After my husband and I married last March, we moved to a new state and began creating a home together.    Gone were the wedding details, gone were the days that would be… the day was here!    For the first time in my life, I was completely in charge of all the grocery shopping, meal preparations and creating a home for our family.

Once we moved into our house I realized how many things we did not get as wedding gifts.  Things like a broom and mop, cleaning supplies, blankets, and…well, just about every food item that goes into the cabinets and fridge!   So I pulled out my pen and paper and began making a list {I’m a huge fan of writing lists!} of the items we would need.

My first shopping trip to the store, to pick up about a weeks worth of groceries and a few household supplies, I spent a good chunk of change. I really could not believe how much things cost.  And how quickly a dollar here and there added up!   Before I finished loading my bags into the car, I knew we wouldn’t be able to afford many more shopping trips like that one.  Thus began my journey towards learning how to save money.

It took weeks of me pouring over dozens of tutorials in order to learn the things I needed to know.  I soaked it all in and slowly began making changes during our shopping trips.   I’m not going to lie – it wasn’t easy.  But once I started to see how much we were saving, I was beyond thrilled!   I felt as if a whole new world had been opening up to me and I was reveling in it.  And it’s just too good to keep to myself – I want to share the savings!

Take Baby Steps. Over the next few weeks,  as I write more on how to save money,  you may start to feel overwhelmed and think that it’s impossible for you to shop the way I do…but it’s not!    Don’t try to take it all in at once.  Start by reading the articles first and then slowing filtering the ideas into your shopping trips.     It is my hope that through the upcoming articles and implementing some of the ideas I share with you, you will be able to spend less, save more, and share more. Allow me to show you how you can Live Better on Less!

{Photo Credit: Lanuiop}