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!
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.
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 $400/mo. cheaper.
There are a lot more little things as well, but those were the major money movers.
The first place I cut back was by cutting my spending period. I cut up my check card. This way I can only spend cash. So I pay more attention to what I'm spending. Next I looked at what I spent on groceries for a week. I am only one person, so I have no family to support and I was spending about 50-60$ 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.
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My first thing
Jenny
kel
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
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 $400/mo. cheaper.
There are a lot more little things as well, but those were the major money movers.
okeefester3
Single Income Families Board
~okee
(formerly oneandonlyother)
All my best,
Danni
I can't remember that far back!!
I think groceries were the first place we looked at; then cheaper internet service!
Unfortunately, for us we have added debt too, so it's kind of a wash.
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
Next I cut my internet service out entirely. My computer is pretty much dead anyway (it's from 1996). I use the internet at work....saved 20$ 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.
Jenny
Jenny
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