There are still many families finding it hard to budget because they have either lost their job or have experienced a reduction in work hours. We have to find places to cut back, and sadly enough, sometimes that is food. 

There are ways to save money buying food, and not have to worry about going hungry though...Follow some of the tips below.

Budget-Friendly Food Saving Tips

There have been many families who have seen a reduction in their household income. There are households where at least one parent (if not both) have either lost their job or have had to deal with reduced hours at their job. Many Americans are still fighting tough times despite what current news may report. Some say the economy is getting better, while others believe we are still in a recession...In my area-I believe the last statement- “We are still in a recession.”

Since many families are experiencing a reduction in their income, they have had to learn how to cut back and plan their food budgets accordingly. Some families have had to cut back on snacks and desserts and only buy the necessities. Others have become coupon-savvy and shop during sales. Whatever choice their household has made, they have had to learn how to become more budget-friendly with their food.

Make a List

There are a variety of ways to save money on your grocery budget. While it may seem obvious, one of the first ways to save money is to “make a list and STICK to it.” Do not buy any extras or items that are NOT on the list. When you shy away from the list, you spend more money than what was intended.

Plan a Menu

Another way to help you only buy necessities is to plan a menu at home.

 Click here to continue reading about food saving tips.

Living on a Budget Doesn't Have to Mean Losing Out

In this day, as the economy continues to move up and down and it is more important than ever for families to stick to a budget. Nobody's job is ever completely "safe,' and the hours at work are never guaranteed. We must all learn to live within our own means.

Thankfully (and knock on wood),my husband and I still have our jobs. We appreciate each day that we can provide food for our family and a roof over our head. We don't ever take anything for granted and also live each day at a time. While we pay our rent, utilities, groceries and things that our daughter needs, there is looming debt that we do try to make payments on... Although there is debt-we do stick to a budget too. .. So how do we do it?

Groceries: Shop Sales/Shop Cheap

While there is a local grocery store in our small town, we do shop out of town at least twice a month. We try not to drive out of town more than two times in a month. If we have to go out of town, or we are with other family members, we try to make purchases as we can while we are there. This is an ideal way to save on fuel as well. 

Our groceries are purchased at discount grocery stores such as Aldi. While the bulk of our food is purchased at Aldi, we do buy our hygiene needs at Wal-Mart. The maximum that we usually spend on a grocery trip to Aldi is never more than $100. When my husband and I shop at Wal-Mart, we split up certain items, so that neither one of us is carrying the load of the over-all price. If we really need a certain item (such as milk, bread, eggs, etc), we buy it on sale at our local grocery store. We hardly ever pay full price for an item at a local grocery store.

Entertainment


Click here to continue reading about how my family and I stick to a budget...

Summer is Just Around the Corner!

I can't believe that we are pretty much in the middle of May now! 


Pretty soon, summer will be here and the kids will be home from school. After the first few weeks that they are off, we may start to hear the "mom/dad--I'm booooored!." 


With the economy barely standing on its too feet, and most of us watching the cash in our wallets, it can be hard trying to come up with ideas that won't put a dent in your checking account. If you are looking for some budget friendly ways to have fun in the spring and summer without spending too much money, you can read one of my articles, "Your Guide to Spring and Summer on a Budget." I did some brainstorming and tried to come up with ways to have fun without leaving your backyard or going too far away from your local town. 


One thing you can always do is get closer to nature when the cash is low.  Looking around at nature is always free, and its live entertainment 24/7. You never know what the birds, squirrels, bunnies or insects are gonna do next!


Click here to read my article on tips to have fun on a budget...

1800Flowers Named for Having Honest Pricing Policies

Valentines Day is just around the corner, and everybody is looking for flowers and the perfect gift. With many people on a strict budget, a lot of price comparison must be made to decide where the most affordable place it to purchase flowers this Valentines Day season. 

Recently, MSN did some research and compared online flower companies with their flower prices. 1800Flowers.com was singled out amongst other online leading flower companies such as FTD and ProFlowers for having greater pricing transparency and more honest pricing polices. 

Proflowers measured out at $35.28 for roses while FTD priced theirs at $38.49. 

1800Flowers wins with the lowest price for roses at $34.99. 

Also for Valentines Day, 1800Flowers.com is offering Twilight Valentines Day Flowers for those who are ga-ga over the Twilight and New Moon series. 

So if you happen to be looking for more honest prices, and need an affordable gift, 1800 Flowers could offer you that special something without breaking the bank or putting a hole in your wallet this Valentines Day---or any other occasion... 

Applying for LIHEAP in Illinois

When the budget at home is tight, or you are unable to work due to illness or a disability, 

the LIHEAP program can be a life-saver for your utility bills. LIHEAP is the LOW INCOME HOME and ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

It gives individuals and families a one time credit towards their utility bills. It is a program that is based on the amount of gross income in a household within the past 30 days. The LIHEAP Program can provide assistance for electricity, gas, propane, oil, and even some wood suppliers for those who burn wood to heat their homes.

There are several agencies and non-profit groups across Illinois that provide applications and assistance to help others sign up for the LIHEAP program.

To learn more about this program, how it can help you, and perhaps how you can sign up, CLICK HERE.