To create a budget we must first track expenses to know how much is being spent. Then we can set a budget amount and lower expenses to stay under that number.

It's not an easy process. I began tracking and slashing my food budget here during the month of June, BriansChef helped to motivate me with her challenge to use only one's stocked up foods for a month of meals. Then I had the idea to start a Track and Slash event for those of us who want to work together on budgeting and lowering expenses.

Look for a new Track and Slash Event each month as we delve into different budgeted areas.

 I'm game!  ; )

 I started with a food one. You are going to keep up with the food challenges, yes? I am counting on those to add more motivation.

 Let me know what you want and I will post it...I am so willing to follow your lead.  : )

I'm game, too!  I hope, though, that you won't for a while make home-schooling a slash item, as it would not apply to all of us ....

Homeschooling would be a difficult one to do. It will take me a long time to figure out how to properly do that one if I ever do it.

Some suggestions-

August/Sept- stock the freezer and pantry with canning and freezing- live with food grown close to home to create a greener culture and cut down on shipping food so far- Greener Food Track and Slash

Sept/ October- weather proof our homes and apartments, get an energy audit and tune-up the furnace as needed to save on utility costs- replace bulbs with compact florescent bulbs, acquire any warm sweaters, socks, etc needed to keep the temp turned down a bit.  Weather Proofing Track and Slash

October/November- Prepare for the holidays, host a potluck Thanksgiving, make gifts and decorations for December holidays,  create fun costumes for Halloween- Track and Slash the Holidays

December- Eat out of the pantry, soups, vegetarian meals, to balance treats, meals out and gatherings- walk and exercise to balance stress and too many calories- stay home and go to special spiritual events to balance malls and parties- Sleep in and relax to balance late nights and a too long to-do list- Also look ahead and figure out changes in health insurance, medical and dependent care savings accounts, larger contributions to a 401K or retirement funds.  Track and Slash a Balanced Winter

January- Look at the annual budget- add up all those months and see what you did right and what you need to work on-set new goals and get feedback from fellow posters on new ideas to cut costs. Look at the big annual costs-mortgage/rent, taxes, cars, health insurance, old debt, etc. and see if you can cut them.  Start organizing for taxes.  Track and Slash the Annual Budget.

Feb- Get in and get your taxes done!  Double check deductions and plan if you can do better this year with bunching medical expenses, contributing more to retirement, and be sure to ask your accountant or figure out how to pay for college expenses for your kids or yourself to make the best use of federal tax breaks.  Write on your calender when to complete a property tax refund if you are eligible.  Figure out which kid school, music, and daycare expenses are tax breaks on your federal-daycare- and state- educational-taxes, add them up and fill them in!  Keep those Walmart receipts for supplies, add them with an instrument rental, band fee, field trip charges and you've got a deduction.    Tax Season Track and Slash.

March- Clean the yard, clear the clutter, organize the apartment, clear the house, go through the food and sundries, sort out the gift drawer or closet area, do any heavy cleaning of carpets or curtains, put found treasures in with the daily stuff to use, refresh the look of your space and make better use of things you've stored away- "Find" money in re-using the things you've bought on sale or haven't used, or as I say, shop from the basement first- Utilize What You Have/Spring Refreshing Track and Slash.

April- Eat out of your pantry!  Again, use up our store before the fresh food starts growing and food gets cheaper for the summer- Plan any trips with frugal tips to be able to take them- Track and Slash- Summer Prep!

May- Celebrations track and slash- Weddings, vacations, summer planning for kids, graduations, moving- share tips for everyone's summer plans. 

That brings us back to about where we started- 

Just a few ideas-

Tracy
 

You gave me more ideas to use, thanks! Some of this list has items I would not have thought about since they don't fit my lifestyle but they are common and worth attention.

Tracy, What an imaginative & thorough list! 

 Just letting everyone know, I am still tossing out challenges and working on lists for future ones.