Thinking about it, we sacrifice a lot to have the funds to pay for our children's private school tuition. Three of our four children go to our church school and it is our highest monthly bill. More than both our first and second mortgage combined.

It is a priority for us. We don't have the latest vehicles, DH always takes his lunch to work, we don't eat out that much. When we do, it's the dollar menu at the fast food restaurant. I rarely buy myself clothing, neither does DH. The kids' clothes are bought new, but on deep discount (or with a Gymbo GC from using our Gymbo Visa).

Our house is not large and it's fairly old. There are 6 of us in a 3 bedroom home. It still feels plenty big for us and our mortgages are very reasonable. It's cheaper than renting. We did spend money fixing it to where we like it and we're set for quite awhile.

We don't take alot of vacations, but we have spent $$$ on "play stuff" for the kids in the backyard (Rainbow Play system, trampline, inflatible water slide). We did have Sea World passes that would fill our summers and school vacations, but we have let ours expire and haven't renewed them yet.

It is important for us that our kids have a good education. Our local public schools are very lacking in meeting the state standards and have very low proficiency rates in state mandated testing. To ensure that our children get the best start, we sacrifice in these areas. To tell the truth, we don't feel like we're missing anything.

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SAHM of 4

August food budget (groceries/take-out): $500.00/$75.00
Total spent: $238.97/$14.12

July budget/spent: $500.00/$650.00

We drive older vehicles that are paid for so I can stay home with my daughter.

As far as getting the things that I want, since I don't own a home there isn't much that I want. When I did own a home I was alot like you and your DH Taylyn, always wanting to do upgrades to the house.

I have changed tremendously since we moved here last November and I started staying home full time (previously worked part time). I just don't want like I used to. And like someone else mentioned above, when I do have a want I check at thrift stores and yard sales and I usually find what I am looking for. When I buy clothes I shop at Ross or shop the deep discount clearance section at other stores.

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Sept. Grocery Budget- 350
Spent: 96.38
Remaining: 253.62

Sept. Coupon Savings: 16.18

We are these friends.

It just seems these days there is no where left to cut back.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

We don't have much to cut back, either. Mostly, we scrimp on everything to pay for one thing. We just bought a new furnace from savings. We constantly save to buy new windows. I guess that would make us the ones who scrimp on experience to save for their house, but we'll be done with all of that this year, the furnace and windows are the last things to be done. After that, I don't know what we're going to do! It's gonna be great, though!!!

We spend very little on clothing (esp. for DH and I), we almost never go out, we drive used cars and we don't travel very much. However, we get good shoes, DD does dance class, DH has a couple of hobbies and I do, too. We also get take-out once a week, or we go to Cracker Barrel for a family supper.

ETA: We also do the vast majority of our own home repairs (DH is really handy), I cook a lot from scratch, and we do free or really low-cost family activities (libraries, parks, kite-flying, beach, etc.).

I am a very low maintenance woman ( color my own hair, shop at Goodwill, minimal makeup, no manicures, etc). This way I have more money to spend so my girls can be in activities (dance, gymnastics, art classes, etc). I was never in activities growing up (we couldn't afford them), and I want my children to have opportunities to try different things.