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

[Skierchickie]

Everything. My DH lost his job 3 weeks ago (yes, the Monday after Thanksgiving).

Right now I'm sitting in a motel room (an inexpensive one, but we always stay in inexpensive ones) with DH & our doggie. We're on our way downstate for his family Christmas. Aside from cutting back on gifts (well, it was largely too late by the time it happened) I canceled Zoe's kennel reservation, which would have cost us around $70 for this trip, and she's traveling with us.

I'm also going to check into my cell phone, and see if I can switch to a pay-as-you-go plan, or get rid of it altogether. I never use it.

I'd like to cut back the satellite tv and internet - we haven't gotten that far yet. Fewer and cheaper pizzas, less eating out. We're still sorting it out.

Believe me - it hurts when it happens. The real pain won't hit until after the holidays, after he gets his severance check and that runs out.

[Red Rock]

I lost my job back in September before all this really hit hard. I would say I have been doing the usual things-this means not spending money. I think I had a few months post employment where I did spend but I now have it out of my system.

I have made a whole bunch of Xmas (two quits) and Birthday presents this year. I am still working on some croched fish for the nephews. They are not totally finished. I have until mid January if it is going to happen, if not they will be ready made for next year.

In the meantime, I have been doing errands by foot for two reasons. Exercise which I need, it gets me out of house for a while, and I do not spend money on gas filling up the tank, which is a great idea, I think. I have been wanting a mountain bike to diversify my riding skills and enjoyment. I could see the use of one easily doing this around town type stuff. I could go further and do more on these snowy days when I can't ride my good road bike. I have seriously thought about just getting a cheap bike for just these sort of things. What do you all think?

This might not sound like a whole lotbut this is what we are doing so far.

Red Rock

[Tuckervill]

We're not eating out as much, but we fall off the wagon often.

We need to cut back on other things, but I just can't pull the trigger, yet. The tenant in our rent house lost her job, so if she doesn't make her rent, we'll be in trouble. Lucky for us, we live in a part of the country that survived the last recession, and the cost of living is low. Still, there are companies here announcing relocations of their workforce out of the country. No one has outright closed a plant, though.

Everyone's getting spiced pecans from my yard, rather than store-bought gifts. I don't think I'll be traveling much this coming year, either.

Karen