What are YOU Giving Up??? To Save $$?

[V8Assassin]

Cut back Direct TV service, deer hunting is going to be a challenge. Invited some friends to form a club on my land to help split cost of planting plots.

Not sure what else to cut back on besides the obvious like eating out, watching the thermostat, and not trying to heat the pool.

Oh yeah, there is that pesky TSM build that should be over soon, that will help

 

[GNBRETT]

O, and no more OUTBACK.... One of the true joys I had in life.

 

[Haynesie]

I think I'll stop living in my apartment and start sleeping and showering at work. I figure this way I don't need a car (400/mo) since I wont have to comute, dont need to pay rent (500/mo), take out utilities (150/mo)...wow look at that about 12600 saved...thats almost like a GN/year...sweet

 

[mjdwyer23]

I'm with TURBOPOWERED68, I've always lived well below my means, no wife or kids, so I haven't had to cut back. I'm stockpiling cash to jump on killer deals.

+1 also waiting for a deal sitting on cash.

 

[rmar]

Cut back Direct TV service

Get ya a FTA reciever............

Got to watch my sports. As far as saving momma says no more gambling boat..... Because there is no such thing as a comped (free) room.

 

[Little6pack]

Sex! because it cost me everytime!

 

[Buicksx2]

I have given up pay for porn websites.

 

[QKRNYRS]

I'm bringing my lunch. I threatened to cut off Dish, and they cut the bill by 30%.

The part that hurts is I have to get rid of my GN and all the stuff with it.

-Pat

 

[86brick]

O, and no more OUTBACK.... One of the true joys I had in life.

Bloomin' Onion FTW.:wink:

 

[SFITurbo]

1959 Buick Invicta
Wife told me not now on this! I''ve been searching for one of these for a few years now.

 

[Agent86]

...now there's a real, honest, man!
Hey, I'm sure you'll save some money on porno, which is very good. And anyone else who's spending money on strippers, and "VIP dances" will also save. :biggrin:

It's amazing, but I can relate with a lot of people here. Saving money by bringing my own lunch, or eating from the dollar menu at Wendy's, and downgrading gym memberships, will save some $$

Also, not eating out as much will save some $$ over time.

I have given up pay for porn websites.

 

[KevinB]

I gave up:

-Direct TV, back to network TV. We barely watch TV here at home anyways, so it wasn't too bad.

-Going out to eat.

-Going out to have a drink with friends at bars.

-I really wanted to go to Reynolds to race this year...maybe next year.

-We usually go to California for Thanksgiving to visit family. Not this year.

-Fixing the A/C in my Tahoe.

-Leaving the windows open at the house and not using the a/c as much.

 

[Grimster]

Traded the wife's yukon in on an HHR SS, when the new year rolls around we'll be paying off most of our debt and shredding the cards (long story short, if I pay myself much more this year I hit AMT aka "alternative minimum tax" which really screws up my income tax rate so I can't pay off much until a new year starts).

Also renegotiated my cable bill, cutting it from 260 or so to 150 or so (it's cable tv, cable internet, phone, HD, PVR and all rolled into one).

Also been meaning to call and cut off some cell phone "add ons" I don't really need anymore.

We've also started cutting out the visits to "higher end" restaurants, dunno about you but if drinks are more than $3 or dinners are more than $12 per person I consider it high end. Also more cooking at home.

Also I got a part time job.

 

[V8Assassin]

I gave up:

-Direct TV, back to network TV. We barely watch TV here at home anyways, so it wasn't too bad.

-Going out to eat.

-Going out to have a drink with friends at bars.

-I really wanted to go to Reynolds to race this year...maybe next year.

-We usually go to California for Thanksgiving to visit family. Not this year.

-Fixing the A/C in my Tahoe.

-Leaving the windows open at the house and not using the a/c as much.

Traded the wife's yukon in on an HHR SS, when the new year rolls around we'll be paying off most of our debt and shredding the cards (long story short, if I pay myself much more this year I hit AMT aka "alternative minimum tax" which really screws up my income tax rate so I can't pay off much until a new year starts).

Also renegotiated my cable bill, cutting it from 260 or so to 150 or so (it's cable tv, cable internet, phone, HD, PVR and all rolled into one).

Also been meaning to call and cut off some cell phone "add ons" I don't really need anymore.

We've also started cutting out the visits to "higher end" restaurants, dunno about you but if drinks are more than $3 or dinners are more than $12 per person I consider it high end. Also more cooking at home.

Also I got a part time job.

Both of you guys have some great tips!!

Thanks for sharing, I will be using some of your ideas!

And thanks to Agent for starting this thread, it has been helpful!

