A single mother saved $5,000 in 8 months by cutting back on certain expenses. According to recent research by Nonfiction Research, over half of Americans—including some who earn over $200,000 per year—admit they’ve felt financially strained to the point of tears when facing unexpected expenses.

This sense of frustration is something Kumiko Love, the creator of the popular personal finance website The Budget Mom, understands well. However, instead of resigning to the challenges, she sought a solution to her financial struggles.

Motivation Came with Motherhood

When Kumiko Love became a mother, she knew it was time to take control of her finances, manage her budget, and pay off her debts. She had a son who was completely dependent on her for everything, including financial stability.

Starting her budgeting journey as a single mom making just $24,000 a year, Love went on to create The Budget Mom, sharing her debt repayment journey on Instagram. Eventually, she managed to earn and pay off a total of $77,281.

Here are the specific expenses Kumiko Love cut down on, allowing her to save $5,000 in just 8 months:

1. New Clothes

Before stopping her spending on new clothes, this single mom was spending between $200 to $300 per month on clothing. After reevaluating, Love set her clothing budget to about $25 per month, focusing only on essentials like socks and underwear.

“I went an entire year without buying new clothes to save money and to understand what I truly loved,” Love explained.

By making this change, she saved $1,900 during those first 8 months. Additionally, Love advises being mindful of shopping tricks designed to encourage impulsive spending when visiting stores.

2. Dining Out and Grocery Shopping

Next, Love examined her food budget. She decided to eat out only one day a week, which saved her about $300 per month. But she didn’t stop there.

Love also began planning her meals to see how much she could save on monthly grocery costs.

“I was able to cut my food budget from $800 to $400 a month,” Love said.

She achieved this substantial savings by carefully planning meals, measuring portions to avoid waste, and getting creative with leftover ingredients. Love also minimized dining out to save even more.

These adjustments helped her save $3,200 in total. This shows how one woman’s shopping habits helped her save nearly $5,000 within a year.

3. Branded Items

Food was a major monthly expense for Love, so she was determined to save as much as possible in this area.

While she already saved a lot by eating out less and planning meals, Love managed to save an additional $40 a month by making this change.

“I realized I had a weakness for brand-name items. I was often drawn to well-known labels. However, when I started saving, I tried switching to affordable, quality alternatives,” Love added.

This switch saved her another $320 during those 8 months. She also recommends not forgetting about discount codes, which can lead to even more savings.

Kumiko Love’s Approach to Spending

Love didn’t just save nearly $5,000 in 8 months by cutting expenses—she also achieved this by making smart spending decisions.

She further explains that setting her savings goals and being mindful of her spending helped her stay motivated on her challenging financial management journey.

Next, Love encourages savers to look for ways to cut costs and monitor their spending closely.

“Awareness is the key to financial success,” Love advises. “If you want to see real change in your finances, you have to be willing to do things differently than you’ve done in the past. For example, you’ll need to track your spending meticulously, controlling each dollar.”

She concludes by emphasizing that positive financial changes are only possible when you know what needs to change. At a minimum, you need to understand where your money is going.