My house is going back on the market tomorrow (The company I had it listed with folded in November and I decided to just keep it off the market over the holidays) When, and if it ever sells, I'll rent an apartment for some time.
Luckily where I'm looking many apartments accept pets, especially cats which I have.
Rents sure have gone up. Rent will be more than my mortgage payment but there will be some evening out as no taxes, garbage, sewer, alarm company etc. No tax write off either but I'll just have to eat that.
I'm looking at a couple of apartment complexes and especially one which is quite pricey. It is also really really nice. I can afford it but I also need to continue saving. I don't want to move to a really small <600 square foot apartment like I used to live in. I'll be getting rid of some furniture already.
To continue saving I need to really cut back spending. Has anyone done this? My hobbies are pretty cheap, sewing and needlework. As long as I have a little money for some fabric and yarn and the occasional order from Amazon, I should survive.
Has anyone successfully really really cut back on spending without going crazy! Thank you. I know this got long. PS I have no debt besides my current mortgage.
When it goes on the market, we'd love to see pictures of it from the website.....that's always fun to see inside each others homes. I'll have mine available to see in a few weeks.
I agree, join the No spend challenge. It'll make it a lot more fun. Most of us have been in situations where we've haven't spent or cut way back. We all will be cheering you on. Hope your home sells quickly.
Thanks so much everyone for the good wishes. I really like the idea of making savings a challenge. I have been writing down monthly expenses with the house vs probable expenses with the apartment. At least I won't have those fun unexpected home repairs.
Yes, it's definitely possible. Except for groceries I don't spend much at all. Okay, I sew and hit the fabric store everyone once in a while Actually, the thing that forced us to not spend was moving out of town. We moved from a city to a rural area 15 miles from the nearest shopping - including fabric stores. For 19 years now all trips to town were planned for running errands etc. But it sure does stop the spending as well. You can't spend if you aren't near somewhere TO spend! Good luck with your endeavor!
Staying out of the stores helps me since I'm not much of an online shopper. I do enjoy shopping... mostly I look, but I usually find something I want. I've noticed if I have a shopping list I buy less since I'm focused on what I need (or what's on my list). I've also trying the Wish List thing to help me cut back on wants. If I see something I want it goes on my list & I wait to buy. I need to work on this more... sort of "forgot" about it as I holiday shopped. Hope others will share their tips... I'd love some new thoughts on spending less in the new year.
Thanks again. I too love fabric. I have PLENTY of fabric right now but there is always that pull to buy a little more. Also yarn. I have in the past stopped most of my free spending.
A problem for me is I LOVE online shopping. I'm thinking of setting a budget of $50.00 a month and keeping that in a separate little wallet. That would be my fabric, yarn, Etsy and Amazon spending. If I don't use it then it can be saved up. I usually order once a month or so from Amazon and I need to stop that. I have plenty of craft books and a lot of books to read.
Definitely check back here often for support and money saving ideas. The one thing I would recommend is to set aside a little "fun" money even while you are saving. If you treat yourself every now and then you'll be less likely to fall off track.
You can do this. I have not bought fabric in 8 years and I still have tons in there not counting the huge tubs of scraps some of which are almost a yard.
I stopped buying sewing books. The Quilters cache has tons of great free patterns so why buy and have to store another book. I got rid of TONS of books.
I buy...groceries and that is about it lol.
My sewing room has fabric, batting and backings and patterns. It has paint, scrapbook paper, cutters, albums and assorted other goodies. I have beads and fittings for jewelry.I have a huge cake decoration assorted items.
My creative outlets are COVERED. NO MORE for ME.
Oh and I have yarn toooooo.
I buy my books used. My regular novels and any other I may need. Most I get from Goodwill for .25 tp .50 for a hardback.
Every blue moon I may buy myself a purse but I usually wait for a great sale and use a gift card.
work the system!
You can do this!
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