If you had to cut to the bone?

[momtoadiva]

Well bout the only thing I would add is tighten down on paper products, use less expensive cleaners and more homemade cleaners such as vinegar, baking soda etc. If your freezer isn't quite full put milk gallons or what ever full of water in there to help with it running more than it has to, unplug everything that runs without actually being used, cut utilities...look for leaky windows and such. I wash my hair every other to 3rd day saves shampoo & better for my hair. I've heard you can use alcohol for deodrant (ok this scares me but I am curious if it works) still working up my neve to try this. I'm not big on coupons but I do shop Aldi's and Big Lots for some cost cutting. Surf the net for any freebies that can be of use or even survey's for free products or cash. Keep meals simple maybe cut the meat you use in meals in half such as in spaghetti (they'll never notice trust me). This is about all I can think of some have been covered maybe the rest will be of some help.

[sweetlittle]

I posted earlier but then thought of the one thing that always gets to me when we have to really cut back....gifts. There are always gifts to give for family, friends and kiddos friends. Plan ahead and become creative. There are many, many fun "jar" recipes for adults that can look darling with little expense. As for kids gifts, the internet has many ideas that are inexpensive such as coloring pages and games. For older kids there are many ideas that can be given very frugally. We gave a box of scrap wood to a friends child for Christmas he loves to build anything and everything. This idea can be applied to any hobby, you just have to know the child's interests.
Oh, and I use vinegar as a deoterant right before I get out of the shower. Works great. Check out "Natural Remedies and Nutrition" by Myles Bader. It has saved us a lot of money over the years.

[MsRetro]

I can't shut off my internet, as I work from home and need it for work. So, that stays.

If it looked like this was going to be a long period that would be financially tight, I'd consider selling my car and getting around exclusively by bike, foot or rollerblade. I already do, as much as I can.

Are you making payments on a car? If you don't owe too much, it might be better to sell, and buy something cheaper for cash. If you are a two car family, see if you can get by with one.

I could cut my food costs quite a lot. There are a lot of variations on rice and beans out there.

I'd sell whatever I could. Books would go on half.com, everything else on craigslist, then eBay.

Another option for extra money to get through the crunch: plasma donation. I don't weigh enough (need to be 120) but, I have friends who have done it. They usually make $35 per donation session.

[Nantahala]

Thank you, everyone! We are working on a new budget now and if we can pay down $3k of debt (and we can) before I am unemployed I think we will be good. We have a great condo that we rent for $600 a month and everything else we are lowering with all of these suggestions. Our car was a partial graduation gift to DH so we only pay for gas and $300 a month to own it (his parents pay $300 + all insurance) so selling it's not a great option in a mountainous town with very little public transportation. However, saving on gas - that's something we can do!

I inventoried the pantry and freezer and we are doing well. I am shopping on the food thrift store now which is very cheap (organic milk for $2, organic bread for $1).

Keep the suggestions coming, you all are wonderful!!!!

[Bethany]

I agree with all the posts. I'm sure that you can do it! My only additional suggestion would be to not get too down about it. Frugally enjoy your time away from work. Go on walks play games alone or with friends and family. Make this transition nice for yourself and not all work then you and your family won't feel deprived but feel blessed. I wish you the very best.

Excellent advice!!

[kaye620]

I agree with cutting off cable, internet, home phone (under contract with cell but drop to cheapest plan). Drop car insurance to lowest amount. Buy meat on Mondays and Tuesdays when you can find the marked down meats left over from the weekends (I can save 50% by doing this). Start stocking up now on food when it's on sale.

Only heat and cool one room where the whole family can sleep. Close vents and doors in the other areas. If you have a fireplace; forage for firewood and put bed near the fireplace.

Make your own cleaning products; baking soda and vinegar will clean almost anything.

Sell everything! Have yard sales and use craigslist. Live with just one car. Gold prices are high now.

Babysit, tutor, clean houses, find part time jobs for you and DH.

No chips, soft drinks, easy boxed meals... Buy for nutrition not taste.

No leftovers go to waste; use for soups or cass.

Cut shampoo, conditioners, liquid hand soaps, dish liquid, laundry deter., ect... with water to stretch it out.

