Before & after: spendthrift habits you have broken

[Daisygirl]

I am sure that most of us weren't hatched this way, squeezing our nickels and dimes. If you guys are like me, you have become this way as a reaction against how you were living before, a way of living that may have gotten you into financial problems or at least kept you from achieving your goals.

What are some of the major changes you have made from your spendthrift ways and how much money do you think you are saving with these changes?

1.) Daily takeout coffee, 1-2 a day; saving $47.25 monthly
2.) Shopping with a budget and grocery list; from $500 + monthly down to $300
3.) Being careful with my electricity, turning off lights, not using the dryer, etc.; bill is down from $135 to $64
4.) Taking my lunch to work most days instead of eating takeput every day; down from approx $200 monthly to about $30 monthly
5.) Eating out for dinner only 1-2 times a month as opposed to 3 times a week. I am careful to have dinner nearly prepared before I get home form work, that way we do not have those frantic pizza orders and McDonalds runs.
Down from $360 a month to around $50 a month.

These are my biggies, small changes that have made a huge difference. Right there I was able to calculate a savings of $798.25! My mortgage payment and personal loan in completely wasted money!

[Nantahala]

Great thread, Karen!

I have so many, I am not sure I am going to be able to name them all.

Shop with a grocery list, keep to cash budget, no Starbucks while I shop
Get Sunday paper for coupons and match coupons to sale and stores that double
Eat more legumes, whole grains, soups, frozen produce
Thrift store hunts versus the "big" sales at Macy's, etc.
Thinking about making a purchase - no impulse buying
No more latte factor --- literally!
Cancelled cable, downgraded cellphone, no landline, bargain theater only, use library 3-4 weeks
Keep myself motivated long-term with online communities and books instead of going gung-ho and then burning out after a week or so
Have a written budget versus winging it
Ditching the CC - cash for 90% of purchases with debit card or bank draft PP for online purchases.
Finding a financial plan that makes sense to me and working the plan.
Taking over the book-keeping from DH who is not as detail oriented. We are both much happier.
Cooking more and more from scratch - passing up convenience items even if they are super cheap b/c they are less healthful and may cost us elsewhere
Good self-care --- less $$$ with docs and on escapism
Driving less, using the free public transportation more
Following through with refunds!
Decluttering and selling valuable items that we don't need/want
Not using shopping as a sport or leisure activity if I am bored

[Tori2]

I am new to living on a budget but it has paid off in the last 2 months.

Shop with a list
Never leave home without a plan
Never leave home without water and snack
No impulse shopping (That includes my beloved shoes)
Cook at home
Down graded cell phones
Cancelled services on home phone except basic
Buy used books for school
Getting rid of things I do not need
Do my own manicure & pedicure once a week
Tweeze my own eyebrows

Tori

[ama]

I agree -- great thread!

Downgraded home phone -- $75 - $25 monthly
dropped cell phone insur -- $6 monthly
bring lunch to work everyday -- $5 daily
pizza on Fri's instead of going to a restuarant - from $30 down to $10
hit the library and skip the bookstore --
cook at home
lattee mixes instead of Starbucks. $3 for a container VS $5 per Latte

[autumnlynn]

Things have changed a lot since I became frugal.

1. The biggest for me is not using a credit card. Haven't used one in about three years.
2. No impulse shopping.
3. Staying out of the stores.
4. Eating almost all meals at home.
5. Drinking a lot more water.
6. Being conscious of my purchases and constantly look for ways to save.
7. Actually put money in an emergency fund and leave it there.

[Katybird]

~making eating out a treat to be enjoyed once or twice a month versus several times a week and not even enjoying it
~using crockpot to make thrifty meals that will feed us for several meals
~using cash instead of credit
~coloring my hair at home and doing my own nails
~checking out movies from library instead using NetFlix or video store
~using a price book instead of impulse shopping at grocery store

[sunshine]

- started taking my lunches from home, instead of eating in the cafeteria at work. Saves at least $5/day

- started taking my own sodas from home, instead of buying them from the machine at work. Saves $1/soda, or $4/day

- quit going to the movies at the theaters. . we occasionally will go to the cheap $1 movies or the drive in ($2/person), but mostly we wait until they are on network TV

-quit worrying about what everyone else had. . learned to decide between wants and needs.

- started buying nearly all clothing at yard sales, thrift stores instead of dept. stores.

