Money Matters

Here it is, the week of payday-- Brew & I both get paid this Friday. It's Tuesday. Guess how much is in my account? It's embarrassingly small. We'll just say, it's under $50. And the thing is? This is the norm.

Let me give you some background here. My husband and I both work. I'm a substitute teacher, so my income varies somewhat- but lately my checks have been averaging around $500-600. I get paid the 15th and the 30th. My husband makes $11.74/hr, before taxes, but he'll usually get at least 4 hours of overtime a week.

We do not have a mortgage or rent payment. Since our house is owned by my family, I only have to pay the property taxes, which isn't due for some time. Our expenses include- groceries/toiletries and such, utilities, gasoline, car and renters insurance, cell phone bill, cable bill (internet and basic cable- which I'm getting ready to drop the cable tv portion), jeep payment, gasoline for both of our vehicles, and two credit cards. We do not spend money frivolously. I try to save as much as possible at the store (buying generic, shopping at the cheapest store around here- Walmart). We only eat out about twice a month. And yet between pays we're scraping the bottom of our checking account and seemingly never have a "cushion" of any kind.

My husband and I want to in the very near future, start looking to buy some land to eventually build a house of our own on, but I don't know how on earth we're going to be able to do that. Any unforseen expenses we've had to put on a credit card because we have no savings really to speak of.

I know so many people live and live well on LESS than what we make. My question is HOW DO YOU DO IT? I'm open to any and all suggestions to build up savings anywhere possible. I already do all I can to cut back on utility bills. Our heat doesn't kick on till the house is 65 degrees and the air won't kick on until the house is 77 degrees. My husband and I take only one car when it's possible.

So I guess I'm asking for all you fellow poor people to share your secrets for saving money! I feel like I can barely stay caught up, let alone build any kind of savings whatsoever.

Thanks!!!