ok i work part-time at a pizza shop and im 6mths pregnant, im very worried bout the heat come the hot weather. im worried i wont be able to work. i only bring in 150 a week, my dh pay goes towards all bills.dh brings in $2000mth and our bills are about $1500 a mth so that leaves us $500 for everything. and with the price of gas itself would take a big chunk out of that.
my question is ive read a few posts that say they survive on $400 a month for everything. im wondering how you can do this, what tips you have.

__________________

WIFE TO MIKE
MOTHER TO HUNTER 3YRS OLD AND HEATH BORN 9/22

Well for starters, have you been saving any of your pay since your dh income covers all the bills? That would help you out some by doing that. What exactly are all of your household bills? If you list each bill, and the amount, maybe we can better see what things you could cut out or change to give you extra $$ each month. It would help you to start making some of your own cleaning supplies, I have learned from this site that you can do alot with vinegar and baking soda! Also, I have been able to help our expenses by cutting down on our grocery expense each month. I try to look at the sales ads, use coupons(when possible), and make more things from scratch. One thing you can do is check out some cookbooks from your local library, I have found some really easy and cheap recipes from some mennonite/amish cookbooks. Cutting down on convenience foods has really helped our food bill alot.

First all, congrats on the new baby coming! First thing is to look at the $1500 worth of bills that are currently on your budget - anything that can be found cheaper or eliminated? Cable is nice but not worth going without food for. Can you shop around for cheaper auto and home insurance? After doing that, can DH carpool to work to lower your gas comsumption? If he could do that or take the bus, maybe you could get by with only one car (sell the 2nd one if you have two).
On the household spending, I shop for 85% of our groceries at Aldi's which has saved us a lot versus the grocer down the street (we live in an older home right between two million dollar communities so all the local merchants price their stuff according to the thought that "everyone" in the community lives in the mcmansions) I have to drive about 15 miles to get there so I do one trip a month which helps with gas. I only allow myself one roll of paper towels a month and try to make it last two. I used to use paper towels for everything and have switched to dishtowels and cloth napkins. I use homemade cleaners or dawn dish soap which I have found cleans the tub and shower really well since body oils are part of the tubscum.
I pay as many of our bills online as possible to avoid paying postage. I only buy DS as many clothes as he needs to make it through me doing laundry once a week. He's not typically too messy so he usually only has 7 or 8 outfits for each season (winter or summer). I try to buy on clearance or second hand.
Usually at the beginning of each month, I make a budget for the household $$ for groceries, clothes, and the like and then my goal is to beat myself and stay below the budget. I'm a competitive person so it's like a game to me.
Good luck! While you are still able to work save, save, save so that you have a small emergency fund for those weeks when you're out of money and diapers at the same time!

I would look at all the bills now and the ones to come. If you see things the baby will Need then I would start getting those. Then ask friends and family for the things you will need. No clothes they out grow them so fast.
wipes,daipers etc you will always use. then save anything. if you and a co worker can share a ride to work that would help. GOOO LUCK keep reading, we are here to help.

Look at each bill and see how you can lower it. If you really try, you might be able to change it from $500 left to $750 or more left over. Refinance loans if you have them, consider selling 1 car if you have 2, lower utility and food bills etc. Good luck!

I agree with the other posters. I would suggest sitting down with DH and putting everything on paper. (Sometimes actually seeing the numbers makes more sense than thinking about them) Trim down everywhere you can. Call your bill companies and see about specials or what they can do to help. Combine shopping trips. Coupons combined with sales items, and stocking up helps my family out a ton!

ok are bills are:
MORTGAGE:550
CAR PAY:210 (will be paid off in april)
SCHOOL LOAN: 140
CABLE:68
ELECTRIC:130
GAS: 190 (BUDGET)
PHONE/NET: 54
SEWAGE:79 (every 3mths)
WATER:80 (every 3mths)
GARBAGE: 45 (every 3mths)
CAR INS: 120 (includes me and dh life insurance)

*ive looked into the cable we have on demand at $68 which is a big plus with a toddler on rainy days! basic cable is $52.
*phone is already as cheap as we can get it we have nothing just able to call out and recieve calls, no long distance,caller id, or call waiting.
*everything in our house is gas! we went on budget after having a $600 gas bill one month in the winter
*car will be paid off in april so dont want to get rid of it after paying on it for almost 5yrs

any help would be great! any tips too
thanx

__________________

WIFE TO MIKE
MOTHER TO HUNTER 3YRS OLD AND HEATH BORN 9/22

I have one suggestion if someone offers to host a shower - I just had my 3rd and everyone wanted to give me a shower, but I thought that was kind of tacky with it being my third baby! So, they said, lets do a celebration shower and bring diapers and wipes! It was so much fun for us girls to get together, and I got enough diapers to last 6 months! I actually bought my first pack of diapers for my baby last week.

Good luck with your decision! You can live on any amount you have - you will just have to make a few sacrifices, but SO WORTH IT!!!!!

What really works is to tighten up with the grocery spending. I do try and spend under $500 on food. One of the things is to write out a menu, for the week and stick with it so we only buy the groceries we need. You can save alot just by cutting convenece foods.
Also keep in mind some utilities are less and that should help. Our Gas bill for may came down to $30 (its over $200 in the winter). We just keep the heat off in the summer and can get it down to just the service charge. Another way we save (I am sure our neighbors don't like this) is to have the house with a brown lawn. It just isn't worth it to us to pay high water bills.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

Well, when I quit work, we refinaced the house and saved about $400, then we shopped for auto and house insurance and saved another $500. We have shopped for new cable and saved liked $10, phone $25. It has all added up and the extra $ a month does help. The refiance was huge.....