[Starlight9803]

I agree with the advice of all the others. For us, if we were facing drasticly less money coming in we could cut out: cable, internet, land line phone (we have cells and DH must have his for work), I would start hanging clothes to dry (even though DH would complain lol), and if that were not enough, I would start selling off our "extras" to get us in a better situation. Things like the boat, camper (which would mean no more vacations), DH's pickup, heck, even the riding lawn mower (it could be push mowed if necessary) if that would help things out. We've been in a desparate money situation before, and it's no fun, but if you're willing to really get down and dirty, it can be done.

[Dolores]

Go to this site and apply to as many online positions as you think you may be qualified for. Do it now, don't wait until you lose your current job.

http://www.ratracerebellion.com/

[contessa20]

"light nazi."

That's what my husband calls me!


I personally would cut anything and everything that wasn't absolutely necessary; cable, Netflix, home phone service, internet, garbage service (we are down to 1 small bag a week anyway thanks to recycling and cooking from scratch and I have plans to get it down to 2 bags per month soon).

If you don't already you could make your own cleaners including a good all-purpose cleaner, "toothpaste," "shampoo," "conditioner," laundry detergent etc.

Unplug absolutely everything not in use, make everything (even your very basic items) from scratch, eat at home and cut out all convenience food items (soda, cakes, cookies etc.).

Watch Freecycle for free food (lots of people around here post food that they've bought which hasn't been opened but that their family won't eat; I got about 10 lbs. of unopened bulk dry milk one time)

Use candles and lanterns for light (when times were really tough around here I did this and then put nightlights in areas where they would be most useful; it's amazing just how little light we really need). If there are problem areas where people just can't seem to remember to turn off the lights then take the lightbulb out of the socket. Don't leave porch or walkway lights on.

Hang clothes to dry either outside or in the garage/basement/on hangers over the bathtub etc.

Consider whether walking, biking, public transportation or carpooling would be an option even part of the time.

Cut out ALL disposible paper products -- paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, feminine products. Use cloth towels instead of paper towels or napkins, hankies instead of tissues, cloth, cloth "toilet paper" and cloth pads.

If it came right down to it and I absolutely HAD to I would sell or give away my pets. I know that's like giving away a kid for some people but when push comes to shove they eat up a LOT of the budget. We have 3 cats for which we buy food and litter (even the cheapest brands are expensive) and 1 bearded dragon for which we buy food and pay for extra electricity for his 3heat and UV lights.

If you only have electric heat turn it down as low as you possible can without jeopardizing your pipes. Ours is currently set at 61*. It's easier if you inch it down one or two degrees at a time instead of trying to cut way back all in one fell swoop. We used to keep it at 65* and I tried cutting to 60* right off the bat this year and it just didn't work. We went back to 65* and worked down from there and we're becoming quite comfortable in the low 60's now.

Don't flush the toilet unless you need to. Someone already mentioned the yellow/mellow and brown/flush it down thing but if you have a dehumidifier in your basement you already have a free source of water. Just dump it into a 5 gallon bucket each time you empty it; place the bucket in the bathroom and when you NEED to "flush" just dump in the water from the bucket instead. If you don't have a dehumidifier you can do the same with the shower. While you're showering you lose a LOT of water down the drain. Set the bucket in the shower to catch whatever water it can while you're showering and then use that to flush. That water is perfectly clean too so you could also use it to wash dishes, fill up the washer or water pets (not the dehumidifier water though if it's been in the basement)

If you're at home most of the time while out of work wear the same outfit several times before washing it if you can. Wear aprons to keep them from getting too dirty.

Sell absolutely everything that you don't need or use frequently. Use that money to pay down debt and stock up on necessities before unemployment hits.

Mostly though, just have fun. Avoid looking at it as deprivation and instead see it as a challenge... how low can you go? Exactly how much do I NEED to live?

[Nantahala]

Go to this site and apply to as many online positions as you think you may be qualified for. Do it now, don't wait until you lose your current job.

http://www.ratracerebellion.com/

Thank you for this! I am checking it out.

[Nantahala]

UPDATE: I am definitely going to be gone by mid-April. So far I've taken overtime for an extra 1200 take-home and we are doing most of the above.

The funny thing is, I started to do the new budget based off DH's salary only and once all of our bills are paid and cash allocated to every imaginable expense (including health care and meds) we still have $$$ left over for savings. I have been so unhappy in my position that I see how much money has been wasted over the last 9 months... it's really scary and sad.