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

[AnnasMom07]

Yes, we are cutting back spending as much as we possibly can during this recession. I pack a lunch as often as I can; last week I was able to pack a lunch all 5 days, which I hadn't been able to do in months. I am clothes shopping for my toddler at Goodwill instead of discount department stores whenever possible. I don't make any unnecessary trips... which means I have severe cabin fever, but you gotta do what you gotta do...

[mm1970]

We've always been pretty frugal, and we're being careful to cut back more each year.

1. Groceries have gone up. So, less meat, more beans, more sales. Generally a 10-lb bag of beans is cheap, but I am now just scouting and waiting until I can find them on sale too. I am also clipping coupons - usually, most coupons in our paper are for processed foods. However, the few that aren't I'm clipping, and using only in combination with a sale. Also, I only ever buy the day-old bread ($1.49 for whole wheat), bagels, and english muffins. With the increase in prices in grains, a day-old english muffin (whole grain) is the same cost as a bowl of steel cut oats from the bulk bin (about 15 cents).

2. Clothing. Not buying any new clothing.

3. Vacation. Not going anywhere. We used to travel 2-3 times per year, and now we have cut down to one (which is hard, we are on the opposite coast from our families, and they are 8 hrs drive apart). We're "getting away" the occasional weekend by going camping.

4. Gas. We bike to work 2x a week, saves about $10.

5. Eating out. We were already cut down a bit - dh eats out lunch once/week. I absolutely bring lunch every day, and try not to eat out at all unless it is planned ahead of time. No "last minute I don't feel like cooking". And if there's no leftovers for lunch, I pack a PB&J ($0.35, 'cuz of that cheap bread).

6. Christmas gifts are going to be lean this year.

7. Gym. We still belong, but switched to a bare-bones gym that's 1/3 the price of the old place.

Things we haven't cut back on:
1. We recently hired someone to clean our house 2x a month.
2. We are actually spending a little extra on free-range meat. But I only cook meat about 2-3x a month. Most of our meals are vegetarian/vegan.

I have to say that the one good thing about the bad economy is that I don't feel like such a freak for being frugal. All of a sudden it's cool

[bonnielisabeth]

Well, my husband lost his job and found new a position in another city. So, we have our house for sale (with no lookers) right now, and are renting in the high cost of living area where he found a good position. I am starting to look for work, but in the meantime we are paying rent and mortgage and all bills with only one income!

In order to save (and improve our health) we are limiting eating out to only an occasional treat (we used to go at least once a week) and I am cooking most meals from scratch at home. We are also waiting as long as possible to turn on the heat, as we both tend to like our house colder anyway. I gave up dairy for health reasons, and it has saved us money when prices went up recently!

Other changes: since I don't have to go to work right now, I am consolidating all my errands so I drive as little as possible. We still have cable and internet, but did get a "bundle" with digital phone to save money for the next year; it has saved about $40 a month from our previous plans. We are trying not to spend any money on entertainment, except for transportation to free museums and parks. I have lost weight, but have stopped buying all clothes and hope to alter the ones I already have.

Even though I stopped shopping recreationally about a year ago, we still realized we have waaaayyyy too much stuff when we moved, so I have started selling some items on ebay and now only shop for essential items (like food, or when something breaks or wears out.) Plan to slowly decrease the amount of stuff in our household so we can buy a smaller house that is less expensive to heat and cool when our current place sells.

I want to slowly institute other money saving habits this year, and plan on having a very lean Christmas with much regifting and lower cost gifts. I will see how many of my relatives are willing to cut back on the gift giving!

[secretpact]

Yes, definitely. Being a college student, I've already been living frugally. But now, I find that I am eating out less and less. Home cooking is saving me a little, but every bit counts! And also I've opened up an ING direct savings account so I can have a higher yield savings account.

[Fox's Momma]

I thought we had cut as much fat as possible, but boy was I wrong!
I'm just making more of my own food (tortillas, bread, hummus, etc) and keeping a healthy stockpile. I'm also making a lot of my own household cleaners - they work so well!
We don't eat out unless it is planned well in advance and saved for.

[mksteele]

Yes, we are cutting back! I just finished grad school and have a job that just barely pays the bills while my husband is finishing grad school. We are trying to handle our money well so that we can get out of debt as quickly as possible, however, on my salary and the amount my husband's server job pays, it's gonna take a while. We can use every bit we can get! Thanks for the great offer!

[thebeckscr]

My husband and I are due for our first child on Nov 12th. We both don't make a ton of money and I was planning on working up until I could work no longer. I got preclampsia so I have been off weeks 6 weeks early. Also I was planning on only working part time after I go back, because I would use half my income just in childcare. Even know in my heart I believe that "God will suffice us", I still have been stockpiling and cutting back like a crazy women. I have been selling things on ebay. I have been learning to cook, which is not only been more economical but a self esteem booster and better food. I find my self trying more things from Aldi's Foods instead of our local grocery store. I know that this time in my life that I would have to cut back, but with the unstable ecomnomy it is more inportant than ever.

[TippyToeDiet]

I'm actually going to be increasing my spending this year. I've saved enough for some long overdue home remodeling projects, and I want to get them done now.
I'm hopeful for some good deals, considering the current economy.

[Maaka]

Since hubby and I separated in May, it's been a real wake-up call for me managing a mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance, car insurance, health insurance and utilities on one paycheck. I own my own business and I've been burning the midnight oil to make ends meet, which doesn't leave a lot of time for movies, dinner, shopping or other expensive habits.

So am I cutting my budget? Well, it's just me paying everything in the budget now, so I feel like expenses have gone up, up, up while spending on fun has gone down, down, down. Ask me in a few months how the budgeting process is going and I'll have a better answer.

[rbharris]

I'm cutting back on eating out, brown bagging lunch at least 3 times a week. Not driving to far and making one trip out instead of a couple of trips. Coupons coupons coupons and still if the price is to high I will go for another brand and save that coupon until I find it on sale. I find myself stocking up on some of the unbelievable deals, that I know will last a long time and will need again and again.