With Recession, what cuts have you made?

[Katrina-Sisu]

I thought maybe it'd be time for a new thread on cutting back expenses etc. The Recession is now spreading everywhere, in Finland we're just starting to feel the effects though.

I'm trying to buy more according to sales. Veges haven't went up here thank God, but I think they will soon. I foresee more taters in our future, greeny veges have gotten more expensive.

I am cooking more from scratch too. When I was back in the USA I found tons of old cooking books (1960s-1990s). I got around 100 cheap frugal recipes that are saving us money now.

How are you cutting corners financially?

Kat

[swedishfish]

cooking more of course, turned down the heat, driving a little slower, insulating more, reading more( which is saving on power from the big ole tv being off), being actively more positive and friendly at work.

what Ive added: I volunteer at the interfaith shelter serving food and cleaning up and Ive collected food for the local pantry. I don't have a bunch of money to hand out but I can let someone use my idle hands. Keeps me out of trouble.

[flatwater]

I've decided not to get my nipple pierced and slowed up at work to conserve energy in case I need it later on. I have started to borrow my friends tools so I don't have to buy any and I stopped paying for sex :o

[bookwormom]

:D :D :D :DI have not laughed so much in a while.

I guess I could save on energy, water and detergent by wearing clothes til they really, really needed laundering. Lets see, we could share a toothbrush, but it would only wear out faster, so no real savings there.

daughter says we should eat half portions for a while, she has a point, I am not as slim as I used to be. Stay in bed on sunday and turn the heat off. I am cutting so many corners I am running in circles.

[Dawgus]

Since I got layed off last Friday, we've made a few good cuts. My cable and internet went bye-bye, taking back the box and modem tomorrow. $115 a month was geting insane anyway. We've been talking about it for a while, and this layoff clinched the deal. Internet now will be $30 month wireless. I havent had a cigarette since Friday either, even 4 bucks a day will help. (great excuse to quit anyway!) Since the weather has been in the 50's since Sunday, I've made small errands on the $8 Goodwill mountain bike I restored, trying to save gas. We started selling eggs too. It definitly won't make up half a paycheck, but as long as it covers feed costs, it works for me. Luckily, we've been storing food over the past year, and we're set on that. I called today about the small loan we have, and with a layoff, they can defer payments for 6 months with no penalties or fees, so there's another $100 a month to not worry about. Tomorrow is the wifes half-day at work, so after that we're gonna brainstorm and try to come up with other ways to save for a while.

We have no idea how long this will last, so till things pick up, I'm down to the $265 a week benefits, less than half of my normal takehome. It's gonna be a bumpy ride, but the seatbelts are pulled tight....

[CanNerd]

More concentration is being made to use all of the foods from the food bank so nothing is wasted. *Canned food is now getting a few years old so I'm eating more of it which cuts back dramatically on purchases and yet I'm not depleting anything. *

Paying more attention to specials everywhere, especially with stores going out of business or cutting costs to stay in business. *So far I've been deprived of nothing. *I've even acquired a 3-wheel "granny" bike with a big basket and 6 gears for when using the car becomes impractical for whatever reason.

Special attention is made on foods that are frozen, to avoid freezer burn and to put in portion sizes for convenience and rapid use. *FoodSaver bags are expensive but save lots of money in the long run. *I don't deprive myself of that.

I even now help others at the food bank to get the most out of the foods so they don't throw away as much. Excess bread is made into croutons or bread crumbs.

Emergency candles are being made using tuna fish cans, string, and vegetable oil which lasts longer than candles and cheaper.

Rechargeable batteries used for everything that requires batteries and have an extra charger that works off the car battery in case regular power is lost.

Flashlights and radios are all the wind-up generator type. *Flashlilghts are multiple LED and very bright (thank you technology). *One emergency radio also will recharged my cell phone and also recharge batteries. *Very versatile.

Since I've been working this for several years now it is more fine tuning my life and enjoying it as much as I can when I can. * One should never deprive themselves.

