Since we know the economy is in a crisis, how are you budgeting better? (page 2)

dinah

Y'all are all discovering things I've done for years!

My kids are out of school this week. They can go skating tomorrow for $1.00 so we'll probably do that. One day we are going to the library. I haven't actually bought a book in about 2 years. You can always get something to read from the library. Libraries are your tax dollars at work. Take advantage of that.

I ditched dish network and saved a bunch. My local cable company provides cable tv and internet service for $10 less than we were paying dish network. We got rid of our land line phone a year ago. Cell phones go wherever you are.

Another tip, if you can visit your local supermarket in the mornings, you will get meat marked down about 40%. It's the same stuff you would have bought the day before and still have sitting in your refrigerator. Also, clip coupons from your Sunday newspaper.

Don't keep your house hot in the winter and freezing in the summer.

Plant a garden. We do that every year and never have to buy vegetables during the summer and fall. I actually still preserve veges in quart jars using a pressure canner. We still have about 8 quarts of green beans, 8 quarts of tomotoes (great for chili) and 4 quarts of homemade vegetable soup. The soup is alot of work. Mom and I worked on it all day and split it. If you have a freezer you can freeze okra and corn. Two or three five foot rows of corn makes alot of corn folks.

SnakesInTheTower

I am reading a book called "Start Late, Finish Rich". I bought it new at Target..I should have bought it used on Amazon. The author has something called the Latte Factor ..basically all the unnecessary things we do every day. I started looking at all the little $3 here, $6 here...and how much it adds up.

What I am doing to cut back: I am keeping my $20/mo. gym membership, but dropping my expensive personal trainer ($36/hr).... I have 6 more sessions with him under a contract I signed. Much to his dismay, I am not renewing the contract in April. Instead, I am going back to a friend who is my old trainer....once a week is $60 a month..versus $345/mo for twice a week with my current trainer. Savings over the next 20 months: $6,900.00

I also use a faucet mounted Brita filter instead of bottled water. Savings each month: $30+

I am dropping my Netflix account next month. Savings: $17/mo. Going to use that idea of StAnn to borrow DVDs from the library. I already borrow books that way. Or use the $1/night Red Box or the grocery store videos. I buy lots of used books (including college text books) on Amazon Marketplace for a lot less than the college book store. Sell my old ones that way too.

For now, I am NOT going to drop my DISH (cant until next Feb anyway). I do watch it enough to make it worth while, but not so much to occupy all of my free time. However, if all you want to watch is basic cable (basically just the network channels, shopping, religious, etc)...and you can install one, then just buy a digital rooftop antenna and drop the basic. Antennas Direct is on the web and you can get an antenna capable of digital and HD signals for under $100..the prices seem to have come down since I checked last.

I want to know how to make my own laundry soap...that fancy stuff is expensive.

Snakes ()

Panda

I live in a rural area so I cut down on driving trips to town and probably will only get to more distant places (the coast ) only once a month.
I eat at my friends houses as often as I'm invited; about 3 or 4 times per week.
I ask for a doggy bag for my dog (and sometimes I get leftovers for me too).
I look for sales at the grocery store DILIGENTLY and am surprised to find stuff I use regularly. We often have a buy the mayo and getthe tuna free type deals. They work for me!
I often but not always create homemade pet food for my dog and cats.
I buy fresh whole chicken at $.60 lb and make that last. Fruit and vegetables are a fairly reasonable price here. BUT bread is outrageous.
Eat more rice.
Look into indigent patient care at your local hospital. It will save you tons of trouble for when you end up in the ER w/o insurance.
Check drug companies policies on free medications (I get some of mine that way from Pfizer)
Don't even look at those current magazines at the check out --- no matter how tempting Rachael Rays food looks you can get her recipes online.

Since my husband Nick died almost 2 years ago I have had to learn to be even more thrifty than I was before. So if you think you've made all the adjustments possible ... there is always another item to cut out.

LisaRose

I have a small business, and the downturn in the economy has impacted it a lot. I don't rely on it for my sole support, however I have changed my spending. I think and re-think any new inventory I buy. I started using coupons when grocery shopping - I can save as much as 30% on my bill using coupons and loyalty card savings. I drive less, combining my errands. I took a few shifts at my friends's restruarant to get a little spending money. I don't buy books, we have a great library here. I've gone to mostly thrift stores for my clothes, you'd be surprised what you can find there. Fast food is a rare thing now, both for reasons of economy and health. I gave up bottled water some time ago - it's bad for the environment. It's actually be a good experience, learning to be more resourcefull. As a couple, we have cut down some on eating out, but not given it up, as this is our one splurge. My hubbie is a saver and good with money, but he likes eating out. And he won't give up his latte's - it's his one vice. It's a quality of life thing with him. He rides a bus to work, isn't into fancy cars, sports or the usual guy toys. It's all a matter of balance. It's about living within your means.

SPAZnik

No more impulse buying (sorry China )

lol

SPAZnik

AVOID STORES

Awesome. That's my fundamental strategy. I can't stand shopping.

golf2

I've invested in gold and silver. I bought gold when it was $600.00 and now it's over a thousand an ounce. Silver also climbed the ladder. American dollar is FIAT money. It has NO value. I buy only what I need not want.

Golf

flipper

LAYLA- My wife and I try to limit how many trips we take into town 7 miles away as we live in the forested country of the Sierra mountains ! But, I have to commute 65 miles one way 5 days a week , so it's tough. But when I shop for food I buy things on sale. Like you can get young chicken breasts here for $1.90 per pound and for 2 of us we can barbeque on that for several days ! So, we look for deals

compound complex

I drive only when I must, often staying home for 2 or 3 days at a time.

I do most laundry in my bathtub with $3 a gallon detergent. Once a month
I do major laundry at a friend's house.

I never eat out.

I rent movies from the library or at the video store on dollar night.

I accept used clothes from anyone who offers them to me.

If I'm I bit ahead $-wise I still make sure that the rent gets paid first.

StAnn

Dinah - Do you cook the vegetable soup before putting it in the pressure canner or just allow the canning process to cook it? Also, is this pure vegetable soup or do you put any beef in it?

I can pinto beans in the pressure canner, so that I don't have to fool with making a whole pound at once and eating them for a week. Just open a quart jar and it's plenty for a meal for the family.

Since we know the economy is in a crisis, how are you budgeting better?

Share this