Starting Out

When I was about 14 years old, a friend of mine (Sharon) called me "The Budgeteer". Ever since then, I think I've lived up to my title. I grew up in a family with 8 children, so things were always tight. We were taught not to waste, be resourceful, be grateful for what we have, be wise in our use of money, and save - from the earliest age. I've carried those lessons with me throughout my life. There is nothing particularly special about me, truthfully. In this day and time, everyone is interested in saving money. Everyone is re-evaluating their spending habits and what they think of as necessities. Everyone is carpooling, couponing, and cutting out cable - so you may not find anything here that you haven't seen or heard before. But, I hope that every now and then you'll find a little nugget that will help you in some way! I have to admit, though I grew up being taught to conserve, I also grew up to appreciate the finer things in life. Not having the budget necessary to support my tastes, does not mean that I don't try to figure out ways to afford all the things I want. So, I have learned to think of saving money as a game/hobby. And I guess that is what sets me apart from some of the crowd; determination. I'm a firm believer in "where there is a will, there is always a way". So, I hope you'll find some new ideas on how to make things you find in boutiques, dine at fine restaurants on a budget, attend fine music concerts for free, go on weekend get-aways, enjoy good wine for about $6/bottle, and cut your grocery bill in half...among other things! Thanks for stopping in and please feel free to leave a comment whenever you'd like to share a thought or idea!