Seven Steps When You Are Tight on Money and Time

I visited another blog this week, CouponMamacita. It is devoted to coupons, which feels right when people are struggling with a tight budget. It also got me thinking about the ways I've saved on money and time when both are at a premium.

So here are seven steps to combine both money savings and time savings.


1. Only use coupons worth $1.00 or more

Why? One 35 cent coupon won’t even cover your gas for the trip to the grocery store. Thirty-five, 50 and 75 cent coupons are also more plentiful, and take up valuable time to decide if you want them, to decide what to purchase once at the store, and to sort through them. Most in store specials have already reduced an item at least as much as a small value coupon. If you need mustard, look for the one on sale in the store, ensure it is the lowest price, then grab it. Stick to the in store specials, and use larger coupons for items you actually use.

2. Only cut out coupons you would normally use

Ask yourself, “do I need this type even without coupon?” If the answer is “yes,” buy it. An item may appeal to you, but is it something you need? No? Throw it in recycling. Remember the purpose of coupons: Manufacturers try to entice you to purchase their product. When flipping through mailouts and flyer coupons, make your decision quickly, and move on.

3. Keep an envelope of current coupons in your purse

Nothing is more frustrating than spending time to find useful coupons, getting to the checkout, and realize that they are all home on the kitchen counter. Once you decide which ones you want, put them in an envelope or one of those clear plastic three-hole page protectors. The thin ones fold in half easily to fit most purses.

4. Buy Bulk? Yes but only meat and frequently used items

Meat is always worth buying bulk. When you get home, marinate your meat, put them in sealable plastic bags, label and throw them in the freezer. Even better, cook all your bulk ground beef at once. Add taco seasoning to one batch, and make spaghetti sauce out of the other batch (or whatever recipe you prefer), then cool and freeze in meal sized amounts. This all takes time on the day of purchase, but saves you time and money in the long run.

Why only some other items in bulk? Bulk is like a coupon. Only sometimes is it valuable. Potatoes are inexpensive in 20 pound bags, but if you don’t have a cool place for them, the ones at the bottom of the bag will likely be thrown out. Crackers don’t easily stay crisp once opened, so half may go to waste. Finally, most of us don’t have room for a large number of bulk purchases. Save your space for cereal, soups and toilet paper, or other items you know you’ll go through.

5. Put all your phone and cable services under one company

Cable/phone companies are getting more competitive. Ask what they’ll do for you if you switch, or if you move your other services over to your existing account. A word of warning, however: some of their specials are good for one year, after which their prices could more than double. Make sure you know what the regular price will be once the special expires.

If it works for you to combine services, it will reduce your bill paying time, and make it easier to budget your expenses.

6. Update Your House Seasonally

Home improvement stores offer coupons and specials according to the season. Landscaping and gardening in the spring, roofing and siding in the early fall, and interior paint in the winter, for example. Also, take advantage of free or low cost in home estimates if making large changes. This will help you understand the true cost of your renovation, and someone who knows what you need will spend the time to develop accurate costs.

7. Finally, get your children involved, for long term rewards

Start small with children. Allocate twenty dollars a week to snacks and desserts, which are some of the most expensive non-nutritional items in your house. Decide what is covered: granola bars, cookies, ice cream, pretzels, then ask them to help you select these items at the store. Bring coupons or purchase sale items. Be creative and purchase ingredients to bake cookies at home. And compare these costs to the price of a banana or apple, to encourage better eating, and greater awareness of budgeting.


These may all be simple measures, but simple is usually the best way to reduce household stress.

Happiness and abundance to you!

Your Spouse Lost a Job - How to Cope, part 3

People may be feeling more positive about our economic future, though there are still a few hills to climb. In this part 3 of 4, what else can you do to help your spouse cope with job loss?

Tell your husband you will do all you can to help you both weather this storm. You, also, will look for a job and ask for help. Do this together. In doing so you will have stronger resources, reduced costs, and perfected resumes.



1. Look for employment

Determine your own skills. What jobs have you held in the past? What skills do you have now? Use volunteer experience to your benefit.

Fix up your own resume. Ask friends or an employment service to read it over and edit it.

Talk to friends. Personal connections are the best source for employment. Use online resources such as Facebook or LinkedIn.

If you already work, consider a second temporary job.


2. Source Out Friends for Help

You may need to rant and rave too. Ask trusted friends for an ear.

