How many of you live on a fixed budget? Meaning you don't deviate from it either! lol

Me! I'm like the old joke about the depression - depression? heck we thought it was a way of life. I'm driving a 15 year old car to work. My idea of a good vacation is McDonalds drive thru 1.00 gourmet meal. :)

I wish I could live on a budget but I can't quite figure it out.I try to do by best.Is their anyone who can explain how to set up a budget that would be helpful!!!!

Well, I live on a small fixed income and although it's not easy, you just have to prioritize your spending and then stick to it. For instance, by prioritize, I mean you cover your basics first------rent, utilities, food, car expenses, phone. Then you absolutely stick to that budget. The things you absolutely need have to be covered right off the top. Pay those and/or set aside the money and don't touch it even if your butt falls off.

If you're accepting phone calls and you can't afford it, have a block put on your phone or tell your loved one that you absolutely can't accept more than one call a week (or every two weeks or once a month or whatever you know you can afford) and that you'll deny any other calls. It's hard but you can do it and if you deny the first one they make to you that you didn't okay, then they usually won't call more often than they should. If you do accept one without it being okay, then they keep calling more often than they should. It's hard to decline the calls, but if you have to, it's best to just do it and be strong.

If you can't visit without overspending your budget, then don't visit. Save up for a visit instead of going when the money will come out of your priority money. Or carpool with someone if you can find a ride.

If you can't afford the stamps to write every day, then decide how often you can afford to write and buy that amount of stamps for the month plus maybe a few 23 cent stamps (are they still 23 cents?) to cover the added ounce if you go over the first ounce. You might think adding another 37 cent stamp doesn't hurt, but that's 14 cents you're throwing away by not having some 23 cent stamps on hand. That's a lot of money-------10 letters and you're out 1.40, or if you've added 3 or 4 37-cent stamps to a big letter, that's up to 42 cents you've thrown away per letter. It adds up quickly.

Here's a big thing-----do NOT send money to your loved one unless you absolutely can afford it! They have their needs covered by the state. You have to look out for your own needs first. If you feel you just can't live with yourself unless you send your loved one something each month, figure out how much you can send without shorting yourself on things that are priorities for you. If you can trim out $20 a month by cutting out a few little extras you'd otherwise spend on for yourself, then send that. Your loved one might complain about the food or whatever, but they get food to eat and it's like with kids----if they're hungry enough, they'll eat it. You probably don't get to eat what you'd like all the time out here, either.

You're going to do the time with your loved one in a much better way if you know your living expenses are covered, you're eating right because you can buy food, you're limiting phone calls so that at least you can have SOME phone contact, you're keeping your mail expenses down, and you're only visiting when you can afford it. You'll cut down on the stress not only for yourself but your loved one, too.

Here are some other tips----if you're living where you can't afford it, put your pride in your pocket and move to something more affordable. To heck with the Jones's----they don't have to live on your budget. If you live where you can afford to live, you're living well. If you live in a place you can't afford, that's a living hell. Right? So do what you gotta do on that score.

If you're making huge car payments so you can drive a nice car, maybe it's time to look around for a car you won't have to pay so much for. I've always had nice cars and I've not had a car payment in years and years. A used car can be nice and if it's been used enough, it might even be a classic soon, you know?

If you're used to running out to the store every day or two, buy your necessities all at once every month or every two weeks. The price of gas will run you broke if you run out at every whim. If you make fewer trips, you use less gas, and by cutting back like that, you may find that in a month or so, you've saved enough money for a trip to visit your loved one.

One thing I've learned, too, is that you have to leave a little room for YOU. If you like shopping and you just can't live without doing something every payday, be sure to leave room for at least a few dollars for yourself. We have Dollar Tree stores here, and I'm their best customer. Candles, bath products, toiletries, makeup (even brand name stuff is a buck), little things for the home, cleaning products-----everything you can think of is at your Dollar Tree for a buck apiece. Garage sales and thrift stores, too, can be your best friend.

I could go on and on here, but maybe I'm giving more information than anyone wants. If not, just let me know and I'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about living within a tight budget and making it work. I've had to do it a lot over the years. It's about quality of life not quantity, and it's about being able to have self-control and the strength to say no when you have to.

I have had to scale down extensively. I really hate it and find myself wondering how much longer I can live like this. Divorce was not an option before but it is becoming more and more a way out.

Fixed budget? Mine is shrinking!!!

