[Win $250 giftcard] Are you cutting your budget?

[barbc]

I have cut my spending out of necessity. I do much of the things others have mentioned. Additionally I sew (which can be significant savings if done wisely) and I make my own soap and toiletries. I am also a craftaholic and find I can often make something I see that I like.

I also believe my children have way too many things so I simplify Christmas. My kids get what they want/need and we spend a whole lot less during the holiday season.

I will say there is a HUGE downside to my frugality. I have a hard time throwing things away. I keep thinking they will come in handy someday and hang onto it. Sometimes I am right. My house is full of stuff that *might* come in handy someday.


Barb C.

[professorcw]

We are completely cutting back! I ONLY shop at discount grocery stores now and thrift stores. I am buying fewer packaged items (sandwich meat, snacks, cookies, etc.) and using leftovers and homemade brownies and cakes for the kids' lunches. We have also decided to stop eating out because for a family of four we spend at least 50 bucks each time.

[maddie03]

Yes....we're cutting back. Eating all the food we make...even though it's yucky.

[robbie52]

Yes, we are definitely cutting back on expenses. I love to cook, but I don't buy as many "luxury" ingredients for my recipes, and look for substitutes instead: frugality begets creativity! Going less often to the store = less money spent. Buying what is in season, and looking for the best nutritional value for the money is the smartest way to shop, even though my mouth may be watering when I see those raspberries.
Some discount stores may get you more for your money, but for me, they just get more of my money, if I show up! So, I shop less often, or send my husband with a list. ; )
We are dropping a gym membership, and taking up the old-fashioned exercise of walking. Keeps us in touch with nature, the neighbors, and each other. The dog will benefit, too!
Re-examining all insurance expenditures should yield some savings. Now that a car is paid off, deductibles can be higher. Health insurance enrollment period is near: we will be dropping to a lower level of coverage for a healthy monthly savings. Upping our Health Savings Account would be a wise move in view of known purchases, such as new glasses.
Though we could use some new furniture, we will just clean the old, and keep checking craigslist. I have re-discovered the fun of the "hunt" in visiting thrift stores: the best place to buy items for kids who grow out of clothes before wearing them out.
I am turning off lights every time I leave a room, washing full loads of clothes in cold water, using white vinegar and baking soda for cleaning (greener, too). Our local stores give coupons for discounts on gas, which can be saved up and used 4 at a time on a purchase. Very satisfying to save at the gas pump!
The local libraries not only lend out books and DVDs and CDs, they also lend out free passes to museums, the zoo, and other attractions. We check these out, just as we check out the other items, and return the passes within a week.
We are always on the lookout for free adventures such as activities at apple orchards, outdoor entertainment in the parks, and free tickets to our city's orchestra. For low-cost field trips, nothing beats a group discount! We get friends and relatives together to get group rates on concerts and plays.
We very rarely eat out. We would prefer to spend extra money on good ingredients, call some friends who are like-minded, and have a gourmet "potluck" dinner!

[jadefly]

Cutting back, yes, or at least trying to. I was already paying down debt and saving as much money as possible, other than $100/month for entertainment and dining, plus $60/month for clothes. In both of these categories, I'm now just trying to spend as little as possible, especially with a wedding in the coming year and student loans that are about to rear their ugly heads.

[kris10pierce]

We only eat out once (maybe twice a week) we have stopped going to some of the fancier places we used to frequent, now Applebee's is as fancy as it gets. Most of the time we split something.

We have stopped buying DVDs & CDs, and have sold most of the ones we already had.

We no longer go to the movies but borrow from friends or the library.

If try to do fun things that are free in the community like festivals and parades, can't believer how much we were wasting before

[Kwajbeth]

I am trying my best to cut back. I eat out less often and try and keep my driving down to a minimum

[Shelly T.]

We are definitely having to cut back. Using more coupons, taking advantage of sales, cooking more at home, renting movies at $1.00 vending machines, borrowing books from the library instead of buying them, shopping at thrift stores for clothing and shoes, cutting back on our Christmas shopping list, by drawing names and eliminating gift exchanges with some people.

[1stopmom]

We are cutting back. We are wrapping up in more blankets to keep the thermostat down. We walk whenever possible to save gas. We cook more at home. It is so easy to eat out when you wait until the last minute. So we plan our menus more and make more casseroles and food in the slow cooker. We eat more leftovers. This Christmas will mean lesser gifts for everyone. I made a coupon book and only shop with that and my list. I try more meals with less meats. No more going out to the movies. We go to the museum free on Mondays. I try to find a way to reuse any and everything.

[dyeabolical]

Actually, I just got a better job than I've ever had. I'm making 65% more money than I was making before. We are coming out from living extremely frugally after doing a 2 year stint in that mode. It is taking a bit to get that first paycheck, but after that we will be getting all our bills paid off, and the repairs that we've stalled on completed.