Are you drastically changing?

lucille · 06-29-2008, 12:03 PM

With all of the price hikes in such a short period of time we have been drastically changing how we do things.
We have changed our diet and what we buy massively to compensate for the food price hikes. We rarely eat beef anymore, if we do it is usually hamburger or roast when on sale. We are eating less meat in general and adding more lentils, beans and rice. Nobody complains anymore either since they have all seen what has happened with grocery bills.

Where we live refuses to do anything about expanding or improving public transit. So were planning on buying a scooter. Were also looking seriously into doing an electric car conversion on an old sub compact car.

Our natural gas bills went up over the winter and have kept going up this spring. We were going to put a gas fireplace in our family room, now were looking at putting a wood fireplace there instead.

These kinds of things have been going on in all of our expenses, and things like driving habits. So have you drastically changed your life in response to all of these price hikes?

hermione · 06-29-2008, 02:32 PM

Starting late last year/early this year, I began shopping for groceries once a month instead of twice a month as I used to do. Our grocery store is about 15-20 miles from our house so I save gas by going fewer times a month. Also, the fewer times you shop, the more you save because you can buy the bulk packages and actually use them all up before shopping again. And the fewer times you enter the store, the less unplanned purchases you make (like things on sale that you hadn't planned on buying but are too good to pass up.)

As for gas, since we work at home, we don't need to go out much. I consolidate my errands as much as possible - bank, post office, library, etc. - about once a month, and only run out for thing when necessary. Until our current house guest (our cousin) arrived, we were buying gas about once every 3-4 months. We've been using more gas these last few months taking our cousin around, but once she goes home, we'll go back to buying gas about once every 3 months.

The only major change from before is that we have pretty much stopped buying books. I used to buy quite a bit of used books online because reading is our main hobby and my sister is studying to prepare for grad school. But this year, we've hardly bought anything that wasn't food or gas or other necessities.

Megan · 06-29-2008, 03:55 PM

Honestly, I don't think I am. I was already living pretty frugally and trying to only buy the foods I need. For health purposes, I've started eating more fresh fruits and veggies about a year ago, so I don't eat a lot of processed foods as it is. I take public transit here in DC most of the time not because of the cost but because I hate driving in the District. I never have eaten much meat, and beans and rice have been staples in my diet for years (not because of price but because they're easy and I'm lazy).

I suppose I am watching sales more. For example, my afternoon treat every day is a can of Coke Zero (please do not lecture me about drinking more water instead - I drink 3 liters minimum a day, and I love my afternoon Coke Zero). This week, the grocery store had 12 packs on sale. If you bought 5, they were $10, but to get the deal, you had to buy 5.

So now I have enough Coke Zero to last me possibly through August.

lucille · 06-29-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan

Honestly, I don't think I am. I was already living pretty frugally and trying to only buy the foods I need. For health purposes, I've started eating more fresh fruits and veggies about a year ago, so I don't eat a lot of processed foods as it is. I take public transit here in DC most of the time not because of the cost but because I hate driving in the District. I never have eaten much meat, and beans and rice have been staples in my diet for years (not because of price but because they're easy and I'm lazy).

I suppose I am watching sales more. For example, my afternoon treat every day is a can of Coke Zero (please do not lecture me about drinking more water instead - I drink 3 liters minimum a day, and I love my afternoon Coke Zero). This week, the grocery store had 12 packs on sale. If you bought 5, they were $10, but to get the deal, you had to buy 5.

So now I have enough Coke Zero to last me possibly through August.

When we were heavy soda drinkers we would look for the decent deals and stock up since soda keeps forever. When they introduced new coke myself and a friend went and bought every case of old coke we could find and stashed it in our apartments.

happysmileylady · 06-30-2008, 07:29 AM

The most drastic change that we have made is that DH bought a motorcycle. It was $1000 upfront between the actual $750 cost of the bike, title, license, plates, helmet etc, but it saves $30 a week, which works out to $120 a month. About 8 months and it will have paid for itself...at present gas prices. If prices go up to $5 a gallon, well then it will have paid for itself much sooner.

amyschiff · 07-01-2008, 08:25 AM

I don't know how drastic this is, but I've gotten much more sensitive to whether I will use up groceries, specifically produce. I live by myself so a lot of times it is hard to use up everything before it goes bad.

I almost bought some pre-washed salad greens this past weekend, but I thought very hard and decided that I wasn't sure if I was "feeling" salad this week and decided I'd be better off skipping it. Frozen veggies will be on the menu this week instead.

gambit78 · 07-01-2008, 02:53 PM

yes, we have been thinking twice about driving and such and avoiding using our SUV...It's been boring staying at home sometimes, but we tell ourselves that it is cuz of the gas!!!

household9 · 07-03-2008, 11:12 AM

We are switching to an 'envelope budget'. Is anyone doing this and do you have any advice? I'm already feeling pinched - which I guess is the idea. :/ We have been spending way too much and need to do something drastic. It is so easy to flip out the card and get what we want. This will really change things. - Sami

Gootsy · 07-03-2008, 01:14 PM

I've hardly changed at all. Still using public transit or walking 98 percent of the time. Still being pretty smart with my grocery buying (stocking up when see a great deal). I'm on the fence about having fewer meat meals. Might be worth trying out.

Regarding Envelope System: There're a few threads that're kinda new on the forum you can check out.

Quick search found this one: http://www.wisebread.com/forums/pers...fans-1004.html

Looby · 07-03-2008, 03:51 PM

Not really, I walk or take transit to work, we've always cooked from scratch. We did buy bikes last week but that's more about getting in shape, although my partner will use it to bike to work a couple of times a week. We are also growing some of our own veg this year, but that's mostly cause my partner has become engrossed in the River Cottage series- I will be concerned if he suggests rearing pigs in our one-bed apartment!
I think also because we used to live in a much more expensive country that everything is still cheap by comparison, we know we are still better off.

