Stuff you're cutting back on (due to the economy)

[loneleaf]

Oh my mother has always complained about how prices are rising up these days after going to the market. She doesnt cut down on food but she gives us children less pennies per month and money spent on stuff such as fashion, CDs, books...are also reduced.

[Aggie_Ama]

We sat down the other night to come up with a plan to tackle debt and save. So far we have commute home by bike often and only drive the truck to work if we cannot carpool or are sick. This is already what we have been doing but we just recommitted to it. It is a 28 mile commute home so it is easiest to have one of us drop the other off and then ride home. Still saves a boatload in gas money.

We already have been but will focus even more on "stretch cooking". What I make one night is dinner the next. Sometimes our meals last 3 nights. We take our lunches to work any both can eat all week for the cost of one trip to the sandwich shop. My in laws raise cattle and give us beef to help us and my BIL out. They can never eat all the beef from an entire cow and even though we prefer chicken and turkey we eat beef when it is free. We alos are cutting out on eating out. No where we go is very pricey ($40-50 total is a high priced dinner) but it does impact the budget.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It seems to me that one common thing I am reading in most all these posts is the cutting back on eating out- mostly going out to dinner.
I just want to mention again that DH and I figured out years ago that we can both have a wonderful full breakfast for two with cappuchinos and all for about $20 or less, while an equally nice dinner with dessert (and even without any alcoholic drinks) will cost us about $50 for two.
We made it our tradition to go out for a nice breakfast on the weekends- for us, Saturday and Sunday mornings. It's a wonderful way to start the day together. We also find that we are less tired in the morning, so we actually wind up enjoying the meal more.
This morning DH had scrambled eggs with wheat toast, a cranberry muffin, and a double espresso Americano. I had oatmeal with fruit, scrambled eggs, a croissant, and a double latte.
Sometimes I have granola with yogurt topped with fruit, or French Toast with bacon. Sometimes DH has a 'breakfast burrito' or the luxurious lox & bagel platter. It's a real event for us.

Tonight we are having my simple home made vegetable soup for dinner....very cheap and nutritious.

This is something relatively easy to do that does save money. Instead of going out to dinner, try going out for breakfast...it's usually less than half the price.

[Red Rock]

I agree with BleeckerSt_Girl on the eating out for breakfast. This is something my second husband and I have been doing for years as well. That was part of the renovation of the finances when we were first married.

We are using the crockpot as much or more these days. My husband has had two rounds of chili and I have been doing veggie/grain combos of sorts. They are the best pieces of equipment and the food is great.

I guess ever since my first husband died, I was ruthless with all bills and cut like mad to survive. So now that it has been eight years since he passed, to me its almost like second nature. My current husband was a widower also, so when I met him it was like doing what I did myself a second time with two people.

With the rise in gas prices and now falling, I have become used to walking, and now that I purchased a hardtail, (pictures coming soon under mountain biking)I feel like I can do longer trips arond town safely on the sidewalks and trails that are here. This means I can burn more calories, so I can eat more.

[emily_in_nc]

We already go out to eat almost never, since DH is retired and does most of the cooking, but with the economy and my company doing very poorly, we've cut way back on Christmas gifts this year. Probably 1/3 of what we've spent in previous years. I still did the same amount of charitable giving, however. I really feel for all these worthy organizations that are no doubt being hit hard by people cutting back.

[RoadRaven]

I have found this thread fascinating to read through as it has opened my eyes to a cultural difference.

I don't know if this is a lifestyle cultural difference and if I canvassed New Zealand households I would garner similar responses to those in this thread. Or perhaps it is an American/other parts of the world - New Zealand difference...

But the number of you who eat out regularly (or did eat out often) just blows me away!

I have been following this thread since it began thinking there might be some useful suggestions for me (which there are, thank you ) but have been so surprised that what seems to be the most common "tip/recommendation/strategy" is to eat out less...

Road ~I-am-staggered~ Raven