Scaling back, what are you doing?

Yes we are feeling the pinch and trying to scale back, I have done most of these things for a long time.

1. got rid of HBO, 2. got rid of Bockbuster on line, 3. paying off charge bill every month, 4. trying to buy less food and make more out of leftovers, 5. only have one fridge, 6. buying more grocery store brands and adding spices to it, there are times that you need to buy a name brand 7. if it's on sale with a coupon for the pantry I stock up, 8. using the toaster oven, it's a big oven broils & bakes too and 9. pulled the plug on the coffee pot. I don't need another clock in the kitchen we got the micro & oven so hope that is helping out a little too. I hope I can get more ideas from you. My house is all electric & living in Az. isn't helping with the a/c running all the time now.  

 We try to save every way we can, but it's hard when there's not a lot of money.

We have a relatively cheap cell phone provider, and only had one for hubby to call from work to check up on me, but there have been instances when the landline was messed up, so had no way to communicate...I am home-bound....so we added a cell phone for me....and took out the house phone.  Now if I can just remember to carry the phone with me from room to room....and keep the thing charged.  That will take getting use to, but I think I'll like it...and our phones have no such thing as text messaging or anything fancy...what you call bare bones, lol.

I used to have Netflix, but when I decided to get high speed internet, I discontinued Netflix.  We don't have big screen TVs or many of the 'more modern' electronics.  No I-Pods or things such as that.

I can't go to the store, so I make a list, using the store ad and coupons...I've been careful with groceries for years.  There's just the 2 of us and hubby works evening shift, so not many meals fixed here...other than breakfast.  After he leaves for work, I eat whatever I can find.

We still have one credit card with a small balance...and as soon as we can pay it off....no more credit cards with balances carried over....hope, hope!

We drive a 10 old car, and though we would like to buy a new one....not now!  We make sure to keep up maintenance on it....hoping for at least a few more years with it.

We don't live large, lol....and I love to see our bills as they get paid on time...so there's not a lot left to spurge on much, lol.....that's ok with us! 

One other thing we are considering is doing away with the newspaper...half the time hubby is the only one to read it, and there are times, it isn't read at all....to me a waste of money.

There's probably other ways we save...it's just too late..well, actually it's morning now...but I need to try to sleep....but believe it or not, when I go to bed, I can't turn off my brain, and that's when I do my worrying about things.

Barbara

 When drying laundry in the dryer put a dry, large towel in with the load. It cuts the amount of time needed for drying.

I don't want to scale back.  

Since I owe no debts, it isn't hard for me.  I live on 1/2 of what I make, noticed I was wasting a lot of money. 

 

I eat a different way, and that is about all.  Also Feller and I don't go out to eat as much as we used to. 

 

Since I am a reader, I don't buy books, I utilize the library.  

 

Of course, I don't drive so that saves me a ton of money. 

With College boy home & Pretty boy off for the summer - there isn't much cutting back to do in groceries - those boys EAT! 

 

I have cut back how much we order out though.  Taking the family out to eat is costly - with 4 adults, it's certainly not like it used to be when they were little.

My scaling back started when the kids started college.  We didn't have much money saved for them so I was trying to manage paying two tuitions, my house payment, both kids rent, 2 car payments, utilities and groceries for all, and all the miscellaneous expenses that came up.   Its been a stressful few years, but worth it. 

Our daughter graduated from college in May, so we won't be paying tuition, housing, food, etc for her (still have a son in college though).  She is living at home and got a job working at the same company as me, so we are carpooling.  

 Mostly in the spirit of healthy eating, I've changed the way I grocery shop.  When the kids left, I didn't buy many snacks and was much more conscious of  what and how much I was serving for dinner.  I used to make full meals every day (salad, entree', bread, drink, dessert, and coffee) but now focus on the entree'.  Now that the kids are home for the summer, I've continued cooking the way I did when they were gone. We were all gaining weight and none of us need to be eating that way, so its a permanent change. 

I have a double oven and am able to use the smaller one most of the time.  It will preheat in a couple of minutes versus 10 minutes for the large oven.

I used to stress shop all the time...retail therapy.  Now I stay out of the malls and department stores unless I absolutely need something.  

Another 18 months and my son will be done with college.  Then both kids will be off my "payroll".  Our daughter will be going to grad school by then, but that is on her dime.  That's why she's living at home and working so she can save money. 

