How I Save Money Each Year by Being Our Own Tailor

I refuse to pay for someone to do something that is an easy fix and I can do myself. Sewing our clothes is no different. DH needed 4 pairs of work pants hemmed so he can wear them. He wanted to buy new shorts because the shorts he has have broken buttons.


I am not great at sewing but I can sew on buttons. I can use hem tape and an iron to hem our clothes. Hem tape costs about $3. It took about 10 minutes. Hubby always wears a belt so the color of the buttons don't really matter and I save the buttons off of all of the outfits we buy.


By hemming his pants myself, I saved $40 per pair. By fixing the 3 pairs of shorts he has, I saved $10 per button as my dry cleaner charges or $20 per pair for him to get new shorts. Not to mention it felt good doing something for him. I also love the old show like Leave It To Beaver and The Wonder Years where mom could fix everything. I live in the wrong era.


Total Savings: $200

Money Saving Monday # 1

Create a Budget and Stick With It!

Every money guru say it but how do you do it when you are living paycheck to paycheck? This is the question that faces so many people in today's economy. More and more people are living from one week to the next without thinking about the future. It's okay for a period of time, until you realize that you are sinking without a plan to keep you afloat.

What is a budget?

A budget is a structured plan for incoming and outgoing expenses. Typically, you know what your paycheck should look like. If your check varies a bit, underestimate how much it will be. 

How to budget?

1. Take inventory of all of your bills.
   This is your housing, car, lights, water, ect. Always over estimate these. For example if your water ranges between $80 and & $110, go with $110 on the budget.
2. Take inventory of your other expenses.
   This is your groceries, gas, clothes, ect. Also over estimate these. It may be helpful to keep a journal of these for a month or two, to give you better accuracy. Always set your budgeted amount out in cash to use. When the cash is gone, so is your right to purchase these items so spend wisely. I use the Dave Ramsey envelope system. He is an amazing money guru. I really love him for all the things I have learned from listening to him and reading his books. Pretty sure he qualifies as my Man Crush Monday #MCM
3. Take your income.
   Again underestimate.
4. Subtract your expenses from what you make.

If you are like me, you are laughing because you are paying out more than you make. This is okay. You'll get through this. You just have to learn ways to spend less and save more. Try to eliminate some of those bills.