okay here it goeshave no idea on your budgetbut ours is 22K to 27K for a family of 4 (no government assistance) thank you very much - we have want for nothing - actually own 4 homes, 5 cars and a 2 semi's2 parents 2 kids (how about that the nuclear family) :}dad gets frustrated with mom 'cause she can turn a nickle into a dollar in nothin' flatrule 1 no store bought clothes - only second hand - garage sales and good will - mom is the queen (unless you have my legs, inseam of 38/40, yes i am tall) only i get britches in the store because no one else legs are that long and it really looks silly when your pants are at your kneesrule 2 no junk food - costs to much -rule 3 no restaurants - costs way too muchrule 4 no hair cuts - mom knows how to work scissors/clippers - been doing hair cuts for years no body knows the differencerule 5 every thing gets used at least 3 times before it leaves us - plastic, cardboard, clothes, etcplastic - first for humans we use it then the animals get to use it (like food bowls) then garage gets to use it then recycle it when done in garagecardboard - same thing, insulation in dog houses whatever needs packed or reshipped, etcclothes - wear them rag them rug them - first you wear them then mom rags them for cleaning then they get turned into rugsrule 6 whole cow purchase only - not by the piece at the stores - go to the butcher - you will spend 1.70 a pound on a 1000 pounds = $1700 for meat for the year or more, by the piece from the store that same cow equals over $4500 or more, then all the bones and undesirable pieces get fed to the dogs (free dog food)get the idea - nothing is wasted - there are more rules but you are getting the ideano trash pick up - recycle it allno wasted trips to store - once a week only - if you don't get it then you go withoutno modern entertainment - no movies - t v is free - no rentals - play board games or cardsno fashion - huge waist of money on girly fads or action figures or collectiblesno shopping - you don't need anything - most of us already have every thing we need, wanting something is a whole different idea, you have a dry roof, decent clothes, good food, you don't need a food processor you already have a paring knifeno magazine subscriptions or newspapersnothing enters the home unless it is going to workwork like chores, broom, vacuum, sheets, etc have a job to do - pictures, needless toys, hobbies, crafts don't work, unless you resell themafter a while you will get the swing of it