Are you going over budget because you are deal crazy? We can all get caught up in saving money, but when saving money puts you over your budget, you have gone too far. When I am teaching a coupon workshop, one of the first thing’s I discus is how important it is to set a budget. Setting a budget is key to lowering your monthly expenses.
I will often post photos of my deals on this site telling you just how much I saved at Kroger. For example I spent $37 but saved $112. I do this because it is just so much fun and I like to see the savings. It keeps me motivated to keep clipping coupons and inspire you to do the same. What if I told you I spent $67 and saved $150. Sounds good doesn’t it, but my weekly grocery budget is $40. I just went $27 over budget, not so good.
Before I started couponing I used to spend between $150 and $200 a week at the grocery store because I did not have a budget. I now spend about $40 a week and what makes the most sense to me now is not how much I save each week but how little I spend.
I know it can be hard to pass up some of those really good deals you think you must have because the savings are just too high. The truth is next week there will be more deals and the week after that more deals and so on. Deals never seem to stop, but you have to, when your weekly budget has been met. You can go into dept just by saving money. Yes, saving money puts people in dept because they have the need to go after every deal out there. Sometimes people get lost in the idea of saving and forget all about their budget. Set budgets for all the area’s you spend money and stick to them. Avoid the stress of being in dept just to score one more deal.
My passion is to help people learn to live on less and get the most for your money without going over budget. I would love to hear your idea’s on how you stick to you weekly budget and if you need some great tips on how to budget for the holiday’s? My friend Shannon has written a great post about this subject here.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I only pay in cash. I take out my allotted amount for the week and once it is gone then I know I just have to wait until next week. I also highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s book, “The Total Money Makeover”. I don’t have a lot of debt but it helped me set goals and spend more wisely. And of course I am very grateful to you and what you have taught me with using coupons and setting a budget!!
thank you for posting this.
i’m a new dedicated coupon-clipping, deal-seeking lady and have been focused on the amount i’m saving, rather than what i’m spending. my bills really haven’t gone down much, i’m just buying stuff i normally wouldn’t because “i have a coupon.”
i’m going to be more consious of my spending now.
thanks again.