- started making, rather than buying most gifts

-stopped coloring my hair completely

- only cut my hair on rare occasions. . . then I use the cheapest beauty shop around.

[tlenad]

Things I've stopped doing...

I gave up all those monthly club type places. (Columbia House Music and DVD clubs, book clubs, etc). $30-$50 a month

I take my lunch to work several times a week. I haven't quite cut out all the eating out but cutting back has helped a lot. ($5-$10 a day, so $25-$50 a week)

I've stopped buying lotions and soaps until I use up what I have.

Use store brand shampoo, instead of the salon stuff.

I've given up for the most part the vending machine a work. It's very expensive.

I also moved back in with my parent's so I gave up rent until I pay down some debt. It's working out pretty well for all of us though, they're able to save more money for retirement as I have taken over some of the bills and I am able to send more money to debt. It was a difficult decision though, and one that I didn't make lightly. I really miss having my own place. Although it will work out for the best in the long run. A few years a home will have me debt free except for my student loans and hopefully in 3-4 years I'll have enough saved up for a downpayment on a home of my own rather than renting.

[MrsB]

Shopping by a list
No Impulse buying
No "leisure" shopping (I used to go to the stores to "window shop" just for fun and would end by spending money)
No eating out on a regular basis-we rarely eat out now
Learned the difference in wants and needs
Stopped going to get my eyebrows waxed-now I pluck them until I can find an alternative
The ice cream shop-haven't been in I don't know how long! Yippee!

I know there are more...

[Daisygirl]

Thanks for the input! Looks like we have made a lot of positive changes! It is a lifestyle change that reaps great rewards!

[Libby]

Wow great job ladies!

I too shop by a list and only go to ONE store though not all items may not be the best bargain - I go for the one store that has all I need at a moderate or low price, cant always win on this one!

I have learned to stop impulse buying, you know....the whole 'buy now, pay later' crap and have ditched friends who believe in this theory. My debt will be exactly that, my problem. I dont have a hubby I can turn to and bat my eyes and then have him vanquish the debt away - but boy oh boy I sure wish I could find one! I now use what I have.

I avoid going out unless necessary and I do it all on one day of the wk so spendings done on ONE day and if I have groceries in car, I cant stay long in other stores or my food will spoil! Great tip ladies, buy milk! LOL See how quick you run through the rest of the stores!

My homemade entertainment is cranking CD's or the radio while I try to purge sort and organize my home to rid of clutter. I go to the library too to avoid the book buying temptation at a chain bookstore.

I eat at home for almost all meals, if not I pack home food for everywhere I go...and bring all junk food, drink and snacks I think I may want through the day....if not it stays on desk at work till I really do want it.

I have learned to track every penny and budget well enough into my month that I no longer need to use a credit card and if I do, I use it and run home and transfer the money over to it right away - so as to not incur NEW debt .

ALWAYS pay myself first, then bills as soon as I get paid regardless of due dates and minimum payments....my several small payments have always totaled more then the minimums. And debt seems to go away faster too.

Dont know the total dollar value Im saving here but all I know is when I get paid, I pay myself, my bills and gas for my truck. There's never a penny leftover (cept my baby emerg fund of $20/wk leeway) If I have to go w/o then so be it, I'll be creative enough to get by...as a last desperate result, I have family I can turn to....so far I havent had to!

[Amanda W]

I'm new to frugality, but one huge change we've made is eating out less often. We used to stop at least 2 or 3 times a week to get dinner. Now we haven't had a meal out in 16 days (yes, I'm counting ). I figure that saves at least $100 a month.

[Michelle68]

--Stopped using credit cards
-- No more financing anything except our house
-- Cut down on eating out
-- Started shopping at thrift stores and garage sale
-- (This is the biggie...) Made a budget for each pay period and learned to stick with it


--Michelle

[Lmullin]

Cut out the going out to eat two to three times a week

Driving way less

Only shop thrift

No more pedicures, manicures or facials

Shop at a cheaper grocery store than the nice one right around the corner from me: I have to drive ten miles to get there, but it saves about one hundred dollars a month

[frugalfarmwife]

WOOHOOO Amanda 16 days without eating out for a newbie is AWESOME! I remember eating out ALL THE TIME!

And Shorty, lol, are you my sister? Giggle, our money goes out as fast as it comes in too, gotta get them bills!

Everyone has so many great ideas and does so well here on saving that I'm proud to be a member here!

For us, we just don't ever go anywhere, lol.

kj