Hi, so I saw this board and I have been working on our budget for after our move and I'd love some input if anyone has any ideas. This is for February 2009 and beyond, not current (our income is different because we get a lower BAH where we live now).



Income:
Your income: $0
Dh/SO's income: $1200 (after taxes) (I think that will be about right, it's $1570 before taxes, but we wont pay state income tax)
Other income: We also will be getting a few military allowances (BAH, BAS, and COLA) totaling $1895.

Living expenses:
~Rent/Mort pymt: $1475
~Electric: included in rent
~Home gas: included in rent
~Water: included in rent
~Cable: $60
~Gardener: $0
~Internet: $0
~Home phone: $30
~Cell phone: $0
~Groceries: $300 (this is an estimate)
~Other household items: $0
~Medical expenses (co-pays, prescriptions): all medical expenses are $100 covered except for dental which will be $10 a month
~Car gas/transportation expense: $150 (car is paid off)
~Car maintenance: needs oil change every 3-4 months, $40
~Car insurance: $100 a month for 07 Honda Accord EX
~Other insurance: $20 ($400,000 life insurance policy on DH)
~Child care: $0
~Diapers: $75 (I have seen this way lower on here...tips would be appreciated)
~Formula: $125
~Other baby expense: $20 (we normally don't need this, but I like to set it aside for OTC medicine, diaper cream, etc)
~Preschool/schooling: $0
~Pets: $0
~Eating out: $0
~Entertainment: $0
~Spending/pocket money: $0
~Misc spending: $0
~Other: $0

Goals: (examples: new car, baby, to be a SAHM, vacation, retirement, etc)
I want to save for:
1. A new baby. $5000
2. A new car. $32000
3. An emergency fund $5000
4. To go back to college.

Savings
About $3000-$3500 by February 2009.

Okay, I've seen way lower balances on groceries, diapers, and formula. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know what you guys are doing.


Switching to generic is not an option for us. We'll be at the commisary which doesn't have generic formula and Reagan leaks out of any diapers besides Pampers Swaddlers.

ETA:
I made my questions in blue. Thanks.

[~Jess~]

If you live in a very rural area and only have the commissary, then it's probably not possible to save more money on groceries. You don't even have drug stores like Walgreens or CVS? Or expensive grocery stores? Often the best deals are found at the expensive stores because they offer a few super good deals to get ppl thru the doors in hopes that they'll buy the higher priced items while they're there. The key is to go in and ONLY buy the cheapie deals and then leave.

If you truly don't have any other stores though, you may want to buy the swaddlers from diapers.com. You can get 184 size 2 for $42.99. Not a great deal but about half what you're paying now if you could make that last a month.

Your budget is already pretty pared down. Have you tried generic formula?

Based om what you have above, you should have $690 left over each month to save.

If you live in a very rural area and only have the commissary, then it's probably not possible to save more money on groceries. You don't even have drug stores like Walgreens or CVS? Or expensive grocery stores? Often the best deals are found at the expensive stores because they offer a few super good deals to get ppl thru the doors in hopes that they'll buy the higher priced items while they're there. The key is to go in and ONLY buy the cheapie deals and then leave.

If you truly don't have any other stores though, you may want to buy the swaddlers from diapers.com. You can get 184 size 2 for $42.99. Not a great deal but about half what you're paying now if you could make that last a month.

Your budget is already pretty pared down. Have you tried generic formula?[/b]

We have other stores, it's just there is no sales tax at the commisary.


I didn't even think to look at the super expensive grocery stores, good idea, I'll check there.

Thank you!

[Fallen2Love]

For diapers, you could invest in cloth diapers. We spend about $200 on one size cloth diapers. We started them at 6 or 9 months old, and at 2.5 she can still wear them and has plenty of room to grow. The best part, is I'll be able to use them for future children as well. This is what we have: http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.p...roducts_id=1279

CD are not for everyone - but they paid for themselves within a few months and eliminate the expense even if you only use them part time. I haven't had any leaking issues with them. The only time they might leak is if she didn't go potty before bed, and drank a lot at night. But its still a massive amount of pee, and she would probably leak through a disposable diaper too!

For formula, I have no idea. Have you signs up at the formula websites? I know ENfamil sent us a TON of coupons and I was nursing so I could never use them. But it was often $5-7-8 coupons.

[Faith24]

Like some of the above posters said, if you have a CVS or Walgreens you have the ability to really save money on household items and baby items. My fav website is www.Moneysavingmom.com and if you search through her site, she tells you how to play the "drugstore games". She also posts all the deals for the upcoming week including a lot of opportunities to get free things. By shopping at stores other than the commisary, you are able to stack a store coupon with a manufacture coupon possibly making an item cheaper at an "expensive" store vs. commisary. From what I have read, a good rule of thumb is to make your grocery/other item budget $100 per person per month. I personally do not count my LO in this one....will start when he eats food maybe. Also, eventhough I BF, i have gotten several checks from the different formula companies including many free sampes (like cans of samples!) It is worth checking out their websites! Good luck!

[Olivia&DelilahsMommy]

Definitely couponing, and go shopping elsewhere other than the commissary like Jess said. Visit the frugal mommies board, and another great site is HotCouponWorld.com It gives you the name of the stores and what the deals are that week matched up with coupons. It saves a ton!!!!!!!

[~Jess~]

Definitely couponing, and go shopping elsewhere other than the commissary like Jess said. Visit the frugal mommies board, and another great site is HotCouponWorld.com It gives you the name of the stores and what the deals are that week matched up with coupons. It saves a ton!!!!!!![/b]

Seriously! Aside from JM, HCW is the BEST site ever!

Thanks.

[*JenJen*]

We have other stores, it's just there is no sales tax at the commisary.


I didn't even think to look at the super expensive grocery stores, good idea, I'll check there.

Thank you!
[/b]

There may not be sales tax, but there IS a surcharge at the commy. You can sometimes find better deals at regular stores. I believe it is a 5% surcharge, so check to see what sales tax rates are at your local stores before solely relying on the commissary. Checking deals and watching sales can save you a ton. I have to shop exclusively at the commissary and it gets SO expensive there, even without the "sales tax".

[~Jess~]

Once you're in CA there's no sales tax on food items.

[Olivia&DelilahsMommy]

Yeah no sales tax on food here in FL either.

[karkli]

Does the commissary take expired coupons? For some reason, it's sticking in my head that someone said they could use expired coupons at their commissary.

If so, try to start trading on HCW for expired formula coupons. Lots of people have them and will practically give them away since they aren't accepted many places. An $11 Nestle Good Start check can generally get you a can of powder for free (or pennies), so if you can collect a bunch of $11 NGS checks, it's like collecting free formula.

[frgsonmysox]

The comm. used to take expireds, now they only do overseas.

The commissary has a 5-7% surcharge, which is basically a tax. They are generally cheaper, because they are not allowed to make a profit (according to DECA).

Why do you need 5k for a new baby? Tricare pays for all pregnancy and labor costs.

The comm. used to take expireds, now they only do overseas.

The commissary has a 5-7% surcharge, which is basically a tax. They are generally cheaper, because they are not allowed to make a profit (according to DECA).

Why do you need 5k for a new baby? Tricare pays for all pregnancy and labor costs.[/b]

We don't need it, we just want it. It's $1500 plus $300 a month for the first 12 months.

[~Samantha~]

It looks like u just need to coupon and shop off base. Just because there is no tax doesn't make it a better deal. If you can get a good deal on diapers at lets say target with a good sale and a coupon even with tax it is much cheaper than on base. Same goes for formula. I think you need to look into doing that.