What have you been cutting back on to help save money?
cold grey Ash asked:
I know we all have a lot of money problems right now, with gas prices and food prices and necessity prices through the roof. I wanted to get some ideas on cutting our budget and I was wondering where you save money? Do you have any secrets or tricks?
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I know we all have a lot of money problems right now, with gas prices and food prices and necessity prices through the roof. I wanted to get some ideas on cutting our budget and I was wondering where you save money? Do you have any secrets or tricks?
March 13th, 2009 at 5:15 am
First off I pay all my bills as first priority.
I don’t go out to movies, or buy fast-food, or go out to eat.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
write what u gonna buy and how much u gonna pay
then left overs can be save
March 18th, 2009 at 12:01 am
I have let my natural nails grow out and save about $100/month not going to the nail salon.
I eat at home more. It is so much cheaper than dining out.
I try to plan my errands for a single day rather than go out when I think of something, so I’m cutting my driving miles.
I’m going to the dollar movies and passing up the popcorn and cokes. Most movies are not worth first run prices, anyway, so why waste the money just to see it a month earlier.
I cut my cable down to basic and saved $60/month; wasn’t watching those other channels enough to pay this kind of money for them anyway.
I’m staying at home for vacation.
I’m sewing the few new clothes I will have this summer.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Pay off the loans and credit cards and do things that are free for entertainment, like hiking or swimming. Carpool and running errands at the same time, keep the a/c up a few degrees and cut back on uneccesary items like extra salon trips etc.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
yes, drive less, make a list and shop from it, make your own coffee, paint your own nails, dye your own hair, make own babyfood, shop more local produce (less gas raising prices) um cut down on wherever else, shorter showers, energy saver bulbs, turn off comp tv…
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 am
I stopped smoking and drinking
I started cutting out coupons for food
I go to the 99 cent store and shop for items first before going to the real grocery store
I went through all my belongs and found the stuff I don’t use/wear and sold at either garage sale, craigslist, or ebay
I pack my own lunches for work no fast food, back to PB & J also
and
when I need to go right around the corner to the store or whatever within 6 miles I walk or take my bike.
I save lots
March 24th, 2009 at 7:22 am
We have cut back on nothing except unnecessary driving. First, let me explain. We are in our 80s. We have been careful in establishing our priorities all our married lives. We wanted children. Had 3 boys. Wanted then educated. They all attended college, One is a lawyer.Another a property investor and teacher and the 3rd a Vice president of a regional brokerage firm in MD. We wanted a home. Have had 2, living in the second one now. Wanted to travel. Have done quite a bit , to Western Europe, North Africa, Greece, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. We were fortunate to have made good investments and sold at the proper time. We are fortunate with health, without which, many things would not have happened. The secret is to save money. If you have some set aside, you may make a good investment, buy shares of stock which appreciate, and increase your wealth. So don’t live only for today or you will rue tomorrow.
March 26th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I’ve always been a saver living well within my means so I haven’t changed my habits much. My frugal lifestyle allowed me to pay off my mortgage early so I no longer have a condo payment making it easy for me to make ends meet. I take the bus to work everyday, I have a timer on the thermostat where I turn the heat and A/C down when I’m away at work or asleep. I have those fluorescent light bulbs. I don’t smoke. I drink little and don’t eat out much. I don’t buy new clothes unless I need them. I don’t drive much. Hope this helps.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Use NetFlix a lot. Quit going to the movies and video store. Stay home more, quit drinking, cook more at home. Got rid of my land-line home telephone, use my cell phone. Did not renew three magazine subscriptions. Only shop when I need things and I use a list, consolidate my errands better.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have been cutting back on nothing at all.
Why? Because I did that several years ago, got out from under my debt, and now have a pretty nice financial situation.
How?
First, I found out exactly where my money was going every month. Every time I spent a penny, I recorded what I spent, where, and on what. At the end of the month, I tallied it up into several categories, groceries, utilities, etc…
It was incredibly shocking how much I was spending on the little things that really did not mean that much, and I could easily live without. A few examples are:
Bottled water - Stopped buying it, and saved over $45 a month
Coffee - Stopped buying that as well, saved over $45 a month
Cable TV - dropped everything but the basic+ package, saved over $30 a month
Cell phone - dropped the contract, and got a pre-paid one (I recommend Virgin Mobile) Saved around $59 a month
Lunch - started brown bagging instead of buying. Saved around $120 a month
Other things I started doing included:
Buying non-perishables in bulk on sale. TP never goes bad, and if you can get your favorite brand for 50% off, buy as much as you can get your hands on.
Moved to the store brand for some food items.
Bought a vacuum sealer (OK, that’s not really cutting back, but) and when meats were on sale, I bought in bulk, vacuum sealed it, and froze it.
Started selling the stuff I never use again on eBay and Craigslist. Started buying the stuff I wanted from there as well.
Rediscovered my local library. DVD rentals there are actually free. (DO NOT return them a day late though, that fee is killer!) Same with books, magazines, etc…
And the list goes on and on.
Best of luck!
April 4th, 2009 at 8:34 am
fast food, snack, lottery