budget busting Ideas?
475592
okay, I don't really know what you spend, but here are somethings to check:\n\n(1) cable, get rid of it if possible (or get the cheapest deal)\n\n(2) cell phones, get rid of them if possible or ditto.\n\n(3) gasoline.  Try to limit driving, so you could maybe shave off $5 or $10 a week.\n\n(4) get cheaper car insurance, if possible.  If you haven't had an accident in 5 years, you can ask your company right now for a "best driver" rate.\n\n(5) don't leave any appliances (TV, computer) or lights on when you are not using them\n\n(6) If your health insurance is expensive, you could also shop around\n\n(7) And if you got a refund from taxes this year, you could change your withholdings so that you can get more out of each paycheck, instead of waiting until the end of the year.
851586
Look for neighborhood bulletin boards at grocery stores, etc. and put some of your business cards on them.\n\nWrite postcards to your friends telling them about your new venture, and offering to help with holiday gift ideas.\n\nInvite a few close friends over for coffee, cocktails or white chili*, and have some of your wares conspicuously in view.  Don't make an overt sales pitch, but be ready with enthusiastic questions to the inevitable questions.\n\n*  My answer to your earlier white chili question was mostly tongue-in-cheek.  Sorry if I offended you.
477948
Everyone has to be part of the solution - kids included.\nPost your budget on the fridge to remind everyone they have a stake in this. Pain that it is, writing down EVERYTHING for a couple of months will cure the problem.\n\nFirst, add up all your income per pay period - month, week, biweekly, whatever.\n\nThen add up all your "fixed" expenses to match the pay period (multiply rent x 12 then divide by 52 to get weekly, etc.)(estimate using highest electricity bill, telephone bill, etc.) and ADD A NEW ITEM CALLED "BANK" THAT IS 10% OF YOUR INCOME.\n\nSubtract the expenses from your income. Now you know what you have to spend on groceries, gas, clothes, etc. etc.\n\nWhen your paycheck comes in, put it directly into your bank, and put 10% directly into your savings account - this matches your budget. Some banks will automatically do this for you if you ask them to.\n\nWhenever anyone spends anything, have them subtract it from the remaining money and WRITE DOWN WHAT IT IS FOR. Everyone can see where the $$ are going, and you'll see exactly what is happening and so will everyone else. Having the whole family seeing and supporting a reasonable budget is the best way to go - and a great lesson for your children.
268358
I would recommend spending $19.95 on a book Called “Financial Peace” Written by Dave Ramsey. “More than Enough” is also a good second book if you like the first written by the same author. The book is written on an easy to read (6th grade level) It covers budgeting and gives sample budget's it also encourages you to sit down with your spouse to establish and keep a budget. I do not use all Dave Ramsey's suggestions but anyone that does will not go wrong. The base of his teachings is very valid and useful. I firmly believe anyone starting out with these tools will not go wrong. Remember in life though a little common sense goes along way Good luck to you
323699
Have you consider taking some kind of public transit system that would reduce your stress and expenses.\nWhen doing budget you need to ask yourself if you really need this or want it.\nNeed is something you must have.  Want is something you can cut off.  For example do you need to have cable T.V. or should you spend time with the kids instead of watching T.V.
1031568
Meals.com is a great sight for dinner ideas\nalso just research the net you can fiund tons of stuff on line\nI have two adults and one child in my house and i spend only around one hundred a week on food
1701
Since housing is usually the biggest expense, I would say cut that first--downsize, or rent instead of pay mortgage. The next easiest thing to cut is food expense--eat at home instead of at restaurants. Also, cable/internet/phone can cost hundreds a month so you might consider consolidating those or looking into VOIP.\n\nAlso, you don't have to stop working completely--you can try consulting or doing a home-based business to keep cash flowing in.