With every new job I get, my base pay rate shrinks. I am sure you are asking yourself, why take the job if it pays less? Lousey job market. This job was the only one that called back in almost a year of job hunting. And it was at a $4.00 an hour decrease from my last job, and pays less than I was getting on Unemployment.

I am under lease for the apartment for 3 more months. Then I am moving to a place that will be dictated by my budget. I can't stand living like this anymore.....

i've lived on a Tiny budget for Years becuz i have had fibromyagia since 94 & couldn't continute working construction after about 96. then in 03 i developed early chronic renal insufficiency becuz my log cabin was treated w/ pentachlorophenol, a toxic preservative, & that has made it hard for me to do lots of the things i used to do---like have a job of any kind. the fatigue from both conditions is just too severe.
so, tho i am an astrologer, & make minute amounts of money for that (especially since i hate having to charge people for a gift god gave me to help other people), jamie was my sole financial support until his arrest in april.
my inheritance----which is substantial---has been w/held from me since my mother's death in 02 because of hassles, first w/ my cousin who had illegally had the will changed, & now w/ my brother, who suffers from pathological greed. i had always been a "trust fund baby" most of my life, & now i've had no support from my family since mother died.
my brother---paragon of generosity that he is---has just agreed to send me a "pension" check of $500 a month until the estate is settled!
so yeah, thank god that i don't hafta pay rent, because i DO LIVE ON A VERY FIXED INCOME---& am lots of times not able to do it.

I am on a teeny tiny fixed budget....as in make a huge cassarole Monday and eat it every day for a week for dinner :) . I agree with what was said earlier though about budgeting in some "me" money. I used to not do that, but then I would end up having an urge for something and would waste a whole paycheck on it. Now, I budget a small amount out for that and I can do whatever I want with it. That's the only way I've been able to STAY on a budget.

Freckles ~ dollar stores are my addiction too :D

I have no income and no insurance but I'm a fulltime student. I lost my job and unemployment ran out. I'm using the little bit of savings I have and I stretch it like you wouldn't believe. Someone mentioned about saving money for visits, yes that's what I do. I've been saving a little bit from food $ each week and hoping to visit Monday, first time since Christmas Eve. Phone calls are out of the question. I choose to live this way temporarily so I can put everything into school. This has caused big time communications problems but hopefully we can work them out. That's my budget story and I'm stickin to it. ;)

Toi ama-Your commment "I'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about living within a tight budget and making it work." PLEASE more useful advice - would love to hear more practical ideas.

I'll be happy to give more budget stretching advice. Is there any particular kind of advice you need?

Yes I am now that I have been laid off from my job. I have cut back on a lot of things, I even started saving my Pepsi cans!

I'll be happy to give more budget stretching advice. Is there any particular kind of advice you need?I would love to hear some of your ideas about inexpensive gifts for birthdays etc. (esp. for older family members) and how to cut down on supermarket spending- any tips would be greatly appreciated- besides I really enjoy reading your posts- always filled with so much common sense!

Well, I live on a small fixed income and although it's not easy, you just have to prioritize your spending and then stick to it. For instance, by prioritize, I mean you cover your basics first------rent, utilities, food, car expenses, phone. Then you absolutely stick to that budget. The things you absolutely need have to be covered right off the top. Pay those and/or set aside the money and don't touch it even if your butt falls off.

If you're accepting phone calls and you can't afford it, have a block put on your phone or tell your loved one that you absolutely can't accept more than one call a week (or every two weeks or once a month or whatever you know you can afford) and that you'll deny any other calls. It's hard but you can do it and if you deny the first one they make to you that you didn't okay, then they usually won't call more often than they should. If you do accept one without it being okay, then they keep calling more often than they should. It's hard to decline the calls, but if you have to, it's best to just do it and be strong.

If you can't visit without overspending your budget, then don't visit. Save up for a visit instead of going when the money will come out of your priority money. Or carpool with someone if you can find a ride.

If you can't afford the stamps to write every day, then decide how often you can afford to write and buy that amount of stamps for the month plus maybe a few 23 cent stamps (are they still 23 cents?) to cover the added ounce if you go over the first ounce. You might think adding another 37 cent stamp doesn't hurt, but that's 14 cents you're throwing away by not having some 23 cent stamps on hand. That's a lot of money-------10 letters and you're out 1.40, or if you've added 3 or 4 37-cent stamps to a big letter, that's up to 42 cents you've thrown away per letter. It adds up quickly.

