what have you done to cut back on spending?

[Jand3rson]

its the 30 dollar a month things that kill you. they dont seem bad separately but think of all of them and damn.....

Trust me, I know. I use my debit card for almost everything (I need to stop carrying the damn thing), and then when I check my online banking ledger, I've spent like $200 in 2 days. $20 here, $15 here, $25 here, saying "$20 for this isn't bad" over and over again, and before you know it, BAM!

[BenM]

- Eating out much less at work (actually eating less altogether)
- Actually selling off some car parts
- Driving less

[BenM]

oh and quitting smoking 3 months ago has saved me quite a bit.

[jflip2002]

I try not to cut back on things TOO MUCH, just because it will make the economy worse. The minor things I have adjust though:
1) I dont drive home for work (30 miles round trip) like I used to.
2) I bring my lunch when I remember to
3) I buy powdered gatorade, rather than RTD gatorade or sodas
4) If we go out and eat, me and the GF share a dinner. Its for money and caloric intake purposes. Its really more food than one person needs usually. And you just eat it because its in front of you.

[Ral]

Yep. I've been eating less in general and cutting back on beer, and I feel better and have more money in my bank account. With Christmas/the Holidays coming up, I need to save though. 'm doing a decent amount of traveling over Christmas. (San Diego to visit some friends, then out to Spokane, WA to visit this chick.. which I'm thinking is kind of a bad idea now, but the tickets are paid for)

[hugh jass]

no more going out for coffee in the morning on my way to work
shopping sales at the grocery store and using coupons
not going out to eat
trying to find free activities to do with the family on the weekends
buying as many consumables at costco as we can - shit like toothpaste, paper towels, etc

[rwh11385]

Nothing, always save reasonably and be cost effective and conservative.

And read that CPI dropped a record 1% in the past month.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aEUKE5CH6LeU

[blunttech]

Nothing, always save reasonably and be cost effective and conservative.

And read that CPI dropped a record 1% in the past month.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aEUKE5CH6LeU

i agree but i have never lived beyond my means unless you go back to drug dealing days in the 70's. even though i live pretty modestly i find myself needing to cut back as i see mine and my wifes business declining by at least 30% over the last 3 or 4 months

[jflip2002]

I didnt think about activities... we go to the beach and walk around now. We used to never go to the beach. But it is free.

Side note: BenM, best avatar ever.

[DSP74]

Coupon grocery shopping (I had no idea!)
Store brand EVERYTHING. :D

Store brand shop enough, and you will find which ones have the best of x product.

If you have them Kroger store brand products are usually as good as the name brands in everything.


Wife and I went to a normal supermarket (not cost cutting types) and by buying only sale items I spent $34 something and saved $38 something. The cashiers circle the savings with a red grease pencil. Their face when you pull one of those is pretty good.:)

[DSP74]

At least here there are plenty of things to do for cheap if you look. My son loves Thomas the Train......Next weekend we are going to 'The Train Barn' a huge (unbeleivable really!!) model train layout thing that is......in a barn.....He hasn't been yet but I KNOW he will love it. It's $3 per person.

[delatlanta1281]

Nothing, always save reasonably and be cost effective and conservative.

And read that CPI dropped a record 1% in the past month.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aEUKE5CH6LeU

Exactly.

[BMWLA]

we just dont go out any more and no more starbucks :(

[Jand3rson]

no more starbucks :(

That part is hard.

[rwh11385]

i agree but i have never lived beyond my means unless you go back to drug dealing days in the 70's. even though i live pretty modestly i find myself needing to cut back as i see mine and my wifes business declining by at least 30% over the last 3 or 4 months

Yeah, if that is the case... I understand. Steady salary in a non-cyclical industry helps a lot in situations like these where someone else has the business risk.

I have tried to eat out less and bring lunch, and cut down on the partying, for both $ and weight considerations but already had that as a goal in July, before all this. Even now I still buy based on value, not price. I still have not been to Walmart since college.

What does help, I guess, is what I was doing already. I track month by month the money being spent on car, clothes, food, "fun", gas, and other to help keep a handle on it and develop a budget. It has worked to reduce food expenses and bar tabs so I can budget a mortgage payment.