Cutting living expenses...

[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!

[Sevaede]

Eye opening, indeed! I'm a savings nut and I've learned and come up with a bunch of little ways for us to conserve and save. I don't know what we would do if water, sewer, and garbage weren't covered in the rent.

What's really sad is both of the libraries here require a rather large fee for cards!