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Hello, I thought this would be fun to learn from everyone what your spreadsheet is like and what your tricks of the trade are to save the most that you can while still maintaining the lifestyle you want. In general, just describe your finances, lifestyle, needs, wants, your spreadsheet, whatever you'd like to share
My Annual Income (changes a bit every 6 months when I get a $0.25 raise)
Starbucks Barista: $16,900
My Average Monthly Income
$1,408
My Average Monthly costs
$883
Income Spread Sheet
Rent: $468 (1,1000 sq feet split 1/2 way with bf, included in this is trash, water, & sewer)
Crunchy Roll: $13 (an anime "cable" like Netflix)
Gym Membership: $34
Food: $100 (will explain how it's so low later)
Internet: $40 (split 1/2 way with bf)
Electric: $20 (split 1/2 way with bf, I live in WA with the 3rd cheapest electric)
Car Gas: $100 (will explain later)
Car Insurance: $88
Walmart Cell Phone Service: $20
Food
-I shop at Winco a supremely discounted grocery store with very inexpensive bulk foods.
-I eat vegan
-I can get 2 servings of fruit 2 servings of vegetables and a serving of rice for $1 a day at Winco, the other $70 are spent on other foods I want to eat for the month.
-I cook most things from scratch and in large batches to freeze or eat that week
-I eat a lot of raw foods like salads, veggie sandwiches, fruit, etc
-I get my protein through things like beans, nuts, seeds, boca burgers, soybeans
-Common things I cook: fresh mashed potatoes (a 10LB bag of potatoes is $1.78 at Winco), soups, pasta, burritos (I make home made tortillas), oatmeal ($0.61 a LB at Winco), muffins, pancakes, etc etc. All I make from scratch and in batches where I freeze when I can. I eat quite well for $100 a month
-I buy spices on online bulk spice websites, most spices are $3 a pound instead of in a bottle at about $7 for a few oz
-I "extreme coupon" I won't buy foods unless I can get a coupon for it, I purchase pre-clipped coupons from coupon clipping service websites so I don't have to waste time clipping them or spending $2 a newspaper to get them.
-I bought a barely used bread maker at Goodwill and make my own bread from scratch it costs about $0.25 to make a loaf of bread
Electric
-I do not use washer or dryer. I wash my clothes by hand and hang them
-I unplug anything not in use
-I do not use a heater. I make cloth bags full of dry rice and nuke them in the microwave and place them in my bed or on my lap, you stay warm for hours for pennies to the dollar. I also layer up
-I apply cornstarch to my skin in the summer & hang out in cool places. At night I use an energy efficient fan & ice packs from my freezer to stay cool, & cold showers, no AC
-I have plugged in energy efficient bulbs and anything else I can afford
Car Gas
-Remove your foot from the gas as much as you can and glide until you reduce speed. Especially when going downhill, just use your break to control the speed of your car. Going downhill you don't need to press on the gas.
-Park in the first spot you see near the exit of a shopping area so you don't spend gas driving around finding the closest spot to the entrance of where you are shopping
-Drive behind a big truck when you can to reduce wind resistance, you will make your gas more efficient
-Ride your bike or walk when you need to make a trip that is within 5 miles of where you are going
-Empty your car of anything excess (stuff in trunk) anything you don't need in your car, keep it out
-Always shop at the cheapest gas station you can get to that is between your home and workplace
-Own a gas efficient car
-Drive at the speed limit
-Figure out the best route for wherever you are going so that you drive the least amount of mileage
-Avoid traffic and bad weather when you can
-Avoid groups of cars on the highway, drive the speed limit and stick to the side, you'll avoid crashes and save money by not having to break behind the person in front of you all the time
-Don't use your heater or AC
-Keep tire pressure good
-Do all this and you'll save 20% off of your gas like I do
Toiletries
-Me, but not my guests or bf use cloths that I wash as toilet paper
-I make my own dish soap and laundry detergent out of Ivory soap bars, borax and washing soda. I bake baking soda to make washing soda, I get the 3 packs of Ivory soap at the dollar store. Because I wash my clothes by hand, my water comes with my rent, and I make this detergent it costs me $0.02 per load of laundry.
-I keep paper towels in my apartment but use soap and washcloths to wash most things in my apartment, this saves 100s of dollars a year. I use paper towels only when I absolutely need them.
-I buy toothpaste at my dollar store when I have $1 off coupons, I'll buy 20-40 tubes every 1-2 years and get them for free with those coupons.
-I buy what toilet paper I do use for my bf and guests at my dollar store 4 rolls for $1
-I clean many things with vinegar, bleach, and baking soda. I will buy other washing supplies from my dollar store. My dollar store sells a gallon of bleach for $1 and it will last me 2-3 months.
-I buy cat liter from my dollar store
-I use V05 shampoo and conditioner which I buy for $0.72 at Walmart and I use a $1 off 4 coupon on top of that for a $0.47 bottle. I got a really good deal and bought 50 of each for $0.18 each. I don't think I have to buy shampoo or conditioner for another 3-4 years
-I use Ivory soap bars which I buy 3 for $1 at my dollar store
-I buy Wet n' Wild make up when they go on sale with coupons. I will get $30-$40 worth of make-up for under $5 and won't have to buy any make-up for another 6 months. Also, no, just because it's Wet n' Wild I don't look like an 80's chick. I buy neutral colors and know how to use make-up really well, I always get complements asking what I use and how I do it and the girls are always shocked.
