Budget Smudget: Piece of Cake!

Week two of the year! Building a living green savings from no budget!

Long week...for me! I had no idea what was facing me ahead. I think this is the biggest problem in taking a look at our finances. We forget to plan for the obstacles that await us each week, month and year. Need to do that!

Ok, families get out the calender and mark it up! Which months can we see that our living, gas(driving around) and holiday fun will cost us more money?

I suppose that is what the emergency and short term fund is for. May be? But, really some of the money grabbing things, let's face it, do not fall in any of these categories. This is going to be harder than I thought.

I will need all the help I can get. So, I bought the Real Simple Magazine: featured articles on how to save on (nearly) everything. P.S. Magazine cost $4.99! Well, next time..... the Library.

Love the articles. Mostly stuff on things I know how to do, but, I don't because life is moving so fast and we are so focused on meeting the immediate needs, wants and societies flashing neon signs.....buy me now!

Here is one tip I tried. Planned the budget for the month for our family of four. Created recipes for the week. Brought the coupon's. Made the list for the grocery store. And here is what I did for fun for under $10. I bought cake....yes, a big Fred Myers chocolate cake! This was our mid=week treat, entertainment and fun!!!! By the way the boys loved it. What a fun idea for the the mid week meal. AHHHHH Bliss for a day.

So, what can you do if you cannot afford the stuff? Mom, I have a birthday party to go to? Here's the pictures for the swim team....need $17, Hey, we need everyone to bring $5 for the going away present for Fred? And last but not least...... can we get pizza tonight it's Friday?

My solution: Just say .... NO, NO, NO, and NO........" let's just eat Cake"

What can you do to off set those costs? Make a card, sew a gift, car pool? Start to think of ways you can save!

This weeks savings: $50.........................I am on my way to freedom!

Living green means investing in me and you!

Here it is the new year! I will take a closer look at my budget, read more living green ways to save and start investing in me....and ....the kids.......and you can too!

These economic times call for living green investing. So, I will kick off the year and post each week on ways to save, budget, sew cool stuff (re purpose & re gift) post more recipes from the fridge and find ways to invest in our family savings.

Oh....what savings! Yikes! Need one of those. So, I started off reading yesterday's msn.com budget article, that stated that I should be budgeting 40% of my income for: Short term, Long term, Emergency fund and retirement. Yikes!!!!! Don't have those yet either.

Were to start! Well if I did that I would not have enough for the mortgage. Well and there is food, bills and kids.....do not get me started on those costs.

Well, what to do then. Here is a start for now.....week one for me!

I will finnish this month by sticking to the idea that next month, I will have a 10% budget for the above saving ideas. Let's just see how this goes! Oh and now would be a great time for me to live green and think of ways to save on other things. Hmmmm!

So, what do you do if you do not have a budget to budget?