Excuse du Jour: I Can’t Afford to Stock Up!

If your family finances have been wasting away, and you’re pinching pennies more tightly than ever, join the party!  I hear that “frugal” is the new fashion, whether we like it or not!

On top of all that, you have me, among many others, telling you that now would be a really good time to stock up. 

“Stock up on food, shampoo, olive oil and be sure to buy clothing a size or two bigger for your kids!  Oh, and don’t forget to have a few hundred dollars lying around in cash!”

Oy vay!

The fact is that it will cost some money to stock up, but don’t give up hope if your budget is screaming for mercy!  Here are a few things that I have been doing that have freed up funds for my preparedness efforts.

• I have a home-based business.  You know that friend of yours who has been trying to talk you into become a Pampered Chef Consultant or a candle company rep?  Maybe it’s time to give those types of businesses some serious thought.  Companies like Alpine Access hire people to become virtual customer service agents for various corporations.  Carefully check out any home based businesses at this site. 
• Coupon-ing.  I know women for whom this is a new religion.  They say there’s an actual adrenalin rush just by saving 65% or more on their grocery bill!  One popular site I’ve participated in is Coupon Sense.  This system compiles food ads and matches them up with coupons, thus expanding your savings.  Currently this company is in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Missouri, Texas, Colorado and California.  The secret is combining store sales, double coupon offers, and manufacturers’ coupons.  If you don’t get weekly coupons in your newspaper, there are online coupons galore. 
• Insurance.  Last month I skimmed through our car insurance policies and discovered we were paying $165 each month for a truck that is rarely driven!  With our AAA membership, I could drop the towing coverage on all three vehicles.  I made a minor change in our health insurance and saved another $145 a month.  Examine each of your policies line by line and see what can be eliminated, even if it’s just a temporary change.  If you let your insurance agent know you’re trying to save money, they may be happy to help rather than lose your business to a competitor. 
• Eating out.  My family had become so entrenched in the Great American Tradition of eating out, that we easily saved $400 each month when I started cooking!!! at home!  The kids and I routinely drove through Starbucks or a fast food restaurant and spent about $12 each time.  Well, add that up over a month, and that’s a heck of a lot of toilet paper for your stash!
• Get the kids working!  When my kids really, really want to buy something badly enough, they’ll work for it!  Their grandmas and aunts are only too happy for some extra household or childcare help, and my kids walk away with a few bucks for their bank and a real-life lesson in earning money.  My little secret?  The money they earn to buy their goodies leaves that much more in our family budget.
• Know what you already have.  Don’t you just hate it when you buy nail polish remover or super glue and then find two other bottles hidden in the back of a cupboard?  This isn’t the time for wasting money buying duplicates of items, unless you need duplicates. 
• Live more cheaply.  It’s not forever, but you have a higher priority right now that needs your attention.  Set goals for food storage, 72 Hour Kits, money in your savings account, etc., and when you reach a goal, treat yourself and your family to something special.  The treat can be something as simple as a movie night or a picnic at a park. 
• Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University has been an inspiration to many of my friends and has helped them work their way out of debt.  His books are a quick read, which is something my husband appreciates.
• Check out my article 4 Super Cheap Prepping Resources to read even more of my penny-pinching schemes.

Remember, stocking up and preparing for emergencies isn’t a sprint.  It’s a marathon where every step forward makes a difference.  Money doesn’t have to be a barrier to making sure your family is prepared for whatever comes.  Always hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

If money isn’t your excuse, check out these:

Excuse du Jour: I don’t have time.

Excuse du Jour: I don’t want to be paranoid.

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