we did by cutting out one or two subscriptions to save for a baby fund of 10k! You can do it too with the Bullet Journal Budget Template!
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10 Things To Do Differently With Your Money This Year!
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You want to eliminate something that you did in the past because obviously if you are here you want to improve something in your life this year. Maybe, you want to improve your finances. Let’s load your mind with 10 things to do differently this year with your money.
Download for free the budget calendar to you this year!
1. Build up your emergency fund
If you had to use your emergency fund in previously, be sure that you replenish it this year. You will want it and need it. The economy is going to change yet again because that’s how it works. Why? Because cars are higher priced, homes are higher priced, and that is because the lack of inventory. It is the effect of supply and demand. We caused this because we were so confident when we were given money from the government and bought all these things. Which is where you might have dipped into your emergency fund, so now we need to rebuild it.
2. Communicate with your spouse about money
This is a major way to improve your finances better this year. When you and your spouse are on the same page for goals. You reach them faster. You will dominate your finances.
My husband and I have been on the same page since we have been married. In 2018, we paid for our wedding with cash. In 2019, we saved up to have Ember. This way we did not have any debt with hospital bills. In 2020, we decreased our income so I could stay home with Ember. In 2021, we fully paid off our home. In 2022, we are working hard to save for a big purchase. We want to settle down but we are not sure quite where. We will figure that out as we continue to communicate.
3. Pay off your student loans
We have all wanted the government to pay off our student loans. (I talk we, but we paid off our student loans back in 2016) The government did give us a break as they removed the interest rates for almost 2 years! Now they are forgiving some loans. Did you apply yet? If you were paying on your student loans, this gave you a huge financial boost. You were able to move yourself to the next level.
If you have not been paying off your student loans, start now! You will benefit from it! No one is going to be paying off our mistakes of borrowing too much money. We must remove the guilt and start chopping it off.
4. Make little moves to make success
We increased our net worth by $99,000 in 2021 not making huge moves, but making little moves each year to make our success. We finally reached a quarter of a million dollars, and I do not tell you this to discourage you.
I tell you this to encourage you.
Our seasons were not all rainbows.
We had hail storms and tornados and all of it.
We lived without an income for 3 months. We moved across the country. We went from a six figure family income to below six figures. We made this success because we made little moves each year. We started investing $50. We started investing right when we could. We started when we were in debt. We started and continued to increase our percentage year by year. Plus reinvesting dividends is a huge difference. We saved up cash little by little for big purchases to reduce our expenses each month.
You can do this too! You need to start this year if you haven’t already. For the past 2 years, we have used this planner to help us stay encouraged by God’s word, daily spending, house chores, and all of life.
5. Meal Plan to keep your food budget in line
We all need to survive the inflation that we created back in 2020. How inflation works? Well we weren’t buying anything back in 2020 because we were in lock down, so then the government went ahead and put money into the economy. Well we still were not spending money because we could not leave our homes. We were saving the money and investing it.
Now, we are all feeling the inflation of everything including food. To make your food budget hurt as much. You really need to plan your meals out and plan it out via the sales or the front page of your ad. These are the items where the stores are losing money on, but are bringing you into their store! It is a perfect way to save you some money and build meals around them.
Learn how to save money at the grocery store.
6. Budget every single month
Budgeting does not sound fun when we are in debt. Budgeting does not appeal to most people, but that is because most people are into debt up to their heads. They are stressed over money and ruin their relationship over money.
But when you start budgeting every single month, you tell your money where it should go. You are competing with no one because you have a plan. Your plan is what you design, and the idea around a budget is to make you feel in control of your money instead of out of control.
You can control your money!
If I know people who have gone from bankruptcy to building their wealth without debt, you can do it too and it starts with a simple budget.
Yearly Bullet Budget Journal
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7. Follow up with your budget
This is what will prepare you for successful budgets over and over again. If you know where you are spending your money each month by looking over your bank account you will be able to do really well. You will be able to build up your savings. You will be able to create an investment for yourself.
Track your spending is the secret to a successful budget over and over again.
Want help budgeting and tracking your spending? Sign up for a 1:1 coaching session. You can choose 1 month or 3 months or 6 months.
