I think December will be our hardestmonth financially (not including Christmas) as of yet.

This is the last check with his deployment pay and I do not have a pay check anymore.

I am trying to plan groceries but we never get coupons. We are doign better with no eating out or renting movies.

This is what I have

PAY
$1978.50 Base Pay
$1081 BAH
$3059 TOTAL before takes

About $500 goes to taxes and SGLI

Take home pay is about $2560

BILLS:
Rent $1050
Phones $100
Cable/ Internet/ Home phone $104
Electricity (winter) $74
Water $27
Gas $70
Truck $438
Insurance $350
Culligan $15
TOTAL: $2228

Pay - Bills
= $332 for savings, gas, and groceries.

I need to be able to save better. Now the cell is usually less then $90 and insurance flucuates, but this is at the high end of our bills.

Other then coupons and using the commissary in combination with making a meal list, where else do you think I can offset some costs and save more?

I do babysit and my photography as well, I just can't rely on those incomes for the time being.

Thanks for any help you may have.

Well, the good thing is we get a pay raise in Jan. ;)

I would save your photography and babysitting money- like 50% of it for emergencies. I noticed you have no savings account and you should take from those pays for that for when times are very lean and you need money to live.

wow your insurance is a lot is that per month. :faint
Hmm i would see about finding a way to get rid of your home phone unless you absolutley need it, that is an added expense you can drop.. ( before you say but then I don't get the big savings having it, work out the numbers to see if it is really saving you anything)
Also maybe see about cutting down your cell plan if that is feasible.

I was gonna say look into changing the insurance too. That's insane. My husband had the worst driving record ever, and the most we ever paid was $310 a month, and that was for two cars.

I try to save the money I get. All the cash I get goes in its own piggy bank.

Yes there is a pay raise in January and March (he puts on SSgt)

that is USAA and they are the CHEAPEST around here, Vegas is expensive.

I try to save the money I get. All the cash I get goes in its own piggy bank.

Yes there is a pay raise in January and March (he puts on SSgt)

:woot

Why not put your Piggy Bank money into an actual bank to accrue interest? This will also prevent you from touching it as easily.

Hmmm.... what else can you do to save money? :thinkin

there are a ton of ways to save money, for instance turn off the computer when you are done with it, unplug anything that is unecessary, like phone chargers, powercords things like that ( i heard once that if you see a light it's using energy) lower the thermostat and wear more sweaters.. analyze how much you spend watching tv and see if it necessary to have cable, things like that.
as for your insurance, sometimes you have to shop around all the time. it's sucks and it's boring, but if it saves you money why not.

Well, I do alot of shopping at the dollar stores for things like cleaners, trash bags, etc... those rather expensive things that add up at the grocery store. Do all of your "outings" in non-rush-hour hours, to try and save gas from not pounding on the breaks all the time. Unplug all accessories and appliances you don't need, because they ARE using power, even if the appliance is "off". I agree about re-thinking things like cable (I haven't had it in 2 years), and keeping the thermostat down. Keep blinds open during the day to let in light and warmth, and make sure the windows are all closed tight to keep out the cold. Sweaters, blankets, and snuggling work wonders.

Keep your head up, because stressing only weakens your immune system, and getting sick would NOT help. Know that you are supported and loved, and take a deep breath. You'll be just fine. (L)

I hope things improve and you have lots of photography and babysitting jobs :yes

I can't believe your insurance..Mike's car insurance is 120 per month, and mine is 74 a month.

I think December will be our hardestmonth financially (not including Christmas) as of yet.

This is the last check with his deployment pay and I do not have a pay check anymore.

I am trying to plan groceries but we never get coupons. We are doign better with no eating out or renting movies.

This is what I have

PAY
$1978.50 Base Pay
$1081 BAH
$3059 TOTAL before takes

About $500 goes to taxes and SGLI

Take home pay is about $2560

BILLS:
Rent $1050
Phones $100
Cable/ Internet/ Home phone $104
Electricity (winter) $74
Water $27
Gas $70
Truck $438
Insurance $350
Culligan $15
TOTAL: $2228

Pay - Bills
= $332 for savings, gas, and groceries.

I need to be able to save better. Now the cell is usually less then $90 and insurance flucuates, but this is at the high end of our bills.

Other then coupons and using the commissary in combination with making a meal list, where else do you think I can offset some costs and save more?

I do babysit and my photography as well, I just can't rely on those incomes for the time being.

Thanks for any help you may have.

If you have a land line, cancel it. They can be expensive. Just keep your cell phone.

Get a hold of a humidifier. Humid air feels warmer than dry air, so you don't have to use the heater as much.

Use energy saving bulbs, put long, thin sandbags at the bottom of doors to seal air in, and also, make sure the seals on your windows are good.

Letting sunlight in during the day, and closing curtains after the sun is no longer peering in will help heat the house a bit.

We just got the house phone because it is only $10 a month and it was less then getting more minutes on our house phone.

In the winter we leave heat off and use a space heater.

In the summer I have the air at 90 when its 120 outside. Leaving windows is not an option when its that hot and I jsut have a fan on me.

I will look into unpluggng things and I wanted to get the energy saving bulbs.

We both watch tv all the time and I have looked for a cheaper service but I just can't find it. if the cable is cheaper then internet is more expensive. So we have internet for $30, house for $10, and cable for $55 but its all one company. We just have the basics no Caller ID, no long distance, slowest speed internet, and the low number of channels.

Oh and the reason I use the piggy bank is because I never carry cash. Its too easy to transfer money from savings so I just put it there so I don't take it out. It stays there for about 8 months before we decide to use it for us. We took $200 out last time to buy a gift for his sister and a freezer for the house.

I love the idea of the dollar stores, next time I need those things I will go there.

Thank you all so much for the great tips, I will bookmark this page to keep looking back at.