Here's a big thing-----do NOT send money to your loved one unless you absolutely can afford it! They have their needs covered by the state. You have to look out for your own needs first. If you feel you just can't live with yourself unless you send your loved one something each month, figure out how much you can send without shorting yourself on things that are priorities for you. If you can trim out $20 a month by cutting out a few little extras you'd otherwise spend on for yourself, then send that. Your loved one might complain about the food or whatever, but they get food to eat and it's like with kids----if they're hungry enough, they'll eat it. You probably don't get to eat what you'd like all the time out here, either.

You're going to do the time with your loved one in a much better way if you know your living expenses are covered, you're eating right because you can buy food, you're limiting phone calls so that at least you can have SOME phone contact, you're keeping your mail expenses down, and you're only visiting when you can afford it. You'll cut down on the stress not only for yourself but your loved one, too.

Here are some other tips----if you're living where you can't afford it, put your pride in your pocket and move to something more affordable. To heck with the Jones's----they don't have to live on your budget. If you live where you can afford to live, you're living well. If you live in a place you can't afford, that's a living hell. Right? So do what you gotta do on that score.

If you're making huge car payments so you can drive a nice car, maybe it's time to look around for a car you won't have to pay so much for. I've always had nice cars and I've not had a car payment in years and years. A used car can be nice and if it's been used enough, it might even be a classic soon, you know?

If you're used to running out to the store every day or two, buy your necessities all at once every month or every two weeks. The price of gas will run you broke if you run out at every whim. If you make fewer trips, you use less gas, and by cutting back like that, you may find that in a month or so, you've saved enough money for a trip to visit your loved one.

One thing I've learned, too, is that you have to leave a little room for YOU. If you like shopping and you just can't live without doing something every payday, be sure to leave room for at least a few dollars for yourself. We have Dollar Tree stores here, and I'm their best customer. Candles, bath products, toiletries, makeup (even brand name stuff is a buck), little things for the home, cleaning products-----everything you can think of is at your Dollar Tree for a buck apiece. Garage sales and thrift stores, too, can be your best friend.

I could go on and on here, but maybe I'm giving more information than anyone wants. If not, just let me know and I'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about living within a tight budget and making it work. I've had to do it a lot over the years. It's about quality of life not quantity, and it's about being able to have self-control and the strength to say no when you have to.

Thanks Toi, you have alot of good wisdom to share and while I am not on a fixed budget, I do have alot of expenses. I appreciate you and I hope you will keep sharing more.

One of my budgeting tips is the electricity. I can't stand high electric bills. In the winter I try and keep the heat set at 65, sometimes even 63, by wearing a long gown, long robe and a quilt over my lap.

In the summer time, I get sick if I am too hot, I try to keep the AC on 78 and sometimes if I have to, I will lower it to 76.

I also try and not use the dryer as much by hanging some things inside over the tub to dry. The dryer uses alot of electricity.

One more thing, as my long distance carrier is so expensive, I buy the cheapest phone card I can which is at Sams, it is only 3.47 cents a minute and I certainly cant beat that.

I have had a time adjusting to living on a budget. When my husband was home he took care of the extra stuff like vehicle insurance, house taxes and insurance, the exterminator we had come every month and stuff like that. I only paid the utilities. So when all the bills started coming push to shove I had to set down and make up a budget. I used the Excel program on my computer and listed all the utilities and monthly costs and put the yearly amount in. Then knocked that down to monthly costs so I would not be hit by big expenses on some months and smaller expenses on other months. I am not the world's best money "handler". I then know exactly how much money I have to put aside each payday to pay the bills that are due each month. The first month was the hardest because I had to come up with the money to cover a month in advance, but as long as there was a light at the end of the tunnel I forced myself to do it. Now comes the fun part, my mother has been helping me make sure I keep track of the bills when they come in! She loves having something to be responsible for, and I know she will make sure I get the bills paid on time. Heck, I have saved enough on past due expenses to buy a new sewing machine! Which I use to make extra money! And I sure don't visit Wal*Mart unless I absolutely have to. The Dollar Tree has become my best friend! The saying "Less is more" has become my mantra. And I make all the gifts I give family and friends for birthdays and holidays. Good luck to you!

I am Mrs Budget!!
my budget is so fixed....well forgeta bout it!