8. Don’t be house broke
House prices are increasing and this is not joke too. They are going to continue to increase and there is not a housing crash that we all wish would happen like in 2008. Interest rates are going to increase in March because the government is trying to control the inflation that they created by giving us money.
When we get married, every one’s dream is a minimum of 3-bedroom 2 bath home. However, what if I told you we got married and lived tiny for 3 years and loved it! Everyone told us we would drive each other nuts, but I think it has actually made us stronger. A rich life is more than money and being house broke.
You want to own your home so you do not have a mortgage. Wouldn’t that be amazing? What kind of tone would you have on life?
I know having zero rent and zero payment on our home at age 30 is amazing!! We get to choose to make $30,000 a year and volunteer our time because we do not have any bills. We have become owners of our life. All thanks to God who put a dream in my mind to live tiny and travel the world.
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9. Afterpay is just like a credit card but worse
I know I will pry get some hate on this, but Afterpay is worse than a credit card. At least with a credit card you can earn points and cash back. With Afterpay, you are putting yourself out of control because you have payments. You are holding up your money each week and each month.
This year, do not use Afterpay. You will have an open door to more success if you do not use Afterpay holding up your money. If this is right for you, I guarantee you are thinking ughh… I cannot believe them that they are telling me not to use Afterpay.
You know who created Afterpay? An investor. A rich person. A person who knows how to make people spend more money and make them broke and them rich!
10. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
We seen the stock market crash, because when the government gets involved with increasing interest rates people believe the stock market will crash and well it did. The boost of interest rates is going to change our economy more. It will mix up our economy. This is a reminder, to not place all of your eggs in one basket. If you invest in Crypto, do not put all your money in it. If you invest stocks, do not put all your stocks in technology. If you invest in bonds, do not put all your money in bonds. You need to diversify yourself to keep you safe. If the market does drop, do not remove your money but leave it there and ride it out. Keep yourself some cash in banks. Do not be cutting your finances so close by just putting them in one entire basket.
Heal your money this year. You will do better little by little and I know if you take action on one or two of these things listed above you will improve. You have the option to make your money better and I know that you will. You will look beautiful when you do!
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Give Today To Receive More Tomorrow!
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving is one of the best feelings you can receive. It is good for the heart. It allows you to be open, free, and enlightened. People give to be able to see smiles on others faces, to receive a thank you, or a compliment. Giving allows a sense of wonder, belief, and faith that the world is going to get better. If you do not give already, I challenge you to give. Give a little more than you are giving and watch faith work and multiple your blessings.
People give to feel the gratitude of doing something great for the greater of the world.
We want to be able to give you this budget calendar to encourage you to join the budgeting journey of financial freedom.
As humans, we want to… leave a legacy…. a gift handed down to the next generation.
We should leave an inheritance for our grandchildren, and especially we should not keep all our wealth to ourselves with things we buy such as a home, a new car, a boat, and all the other toys we have. Think about it this way, when your grandchildren are grown up, would they be able to mention you and how they received so much from you? Would they mention the money you left behind for them, or would they mention the life you gave them?
What we build today little by little, will matter in the future.
Tom, my husband, was not a believer in giving to the church. He actually was like, why would you give money to them… until a magical love of God happened to him when he went to church with me and he realized the church was doing a Thanksgiving drive and had physical photos of them doing it last year. He started by giving out of his heart.
The blessings he has received from giving. He had 3 people offer to buy him things when he forgot his wallet at home.
- The truck driver bought him a coffee at Starbucks
- A coworker offered to buy him lunch
- His employee bought him a smoothie
These amazing blessings we keep track of in our Bullet Journal Budget Tracker to remind us of the His greatness! We have it available in both a reusable printable and a yearly version.
Printable Bullet Journal Budget Tracker
Keep track of your blessings in the bullet journal budget track each month!
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“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer… Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” – Proverbs 11:24 -25
The leaders of the world go the furthest when they give to others. It grows so much kindness in the world. As you all know, that the world is a give and take kind of world, but what if you only focused on what you can do as a human. How you can make a difference in your personal relationships, love life, and community.
