This holiday season did a number on my budget. I mean, just straight killed it. Spent waaaaay more money than I should have and I regret almost every purchase. That’s how bad it was.
So looking forward to 2010, I came up with the “Four Squares” money plan. What does that mean?
It means I’m cutting BACK. I got the name because (bare with me here) I was convinced that we were spending too much money on little things, like toilet paper. Our butts were literally eating toilet paper because every other day we’re replacing a roll. So we’re cutting back. Four squares.
Now, I’m kidding (sort of). But I hope with these little changes I’m making will add up to big savings.
My goal
I would like to have $25K in our joint savings account by the end of 2010. I think our tax return will give us a nice jumpstart, but I want to really challenge myself to see how much we can save.
The four squares plan
Little changes can mean big bucks in the bank. For example:
- I’m done buying paper towels. We’ll use regular towels and we will like it.
- My daughter is potty trained. So long $40/a month on diapers and Pull-Ups.
- We’re drinking more water. I refuse to spend $25 a week on juice.
- We’re eating less meat. It’s cheaper and healthier for you anyway.
- We will go to Target/WalMart ONLY once every two weeks. If we don’t have what we need, we will have to find a way to go without. I swear I’ve probably spent $10K in Target this year alone with nothing to show for it.
- I will bring my calculator with me to the grocery store and add up my purchases as I go. If I reach my grocery limit, something has to get out my cart.
- I will be obsessive about balancing my checkbook. No overdraft fees for me.
- I will make meals stretch longer, so dinner on Monday can be lunch on Tuesday and then reimagined into a totally different dinner on Tuesday.
I’m also crunching some numbers and trying to restart my automatic savings again – had to put it on hold for the holidays.
What about you? What are some of your financial goals for 2010? How are you making it happen?
That sounds like a great idea! I hope to save some money this year as well! We as a family have decided to only eat out once every two weeks where we used to eat out 2-3x per week! We are also setting budgets for groceries as you are – and I need to put the boyfriend on the “4 Sheets Rule!” I swear he uses an entire new package of toilet paper before I use 1 roll! I have no idea where it is going!! What the hell?! Haha – anyways! Sounds like you have a great plan in place now the hard part – sticking with it! Good luck! & I hope you reach your goals!
Those are some great ways to save money! I think for me the best way for me to save money and be healthier was to work with a meal plan and grocery list…I overspend or eat out when I am not prepared. I think an automatic savings is great. I have tons of different savings funds in ING. It works great for me. I hope you are able to reach your savings goal this year!
Good for you, I’m getting ready to take a pay cut and have been thinking of ways to save money! Alot of what you mentioned is very doable. I wish you the best with your budget.
I’m a huge coupon clipper. And I agree that bringing left overs for lunch saves big time. That’s hard for me because I LOVE fast food. Balancing a checkbook is something I hate, so for the past 5 years I’ve kept an Excel spreadsheet tracking all my spending. This way, at the end of the month or year, I know exactly how much I’ve spent on dining out, gas for my car, groceries and everything else.
Another fabulous list! I’m so excited for you.
Now me, I feel like I’m still fighting some of the same battles. So not good! I still buy one to many books even though I can get them for free! It’s a patience thing I’m dealing with here. Living as close to Borders Cafe as I do makes this extremely hard. See a great title, must have-like, now! Yes, yes. I think about the purchase first, flipping through the pages, trying very hard to find something wrong with the book so I can put it back on the shelf…with a giant latte in my hand!
And why do I continue to struggle with this latte factor?!