I started out last year with grand plans to keep track of every cent we spent. I kept every receipt and faithfully separated out items and figured totals in each budget category in Microsoft Money all the way through…March.
By the time December rolled around, I was just about to throw away my overflowing folder of receipts. That’s when I remembered I had Crystal Paine’s new book The Money Saving Mom’s Budget sitting there beside the receipts. I decided perhaps I’d better read the book before I threw out the receipts, just in case I got inspired to track all our expenses again.
I read the book. But I didn’t get inspired to keep track of our expenses again. And I had an excuse straight from the book. At the end of a chapter with 25 money-saving practices, Crystal reminds readers, “We can become so focused on trying to save money that we end up spending hours and hours and hours of time trying to save a mere few dollars.” While she was primarily referring to spending time on things like clipping coupons, or driving across town to save fifty cents, the principle applied to my keeping detailed track of our expenses, as well: “If I’m not saving at least $20 per hour by implementing a particular frugal practice, then I’d rather invest my time elsewhere.”
We don’t operate on a cash-only basis. Nor is our spending (or income, for that matter!) anywhere near the same each month. We do our “stock up” shopping in the winter time. And in the summer, all we buy at the grocery store is milk, yogurt and cheese (we have laying hens, and no, they aren’t a very money-saving proposition). Somehow, a weekly grocery budget figure doesn’t work for us. While it would be interesting to know exactly how much we spend on groceries in a year (I’ve even entertained the idea of keeping track of exactly how much we spend on milk each year to see if having a milk cow would ever pencil out), keeping line by line record of what we spent would only be for the purposes of satisfying our curiosity—it wouldn’t come anywhere near saving us $20 per hour for the hours I’d spend.
And coupon clipping? I’ve never even dreamed of attempting it. Especially since we’re devoid of most chain stores and all drug stores near here. It’s obviously not a money saving venture to drive an hour and a half just to play “the drug store game”! (A term I never even understood until I read Crystal’s book.)
But after reading about all Crystal’s coupon techniques, I realized maybe I’d thought too little of the whole concept. I decided to list the name brand things we do buy on a regular basis – like Blue Diamond Almond Milk and Brown Cow Yogurt – and did a quick search in the coupon database at MoneySavingMom.com. Sure enough, there were easy-to-print coupons that could save me 75 cents per half gallon of milk, and 50 cents off a carton of yogurt. That would be worth my time to search for and print each time I was ready to go shopping—especially since deal bloggers like Crystal make it easy by compiling the coupon databases and blog posts detailing sales!
The best part of the book, though, was how Crystal emphasized more than just saving money. Words like contentment and giving are a regular part of her money saving vocabulary (ones which she puts into practice, since she is donating all proceeds from her book to Compassion International). She even illustrates how streamlining and cleaning up clutter are integral parts of saving money and achieving your goals, as well. The chapter on goal setting was inspiring, prompting some great discussions around here. A budget might not fit into our lifestyle, but goal setting and careful spending can produce the same end result: saving money.
Whether you’ve never had a budget or you’re a coupon clipping queen, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year will have something for you. And thankfully, Crystal is quick to reassure the reader that you don’t have to do it all at once. Just implementing one money saving method will save something, and that will inspire you to save more!
Crystal is giving away a copy of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget to two Pink House readers. To be entered in the giveaway, comment and tell me whether you operate on a budget or not (and I’m curious—are you a coupon clipper?). (Giveaway extended: ends January 18 at midnight EST.)
Congratulations to Beth and Jessica for winning copies of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget!
Crystal and I have known each other for years online, so it was fun to finally meet at The Relevant Conference last October!
