Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Learn how budgeting and saving enabled Stacey and her husband to fulfill their dream of visiting Las Vegas.
Stacey and her husband have learned quite a bit about money and savings, and I want to share this heartwarming story with you.
I want to thank Stacey Grant for writing Canadian Budget Binder with her “Paid by Cash” story for our fans to read.
Finally, they are going to Las Vegas!
Budgeting Beginnings
We started budgeting in the fall of 2011 as my husband and I were sick and tired of being broke.
Don’t get me wrong, our bills were being paid, and we had nice things, but there didn’t seem to be any “Emergency Savings Money.”
We discovered we were splurging EVERYWHERE, spending around $120 a week at Tim Horton’s.
You do the math; that’s a whopping $1440 yearly on coffee when we could have made it at home for less.
The first things we were told about money and savings were;
Within two weeks, we had more than $400 in our regular banking account.
After learning about debt stacking, we could pay our two credit cards off (at Christmas, I might add) and pay cash for everything we bought for Christmas.
I also purchased Canada Savings Bonds at work, and we opened a high-interest savings account.
In January, I started couponing, further stretching our dollar and because of the incredible savings.
Out Of Debt And We’re Our Way To Las Vegas
Finally, we are going to Las Vegas in August for five days to experience our dream vacation.
We never went on a honeymoon after marriage, so this trip was worth waiting 10 years for.
Not only was the trip entirely paid in cash, but I could also put aside $2000 in spending money.
WOW, I know.
To surprise my husband, who wants to do the “Nascar experience,” I purchased tickets for him.
This is a gift for all the years of love and happiness in our marriage, for which I paid $500 in cash.
This excitement and trip to Las Vegas might not seem much to some people, but this is a huge accomplishment for someone who couldn’t even save a dime.
I can also go shop-free for some weeks for groceries, which is a great feeling.
Our Money Saving Tips
Happy Savings,
Stacey Grant
If you have a “Paid Cash” story to share on CBB, email me at canadianbudgetbinder@yahoo.ca.
Paid by Cash In Canada Home, New Baby, New Garage Door Openers
Great story and advice. We are still working at having a week of no groceries. We have two sons living with us (21 & 23) that are more and more not around to eat our meals. If I ever adjust to just cooking for two we should save a lot of money on groceries.
The no-shop week is very difficult. We are supposed to have one starting Monday but I doubt it’s going to happen. We did have one at the beginning of the month I believe as the weeks in the month were off.
When there are deals we can stockpile such as coffee, sugar, beef, chicken, milk, cream, cheese, we will do it because we know we will use it. We don’t want to pay full price because we said NO NO it’s a shop free week lol.. I also suggest if you do like us that you have the money in your emergency fund otherwise you just DON’T shop and put it on credit cards… that’s a big no no. Cheers
Yes, I agree about the credit cards. We use AMEX for a lot of monthly purchases only to get the year end rebate check. Last year we got over 300 in a rebate check.
Wow that’s worth it then, as long as you don’t carry a balance which is hard for some to understand. You aren’t saving anything when you buy deals and use coupons and then leave it on a CC which you get charged interest. Mr.CBB Cheers.
We pay everything off each month. It is worth it to put gas purchase on AMEX, considering the $4.35 per gallon price today.
We are the same we use the cards for points and extra money to spend… might as well if you have the cash to pay it off every month. Yes the gas it out of whack but not that bad compared to what it is back home in the UK..
What price are they paying in the UK these days?
Pretty Scary Actually
UK price of gasoline at the pumps at all-time high, now at an average price of over 140.5p (£1.405 or $2.22) per litre, $8.39 per gallon.
I think I would just walk at that price. Crazy
Yes we having nothing to moan about yet.
I agree, I do not like debt. Budget and live within your means…
True that mate!
