Things I don't pay for...
We live on a budget so I watch what we spend to make sure all of our goals can be met. However, I have found it is the things that we don't spend money on that save us the most. Here are some of the things I don't pay for.
1. Cleaning lady. I do it. The kids have chores and some of them are helping clean the house. Hubby helps when we are having company over or a party. Would I love a maid? Absolutely, but it is not in my budget and I don't think it ever will be. I am physically able to do this. I understand if there is a medical reason that people need help and would have to pay for this.
2. Landscapers. Hubby and my son do most of this. Again, we are physically able to do this. I do the weeding and the garden. In my younger years when hubby was working 60+ hours and the kids were young, I mowed the lawn. Now I have a 19 year old son that lives at home so he does it. We did pay to have large trees cut down. Hubby has cut down small trees but a professional is needed sometimes.
3. Car washes. We wash them at home. Hubby does the detailing. I pull the shop vac out every once in a while and clean the insides well. A little time is all we need.
4. Computer repairs. This is what Hubby does for a living so I don't have to pay for it.
5. Manicures and pedicures. I have had 1 manicure in my life time and never had a pedicure. It is not me. I will polish my nails for a wedding but otherwise no thanks. I like to dig in the dirt too much to care about it.
6. Hair coloring. I think I have had my hair highlighted 3 or 4 times in my life when I was in my 20's. I don't care what color it is now. Hubby is mostly grey and looks good so we don't color his either.
7. Dog grooming. I do it with the help of hubby or one of the kids. Oreo is used to us doing it so it is all she knows.
8. House painters. Hubby and I have painted the inside of the house ourselves. We have gotten better at it over the years. The kids have helped with it as they have gotten older.
9. Plumbing repairs. My FIL is a plumber. Hubby grew up spending summers and vacations working with him. He has taught our kids the basics and has had my son replace our bathroom sink himself. If Hubby can't fix it we call his dad.
10. Daycare. We never paid for daycare. We made it so I could stay home with our kids. I have watched other peoples kids, worked nights and weekends when Hubby would be home so that they didn't have to go to daycare. There is nothing wrong with putting your kids in daycare. My sister is a single mom and lives 45 minutes from my parents. She had to do it. I just never had too.
11. Laundry services. I do all of our laundry at home. I know lots of people that work, that drop off their laundry to be cleaned. I even know a few that have it picked up from their house. I have a washer and dryer in my house. I do occasionally bring something in to be dry cleaned such as Hubby's suit.
12. Snow removal. We are physically able to do this. We also have a snow blower. It is not worth hurting yourself to do it. We all do it together. Slow and steady when shoveling. My parents pay to get their looong driveway plowed. My dad then shovels the stairs and walkways.
13. Gym memberships. Hubby has a gym at work that he uses. I go for walks or watch YouTube videos when I work out. The kids have gyms at their schools that they can use.
14. Movie tickets. I have worked at a movie theater for the past 12 years. They are a perk of my job. Sometimes we can't see a movie in the first 2 weeks so we wait.
15. Dog sitting. My sister always watches Oreo for us. If we are gone for a long day my FIL will run over to feed her and let her out.
16. Home repairs. Hubby is very handy and with YouTube can figure out how to fix most things.
17. Shipping Supplies. I save boxes and envelopes at work that would otherwise end up in the garbage. They can be used multiple times.
18. Compost. Our town offers free compost to residents. I do have to go shovel it but it saves us a lot of money.
19. Books. I cannot remember the last time I bought a book. I live at the library and use theirs. I do remember the last time. It was when I bought Total Money Makeover after I returned it to the library. I have gotten books as gifts.
20. Dog waste services. That is all me. Hubby hates doing it and I don't make the kids do it. I am not paying someone $30 a week to come to my yard and clean up after my dog.
21. Newspapers. We read them at our jobs. Both subscribe to the paper so I don't need too. With the internet I don't need a newspaper.
What don't you pay for? I am always looking for ways to save some money so I would love to know. .
1. Cleaning lady. I do it. The kids have chores and some of them are helping clean the house. Hubby helps when we are having company over or a party. Would I love a maid? Absolutely, but it is not in my budget and I don't think it ever will be. I am physically able to do this. I understand if there is a medical reason that people need help and would have to pay for this.
2. Landscapers. Hubby and my son do most of this. Again, we are physically able to do this. I do the weeding and the garden. In my younger years when hubby was working 60+ hours and the kids were young, I mowed the lawn. Now I have a 19 year old son that lives at home so he does it. We did pay to have large trees cut down. Hubby has cut down small trees but a professional is needed sometimes.
3. Car washes. We wash them at home. Hubby does the detailing. I pull the shop vac out every once in a while and clean the insides well. A little time is all we need.
4. Computer repairs. This is what Hubby does for a living so I don't have to pay for it.
5. Manicures and pedicures. I have had 1 manicure in my life time and never had a pedicure. It is not me. I will polish my nails for a wedding but otherwise no thanks. I like to dig in the dirt too much to care about it.
6. Hair coloring. I think I have had my hair highlighted 3 or 4 times in my life when I was in my 20's. I don't care what color it is now. Hubby is mostly grey and looks good so we don't color his either.
7. Dog grooming. I do it with the help of hubby or one of the kids. Oreo is used to us doing it so it is all she knows.
8. House painters. Hubby and I have painted the inside of the house ourselves. We have gotten better at it over the years. The kids have helped with it as they have gotten older.
9. Plumbing repairs. My FIL is a plumber. Hubby grew up spending summers and vacations working with him. He has taught our kids the basics and has had my son replace our bathroom sink himself. If Hubby can't fix it we call his dad.
