Page 9 - EQ Mag-2019

BUDGET RESOURCES

BUDGET & FRUGAL

Lifestyle Stories

1. Patience with Money Decisions – Wins! cooking at home vs. eating out have been very helpful.
Adriana Wallstein — Fredricksburg, VA
The biggest money saver discovered is patience!
Do your research and know what you want, then wait for a 4. Fast Mortgage Debt Reduction
sale, then purchase the item, you’ll save a huge amount of
money. This tip will help you have 50% or more so many I would like to give you an update on my progress. I just
times, so be willing to be patient and the money you save finished paying off my credit card bill and am now working
will grow. Patience really helps save money! on paying down my mortgage. The trick I used was to make
bi-weekly payments on my credit card bill. Then when I
2. Frugality Has Its Advantages... received my income tax refund check, I finally eliminated
that bill! Anonymous
Another frugal living success story! My hubby was
downsized out of his job after working there for nearly 5. Passing Financial Education Down to My Kids
twelve years. This could really sink a family financially, but
we have no fear because we’re debt-free except for the I also sat my two girls down and gave them the same
mortgage. In addition to that, we have saved up an education (wish my parents had done this years ago)
emergency fund of between six and nine months of living anyway, fast forward, I use the envelope system for
expenses – depending on how much we spend. everything, and I have savings in the bank for the first time
We should be fine for anywhere from nine to twelve months in my life (I am nearly 40) and have paid all my debt off,
(and that includes our son’s tuition payments) with a bit of what a relief! I feel so light and free, my money is for me and
focused budgeting and some extra money saving strategies. my girls, not some faceless company. My girls sit with me
Our son has two years of college remaining. Please remind every month and we do the budget, I find this is such a
those out there who are just starting out on their financial godsend as they can see where the money goes. They know
journey that frugality really pays off! The peace and lack of that just because I earn X amount it does not mean I can
fear that we’re experiencing are something we never want to afford whatever they want that month. There are outgoings
lose. Sylvia Crutcher, Denver, CO to consider as well, and it saves so many arguments and
stresses.
3. Cooking At Home vs. Eating Out Leads to Financial
Stress Reduction We shop together, getting bargains and trying to beat each
other with savings, its great fun. Plus, I know I am teaching
We are a military family in the DC area and most military them real lessons for when they are older. Anyway, even
families hate coming here because of the financial pressures though I am ‘across the pond’ and a lot of the advice is not
— it’s very costly to live in D.C. We have been able to take relevant to me there is still a lot of information I can and do
some stress out of our lives by using the Once-A-Month- use.
Cooking concept. Although I haven’t been able to get my
shopping down to once-a-month, I am able to make it last And I wanted to say thank you, as I feel you have quite
for 3-4 weeks — that’s pretty close! With rising gas prices literally saved the roof over my head and showed me the
and considering how far away from the base (where the way and I will be eternally grateful. Wendy –
commissary is) we had to live to be able to find affordable Cleveland, OH
housing, this is fantastic. I’ve learned a lot. I was not very
good at economizing and budgeting, but these tips of Source: Money Smart Family
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