[dkemple1]

Here at my house, we are trying to go grocery shopping once a month instead of every weekend. It takes a little better planning but it will be worth it. When we go every weekend, it seems like we are always sticking something not needed in the cart. Now we are using a master list and sticking to it. I have not been working very much as of late, and they cut down my girlfriends overtime, so we are really starting to feel the crunch. We were also eating out on the weekends, but we are doing a lot more cooking at home now on the weekends.

[Michael32170]

I am cutting out all unnecessary expenses. Only Utilities, Taxes, Insurance, Food, Gasoline: and Maintenance items.

No DVDs; Movies; Restaurants; Trips; Toys; Electronics;

Reduced Cable TV; Phone DSL; Thermostat;

This has increased my savings by about $200 per week.

[Cil]

No DVDs; Movies; .

Got a library close by? Free movies. *8)

[momma_to_seven_chi]

We cut back on spending at Christmas.
I have also sold off some of my flocks and cut down on the poultry flock sizes. I think I will sell off some rabbits and only keep 3does and a buck after the spring multitude is used or sold.
We chose not to buy a new vehicle this spring, but just use the older ones another year without replacing one.

[Michael32170]

Got a library close by? Free movies. *8)

Oh yes there is one close. But, I have so many, I don't really need any for a while.

[Cil]

Oh yes there is one close. But, I have so many, I don't really need any for a while.

Ok!

[Michael32170]

I'm sure they are not the DVDs you'd like...

[Buck]

I'm sure they are not the DVDs you'd like...

Our state (Illinois) has a system of exchange within the state for all libraries
to share books et. al. That said, I can get ANY DVD (no porn) that is on
the market if I wait my turn for free.

[Cil]

I'm sure they are not the DVDs you'd like...


If they are blood, guts and gore horror movies, you are abhsolutely right. I won't like them. ;)

[jonvee]

Since I did some major stocking up this past Fall and over the holidays we are pretty well set for non-perishable food. Sunday was the first time I went to the store since my lay off Jan 19 and that was just to get fruit and the one thing I'm not giving up - ice cream.

I've gotten many good suggestions from this site and others about cutting expenses. I'm going to call our county assessors office and see what I can do about my property taxes since housing prices in So Cal have dropped so much.

I also had my trash company move me to a super recycler program which will save me over $20 a month. My recycling trashcan is the same size, but my yard waste and regular trashcans are half the size. I could eventually get rid of the yard can and save even more, but I don't really like composting the weeds. I've got some that are really nasty, like Johnson Grass and I don't want that to get all over the place.

Also, with my hens laying more now we have at least two dinners a week that are egg based. I've also noticed that DD and I don't really eat that much. I can't say I'm rationing food, it's more like adjusting portion sizes. I bought a rump roast on sale and was able to cut it into 5 or 6 pieces.

I'm not really depriving us, just trying to be really smart about how I do things.

[Native87]

I have been teaching my 3 teens what ON and OFF means and where and what a power button is. Got florescent bulbs. Buy real food instead of microwave, even showed how good jelly is instead of Lil Debbie. We are getin there.

[Native87]

I have been teaching my 3 teens what ON and OFF means and where and what a power button is. Got florescent bulbs. Buy real food instead of microwave, even showed how good jelly is instead of Lil Debbie. We are getin there.

[Michael32170]

If they are blood, guts and gore horror movies, you are abhsolutely right. I won't like them. *;)

Not many of those. I have a lot of science fiction (older); comedy; and etc.

I tend to follow actors, than follow Genera.

[Katrina-Sisu]

Thanks for the replies!

Kat

[SportFury59]

A good way to save a few $ on electricity - bring a few of your outdoor solar patio lites inside at night and they can light up certain areas or rooms of your home. Not for reading, etc. but can provide nice cozy lighting. Put them back outside in morning for daytime recharging.

