Cutting living expenses...

[Catlady711]

I see so much of people getting a bit of extra money/raise and they always seem to find something to spend it on, rather than banking it. For every time the income increases, so does the lifestyle. It's an easy trap to fall into and a hard one to fight. So many things today seem like necessities when they are in fact luxuries we convince ourselves we 'deserve'. Instead of working to make a living, we end up working to keep up with the lifestyle. All we really need in life is a roof over our heads, food enough to eat, clothes to cover ourselves with, and a means to achieve that. That brand new model ipod, or new release DVD, or whatnot are simply luxuries, desireable ones, but still luxuries.

Neither hubby or I are clothes horses (or trendy for that matter), I don't wear make up or do up my nails, we vary rarely drink, we don't do clubs, we don't subscribe to any magazines or get the newspaper (I get the news online for free and don't have to worry about disposing of the papers), I drive my car until it gets too expensive to fix (although I do buy brand new ones), we have a Christmas club account at the bank (putting small amounts each week in a savings acct.) and don't go over budget when we buy gifts. All of this we do out of choice, even if we had a million dollars we'd probably not change any of those things other than maybe up the Christmas club amount a bit.

http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic.htm

That site has helped me cut my grocery bills in half without really sacrificing the occasional goodies. I mostly buy things on sale unless I just can't stock up on it or HAVE to have it now to make something else. I keep a stocked pantry and freezer. I also made a price book per suggestions in the site. I belong to a warehouse store that I go to about every 2-3 months, I only go to the grocery store once every 2 weeks.

My electric bill was cut by more than half when I started analizing appliances. I got rid of the aging dehumidifyer for the basement and just use a fan instead (not as effective but it's much cheaper), got a new fridge, and switched all my bulbs to compact florescents (sp?). The landlord did also replace almost all the windows with new energy efficient ones (of course the insulation in the house is almost nonexistent but still it was an improvement). I do have an A/C unit but it's an aging monster window one that was given to us for free. We only run that a few days a year when the temp is near 90, otherwise we use alot of fans.

I changed internet services, and dropped my home phone (cell's only now). That alone saved me $20 a month.

Hubby and I both live close to work so the vehicle doesn't wrack up a whole lot of miles compared to some. It is a gas hog so even errands are combined and planned out to minimize driving. I also combine errands with my mom to conserve fuel, I give her part for gas and she drives (her vehicle is somewhat better on fuel). No extra trips unless we can stop along the way for other things we need, otherwise whatever it is can just wait a while.

We don't rent movies unless it's for Christmas or Thanksgiving, the rest of the time we get them from the library. My books come from the used book store and when I'm done I take them back for a partial credit towards more books.

We have a garden, but we don't do canning, just some occasional freezing of corn/green beans, and the onions go in a bag for storage.

During the winter we rarely go anywhere, so the savings from gas gets put in an envelope for summer trips/vacations.

Our budget is figured by putting in certain amounts every week (regardless of how many weeks are in that month). Any extra accumulating stays put to give a cushion for short paychecks, higher utilities etc. Currently we have enough stocked away that we could easily survive for 2-3 months without changing our lifestyle one iota if BOTH of us were out of work. 4-5 months if only ONE of us was out of work. That's not counting our longer term CD's which ain't no fortune but it is growing. It's still not as much of a cushion as I'd like to have but it's a cushion nonetheless.

When the vehicle got paid off we took the money we were putting towards car payments and split it. Half went to savings and other utilities, the other half goes in the checking towards the down payment on the next car. Since we were used to making that payment anyways we didn't miss the money each paycheck. I also get discounts on multi policies and safe driving.

I have several credit cards (for different uses) but I only use them if I already have the money and pay them off in full every time.

I have cheap rent, get discounts for my cat's food/healthcare granted, that does help alot.


