Cutting back on spending....

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Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Feb 1, 2010 7:33 AM
My wife and I was talking about some things we could cut back on just to save some money and or to spending in other areas. ( “Spend in other areas” I did not like the sound of that.)


What area have you or your family cut or reduced spending on?
Feb 1, 2010 7:33am
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Feb 1, 2010 7:47 AM
I stopped buying my lunch every day while at work. Probably save $3 bucks a day. I don't buy much to begin with, so there isn't many more things I could cut out.
Feb 1, 2010 7:47am
UA5straightin2008's avatar

UA5straightin2008

WOMP WOMP WOMP

3,246 posts
Feb 1, 2010 7:53 AM
our family stopped eating out all the time for dinner
Feb 1, 2010 7:53am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Feb 1, 2010 8:34 AM
I stopped buying cocaine everyday.
Feb 1, 2010 8:34am
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Feb 1, 2010 8:39 AM
Stopped smoking so much.

Making wiser decisions at the grocery store. Keeping the thermostat a couple of degrees cooler. Making sure lights get turned out when not needed (and switched to those CF bulbs).
Feb 1, 2010 8:39am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Feb 1, 2010 8:41 AM
I quit drinking, and it is AMAZING the amount of money we have saved.
Feb 1, 2010 8:41am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Feb 1, 2010 8:51 AM
Our total cable/internet cost is $55/mo....I think that's WAY below the average.

We have the cheapest cable (15-20 channels, 5-6 of them HD, no box), and pretty decent internet speed.

I use our PS3 to stream via Netflix/Hulu and a PlayOn media server.
Feb 1, 2010 8:51am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Feb 1, 2010 8:53 AM
Who do you have cable/internet through? I pay $65 for cable, and $45 for internet.
Feb 1, 2010 8:53am
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:04 AM
...my wife cut back on sex, so now I'm spending MORE on hookers & dope.:rolleyes:
Feb 1, 2010 9:04am
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

Senior Member

9,206 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:06 AM
cutting back on eating out is huge as others have pointed out. You can also save a lot by shopping specials and clipping coupons. Many stores have a customer loyalty advatage card and/or will double coupons face value. A liitle planning can save $20 a week or more on groceries.
You can fuel expenses by consolidating trips.
You can save on utility bills by turning your thermosat back to 65 degrees and then using a small spaxce heater to just provide some extra heat to the room you are sitting in.
Feb 1, 2010 9:06am
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:08 AM
4cards wrote: ...my wife cut back on sex, so now I'm spending MORE on hookers & dope.:rolleyes:
Well, sex with you, anyway. :)
Feb 1, 2010 9:08am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:09 AM
Cut back on eating out, use the grocery store loyalty program (which includes gas savings, too). All of that helps.
Feb 1, 2010 9:09am
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:12 AM
queencitybuckeye wrote:
4cards wrote: ...my wife cut back on sex, so now I'm spending MORE on hookers & dope.:rolleyes:
Well, sex with you, anyway. :)
...damm. maybe you're right! I did notice the cable bill went down for some reason and now I know why:@ f'n cable guy!
Feb 1, 2010 9:12am
RedRider1's avatar

RedRider1

Senior Member

3,850 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:12 AM
eating lunch at home. Saving $5-6 a day.

Thought about cutting my land line. We're paying $35 a month for that and it barely rings. Hate to give up my phone number that I've had for 10 yrs now.
Feb 1, 2010 9:12am
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:24 AM
Not eating out nearly as often.

No meaningless trips in the car. Trying to ride my bike more, though it is tough in the winter. Can't wait for Spring/Summer, gas costs will be nearly non-existent.

