I love learning new ways to save money! Because of this, I eagerly devour posts in blogs like Frugally Blonde where they share how they saved money that month. So I thought I would start a monthly feature in which I gave practical examples of how our family saves money each month. This has become one of the most popular features here on The Orthodox Mama!
So, here goes! 5 Ways We Saved in June:
1. I Double-Checked My Contract
I am a middle school teacher, and in my district we get our new contracts each June. I happened to take a closer look at mine this year and noticed that it was $220 less than it should be (based on my years of experience and education level). I actually debated as to whether I should mention it to my Human Resource department, but then I realized that it is $220. That’s 3 weeks of groceries in our house! So, I sent off a quick e-mail to our HR coordinator and was given a new, correct, contract to sign the next day. So simple, and so much savings!
Savings: $220
2. Sewed on Buttons
My husband had two pairs of shorts that had buttons that had fallen off. It took less than 10 minutes, and now his shorts will last at least a couple more years. My sewing skills are negligible, but know how to sew buttons and do basic mending saves my family some serious money on clothing. I purchased an inexpensive sewing kit a few years ago (like this one, which actually includes a free e-book with tutorials on basic sewing skills!), and it has more than paid for itself.
Estimated Savings: $40 (assuming a basic pair of shorts at $20 each)
3. Family Babysitting
My husband and I took a fantastic five-day trip alone together in June. This was the first time since our honeymoon 7 years ago! My wonderful brother and my amazing sister-in-law watched our three little ones the entire time that we were gone. I cannot even imagine how much it would have cost to find a live-in babysitter for those five days. We have offered to watch our nephew whenever they want to have a getaway.
Estimated Savings: $300? I am really not sure about this one!
4. Fresh Herbs from Our Garden
I have always wanted to have a green thumb. The idea of gardening appeals to me so much, and yet I seem to lack follow-through. This year, however, I was inspired to Make My Home My Happy Place. I knew that in my ideal home, I would feed my family food from a garden. I faced my fears and went into our local nursery (Side note: Is anyone else intimidated by nurseries? There are like a million different kinds of tomato plants requiring different types of care. What’s my soil type? I have no idea.) I purchased three small herb plants that I knew our family would use weekly: cilantro, basil, and oregano. And, they have really taken off! We are getting a ton of fresh herbs. We have loved adding basil and oregano to our pizzas and pastas, and I really can’t get enough fresh cilantro on our Mexican dishes.
Estimated Savings: $15 (Based on $1 cost for fresh herbs per recipe, minus the cost of the plants.)
5. Free Entertainment
I love our summer schedule with its relaxed pace. I teach summer school in the morning and then get to play with my kids in the afternoon. We have taken advantage of all of the free entertainment around us. We’ve gone to at least 5 different parks and splash parks, have been to the library multiple times, and have visited our local children’s museum. My parents gave us a one-year family membership to the museum as our Christmas present this year. Best idea ever! We’ve been at least once every month, and the kids love it. I absolutely love gifts of experiences.
Estimated Savings: $20 (cost of tickets for the museum)
Total Savings: $595
How did you save in June?
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(Linked to Frugal Fridays, Small Victories Sunday, Share the Wealth Sunday.)