[Boris859]

I haven't made any cuts that I didn't make 5 years ago,except for the damn cigarettes,although I need to replace my car,340,000 miles on it,and it's really startin to show,but I work at a car dealer,so not really a big deal,now if me or my wife were to lose our jobs or at least 1 of the 2 then some cuts would be made fast,satelite tv,internet,less laundry,etc,we have a list of emergncy cuts just for that occasion,then if it happens,we go down the list and start hackin ;)

[pcrowder]

Cutting out everything non-essential. Trying to pay down the farm mortgage and pay off the truck. Everything else is "luxury".

[yotetrapper23]

This recession has been good to this house. Granted, dh took a loss in some investments he had, but he is also making nearly double what he was making this time last year. My pay has also increased since last year.

I never realized just how much of an impact gas had on my life until the bottom fell out of that market. Suddenly I found myself with nearly $100 extra per paycheck, or roughly 1/5 of my check more.

So have I made any changes? I'm now starting to, but not because money is tight. I terribly fear for this country over the next 4-8 years.

I used to spend a lot of money on convience foods, boxed noodle mixes, french fries, lunch meats, etc. Now I'm spending that extra money on 1) can goods 2)dry staples and 3) ammunition (not neccessarily in that order.)

My husband had been stocking up on ammo for some time now, and although I always thought it was a good idea, I never really realized the gravity of the situation until I've seen the decisions and changes made in this first month of the new presidental term. Now I have a cold, sick feeling, and I'm actually heading out this morning to buy food and ammo.

I've also joined seed swaps, and have a huge collection of veggie seeds. I'll be planting a bigger garden than ever this year, and putting up everything. i have enough seeds for at least 5 years.

We'll also be raising a pig to supplement our chicken.

[Trina_S.]

I have been serving a different kind of bean with each evening meal. Good protein and cheep.
My thoughts are, if we have to really cut back my kids won't know the difference, plus we are trying new foods.

[firegirl969]

We only buy items at the grocery that are loss leader sales. We had stocked up well. I buy alot when it is a good sale. We don't eat out anymore, DH likes my pizza better anyway! We don't buy clothes as we have plenty. We like to thrift store shop anyway. We continue to use our clothesline instead of the dryer. We only make trips when they include work or doctors visits. Then we take care of all of our business. We installed a wood burning stove and cut off the heat, two ceiling fans and the porch door open heats our whole house. We slop the pig instead of buying piggy food. We free range the hens and steer when we are home instead of buying feed. We are eating more meals with eggs since the hens are laying good.

[Trina_S.]

We also have put in a wood stove this winter.
This has saved us several hundred.
It's a pain to cut and keep enough wood for the house, but I guess the savings have been worth it.

[michiganmom]

Since i am getting around better i quit using the dryer again. I hang clothes up in the house to dry. I look at all the sales papers and do a small list for each store to get whats on sale if we need it. I also went back to making my laundry soap and have been using the borax to clean so i do not buy any cleaners either. I am also getting back into my baking now too.

[walls0stone]

None. I was always spending money like I had none. *However I will say that my time has been Better in the last year. *The family busineses are doing very well and I opened another.

todays situation has helped me prove a point to others in the wife's family that my "hobbies" need to be productive. *In other words, I garden and have chickens ect. yes, it's Fun for us..and it has a practical reward as well. *The key is to not think of wood cutting, gardening or feeding the hens as work, but team work and fun with my family. *

God Bless

[firegirl969]

TrinaS,

We have really enjoyed the family time we have in cutting wood. The kids fuss, but DH and I enjoy having them with us.

[Trina_S.]

I never thought of it as family time, I guess that is a good way to look at it.
My kids fuss too (they are the ones I make cut and stack the wood) ;) Mine are 22,20, 16 and 13 three boys and a girl (the youngest). I never thought I would say this but I really miss them being young, even though it was more physical work, times were more fun I felt more in control of things. Most of the time my kids are way too busy for Family Time the oldest is out of the house the 20 year old is away at school and the teenagers have too many sport meets.
Enjoy your kids fussing and all.