We certainly don't live a super frugal lifestyle though....
I own 7 cats
We pay $50 per month in cable (no movie channels or digital though)
The cell phones total $72 per month (huge minutes package)
We both smoke (I don't need any lectures)
We go to the local dirt racing track every weekend all summer long
We go on at least 3 vacations a year (tent camping and within 2-9 hrs driving distance)
We both have a horrible soda pop addiction
I'm a horrible electronics gadget person (I'm learning to curb that though)

However IF it was necessary for us to come up with an additional $500 a month it wouldn't be a huge stretch to come up with it without working additional hours. Granted we'd have to cut a few things back or out but certainly not all the luxuries. After all $500 a month is only $125 per week or $17 per day. A few less goodies at the grocery store, the cheaper seats at the racetrack or miss a few races now and again, no pizza once a month, no stopping at micky d's out of laziness every so often, and drink one less 2 liter of soda per week and it would be easy to come up with an additional $500.

Think of things this way (approximately)...

One $1.00 (cheap) 2 liter soda per week (or one value menu item at micky d's) = $52 per year

One pizza a month (about $20) = $240 per year

One video rental per week = $208 per year

I could go on but you get the idea, that's $500 per year by just foregoing one pizza with soda and video now and again.

A better way to think of it is this...

How many hours would I have to work to pay for this item/service?



Anyways I'm a natural born cheapskate, I'm not always frugal, nor do I live a simplistic lifestyle, but apparently compared to other people I know I'm a cheapie I guess.

Sorry for the mini novel.

[cyber-sibes]

$500 a month? Wow, the "experts" must live in a parallel universe to mine!
We're working on cutting $500 a year.

Be sure to check through your junk mail. Hubby followed up on one of the auto insurance offers & got us better coverage for $300 less a year.

We've made some changes - We almost never go out to eat anymore. We used to do that 2 or 3 times a week. Now we only go out to eat 3 or 4 times a month. We don't go out to movies much either, but we do have cable & internet. I use the internet for my work every day, so it stays.

We pretty much only drive if we have a specific reason/destination. No more "just for fun" trips. Fortunately hubby's work is only 4 miles away, and I work from home (love that 0 mile walk from the other room!) I do feel sorry for those who are stuck with long commutes.

I don't know how young families make it these days.

[RICHARD]

Here's a hint.

If things get tougher and you have to choose between entertainment and feeding the kids, Feed the kids by forcing them to perform skits and sing for their meals.

When we were kids we were forced to read and listen to the radio for fuin.

[Jessika]

When we were kids we were forced to read and listen to the radio for fuin.

And the library is free

[Karen]

And the library is free

When I was a kid, we were not allowed to buy books - as the house already had at least one full bookcase in every room, including the basement, attic and upstairs hallway ... but I had four library cards of my own by the time I was ten! That solved the cost and storage problem.

We are fortunate - our library is within walking distance and carries movies and music, too.

For those who want current releases, http://redbox.com has movies for $1 a day if they are in your area!

[jennielynn1970]

And the library is free

Our public library is free to borrow books, however, if you want to reserve something it's $0.50, there are late fees and fines, and you have to pay to rent a movie, sound track or anything other than a book from there. It's the same in the public library in the next town. They've had their budgets cut, so they have to figure out some way to make up money since they are non-profits (technically).

[Laura's Babies]

This thread has really opened my eyes. I've learned a lot of good ways to save money and cut back, whether or not I feel the necessity. Thank you for all your good comments, everyone.

Me too! I see it coming to that for all of us. We are all going to have to make adjustments to our spending habits before it is over with. A lot of businesses are going to shut down, people will be without jobs and traffic jams are going to taper way down. The way we have wasted and thrown away stuff will be so much less. The biggest industry I see being effected will be the fast food places. Starbucks has already announced the closing of 600 of their stores, putting 12,000 people out of jobs. This is just the beginning...

[Scooter's Mom]

I cut back my 401k today. Instead of 7%, it's only got 5% going to it for now. That will bring in a small amount (not even a whole tank of gas) of money each month.

It will be enough to buy all the pets food - maybe not the food from the vet's office they've been eating... but it'll buy a decent quality food for them.

But, ya do what ya gotta.

[Jessika]

Our public library is free to borrow books, however, if you want to reserve something it's $0.50, there are late fees and fines, and you have to pay to rent a movie, sound track or anything other than a book from there. It's the same in the public library in the next town. They've had their budgets cut, so they have to figure out some way to make up money since they are non-profits (technically).