 

[hrhoward]

Hope

Seriously though, not much I can give up. Just cut back on going to the bar every night on my way home. I do plan to get a new furnace this month. I have a 30 year old house and the furnace (propane) looks about that old. It is about 45%-55% efficient. Going with a 95% unit. Doing the install myself.

 

[Grimster]

Hope

Seriously though, not much I can give up. Just cut back on going to the bar every night on my way home. I do plan to get a new furnace this month. I have a 30 year old house and the furnace (propane) looks about that old. It is about 45%-55% efficient. Going with a 95% unit. Doing the install myself.

Yep my central unit was 23 years old and I planned to replace it around NOW (while the weather is nice and we don't NEED AC or heat much). It died in July of course, during 95 degree heat, so I had to replace it then instead! ARGH but yeah it helped the light bill.

Screw a bar, hit the ABC store (if the harder stuff is your poison) or the grocery store (watching the sales for your brand to be on sale). Unless you only go when they're having dollar draft or something, but even then that's usually like Bud and last I looked a case is like $12 that's 50 cents per glass.

Not having a drink during dinners out saves me a bundle too, average bill for us 3 to eat at the mexican place goes from about 40-45 to about 30-35.

Speaking of drinks, instead of Starbucks, buy a nice espresso machine (got a nice one for $149 a couple years ago) and learn to make your own $3 cup of coffee and spend pennies doing it. If you get a Starbucks every morning on the way to work that's $15 a week, in 10 weeks you've paid for that "overpriced" machine in saved money. I even order my coffee from www.coffeefool.com (shameless plug for the best coffee ever) and a cup still costs me far far less than any coffee shop.

Little things can add up to big money when you're not paying attention.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

We've also started cutting out the visits to "higher end" restaurants, dunno about you but if drinks are more than $3 or dinners are more than $12 per person I consider it high end. Also more cooking at home.

I'd love to pay $3 for a drink!!! Most drinks downtown are $10-$12!!! Beer is $3 though.

 

[hrhoward]

Yep my central unit was 23 years old and I planned to replace it around NOW (while the weather is nice and we don't NEED AC or heat much). It died in July of course, during 95 degree heat, so I had to replace it then instead! ARGH but yeah it helped the light bill.

My A/C unit went out 3 years ago in August!! Shopped around and the estimates ranged from $7500 to $1200. I went with the low guy and was very satisfied with both the work and the savings on the electric bill.

Screw a bar, hit the ABC store (if the harder stuff is your poison) or the grocery store (watching the sales for your brand to be on sale). Unless you only go when they're having dollar draft or something, but even then that's usually like Bud and last I looked a case is like $12 that's 50 cents per glass.

I realized several years ago that I need social interaction. At that time I took 15 months "off" of going to the bar. I was trying to save some money and going through some hard times. I slipped into a very dark place and it was literally affecting my work and family life. I finally crawled out of my hole and went out again. Things are a lot better now. Everything in moderation!!

Speaking of drinks, instead of Starbucks, buy a nice espresso machine (got a nice one for $149 a couple years ago) and learn to make your own $3 cup of coffee and spend pennies doing it. If you get a Starbucks every morning on the way to work that's $15 a week, in 10 weeks you've paid for that "overpriced" machine in saved money. I even order my coffee from www.coffeefool.com (shameless plug for the best coffee ever) and a cup still costs me far far less than any coffee shop.

Little things can add up to big money when you're not paying attention.

Starbucks!! Great googley moogley!!!! Those scamers rarely get any dough out of me. I love good coffee, I really do. I plan to get me a French press. Coffee made in one of those is some of the best IMHO!!!

 

[Grimster]

My A/C unit went out 3 years ago in August!! Shopped around and the estimates ranged from $7500 to $1200. I went with the low guy and was very satisfied with both the work and the savings on the electric bill.

Yep my quotes ranged from 3600 to 8900, I went with the 4100 quote for a half ton heavier unit than the 3600 quote.

Everything in moderation!!

True true.

Starbucks!! Great googley moogley!!!! Those scamers rarely get any dough out of me. I love good coffee, I really do. I plan to get me a French press. Coffee made in one of those is some of the best IMHO!!!

Was just saying in general, I know several people who drink them regularly. Know a girl who gets 2 a day, one on the way to work, one on the way home, for a good $7 per day for coffee! Actually more like $10 since she often gets one of those cinnamon rolls (not Starbucks but a locally owned coffee drive thru this chick visits). She has problems with money sometimes but does she give up the horrendously overpriced coffee? Hell naw. that's like $35 a WEEK that'd pay her light bill!

 

[hrhoward]

I am also going to start driving a '90 Taurus. The one I mentioned here Hapeped last fall... Gets better mileage than my little Tacoma.