My scaling back has really been in the savings department.  There hasn't been any extra money so have been concerned about that.  Hopefully I can start putting money away in savings.  I even had to cut the percent I put away in my 401K just to make ends meet.  

 

 

 

1.  Still driving 2000 minivan and don't gallivant like I used to.  Drive the shortest distance to get from Point A to Point B to save on gas.

 

2.  Don't have a cell phone and don't want one. And, ten years ago, I TOLD the phone company to remove my long-distance service.  Have you looked at your bill and SEEN all the surcharges (TAXES!)  I don't make many long-distance calls; but when I do, I use a phone card which I've been getting at Target for 1/2 off.

 

3.  I've been 'pulling the plugs' on items around the house:  coffee maker, lamps, DVD players, toaster oven, radio in the kitchen, etc.  (Some things we CAN'T pull the plug -- like a microwave that has it's plug in a high cabinet!) 

 

4.  Even though I live in MN and have short summers, we have been known to have some REAL HOT & HUMID months and are just PRAYING that we don't have that so we can avoid using the A/C. So far, so good!    In the winter when it's    SUPER   C O L D   we keep the thermostat at 65; but, when we have sunny days, we turn OFF the heat and let the southern exposure heat the house from the windows and glass-sliding door. We also put on HEAVIER clothes and more comforters/blankets on our beds. 

 

5.  I'm trying to NOT use my natural-gas dryer.  First of all, for quite a while now, I've been making my own home-made laundry detergent for pennies (the recipe has been on THIS website and also can be found at www/duggarfamily.com.  In the summer, I've started to line-dry my laundry; then, ONLY put them in the dryer for a short time on the 'REFRESH' cycle to 'soften' them.  In the winter, I hang the laundry on two, wooden, dryer racks I have in the laundry room; then, the next day, I do the same thing as I said above -- put in the dryer for a SHORT time on the 'REFRESH' cycle to 'fluff up."

 

6.  As the price of food has SKYROCKETED these past years, I have been INCREASING the size of my vegetable garden to grow MORE of my own food to put up -- especially when  vegetables are  s-o-o-o-o expensive during the winter months.  And, it is ESSENTIAL that all of us  'KNOW'  our prices today and buy from grocery stores   O N L Y  when we KNOW that it's a 'SERIOUS' sale/deal! 

 

7.  I  am in NO means an 'enviroWACKO; but, out of self preservation, I now have TWO compost bins to create loam for my vegetable garden and other plantings around the yard since we have AWFUL sandy soil here.  It's CHEAPER than buying bags  & bags of dirt/compost at the stores.  AND, I made up my own 'rain barrels to collect rain water because of the price of  'WATER' today!!

 

WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR GOVERNMENT   'TODAY,'   I  SWEAR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAPPY UNTIL   A L L   OF US ARE LIVING LIKE THE AMISH!!

We've always lived frugally.  I often find it's hard to answer these kinds of posts, because it's hard to remember to list things that are just a way of life for me--and have been for many, many years.  Although, I will admit, that this year, supporting 2 houses, we've been a little extra careful with the pennies.

 

I always drive my cars as long as possible--last one was 18 years old when we traded it in.  We'd purchased it new in '89.  As most do--I combine trips to save gas, keep my car well-maintained to save wasted gas and bigger repair bills down the road.  We do EVERYTHING we possibly can ourselves--with 2 houses, it's a huge savings to do our own: yard work, painting, repairs, electrical work, etc.  Just last week, the oven 'went'.  I was able to determine it was the heating element, and had the part ordered and ready for DH when he arrived here that weekend.  So for well under $100 the oven was up and running again.  I need a  new range at the house we're fixing up to sell.  Will be going to the used appliance store in town, and saving hundreds.  Not only that, but they charge much less to install than the places that sell new appliances.

 

In the kitchen--I make my own bread, my own 'sun-dried' (they're really oven dried) tomatoes in the summer and freeze them for use all winter.  Don't buy boxed mixes or prepared foods much.  Buy as much as we can when it's on sale, or with a coupon, or at Walmart. 

 

Laundry--I use about 1/4 the recommended amount of detergent, and my wash actually comes out cleaner (no detergent build-up), the shortest cycle, and the coolest water practical for the load I'm doing.

 

This one probably doesn't save a lot of $$$--but I try to use the restroom when I'm out, before I come home, so I don't have to flush as many times, use as much water, in my own home.

