I AM WRITING THIS GUIDE TO HOPEFULLY HELP SOMEONE TO CUT THEIR COSTS AND GET OUT OF DEBT. I AM NOT CLAIMING THAT THIS WILL BE A QUICK FIX BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE CHANGES THIS WILL BE A GREAT START.

HELPFUL TIP #1

CUT YOUR FOOD BILL

COOKING FROM SCRATCH INSTEAD OF EATING OUT WILL CUT YOUR COSTS. IT ISN'T AS HARD AS SOME MIGHT THINK, EVEN IF YOU WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME. USE ONE DAY A WEEK AND COOK UP SEVERAL MEALS ALL AT ONCE AND PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS UNTHAW THEM AND YOU WILL HAVE A HOMEMADE MEAL. COOKING ALL YOUR MEALS AT THE SAME TIME SAVE ALL THE EXTRA WASHING OF THE POTS AND PANS TOO. A CROCK POT IS ALSO A GREAT HELP. PUT THE FOOD IN THE CROCK POT BEFORE YOU GO TO WORK AND WHEN YOU GET HOME DINNER IS READY. I ALSO USE COUPONS BUT I ONLY USE THEM FOR THE ITEMS THAT I AM ALREADY BUYING ANYWAY BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THE STORE BRAND OR GENERIC ITEM IS CHEAPER THAN THE NAME BRAND WITH A COUPON. DON'T DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING AT THE SAME STORE. KEEP A LIST OF WHAT FOOD COSTS AT EACH STORE THAT YOU SHOP AT SO YOU WILL KNOW. ALSO HAVING A PANTRY IS A MUST. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BIG SPACE. WHEN YOU STOCK UP ON SALE ITEMS THAT YOU USE FREQUENTLY YOU WON'T HAVE TO MAKE TRIPS TO THE STORE DAILY BECAUSE YOU WILL BUY MORE THAT YOU DON'T NEED IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE STORE OFTEN. BUY YOUR FOOD IN BULK WHEN POSSIBLE BUT KEEP TRACK OF THE COST BECAUSE BULK ISN'T ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST.

HELPFUL TIP #2

KEEPING YOUR THERMOSTAT 2 DEGREES IN THE WINTER CAN SAVE YOU UP TO 10% ON YOUR HEATING BILL. MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE ISN'T LEAKING AIR AROUND THE DOORS AND WINDOWS. THE SAME PRINCIPLE IS TRUE IN THE SUMMER, TURN UP YOUR THERMOSTAT WILL ALSO SAVE YOU UP TO 10% IN THE SUMMER. I ALSO DRY MY CLOTHES OUTSIDE ON A LINE IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER AND I HAVE A LINE IN MY BASEMENT FOR DRYING IN THE WINTER AND ON RAINY DAYS. I WASH A LOT OF CLOTHES SO I HAVE NOTICED ON MY UTILITY BILL THAT IT SAVE ME ABOUT $20 A MONTH WHEN I DON'T USE MY DRYER.

HELPFUL TIP #3

MY FAVORITE WAY TO SAVE IS TO SHOP AT YARD SALES. I CAN FIND BRAND NEW OR LIKE NEW CLOTHES, SHOES, APPLIANCES, SCHOOL BOOKS, FOR LESS THAN $1. IF I FIND A GREAT DEAL THAT IS TOO SMALL FOR MY KIDS I SELL IT ON EBAY! I HAVE EVEN FOUND A ALMOST NEW RIDING LAWN MOWER FOR $200. I HAVE FOUND TOO MANY GREAT DEALS TO MENTION. SO IF YOU HAVE NOT TRIED YARD SALES, GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHAT YOUR MISSING.

HELPFUL TIP #4

STRETCH THE SEASON

GARDENING IS A GREAT WAY TO CUT YOUR FOOD BILL. I ALSO BRINGS A FAMILY TOGETHER WHILE WORKING IN THE GARDEN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT LIKE MY SON WHO GROWS GIANT MELONS AND SELLS HIS SEEDS ON EBAY.  YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A LARGE SPOT. YOU CAN GROW TOMATOES IN A CONTAINER ON YOUR PATIO. LETTUCE AND HERBS CAN ALSO BE GROWN IN CONTAINERS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY GARDENING THEN YOU CAN LOOK FOR YOUR LOCAL FARMERS MARKET TO GET FRESH ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

HELPFUL TIP #5

CREDIT CARDS

DON'T JUST PAY THE MINIMUM PAYMENT OR IT WILL TAKE YOU MANY YEARS TO GET IT PAID OFF. START WITH THE SMALLEST CREDIT CARD AND TACKLE IT TIL YOU GET IT PAID OFF THEN GO TO THE NEXT. KEEP PAYING MORE THAN THE MINIMUM ON THEM ALL. CALL THE CREDIT CARD COMPANYS AND NEGOTIATE A LOWER FINANCE CHARGE. IT DOES WORK! COMBINE ALL YOUR DEBT IF YOU CAN AND DON'T USE THE PLASTIC MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTION.

HELPFUL TIP #6

MISCELLANEOUS

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS CAN BE EXPENSIVE SO I HAVE FOUND THAT VINEGAR CLEANS ALMOST ANYTHING AND I DILUTE IT IN WATER AND USE A SPRAY BOTTLE. IT EVEN CLEANS MY STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES.

HAIR CARE

I CUT MY BOYS HAVE MYSELF. I JUST INVESTED IN A QUALITY CLIPPER AND IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM. WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL BEAUTY SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA AND YOU CAN GET A CUT FOR $5.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

I HAVE A BOOK THE CHRISTIAN MOMS IDEA BOOK AND IT IS FULL OF SPECIAL CHEAP PARTY IDEAS. I BAKE THE CAKE AND DECORATE IT MYSELF. I LET THE KIDS MAKE THEIR OWN HOMEMADE PERSONAL PIZZA. I HAVE AN EASY CRUST RECIPE THAT YOU CAN MAKE AHEAD OF TIME AND FREEZE.

PIZZA CRUST

1 CUP WARM WATER

1 PKG DRY YEAST

1 TSP SUGAR

3 CUPS FLOUR

2 T OIL

1 TSP SALT

MIX YEAST, SUGAR AND WATER, ADD THE OTHER INGREDIENTS, KNEAD THE DOUGH AND ADD EXTRA FLOUR UNTIL IT'S NOT STICKY. PLACE IN A BOWL AND LET RISE FOR 20 MINUTES. IT'S DELICOUS AND EASY TO MAKE.

DON'T EAT FAST FOOD

I COULD EASILY SPEND $40 EACH TIME OUR FAMILY ATE OUT SO I HAVE STOPPED EATING OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT SAVE HUNDREDS A YEAR.

I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS. THERE ARE MANY GOOD BOOKS ON SAVING MONEY. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.