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

[Magpiebard]

Yup, cutting back here as well. The big plan is to pay off all the credit card debt in 2010, as well as get the mortgage knocked down a bit and get our savings in better shape - so even though we weren't exactly spendy before, we're making the pennies squeek.

To be honest, the current economic "Oh Crud!" doesn't have much to do with it, though. Less debt, less worry, more freedom in our future choices is everyone's dream, right?

[danrabinowitz]

My wife and I started cutting back BIG TIME when our daughter was born about a year ago. It's been a ongoing process of continually looking at where we're spending more than we need to. Over the past month, we've been looking even more closely at what we can do without.

[sarachasea]

Not specifically, but I do think longer and harder before I purchase anything unnecessary, knowing I may end up needing that cash in the months/years ahead for something else. I'm also trying to spend less money on food. I haven't canceled anything recurring yet though, such as Netflix.

[Riversong]

We have been cutting back for a while now, and we are continually looking for new ways to cut back, save money, save energy, save gas, recycle, reuse, etc. We haven't started our own garden yet, but it's on the list. We look back on previous habits, and we see all of the money we have blown that could have been saved or used for something better. But we're learning, growing, and changing. And it's not just about our household saving money, or using money wisely, it's also about our world and it's resources.

[redheights]

I've been cooking in ALOT more now and try to really watch where every penny goes.
I wish there were more places that showed how to cook good quick meals with the same ingredients in a weekly format. I've been figuring it out on my own and is working pretty well. Rotisserie chicken is king. I stop off and get one along with some baby carrots, potato salad and french bread. After the meal I pull the rest of the chicken off and mix it with some easy to make Red curry with rice the next day mixing in the same leftover bits of baby carrots. If I have anymore rice or chicken left then I make mole and chicken and buy some cheap tortillas. That's 3 days of tasty meals with a $6 chicken! There are other things as well but that's my go to routine. This might make a decent post for wisebread no?

[plor]

I am trying to cut back, but it is somewhat tricky to do so. I am a college student, so I have as low rent a place as I can, and I don't have time to do a lot of the money saving things. I needed a new laptop but instead of buying an expensive one I didn't need the features of I went for a netbook that has less capabilities, but it is cheaper. That is a poor example, but I am thinking about cuts nonetheless.

[JustPlainChips]

My fiance and I aren't cutting back spending by a *lot*. But we're being much more deliberate about the spending we're doing. We have been getting better and better over the last year about budgeting and living within our means. But lately we've just been tightening up a bit and examining our purchases a little bit more.

I know I should just do it now, but I think we'll get rid of cable after the football season.

[cc1]

Yes. Newly frugal and cutting back. Trips to Starbucks, phone minutes, and clothes.

[merrily]

My boyfriend and I are trying to stay within our grocery budget for the month which is hard to do. We are absolutely cutting back. We haven't been to the movies or anywhere really in months. Just yesterday we actually went to dinner with some friends and we haven't done that in over a month.

[SapphireStitch]

We've been frugal for a long time, but the current economic situation has us cutting back some more. We're having to allocate more of money to groceries because of rising food prices, so that requires cutting back in other areas plus working harder on frugal eating. The temps in our part of the country are just starting to be a little nippy, so I've been working on strategies for running the heat much less this winter. Fingerless mitts and hats or headwraps for everyone in the family are looking like a good idea!