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This seems like a mundane topic already, but I'm just looking for some advice. I'm trying to save some money, but it seems like a constant struggle. We have no tv connection, no cell phones, only internet, which is the lowest plan, we only have 1 car, which we have a loan for but it's an older car, so the payments are really low. No credit cards, and no mortgage. We have a fairly low income bracket, but I'm trying to really work hard to boost us out of a rut. All bills are paid on time, and the rest of the money we get pretty much goes toward groceries...I've tried to eliminate our grocery bill as much as possible, as we don't really eat out,and I have meal plans. I've tried so much to put away some little money here and there, but then something happens with the car, or emergency comes and I'm back as square 1. I've managed to put a little over 2,000$ into saving that I refuse to touch,but that's it. It seems to be the hump I can't get over..... any advice? I feel kinda stuck since I'm already doing all that I have thought of to save some money. Thanks for advice!

What kind of account have you got your savings in? I bank with westoba and I put all my savings into a Variable TFSA account, doesn't make a whole lot but its definitely a start!

TFSA is what I use for semi-short term savings. I just deduct a relatively small amount automatically on my pay days. So it's like the money was never in my account to begin with, You'll be surprised how that small amount adds up over a short period of time.

So far, it sounds like you're doing everything right. $2000 in the bank as an emergency fund is doing well.  
 
Have you followed Dave Ramsey at all? He would suggest that you set aside $1000 as a baby emergency fund to start, then pay off any debts you have, less your mortgage (which sounds like it might only have the car loan). Then, you keep saving until you achieve 4 to 6 months emergency fund.  
 
What's left on your car loan? It might be smarter to pay that down faster so you free up that money. Even use $1000 of your $2000 to pay it down, keeping $1000 for your emergency fund. Once that is paid, you start rolling that money into savings. You might even realize that maybe you can't actually afford to have a car and achieve your savings goal, in which case you sell it and maybe spend a couple of hundred bucks on good bikes or something. Brandon is small and a car isn't always necessary if you follow the 90% rule.*  
 
I know from experience that when your margins are tight, that debt - any debt, and there's no such thing as good debt contrary to what people will tell you - is a killer. We drive old, ugly vehicles for a reason. It's cheaper for us to fix them than to buy something else.  
 
If you can't cut expenses anymore, your only other option is to increase your income. Get another job. Start selling Tupperware. Sell stuff around the house on ebrandon. Mow lawns, clean houses, babysit or walk dogs.  
 
*The 90% rule is when you chose to buy something that fits the task 90% of the time, and you then beg, borrow or hire/rent the other 10%. For example, if you can do most of your daily routine by walking, riding a bike or taking a bus, and you really only "need" a car for groceries and going to the beach, you can hire a taxi for that, or rent a car for the weekend on occasion. You will likely spend less on those other things than maintaining a vehicle, and meet the 90% rule.

I understand a car isn't necessary, however we do live out of Brandon, so buses and walking aren't an option. While we lived in Brandon it was busses and walking all the way, but we bought a car as we moved out of the city centre area. It's not a pretty car by any means, and quite low, Im just trying to build some credit with it, as I made some stupid decisions in my past that made my credit bad. It would save me money in the long run to pay it all off, but I'm not sure if it's better to just pay the loan regular to really boost myself (my credit has improved greatly with this car) or to pay it off and have no source of good credit increasers... if that even makes sense. I think a tfsa is a great idea, I'll definitely look into that. I think that the best way is to increase income, as someone has mentioned. Any extra income could go straight into savings as I can "survive" on what I have already, which would be awesome!. Thanks everyone for your advice!!

Two points I would like to add to what has already been said. One is to "Pay yourself first". You stated that you keep all your bills paid up which shows respect for your creditors. Treat your savings account like another creditor that HAS to get paid, not something that you get around to when you can. It doesn't have to be a lot to start, but a trikle turns into a stream eventually.As other suggested, if your going to put money into a TFSA at your bank then get it set up to automatically come our of your account once or twice a month. You can always add extra if you find some extra cash once in a while. $25 every paycheque = $650 in a year (if you have 26 pay periods). In 3 years your savings will have doubled. Do what ever amount and frequency that you can, but if you set it up to automatically come out of your account you eventually will get used to the new reality.  
 
The second suggestion is to really think about the way to make some extra income. I've seen too many people get into selling something and realize they end up buying most of the stuff for themselves that they didn't really need and struggle to break even at best. Figure out something that you can do with the skill set and equipment you already have. Slow and steady wins the race.  
 
Good luck and keep at it, don't get discouraged by setbacks.If you save an extra $500 then get stung by a $500 expense you hadn't planned on, well at least you have the money for it already.

You sound like you have worked really hard to put that emergency money aside, so just make sure you ask at the bank about fees before investing into a TFSA or any other investment. Even if you put your $2000 into a variable rate TFSA (not a term) some banks will still charge you a fee if you have to withdraw it for an emergency. Interest you''re earning is so low right now, that chances are, if there is a withdrawal fee, it will equal more than the interest you had earned up to that point, putting you further behind. I''m not saying you shouldn''t do it, just make sure to ask about fees.  
 
Edited by thatsjustme, 2017-05-26 09:58:58

If you don't live in Brandon, do you have space for a garden? And do you have any cold storage space to keep vegetables into the winter months? Things like potatoes, squash and zucchini are versatile and will keep into winter and help with the food budget!  
 
I also have no idea what you do for jobs, but is there any chance you could find a weekend or evening only job (or whatever is opposite your current shifts)? With summer here, and people taking holidays you may have a chance to be a fill in staff member. Even if you don't know of places hiring, if they are open evenings and weekends ask if they would be interested in that. A few years ago I was asked to apply for a job at the optometrist office as a glasses fitter because I was joking around about how it was fun helping pick out my friends glasses and the assistant helping us said they were always short staffed on weekends. I couldn't take advantage of the opportunity because I live too far away but it really opened my eyes to a hidden job market that I could tap into if really need be!  
 
And as posted above, is there a product that you currently use and could sell? I'm thinking like epicure or sunset gourmet that you could incorporate into your own kitchen while making a bit of money for your budget? There are lots of household products and personal care products that you could get discounts on by becoming a distributor.

I would be willing to sit down with you to create a budget, saving plan. better known as a cash flow. I went through a financial course and learned so very much.  
I have private messaged you.

Look into YNAB (you need a budget). It has changed our lives. It is a computer program/app that helps you budget. It costs a yearly fee but it is worth it. We've really gotten our crap together financially with this. Also Dave Ramsey (American author and radio show host) or Mr. Money Moustache (blogger) both have good tips for getting things rolling.