 

I try to make as many gifts as possible--knitted or crocheted afgans made with 'sale' yarn, quilts made from my scraps, etc.  I also have made patchwork quilts, curtains and tablecloths for my home.

 

Our cell and house phones are basic, no frills, no extra minutes, etc. 

 

We do have our splurges.  The dryer is one.  I cannot stand clothes hung outside (but I live in a very polluted suburban area--they come in dirtier than when they went out--LOL).  And we like to go out to eat--so I sign up for all those restaurant memberships to get the discounts.  If you have a good discount (bogo, for example) and you order water to drink, AND you eat half your dinner and take the other half home for tomorrow--it's often cheaper to eat out than to eat home.  for example, I have a $15 off coupon for Buca di Beppe.  We're planning on going there tomorrow.  Their entrees range in the $15-20 range, but are billed as enough for 2-4.  We'll eat tomorrow night, have iced tea to drink, and maybe even share a dessert.  We'll end up spending about $10, maybe.  And we'll bring home enough food and dessert for the next evening.  Well worth it.

 

I will say this--all the ways we save, and that's just a very few things we do, we do because it's just our way.  In all honesty, with the economy being what it is today, DH is working more overtime than I've ever seen him get in the 40 years he's been with his company.  It's unprecedented the amount of work they're giving the guys to do.  Unfortunately (fortunately for us, though) it's sort of a 'perfect storm' situation.  The company put in a new computer system this past winter that's just not working properly, and so is slowing everything down.  AND his current position is that of a bill collector, so as you can imagine, there's more work than ever in his dept.  AND he's been finding people stealing electric right and left (he gets bonuses for that), so in all honesty, we're having one of the best financial years we've ever had--we just LIKE hanging on to our money.  And we know this windfall situation won't last forever.

 

The only difference in my lfe is that I sold my 28 yr old truck. There was no use keeping a 3/4 ton gas hog just to drive a few blocks to the store or to the clinic. Have not driven on the hughway for almost 3 yrs because of eyesight and also, no place to go.To run around town in summer II drive the Batmobile . In wnter or when it rains I use the senior bus. Much cheaper than paying insurance and upkeep on a big old truck

When you live in an isolated small town, 75 mi from the nearest Walmart and only one other larger market, a Kmart, JCPenney(catalog store only) and one independant saller dept. store in a town of 20000 you limit your shoping trips.

I get a ride with fiends ONCE a year to go to Walmart, Dan's supermarket, the Dollar store and we eat lunch out that day. At Walmart I buy only OTCs, babay wipes, cleaning stuff that is cheaper there than here, have never even looked in their grocery dept because Dan's is just as reasonable if not cheaper.On this yearly "pilgrimage" I stock up to last until the next year, but only thiings I can buy cheaper than I can get them here on sale.

Just canned 7 quarts of "banana Mush" (nice for milk shakes in winter), tonight I'll can 12 lbs of hamburger (it was on sale) and tomorrow I'll can 10 pints of peaches that were on sale.. I can and dehydrate  year around when something is on sale to keep my larder stocked and rotated.

I don't eat out so there is nothing to scale back there. Buy groceries only if it is on sale and since we don't get coupons in our local weekly paper I don't worry about them, especially since I don't buy any prepared foods or mixes, not ven dry cereal. Maybe once a year I buy one or two  frozen dinners to have in the freezer just in case, but only if they are on sale for 88 cents. The rest of the time I cook and bake everything from scratch.

My microwave has a dial button, no electronics there, NOne on my  1979 countertop  convection oven. At night  I turn off the power strip  the PC, printer and scanner  are plugged into. I can't turn off the lectronic controls on the gas ranger, the plug-in is behind the stove. The only thing on at are the built-in electronics on the tV. I have the cheapest package for TV,phone and internet at $75.00 p mo.

Don't get any newspapers or magazines, the only magazines I ever subscribed to were Mother Earth and also  "Dog World" , both were back  in the 60s and 70s. I don't collect anything. If I would find a rare old cookbook from the 1800s at a yard or auction sale for a couple of dolars I would buy a book, for anything else I go to the library.