I use MICROSOFT MONEY for my budget, it is so easy to use and I stick to it or else!
I suggest you get this software, most computors come with it though.
it also estimates taxes as well as all your accounts, bills, savings, a planner and reports...

I have so many tips it ain't funny!!!!!!!!


DO NOT USE LONG DISTANCE CARRIERS, i PAY $5 FOR LIKE 6 HOURS OF PHONE TIME TO CALL MY MOM IN FLORIDA

99 cents stores are the BOMB!!

ebay ebay ebay :thumbsup:

It's really important to make sure you don't feel deprived. If you continually feel deprived, you're going to overspend the budget all the time and not be able to stick to it. Figure out what kind of things make you feel the most deprived if you lack them, and then try to budget those things----or some form of those things-----in each month and cut back in another place that doesn't bother you so much.

Like, for me, I need my GOOD cup of coffee every morning, and that means hazelnut creamer. Not powdered creamer or mocha mix and sugar------hazelnut creamer! And not any other coffee but Yuban------no cheaper substitute will do. If I don't have that, then I feel extremely deprived and it ends up showing up in other ways. I can endure just about anything as long as I have that GOOD coffee every morning. So to afford that, I'll find ways to make the food budget stretch to cover the few extra dollars for the coffee and creamer. I can be more comfortable with that than doing without my coffee.

Also, being able to spend something beyond expenses is something that will keep me from feeling too deprived. Even if it's only having a $5 spending "spree" at a garage sale, I've been able to "shop" and bring home something I either needed and have finally acquired or didn't really need but it's cool.

Another thing that will keep my comfort zone is to have say-----$20----put aside in my purse just in case I run out of toilet paper or something. Having a well-stocked supply of toilet paper is affluence to me. LOL Just seeing that shelf holding more than I need makes me feel very affluent.

Laundry quarters-----that's another point of comfort for me. I buy a $10 roll of them and then since I only usually do a load of laundry a week, I have a few extra dollars for those extra loads that just happen, which makes me feel very comfortably provided for.

These may sound silly, but if you sit down and figure out what things it is that it distresses you the most to be without and find ways to cover those comfort zones, you'll not feel like you're deprived even though you're still on that tight budget and really don't have extras. If you're not feeling deprived and constricted, then you're not going to have a big blowout all of a sudden to compensate, which we all know then means having to be sick over knowing we've upset our whole enconomy for the month.

Also, if you find it's a problem for you that you dip into the bill money, what I do is buy money orders right when I cash my check and then I fill them out right away. Rent and electricity especially-----those two are your very basic things and if you buy the money orders or make out the checks immediately and get those paid before you do anything else, it just gets to be a habit and then you're never faced with that nagging insecurity of being evicted or getting behind on those. There's a huge comfort in knowing those are always covered. Plus, when you build up a good record of paying your rent always in full and on time, that's going to stand you in really good stead when you go to try to incorporate a felon into your household. That might be the only saving grace you'll have on that score.

toi ama- "If you continually feel deprived, you're going to overspend the budget all the time and not be able to stick to it" - that is so true- love the idea of little "luxuries" like good coffee and spending $5 at a garage sale- after all we are worth it aren't we (money seems to tie in with a sense of self-worth or lack of). Maybe you should think about writing a book. More tips please !

OK, here's one on that ever-lovin' problem with losing your good credit. I don't know of many people involved with loved ones in prison who doesn't at least run into problems with losing your good credit.

Back in the late 70's when I was being threatened with getting stuck paying an ex-husband's debts, I found to my horror that not only was I getting stuck with the debts of one, but of the first one, too! In states with no-fault divorce, it didn't matter whether the judge ordered the husband to pay the debts of the marriage, we were both still held legally responsible for those debts. Meaning that I, who was raising four kids alone without any support coming in from their father, also was liable for the debts of a 13-year marriage that he hadn't paid! But a very kindly person working at the collection agency I found this out from also told me some very interesting facts. I don't know if they're still true (remember, this was 1979) or whether it was just in Oregon, but here are a couple things I was told:

*If you pay even one dollar on a debt, they can't turn you over to a collection agency. They won't AGREE to taking the dollar, of course, but if you send it and they reject it, then you don't owe the debt. If they do keep it, then you can't be turned over to a collection agency. Pay by check or money order so you have proof. Just be sure you keep the letter with the rejected dollar so you could take it to court to show if they choose to send it back
.
*If you don't pay on a debt for seven years, the debt drops off your credit rating. If you pay anything on it, though, during that seven years, then it would extend for another 7 years of not paying before it wouldn't show.

