April 22, 2009
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FRUGAL FRIDAY: Working @ home!
A few things have changed since I last posted about our financial situation. I’m no longer working part time at the school cafeteria. I’m back home now and Hubby and I are much happier about it. We are trying to do everything we can to cut expenses so I can stay home. There is no guarantee but we’re sure doing our best to try and prevent me having to leave the home to work.
I made up a monthly budget of our fixed and flexible expenses. I also listed those sporadic expenses such as yearly DMV registration fees, birthday gifts, Christian gifts, smog, etc. I divided those by 12 to get a monthly figure which I take out in cash and set aside in an envelope.
I studied each category to see if I could reduce or eliminate the expense. Any savings then is considered MY WAGES!
Here’s how I’ve been making & saving money from home:
* I wash my car on fridays. SAVINGS $ 6.00 a week/ $24.00 a month
* I made a baby shower gift instead of buying one. SAVINGS $20.00
*Christmas is right around the corner. I have a lot of grandchildren to buy gifts for so I’ve started looking for ideas online. I’m currently sewing an adorable doll baby diaper bag/ changing pad for my granddaughters. I’m setting aside at least an hour a day to sew. I’m thinking of the sewing as a ‘real job’ since it will reduce my gift budget allowance.
* I canceled my AOL subscription. I downloaded Mozilla Firefox for free. I’ll be able to use my old screen name. SAVINGS $11.99 a month.
* I called our garbage service and asked if they had a smaller can. They delivered a 60 gallon which is working just fine for the two of us. SAVINGS 7.00 a month
* I lowered our cell phone plan to the lowest one available. SAVINGS 20.00 a month.
* I’m baking my husband’s snacks for his lunch. SAVINGS 10.00 a month.
* My husband is a soda drinker. He is limiting his sodas to 2 a day and is drinking Koolaid instead. SAVINGS $30.00 a month
* I started making my own feminine wipes. (I use them for quick freshening). I used to buy baby wipes in the store but now I make my own using the baby wipe recipe online. I posted the info about this a few fridays back. But, then I ran out of the Viva paper towels so I made up the mixture for the homemade wipes and placed it in a large ice cream bucket. I keep a wash rag on top of the bucket for convenience. SAVINGS $3.00 a month
* I checked with our auto insurance to see if we could lower our rates. They put one of our cars on a low mileage plan which will drop our payments slightly. I haven’t seen the new bill yet.
-panti liners (I posted about my homemade ones a few weeks ago. They are working out great. I haven’t ventured to wear them outside the house quite yet but they are working great at home). SAVINGS $12.00 a month ( 3 daily x 25 days =75 divided by 24 equals 3 boxes)
Monthly (MINIMUM) Savings: 117.99
This is not a completely accurate monthly savings because I have not listed the savings for the gifts I’m making or the laundry detergent. I’ve also cut our food budget by at least $100.00 a month.. most likely more. Sometimes, if there is an interest, I’ll share what I’m doing to save in the kitchen.
Bringing money into the home w/out leaving home:
* I received an offer from Washington Mutual to earn $100.00 if I opened a new account with a $100.00. I did ..and they did! It took me 15 minutes to open the account. Pretty easy way to make a hundred dollars. I’m watching for other legitimate bank offers.
* I’m doing surveys online and adding the money to my gift budget for Christmas. Pinecone Research is my favorite. I make about $6.00 – $9.00 a month with Pinecone. Plus, they send free samples occasionally to try out. I’m signed up with quite a few survey companies. I’m just about ready to cash in on some of these. I won’t get rich but every little bit helps towards my gift budget.
* Swagbucks is a search engine. (Click on the link I have in the sidebar for more info). I’m a few swagbucks away from earning a $5.00 gift card to Amazon. I’ll save these up for gifts.
* I’m doing some typing for a company. I try to type 3 hours a day.
I’m currently training for another online job. I want to test it out first before I share the info. If it works there will be a potential to make an extra $3-9.00 a day (for one hours work) answering questions on a search engine.
Some are probably reading the amounts I am saving and making and think it’s not worth the time. But, a little saved here and there really ads up.
I’m so happy to be HOME!
Psss…check out more ways to save money at LIFE AS MOM for FRUGAL FRIDAY
I’d love to hear how you are ‘WORKING @ HOME’ by saving money or even making money while at home. If you have time could you post some suggestions?
Comments (7)
I’m so glad you get to stay home. I’ve been blessed to be able to be at home most all of our married life, even though we had to get along with less. The kids and I hung clothes on the line and washed dishes by hand long after other people had dryers and dishwashers, and we survived.
You’re right, the little things do add up.
@ata_grandma -I forgot to add that I hang my clothes and wash my dishes by hand, too!
I’ve been doing that for quite a few years. I have a good system for hanging the clothes. I ‘fluff’ them in the dryer for a few minutes to soften them. I’m not sure how to figure out the savings.
I’ve been home most our married life, too. I told my husband the other day that I’ve never wanted to be anything more than a homemaker. I’ve trained and studied for it just as someone would for a career because I considered it MY career. I was willing to help him anyway I needed to so that’s why I went to work. So, I’m working as hard as I can now at home to see if we can make it. I’m praying we will.
Thanks for responding. I’m so behind on responding to other people’s posts! But, I do keep up mostly with the reading.
Sounds like you are doing a great job of cutting expenses. I am a work-at-home mom. Several years ago, my husband and I decided that I should quit my full-time job to stay home with our little princess. I’ve been amazed at how many things we can do without, or find a more frugal way to have them, to enable us to follow our hearts desire.
You are doing a great job! I admire your determination to be a homemaker. I think God will bless your efforts.
You may already do this but I like to simplify things. I will take things we no longer need or use to consignment shops on a regular basis. I am constantly evaulating rooms and things we have stored away. As new things come into our home (even though we do not buy them, they always find a way in, lol), I make sure to get rid of other things. The consignment shop is a great way to make a few extra dollars and keep your home organized and clean.
Something else to consider if you are good at sewing and crafting is Etsy.com. You should consider setting up an etsy shop and selling your crafted items.
Sounds like you have really put a lot of thought into ways to keep costs down. You are very inspiring!
So glad you can stay home. Sounds like you are really thinking things out well. I am sure it will be worth it all. God’s blessing!
I truly admire you!
I’m doing about all I can at this point in my life to just keep up with my private teaching full time, & the shopping, and the little bit of housework (mainly cooking & laundry) that I do. I’m thankful that my husband is retired, and does so much! He is truly not only my best friend, but my partner, and I thank God for him! 
@JusticeMom - Oh, my! There is NO way I could do what I am doing if I worked full-time outside the home. This is a full-time job.. really! You are helping your husband in one way.. I am helping mine in another. I marvel that you are able to do what YOU do. Working part-time was a stretcher as it is. I can’t imagine working full-time. Praise God He gives each of us the grace we need to do what we have to do.