-I make home made lotion out of beeswax, olive oil, petroleum jelly and glycerine for virtually pennies to the dollar
-I use that V05 conditioner as a shaving cream
-I buy semi-high quality disposable razors and can get about 1 year out of 4 of them by re-sharpening them on the striker of a match box. I throw them into my dishwasher with my dishes every 2 weeks
-I wash and rinse my dishes by hand, I use my dishwasher only to include things like my razors and dishes that need extra washing
-I cut my own hair
-I bought nice dish sponges that you can wash in your laundry to reuse for several years
Entertainment
-As I said in my income spread sheet I watch a lot of anime for cheap (Japanese animation series) for $13 a month, then my bf pays for Netflix and Hulu for $20 a month, we get all the TV entertainment we need for $33 a month instead of almost $100
-I borrow a lot from my library
-My bf has a subscription to Game Fly and he lets me borrow one of his slots every month, so I play whatever video games I want for free
-I had to pay for my camera, but after that digital photography is 99.9% free
-I make things I want or need with crafts
-I shop in stores only when stuff is on sale and with a coupon, usually I buy clothes at Goodwill only during their $1.29 per item sales
-I've bought most of my apartment furniture from Goodwill, all are barely used, I have a couch, coffee table, and two small book shelves from Goodwill, I have a Japanese-themed living room, they all match beautifully together and cost me only $75 all together
-I read fashion magazines for free at my library and jot down ideas, then buy similar clothes at Goodwill and buy fabrics and accessories from Jo Ann fabrics (with a coupon) to customize and tailor those items to be "in fashion". I have a black pea coat where I sewed black lace to the bottom of it like a tail or veil, it looks like a $300 coat but cost me $20 to buy/make
Other Tricks
-Look online and anywhere you can to find what you want for cheaper, never settle with the first price you see
-Learn to haggle, I works for me sometimes, I am still practicing. I am learning from books I borrowed for free at my library
-When I need to print something I go to my library for free or cheap prints
-I print several copies of online coupons with the multiple computers at my college for free. (these websites only allow 2 copies per computer)
-I shop for many household items like nick knacks, kitchen tools, Blu-Rays, etc on Ebay, daily deal websites, and Amazon
-I purchase things with my credit card such as groceries which gives me 2% cash back and always pay my credit card bill in the gracing period so I don't have to pay interest.
My Annual Income (changes a bit every 6 months when I get a $0.25 raise)
Starbucks Barista: $16,900
My Average Monthly Income
$1,408
My Average Monthly costs
$883
Income Spread Sheet
Rent: $468 (1,1000 sq feet split 1/2 way with bf, included in this is trash, water, & sewer)
Crunchy Roll: $13 (an anime "cable" like Netflix)
Gym Membership: $34
Food: $100 (will explain how it's so low later)
Internet: $40 (split 1/2 way with bf)
Electric: $20 (split 1/2 way with bf, I live in WA with the 3rd cheapest electric)
Car Gas: $100 (will explain later)
Car Insurance: $88
Walmart Cell Phone Service: $20
Food
-I shop at Winco a supremely discounted grocery store with very inexpensive bulk foods.
-I eat vegan
-I can get 2 servings of fruit 2 servings of vegetables and a serving of rice for $1 a day at Winco, the other $70 are spent on other foods I want to eat for the month.
-I cook most things from scratch and in large batches to freeze or eat that week
-I eat a lot of raw foods like salads, veggie sandwiches, fruit, etc
-I get my protein through things like beans, nuts, seeds, boca burgers, soybeans
-Common things I cook: fresh mashed potatoes (a 10LB bag of potatoes is $1.78 at Winco), soups, pasta, burritos (I make home made tortillas), oatmeal ($0.61 a LB at Winco), muffins, pancakes, etc etc. All I make from scratch and in batches where I freeze when I can. I eat quite well for $100 a month
-I buy spices on online bulk spice websites, most spices are $3 a pound instead of in a bottle at about $7 for a few oz
-I "extreme coupon" I won't buy foods unless I can get a coupon for it, I purchase pre-clipped coupons from coupon clipping service websites so I don't have to waste time clipping them or spending $2 a newspaper to get them.
-I bought a barely used bread maker at Goodwill and make my own bread from scratch it costs about $0.25 to make a loaf of bread
Electric
-I do not use washer or dryer. I wash my clothes by hand and hang them
-I unplug anything not in use
-I do not use a heater. I make cloth bags full of dry rice and nuke them in the microwave and place them in my bed or on my lap, you stay warm for hours for pennies to the dollar. I also layer up
-I apply cornstarch to my skin in the summer & hang out in cool places. At night I use an energy efficient fan & ice packs from my freezer to stay cool, & cold showers, no AC
-I have plugged in energy efficient bulbs and anything else I can afford
Car Gas
-Remove your foot from the gas as much as you can and glide until you reduce speed. Especially when going downhill, just use your break to control the speed of your car. Going downhill you don't need to press on the gas.