Further things about credit:

My policy is that, with the exception of your house and possibly your car, if you can't afford to pay for it with cash or to save up for it, then you can't afford it. Buy now pay later is a very costly and self-perpetuating proposition. What you pay in interest you could be putting into a savings account.

To cover those instances where you need a credit card-------like buying books online to send to your loved one or to use when you travel to visit and you don't want to carry a lot of money, go to http://www.netspend.com and check out their prepaid Mastercard. (I checked this out with PTO staff and was given permission to post the url a few months ago, so I presume it's still alright). I've had this card myself for awhile now and I'm absolutely happy with their integrity and with being able to put money on the card and use it just like any other card. With the exception, of course, that you can't get a line of credit on it like you can with the other kind. There are no hidden fees, either. And it's a good way to tuck a little money "out of sight out of mind" for emergencies during the month. And they offer you the option of having a one-time monthly deduction of $9 which means you're not charged per-use or ATM fees and each time you use the card to buy something, that will also be entered as a timely payment on a debt, which they say helps you restore your credit. I can't tell you if that's true or not, though. There's a one-time very low set-up fee and then it's a $2 each time you put money on the card. The website will provide you with outlets in your area where you can put money on the card.

Checking account costing you in overdraws? I got tired of that and tired of the domino effect of forgetting a banking fee or misfiguring my balance, overdrawing, then having that domino effect just totally throw me into abject(er?) poverty. I don't use checking. I use a check cashing service and at that check cashing place, they give me free money orders. The percentage they charge me for cashing a check is way less than what I've lost in overdraw fees with the banks. I almost think the banks have a racket going on. I may pay $20 to have my paycheck cashed, but that's a whole bunch less than the cost of a couple of overdrafts that then racks me up even more with domino effect at the bank. The prepaid Mastercard I have allows for money to be put on my card at the same place I cash my check, too.

Has your credit gone totally to hell and it's too late to worry about sending them a buck a month? Don't worry about it. It's not the end of the world. It isn't as easy to do without good credit but once you accept it, it's actually a blessing in disguise to learn to live without being able to rack up debt. So your washer broke and you can't afford a new one? Use the want ads or put up signs on bulletin boards saying you need one and how much you can afford. Same if you need anything else. Put the word out with friends, too. There are tons of things given to Goodwill and thrown away that are still very good and that you can get for free or cheap.

The rent-to-own places are a resource you can use if you have bad credit. I can hear the screams now about how you pay so much more in the long run if you pay out the rental to own the item, but think about it-----how much would you pay if you added in the interest for buying it on a credit card? Same deal, right? Or pretty darned close. So if you have to have or want to have something you can rent to own, you do have that option.

DLM, I think a lot of people have written books on this before that are probably better than mine would be. I don't suppose they come from quite the same angle. LOL But I'm glad to give you some pointers.

i've lived on a Tiny budget for Years becuz i have had fibromyagia since 94 & couldn't continute working construction after about 96. then in 03 i developed early chronic renal insufficiency becuz my log cabin was treated w/ pentachlorophenol, a toxic preservative, & that has made it hard for me to do lots of the things i used to do---like have a job of any kind. the fatigue from both conditions is just too severe.
so, tho i am an astrologer, & make minute amounts of money for that (especially since i hate having to charge people for a gift god gave me to help other people), jamie was my sole financial support until his arrest in april.
my inheritance----which is substantial---has been w/held from me since my mother's death in 02 because of hassles, first w/ my cousin who had illegally had the will changed, & now w/ my brother, who suffers from pathological greed. i had always been a "trust fund baby" most of my life, & now i've had no support from my family since mother died.
my brother---paragon of generosity that he is---has just agreed to send me a "pension" check of $500 a month until the estate is settled!
so yeah, thank god that i don't hafta pay rent, because i DO LIVE ON A VERY FIXED INCOME---& am lots of times not able to do it.

I also have fibro and now I am going through all this crap, they say I may have been misdiagnosed, instead I may have lupus. Which is scaring the crap out of me, as for work it is very hard for me to work a full time job at anything that requires sitting or standing to long, not to mention my memory and attention span. So my income has very much been disrupted, when Robby was out I didn't work I took care of our son, so now that he his gone I have no other choice, if it weren't for my parents helping me when I am short and me being able to work for their business and they understand my health is to good to be true. just wanted to say I know how you feel!

