14 Tips on Starting a Family Budget.

Aww.. Don’t we look so cute and happy here? We actually had a good day today but this week has been really hard for us. We decided to get our family on a budget. I started listening to The Dave Ramsey Show on podcasts on the way to work. I decided that my goal was to get our family prepared for baby #2 and to get us out of debt. My husband and I came up with a financial plan. I love organizing so why not organize my finances? right?? The first day Chris and I sat down the figured out our budget we fought. We fought more then I thought we would too.

So if you plan on sitting down with your husband/wife and setting up a budget please realize there is a chance you two are going to fight. He was mad because I wanted to keep getting my nails done (nail budget) and I wanted to cut out cable (like that is going to happen with football coming). We compromised and cut some things out. We really knew exactly how much we were going to spend where and we had money left over each month to pay off my car and credit card bills.

If you know me or have been following me for a little while, you have probably noticed that Chris and I are very different. We are different with finances as well. Chris is smart, doesn’t like to buy things he doesn’t necessarily need and I want the new and best of everything. I really enjoy spending money and he would rather save it all. I always joke to my friends and say I am not a hard sell haha.

I am not a financial blogger; however, I can give you an update on how we are doing as a family, how I found ways to save money from our day to day lives (mommy style), and how excited I am to do this.

Do you want to put your family on a budget?

Here are some tips to get started…

1. Read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover book. Find it here
2. Don’t have time to read a book? Listen to Dave Ramsey’s podcasts. They are free and great if you travel an hour to work like I do. I didn’t read his book.
3. The Monthly Cash Flow Plan is our favorite budget form from Dave Ramsey. This is what we did on DAY #1. Click here to get yours.
4. My friend told me about this service called Emeals. They send you a grocery list and recipes with that list to help cut your grocery bill in half. You do have to pay about $9 a month but it could save you hundreds. My friend said she has tried it and loved it and I plan on trying it as well. Link to website here
5. We are doing the envelope system but you can also do your budget through http://ynab.com.  I also have a friend that uses this app and she said she has saved $7,000. You become aware of some of your spending and it links right up to your bank account.
6. Bank apps can tell you how much you spend on certain things. When I checked our app I noticed that we spend $600 on just eating out. We cut that in half. This will help you track what you spend and what you can start to budget.
7. I have never planned for going to the emergency room, my dog getting sick, or the car needing new breaks. This all happened to us last month. When it rains it pours doesn’t it??  But now you are going to plan for all of that. At first I was like no Chris I don’t want to save $100 for just car repairs but one day you are going to need it and you won’t have to pull that out of savings.
8. You don’t have to be an extreme coupon lady, but do realize that you can save a lot of money at the grocery store by shopping the food that is on sale (the weekly sale ads). Coupon things you actually use or need at the time.
9. The Ibotta app is amazing and I have $20 dropping into my bank account for scanning my receipts.
10. If you shop at Walmart make sure you use savings catcher.
11. Learn how to say NO. I am not going to say No to everything.. I just can’t. I am just not that girl. I love going out with my friends and socializing. It’s how I de-stress. The girls have been inviting me to lunch at work and I keep saying “No guys, I brought my lunch and I am on a budget.” I feel left out and it sucks sometimes. But I have a goal with my family and I want to stick to it. Dave Ramsey says if you are in debt, you are not going to see inside of a restaurant until the debt is paid off. I don’t completely agree with that. I think you should balance things. There is always a healthy balance.As y’all know I am preparing for baby #2.
12. I use the posh mark app and mercari app to buy gently used clothes for the kids. I got 15 outfits for $25 for the new baby and they were adorable. I totally scored on that one. I also use the app to sell things. I sold my old purse and got $50. It’s a win/ win.
13. Work together as a team with you and your husband/spouse. It’s going to be hard but y’all will get in the groove. I thought it was so sweet the other night when I was craving fries and my husband told me he would buy them for me with his own cash (not in the budget). I felt like we were dating again and it made me happy.
14. Consider a side hustle. Can you get a little part time job, bake cupcakes or cakes on the side, sell things you don’t need, paint furniture? It’s amazing what you can do when you set your mind on THE goal. Try to turn your hobby into a little cash. When you are busy and productive it’s hard to find time to spend money. Do you know when I spend money or shop online? When I am bored.  That’s when.

Church this morning helped me so much. The sermon was about how people in life are stressed over 2 things. 1. Money 2. Time. The pastor told us when you quit caring about what everyone else has and put God first he will provide. I am so guilty about obsessing over material things. I know I can’t be the only one.

I did realize when I was out with my family tonight that they are my true happiness. Watching my boys skip rocks and feeling my sweet baby kick inside my belly. My sweet 3 year old toddler doesn’t really know what money is.  He doesn’t know what brand of clothes he is wearing. He had fun throwing rocks in the lake with Chris. ROCKS? really.. do you know how many toys he has? He doesn’t care if I am wearing an expensive purse… he just wants me to play with him. He just wants my time and attention. Everything else really doesn’t matter. Remember what is important for you and your family and this will help your achieve your financial goal.

Don’t forget to check out this organization post here

Have a great Labor Day with the ones you love,

Abraidedblonde.