Budget Cuts – September

These are cuts that we have made this past month to help trim down our budget. Some are small and some are large but all help to trim down our monthly expenses as we save toward our debt free future.
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There were a few times when, had this been a year ago, we would have easily spent more money then we actually did this month. During the month we had our Keurig coffee maker break, a light fall off our new/old car, I rearranged my office, we cleaned out the garage, it was fall planting time. Here is what we would have done with each of these items last year and here is how they were handled this year:

Keurig Coffee Maker Breaks
Last Year: Ran out and purchase a new one ($125)
This Year: Pulled out my old but perfectly good non-Keurig coffee maker ($0)
Savings: $125

Light Fell Off Our New/Old Car
Last Year: Brought it to the body shop to have it fixed ($175)
This Year: Searched online for the part and replaced it ourselves ($31)
Savings: $144

Rearranged My Office
Last Year: Purchased items “needed” after rearranging ($200)
This Year: Made due with what I had and searched the house for items to be reused ($0)
Savings: $200

Cleaned Out the Garage
Last Year: Same as office
This Year: Same as office
Savings: $200 – my husband always would tell me that everytime we did a project it would cost him $500. Not this year.

Fall Planting
Last Year: Went crazy buying all kinds of mums, autumn displays ($250)
This Year: Bought 2 mums for the front door ($25)
Savings: $225. This was a big adjustment for me because I like to garden but quite honestly, the fall plantings last for only about 4 weeks. So spending that kind of money for such a short period of time is just crazy.

Total saved during September: $894

It is amazing to me to think that this time last year I would have easily spent that extra money. And this is not exagerating. I really would have spent it. Everytime we did any project or cleaning I would always run out to Home Depot or Bed Bath and Beyond and pick up things to make the project “better”. In my office I would have purchased a new bulletin board or a file cabinet. In the garage, new shelves, bins, hanging organizers. This year I worked with the things I already had in closets, attics or just sitting around in other rooms. And I’m quite satisfied with the results and the dollars that stayed in my pocket.

“The safest way to double your money is to
fold it over and put it in your pocket.”
Kin Hubbard