Help! How do you budget?

Question

I'm a stay at home mom to our 7 month old son and I love it. We live states away from our family due to my husband being in the military. We have been struggling financially and barely making ends meet as of lately. My husband told me I need to get a job which really irked me, as I take care of our soon 99% of the time even when my husband is home and I refuse to put him in a daycare.

I really need suggestions in budgeting. It seems like it's little things that add up when it comes to our spending. This is all really stressing me out!

Answer

You should google Dave Ramsey. He has some great ideals for saving money and living on a budget. 
Coupons and meal planning are great too. Meal planning helps you with not eating out so much. 
Also I use the Ibotta app to get money back on my groceries as well.

Answer

Couponing helps a lot! Also see if you qualify for WIC that should take some of stress away if he's formula fed. Cut back on certain things like cable, cut the cable and keep the WiFi. You going back to work doesn't really mean that much because a good quality daycare could cost anywhere from $125 a week to $200 a week for a child his age. Gl hun and I hope it all works out for you.

Answer

My husband and I sat down and looked at all our bills and cut where we felt nessesary. We own our cars out right (we bought used off Craigslist). We cut off cable and just got Hulu and Netflix. We only have one credit card we use only for emergencies sometimes gas just to keep our credit rolling. I meal plan a lot on Pinterest you can find recipes for meals that are $5. We have wic which helps a lot. Try just cutting back see if that helps.

Answer

Do you live on base or off base? 
Have your husband walk you through his paycheck. If you live off base you will receive an additional BHA (basic housing allowance) and then you also should receive a food allowance as well although they sometimes will cut that short if he is at training or overseas but then you usually get hazardous pay to make up for it. Anyway what my husband and I did was because we lived off base we found a place to rent that was about $300 under our BHA so that way we could have the extra to pay for utilities and cable. Then we took our food budget and tried to not go over. Shopping at the commissary is also going to save you money, the meat is not that great but perfect for on a budget. Also when we are on hard core budgeting we won't buy anything we don't NEED, and anything that is over $100 we discuss it first unless it has already been planned out in the budget.
You may also want to look into WIC, I believe ranks E-4 (maybe E-5) and below qualify and that will be a big money saver right there.
Also lots of bases offer free financial and budgeting classes. You can contact your FRO to see if there are any on your base.

Answer

Ibotta and Ebates. Try couponing. Try gardening.

Answer

You can consider getting a job.  It will take the burden off your husband.  To ease your mind, you can consider a nanny at home and  put up cameras.  Lots of daycares have cameras in which the parents can log on to watch what is going on.

Answer

Get a job!!!!! Your husband is right. Your son is old enough to go to day care just try and find a small day center. After my son is born I'm putting him in daycare at 2-3 months and I'm going work. All my children was absolutely find. I know it's something u struggle with but u have to make the best decision for u and ur family!!!

Answer

This is what worked amazing for us. We got zippered binder pouches (clear ) & a binder. We wrote every expense down and how much, one per pouch. Put money into each one with each check, when we can we pay all the bills with one check.

Answer

Mint.com is great to follow your spending! Also, Suze Orman gives great advice. Good luck!!

Answer

I mean I kinda think he's right by telling you to get a job. Why make the struggle worse? There are plenty of people that have a 2 income household and still are barely making ends meet. Just because you get a job now doesn't mean in the future once you are both financially stable you can't stay at home then. Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do...even if it's a part time job.

Help! How do you budget?

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