What do you cut out of the budget when $ is tight?

[jas]

Dh is in the process of building me a clothes line. I have wanted one for a long time. Like everyone has mentioned already the snack and junk foods, only drive when nessesary and combine trips when I do go out.

Stay home.

[Spirit Deer]

One thing I never see mentioned anywhere is, and this won't be popular, quit overeating if you do.

If you're eating twenty percent more than you need to, you're also spending twenty percent more on the groceries you yourself eat. That excess food has to come from somewhere and has to be paid for some way. I've struggled with my weight all my life, so don't take this as some skinny person preaching to fat people. It's just that I've noticed how much less milk we need to buy each week when I'm behaving myself and eating/drinking proper portions, and I'm sure those savings extend across the board with other things I'm not eating when I'm on track, too.

I've heard it's hard to stop smoking, but that seems like an obvious one when you're short of cash.

Ditto buying any kind of alcohol. I guess that falls under the heading of not buying junk food, as mentioned in previous posts.

[pollypurebred39]

We have timed showers, I'm the shower Nazi. Go over your time and I'm banging on the door for you to get out.

My husband is the electric Nazi. Leave a light on somewhere and your going to hear it.

Our heat is turned down to 62' and no one better start ticking that thermostat or both DH & I are going squawk.

We also use homemade laundry detergent and I make homemade cleaners.

Gift giving has been a big one. In the past 3+ years we've been extremely frugal when it comes to gift giving. Extremely!

We use something till it completely falls apart and has no redeeming value what so ever.

Clothing is an area where I've cut way back. Mostly underwear, shoes, and coats are the only purchases. I use my gift money. I own 1 leaving the house outfit, 1 funeral outfit, 2 church outfits. The other 3 outfits are thread bare, and patched and sewn within an inch of their life and I wear these only at home. I have a few items set aside that will fit me when I lose some weight, they are the next size down. I keep them because I know it will save me money in the long run to store a small laundry basket of clothes then to go out and buy new.

I started cutting my own hair with the Creaclip. It really does a nice job. No more highlighting or coloring my hair either. Thinking on doing it myself. No more manicures or pedicures at the nail salon, I do it myself. No more bare minerals, clearanced makeup, often combined with a coupon making it free, or near free.

DH uses his gift money for clothes from GW, and for coffees and snacks out. It does not come out of our money anymore.

I guess that's about it, I can't think of any more.

[Squidge]

Hope your DH is doing well.

I don't know how useful this would be for you - a lot of it has already been said - but I can let you know what we do anyway. We don't run a car, we don't have kids, we don't have outstanding debts apart from student loans and we don't have particularly expensive taste, so when we tighten up our plan is usually the following:


- As always we prioritise bills, savings and any essential household/personal items which need purchased.

- Cut down on date nights. We do something free at the weekends (go to a museum, stay in and watch a movie) any maybe do a more costly thing once a month/every two months/etc., depending on the circumstances.

- We have electric heating, so when it gets cold it's a case of putting on a dressing gown - not the heaters.

- No eating lunch out / buying coffee while in work. I have a budget for this usually, but if it has to go, it goes.

- No nipping into local shops to pick up some fizzy drinks or crisps or chocolate bars on the go. If we want this stuff we buy it as part of our weekly shop.

- I bake as a hobby and, funnily enough, I cut down on this if money is very tight because the ingredients can actually cost me quite a lot.


And that's usually how we go about it!


ETA: Like polly says, the electricity is a huge thing with us! We leave nothing on for any longer than necessary and we switch everything off at the wall to make doubly sure!

[bumplett]

guys, this thread is 8 years old.

still a good read, but I wouldn't be so worried about her hubby at this point.

[Squidge]

guys, this thread is 8 years old.

still a good read, but I wouldn't be so worried about her hubby at this point.

I honestly cannot believe I didn't notice that.

[laura-n-sasha]

guys, this thread is 8 years old.

still a good read, but I wouldn't be so worried about her hubby at this point.

True! When I saw the first post - I thought, why is this coming up now, and then read all the way through.

Anyway, to the OP, we cut out the meat - no buying of meat of any kind, except the occasional sliced turkey. We do not bake or roast food, as it uses too much propane, so whatever can be cooked on the stovetop or in a crockpot is best for us.

Eat more beans and rice, as they are still the cheapest ways to go.

Garden

Everything is homemade.

Other stuff - get rid of the TV and the cable. If you are cutting back, that stuff should be first on the list. Get rid of the DSL or FIOS. Use the library computers, that is why you pay taxes.

Get rid of the cell phones, or get rid of the land lines and get a pay as you go cell phone. We got our cell phones for $15 and 300 minutes. Use it frugally.

