Cutting out of budget

Avatar for cowboy4me
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Cutting out of budget
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Mon, 09-20-2004 - 8:22am

What was the first things you cut

"Love knows hidden paths."~~German Proverb

Jenny

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Avatar for cowboy4me
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 3:42pm

My first thing

"Love knows hidden paths."~~German Proverb

Jenny

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Registered: 04-21-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 4:44pm
OUr first cutbacks were cable, and then we moved onto the phone bill and cell phone. We have made significant price cuts and not even missed the services!

kel

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 5:20pm
Same here - cable and phone were first. We do get the basic cable, no premium channels. Also, nothing on the phone- no call waiting, caller ID, etc etc. we canceled our long distance provider and use cell phone for LD calls (though we don't make very many) I don't chat on my cell phone as a rule so our charges usually fall within our minutes alloted. I cancelled all magazine subscriptions- we had 7!!! We increased the deductibles on our car insurance as well as homeowners. This drops your monthly payment. We talked to our accountant and changed our withholding allowance. I think that's what it's called- whatever determines how much taxes they take out. We don't get a huge tax refund though but that's OK with us. We want the money to do with it what we want- not let the gov't hold onto it for a year and then return it us- IT'S OURS!! I shop end of season for clothes and get great deals for kids and adults! I joined a fitness center that is an affiliate of our local rec council so it is considerably cheaper than a chain gym. I volunteer one hour a week to the babysitting room there so I can take unlimited classes for 1/2 price. It's great. We did all of this so I could be a SAHM. Honestly, we wasted so much money on things like all the options for the phone, etc etc - it was unbelievable! I don't miss any of what we have cut out and we still have some $ to do fun stuff. Good luck! You can do it.
Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 5:22pm

I got rid of my cell phone.


I shopped around for cheaper car insurance.


We dumped all our premium cabel channels - have since gone back to having HBO, but we don't need/watch the other channels!


I dumped all the "bells and whistles" on our phone.


I started getting books/music at the library rather than buying books/cd's.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 6:23pm

Hehehe, that hat doesn't come off! It's stuck to all of us!...LOL...


Let's see, I got rid of cable entirely, I saved a ton by switching to ...well, you know who....lol....


I use only my cell phone, did away with the landline. Started shopping for some things in bulk. I moved out of my favorite apartment ever, and hate the one I am in now, but it's about $400/mo. cheaper.


There are a lot more little things as well, but those were the major money movers.

~okee

(formerly oneandonlyother)

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:29am
Jenny - here is a thread that we started a long time ago.

All my best,
Danni

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:57am

I can't remember that far back!!


I think groceries were the first place we looked at; then cheaper internet service!


Unfortunately, for us we have added debt too, so it's kind of a wash.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2004
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 12:04pm
I got rid of cable and minimized on my phone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 1:15pm
The first place I cut back was by cutting my spending period. I cut up my check card. This way I can only spend cash. So I pay more attention to what I'm spending. Next I looked at what I spent on groceries for a week. I am only one person, so I have no family to support and I was spending about 50-60$ a week on prepackaged, convienent food. I decided that was too much, and I wanted to see if I could live on 10-20$ a week for food instead. I buy fresh in season friut and vegetables, eat oatmeal and pasta, which are cheap. I eat beans, tuna, and eggs for protein. Very rarely will I buy meat, unless it's a great sale. I only drink water. I'm learning how to cook too. I even lost a few pounds, and my skin looks really good. Some weeks I only spend like 5$ on food. I look for sales, and eek...cut coupons....I'm turing into my Mom....who could feed a family of four an about 30$ a week...God bless her...

Next I cut my internet service out entirely. My computer is pretty much dead anyway (it's from 1996). I use the internet at work....saved 20$ a month there. I stopped taking toll roads to work. That's about 40$ a month, that I don't have to spend, only to sit in traffic. I take a different route and get to sit in traffic for free.


Avatar for cowboy4me
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 10-14-2004 - 12:02am
bump

Jenny






"Love knows hidden paths."~~German Proverb

Jenny

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