[Win $250 giftcard] Are you cutting your budget? - Page 4

widgete · 10-20-2008, 05:57 AM

I'm cutting back on spending with food. I probably spent more money monthly on eating out then I did on anything else. Now, I force myself to go to the store to find what is on sale and eat that rather than expensive meals from a restaurant!

khorrell · 10-20-2008, 06:00 AM

I am trying to cut back but am having trouble breaking my bad habits. I guess I'll just have to keep reading for more inspiration!

lbjack · 10-20-2008, 06:00 AM

I am a widow and on a fixed income. It is very necessary for me to be as thrifty as possible. I walk to the store and the bread outlet. I cook from scratch whenever possible and use coupons whenever I can. I use a lot of generic products. I turn out lights when I leave the room. I collect the water from the shower to water my garden. I frequent thrift stores. Linda

RRTXSupermom · 10-20-2008, 06:05 AM

We are a family of 4 in Austin Area. We try live as frugally as possible.

The first thing I did was get a 2nd job. I have a great M-F job, but I'm salary. So I got sick of crying about no extra money. Now I work every other Saturday and make an extra $200 to $300 a month.

We have recently dropped our weekend newspaper, about $15 month savings. We also have cut our cable. We still have high speed internet, but returned the dvr's and went to basic. That will save us $85 a month. Also, I found that I was spending about $40 a month on Toll Roads. I found a back way and don't use them at all now. We try to be aware of the little things that after while add up. An example would be my kids school lunch program. You can pay online, but when you do they charge you $1.95 fee per kid! I've started just writing checks and paying the school directly. We also buy in bulk where possible and it makes sense (tp, paper towels, etc).

My spouse and I both have great jobs, but he's works for a mortgage company where layoffs are just about daily. We figure that if we watch our spending now and he gets laid off, we'll be that much more prepared if or when it does happen.

amyschiff · 10-20-2008, 06:11 AM

my "soon-to-be-fiance" and I aren't necessarily cutting back just yet, but we are being very careful about our spending. We are trying to get a house before my lease runs out in the end of January, so we are VERY aware of how much it really costs to have a home--but we both agree that it's a better investment than me continuing to put money into rent payments.

I just recently became debt-free (had about $3k CC debt at one point) so I really don't even want to spend money right now!

LittleMissMoneybags · 10-20-2008, 06:11 AM

I haven't been consciously cutting back--I already have no gym membership, no landline, no cable or internet bill. But I have been more careful at the grocery store and am looking more for generics, circular sales and coupons. And we quit going out to eat unless it's for a mystery shop (which means I get reimbursed and/or paid for it).

ladybug · 10-20-2008, 06:16 AM

Yes, we're cutting back. We're eating out less and I'm watching my spending in the grocery store. I also shop at thrift stores. We've considered cancelling a cell phone but haven't made that decision yet.

merlik · 10-20-2008, 06:17 AM

I'm working to start my own business so I am always trying to cut expenses. The fastest way to wealth is to both cut expenses and increase income at the same time.

jennesy · 10-20-2008, 06:46 AM

Definitely - although I haven't experienced any direct effects of the financial crisis I'm a grad student living in NYC and on a tight budget to begin with.

jcleiti · 10-20-2008, 06:47 AM

I am absolutely cutting back on expenses. I try not to eat out at all anymore (usually fails about once per week) and I'm looking for a seasonal job to work over the three weeks vacation my regular job gives me. Also I am trying to be serious about keeping a written budget.

10-20-2008, 05:57 AM	#31
widgete Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I'm cutting back! I'm cutting back on spending with food. I probably spent more money monthly on eating out then I did on anything else. Now, I force myself to go to the store to find what is on sale and eat that rather than expensive meals from a restaurant!

10-20-2008, 06:00 AM	#32
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: near Washington DC Posts: 608 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (84)	I am trying to cut back but am having trouble breaking my bad habits. I guess I'll just have to keep reading for more inspiration! __________________ The Paycheck Chronicles "helping military families make the most of their paychecks"

10-20-2008, 06:05 AM	#34
RRTXSupermom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	How we cutting the fat... We are a family of 4 in Austin Area. We try live as frugally as possible. The first thing I did was get a 2nd job. I have a great M-F job, but I'm salary. So I got sick of crying about no extra money. Now I work every other Saturday and make an extra $200 to $300 a month. We have recently dropped our weekend newspaper, about $15 month savings. We also have cut our cable. We still have high speed internet, but returned the dvr's and went to basic. That will save us $85 a month. Also, I found that I was spending about $40 a month on Toll Roads. I found a back way and don't use them at all now. We try to be aware of the little things that after while add up. An example would be my kids school lunch program. You can pay online, but when you do they charge you $1.95 fee per kid! I've started just writing checks and paying the school directly. We also buy in bulk where possible and it makes sense (tp, paper towels, etc). My spouse and I both have great jobs, but he's works for a mortgage company where layoffs are just about daily. We figure that if we watch our spending now and he gets laid off, we'll be that much more prepared if or when it does happen.

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10-20-2008, 06:00 AM	#33
lbjack Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I am a widow and on a fixed income. It is very necessary for me to be as thrifty as possible. I walk to the store and the bread outlet. I cook from scratch whenever possible and use coupons whenever I can. I use a lot of generic products. I turn out lights when I leave the room. I collect the water from the shower to water my garden. I frequent thrift stores. Linda

10-20-2008, 06:11 AM	#35
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 471 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (77)	my "soon-to-be-fiance" and I aren't necessarily cutting back just yet, but we are being very careful about our spending. We are trying to get a house before my lease runs out in the end of January, so we are VERY aware of how much it really costs to have a home--but we both agree that it's a better investment than me continuing to put money into rent payments. I just recently became debt-free (had about $3k CC debt at one point) so I really don't even want to spend money right now!

10-20-2008, 06:11 AM	#36
LittleMissMoneybags Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I haven't been consciously cutting back--I already have no gym membership, no landline, no cable or internet bill. But I have been more careful at the grocery store and am looking more for generics, circular sales and coupons. And we quit going out to eat unless it's for a mystery shop (which means I get reimbursed and/or paid for it).

10-20-2008, 06:16 AM	#37
ladybug Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Yes, we're cutting back. We're eating out less and I'm watching my spending in the grocery store. I also shop at thrift stores. We've considered cancelling a cell phone but haven't made that decision yet.

10-20-2008, 06:17 AM	#38
merlik Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (11)	I'm working to start my own business so I am always trying to cut expenses. The fastest way to wealth is to both cut expenses and increase income at the same time.

10-20-2008, 06:46 AM	#39
jennesy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Definitely - although I haven't experienced any direct effects of the financial crisis I'm a grad student living in NYC and on a tight budget to begin with.

10-20-2008, 06:47 AM	#40
jcleiti Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I am absolutely cutting back on expenses. I try not to eat out at all anymore (usually fails about once per week) and I'm looking for a seasonal job to work over the three weeks vacation my regular job gives me. Also I am trying to be serious about keeping a written budget.