I too have a fixed budget, I am on state assistance in California, I get a whole 540 a month to raise my daughter,:banghead: (rent is 350 alone and thats only b/c I rent from my sister) and 185 a month for food. I can make the food budget stretch, by going to the dollar tree and 99 cents only store. but I have to cut the visits back to two a month and I don't talk to my honey on the phone unless his mom 3-ways me when he calls her. she is pretty good about that. I also suffer from bad credit, and filed bankruptcy while I filed for divorce from my ex-husband in 02. I am lucky to have my sister, she has helped me out a lot with my visits and rent. My sister loans me the money for visiting, gas and food is about 50 each weekend visit. I am thinking of seeing if there are others near me that have loved ones in Chino and carpool maybe share gas costs. I use the crockpot a lot to cook casseroles or meals that can stretch, since there are only the two of us, I freeze leftovers too. I also buy a lot of other basic stuff,(makeup, hair products,etc.) at 99cents only store and dollar tree. the store helps with my daughter too, when she has a couple dollars she feels like she is getting a lot when we go there.;) I too would like to hear some more budgting advice.

oh, as far as employment, when I divorced I moved and no company paid close to what I was getting as a office assistant, then I got carpel tunnel real bad(have to have surgery on both hands) and unemployment ran out. I do currently hold ca notary public license and am ordained to perform marriages. so hopefully soon I will be able to make a little with those things, and I am going back to school full time.

My budget consists of living from disconnect notice to disconnect notice!! I know that I am very fortunate to have a job when so many people don't, but supporting 3 kids (only one in daycare, thank goodness) is a battle. I go without a lot so that I can buy a few things for the kids, not a lot for them really, but mainly just to pay for their sports and activities, that's my big dilemma, it's money, but I know where they are and what they are doing, and they are getting some exercise. I just wanted to thank everyone for posting their tips here, especially Toi Ama. A big money saver for me has been watching the bank account to make sure I don't bounce checks. (hate to say it, but with my husband in prison that is almost non-existent anymore :D :D ). My other big thing I'm trying to work on is paying my bills on time, you'd be surprised how much late fees can add up for everything!!

Toi-Ama- thanks for the excellent money saving tips. I really think the idea of not feeling "deprived" is the key to helping us psychologically.Thanks everyone else too for your ideas.

How about i pay my bills ( rent, phone, electricity, car) and i have about eh 20 MAYBE 30 dollars left after that.. so yeah i guess i budget.. actually no i just never buy anything but i DO pay my bills.... so thats kewl!

www.craigslist.com is in many cities and you can find things for cheap...I got a 400 Air Cond, for $100 and it works perfectly, I also found a monitor for $20 and a printer for $20 also, and other deals...not to mention want ads ...and you can sell your stuff too, place an ad for free.
also,www.lootnewyork.com if you are in New York.

A lot of people on fixed incomes make money selling on eBay. I haven't done it, but you can sell darned near anything on there. Also, you can sell used books on Amazon. I have done that and it works quite well.

If you shop around at used places-------Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. and pick up books, you can usually sell them to used bookstores. You get maybe as little as $2 a book, but that's $20 for ten books. Those same ten books might only cost you five dollars at the thrift stores so you've made $15. You have to do some research or have a knowledge of books to make it work. Like, look around on Amazon and find out what books are pretty current because those will sell. Go to used bookstores and see what they're selling---because that will be what they're also probably buying---and even used bookstores do tend to specialize somewhat sometimes. Books that are in good condition if they're paperback and with book jackets if they're hardcover are most likely to sell. Topics that are "in" are going to sell pretty much no matter their age, like Native American, Tarot, New Age, etc. and now even prison writings and prison topics are coming around to being more popular. The classics are always a good bet--Steinbeck, Hemingway, Twain, etc. Books on writing will sell well. I could go on and on about books. Crafting books of any kind are always hot. First editions and out of print or rare and antique books are salable to the right bookstores. History books, also. And you can sell those on Amazon, too, it's just that it will take longer to get the money in your pocket.

Hock shops around here will pay for music CD's, movies in both CD and VHS. They don't pay a bunch, but again-------$2 times 10 movies is $20.

Vintage jewelry will sell to antique stores usually. You know, that old tacky costume stuff your Aunt Gertrude gave you? Well, it's a big deal now.