We must GIVE back in order to reap benefits. In every healthy relationship there is a mutual respect of give and take. We can not expect to grow our wealth if we do not invest in the communities we believe in.
Five reasons to give today:
- God will bless others through you
- God will bless you
- You will feel better giving (time, stuff, or money)
- You will be happy!
- You will feel gratitude!
If you believe, pin it.
If you start to give even a little, pin it.
If you wish to leave a legacy, like it.
Life is all about the journey. Remember this when you are budgeting. Enjoy the journey and give a little to get a lot of blessings in return.
God is good, and we cannot wait to see the blessings he brings to you through being apart of the believe and budget family.
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3 Budget Friendly Places to Stay and Adventure in St. George, Utah.
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We love adventuring to state parks because of the trail systems, lakes, and the space from others. These are our three favorite budget friendly places to stay and adventure while we were in St. George, Utah. They are our favorites for three completely different reasons. Keep reading to find out the spots to go.
1. Quail Creek State Park
It is a beautiful quiet state park.
This place is open all season which makes it fun to stay in the fall, winter, early spring, and summer. The sites are both dry camp and water and electric. It is a place to go if you want to cool off by the water, boat, or fish.
It is a hidden gem for sure.
We work camped here for 6 months in the winter of 2021- 2022. We loved it! We had a million-dollar view with volunteering our time and helping the beach look beautiful.
We got to fly our kites because of how windy it gets there. That is why they call it Hurricane, which is pronounced “hurricun.”
The sunrises were breathe-taking. Plus it was cooler once it hit late afternoon because of the canyon and the sun going behind it.
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2. Sand Hollow State Park
We loved this park because of the dry camping. We could dry camp right by the water and this was a huge benefit. The sand is amazing for kids to play in and enjoy the water too. The sunset off the water plus the mountains was relaxing for mom and dad.
If you are into ATVing, this park is the one to go to. It has so many trails.
Meal Planning 101
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- Stay at Home Parent?
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3. Snow Canyon State Park
We never stayed at this campground, but we came here often to walk their trails. Some of our favorites we found were Jenny’s Canyon Trail, Butterfly Trail, and Lava Flow.
Jenny’s Canyon is a quick, easy trail. It is great for kids of all ages. It is also really cool to see a slot canyon. Butterfly Trail is a little more difficult, but our 2 year old did it anyone can do it. It has this really cool red rock to climb. The lava flow trail can be part of the butterfly trail and it has caves you can venture in. Plus the overflow of lava is neat to be able to experience. We really enjoyed seeing the red rock, white rock, plus the black lava.
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Family is important — Flying doesn’t have to be expensive!
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When moving away from home, I knew I would have the expense in my budget of flying at least 2 to 3 times a year. I have found the best ways to save money to be able to see family and not have a huge expense.
Start to save money to visit family and traveling!
E-mail us and we can set up a 1:1 Budget Session. We have a special going on right now for 6 months, ask us about it.
1. Wait to Check a Carryon
This is a big one — use only a carry on and a big purse or a backpack. Do not pay the extra $25 – $50 to check a bag. Pack outfits that are neutral and can be worn with anything. Create a minimalist capsule wardrobe. Personally, I love to have the accent color as maroon in the fall and blue in the spring.
I used to think packing for 1 in a carry on was hard…until my husband and I both went to home to Nebraska for a wedding and to see family. We used the SAME carry on for 5 days of travel. Then we traveled with our little girls and you learn to pack even less for yourself and the kids.
My items:
- 5 shirts
- 1 dress
- 1 extra pair of pants
- 5 undergarments; 5 pairs of socks; 1 extra bra
- 1 extra pair of shoes
Plane outfits: bulky boots, scarf, jeans, long sleeves, and a sweater
2nd carry on: my purse
My husbands items:
- 5 undergarments; 5 socks; 3 undershirts
- 4 shirts; 2 long sleeves
- 1 extra pair of pants
- 1 dress shoes
Plane outfits: bulky boots, jeans, long sleeves, hoodie, belt
2nd carry on: suite for wedding
2. Buy Tickets on a Tuesday
We almost always buy a ticket 3 -5 months ahead on a Tuesday, which is enough time out that they are not $800 to $1000 per ticket. My most expensive from Nebraska to Richmond round trip was $800, but that was because I bought it 4 days out for my grandpa funeral.
