Part 1: How to Live on Less ~ Starting Point

Attitude of Gratitude

The first thing Bobby and I had to change was our way of thinking. We had to sit down and agree that saving money was something that had to be done and that we were willing to do it. We had to not only come together as a team, but we had to be a united front when we discussed this with our kids.  We talked about the fact that money would be very tight so we wouldn’t be doing a lot of ‘extras’.
One of our main talks concerned our hearts. We talked about having an Attitude of Gratitude. If we are thankful for what we have, we don’t need much else. It was a heart change – for everyone.


Starting Point – Evaluate
I can’t tell you how many times we had heard about creating a budget. But you know what, we never took the time to sit down and do the work. Once we did, we felt empowered knowing exactly where we were at and knowing that we now had a plan in place. Our situation didn’t immediately change – but we were on our way.
Create a budget that works for your family. There are many free budget templates on the web. I found this one to work for our family. Sit down (with your spouse) and decide what you will allocate to each category.
Look at your bills and see if you are overpaying for anything or if there is anything you can cut. We looked at canceling our cable to find a cheaper alternative. Once our cable provider knew we were on our way out, they made us a deal on a much cheaper plan (our cell phone company did the same). You will find that many companies will do a similar offer to save your business.
Creating a budget really is the starting point. Now that you now where your are starting, you can choose your destination! Set some goals. Write them down and make them personal and specific with a time frame attached to them. I have to admit, I am terrible at setting goals. I may have some ‘idea’ of what I would like, but I have a hard time writing them down. I am glad to have a husband who reminds me that this is so important.
Join us for Part 2 … Coupons: Learning the Lingo & Organizing