Link to a funny article

**Little Birdie** · 10-24-2007, 02:10 PM

Nothing new here about cutting expenses in order to pay down debt, but it cracked me up:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/for-...ebt-314135.php

It lists five things the author says you can live without. Then has the typical excuse of why you can't... Then the brutal yes you can.

The first is cable. We really can't cut that. It comes with the cable internet. We don't even have a TV hooked up to it, so you know we would cut it if we could!! As for the author's insistance that we find cheaper internet, the only thing cheaper available here would be slower and Husband needs high speed for work. Oh, okay, it is still a choice, but he'd have to spend a lot more time at the office. We both like the fact he only works 40 hours a week at the office and does the rest of his work after dinner or before we get up in the morning. At this point we aren't discussing an entertainment item like cable tv, however.

We have gotten rid of the other four, though.

What about you?

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-24-2007, 02:45 PM

Oh I LOVE IT! Says it exactly as I'd LIKE TO to many family members, lol!!

BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT

LOL

kj

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-24-2007, 02:48 PM

Oh, and to answer, I drive a 13 year old BIG OLD BRUTE of a truck, we almost never go out to eat, we throw hay bales and bags of grain (and manure) for exercize, and cable? What's that? I get 2 channels here, 3 on a good clear day

kj

**baxjul** · 10-24-2007, 02:56 PM

That was a great article!!!! I loved all of the excuses.

**Royal** · 10-24-2007, 03:50 PM

That's good! and oh so true! We don't have credit card debt but then again we don't eat out, I drive a 16 year old car and bought almost nothing new to wear in a long time. I am guilty(?) to 2 of the five on the list. The first one is high speed internet and the second one is a gym membership. I do however USE my membership.

**Little Birdie** · 10-24-2007, 04:55 PM

If you don't have CC debt and you do use the membership, then I think it fits under this comment: "Once you pay off your debts, you can see if a gym membership fits in your budget. In the meantime, go outside and play."

**peanut** · 10-24-2007, 05:48 PM

Actually it's not a bad list. I must admit, we have high speed internet, but it's shared with DD#2 who wanted it and is paying for half of it.

We also have a visit by visit gym membership, but only because the stinking city doesn't shovel/plow sidewalks here in winter, so we end out slidding on ice whenever we go for a walk. To buy a decent treadmill costs $1500cdn., which is 5 years of gym membership for both DH and I (if we bought a yearly pass). Plus we'd have to find a place to put it! Also, the gym has more upper body machines than I could ever hope to afford or find room to house. I think the author was unrealistic in this one. People with different health scenarios just can't go out and do jumping jacks...myself included. My doctor would have a bird if I did.

However, all that being said, we have no debt and never have. We have always paid our CCs in full every month. So these are luxuries we can afford. I can see considering the gym a luxury. I did for many years. And I survived just fine without a computer. We just used the library ones.

Jean