Of course, there are late fees and fines for not returning materials at my library, too, but if you just want to walk in and get some reading material that you can read within the check-out time (normally two weeks, here), then it's 100% free. If you return the materials on time, again its 100% free.

To reserve something doesn't cost anything here though, well it used to be that way, they may have changed it since I was a kid but from what I remember it didn't cost a thing.

Your first library card is free, but if you lose it I think it costs $10 to get a replacement.


As a kid during summers my parents worked and all we had for transportation was our bikes. The library was definitely a long ride from my house, but we would regularly ride our bikes up there once every two weeks and check out as many books as we could carry. It was our form of summer entertainment and for us as kids it was free

It really sucks that yours has started charging fees, though. I mean it makes sense if they need the funds (our library has a giftshop) but still kinda sucks

[RICHARD]

IF you want to freak out get a note book and keep track of everything you spend......You may have to guesstimate things like electric, gas and such but you see that you can cut corners in the most mundane areas.

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My mom complains about the water and power bill but she refuses to turn off the lights. I go thru her house and turn off lights and she gets a terrible attitude. She's losing her sight and that doesn't help.I changed the bulbs in her house to the CFC or whatever they are and you would have thought I was trying to sabotage her house.

Also my nephew moved in with her and I have walked by his room and he has a stereo with a broken on and off switch, so it stays on all the time-he also runs the TV, stereo, computer and window fan at the same time..while he is on the phone!

I try to tell him to power down the stuff he doesn't need and he goes to my mom and complains-So, I really can't do anything!

[Rachel]

We both smoke (I don't need any lectures)

No lecture, but I do think you should figure out and list what those cigarettes are costing you....just to be fair here.

[Jessika]

No lecture, but I do think you should figure out and list what those cigarettes are costing you....just to be fair here.

I don't smoke but my vice is Cherry Coke... 2 - 3 cans a day... one 12 pack lasts me between 4 and six days, at $3.50 a case, that's roughly $17.50 - $26.50 a month, sometimes more. Which isn't much when you think about it but yearly that's anywhere from $210 - $318, which is easily a car and/or truck payment for me lol

[kuhio98]

We both smoke (I don't need any lectures)

Once my sister and her husband sat down and calculated that they spend $3,700 a year on cigarettes.

Unfortunately, they're both so addicted that they haven't even tried to quit.

I am soooooooooooo glad I never started smoking.

[Sevaede]

I am aware that internet is a luxury. HOWEVER, I *HAVE* to have it for school. My school REQUIRES it. It is the ONLY form of communication that they use. It is the way they require you to pay for everything. It is the required way to add and drop classes, etc. etc. I am not willing to sacrifice what I am working so hard to obtain.

I do have a savings and a checking in to which I deposit whatever, whenever. (50-100 every payday was what I used to do).

[Emeraldgreen]

I think keeping the internet and finding other items to cut that are in the entertainment category makes sense. We spend quite a bit of time online and though we pay 45.00 per month for the service we don't go out much and save alot that way. We're homebodies anyway.

We used to spend lots of money on coffees when we were out grocery shopping and running errands but we've limited that to a few a month now.

We plan out our meals for 2 weeks the day before we go to the store and then we end up making less spontaneous purchases which usually cost alot.

We buy meat and cheese in bulk and then cut it into small portions and vacuum pack it and freeze it. Save some real money there.
I also make larger meals and freeze half for another night.

We've been unplugging stuff like our toaster and lamps and turning off our power bar that our computer is connected to at night. Apparently energy is being used with them just being plugged in. Our electric bill has gone down.

Cats have been getting wet food every other day instead of every day. They don't seem to mind. It's just a treat anyway and I use one can of cat tuna for 9 cats. I pour one can into a bowl and add about 1/2 a cup of water and mix really well. They love the juice. One can costs less than .60 cents at the petstore so three times a week for 9 cats is 1.80. That doesn't include their dry food though which is ridiculously expensive. They are on Wellness holistic Healthwise which is 39.99 for 8 pounds or so. Crazy.

We rent movies sometimes from the library. They often have english sitcoms on tape as well.

And to make some extra money, I've been selling clothes and shoes that I hardly ever wear to a few different consignment shops. I usually collect about 100.00 a month with this.