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Post by Meredith on Jul 15, 2009 21:35:37 GMT -5
I'm curious as to any great ideas people may have. I'm trying to be more frugal! We really cut back on eating out and going to the movies and I found myself shopping a little more differently....unfortunately Ive stopped buying a lot of the organic products I used to get due to the cost. I thought maybe we could share some ideas and help each other out!
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Post by Mr. Sexy on Jul 16, 2009 14:44:55 GMT -5
We've pretty much been buying mostly no name/PC stuff, other than that we just eat less junk lol
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Post by Barbara on Jul 16, 2009 14:46:04 GMT -5
I'm not broke because of the economy (it's mostly because of all the travels I did and will do) but to save money, I stopped eating lunch in restaurants which meant I didn't eat all day when I was at work and waited til I got home and made a meal myself. It's not very healthy but it turned out good anyway, not only because of the saving but also cause I lost lots of weight! Another thing that helped is stop going for drinks in bars and drink and hang out outside or at someone's place instead.
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Post by heidiann on Jul 16, 2009 23:18:21 GMT -5
I have sold advertising for the newspaper for the last 5 1/2 years. Made pretty good money for this area...and really didn't have to work too hard. Newspapers all over have taken a real big hit this year. So like every other newspaper....our company started cutting back....moving us to straight commission. So in order to cut costs in this crappy economy...and have my family survive....I quit my job yesterday! I will be starting work with a local agency providing care to the elderly and disabled. No wear and tear on my car....more money....blah blah blah....yeah....now Im scared shitless! Not really a cost cutting solution for many....but for me it was.
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Post by *Sonya* on Jul 17, 2009 9:33:15 GMT -5
I've been doing things like...
using coupons keeping the thermostat set a few degrees higher using more generics and less organics eating out less cutting back our Netflix to 1 movie per month instead of 3 spending more time finding things to do at home instead of going out
We've traveled a lot this summer so I've spent a lot of time hunting for the best hotel prices. We also used credit card points we had been saving to get free airplane tickets. We used public transportation the whole time we were in San Francisco so we didn't have to pay to rent a car and park it in the city. We literally saved hundreds of dollars by using public transportation instead of a rental or taxis.
There is a lot more we could be doing, for instance getting rid of HBO, but we're addicted to shows like True Blood, Entourage, Big Love, and Hung so we still keep HBO.
One thing that sucks is that we're going to have to buy a new car a.s.a.p. However, by trading in the minivan we will be getting a car that's a lot more fuel efficient which is good for the environment and good for the pocketbook.
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Post by Meredith on Jul 17, 2009 10:05:03 GMT -5
Ive been thinking about changing my netflix plan too....we don't use it as much with us being so busy and I literally had movies sitting for a whole month we didn't watch.
I couldn't bear to be without my HBO! I'm addicted to the same shows but missed the whole last season of BIG LOVE because Neil doesn't like it and I didn't have time to watch it on demand....I noticed its not up right now either.
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Post by ~BEE~Happy~ on Jul 18, 2009 15:22:44 GMT -5
I have cut out cable completely since last October.... just usin netflix. It took a little bit for the girls to get used to it, but we're fine. I do miss channel surfing though, and I may get cable back again in the fall. I just can't justify it in the summer. So, I proved I can live without that.... and it was getting expensive, about $75 per month. I couldn't believe how much I was spending on tv in a year.
My car really doesn't use much gas, and I still have it on the road with 242,000+ miles on it (can fill it under $30)
I use protein shakes during the day. Not the most appetizing, but I am busy at work and don't have time to eat, so at least I am not starving and ravenous so that I stop and get something unhealthy and expesnive, like fast food out of a hunger panic.
To be honest, I find that I don't spend too much more money on food, even the good stuff, if I take the time to "plan out" a menu for the week. Sounds corny, but being a single mom, it is easy to resort to mac n' cheese and pb & j all the time.... which I still do....
BUT, I spend just about the same amount by thinking it through, making a list and weaving the good foods in with the junk so we don't feel like we are deprived.
I feel like I just answered a "dear abby" article in the newspaper, lol. Haven't really posted anything in a while!
so, these are my things lately.... good luck to all of you!
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Post by Bogo on Jul 18, 2009 23:12:20 GMT -5
I hear selling "drugs" works well....
on serious note though notta, I've been broke since before this shit so I'm stilling eating ramen. *correction noodle cups, they've got "vegetables" in them
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Post by Meredith on Jul 19, 2009 8:31:29 GMT -5
I hear selling "drugs" works well.... on serious note though notta, I've been broke since before this shit so I'm stilling eating ramen. *correction noodle cups, they've got "vegetables" in them Ramen! I was actually missing some Ramen and craving it but with my strict diet there was no way I could have them. I did stumble across these "choice ramen" which had a lot less fat and less sodium but the sodium is still kinda high. They are pretty good though! Still very cheap too! www.iateapie.net/reviews/archives/2009/01/nissin_choice_r.php
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2009 12:25:48 GMT -5
"iatepie.net"
#lmao#
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Post by Rachel Ford on Jul 20, 2009 11:11:09 GMT -5
Well since I work in a restaurant most of my meals come from Fridays. Even the day b4 my days off I will make something that lasts 2 meals just to save costs. I havent been to a concert in over a year..last one was New Jersey Melon shows... I really limit how much I drive since I have a 6 cylinder and I do drive 12 miles to work everyday and back. I do plan out when I have to go somewhere and do it all in 1 trip. I swore Id never eat Ramen noodles ever again, but here I am again eating them even though theyre not good for you. I have cable but no extras to go with it. Its outrageous how much it costs. Im single and live on my own so times are really tight on 1 income. MML&R Rachel
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Post by Mr. Sexy on Jul 22, 2009 19:14:52 GMT -5
I've been using more coupons as well. we never had cable so that's no different. We're actually not too too bad money wise, just can't save much at the moment other than what we put away for Amber, which is now less.
Also, I suggest mac & cheese. even better the "no name" brand of it here is usually pretty good and about 15+ cents cheaper. lol
Anyone else remember being a kid and mac & cheese was the food, nothing better lol I think we were strapped for money then too.
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Post by 8807 on Jul 30, 2009 14:19:49 GMT -5
We've been doing the common sense things to save money also.No eating out,no bottled water,looking for sale items,using coupons,keeping the central air set high or not using it at all,eating alot of cheerios,pb&j sandwiches,spaghetti,chili,soups,lunch meats,More chicken & less steak for sure(sucks!).We didn't put the pool up this summer to eliminate the energy used for the pumps which have to run 24/7,plus all the chemicals & filter cartridges add up.I don't drink alcohol anymore,so that saves alot of money too.I would suggest getting Happy Hay in bulk.If I could quit smoking altogether,it would save alot but I'm not willing to do that yet.Also we only have one car & I don't drop my Wife off & pick her up everyday like I used to.I only really need it a couple times a week during the day & a few times a week after she gets home.We replaced the leaking faucets awhile back.I put bricks in the 2 toilet tanks & I'm always keeping the seals in the tank sealed with plumbers putty.The water bill was crazy sometimes.The 2 Grandmas will be helping us more than usual with school clothes for our Daughter.We try to do bigger loads of laundry now too.
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Just Dave
Porcupine
I was at The Metro!!
I LOVE BLIND MELON
Posts: 391
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Post by Just Dave on Aug 1, 2009 10:37:18 GMT -5
30 pack cans of Busch beer $10.99 #smiliedrunks#
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2009 13:29:30 GMT -5
#cheers#
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