Also don't mind leftovers and more often than not eat the same thing 2-3 times in a row.Don't drink, don't smoke, don't drink pop or coffee and can't scale back on those.I do have a Tracfone I buy minutes for once a year when they have a sale, usually around Christmas you can get a whole year's worth for 1/2 price, I have that phone for emergency and the very few long distance call I  make

If meat costs over $3.00 lbs I don't buy it, like to pay around $2.00 to $2.50 lbs and my selection is pretty limited. Then again, one person does not need all that much. I  just ordered 25 lbs of Emu meat to can. It will be delivered in Oct. when thhey butcher a few birds. It tastesmuch like beef and is 99.8% fat free (the only fat on an Emu is like a shield on the breast, just one large piece that is taken off and the rest is all lean.).Buy chickens from the Hutterites every fall. Can and freeze them. They raise their own feed and do not use antibiotics or other meds for their birds, Those chickens average 3.5  to 4.5 lbs and hardly have any fat, just nice, big, meaty chickens and  the flavor is outstanding. Once you had one of those you will never buy another chicken in a supermarket. Cost is $5.50 p chicken, delivered to your house; not to forget that those birds are super clean, inside and out and well worth the price.One baked chicken makes 6-7 meals for me, incl a small pot of soup from the bones and a nice sandwich.

Make my own "Laundry Soap", using my older stash of Fels Naphta. Don't buy shampoos or conditioner. Wash my hair with the soap I use for bathing: Garndpa's Pine Tar Soap and rinse with vinegar water. Short hair, no permanent. Don't use make up or perfume. ON special occasions I may use a few dabs of men's cologne (Brut) because of the nice, clean smell of it and a botle lasts me a few years.

To scale back more I would have to give up TV, internet and land line phone because those are my only "luxuries" and if I did that  I would not be able to aggrevate a few people here in KC and that may make them unhappy. I think I'll stick around for a while.

Well never was a money blower I TOUGHT untill I realized hey will be on total pension and ss in 5 months. I can see where I'll save a ton will be on groceries. I now buy what ever we want , that will come to a halt.I blow 8 to 9 a month on it. Mainly cause I go almost every day. It's maybe 20 to 60 a trip. This has to end. I would think you could eat well for 5 to 6 hundred a month. We love steak and scrimp and fresh fruits and veggies. The two dogs eat out of the deli, beef ,and ham. Our friends think thats alot but they don't count all the meals they eat out . My meals are all at home. But honest to goodness seems everything is 99 cents or more no matter what it is.. We have window air cond. we cool the house well then shut it off for sleeping. Home stays comfortable.. We will go to one car,,that we decicded, No since in having one in garage all the time.

gameball:

We have window air cond. we cool the house well then shut it off for sleeping. Home stays comfortable..

 

To cut some of your A/C costs, GameBall, turn the thermostat up on your A/C unit and let it run at night.  You'll still be comfortable but your Electric Bill will be less than if you turn the unit on and off.

gameball:

I can see where I'll save a ton will be on groceries. I now buy what ever we want , that will come to a halt.I blow 8 to 9 a month on it.

 

Wow!!!

You spend $800-$900 a month on groceries?  How many people are in your household to spend that much for groceries?  You really must eat very well, unless you are eating...LOL..(.Editing...not eating a lot of people).....feeding a lot of people.  

Barbara

mountainmama_WV:

gameball:

I can see where I'll save a ton will be on groceries. I now buy what ever we want , that will come to a halt.I blow 8 to 9 a month on it.

 

Wow!!!

You spend $800-$900 a month on groceries?  How many people are in your household to spend that much for groceries?  You really must eat very well, unless you are eating...LOL..(.Editing...not eating a lot of people).....feeding a lot of people.  

Barbara

Fron what I gather, she is retirement age so there must be only two people and dogs. Feeding dogs deli meat is killing them with kindness as any vet will tell you: artifiacially smoked, chemically treated and overly salted meat is NOT good for dogs, they are unlucky animals if that keeps up.

I spend no more than $100.00 p mo and eat very well, a balanced diet. Fruit 3 times a dy, although I also like steak and shrimp I know that too much rea d meat is also not good for people and limit my meat intake to 3 ozs p day, mostly chicken, lean pork, Emu and some lean hamburger in between.  The beef you buy in our stores is tougher than a boot. The only fish or shrimp we can get in our stores is frozen stuff from China and to that I say NO THANKS.

 Frriends give me some produce from their garden in the summer, most of the time I buy frozen veggies on  sale , same with fresh, and I most likely eat 3 times more vegetables than the average person. Even if I had the money to "blow" I would not change my habits very much.

Well, to each theor own.

Mountainmama,

itis seems as if spending or "blowing" large  amounts of money is getting to be like a badge of honor: