Last week I posted Less Is More, purchase on a budget not on the cheap. This week I promised a post on purchasing an organic nursery on a moderate income budget. Then I got to thinking.....what if most are not on a budget? I know there was a time I either just did without or purchased on the cheap but I still lived pay check to pay check and was not saving. Our family is bringing in the same amount of money but because we have a budget in place we are getting more for our money. We don't just have more items but we have better quality items with the same amount of income.

So.....I will be posting this upcoming week the steps towards purchasing an organic nursery on a moderate income budget but for today I thought I'd post tips on budgeting.

Here are some tools for budgeting:

1) Don't use credit. (Yes, we all know we shouldn't. But don't unless you know it will be paid off soon.) Most tend to purchase high priced items such as furniture on credit. This to me is the trap. Lower priced items can add up on credit too but I think most use their debit/credit cards for the lower priced items.

2) I've recently learned the way to saving money is to start a savings account right now. Don't wait until you've paid off debt to start the savings account. Pay into your savings a small amount each week then move on to paying off your debt. Otherwise, the savings will never happen. The savings will become your emergency fund. When big emergency expenses come up; you will not have to place the emergency item on credit.

3) Yes, this is something you know...stop eating out or at least stop purchasing your high priced mocha's. Funny how this is the hardest for so many. I honestly could not have imagined not eating out and not purchasing a coffee on the run! It was when I began eating organic and gluten free that eating out became non-existent. We all know it's tough to eat healthy on the go....

This in turn was a double blessing. My family is eating healthier and I can afford organic items because we are not eating out!

The above are really basic tips towards budgeting.  I'm definitely not an expert. I suppose this is another look into my life. My personal journey in becoming debt free and living within a budget.

It's fun for me to share this journey with you! I was looking for a guest writer in frugal living. It never came about so I thought I'd tackle the subject. You don't have to give up quality to live within a moderate income budget. I was determined to purchase organic items and not go into debt doing so. I am amazed that when it comes down to it, spending more on health for your family is well worth the effort of budgeting and "finding" the money to live a natural, organic lifestyle!

  Site find this week: Budgeting Tools is a great site for practical ideas on setting up your family budget!

This month you'll find the following posts on purchasing organic within a budget:

• purchasing an organic nursery on a moderate income budget
• turn off the lights, recycle for cash, walk instead of driving etc..get the picture? Let's learn what we can leave out of our lives...so we can add in quality, healthy items for our household!
• tips and tricks to purchasing organic within a budget. Stomping out the myth "organic is too expensive. I could never go green" Oh, yes you can....