06-29-2008, 12:03 PM	#1
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 421 Reputation: (26)	Are you drastically changing? With all of the price hikes in such a short period of time we have been drastically changing how we do things. We have changed our diet and what we buy massively to compensate for the food price hikes. We rarely eat beef anymore, if we do it is usually hamburger or roast when on sale. We are eating less meat in general and adding more lentils, beans and rice. Nobody complains anymore either since they have all seen what has happened with grocery bills. Where we live refuses to do anything about expanding or improving public transit. So were planning on buying a scooter. Were also looking seriously into doing an electric car conversion on an old sub compact car. Our natural gas bills went up over the winter and have kept going up this spring. We were going to put a gas fireplace in our family room, now were looking at putting a wood fireplace there instead. These kinds of things have been going on in all of our expenses, and things like driving habits. So have you drastically changed your life in response to all of these price hikes? __________________ Dark Style Blog http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/

06-29-2008, 02:32 PM	#2
hermione Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 318 Reputation: (65)	Starting late last year/early this year, I began shopping for groceries once a month instead of twice a month as I used to do. Our grocery store is about 15-20 miles from our house so I save gas by going fewer times a month. Also, the fewer times you shop, the more you save because you can buy the bulk packages and actually use them all up before shopping again. And the fewer times you enter the store, the less unplanned purchases you make (like things on sale that you hadn't planned on buying but are too good to pass up.) As for gas, since we work at home, we don't need to go out much. I consolidate my errands as much as possible - bank, post office, library, etc. - about once a month, and only run out for thing when necessary. Until our current house guest (our cousin) arrived, we were buying gas about once every 3-4 months. We've been using more gas these last few months taking our cousin around, but once she goes home, we'll go back to buying gas about once every 3 months. The only major change from before is that we have pretty much stopped buying books. I used to buy quite a bit of used books online because reading is our main hobby and my sister is studying to prepare for grad school. But this year, we've hardly bought anything that wasn't food or gas or other necessities. __________________ Our Fourpence Worth - Tips for personal finance, frugal living, fast & frugal recipes, pet care & home decor. Follow me on Twitter!

06-29-2008, 03:55 PM	#3
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 304 Reputation: (59)	Honestly, I don't think I am. I was already living pretty frugally and trying to only buy the foods I need. For health purposes, I've started eating more fresh fruits and veggies about a year ago, so I don't eat a lot of processed foods as it is. I take public transit here in DC most of the time not because of the cost but because I hate driving in the District. I never have eaten much meat, and beans and rice have been staples in my diet for years (not because of price but because they're easy and I'm lazy). I suppose I am watching sales more. For example, my afternoon treat every day is a can of Coke Zero (please do not lecture me about drinking more water instead - I drink 3 liters minimum a day, and I love my afternoon Coke Zero). This week, the grocery store had 12 packs on sale. If you bought 5, they were $10, but to get the deal, you had to buy 5. So now I have enough Coke Zero to last me possibly through August. __________________ Counting My Pennies

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-30-2008, 07:29 AM	#5
happysmileylady Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 26 Reputation: (11)	The most drastic change that we have made is that DH bought a motorcycle. It was $1000 upfront between the actual $750 cost of the bike, title, license, plates, helmet etc, but it saves $30 a week, which works out to $120 a month. About 8 months and it will have paid for itself...at present gas prices. If prices go up to $5 a gallon, well then it will have paid for itself much sooner.

07-01-2008, 08:25 AM	#6
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 266 Reputation: (33)	I don't know how drastic this is, but I've gotten much more sensitive to whether I will use up groceries, specifically produce. I live by myself so a lot of times it is hard to use up everything before it goes bad. I almost bought some pre-washed salad greens this past weekend, but I thought very hard and decided that I wasn't sure if I was "feeling" salad this week and decided I'd be better off skipping it. Frozen veggies will be on the menu this week instead.

07-01-2008, 02:53 PM	#7
gambit78 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Reputation: (10)	yes, we have been thinking twice about driving and such and avoiding using our SUV...It's been boring staying at home sometimes, but we tell ourselves that it is cuz of the gas!!!

07-03-2008, 11:12 AM	#8
household9 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 Reputation: (10)	We are switching to an 'envelope budget'. Is anyone doing this and do you have any advice? I'm already feeling pinched - which I guess is the idea. :/ We have been spending way too much and need to do something drastic. It is so easy to flip out the card and get what we want. This will really change things. - Sami

07-03-2008, 01:14 PM	#9
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 236 Reputation: (19)	I've hardly changed at all. Still using public transit or walking 98 percent of the time. Still being pretty smart with my grocery buying (stocking up when see a great deal). I'm on the fence about having fewer meat meals. Might be worth trying out. Regarding Envelope System: There're a few threads that're kinda new on the forum you can check out. Quick search found this one: http://www.wisebread.com/forums/pers...fans-1004.html

07-03-2008, 03:51 PM	#10
Looby Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 69 Reputation: (14)	Not really, I walk or take transit to work, we've always cooked from scratch. We did buy bikes last week but that's more about getting in shape, although my partner will use it to bike to work a couple of times a week. We are also growing some of our own veg this year, but that's mostly cause my partner has become engrossed in the River Cottage series- I will be concerned if he suggests rearing pigs in our one-bed apartment! I think also because we used to live in a much more expensive country that everything is still cheap by comparison, we know we are still better off.