[neopat]

I've been using a solar dryer rather than the electric one. I use very few lights in the house--the solar yard lights are a great idea! I use no hot water when washing clothes---cold/cold.
If I dont need it, I dont get it. My wants and needs are two very different things. Like yotetrapper23 I also have been buying ammo. I am not scared, I am not paranoid,...but I am very pragmatic. I shop at food thrift stores--dollar general, etc. There are great buys there if you look.
I used to eat out a lot...nipped that in the bud real quick. Once a week is my limit.
I have been planning for and doing these things ever since I started listening to Beck in 2000. My family thought I was NUTS when I got outta the markets in 1995. I dont have much...but I still have it! Why people dont see that its nothing but a house of cards is beyond me.
Basically I have tried to consolidate my everyday life into simplicity. I have given up most stuff and things and replaced them with principles and values. Seems to be working. I have what I need and continue to stock up each and every day on essentials.

[firegirl969]

We only buy groceries that are what I consider loss leaders. Prices like I haven't seen in many years, such as 5 lb bags of sugar for $1.50 and tuna 3/$1. I buy lots of those and nothing else. We cook at home from scratch. We don't eat out anymore. We do all errands and shopping when going to work or doctor's appointments, not just ride for the fun of it. We are considering dropping internet and satallite if DH has to take furlough days from work. We may do Netfix again though for entertainment. I haven't been in Walmart in over a month. I don't go in even the dollar store without a list and only buy what is on the list. I am trying to start my own transplants for the garden this year to save money and so that I can have open pollinated seeds to save for the future. Also, transplants here are $3 for 6 this year. WOW!

[musicman]

If I cut back any more, I'd have to stop buying underwear! lol I've been frugal for years. My only frills are my internet and a sirius radio. Electricity and phone if you count them.

I like the solar light idea. I'll give that a try.

[Katrina-Sisu]

We're going to quit buying souped up pizza crusts. Hubby loved them but we also bought some other premade ones 2/3s cheaper. We actually preferred the cheaper ones and they're easier if you have food allergies.

I used to make homemade pizza crusts but Hubby hates them lol.

Kat

[hvfpaints]

Cut off the cable- have plenty of dvd's.
Trying to declare war on the electric bill by turning down the heat.
Cooking from scratch mostly. I found some great cookbooks - a series called "Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression". Excellent for both cooking and inspiration! Still have my job but have been moved to another position that pays far less. Will have to look at getting rid of either the truck or car payment. As I have a small farm I am favoring the truck over the car even if the gas mileage is worse.
Planning to sell all the horses. I'll miss them but the market for foals is non existant so it's not worth breeding anymore.
The chickens are laying. The sheep have lambed. The goats are milking. The garden will be tilled by april 5th and planted soon after. Plenty of canned goods in the pantry still. Food will not be a problem for awhile.
Need to start buying ammo - haven't got much of a stockpile there.

[leera]

HHmmm.....let's see.......

No cable,haven't had since 1996 or so.....still get 12-15 channels though.

No car payment,paid it off last July.
Owe $1500.00 in this old mobile home yet.
Have one credit card I'm working on.

We plan all our driving to save gas,it does save us about a tank a week that way.Only have one car,and hubby can't drive due to epilepsy.

DH and I volunteer at a free clothing giveaway on Tuesdays,and have also found some great stuff,so pretty much eliminated the need for a clothing budget,except for socks and undies.

We make 90% of our meals at home,and have been working on changing our diets to healthier and more vegan foods,keeping meat mainly as a seasoning addition to meals,rather than the main course.

I do still keep my internet connection,but at $9.95 a month,that's not too bad.

Soon it will be warm enough to turn off the furnace,I CAN'T WAIT!!!!Hate paying the gas bill.........

I've got some mini blueberries getting shipped here in mid April,then it'll should be safe enough to start playing around with my container garden.

Hoping by June we will be able to resume our hosue hunting,had an old debt of DH's pop up last fall,but only have one payment left and it will be paid in full.....have been using 100% of DH's paycheck towards getting rid of it as fast as possible.

We really haven;t made too many changes,we live so frugally anyway,that there really isn't much to cut out..........