Poll: Budget cutting

jellybean529

If this has been done recently, forgive me Since it's slow I thought I'd get something going though!

With the economy tanking, what's the biggest thing or things you've cut from your budget?

 

jellybean529

I'll go first

We've been talking a lot about it, and the "big" things we're cutting are dining out and coffee. I'm a coffee junkie so we're switching to home brewed instead of making trips to Starbucks.  

Jen0414

Awww I LOVE starbucks, that makes me want some! : )

 We are trying to eat at less expensive restaurants and eat more at home. We eat out a LOT on the weekends normally. We are also switching cars, DH has a Jeep and I have a Corolla so he drives the Corolla to work since he works far from home.

 I was trying to figure out more things to cut back on, it's really hard!!!  I want to get a DVR for when this baby comes. : )

jellybean529

The DVR is a lifesaver when you have a baby! It made my late nights early on so much more entertaining. If you have Bright House it's only $5 or so a month extra to have it...SO worth it.  We swapped movies for DVR and Netflix which more than covers the cost of it.

Jen0414:

Awww I LOVE starbucks, that makes me want some! : )

 We are trying to eat at less expensive restaurants and eat more at home. We eat out a LOT on the weekends normally. We are also switching cars, DH has a Jeep and I have a Corolla so he drives the Corolla to work since he works far from home.

 I was trying to figure out more things to cut back on, it's really hard!!!  I want to get a DVR for when this baby comes. : )

*MrsK*

We have been working on cutting wherever we can!!! We cut out eating out during the week.... DH travels during the week for work and used to eat out all the time... he has now been buying stuff like macaroni & cheese, chef boyardee etc he can cook when he is in the hotels...I have cut out buying lunch and now brown bag it to work every day. We also try to drive less... if I need something from the store, I try not to go unless I REALLY need something or there are multiple stops I can make on the same trip. I also usually drive home after work and stay put. It's too expensive to even leave the building anymore lol.... My favorite thing to do has been horseback riding, however, I live downtown and it was getting expensive driving out to East Orlando (esp. during rush hour after work), so that was my big sacrifice... I have wireless internet (it's awesome and I love love love it, it's the aircard so I can get internet on my laptop anywhere my cell phone works) looks like we will need to get rid of that and just get regular internet, so that is next to go. Also THINKING about getting rid of the dvr but that is going to be hard to do.

mcp0805

We had tried carpooling but both of our work schedules changed and that maybe only works one day a week now.  The biggest thing we've done is change our shopping habits.  I used to do all of my food shopping at Publix because I like the food and the atmostphere.  After spending almost twice my budget one week, even with getting most things on sale, I realized I just couldn't shop there anymore.  As much as I dislike WalMart, my money goes a lot further there and I can get toiletries and everything in one trip.  We're buying meat and some other things in bulk at Sam's and it has managed to bring our spending down a little bit.

NewlyMrsM.

Well first off I made my hubby stop driving his car!  He's in sales and drives around a lot and he drives a Ford Explorer.  I flipped last month when I found a $722 gas bill!!!  Now he has to take my car (Honda Civic) to work unless he has an important meeting where he would need to use the nicer car to take out a client.  The Explorer sits in the garage unless absolutely necessary to take it out.  So that's the biggest one.

We've definitely cut down a lot on eating out.  Though we need to cut out even more.  I try to stretch out the times between going back for groceries.  We don't shop at Publix anymore.  We shop at Walmart.  I totally agree with the pp about how I loved Publix but its just way more EXPENSIVE for the same crap.  Oh and I'm using coupons.

We have a nice tv downstairs and a normal one up and both are really hooked up with all the channels, etc.  I'm thinking next cut will be on the upstairs cable to make it basic and cut there. 

We cut out the extra Moto PCS my hubby was paying for and he changed his plan to one where he had unlimited minutes.  I try not to use my cell phone unless the time is free.

I don't like to be cold and i work at home during the day so I leave the air on like 76-78 and just put the fan on in the room I'm in and I'll change it when we sleep.  I'm trying to get the hubby to not have to sleep at 70 but its hard.

I've cut down on the gift giving.  This usually isn't a big part of someone's budget but with our family and social circle its literally a bday, shower, wedding, etc every week.  I've just had to be a little more frugal about how splendid we are. 

I could probably do a whole lot more and I think that's what I'm going to be working on this week to see where else I can cut. 

 

jennythebride08

The first thing we did is carpool to work every single day in my Jetta. The Commander only gets taken out on weekend so it's become our "weekend" car.

We swtiched from cable to Direct TV and that's saving us about $60 bucks a month. I clip coupons like it's my job and I now shop at Walmart instead of Publix because it's cheaper for the same brands (I can't buy

 meat there though - it FREAKS me out so I still go to Publix for that!). I got that idea from NewlyMrs.M's SIL!

We also keep the air at 78 when we aren't home and unplug and turn off any unnecessary lights. We only eat out once a week on "date night" and try to eat at home more becuase 1) it's fun to cook! 2) it's cheaper and 3) it's healthier!

I am going to cancel my gym membership and swtich to unlimited plan on my cell plan and add the hubby to it so we can cut our his phone bill each month.

This month alone, we saved an extra $300!

