Do you have any unique tips to share with other moms who can't seem to stick to a budget? What motivates you? How do you do it? Any secrets to share?

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If you can stretch it, try not to ever deny yourself EVERYTHING. Meaning, whether it's a 50 cent candybar or a new shirt, if you can afford it every now and then, get it. I find that when I tell myself that I CAN'T have something, I want it more, so if I always have that lee-way in the back of my mind, more often than not, I don't want anything. I hope this makes sense.

Have a stopping point. I do weekly grocery shopping and have a point. Mentally I add what I am putting in my cart as it goes in. There is no surprise then at the checkout line and it really forces you to look at the price. This way I tend to get more of what I need.

Realize that there are going to be splurges and surprizes and try to leave some wiggle room for them.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

It's SO hard to stick to a budget. I do splurge every now and then, though always within a limit (usually not more than $10 - $20). What motivates me is my mom. She has no financial sense and lives way outside her means. She's 61 years old and is probably 5 to 6 figures in debt. I don't want to end up like that. When I get frustrated I look around and see that we have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge & pantry, clothes on our backs, and we're all healthy. Things aren't so bad and we must be doing something right. When I'm really down, I just logon the Mommysavers website and it makes me feel better.

I'm with SurvivorMom--my inlaws are spendthrifts, and two years away from retirement with nothing to show for a lifetime of hard work! Having goals is a great motivator to stay on budget--are you really going to regret passing up those shoes you're coveting today when you're 60? Or are you going to be financially free and be able to buy the shoe store?

If you are on a strict budget it helps to budget a little bit of "free" money for yourself. My husband and I each get $20 a payday to spend however we want. It does seem like a lot, I suppose, but it keeps us from digging into the other budgeted money and we don't feel so deprived. We know that once our $20 is gone then we have to wait until next payday.

When it comes to a grocery budget, I always go down my list and put a price by each item. I add the items up and if I am over budget, I start crossing out items that I really don't need or that can wait until next time. It's amazing what items you think you need, but really don't. I'm still working on sticking to a budget for eating out.