My daughter-in-law had a paper bag full of those plastic raisin characters----can't think what they were for but probably came in happy meals or something------she made almost $100 off of that little lunchbag full of raisins by putting them on eBay, and she had been going to toss them out. Those happy meal toys are collectible. Can you believe it?

I do a lot of crafting. I look for materials that I can get free or cheap, because then I can sell for less which brings almost guaranteed sales, plus most of it is profit. It's actually a workout for your creativity to find something and figure out how to make a creative use of it. I don't mean those "500 things to make out of soda bottle caps and styrofoam cups" crafting items, but actually finding a use for something someone else-----or even you yourself-----would throw away. Like, hippie stuff is in right now, so if you have jeans that are too worn out, cut them up and make handbags out of them----free gifts to give or something to sell at a garage sale or flea market or consignment shop.

On that same order, if you have a bunch of broken jewelry made with glass beads, salvage the beads to make something out of or sell the beads. Glass beads are sought after. If Grampa left you a box of old deer antlers, you've got a very lucrative little stash of treasure there, because those who do Native American crafts will buy them or trade you for them.

Barter---there's a whole nuther topic-----

I too have had to learn to live on a budget with just one income. I now shop at a supermarket called Top Value and have dropped my weekly food bill from $100.00 a week to just $30.00 a week. I do most of my shopping at the 99 cent store for cleaning supplies and they also have food there. I have cut out fast food altogether, my daughter hates it but oh well. Also the 99 cent store now has calling cards, 99 minutes for 99 cents which amounts to only a penny a minute and that save me lots of money on my phone bill.

I had to, Prison is costing me a lot of money. I pay approximately $120.00 a month in collect calls, I send my husband $150.00 - $200.00 a month, I send him vendor packages and it costs me $100.00 a week to go visit him (car rental, gasoline plus my $40.00 for vending machines) I have limited my visits to twice a month because I just cannot afford anymore.

The prison system does not realize how much prison is costing us.

Laurie

Laurie- dropping your food bill from $100 to $30 a week is incredible- good for you!

I too have had to learn to live on a budget with just one income. I now shop at a supermarket called Top Value and have dropped my weekly food bill from $100.00 a week to just $30.00 a week. I do most of my shopping at the 99 cent store for cleaning supplies and they also have food there. I have cut out fast food altogether, my daughter hates it but oh well. Also the 99 cent store now has calling cards, 99 minutes for 99 cents which amounts to only a penny a minute and that save me lots of money on my phone bill.

I had to, Prison is costing me a lot of money. I pay approximately $120.00 a month in collect calls, I send my husband $150.00 - $200.00 a month, I send him vendor packages and it costs me $100.00 a week to go visit him (car rental, gasoline plus my $40.00 for vending machines) I have limited my visits to twice a month because I just cannot afford anymore.

The prison system does not realize how much prison is costing us.

Laurie

It is incredible what you have done with your food bill for real.

Yea it isn't cheap having someone incarcerated that is for sure. My postage bill has really run up sky high.

Oh the sacrifices we make for those that we love.
They are worth it though.

Remember Hope is a good thing, it springs life eternal.