-Park in the first spot you see near the exit of a shopping area so you don't spend gas driving around finding the closest spot to the entrance of where you are shopping
-Drive behind a big truck when you can to reduce wind resistance, you will make your gas more efficient
-Ride your bike or walk when you need to make a trip that is within 5 miles of where you are going
-Empty your car of anything excess (stuff in trunk) anything you don't need in your car, keep it out
-Always shop at the cheapest gas station you can get to that is between your home and workplace
-Own a gas efficient car
-Drive at the speed limit
-Figure out the best route for wherever you are going so that you drive the least amount of mileage
-Avoid traffic and bad weather when you can
-Avoid groups of cars on the highway, drive the speed limit and stick to the side, you'll avoid crashes and save money by not having to break behind the person in front of you all the time
-Don't use your heater or AC
-Keep tire pressure good
-Do all this and you'll save 20% off of your gas like I do
Toiletries
-Me, but not my guests or bf use cloths that I wash as toilet paper
-I make my own dish soap and laundry detergent out of Ivory soap bars, borax and washing soda. I bake baking soda to make washing soda, I get the 3 packs of Ivory soap at the dollar store. Because I wash my clothes by hand, my water comes with my rent, and I make this detergent it costs me $0.02 per load of laundry.
-I keep paper towels in my apartment but use soap and washcloths to wash most things in my apartment, this saves 100s of dollars a year. I use paper towels only when I absolutely need them.
-I buy toothpaste at my dollar store when I have $1 off coupons, I'll buy 20-40 tubes every 1-2 years and get them for free with those coupons.
-I buy what toilet paper I do use for my bf and guests at my dollar store 4 rolls for $1
-I clean many things with vinegar, bleach, and baking soda. I will buy other washing supplies from my dollar store. My dollar store sells a gallon of bleach for $1 and it will last me 2-3 months.
-I buy cat liter from my dollar store
-I use V05 shampoo and conditioner which I buy for $0.72 at Walmart and I use a $1 off 4 coupon on top of that for a $0.47 bottle. I got a really good deal and bought 50 of each for $0.18 each. I don't think I have to buy shampoo or conditioner for another 3-4 years
-I use Ivory soap bars which I buy 3 for $1 at my dollar store
-I buy Wet n' Wild make up when they go on sale with coupons. I will get $30-$40 worth of make-up for under $5 and won't have to buy any make-up for another 6 months. Also, no, just because it's Wet n' Wild I don't look like an 80's chick. I buy neutral colors and know how to use make-up really well, I always get complements asking what I use and how I do it and the girls are always shocked.
-I make home made lotion out of beeswax, olive oil, petroleum jelly and glycerine for virtually pennies to the dollar
-I use that V05 conditioner as a shaving cream
-I buy semi-high quality disposable razors and can get about 1 year out of 4 of them by re-sharpening them on the striker of a match box. I throw them into my dishwasher with my dishes every 2 weeks
-I wash and rinse my dishes by hand, I use my dishwasher only to include things like my razors and dishes that need extra washing
-I cut my own hair
-I bought nice dish sponges that you can wash in your laundry to reuse for several years
Entertainment
-As I said in my income spread sheet I watch a lot of anime for cheap (Japanese animation series) for $13 a month, then my bf pays for Netflix and Hulu for $20 a month, we get all the TV entertainment we need for $33 a month instead of almost $100
-I borrow a lot from my library
-My bf has a subscription to Game Fly and he lets me borrow one of his slots every month, so I play whatever video games I want for free
-I had to pay for my camera, but after that digital photography is 99.9% free
-I make things I want or need with crafts
-I shop in stores only when stuff is on sale and with a coupon, usually I buy clothes at Goodwill only during their $1.29 per item sales
-I've bought most of my apartment furniture from Goodwill, all are barely used, I have a couch, coffee table, and two small book shelves from Goodwill, I have a Japanese-themed living room, they all match beautifully together and cost me only $75 all together
-I read fashion magazines for free at my library and jot down ideas, then buy similar clothes at Goodwill and buy fabrics and accessories from Jo Ann fabrics (with a coupon) to customize and tailor those items to be "in fashion". I have a black pea coat where I sewed black lace to the bottom of it like a tail or veil, it looks like a $300 coat but cost me $20 to buy/make
Other Tricks
-Look online and anywhere you can to find what you want for cheaper, never settle with the first price you see
-Learn to haggle, I works for me sometimes, I am still practicing. I am learning from books I borrowed for free at my library
-When I need to print something I go to my library for free or cheap prints
-I print several copies of online coupons with the multiple computers at my college for free. (these websites only allow 2 copies per computer)
-I shop for many household items like nick knacks, kitchen tools, Blu-Rays, etc on Ebay, daily deal websites, and Amazon
-I purchase things with my credit card such as groceries which gives me 2% cash back and always pay my credit card bill in the gracing period so I don't have to pay interest.
I'm curious what others do.
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