The Cost

If I had a dollar for everytime I heard someone say, "I wish my husband made more money so I could stay at home like you," or "You don't understand.  We just don't make the money your family does," I'd be loaded!  These comments crack me up every time, because I'm fairly certain these people would hide in a hole if they knew our monthly bring home total.  Don't get me wrong.  We are blessed.  For most people in this world, we are considered rich.  Heck, if you live in a home with running water, you are considered rich.

I really laugh at these comments, because even though I didn't say them out loud, I had those same thoughts before I stayed at home.  I specifically remember asking my SAHM friends how they did it.  When they'd tell me all their different ways, I'd still think, "Yeah, but their husbands must bring home bank."  Now I'm on the other side.  So today I want to talk about the cost to our lifestyle.  I realize some of you may or may not be interested in taking the measures we do, but it works for us.  If anything, I hope you realize that there is a cost to everything whether through sacrifice or money.  Things cost. So here's a little secret to our financial life...

• We eat out about 3 times a month.  Before we used to eat out at least 10 times a month.  At about $20/meal we save $140 a month.
• I scrutinize my grocery/household goods list each week to keep it around $75-85.  Before I spent around $150/week.  That's a savings of about $300/month.  Couponing is not for everyone, but a few hours a week (if that) of my time is worth a $300 monthly savings.
• Every purchase we make is researched for the best price.  For example, we just purchased tires for my car.  If I had accepted the first price I was given, I would have lost money without even knowing it.  Instead, Steven called around for prices of other tire stores in our area.  Once he found the best price, he then called back the place we wanted to do the job and asked if they would match the price.  They did.  $150 saved.  We do this for everything.
• Up until last weekend, we didn't have data plans on our phones {Gasp}.  Steven does now, but I don't. $20/month saved.
• We don't have extra movie channels or DVR {another gasp}.  Another $20/month.
• We both drive older cars.  Steven's truck is a 2004 and I drive a 2006.  We plan on driving them until the wheels fall off or we need a bigger car. No car payments=BIG SAVINGS.
• About every 6 months I review our bills to make sure we are getting the current deals and savings.  Sometimes our bills remain the same, but other times I find a way to get it lowered.

I realize some of you would never want to do what we have done.  I totally understand that.  Others of you make even bigger sacrifices to make your ends meet.  I salute you.  I wish I could completely drop cable, but I just can't.  Even though we watch very little TV, I still like the option to surf through channels.  I do not like to watch shows online.  I will, but prefer not to.  The cost of cable is worth it to us.  However, the cost of DVR is not.  It's all about what conveniences you are willing to pay and what you're not. 

I am SUPER curious to know what you find crazy about my list and what things you do without that ARE on my list.  Other people's lives fascinate me, so tell, tell, tell, and then tell some more! What can I say?  I'm nosy.