Offer to babysit alternate weeks for friends in exchange for the same. Keep it simple. Five o’clock to seven thirty is time for an early dinner out (a picnic in the park or your back yard), a long walk, or relaxing on the couch with your husband. An early pickup time means your children get to bed on time and you can do this mid week.

Ask a friend if they can edit a resume (yours) or encourage your husband to ask one of his friends.

Join a farmers’ cooperative with friends. Splitting delivery of healthy local produce may be cost effective.

Exchange services. Do you have an abundance of vegetables in your garden, and know someone who edits well? Trade vegetables for resume help.

Host a potluck dinner. Many families do this when money isn’t an issue (new dishes to try!) so do it now, and keep in touch with friends in a low-cost way.




Finally, when you feel the stress of your husband's job loss, keep going. You will be surprised at your strength and determination. Find your own job, however temporary, and enlist the help of friends, to maintain the resilience and support that strengthens the foundation of your family and marriage.



Leigh Harris is writing Metaphysical Mom: Five Minutes to Calm. She is also a mother, faciliator, life and career coach, and practices creative family budgeting. She can be reached at metaphysicalmum@gmail.com .

Your Spouse Lost a Job - How to Cope, part 2

In this second of a series, learn practical solutions for the silent partner of job loss.

What can you actively do when your spouse, possibly the major income earner, has lost a job? Take two major steps at home: Cut spending at home, and keep your family healthy.

1. Cut Spending at Home

Estimate monthly bills.

• Pull out the last three months’ utility bills and record how much they cost each month. Add mortgage or rent and insurance onto this. Use an excel spreadsheet, if possible.

Estimate other monthly expenses.

• Record grocery, gas and auto, entertainment, household, medical, pet, clothing and miscellaneous expenses. Find these expenses through recent credit card statements, bank record of ATM purchases, and receipts. If you use cash, record the cash you withdraw and estimate where it is used.

Cut out restaurants, movies, soda, alcohol, delivered pizza, snack foods, candy and clothing. Ask yourself: “Is this essential for family health or can I put it on a wish list for when we are employed?”

Search for lower prices: Buy bulk instead of singles; use coupons; check the dollar store (some have grocery sections, and paper and cleaning supplies).

Credit cards with high balances?

• Freeze them in ice,
• cut them up, or
• cancel them at the bank.

Frozen, you have time to reconsider a purchase; cut up, they can’t be used; and cancelled, you reduce your liability should you need to talk to your bank about a loan.

Determine a new budget. Utilities and rent/mortgage are fairly static (though unplugging cords, turning off unused lights, and air-drying clothes help). What can you afford to spend on groceries, clothing, and car expenses? $1200 a month is doable for a family of four.[i] $800 a month is even possible with creativity.

If you have space in your budget, add back in a few inexpensive treats.

• One bottle of low-cost wine for Friday night
• Frozen pizza one night, instead of take out
• Search for a “kids eat free” night at local restaurants

These treats make it less likely that you’ll blow your budget due to frustration.


2. Keep Family Healthy

Don’t cut spending by eating fast food. It will cost you more in the long run in low energy, weight gain, and medicine.

Cut out junk food – it costs money and fills the family up with empty calories. If this habit is a hard one to break, purchase good quality chocolate (the more cacao, the better) and eat a single square, slowly, as a treat.

Cut out prepackaged dinners (boxed macaroni and cheese, frozen dinners, ravioli in a can, or packaged muffins), and cook fresh and basic:

• Dry noodles, cooked, with tomato sauce and spices from your cupboard
• Small portions of meat, chicken or pork purchased on sale
• Homemade muffins, made with whole wheat flour, fills a tummy for longer than refined flour or purchased muffins
• Cut up large carrots (not prepackaged small ones) and celery, serve with ranch dressing for dip

Choose vegetables that pack a vitamin punch.

• Fresh or frozen over canned
• Bright colors over all one color (more variety of vitamins)
• In-season local versus out-of-season shipped

Cereal – choose lower sodium, minimal sugar (glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup), whole wheat versus refined, fewer preservatives, no added color. Cost? Look for sales: less than one cent per gram for value (400g box should be less than $4.00). Oatmeal is one of the best cereals for cost and health. Add a cut up pear and a bit of brown sugar to cooked oatmeal.


Many additions exist to these lists. What can you add?

Check out next week's posting - part 3 to: Your Spouse Lost a Job - How to Cope.


[i][i] Car expenses include gas, but not insurance and registration