We all know you should talk about money with your partner before youtie the knot.
April Vargo and her husband, Jason, live just outside of Chicago in Whiting, Indiana.
Until recently, she was a public school music teacher; he works in appraisal services.
Vargo remembers that she and Jason didnt fight when they were dating or engaged.
But when they got married five years ago,their only sticking point was money.
We looked at it two different ways, she says.
Im a saver, he spends, and were two different extremes.
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She read Dave RamseysTotal Money Makeoverand saw a video of the author speaking about his concepts.
All of a sudden, it made sense.
There was so much we could do, Vargo says.
Did you know?
Then, figure out how to worktogetherto meet those goals.
The couple began holdingmonthly budget meetingswhere they evaluated every expense, from the fun stuff to the necessities.
ensure youre both comfortable with the plan, Vargo advises.
Do something that makes you excited about it.
For the Vargos, paying off debt was a major goal.
They made a spreadsheet of their different types of debt and brainstormed ways to pay it down.
They decided tosnowball paymentsas Ramsey recommended, and put any extra money toward that card.
Heres how they did it.
Cutting Costs
Next, they looked at their expenses and true necessities.
One surprising place they found savings: their home security system.
They switched from ADP to Simplisafe, which offered lower prices combined with additional features.
Right off the bat, we were getting more for less money, Vargo says.
Their two cars spent most of the time in the driveway.
They traded in both vehicles and purchased one new car and now they only haveone car paymentto worry about.
We ended up refinancing it later for a lower interest rate, Vargo says.
Its a higher payment, but well be done with the payments in two years.
Yes, Foodie CouplesCanSave on Groceries
How do yousave money on grocerieswithout scrimping on satisfaction?
We love to eat, Vargo says.
We werent willing to compromise on quality of life.
We didnt want to start eating canned beans and tuna fish all the time.
Vargo said they eat at home five or six nights each week.
She visitsAldi, Costco and local independent shops to cross off everything on her list.
And if she cant find the ingredients she needs?
She heads toWhole Foods but only for a few items shes likely to use repeatedly, like spices.
Eating at homefor these two is far from boring.
Its our entertainment for the evening, Vargo says.
Theyve cut at least 50% off their grocery bill since they started getting savvy about their finances.
This strategy also helps them save money.
Sometimes boarding a pet can be more expensive than boarding yourself, Vargo says.
Since theyre not looking for fancy amenities, theyre usually able to findcheaper accommodation.
Just a little research before you go can make a big difference.
Are You Ready for a Financially Fit Marriage?
Inspired by this familys success?
Maybe youre ready to set some goals for you and your beloved.
Its a lot easier doing it together, she says.
Now finances are regular conversations [for us], she says.
Not even a sore spot.
Lisa Rowan is a former staff writer.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…