We are trying to save now because when we decide to have a baby, I want to take my full year materinty leave that I get through work so we are currently trying to save as much as my salary as possible each year and so far so good.

Mrs.DMC

We cut in a few areas to make up for the expense of the new house and to save money for when the baby arrives.

We got rid of our movie channels(kept the dvr though, that is a must), Got rid of a 3rd vehicle we had, Spend more time eating/hanging out at home. Got rid of our gym memberships(especially since we never went anyway) and downgraded our landline phone to the basic line. I just can't bare the thought of getting rid of it all together, I am paraniod about that.

Whateley05

We do not go out much anymore (maybe 1x a month), but through that we have found that we actually rather be home than go out.  We havent been to a movie theater in about 2 years.  We wait til things come out on DVD or TV since our cable bill is so dang high...need to make it count. 

My husband opens his law practice next week, so we have that as a second reason to budget cut though, not just gas and economy.  Gotta have a rainy day fund!

We may also carpool in near future to save money.  He wont be too far from my office.   One thing we both promised we would not get rid of is our gym memberships.  That is a good "splurge"

Jacki05

I have typed a response to this post twice and the Nest screwed up both times!!!  Argh!  Now I?m in a Word doc. and I?ll C&P   

Basically, what I said was that I have been trying to change my mindset about material things.  I?ve been making it a point to focus more on the intangibles of life and become less materialistic.  I spend a lot less because of it.  For example, instead of going out and buying something I think I need, I think about if I can use something I already have instead.  Or if I buy a piece of clothing, I have to get rid of something in my closet.  I rarely go to the mall or department stores because I always end up buying something.  I?ve found that if I am intentional about this way of life, it becomes habit after awhile.  I also try to make friends that are like-minded (IRL and over the internet through blogs, boards, and groups).

Here are some of my favorite internet resources:

www.cagefreefamily.com ? a family that gave away all their possessions and now live in a bus.  Not that I?d ever really do that, but it makes for an interesting story.

http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/  - working towards less materialism.  Also you can find a link to the Florida Yahoo! group.

http://guynameddave.typepad.com/david_michael_bruno/ - a guy who is working towards owning only 100 items

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/ - the blog of an Australian woman who lives very simply and is very DIY-ish.

http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm - you can sign up for the Dollar Stretcher newsletter, which has lots of good moneysaving ideas.

 

Other than that, we?ve been eating a lot less meat.  Better for us and the environment.  I?ve also discovered the library as a wonderful, free source of entertainment.

 

Sorry so long!!

march2008

We shop at Sam's club for anything possible....mostly nonperishable items. I love that store and find so many good deals on things there. For my other groceries (meat, fruits/veggies), I'm still a Publix shopper. I have a Publix less than a mile from my house so it's much easier for me to shop there.

We both drive fuel efficient cars so the gas prices haven't affected us too much thankfully.

We both pack our lunches for work every day and also bring our own snacks and drinks from home. I think that really saves a lot of money.

We try to rent movies instead of going to the theater usually. We did go see Dark Knight in the theather the other night and it was $17 for 2 adult tickets! Yikes. That was just a special treat; I think that's ridiculously high for movie tickets.

I stay away from the mall unless I truly need something. I wait to shop at Ann Taylor Loft (my fav store) for when they are having sales or if they have the spend $50 get $25 savings card back. Love those!

EMU

My DH and I have cut in a few areas too. We did exactly what Mrs.DMC has done. We got rid of our movie channels, but kept the DVR, which is the greatest invention!! We stopped going to WW meetings and started doing it ourself, we don't go out to eat much and our landline is basic. We have been trying to find free things to do, but haven't found much. Hopefully things will turn around:) 

Jacki05

EMU have you been to Trout Lake nature center?  It's over by you http://troutlakenature.org/

Don't know if you are nature people, but it seems like a great place for a picnic!  We keep meaning to go there!

AnotherChance

We actually haven't done that much cutting, unfortunately.  We probably should do more.  We shop the sales and cut coupons.  We try to use coupons for most of our dinners out, movies, clothes, grocery shopping, etc.  We eat out a little bit less than we used to, and don't go to quite as many movies.  Also, DH doesn't go out for lunch as much as he used to.

Other than that, we really haven't changed our lifestyle much.  But, we are in the process of moving and combining households, so we've been selling off a lot of stuff on eBay and through garage sales.  The extra cash has offset higher prices.  Once we're settled and we see what our budget is like, more cutting may be needed.

snr4jhjr

I got rid of AT&T and went with Vonage.  Much much cheaper. 

I will say I try not to drive much except to Drs and work (2 miles each way). 

I dont buy anything for me usually. 

I try to keep all lights off.  I wish other people in this house would help with this.  I also changed all bulbs.

Im trying to cook at home and make everyone take lunch. 

MrsErinH

We are not extremely frugal but we do live in a condo so that helps with things like electricity bills. We both drive Honda Civics and have short commutes so not feeling as much pain at the pump. I try to bring my lunch to work every day. I stay away from stores, especially Target and the mall where I know I will find something I "need". I am still a Publix shopper, but we buy a lot of things in bulk at Costco (especially household cleaners, paper towels, bottled water, t.p., etc.) Thankfully the economy hasn't affected us too badly thus far.