Most flights I buy for a round trip with minimal stops and shortest time frame are around $300 per person.
We found a nonstop flights in 2022 for $188 per fight with AA to go back home with the girls! This does take some investigation.
3. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle
I learned this hack this trip traveling since I was 25 weeks pregnant. Bring your reusable water bottle instead of paying $7 to $8 bucks for a water! If you do not like water, bring a crystal light packet and put it in your water.
4. Buy Basic Flights Instead of 1st Class
Do not pay extra for 1st class. If traveling delta, basic flights get drinks and a snack too! Paying minimum for a flight will help you stay in budget.
We have never paid for 1st class on an airplane trip, and we receive great service. We usually even stay all the way at the back of the plan to talk with the flight attendants and get hooked up with extra snacks or drinks. We easily save $300+ on staying in the basic seating area.
5. Try Not to Travel During Holidays
I am a family person, and haven’t lived at home for several years. I Skype on the holidays and have friends holiday celebrations. My family usually all gets together when I come home and we just have a family party.
The first year not being home was hard, but after the first year it gets easier plus cheaper. Travel home on a Thursday and fly home on a Tuesday during non holiday times.
If you must travel on the holidays, buy far enough out so you get a great deal and shop around. If I look at tickets now in February, for Easter weekend I am able to get the tickets around $350 per ticket.
I know these travel tips to travel will help you not break the bank. Going home to see the family is important, especially if you have little ones growing up. Do not miss out on seeing them!
BONUS
Travel when others do not. We traveled a lot during Covid because the flights were so cheap! Once gas increased and flights became expensive we stayed home because this is when everyone else was traveling! Hello delayed flights — that is not fun at all!
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Enjoy your trip and spend less money!
If you want to budget with a savings fund and track it yearly. Get the yearly bullet budget tracker this has 4 different areas of the bullet budget tracker. The section on savings will help you make your family traveling home easier, less stressful, and a peace of mind knowing you have a savings fund for travel. To get yours now and use it for your savings goal, click here.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to stay tuned into the journey!
Whether it is tiny living with a baby, budgeting to learn to save more/paying off debt, living your best life, and enjoying what God created us for! Life is just beginning!
Join us also on instagram at Believe And Budget!
Another way to stay on track of savings for your family travels is by downloading our free budget calendar.
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How I lived without an income for 3 months.
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We are in an unpredictable time right now with many people not sure where their next paycheck is coming from. I want to share with you my experience of living without an income for 3 months and encourage you that you will be okay! We are right here with you and want to remind you that the best medicine is being outside in fresh air while you are searching for more income.
1 Peter 5:8 – 9 “Be on guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil stay strong in faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are.”
You will be able to get through this time with God and God asked me to share these 5 easy steps as a guide to you from my own experiences. This is how I did it by following these 5 steps.
First I invested in myself, I remember paying $37 for a budget tracker guide to get me going on this financial adventure. I am offering you our yearly budget template to you for only $25, but continue reading for my entire story to help you on yours.
1. Projected my Budget
Based on the money I had at the beginning of the journey, I projected my budget. I looked at my essential costs in the 4 walls (shelter, food, transportation, and insurance). Shelter was the main cost, so I looked for ways to cut it. My options to cut: move back in with my mom, find roommates, or live with friends. I reached out to my network and found someone through a job “craigslist”. My Linkedin friend had a craigslist for their employees and the employee posted looking for a roommate. I reached out to them and negotiated my rent and utilities. I remember that night going to bed in Nebraska and praying Lord if I am suppose to move into this house with the family. You will have them accept my offer for rent and it will be a safe decision even though I had not met them in person. That morning I woke up to a text saying, “We will be happy to have you live with us for $500 a month.” Yes, I only paid $500 for the bedroom!! Had the entire top floor with 1 other person, the internet, cable, utilities, and water was included. Now the family and I have a great relationship, and he treats me as the daughter he never had. It was part of the plan God had for us.
