Cutting living expenses...

[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!