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What are you doing to save money?

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty One Group Freedom 747001988

With gas over $3.40 a gallon here we have had to cut back on everything. So this is what we have done to save, and my kids will tell you it can be rough, but we have stuck with it.

1.  If we can't pay cash for it , we don't buy it. Good bye credit cards, we paid them off and have 1 ER card, and I do mean emergency.

2.My kids were running up there cells bills, and the contract was up , so we got them pay as you go phones and give them $20.00 a month. They found a unlimited text plan, so now they text only and have emergency calling.  The good thing I can't hear them fussing about my response!!!

3. Our spending is now on a need instead of want plan.  When we have extra money we decide together on what we really want to purchase.

4. Grocery's are a hard one, my son eats a lot, so I watch the sale adds and make a list of bargains.  Most of the time if its not on sale I wait until It is before I buy. We planted a small salad type garden, and use produce stands for better deals on vegetables. I buy meats on sale and think of many ways to fix it as possible.  I use coupons like crazy

5 I work from home and it really saves.  I eat lunch at home and quit buying lunch out .  I even feel better, because I am eating healthy.   We have parked the big truck and share our Vibe.  it gets 40 mph, and we only use truck when we have to.

So this is our plan , got any ideas?  The funny thing is it really isn't hurt us a bit to make these changes, and no one is fussing about it.

 

Comments (9)

R. B. "Bob" Mitchell - Loan Officer Raleigh/Durham
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)

Excellent post!  With energy costs eating a larger share of our budgets, something has to give!  Personally, having always been a frugal person (my family would say cheap) I find it refreshing that people are actually starting to think about what they consume.  

Watching some of the behavior that I've seen over the last several years bothered me.....I know one guy who would buy a new Harley every year.....why?  I don't know, but it seemed wasteful to me.

Maybe I'm old fashion, but being wasteful, even if you can afford it, is....well, wasteful!  It's not a good thing!  Maybe this downturn will have it's silver linings!

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Apr 23, 2008 02:55 AM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY
Kathy, those are great ways to save money. I just quit shopping for "fun" and we rarely eat out.  Eating out really is a luxury, not a necessity.  Even with out the gas crunch, we did not eat out much. 
Apr 23, 2008 02:55 AM
Susan Oliver
RE/MAX Capital - Providence Forge, VA
Experienced, Professional Realtor

Those are great ideas!  The kids don't like to talk on the phone anyway- just text.   We all need to conserve gas - not only to save money but to save the environment! We are spoiled!  Keep up the great work- we are all in the same boat right now!  I am not eating out either and it does save  - and I am losing weight to boot!

 

Much peace!

Apr 23, 2008 02:55 AM
Pam Joffe
Solaris Realty - Tampa, FL
Kathy - Our biggest problem is eating out, so we are really cutting back there as well as trying to combine trips so we are driving less.
Apr 23, 2008 03:01 AM
Nyles Courchesne
Peskin, Courchesne and Allen, P.C. - Springfield, MA
Massachusetts Real Estate Attorney
Lots of good ideas there.  IU am going through every vendor/utility and shopping around for better prices each week.  I think that I can save some big $$$!
Apr 23, 2008 03:05 AM
Ron Tarvin
Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction! - Katy, TX
Broker, Katy, Houston, Cypress 77450,77494,77095

PAY CASH.  If you carry a debit card, you are more likely to spend and more likely to spend more than if you carry cash that you have already budgeted for something.  That works well, especially with grocery trips!

We used to spend about $600/month on groceries and trips to walmart until we figured out the pay cash thing.  Now our budget is $300/month and we do well with it!

Apr 23, 2008 03:07 AM
Rhonda Burgess
Southern Living Realty Partners - Smyrna, TN
Moving to Nashville TN Real Estate Specialist
I turned off my home phone that we never use anyway.  Everybody in my house has a cell phone.  I got the magic jack for $20 for the whole year of phone service and it even includes long distance.  I went from $50 a month to $20 for the year.  I drive slower and then only make the necessary trips.  I use coupons religiously.  I'm getting the magic jack for my office too and I'll cancel those expensive phone lines as well. 
Apr 23, 2008 12:22 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

First I wish gas was only 3.40 a gallon here....we're at 3.89 where I live  :( 

I have let my house phone go, don't drive to show a house for every person that calls (ask a bunch of questions first....and if they are qualified, then I will go show).....I also moved one of my offices into my home, and buy bread at the Outlet Store.  Cash, yep that's what I use now too.  If I run out of cash, well nothing gets paid or bought, period.  I also budget my Marketing better.

Apr 23, 2008 03:16 PM
Lynn Johnson
Coldwell Banker Home Connection - Owatonna, MN
Owatonna, MN Real Estate
Kathy - Thanks for bringing up such a timely subject.  This change in the market has forced me to look at my habits as a consumer.  I've really reduced my discretionary spending, cut way back on eating out, don't use credit cards very often (but still always pay the balance each month), and think through and plan for purchases.  It's amazing how much we're able to easily eliminate.  I'll keep this up even when the market turns around.
Apr 23, 2008 03:31 PM