Cutting back on?

[surgtech1956]

Buying coffee. I'm cutting back or out, buying my morning coffee on the way to work. Its not that expensive, just Speedway($1.26), but adds up. I'm just making a half of pot and filling up my travel mug and away I go.

[VeloVT]

Bike clothes . Clothes in general .

Soda. This saves a surprising amount of money (I was a big time Diet Coke addict) and it's better for me too.

Looking for a way to trim back my telecom bill. I currently have a "triple-play" package with high-speed internet, unlimited domestic calling and mid-level cable. I need the internet and honestly, if we're going to have a landline at all, for our purposes, the cheaper calling plans aren't worth it (most of what we use the landline for is long distance and out-of-state fax). I've been trying to decide if there's some novel way I can cut out the cable -- Hulu, Boxee, Apple TV, etc. If anyone has experience with this I'd be glad to hear about it.

[crazycanuck]

Next year since i'm returning to uni part time, i think we'll be cutting back on basic junk. Tis all a bit fuzzy at the moment but we can handle it when it comes..

[Crankin]

Nothing, except we postponed our Italy trip until 2010. Looking to do something in eastern Canada where we can drive to and take our own bikes.

[NoNo]

Over the past few years I've cut out internet, driving to work (thanks to a move closer to the office), reduced my tv package, and actually make lists when I go to the grocery store. When I know what it is I plan on making for the week, it really cuts down on random purchases. I've always been a brown-bagger. In school the other kids would have sandwiches and I'd break out a thermos of hot soup Never had a land line, didn't see the need for it when I had a cell phone. We used to make coffee in the office, but there were three people and only two of us were buying supplies Last month I decided I'd had enough of that and broke out my big thermos and I carry it in from home now. Last week I put that plastic stuff over the windows to keep drafts out, and I've noticed a difference. Granted, I only keep the thermostat at 60, but it just feels like the chill has been taken out. Other than completely cutting out cable, I'm not sure where else I can cut back. Even still, it's going to be tough getting the bills paid this winter.

[ridebikeme]

WEll, I'm like the rest of you in terms of cutting back... I only use the landline for the internet, and use dial up for that... slow but it works. Long Distance calls are made on my cell phone, and I'm on a family plan with that. The cable tv is gone, generally only watch movies anyway.I heat with wood, so no dependence on foreign oil, in fact, have been cutting some of my own wood as well... a little less to pay others for it. Go to the grocery store with lists, which obviously cuts down on impulse items and eating out. And last but not least, cutting back on some of my bike related items... do I really need it? Is it something that I simply just want? And more than likley, will plant a garden this year as well...

[Aggie_Ama]

I trimmed our cable as much as DH would let me. He bike commutes or we carpool which means we drive our truck only 1-2 days a week. This frees it up from maintenance as regularly. We still take it out of town but only if we can do it on a tank of gas or less. Right now we can afford that luxury since gas is down to $1.69!

We no longer buy sodas for the house because 12 packs went up to $4/pack. Seemed like it was no longer worth it. I buy him premium beer but he usually only enjoys one a night and not every night so it lasts a couple weeks.

I let his grandma trim my hair. She is a retired beautician and although she doesn't do a world class salon job my hair is long and straight so why pay $40+ to have it done at a salon? I would pay her but she is on hard times and feels like it is the only thing she can give back. I have tried fitfully to pay her something!

We haven't had a land line since moving to the area in May 2005. We piggyback on my parents cell plan making it cheaper for everyone.

[beccaB]

Grew my hair shoulder length instead pixie-cut so I wouldn't have to get it cut every month.
Drink micro-brew only on weekends, it was making me fluffy anyway. Sorry folks, can't cut back on the quality of beer, just the quantity!
Combine errands to only make one trip.
Use store coffee in the morning and save the Gevalia for special occasions.
Not eating out very often, especially since our state legislature did not pass the no-smoking in restaurants bill.

[Aggie_Ama]

Not eating out very often, especially since our state legislature did not pass the no-smoking in restaurants bill.

YUCK!! Ours is done at a local level and we do not go to the towns where we have to chose smoking or non. It is 6 miles to a Chili's with a smoking section but 15 to the one that is completely non-smoking. We only eat Chili's every 3 or so months and you can bet we drive to the non-smoking one.

What I hate is patio dining is still smoking in Austin and my local town. Hello when I am down wind I still have to breath that crud and I do not like it!!

[tulip]

I bought a house that reduced my living expenses considerably--my mortgage is hundreds of dollars less than my rent was. I am using some savings for the renovation, but that's better than an equity line with interest that would increase my monthly expenses. I don't have any commute, and I don't eat out often. The one thing new that I've done is work up a budget and I'm doing pretty well sticking to it each month. I've also stopped using my credit card--only debit and cash. It's too easy to overspend with a credit card (for me).

[beccaB]

I think it was Montana that we traveled to and found a state law baning smoking in restaurants. I think it would be nice to move there! Any excuse will do!
Seriously, if I'm going to spend very hard earned money, I want to enjoy the night out. To have a nice restaurant meal with drinks and dessert can cost nearly $100 including tip. I don't want to breathe cigarette smoke. Non-smoking sections do not work.

[ridebikeme]

In Maine, it is a law that every public building is smoke free. In fact, they also just passed a law where you are not able to smoke in a vehicle where children are present.It seems that it would be common sense , but I quess for some it isn't. Now if we could only stop pregnant women from smoking!

[Tri Girl]

Good for everyone for cutting back so much. Every little bit helps!
It's state law that you cannot smoke in restaurants here anymore (unless it's a restaurant where most of the profit comes from the sale of alcohol rather than food). I love not having to sit in the non-smoking section that is usually right next to the smoking section anyway. On vacation this summer I loathed eating in restaurants that still had smoking and non-smoking sections.

We've cut back, but honestly not too much. DH won't let the cable go for anything (it's his downtime after his very stressful days at work- that and running or cycling). We could get rid of the landline- we only use that to answer phone calls from politicians or people begging for money.

I want to cut my car usage to almost zero, but with a job 26 miles away, that won't happen until the end of the school year when I can find a job within 10 miles of home. When I find a closer job- the car is going silent.

I run all errands within 2 miles by bike (and all my errands are almost always within 2 miles).
Oh yeah, and I only buy clothes at second hand consignment stores or thrift stores, but that has more to do with me trying to live more green than trying to save money.

[Karma007]

Brown baggin' it! Cut out movie channels, land line, and avoid driving. I drink my share of beer, but I buy watered down light american beer. Only eat out once a week, and have cut back on magazine subscriptions.

Oh! And left my husband to move in with boyfriend (tee-hee, is that downsizing? It's certainly an upgrade!)

[ginny]

Downsizing.... well I moved to a new town and a new job... I drive only to see the horse (and only in the winter). Unfortunately, with the soft economy, the mortgage won't go away any time soon with the old house, but turning off the phone and internet saves a ton as does having only minimal electricity to show the house. The bf pays his own mortgage and I'm a squatter . As I haven't quite settled in yet, it feels like we are eating out more (or is that something to do with living in town? - I have lived 35 miles from town for six years!). I think I calculated the savings from elect and phone at $120/mo! Good grief! The horse is boarded now (used to keep them at home), but with the savings on gas, I am making money on that deal! - if I could sell the hay I bought for the winter when I wasn't sure of my future, I would be golden! - I'd be even more golden if I could actually sell my house! ...anybody want a nice log cabin in the rockies with views to die for and a phenomenal porch?