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

**guest2** · 01-23-2003, 03:44 PM

Hi Ladies!
I'm participating in the grocery challenge and was reading about how all of you are doing. I need to update my info there when I get the receipts together and post my totals so far. Anyway..... I was wondering what it is that you all cut out of the budget when things are tight? Due to my husband's illness that had him off work for 4 days (no sick leave) and all the bills that incurred (EMT's coming, ambulance ride, misdiagnoses, medications,some that did not work and insurance does not cover, etc.) and some other surprise expenses, we have to cut back big time!!!! As for groceries, I'm cutting out pop, chips, and anything that we don't need! I'm already extremely frugal and I'm looking for some fresh ideas to add to my arsenal!

Blessings,
Debbie

**aylasmommy** · 01-23-2003, 04:35 PM

well, soda is definitly not an option for me to ever cut out unfortunatly

But I do tell dh to settle for my little english muffin pizza's instead of getting a 22$ round table pizza...that's really the only thing I can cut out for a short period without making my dh go nuts

But for myself I would stop going to target to find good deals...I just basically try to stretch the pantry as far as I can...There was month I did that and we ended up only spending 75$ on groceries/household supplies/diapers etc for the whole month

Other than that just watching the lights and heater to make sure we don't waste.

Months that we are tight is when I take in my cans from all the cokes dh drink...i always get strange looks since it's usually a LOT ..and to think it was drunk by only ONE man!! yikes!

**katiebug** · 01-23-2003, 04:42 PM

When things are tight I cut out:
-long distance phone calls
-ANY restaurant/take out meals
-soda, ice cream, and most other snack foods get the boot off the grocery list
-turn the heat down/don't use the air conditioning
-movie rentals
-salon haircuts and salon hair care products

**graci42** · 01-23-2003, 04:43 PM

I stretched my pantry these past 5 weeks. I buy loss leaders only if it's something I use.

What do I cut? Computer time, TV time, Running time (car--gas)
Check with your electric co. to see if they have special rates for night time use.

If so, only do your laundry during the lower rate hours.

No junk food. Cook from scratch. Make ice tea rather than buy soda....

If I can think of more, I'll post later.

Oh, and unplug any electrical appliance you are not using. It still eats electricity...less than when you actually use it, but every little bit helps.

**gardengirl** · 01-23-2003, 06:22 PM

Soda is the first to go for us, along with any eating out.

If it's worse than that, we concentrate on eating solely out of the pantry.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-23-2003, 06:30 PM

Well we've gone through this since Oct. of last year as dh had no job. Here are some things we did to cut our budget.

- I turned the heat down as low as I could. It got cool but we just dressed with more clothes.

- We didn't go out for any meals. I made everything from scratch and made lots of soups, chili and low cost meals.

- We didn't purchase any junk food and quit drinking Pepsi.

- We walked when we could rather than taking a vehicle and when we had to use the van, we made sure we did all our running around in one trip.

- I purchased only loss leaders or items on sale (when I had too) and made do with our pantry/stockpile. Our kids learnt to drink more water than milk. (I just need to learn to drink water like them.)

- we rented no movies. We made our own fun games and went tobagganing instead.

- we purchased no gifts - everything was homemade.

- I decorated our home but with things I had around the house. We purchased absolutely nothing new!!!

You'll be in my prayers during this time!! Please keep us posted has to how things are going.

**sunshine** · 01-23-2003, 06:38 PM

Let's see- the obvious that has already been stated like soda, chips and such. We pretty much get rid of all convience foods- no premade anything!

No long distance phone calls.

Cancel all subscriptions- many will give you a refund.

Recheck insurance policies- maybe increase the deductibles if feasible.

No movies- including rentals. Board games, cards, books, crafts work even better for entertainment.

No purchase of any wants- just because I don't have a pair of black shoes doesn't mean I NEED black shoes. My brown ones will do. Likewise, just because the kids only have 3 pair of jeans, doesn't mean they need another pair- it just means, I'll have to do laundry more often.

**aylasmommy** · 01-23-2003, 07:13 PM

Oh, I thought of another one...don't be afraid to ask for stuff people are throwing away..i mean if you know them well enough of course

(or you can always dumpster dive) Dh got an oak side table peice of furniture, two oak tall skinny lamps, stools and so much more that I know I'm forgetting...all because he asks or grabs things before getting thrown away

I agree with not eating prepackaged foods..I mean to some extent if canned chilies are cheaper than fresh go that route...But for example I can make a fairly large dish of polenta for about 25 cents, but in the store one small tube of it costs around 2.50$ It's also SUPER easy to make!

**guest2** · 01-23-2003, 07:14 PM

Thanks to everyone who responded! You are all such wonderful people full of great ideas!!!! I'm so blessed to have found these forums.

Blessings,
Debbie

**justjenn** · 01-23-2003, 08:51 PM

Hmmm, let's see. I try to look at everything I can when things get tight, but I always could do more.

Here's what comes to mind:
-Cut long distance phone calls down to the minimum
-Use the least amt of electricity I can get by with
-Don't rent movies, etc
-Cut out extras on tv bill
-Cut eating out
-Cut down on pop

**pita1213** · 01-23-2003, 09:58 PM

most of what everybody listed we do anyway. though i can't cut out pepsi. it is really the only dh ever wants that he can't make do with something else so i just stock up on it when it's on sale. it's his perk for being the one that goes to work everyday.
the biggest thing we do when we are tight on money is stay home. if you are home you can't spend money in a store, you aren't using up gas, and you aren't fueling the i want's by seeing the neat stuff in the neat stuff in the store.
i bake from scratch more when we are low on cash. it provides entertainment for the kids as well as a sweet snack. i'll bake bread too. homemade bread is denser than teh store bought kind so it's more filling.
we don't rent movies on a regular basis and i don't go to a salon regularly so i don't have that to cut out.

when you do spend money, save those coins! they add up.

**Coffee16** · 01-23-2003, 10:56 PM

Movie Rentals and soda

**Karla** · 01-24-2003, 01:08 AM

Right now things are very tight in our household as well. I do all the things that have been stated so far, about the only thing I can add is hang to dry as much as you can, yes even inside durning the winter, that has saved me about $10-15 a mo on my power bill.

**sunshine** · 02-27-2011, 11:00 AM

Thought I'd bump up this old post to see if anyone had anything to add.

**hotprincesscm** · 02-27-2011, 11:09 AM

Home made laundry detergent, very cheap, and makes a ton! Soda, prepackaged foods...any extras as far as food. I try and buy what I can on sale with coupons and loss leaders. Turn the heat down as far as possible in the winter....use blankets and bundle up! You can use candles at night for light instead of lamps and elec...gives a nice mood to your room as well. Use CFL light bulbs , it reduces elec consumption.