During quarantine, there are many places helping people with rent, mortgage payments, and other items under shelter. Dominion energy has suspended all disconnections for nonpayment. Bank of America is allowing their customers to hold their payment for mortgages. All you have to do is call, ask, and tell them your financial situation! Many other places are doing this as well! Landlords do not want to lose you as a renter, since people are not moving in fear! Call them and tell them you need their help. Most landlords have your rent payment as a another stream of income and can help you!
Food was another thing I had to cut. I did not go out to eat! During our time of social distancing, it is a perfect way for you to save money too and eat in. Cook meals and teach your kids how to cook. My grandma inspired me to make an apple crisp and my husband loved it! He came home from work and was like, “Why does it smell like apples? You don’t have a candle going…did you make apple cookies?” I said, “No, but look in the oven.” He said, “Oh my gosh, I love you! This looks delicious!” Give it a try!
Transportation, I had a car that was 100% paid off luckily. But if I was in a different situation, and had a loan. I would have sold my car and found a car that I could pay in cash. Making the life sacrifice for a short time. This way it would save me in gas, insurance, and taxes. Saving money in transportation can be easier right now as well because we are all to stay home and not drive unless we are going to the doctors or the grocery store. The last 4 walls is insurance, yes I kept my insurance because you cannot drive a car without it and if I were to get into a life threatening accident or disease I want my family to be able to have money for my funeral and/or hospital bills.
Anything that was not in these 4 walls, I knew I needed to cut because I needed a roof over my head. I eliminated. I disconnected. I unsubscribed. I lived without amazon, Netflix, magazines, podcasts, and Pandora. It was difficult and will pry be even more difficult right now being at home 100%, but that is the choices I had to make to make my budget work. I projected my budget to work for 9 months with the little bit I had saved.
2. Limited my Spending
This will be short and sweet. I did not spend money! I did not go get coffee, carry out, other food other than the grocery store. I used what I had in the cabinets. Sometimes I only had water to drink from the sink and spaghetti! Life sacrifices for a short time. You may never know that those short time sacrifices could turn into daily habits to save you big!
If the groceries are beating your budget, try our course beat inflation.
The yearly budget template for only $25 can help you in know where you are in spending in your 4 walls and to limit your spendings by tracking it. Don’t wait — we want to help you! You have the time to invest in your future!
3. Found Free Things to Do
I created an uplifting daily habit.
While it was difficult when I left my job and moved across the country, yes it was my choice, and yes it may not be your choice to be in this difficult situation during the time of unknown, but creating an uplifting daily habit will help.
I want to share the free things that changed who I was and increased my positive outlook in life.
I would set about 30 minutes in the morning to listen to Joyce Meyer show on joycemeyer.org and have my bible out to listen to the Lord and create that relationship with Him. I would then read my daily devotional — at the time — I read New Day, New You devotional by Joyce Meyer. Currently, I am reading Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. You can easily find these devotionals online for under $20 or you can read it right online from her website. I would then write in my journal 5 things that I was thankful for even if it was just “Thank you for putting a roof over my head or food for me to eat.” because during this time especially 2 months in was hard I never thought I was going to find a job or have an income to come in. But I knew if I thought like this it would become true, so I changed my thoughts and said to myself and wrote in my journal.
- “I will find a job I will love.”
- “God will provide me an income.”
- “I am casting my cares to you.”
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In the afternoon to get fresh air, I would take a walk or a run around the lake that was 2 blocks away from our house or drive to a trail that was a short distance away from the house. This would allow me to talk to God and listen to uplifting music or a podcast or even call my family back home. I had to force myself to think positive and be uplifted. The lake was also calming because it is water and water is calming to me.
Check it out for yourself I bet it calms you down too!
4. Paid Monthly Minimum on Loans
I had student loans at the time. I stopped my extra payments, and only paid the minimum. I was in a position, my minimum was lower than it was to begin with because I had paid ahead. If you have not put any extra payments before this time, do not start. Just pay the minimum! Please only pay the minimum and do not create any other debt!! Do not put groceries on a credit card unless you can pay it off 100%.