Don't drink as often. Definitely not ridiculous trips to the bar where it can be entirely too easy to spend money.
Feb 1, 2010 9:24am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:24 AM
we're cutting back everywhere.

took our cable & internet from 125 to 70.
bringing lunch ($7 a day).
eating out once a month instead of once a week.
axed vonage.
paid off the car (420 a month)
We've also cut back on impulse buying, like groceries and gadgets and our credit card balance went from 1600 a month to 400 a month though some of that was the baby getting off of formula and special infant food in the past 2 months or so.

trying to get all the student loans knocked out this year so we can save up as much money as possible to make a down payment on our next house (in 3-4 years).

also the wife is going back to work soon so that's an extra 2k per month to use on student loans.
Feb 1, 2010 9:24am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:24 AM
gorocks99 wrote: Cut back on eating out, use the grocery store loyalty program (which includes gas savings, too). All of that helps.
What is the grocery store loyalty program?
Feb 1, 2010 9:24am
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:29 AM
As a college student I don't have much to begin with but to try and save I've tried to go to more activities here on campus that are free on weekends. Also tried to only eat out on weekends when possible
Feb 1, 2010 9:29am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:30 AM
ernest_t_bass wrote:
gorocks99 wrote: Cut back on eating out, use the grocery store loyalty program (which includes gas savings, too). All of that helps.
What is the grocery store loyalty program?
Stop & Shop ... I don't think they have those in Ohio. More of a New England/East Coast thing. The card gets me deals at the store, and for every $50 spent I get $0.05 off/gallon at their station.
Feb 1, 2010 9:30am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:37 AM
My phone bill went down now that I'm on the family plan. It was close to $70 per month and now even with my internet plan for my BlackBerry it's only $45 total.

I get my hair done once every 8-10 weeks instead of every 6 weeks (although I am currently going on 12 weeks and it looks terrible, ugh).

There are some other small things I try to cut out but since my boyfriend lives two hours away that's added a little more to my monthly fuel cost, yarg! (Just kidding, you're worth it! :) )
Feb 1, 2010 9:37am
coyotes22's avatar

coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:37 AM
gorocks99 wrote:

Stop & Shop ... I don't think they have those in Ohio. More of a New England/East Coast thing. The card gets me deals at the store, and for every $50 spent I get $0.05 off/gallon at their station.
Thats it?

We have the Giant Eagle Adv card, and for every $50 we spend we get $0.20 off/gallon.
Feb 1, 2010 9:37am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:39 AM
coyotes22 wrote:
gorocks99 wrote:

Stop & Shop ... I don't think they have those in Ohio. More of a New England/East Coast thing. The card gets me deals at the store, and for every $50 spent I get $0.05 off/gallon at their station.
Thats it?

We have the Giant Eagle Adv card, and for every $50 we spend we get $0.20 off/gallon.
Everything's more expensive in Boston :dodgy:
Feb 1, 2010 9:39am
coyotes22's avatar

coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:40 AM
gorocks99 wrote:



Everything's more expensive in Boston :dodgy:
That sucks. I thought maybe you meant $.50/gallon. Wow.

How much is gas right now there?
Feb 1, 2010 9:40am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:41 AM
gorocks99 wrote:
ernest_t_bass wrote:
gorocks99 wrote: Cut back on eating out, use the grocery store loyalty program (which includes gas savings, too). All of that helps.
What is the grocery store loyalty program?
Stop & Shop ... I don't think they have those in Ohio. More of a New England/East Coast thing. The card gets me deals at the store, and for every $50 spent I get $0.05 off/gallon at their station.
Giant Eagle and Kroger both have these programs. My stepdad can fill up his Suburban for like $20 because we spend so much at Giant Eags. They give you $.20 for every $50 you spend and there is no limit. When I used Kroger they had a $.20/gallon rule which is lame. It might have changed because that was over a year ago but I am not sure.
Feb 1, 2010 9:41am
L

lhs7870

Member

36 posts
Feb 1, 2010 9:59 AM
A lot of the same stuff you all are doing.

Bundled internet, phone and cable and saved about 25 amonth.
Cancelled the Toledo Blade, read it on line now.
Cut out fast food meals.
Not as many movies as before.
Shop at ALDI's much more.
Compulsive buying
Feb 1, 2010 9:59am