671977
figure out how much money you make in a given period of time (a month, a week, whatever). now, subtract essential things. rent, gas money, electricity bill, etc. \nnow, figure out how much is left. THAT number is how much you've been wasting. lol. so, you need to change it. cut back things that arent necesary. how much do you need to spend to have fun? figure out what's a fair figure to spend on yourself, and set that as a limit. but the majority of your extra cash should go in the bank. and make sure you're paying off the cards as aggressively as you can. dont just pay the minimums, see how much extra you can throw at it.
291796
Hey Gigi! Found a 3-step solution:\n\n1. Find yourself something you really really liked in childhood then get that & indulge for a week, it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.\n\n2. Check whether stuff you want to buy truly matches what you value at heart. You can start out by tracking what you spend money on for a week. \n\n3. After that week, slim your expenses down to what you value at heart. & keep indulging in less-than-GBP 2 -fun!\n\nIt's great, worked for me & lots of friends
1182928
Doesn't have to be fancy. Start with your paycheck(s). Then estimate your daily/weekly expenses like groceries, parking, gas, bus tickets, coffee, etc. Now figure out what are your monthly expenses, like rent, car payment, and insurance. Divide those in half (not exactly right but close enough) and add to your expense list. Maybe you have other expenses that are less often, like some insurance. Set aside an amount each week so that you'll have enough when it's time ot pay. From there you need to see how good your guesses were, and compare how much you really spent to what you thought. Fine tune as you go.
1016223
I was in the same boat as you once. What I did was I sat down and wrote out a budget. I listed everything I spent money on for the last 2 months and looked at my income. I quickly figured out a lot of things on my expenses were stupid and a waste of money. I cooked at home more instead of going out, I stopped buying coffee at starbucks everyday, I learned to buy soda when it was on sale. Before you knew it, I freed up about $300 extra a month. So really look at your expenses and think about what you need and what you want. Big difference in that.
99583
Remove all speed bumps from the parking lots and put them in the hallways and/or sports fields.\n\nAttach all hallway/lounge furniture to the ceiling.\n\nBrick up doorways to all administrative offices.\n\nSprinkle instant mashed potatos all over the sports fields, preferably with a reasonable expectation of rain in the next few days.\n\nHide an old cell phone in the ceiling or a plant and call it frequently throughout the day.  Preferably during times of quiet.\n\nRound-up.  (Draw your own conclusions and offer to help the maintenance guy in advance!)
435348
To prepare a budget following steps should be taken:-\n\n1.Identify the inflows and outflows.\n2.Segregate the essential outflows and define outlays for them.\n3.Keep in mind that the outlays should not overshoot the inflows.\n4.Always keep buffer for the unexpected/unscheduled outflows.
28298
1. Start writing all your expenses. ( Preferably\n   categorywise. )\n2. Have a budget for the expenses and try to compare\n   and control with respect to the budget.\n3. Learn to avoid impulsive buying.\n4. Become more busy. If you have lot of free time\n   try: \n   Spend more time for Your hobbies, do Social work,\n   study some subject/language you like, write to\n   friends and near ones.\n   In general try to become a more active person:\n   There is much more fun in doing things than\n   simply having ( buying with money ) things.\n5. Avoid watching TV if you get influened by Ads.\n   Learn about TV turn-off Network.\n   Try visiting sites like   \n   http://www.adbusters.org/home\n6. Donate some money to worthy social causes.\n   This will motivate you to curtail your spendings.
388631
Consolodate your debt. (get a loan to pay off all your debts) Arrange this with a financial advisor dont try do it yourself, they will get you the best interest rate. Arrange a longer period to pay this off. Cut up any store or credit cards. Budget and always ask yourself before buying anything "do I really need this", "will i be using it in a few months time" "why do i want it". This does help you re-evaluate your spending.
696210
Give more than you take. Love as much as you can and often. \nExpress yourself. and budget;)\n(oh and prioritize-PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE over things and $$$)
723257
Pay? pfffft.....take them to the soup kitchen. It's a bargain. *wink*\n\n(just as a suggestion...dress down. No need for sunday best)