How much money have you saved a month since coming to saving advice?

SOAPPRO · #1 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 10:55 AM

I have reduced my monthly income by 1500.00 per month. Only bill left is my mortage and of course tax's and insurances.

Broken Arrow · #2 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 11:11 AM

Since coming here? Well, the thing is... I've been working on my personal finance long before I got here. As a work in progress, I don't know precisely what was done before SavingAdvice and what was done afterwards. The site has certainly helped shape my financial life so far.

I can say that the biggest difference is with food. Prior to meeting all the Culinarily savvy ladies on here, I mostly ate out... because I'm that dumb.

After coming here, I'm boiling stuff, microwaving stuff, and am even gearing up to attempt to crockpot stuff! We'll see how that goes.

But that limited cooking alone has saved me $150 per month... or $1800 each year! That's pretty good in my book, and I look foward to reducing my overall spending even more.

rduell · #3 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 11:33 AM

Well, haven't been here that long and the budget is tight, but I'm off to a start of about $130 month. Not too shabby!

Ima saver · #4 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 11:47 AM

Well, I joined just in time to start the $20 challenge, so i have put all that I have saved here, down on paper.(Plus I put the cash in the bank) I have saved $18,687.00 And that is double of what I ever made in my life working full time.

TBH · #5 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 01:26 PM

I don't know if the site is totally responsible, because alsomy blog also really motivates me, but I'm saving about $850 per month. Yahoo!

$600 to workplace retirement accounts (my spouse's and mine)

$75/month to college accounts for my almost-3-year-old

$150/month to ING for irregular bills. (I expect to spend all this money each year)

plus the occasional small deposit in the ING account to boost my E fund savings.

Still want to start saving monthly into special accounts for gifts (xmas, bday, etc), charitable donations, travel, and a car fund. I also want to start contributing to my Roth regularly. Right now I just put the occasional windfall in there.

lrjohnson · #6 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 05:40 PM

Being honest and only counting what I've saved since coming here and specifically because of coming here (because I think it is disengenuous to consider all savings as directly attributable to savingadvice) I have saved $2922. My expenses were already low, but I decided to go on the Modified Minimum Wage Challenge.

excerpt from blog
I spent $1592 a month last year. My savings are the difference, $1592-$1026 (see below) = $566 times 8 months = $4,528.

Add to that $190 in “savings” and $14.21 in my emergency fund, I’ve saved $4,732.21. If I take out what I spend in Europe, $1809.64, which is not part of my Challenge, I’ve saved $2,922.57 living on CA Minimum Wage for 8 months.

T_I_N_A20 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 06:51 PM

I have 261$ so far in my challenge money because of this site and money in my two mutual funds. The rest I dunno. But I notice that I got a lot wiser with money.

simpleselu · #8 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 04:23 AM

I am saving almost 2/3 of each check or over 1K a month.

PRICEPLUS · #9 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 08:20 AM

Well, I will reassess at the start of the new year but I am not spending near as much as I used to do!

Ima saver · #10 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 08:23 AM

I think you are doing great, Paul!!

baking23 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

But that limited cooking alone has saved me $150 per month... or $1800 each year! That's pretty good in my book, and I look foward to reducing my overall spending even more.

That's great, teh crockpot isn't too hard let us know how it goes.

baking23 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 08:39 AM

I haven't saved much more than I was before since I've been pretty frugal all along. I have enjoyed the IRA and money market discussion though so that's been useful.

I just like 'hanging out' wiht folks that are frugal-minded. It makes things a lot easier.

Broken Arrow · #13 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baking23

teh crockpot isn't too hard

Apparently, you don't know me well.

fairy74 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 09:14 AM

I am saving about $100 a month by not spending so much every morning at an unnamed coffee joint (STAR-----) and by bringing all my lunches to work...

lrjohnson · #15 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

Apparently, you don't know me well.

BA, take a hunk of pork, a can of green chilis and some water. Put in pot. Go away. Come back. Stir with fork to shred. Make many burritos. I'm scared of meat and I can do this.