Where won't you cut back?

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Where won't you cut back?
23
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 5:39pm

We all know the economy is in the toilet at the moment. We're bombarded with reminders every time we turn on the news or surf the news sites.

Most of us here on the board are struggling to either make ends meet or stay afloat.

That said, is there an area of your life where you will not cut back? For example, do you insist on organic produce or meat? Do you always buy your vehicles new? Are you a latest gadgets guru? Where (if anywhere) do you choose not to cut back?

All my best,
Danni
cl-phocid, Debt Support Group



All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 2:05pm

I admit it. I have a lipstick problem. I sell avon on the side and at my store. I usually spend my profits on things I want/need. Shower gel, shave gel, lipstick/glosses, makeup, shampoo etc. After my next order I put in, I am cut off for the rest of the year!! I will start buying Christmas presents with my profits. That is ok, I should be GOOD for lipsticks. I have also told myself I need to throw some of the old ones out.

Coffee beans. The bf and I have found a brand at Costco we completely enjoy and this one would be really hard to give up.

Chips........I love chips. I try to give them up all the time, it has not worked yet.

I am sure there are other things that I would miss. I do give up some things though. We don't have cable or home internet, or eat out very often.

If you give up everything you will snap. Blow money is important. We must be careful what we spend it on and truly evaluate what is important to us and most importantly be grateful for what we have.


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 9:27pm

I am pleasantly surprised by all of the folks who have replied with satellite/cable service.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2008
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 11:18pm

I won't give up my cable, either. We do subscribe to Netflix instead of having the premium movie channels, though. We go out very infrequently, so this is our entertainment.


Internet service is also something I won't give up without a fight, lol!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 6:23pm
There are a few luxuries that I refuse to give up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-21-2004
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 7:03pm

I was glad to see that you put lipstick - because I would like to ask you a question - does Avon sell a lipstick that will stay on?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2006
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 7:20pm

I refuse to drop my gym membership - I do pay $12 per week, which is cheap compared to many of the other gyms in this city. I have a messed up ankle that dates back to an injury in December 1995, so walking near my home isn't always an option for me.

I try not to sacrifice healthy eating - but sometimes my budget does force me to squeeze the food budget a little. I don't like having to do this because I know I feel better when I eat healthy food.

I will not give up books or cross-stitch as these are both things that I enjoy in "me time". In terms of the books, I try to borrow books from the local library when and where I can, but often they don't have them. The main qualifier for purchasing a book that I could borrow is 'Do I keep borrowing this from the library?' I'm in the process of transitioning from print books to ebooks for the Harlequin titles that I read. Here the Blaze and Desire lines are published two titles to a book and I hate that I am forced to have the equivalent to two books on the bookshelf when I only read one. Plus even with the exchange rate, buying ebooks is cheaper than buying the two title print books. Now if I could actually buy an ebook reader in NZ it would be terrific - its not so good having to sit in front of the computer to read a book.

Lyn

bpeblink.gif picture by beautifulmandaPhotobucket


Lyn

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 7:27pm

This has always been my advice on this topic. Find a good lip balm you like. I like the avon care deeply or moisture therapy. Apply that, then a lip liner you like(the darker it is the longer it will last)then cover with a lip gloss(many to choose from in any Avon catalog) I find the lip sticks that claim to last 8 hours dry out your lips leading to cracking and just being uncomfortable. Honestly a lot of women's lipstick gets eaten off. You do eat through out the day(and drink) and this is why it disappears, it is not meant to stay on all day and some even absorbs into your lips. The liner tends to stain your lips slightly so this what I recommend. Good luck.


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 10:09pm

Two areas -

Diet Coke

&

Kleenex tissues

Nothing compares to a good diet coke on a crappy day.

Nothing comares to having QUALITY soft, lotion kleenex when you are sick and your nose is running.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2009
Fri, 08-28-2009 - 11:14pm

-Netflix one at a time 9 bucks but you get all those "watch streaming" movies

Don't need anything but basic cable. Thats for live news and the kids' cartoons. I can watch any show on my pc, any movies...which is what I do since I can't stay up for 10pm shows I need the sleep...I watch all my premium channel shows and drama tv shows when I do laundry or right before I goto sleep on my laptop in bed :)

I won't give up my gym membership. Made a few friends--staff know me well--nice eye candy there ;) and it has free kids' hangout room with movies and games and sitters. It was 70 bucks a month but now 52 since they are probably losing ppl resigning contracts due to the economy and they want to stop it. Most important thing is that I go to 3-4 classes a week there (After a year I'm pretty darn cut now) and the exercise is a HUGE stress relief from work and the single unassisted (monetary or otherwise) parenting.

I mostly just want to afford a house for us. I'm so sad that DD is going into 5th grade and we are STILL stuck at my Mom's. I'm going to have to find a job that pays six figures...somehow, someway....the houses here in a safe area are like 350k and up and I cant afford the downpayment (esp until I boot this debt and improve my credit) Rent for 3bdr apartment is like 2500 a month. I have to figure out something...75k salary is not cutting it in this location. Sometimes I loathe my ex...no help, "supposedly" looking hard for a job but can't find one (shouldn't have gotten fired for not giving a damn about the last few). And on top of it has the nerve to leave a msg for the kids saying call him back, checking on them to say hi and good luck in school. WTF (sorry). Its just if I had darn child support i could afford a house for the kids :(((



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Sat, 08-29-2009 - 12:40pm

Hey there,

You need to give yourself a little more time. You ticker is steadily going down. Concentrate on the positive(what you are doing to improve your situation) and not the negative(what the ex could be doing to improve your situation. When it comes down to it. You can control what you do and in the end you can say I did that and I am proud of it. Next step--place for me and kids. And being cut is something to really be proud of because not many people are. You go girl!