Read more, use the resources of your community more, get outside. Find more work or learn skills to get better work. Ask for more hours at the work you have.

These are just some of the things we have done to be frugal.

[mauimagic]

Interesting post from long ago - and it all still holds true.

For me - the best way to save money is to not go shopping at all. Eat from the pantry and freezer and if there is nothing there, try the food bank. Have never done that, but that may be coming up.

[ilovechocolate]

I seldom wear makeup anymore, which saves money and time.

I hang most of my clothes to dry. On nice days I spread towels, rugs, etc., over chairs on the porch and let them dry naturally.

I don't necessarily wash an item of clothing after wearing it (except for panties and socks) unless it looks dirty or stained or it smells.

We use CFL bulbs exclusively in all fixtures and lamps.

I accept clothing items from anyone who offers me something they no longer want/need.

I go shopping for groceries and HBA on a regular, but not frequent, basis. I shop the sales and loss leaders, and that's what we eat.

I'm probably going to start using Angel Food Ministries each month.

We no longer have a landline phone.

I should cancel my newspaper subscription ($14 a month) but I do so enjoy reading it when I get home from work.

We subscribe to no magazines.

I barter car repairs from DD's boyfriend's dad for homemade baked goods.

I frequently check to see if I can get a better deal on car and homeowner's insurance.

I use the public library. Can't remember the last time I bought a book or magazine.

I try to be ruthless when deciding what to get rid of at my yard sales. I'm a sentimental hoarder, so this is a real effort for me.

There are probably more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[dancemommy]

When we are in a pinch we don't go out to eat at all, make sure everyone packs lunches, simpler snack foods, use foods out of the pantry, no unnecessary driving, and don't buy anything unless it is a must.

Also a good time to reevaluate subscriptions- cable, phone, etc and make sure you have the one that is the right fit for your family.

I also sell a few things on Craigslist or Ebay to get some cash if needed...

[cab54]

I think it's OK to resurrect an old thread from time to time and let new people (and veteran FV-ers) comment on it.

JMO.

[carlitasway]

We have cut out cable and replaced it with Netflix. It is so much cheaper and we still get our entertainment.

We only have a cell phone and no home phone.

We don't ever do car payments and buy cars for cash on Craigslist. It helps that hubby can fix cars so we don't need something new or even nearly new.

Right now on groceries we are only buying what we need for the week. I go to an area where there is a day old bread store, Dollar Tree, Big Lots and HEB all in one area.

Gas is killing me in my car. It's small but older and it's not very good on gas. It also takes premium, ugh. I'm going on a hunt for a new car. I started a massage therapy program that's way across town and I live in a huge town so it's a long drive especially hitting rush hour in the morning.

Eating out is out. We were horrible this past month because I was sick and hubby just doesn't cook but I said no more. I buy only meat that is on sale and try to figure it out from there since hubby and the kids don't care for vegetarian meals.

[NikoSan999]

I think it's OK to resurrect an old thread from time to time and let new people (and veteran FV-ers) comment on it.

JMO.

I agree. I've read lots of old posts and found them very interesting when I started.

[nodmicks]

One thing I never see mentioned anywhere is, and this won't be popular, quit overeating if you do.

If you're eating twenty percent more than you need to, you're also spending twenty percent more on the groceries you yourself eat. That excess food has to come from somewhere and has to be paid for some way. I've struggled with my weight all my life, so don't take this as some skinny person preaching to fat people. It's just that I've noticed how much less milk we need to buy each week when I'm behaving myself and eating/drinking proper portions, and I'm sure those savings extend across the board with other things I'm not eating when I'm on track, too.



Ditto buying any kind of alcohol. I guess that falls under the heading of not buying junk food, as mentioned in previous posts.

You know I never really though about it that way before but you are very right!

[Judi Dial]

ice cream/desserts
magazines/books
restaurant meals
any entertainment that costs $: netflix, etc.
buying any clothes that aren't a necessity and/or any new clothes (as opposed to used at a thrift shop)
buying any extra food, live off your stockpile as much as possible
fancy coffee
fast food
snacks of almost any kind, do you really need them?
driving anywhere you don't have to, to make money or for your health
using our bicycles more
using our wood stove as opposed to our furnace to heat the house
piling the blankets high/wearing sweaters and turning DOWN the thermostat at night
or, opening the windows for cross ventilation and turning OFF the air conditioner during the day
selling whatever collectibles, etc. we think we can on ebay, etc.

If this sounds like we've done this a time or two...unfortunately, yes we have. When DH has been out of work, we have a two-part strategy. DH works at making money, Ebay and finding a new job(s) and I work at finding whatever we have to buy at the cheapest possible price.

IHTH!

Judi