What an azing story enjoy your belated honeymoon guys . Going forward we hope to do a non shop week just have to get the stock pile a big higher but jusg about there
We wanted to have one this week coming but don’t think so with the 20x points at SDM now and some other amazing stockpile deals. We will see how bad it gets.. lol
Thank you for well wishes. You will get there!!
Ty Nickydon40…we are planning on having a blast. I was also given some coupons to use while there!! A friend of mine just came back!!
Great story Stacey and congratulations! I wish I knew even where to start! A vacation will be even more enjoyable knowing you’re not going into debt for it! I should try that some time! lol
I love Vegas! I hope you have a wonderful time!!
Where are you staying?
I hope you enjoy the heat as it is very hot there in August, but when you walk down the strip they actually have misting sprinkler systems that you can walk through to cool off.
We are staying at the flamingo. My hubby is a big fan of history, and well the flamingo is the original Casino. Plus we are on a budget, so we will just be visiting places like the bellagio!!! LOL. I have also done HUGE research on Free things & very cheap things to do in Vegas. So much that I have half of a book full!!!
Thanks for telling me about the misting stations. I know we will need them!!!
I am super excited to go. All those lights??? WOW.
We are staying at the Flamingo. My hubby is a big history nut, so staying there was a no-brainer (his words)….we are already expecting it to be sweltering. I think we were told somewhere around the 120 degree mark??
Congrats on your savings and the huge successes you made in such a little amount of time!!
How awesome! Enjoy your honeymoon!
I found that the best way for me to stay on track with grocery shopping is that I make a months list of meals then I make out the shopping list for the meals. That way I go grocery shopping once a month so it saves on gas so we dont have to go out all the time to get food.
Do you find you can easily stick to a budget? What about if items not on your list come up for sale but you know you will use them? Cheers thanks for posting. Mr.CBB
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I hope one day to be into the savings part of budgetting (after we are credit card debt free) and have a honeymoon that never happened either!!! As much as I love to travel, I hate debt more!!! Enjoy the trip and bask in the good feeling of paying in cash!!!!!!!!
wow what a wonderful story thank you so much for sharing Stacey Hope you had a great honeymoon
Awesome job! You are an inspiration to all of us trying to live frugally! You should be proud of yourselves. Have fun!
what a great story thank you for sharing. My Husband and I also didn’t take a honeymoon and I am desperately trying to get our budget started so that we can finally have that trip we always talk about. It’s not easy with only one income and to kids just getting started seems daunting.
Thanks for your post! You’ve come to the right place to talk budget! If you wander around and have a read you will find lots of great info here at CBB! Mr.CBB
That is an eye opener, i also love my Timmies. don’t spend that much but i’m sure i could cut back.
I think when you see the overall dollar amount at the end of the year you might change your mind. Mr.CBB Thanks for your comment.
It’s amazing what you find out when you keep track of everything…scary actually.
WOW, what a great inspiration. I can’t save a dime, this gives me hope that I can change things around. Thank you Stacey for sharing your story and thank you Mr. CBB for posting it.
You are welcome Linda.. Keep the faith and get that budget rolling and you WILL save at least a dime I promise you that! Cheers Mr.CBB
Thank you Linda, and trust me, ANYONE can do this. I was the most skeptical person EVER. Now that we have Vegas covered, we are saving for a trip to Mexico in January!! This is a must as my hubby’s only sibling is getting married. But it is also an excuse for all 4 of us to get away!!
Great inspirational read. Thats a lot of timmies. Super job, keep it up.
Love this story……….splurging sure does cost a lot…..and you don;t even realize until you add it up!
Great story Stacey! I bet you feel much better about finally taking your trip, knowing that you worked hard, and paid for it all in cash. I wanted to go on a trip this year, I have never been on one. But decided to save, and go next year! Hope that I can do it, I’m sure by reading this story, it will make me work harder to save. Enjoy your honeymoon:)
Wendy, you will be able to do this. We are now saving for our second trip!!! This one will be the first for the whole family to get away!!! We are now saving for Mexico in January!!!!