Stretching Every Cent

We've done some crazy things around our home lately.  

Yesterday, while we were out shopping, we picked up a couple LED light bulbs.  

At night, our home is not lite up like a Christmas tree any longer.  In fact, we've developed an affinity for very little light in the evening.  We've even lit a candle here or there.

I have begun shutting off the shower while I "suds"up.  I'm encouraging my daughters to do the same.

We only use the dishwasher when it's completely full. We shut off the heat dry and let the dishes air dry.

ALL clothes are washed in cold water and line dried.  Come winter, we will switch to drying racks.  I've used clothes lines and drying racks for a couple years, but the washing in cold water exclusively is new.  I used warm or hot water, thinking somehow that my clothes were cleaner.  After some research, I've discovered that they aren't.  Hot is only needed for grease or oil on clothes.  Occasionally my husband's work clothes may get greasy, but most of the time he wears a uniform.

I have developed a new routine at bedtime.  I go through the house.  I check to make certain the doors are locked, as I always have, and I unplug.  I shut off lights and...unplug.  I unplug the microwave, the coffee pot, the computer, the TV, the DVD player, and the DVR.  I try to make sure my phone and Nook are charged, so neither has to sit on a charger all night.

All of this may only save pennies, but "A penny saved is a penny earned."  And, right now, I am ready to save every cent I can.  

Suddenly frugal?  No...I've always been frugal.  I just am sick of being a slave.  You see, the Bible says the debtor is a slave to the lender.  I can't stand being beholden to anything!  

My husband and I felt we had no choice when our transmission went out in or van last fall except to buy a car.  It's a used car.  The van had extremely high mileage, and the cost of the new transmission was more than the value of the van.  So... We bought a car and signed up for payments.  Bad idea! 

Then came a couple of bills that we didn't plan.

Then prices increased on regular bills, such as utilities.  When the price to heat and light your home jumps over 25%, all due to rate increases, you know it's time to take drastic measures.  Then the water rates were increased.  

When I look at my budget and wonder how we will pay for all the bills and still eat, I know it's time for drastic action.

So we are cutting everything.  Cut, cut, cut!  And we will do our best to pay down, pay off, eliminate, and scrape through until we come out of the other side.