The last 18 months has been a struggle for a lot of my family and friends.  Some are not working at all because of layoffs, some are working reduced hours, and some are surviving on one income versus the two that they had before Covid hit.  It is easy to say just go work somewhere else, but realistically it's not that simple.  What is simple is creating a budget and sticking with it. There are things you absolutely need such as food, shelter and clothing the rest is extra. 

When my husband lost his job in 2013 we went from a 2 income home to a single income home and it created a lot of tension. I didn't make anywhere close to what my husband was making. We relied heavily on his parents to carry us until he was able to secure a new job.  We fought, struggled, and were ready to give up on each other.  

We didn't of course. We figured out what we really needed. We needed to believe in each other and cut the cord for the extra things we had and didn't need. We got rid of the cable, home phone, and learned to shop within our means. We earned money back with Ibotta, Swagbucks, and BJs. 

Thankfully, my husband got his job back and we are in a good place both emotionally and financially.  We still shop within our means and still don't have cable. Honestly, it was one of the best things we've done for ourselves.  We have streaming services they give us enough to watch at a fraction of the cost of cable so we aren't missing anything.  It took a lot to get in a better place but we did it and our marriage is stronger than ever. 

What have you cut out to stay in budget?

Need advice for saving money? Leave us a comment and I'll create a savings plan to follow.