I'm pretty good when it comes to cutting "premium" TV, entertainment, mani/pedi's, and alcohol when dining out. However, I do eat out a lot (even when there's food at home) and I also have a nasty shopping addiction (trying really hard to work on it!). Even though I watch my finances on Mint, somehow, I'm still not saving as much as I would like... :/
Personally, I feel that most kids should wait before going to school. Aside from what you listed here (all very good points), there's also some other reasons. For example, fresh out of high school, how many kids take the education seriously?
I nearly flunked out of my first semester in college, because I just wanted to socialize; I did not take it seriously. I ended up taking a job, saving up some money before going back to school. By the time I went back, I was ready for it emotionally and financially. I paid all my tuition and fees out-of-pocket, and I was on the Dean's List every semester until I graduated.
Kids these days (me included!) need some time to grow up after high school. They need to figure out what they want to do with their lives, and they need some experience under their belts in order to understand the value of a good education.
My day to day life is pretty basic and there really isn't anything that I can live without. However, the cable tv bill is getting very close to being cut, only reason I have it still is for sports.
I don't feel like I need to cutback on my wants, because they're limited, but if I did it would be Netflix, eating out, going to bars, traveling and switching from owning a car to using public transportation. I track all my income and expenses (http://mreverydaydollar.com/tracking-finances/) so I know where my money goes.
New clothes are one expense that I could definitely cut. I recently lost a lot of weight and have been slowly replacing my wardrobe, but I could/should find ways to do it more frugally!
I use different passwords for social networking sites, for my business sites, and for my financial accounts.
The ones I use for social networking sites are less complicated than the ones I use for business and for my bank accounts. Still, doesn't mean that they're less complicated, they're easy to guess.. ;)
We already have a barebones budget, with me as a SAHM, our 3rd child on the way and living a debt-free life. However, I could do without my husband buying new board games. He's bought about 20 this year out of his blow money yet hasn't gotten rid of the ones he doesn't play with *sigh*.
Our budget can do without internet-- we have gone on sprees where we go without before to help us out money wise. We can also squeeze down our food budget a bit too.
Let's see....if we're really being honest, I have quite a list. Cable TV, internet, cell phones, half price drinks at Sonic, sugar free drink mix, boxed cereal, tortilla chips, ice cream, buying books, impulse clothing buys, scrapbook supplies, art supplies, and the list could go on from there. However, my quality of life would be greatly diminished without most of these things. Let's face it....who wants to live without ice cream?
We have done a serious scrub of our budget and eliminated or reduced many expenses, ranging from moving to a new location (eliminating mortgage and reducing property tax), to eliminating beauty salon expenses, to line-drying clothes. Nevertheless, we have kept many luxuries. These things are on our Plan Z for cutting under dire circumstances. Some remaining unnecessary-but-lifestyle expenses include: cable TV and Netflix (because we go out much less); a modest supply of wine, gin, and bourbon for the occasional home cocktail and hospitality (purchased at a warehouse store for lowest price); and a lawn-mowing service (though we pay less in our new home). The first item we will cut on Plan Z is our second car. It's a great convenience due to where we live and our work and family demands but we could do with out it if we had to.
I'm pretty good when it comes to cutting "premium" TV, entertainment, mani/pedi's, and alcohol when dining out. However, I do eat out a lot (even when there's food at home) and I also have a nasty shopping addiction (trying really hard to work on it!). Even though I watch my finances on Mint, somehow, I'm still not saving as much as I would like... :/
Personally, I feel that most kids should wait before going to school. Aside from what you listed here (all very good points), there's also some other reasons. For example, fresh out of high school, how many kids take the education seriously?
I nearly flunked out of my first semester in college, because I just wanted to socialize; I did not take it seriously. I ended up taking a job, saving up some money before going back to school. By the time I went back, I was ready for it emotionally and financially. I paid all my tuition and fees out-of-pocket, and I was on the Dean's List every semester until I graduated.
Kids these days (me included!) need some time to grow up after high school. They need to figure out what they want to do with their lives, and they need some experience under their belts in order to understand the value of a good education.
I have wisebread liked on facebook.
My day to day life is pretty basic and there really isn't anything that I can live without. However, the cable tv bill is getting very close to being cut, only reason I have it still is for sports.
I like on facebook
I could cut more at the grocery store, eating out and our land line.
I don't feel like I need to cutback on my wants, because they're limited, but if I did it would be Netflix, eating out, going to bars, traveling and switching from owning a car to using public transportation. I track all my income and expenses (http://mreverydaydollar.com/tracking-finances/) so I know where my money goes.
New clothes are one expense that I could definitely cut. I recently lost a lot of weight and have been slowly replacing my wardrobe, but I could/should find ways to do it more frugally!
I could live w/out satellite tv and a cheaper cell phone plan.
Love this list, especially the pictures!
Great article - going to print it out & look at it regularly!!
Thanks for taking the time to write it!
~Tera
I use different passwords for social networking sites, for my business sites, and for my financial accounts.
The ones I use for social networking sites are less complicated than the ones I use for business and for my bank accounts. Still, doesn't mean that they're less complicated, they're easy to guess.. ;)
We already have a barebones budget, with me as a SAHM, our 3rd child on the way and living a debt-free life. However, I could do without my husband buying new board games. He's bought about 20 this year out of his blow money yet hasn't gotten rid of the ones he doesn't play with *sigh*.
i like you on facebook!
https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/232853784265629698
i could live without going out to eat ( though i'd be sad!)
I remember my college friend who used to apply milk of magnesia on her face to make it appear less oily.
I like wisebread on facebook :)
Our budget can do without internet-- we have gone on sprees where we go without before to help us out money wise. We can also squeeze down our food budget a bit too.
Let's see....if we're really being honest, I have quite a list. Cable TV, internet, cell phones, half price drinks at Sonic, sugar free drink mix, boxed cereal, tortilla chips, ice cream, buying books, impulse clothing buys, scrapbook supplies, art supplies, and the list could go on from there. However, my quality of life would be greatly diminished without most of these things. Let's face it....who wants to live without ice cream?
I liked you on facebook :)
I could live without my soda, it is an addiction and bad for me. I have been without cable and only have basic cell service.
Going to the grocery store more than twice a month.
We have done a serious scrub of our budget and eliminated or reduced many expenses, ranging from moving to a new location (eliminating mortgage and reducing property tax), to eliminating beauty salon expenses, to line-drying clothes. Nevertheless, we have kept many luxuries. These things are on our Plan Z for cutting under dire circumstances. Some remaining unnecessary-but-lifestyle expenses include: cable TV and Netflix (because we go out much less); a modest supply of wine, gin, and bourbon for the occasional home cocktail and hospitality (purchased at a warehouse store for lowest price); and a lawn-mowing service (though we pay less in our new home). The first item we will cut on Plan Z is our second car. It's a great convenience due to where we live and our work and family demands but we could do with out it if we had to.
I could learn to live without my manicures. They are super though, but not necessary!