When I came back here from the east coast, I ended up making just over half what I was out there, and the cost of living here is higher (nasty old run-down house for twice what I sold my nice one in Maine for, etc.). The salary has gotten better, since I've been there a while, but my property taxes & insurance have doubled. SO.... Doing a budget-by-pay-period on Excel has been a lifesaver; also direct deposit for paychecks & direct debit for the mortgage, etc. have saved not only time and gas, but late charges. I not only don't do fast food; I don't do prepared food, either. It takes a bit more time to make things from scratch, but it saves TONS (and healthwise, read what's in some of that "easy" food some time), and you can fine-tune for sodium, cholesterol, etc. as well. I've been driving the same truck for 13 years now (and it wasn't new when I bought it); I check & change the oil FAITHFULLY, and check the easy stuff (belts, hoses, plugs, coolant, etc.) frequently, and have anything that goes wrong fixed as soon as possible. I've had no real problems with the poor old thing, so THAT'S been worth the extra effort (even though the annual insurance premium on the truck is about 3 times the blue-book value now). I don't buy a lot of clothes, but when I DO make a Goodwill run, I take the extra time to pick out the "good stuff"; brands that I know will hold up for longer than the clothes are in style. I've gotten a couple of things on e-bay as well; if you have time, there are some GREAT things, and also some totally awesome gift ideas. I think e-bay ought to have a "trade" section, though---I do beadwork and a couple of other things, and trade with friends who do different kinds of crafts when I want to get someone a gift. Also, I've sold a few things at the local powwows, and, again, on e-bay. After all that, I'm STILL scaling back; buying a less expensive house so I don't have payments, scrounging to pick up a used motorcycle (let's see if I still remember how to ride, much less work on one) so I can go somewhere once in a while without burning through a week's gas budget in a day (and so that I don't miss work if my truck decides to be REALLY tired one day). I've been sending my guy $50 per month, which doesn't seem like much until I don't have it after the bills have been paid. We don't talk on the phone, 'cause there's no way I could afford that till after I've moved; I have to have a phone for my job, so I have a cell; found a great deal (costs about half as much as my land-line did, for quite a bit more "stuff") & cancelled my other phone (which is really high here). I write to my guy every day, but only mail the letters off three times a week (and usually send him a card or something as well); when he needs cards, stationary, or whatever, I make as much of it as I can, and go to the dollar store for the rest. My only self-indulgence is books; our town library has less than I do at home, so I trade back & forth with friends, and also, everyone at work brings in all the books they don't want to keep, and we kind of keep them circulating. Used book stores are great, and cheaper than Amazon or e-bay ('cause of the postage), and in bigger towns, they have a LOT. Well....that's my 2 cents' worth.... and after seeing it in writing, no darn wonder I'm tired!!!!

When I came back here from the east coast, I ended up making just over half what I was out there, and the cost of living here is higher (nasty old run-down house for twice what I sold my nice one in Maine for, etc.). The salary has gotten better, since I've been there a while, but my property taxes & insurance have doubled. SO.... Doing a budget-by-pay-period on Excel has been a lifesaver; also direct deposit for paychecks & direct debit for the mortgage, etc. have saved not only time and gas, but late charges. I not only don't do fast food; I don't do prepared food, either. It takes a bit more time to make things from scratch, but it saves TONS (and healthwise, read what's in some of that "easy" food some time), and you can fine-tune for sodium, cholesterol, etc. as well. I've been driving the same truck for 13 years now (and it wasn't new when I bought it); I check & change the oil FAITHFULLY, and check the easy stuff (belts, hoses, plugs, coolant, etc.) frequently, and have anything that goes wrong fixed as soon as possible. I've had no real problems with the poor old thing, so THAT'S been worth the extra effort (even though the annual insurance premium on the truck is about 3 times the blue-book value now). I don't buy a lot of clothes, but when I DO make a Goodwill run, I take the extra time to pick out the "good stuff"; brands that I know will hold up for longer than the clothes are in style. I've gotten a couple of things on e-bay as well; if you have time, there are some GREAT things, and also some totally awesome gift ideas. I think e-bay ought to have a "trade" section, though---I do beadwork and a couple of other things, and trade with friends who do different kinds of crafts when I want to get someone a gift. Also, I've sold a few things at the local powwows, and, again, on e-bay. After all that, I'm STILL scaling back; buying a less expensive house so I don't have payments, scrounging to pick up a used motorcycle (let's see if I still remember how to ride, much less work on one) so I can go somewhere once in a while without burning through a week's gas budget in a day (and so that I don't miss work if my truck decides to be REALLY tired one day). I've been sending my guy $50 per month, which doesn't seem like much until I don't have it after the bills have been paid. We don't talk on the phone, 'cause there's no way I could afford that till after I've moved; I have to have a phone for my job, so I have a cell; found a great deal (costs about half as much as my land-line did, for quite a bit more "stuff") & cancelled my other phone (which is really high here). I write to my guy every day, but only mail the letters off three times a week (and usually send him a card or something as well); when he needs cards, stationary, or whatever, I make as much of it as I can, and go to the dollar store for the rest. My only self-indulgence is books; our town library has less than I do at home, so I trade back & forth with friends, and also, everyone at work brings in all the books they don't want to keep, and we kind of keep them circulating. Used book stores are great, and cheaper than Amazon or e-bay ('cause of the postage), and in bigger towns, they have a LOT. Well....that's my 2 cents' worth.... and after seeing it in writing, no darn wonder I'm tired!!!!
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Wow, you certainly are making a difference in your output. Thanks for sharing.

This seems to be another thing that alot of us have in common at PTO, loving those incarcerated comes with a high price tag. We just have to find creative ways to survive.

Remember Hope is a good thing, it springs life eternal.