excerpts from article in Arizona Living June 04, 2009 " Winners of the Republic contest 20 ways to save"
1. Budget: You can't save until you know where your money goes. The Gulletts tracked their spending using a financial program and produced a strict month-by-month budget. They set limits for gas, groceries, utilities, car ,maintenantce, and all essential and discretionary spending. "Statistically, it takes 3 to 6 months to iron out your budget." Lauren said, urging patience. " Most people get frustrated and give up."
2. Track prices: Lauren studies prices so she can stock up when she spots a great deal . " It does take a concerted effort to know what prices are and to commit them to memory,"she said. " It kills me to know I might have spent too much on something."
3. Cut up the credit cards: Lauren is a big fan of Christian financial guru Dave Ramsey, who's adamant that debt is trouble. Ramsey believes customers routinely spend up to 18 percent more when they swipe a plastic card vs. paying cash. The Gulletts have a debit card for gas and emergencies.
4. Pay cash: The Gulletts put grocery money in one envelope, and "when it's gone, it's gone," Lauren said. " If I run out of gas money, I don't drive anywhere." They wait until they have the cash on hand or in their bank account to make planned purchases.
5. Check receipts: Lauren makes sure prices ring up correctly. She often spots problems- sale prices that don't register or stipulations she missed, such as having to buy 2 of something to get the advertised price. She also carefully checks medical bills and has saved hundreds of dollars.
6. Ban impulse buying: Lauren window-shops when she just needs to get out of the house, but she limits shopping to planned purchases and necessities. " If I don't have a plan, I spend too much money, " she said.
7. Haggle:Lauren doesn't hesistate to ask for better prices. She may ask a store clerk if there are any coupons or unadvertised sales. Sometimes she will make a bottom-line offer. " People say they can't budge on price, but that's not true, she said."
8. Buy quality: "Being frugal doesn't always mean being cheap,"Jared said. The Gulletts pay a fair price for things they values, such as their kids' swimming lessons and items that must last, such as their leather La-Z-Boy chair and rugged double stroller
9.Reuse: Rather than buy a new washing machine,Lauren fixed her leaking one thanks to instructions she found online. Total cost:$24.95, easily beating one repairman's estimate of $400. She also rescues and reuses almost anything plastic.The Atlanta native once pulled a few dozen plastic Georgia Tech cups from the stadium's trash cans after a game.
10. Use cloth diapers: Lauren saves about $75 per month using cloth diapers since her initial investment.
11. Nab a "smokin' deal" : Lauren occasionally find a "smokin' deal" she won't pass up.When she found off-season clothing for .99 cents to $1.99 at a Children's Place Outlet, she stocked up for her 2 girls. She recently bought a rug, originally $169 for $39.
12. Go online: The Gulletts work as a team to find deals. Jared frequents www.thefreebieblogger.com, where he has found coupons for free food at KFC and Joe's Farm Grill. Lauren likes www.retailmenot.com to find online coupon codes.
13. Freeze it: When the smokin' deal is a grocery item, the Gullets stock up and freeze it- even bread, milk, and cheese. " It thaws fine ," she said " There's all kinds of stuff you can freeze."
14. Use coupons: Lauren subscribes to www.couponsense.com , which alerts subscribers to use their coupons with current sales. The coupon-sale combination help them keep grocery bills at $150-$200 per month.
15. Get an allowance: Jared and Lauren give themselves a monthly allowance of $40 each for discretionary purchases. The money has to cover everything from haircuts to clothing and even dates. " It's a joke that we go Dutch sometimes," she said.
16. Teach: The couple plan to start teaching their kids about financial responsibility very early, paying them a small amount to do chores. My hope is by the time they're in high school, they're balancing checkbooks and realize Mom and Dad aren't ATM machines," she said.
17.Accept help:" We can't do it alone," Gullet said, explaining that other peoples'generosity has saved them thousands of dollars over the years. A friend helped them install a tile floor, another gave them laundry-room cabinets and many have given them hand-me-down kids clothes She credits their Central Christian Church community in Gilbert for its generosity.
18. Prioritize: It's not easy, but Lauren said she and her family really try not to attach value to material things. "Stuff doesn't really bring us happiness," she said. Their frugality allows them to give back, including tithing 10 percent of their budget. "t There have been times in the last few months where we've been able to help other people," Lauren said
19. Give up extras: By shaving various services such as Internet (slower), TV (fewer channels) and phone (fewer services) Lauren saves $40 per month on the communications bill. She has also cut $30 per month off her utility bills by keeping the programmable thermostat between 79 and 84 in the summer and using various appliances during off-peak hours.
20.Plan shopping routes: Lauren typically plans her shopping around other errands. While her daughter is at dancing lessons - she will go to the grocery store which is right next door to the studio.
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