So...it has come to our attention that we spend way too much money on crap. In order to keep track of our spending we use one credit card throughout the course of a month for all purchases. This serves twofold, as we also use this credit card to accrue points (which are a joke by the way, but that is rant for another day). We tend to crisscross the country by default a couple of times a year just visiting family and let's face it...the dreaded air travel can be less than affordable. But I digress.
We spend way too much on crap, and each month we notice our credit card statement climbing higher and higher...and higher. So in order to remedy we have implemented a budget. We have done this (unsuccessfully) before and I don't understand how we can have absolutely no will power to stick to it. It is like dieting for me. I do really well one day and fall off the wagon for the next 29. Well, not this time. Unlike dieting, I fully intend to stick to this so I can finally purchase furniture for the empty room in the front of the house. I swear, people driving by would think our house was a foreclosure.
I have been doing a lot of research on just where we can cut the costs. Unfortunately, we have to eat and food prices seem to be the biggest budget buster of all. I blame it on all the hoopla on buying all natural and organic. This is what I came up with - DIY is the best remedy ever.
1. I have decided to make my own bread. I stay at home and if I spent less time on the computer while little girly naps I could make enough batter for three loafs of bread for a grand total of $1.75 a piece. My bread will probably not be very good, but since bread is the downfall of my diet, perhaps I will eat less of it. Reminder: Dry bread does not mean add more butter.
2. Adding sweat equity into our home. Okay - so this is probably my worst idea yet, but I figure as the home prices in AZ rise, there is something I can do to help our house gain a little footing - just in case it gets so hot that we have to move. I am starting in the back of the house and moving forward. The first step? The master bath. Let me ask you something - who decided that carpet in a bathroom was a wise idea?
3. Using my photography as artwork to cover all our bare walls. I'm not a good photographer, but I've seen worse art in people's homes that has cost way more than the developing fee at Costco.
4. I also found that buying memberships to places I bring Norah is far less expensive than paying on per visit basis. This may be a no brainer for you budget savvy people, but I never realized just how much we do the same thing over and over again.
I'm sure there is more, but I am spending too much time on the computer.
