Eating out is very expensive. Learn to cook. You eat out for $10 or buy 2lbs hamburger meat and two boxes of HB Helper for about $8. You save $2 and feed 6 people.
Curb your alcohol/smoking habit. Cut back as best you can.
Do a full load of laundry instead of two small ones.
Turn off lights!!!!! Replace incandesent bulbs with flouesent. The flouesent cost more but will pay for themselves in about a years.
If possible, check your electrical cost per kilowatt hour and shop around if you have a few companies around.
Budget your money. Make a calander with ALL of your bills (including smokes). LOOK AT IT EVERY DAY! It will help you keep your mind on your money.
Resist the urge to party every nite.
Try to have $5 left on Friday (or your payday). This gives you a weekly goal that is fairly easy to keep.
Pay your bills on time. Avoid late fees.
Do you REALLY need 300 cable channels?
Shop for cheapest internet/cable packages.
Find out how much EVERYONE will earn and make it clear as to how to pay bills. 4 people in house so all bills divided by 4 or "I don't watch TV! I'm not paying for it!" Keeps trouble and stress out of your life.
Walk to the store if possible. Don't make unnecessary trips.
AVOID the corner store if possible!! Go to Wal-mart or other big chain to buy groceries.
Avoid microwave food if possible. Learn to cook.
Set up a schedule for all chores.
Avoid pets and other unneeded items until your sure you can meet your monthly goals.
Try some of the cheaper colas if you drink a lot. I like orange soda. Sunkist 2liter is $1.89 while Wal-mart cheapie is 75 cents and I like it better.
Save your left overs for lunch the next day.
If you do need help, many churches and other organizations will pay a bill.
Look into food stamps if needed.
Try to make a list of meals for the week and make a shopping list. It will help reduce impulse buying at the store and reduce your overall cost. Also helps eliminate the second trip to the store.
Clip coupons if you can get a free paper. If there is a coupon for $1 off Shrimp (or other food), buy just enough that you have no out of pocket expense. Example..Shrimp $4.00 lb..... coupon $1 off.... buy 1/4 lb......1/4 of $4 is $1......cost eliminated by coupon.FREE SHRIMP!!!. Do it two or three times and you get ALOT OF FREE SHRIMP!
Dont look at the price of things. Look at how much it cost per ounce. Example.......Wal-mart where I shop has two different pizzas. One is 97 cents the other is 89cents. The difference is the 89 cent one is much smaller but in a box about the same size as the other. There is a tag beside the price that says price per ounce. The 89cent pizza cost more per ounce but has a lower advertised price. Hope I made that clear.
Anyway good luck on your venture... and sorry for the long post.