Easy Cutbacks?

DH and I are in a cr@ppy situation and need to make as many cutbacks as possible. What are the most easy cutbacks you can think of?

Here's what we've done so far:
- I quit going to yoga
- I downgraded our cable
- We cut our weekly entertainment budget by about half
- DH is cutting his time at the cigar lounge in half
- We are freezing DH's gym membership

Can you think of anything else?

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

We make our coffee at home instead of going out. We don't have newspaper or magazine subscriptions. Entertain at home more. Movie nights in. Coupons! I dye my hair at home.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

Only go to the grocery store when you absolutely need something and just buy the things on the list.

I know for a fact this is a big area I tend to blow a lot of my $$$$$.

I have also said this before, but just avoid Target like the plague.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

DH was unemployed last year and we cut back big time.

I shopped my car insurance and life insurance.

Bought way more generic.

Used coupons like crazy

Cut out going out to eat by 90%

Bought no clothes, did no home improvements, bought no gifts.

Took breakfast and lunch from home every day. Ate at home a lot for dinner as well. (this was a tremendous savings)

Negotiated with all of my vendors/bills to lower payments and to change due dates to create better cash flow.

Stopped contributing to my 401(k) temporarily.

It got us through. We slowly started spending more but we are still very conservative with our spending.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

Get Netflix and cut cable entirely. You can also watch a lot of shows online now. You can even get yoga workouts online.

Why keep the cigar lounge at all? This is a time of sacrifice.

Cooking mostly at home to keep costs down.

Without knowing what you currently spend and where, there is no easy way to help you cut back. I can tell you to stop buying coffee out and make it at home or dye your hair at home, but if you don't even drink coffee or go to a salon then these are silly tips.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

Shop for sales (not necessarily coupons). Like DH will buy the meat on sale for the week.

We cut most take out. We found it was where we spent the most money. I cook fresh now and make for a few meals so I don't feel like I have to cook for all meals.

We get our cereals at BJs (BJ is closer to us than Costco)

I buy mix and match clothing. I don't go for trends. I accessories with cheaper pieces like jewerly and fashion bags (like target)

I buy all DS' clothes on sale. I never pay for his clothes full price. I buy a certain also. When I have the number of shirt, pants. I stop. I cannot buy another outfit. I also get him only a few pairs of shoes.

DH wears a suit. It's actually cheaper in the long run. Even with dry cleaner we don't have to buy so many clothes for him. He only wears "relax" clothes at night and on weekends.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

DH started taking online courses to save the gas money.

I brown bag lunch 5 times a week.

I do my own mani - pedis unless its a special occassion.

I color my own hair.

We got rid of our home phone.

Downgraded our cable but added Netflix and its still cheaper.

Downgraded our cell phone data plans.

We buy generic.

We go out to eat once a week. We are trying to reduce this to once every other week but, it's hard bc its our one luxury.

Every little bit helps.

Message edited 4/19/2011 12:31:48 PM.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

These are great tips, thanks!

The good news is that I was able to get a gig on trade at my yoga studio - I work from 9-2 on Saturday (this includes a 90 minute class) and I get free unlimited yoga! Can't beat free!!!

We cut our cable bill by $30 - DH loves his channels so I let him pick one premium channel and that was that. I am slowly starting NOT to miss all of the extra channels.

I just couldn't bring myself to tell DH no cigar lounge - he loves it so much and he works 6 days/week and deserves it. It's $13/week, down from $35ish.

We love eating out too but last week I came up with a compromise that I was very happy about. Instead of going out for sushi dinner and spending $50+, I ordered two lunch specials and ate them for dinner at home. $20! And tonight we are going for $1 tacos!

I'm learning that while it stinks to cut back, it really isn't so bad once you get used to it.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

I'm so happy you were able to find a way to make the yoga work. I just read about someone doing this on a hot yoga blog I follow. He volunteered to mop up after class and gets to go free now.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

check your cellphone plans-do you have the lowest rate for your needs?

use the library, DVDs, books & our library has great classes-yoga, computer classes, crafts, cooking

bundle all of your insurances with one carrier-big savings

if you shop at a wholesale club, know your prices buying in bulk is not always a good deal. avoid the front middle aisles-its all non-essential $$ stuff

sell used items on ebay, craigslist or a consignment shop
donate things and take the tax write off

I rarely pay full price for anything, yesterday i took my stepdaughter shopping & got her a $55 pair sneakers for $20.00 including tax
$425 of clothes in American eagle for $199.66 in cluding tax. I'm always armed with coupons.
I go back and get price adjustments all the time. I just got back $26 at the coach outlet on a $95 gift purchase I made a couple of weeks ago. Almost every store or outlet will do this if you have your receipt.

I asked my drycleaner if they have a cash discount(I dry clean a lot of stuff)and I know the merchant fees are $$ and everyone charges now and she said yes, its not much but its something.

We don't use much AC in our home & we have a pellet stove to reduce our oil heat costs.

I don't buy too much at the regular supermarket anymore but I still use coupons as much as possible.

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

Cut cable off completely - just buy the Internet and do Netflix for 10 bucks a month...

Re: Easy Cutbacks?

I just decided to cancel my personal cell phone and let work foot the bill moving forward.

They even got me a new Blackberry.

I don't have access to texting because they won't foot the bill for that (too many employees have abused), but big whoop. Email/call if you need me.

I will now be saving close to $110.00 a month.

That's money I can put towards savings or groceries.

I also am thinking about working from home twice a week or more if I can get into the mindset and habit to do that. This will save a ton on gas.