S....I must brag on myself a little bit but I can save money like there is no tomorrow! Hehe. I can go grocery shopping for a week (Walmart things included- diapers, body wash, etc.) for $75.00. Yeah, sometimes it's a challenge but it's turned into a game for me and has become a lot of fun. Granted there are only 3 of us right now but Emme can only have soy milk- which is expensive! As far as saving money on groceries goes, I would watch the weekly sale ads for your grocery stores. I plan our weekly menu around what is on sale that week. If there is a great meat sale, I try and spend a lot of my weekly budget on whatever meat they have. It really helps in the long run...especially in the winter when there aren't many great sales going on. We don't eat really unhealthy, in fact, I feel we eat pretty darn well. I try and get whatever fruits and veggies are on sale that week. Also, I'm not sure where you're located but in KC (Independence area) there is a place called Rick's Picks. It's the best place EVER! They sell dented cans and boxes at a SUPER cheap price. Yes, SOME (maybe 10%) of the things are expired but just keep looking and you may find on hiding in the back that is not. They have tons and tons of food items at less than half price. (We just went Saturday and my husband got a large can of Columbian House (?) coffee for $4.32. When we went to Hy-Vee later, we compared the price...they sold it for $8.98. And no, it wasn't expired!) So places like that are definitely worth checking out.
I've called Time Warner and Comcast (we've had both before) and told them their service prices were out of my budget now. Although I'd love to keep my service with them, the only way I'd be able to do so was if they lowered my price. I currently have Comcast and get these following services for $83.88/mo.: Digital phone- unlimited local and long distance calling with 12 calling features, High speed internet, and digital cable with 90 channels (it has a box). Try giving them a call and see what they can do for you...
We were paying out the wazoo for car insurance. Seriously...it was insane. We went from paying $250/mo. with Farmers to paying $91/mo. with Geico. We don't have tickets or accidents on our records. I'm sure you're thinking, "Yeah but you must have less coverage with Geico...". Not at all! In fact, we raised our "limits" or whatever they're called. The reason they can charge so cheap is because they don't do credit checks. We have great credit so it doesn't affect us really, but it can be a great help to those who don't...and we reap the benefits!
Have you called your utility company to get on leveled payments? If you have been at your current residence for a year, they will average your payments out for the previous year and you just pay the averaged amount. They adjust it annually. Did that make sense?
Ummm...what else...? Look over your cell phone bill if you have one. Do you have to have all the extras? What can you get by with if you also have a house phone? I just lowered mine from $95ish after taxes to about $45ish after taxes.
Call around for your trash service. Compare prices. I pay $17/mo. but just got a flyer on my door last week for service for $9.99 for the first year and then only $13.99 after that.
Make sure you have the "more than free" checking with your bank. It's so dumb to be charged to use your debit card, etc.
Try to eliminate credit card usage. It can get you into a mess of trouble.
If you make these changes, you should have more than enough money leftover each month for one or two fun family outings or dates with your husband! Good luck! Hope this helped!