With all this talk about our Alaskan vacation–and the expensive excursions planned for therein–I thought it might be interesting to post on how we can afford that type of thing on our single income. I suppose much of it is a matter of responsible spending and budgeting throughout the year. That said, I proudly admit that we go without things that other families might prioritize. I’ve come up with eight fairly common expenditures we scrimp on–or skip altogether–in order to make our travel dreams a reality. I’m sharing those today.
1. Gym membership – Memberships to fancy gyms with their fancy fitness classes and fancy workout machines can be costly. Both Jeff and I opt to workout at home. My workouts alternate between Gilad episodes I’ve DVR’d and Nike Training Club workouts via the app on my iPhone–both of which are 100% free. Jeff runs. Also free.
2. Eating Out & Ordering In – While Jeff and I do indulge in a bi-monthly lunch date for just the two of us, we don’t often eat out or order in. 99% of our meals are made from scratch right here at home. On the very rare occasions during which we do eat out, we patronize restaurants where kids eat free and/or happy hour specials on both drinks and small bites are offered.
3. DIY – I don’t have a cleaning lady. Or a gardener. Or a techie for my blog. We roll up our sleeves and do the dirty work ourselves. Often times, that requires learning a new skill. So be it. If it’s doable and it saves us money, we’re in.
4. Kid Activities – There are certain things I don’t mind spending money on, Christian summer camp among them. That said, we don’t sign our kids up for all kinds of enrichment programs. Nor do we allow them to participate in every activity a flyer comes home from school for. Dance classes and the like run about $50 a month around these parts. We’ve got four kids…you do the math. Budgetary restraints require that we encourage school-based sports and clubs that are either free or very inexpensive. I’m also open to select sports that charge a single (reasonable) fee for an entire season of games and practices. Expensive monthly classes and their equivalents are out.
5. Luxuries – Think manis and pedis. Facials. Massage. I love a good pampering session as much as the next girl. What I don’t so much care for is the price tag that comes along with it. I typically get a manicure once per year. Pedicures are a bit more common (maybe once every two months or so) but only because I live in Arizona and my toes are bare nine months of the year. I’ve had a handful of massages in my lifetime. Oh, and two facials. Total.
6. Utilities – My kids would tell you that I’m a miser when it comes to water/electricity usage. I time their showers and nag if they encroach the nine minute range. I hound them about turning off lights and shutting down the computer and unplugging charging cords from the wall as opposed to unplugging the device from the cord (grrr!!!). Our air conditioning doesn’t kick on until the thermostat registers a toasty 81 degrees. I told you. Miser.
7. Discipline – I would {big red puffy heart} LOVE to have an iPad. Many of the meals I cook come from food blogs. I can only imagine how awesome it would be to be able to set up my handy dandy iPad on a stand in the kitchen and consult it throughout the cooking process. Instead, I run back and forth between the kitchen and my computer, speaking measurements aloud so as not to forget them on the way. Of course there are other wants, too, but we go without. Truly we believe that every penny saved is a penny earned.
8. Frugal and Proud – Every so often, Jeff and I will get Starbucks gift cards from loved ones. When we do, we order one venti drink and ask that they split it between two tall cups. And no, we’re not ashamed to put our frugality on display for all the world to see.
Tell me…how could we save more? What do you scrimp on to save?
Jeff May 23, 2012 10:10 pm
At least we don’t follow the ‘yellow, let it mellow; brown, flush it down’ water-savings plan! :)
Stephanie May 25, 2012 7:41 pm
Yeah. We don’t do that either. That’s a little *too* frugal. ;)
Funkdivagirl June 19, 2012 1:38 pm
Oh dear. My daughter tried to implement this in our house (prompted by her teacher) and um, no, it was rejected by everyone.
Tracey May 24, 2012 8:09 am
I’m going to piggy back off you again, but I will link to you too…thanks….
nicole May 24, 2012 3:52 pm
Y’all are so disciplined. We definitely eat out too much. I keep trying to do better about that. We’re good at putting off the big, luxury purchases but are not so good with the $20 indulgences here and there. But we’re learning.
Susan May 24, 2012 5:23 pm
Amen Sista! I’m a huge Disney fan like you and I splurge on Disneyland passes for my daughter and myself (we are 15 minutes away), To do that, I do surveys to earn Disney gift cards, along with points from credit cards. Our 3rd Disney cruise is coming up this summer, and I got a great deal on the ‘guaranteed’ status, half the price of a normal booking. Our first cruise, was kids sail free, and our 2nd was a whopping 25% off for SoCal residents. Plus, I paid with those accumulated Disney gift cards and didn’t buy anything extra.
Nicole May 24, 2012 7:22 pm
I love the “DIY” montra. Although we learned our lesson about replacing brake roters once. :?
Im not a big “luxuries” girl either. I never get manis or pedis except on rare “special” occasions. I color my own hair and we just canceled the RIDICULOUS cable package we had. We DO have an iPad, but I guess I have the luxury of writing off techie type stuff… ;)
Great post!
Chelsea May 24, 2012 7:44 pm
Love this! We scrimp on food by not eating out (much – sushi is a big exception), I drink coffee at home rather than out, and we don’t buy packaged snacks. We also have no cable, and opt for $9 per month Netflix instead. I also get very, very rare pedicures and manicures or other pampering.
Tracey May 25, 2012 8:50 am
Check this out….http://gracecomesbyhearing.blogspot.com/2012/05/15-ways-we-spend-to-save.html
Stephanie May 25, 2012 8:35 pm
We follow these same eight practices…except that 81 degrees is mite too hot for us. ;)
RE: the luxuries category. I’ve only had one pedicure in my life (sell me on your reasons) and have never had a manicure, massage, or facial.
Darcie June 6, 2012 8:53 am
I love my pedicures. Sure, I could paint my own toes, but they don’t look nearly as good. The pedicurist trims up all the dead skin and pushes cuticles and has all sorts of magical little touches that set pedicured toes way apart from merely painted ones. If ever you decide to try one, call me. We’ll go together :)
Stephanie May 25, 2012 8:36 pm
I forgot to say that I would be interested to try a facial. What was your experience like? Did it do “wonders” for your skin?
Darcie June 6, 2012 8:51 am
I wouldn’t say it did wonders for my skin. But it was blissfully relaxing. Perhaps if I did facials more often I would see more results.
Funkdivagirl June 19, 2012 1:46 pm
Okay, I have no tips for you! I get facials often (and swear by them), pedicures every month of so, but only in the warm months and manicures never – but not to save money, only because I don’t like making small talk with the technician. I have a cleaning person, but only once a month and because no one – and I mean no one – else in my family cleans but me and it keeps me from choking them. I have an expensive gym membership, but only because I finally found an exercise that I love and will stick with. It is an indulgence that keeps me fit and sane. However, I am with you on the kid activities….my kids only have music lessons and dance for my daughter because she doesn’t play a sport. Despite these spending habits, I am the one who keeps our bills in check – my husband would eat out every night if I let him. I don’t.