10. Daycare. We never paid for daycare. We made it so I could stay home with our kids. I have watched other peoples kids, worked nights and weekends when Hubby would be home so that they didn't have to go to daycare. There is nothing wrong with putting your kids in daycare. My sister is a single mom and lives 45 minutes from my parents. She had to do it. I just never had too.
11. Laundry services. I do all of our laundry at home. I know lots of people that work, that drop off their laundry to be cleaned. I even know a few that have it picked up from their house. I have a washer and dryer in my house. I do occasionally bring something in to be dry cleaned such as Hubby's suit.
12. Snow removal. We are physically able to do this. We also have a snow blower. It is not worth hurting yourself to do it. We all do it together. Slow and steady when shoveling. My parents pay to get their looong driveway plowed. My dad then shovels the stairs and walkways.
13. Gym memberships. Hubby has a gym at work that he uses. I go for walks or watch YouTube videos when I work out. The kids have gyms at their schools that they can use.
14. Movie tickets. I have worked at a movie theater for the past 12 years. They are a perk of my job. Sometimes we can't see a movie in the first 2 weeks so we wait.
15. Dog sitting. My sister always watches Oreo for us. If we are gone for a long day my FIL will run over to feed her and let her out.
16. Home repairs. Hubby is very handy and with YouTube can figure out how to fix most things.
17. Shipping Supplies. I save boxes and envelopes at work that would otherwise end up in the garbage. They can be used multiple times.
18. Compost. Our town offers free compost to residents. I do have to go shovel it but it saves us a lot of money.
19. Books. I cannot remember the last time I bought a book. I live at the library and use theirs. I do remember the last time. It was when I bought Total Money Makeover after I returned it to the library. I have gotten books as gifts.
20. Dog waste services. That is all me. Hubby hates doing it and I don't make the kids do it. I am not paying someone $30 a week to come to my yard and clean up after my dog.
21. Newspapers. We read them at our jobs. Both subscribe to the paper so I don't need too. With the internet I don't need a newspaper.
What don't you pay for? I am always looking for ways to save some money so I would love to know. .
I pay for a lot more than you! I do have a lawn service and a pool service. Technically I could do both of these jobs, but the pool guy comes just once a month and the lawn guy every 10-14 days.TheHub works ridiculous hours so this would be all on me and having to be Mom's gopher/helper/you name it leaves me little time for time consuming things (It takes me about 6 hours to mow, rake and edge the yard and I have put a value on my time) I have also quit painting. For most of the decades we have been married I did all the painting and TheHub would clean the brushes and rollers when he got home from work. We decided mutually the last time we (?) painted (the entire inside and outside of the lake place) that it would be the last time I painted a room/house.
ReplyDeleteTime is money so if you can spend you time doing more productive things then that is great. 6 hours to do your lawn, OH NO. Ours takes about an hour and a half. I wouldn't do it if it took 6 hours.
DeleteMending or sewing. At one time I made all my clothes including bras and panties. I paid only for socks and shoes.
ReplyDeleteThat is great. I do hand sew to mend items but I am not great otherwise. My oldest daughter is a great seamstress. I need her to give me lessons one day. She learned all on her own.
DeleteHi Mcoia and a very good subject and it is good to hear you and your husband are so handy :).
ReplyDeleteThings we don't pay for are -
1. All of our vegetables as well as most berries as we grow them.
2. Mowing or landscaping as we do it all after we purchased a ride on lawn mower to cater for DH's back injuries along with a new brush cutter too that is a backpack one again to help with DH's injuries.
3. We don't pay for firewood as we cut it all free ourselves from friends properties close by.
4. Car washing and detailing as we do it ourselves.
5. Cordial as we make it ourselves.
6. Biscuits, cakes and almost all meals likewise we make ourselves.
7. Hair cuts as DH cuts my hair and I cut his. I also don't pay for hair dye and prefer a la natural colour.
8. Manicures or pedicures as we do them ourselves.
9. Curtains, table runners and table place mats as I make them myself.
10. Gym memberships as we stay active in the garden and cutting firewood.
11. Laundry services or the use of a clothes dryer as we do all our own washing and hang it on the clothes line.
12. Home cleaning and maintenance as we do it ourselves.
13. Herbs as we grow them and use them fresh and dry them too.
14. Boxes and bubble wrap as we save it from parcels and letters we receive here.
15. Newspapers as we get free local newspapers delivered.
16. Gift cards as I make them myself.
17. Gifts as I also make them all myself.
18. Jam as we make it all ourselves.
19. Clothing repairs as we do it all ourselves.
20. Paper towel as we mostly use saved fabric from old sheets and towels except when we are draining foods.
21. Cat washing and claw clipping as we do it ourselves.
22. Stain remover as we make our own.
All I can think of at the moment.
Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).
We don't use paper towels either. We use rags instead that were old clothes or towels. You have a wonderful list.
DeleteLove all of your lists! We don't pay for many outside services. Hubs is a jack of all trades and can do 99% of anything but if its a dire need and he's out of town working then I call someone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no manicures, hair coloring or gym memberships. Car washing I do myself but at a car wash as we don't have access to water in the garage in the new house, detailing I do myself. In the last rental I couldn't wash the pups but now I can (they are getting their first baths in the new house this weekend), nail clipping on the dogs I cannot do (they are too strong for even both of us to handle) but the cat I can.
Isn't it wonderful to have a handy husband. Some of my friends have to call for help for simple projects and then it costs them and arm and a leg.
DeleteOreo only is about 40 pounds and we taught her since she was a puppy to let us cut her nails. I could see how it could be difficult to cut the nails on a large dog. My friend has a a Great Dane and she is a 120 pounds and taller then me when she stands on 2 feet.