There is this grocery store, Winco, that does not allow credit cards! This is good for people.
Good decisions now will make you in a better place later.
5. Searched for Options to Limit Cost on the 4 Walls
As mentioned above, I found a roommate to cut my shelter cost. Maybe for you, you have a house payment and cannot move or do not want to move. Place an ad for a short amount of time, 6 months to a year, to have a roommate. You create an income and save someone else too who is in a time of need. Be sure you have a lease and google more about becoming a landlord.
Food can be hard to cut the cost, but there is a way.
Meal plan.
Pinterest has so many options to help with this.
My family learned how to cut cost on food. It was hard! I will be totally honest. It was a lot easier for me when I was single to cut this cost because I did not eat a lot. But when you’re feeding a spouse and kids it can be more difficult. But who loves pizza, tacos, baked chicken with potatoes and veggies, Korean beefs bowls, spaghetti, or even nachos?
You can find easy things to cook at home and if you do not have everything in a recipe — modify it! We have definitely modified a lot of our meals. Like last night when I made blueberry chicken. Yes, blueberry chicken sounds gross but it was actually really good!! I had just a little bit of blueberry preserve left over and wanted to use it so I looked up recipes that included it. I did not have raspberry vinaigrette so I substituted red wine vinaigrette. I did not have fresh basil, but I had Thyme. I had butter, but did not want to use it so I used olive oil. I used regular mustard instead of dijon mustard. Crazy how much I changed the recipe and it still tasted good and was a win for me because my husband loved it!
As mentioned above cutting cost for transportation was not very difficult for me at the time, because I had already paid off my car and had cheap car insurance. The biggest cost for me was when I had to license my car in North Carolina because it was way more than in Nebraska. It was a huge shock for me.
Ways to cut cost could be selling 1 car if you have 2. This would save you money in several ways such as insurance, gas, plates, taxes, and payment if you are still paying on it. If you only have 1 car, search for a car you could pay cash for if you sold your current car. Find ways to cut cost on maintenance — search around for how much oil changes are or find someone who could do it at their home for a trade. My husband now changes our oil and we only have to pay for the oil $20 and the filter every so often! Huge savings as we used to both go spend $40 – $60 easily at jiffy lube or take five. If I was still single, I would look for coupons and plan the oil change instead of going to jiffy lube for convenience.
Cutting cost in insurance could be looking for ways to find a way to cut cost in car insurance by shopping around. There are many different websites to compare insurance companies and cost to help you! Here is 5 saving tips for auto insurance!
About 2 months into living without a job, I thought I never was going to find an income I decided it was time to find a job for some kind of income to come in. I applied for a host position at a bar. I will tell you to be honest I pry spent my entire paycheck at the bar meeting people. However, it was a win for me because I was able to meet people in a new state. For todays circumstance, now if you do not have an income coming in, maybe you have to get a job at a grocery store, distribution center, delivery driver, or even be a truck driver. There are jobs out there and it may not be your forever job but it will get you by and maybe you will find a little “win” out of it when you look back just like I did. I know Kroger is hiring, and they have even made it a faster hiring process. Amazon is hiring.
Hebrew 10:35 ” Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards.”
Overall, I know this time is stressful, but do not fear. Looking back in my journal I even wrote on June 29th. “Stressed/difficult time — let me just vent Lord!” “I cannot find a career. My goal was to have a career within a month of being in NC…I understand you want to give me the wisdom to be able to find a career soon. Please help me. I need you Lord. I am starting to fall to pieces. I feel worthless. The devil is getting to me. Please show me where to network to find a career…the Holy Spirit will teach me. Your wisdom will guide me and your love will move me.” Looking back, I had already met the network on June 17th that I had prayed for, and by July 29th I was offered a full-time position. I am hear to tell you that if you have faith, if you pray, if you follow this easy steps that I’ve already gone through and know they work. You will too have Lord be on your side and get you through this time. I appreciate you taking the time to read our blog without you I would not be doing what I am doing today. I appreciate your love and kindness in following us.
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