What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (Full Version)

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winterlight -> What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 12:00:19 AM)

Please give me some suggestions as to what you are doing...



snappykappy -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 12:12:38 AM)

write down on paper the needs and the wants
circle the wants and put that aside
the needs are the things which are important now not the wants

also if u have lots of credit cards put them in order of highest interest rate to lowest

there are a lot of other ideas and u can download suzie orman book for 2009 free on the oprah dot com site only for this next week



slaveboyforyou -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 12:20:09 AM)

I'm drinking cheaper beer.  [8D]  Seriously though, I have always been a tightwad.  I've never been one to part with money easily.  My father beat that into us as kids.  I've always been able to stretch a dollar, and it's not any different now. 



GimpinDenial -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 12:40:27 AM)

Instead of buying porn....
I use the profiles on the other side for wank fodder



Hippiekinkster -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 1:55:39 AM)

I'm growing my own herbs. [8D]

Got rid of cable two months ago, and I don't miss it at all.

Figuring out new ways to cheat on taxes (hey, if it's good enough for rich Republicans...[:D]).

When I drive, I make sure I only go downhill. Really saves on petrol.

Neighborhood pets are a cheap source of protein.

One can get almost a full meal by shopping at Whole Foods. All those samples...



JustDarkness -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 2:18:19 AM)

you can look at your electricity, water and heating.
Often we let things on...without using them actually or beeing in that room.

take the car less

shop in cheaper supermarkets...buy other brands.



slaveboyforyou -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 2:19:19 AM)

quote:

Got rid of cable two months ago, and I don't miss it at all.


Shit, I have to have cable.  I rarely go out, so that's my entertainment bill.  I don't have "good" cable.  I have the basic package with HBO.  I wish I had the packages some of my friends have.  But alas, I am too cheap. 

quote:

One can get almost a full meal by shopping at Whole Foods. All those samples... 


Hey don't discount eating at the Sally (Salvation Army for all you outside the know.)  Damn good eats, and a minimum of price.  [:D]  Seriously though, I used to live down the street from a local Sally when I lived in Little Rock.  If you go up and volunteer, they will give you a free meal.  Churches are great for free meals too.  During revival season around here, I love to stop in and grab some free eats.  The Pentecostal sermons are quite entertaining.  It's a sociology lesson and dinner in one setting.  I just sign the guest book with a fake name and address. [:D]

Serious suggestions though: 

I buy clothes from thrift stores all the time.  I have plenty of relatives and friends that can sew, so I can get them to repair or make anything I ask. 

I am not shy about loading up a discarded piece of furniture from the side of the road or the dump.  I am actually pretty good at fixining old furniture, so I will either keep it or sale it.  We have a local classified ad paper that allows free advertising, and a radio show called "swap shop" where you can hock your junk.

I LOVE yard sales.  I buy all sorts of stuff from them.  I also love used book stores.  I rarely buy appliance, books, or clothes new. 

I'll take advantage of free stuff.   People give away stuff all the time.  I have a pickup, so people will sometimes just give you stuff for free to haul it off.  An old washing machine grabs a pretty penny from the scrap dealer. 

Honestly, there are plenty of ways to save money and make a few bucks on the side.  You just have to take advantage of it. 



NorthernGent -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 2:27:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: winterlight

Please give me some suggestions as to what you are doing...



Cheap beer?!! Cardinal sin.

For those of us who live within our means (recession or no recession).....this really isn't a problem. The one thing I changed is waiting for the sales to stock up on suits, shirts, ties, shoes for work.

In terms of the wider picture, live within your means (necessities first and foremost) and think of a way to earn more money at work.



MadAxeman -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 2:59:09 AM)

Sadly I had to let the under scullery maid go and the moat is filtered only thrice weekly now.



ALAstella -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 4:36:29 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster

I'm growing my own herbs. [8D]



Yeah man.. Me a like de Rasta ting too.



Aneirin -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 4:59:24 AM)

I grew up in a frugal household, the parents themselves brought up that way because when they were bin lids money was tight. Where I shop, well anything that is consumable, household cleaning products, I get from thrift stores, same with personal care products. Clothing, well ebay is my store, not that I need much clothing. Food is the only real problem, for I have definately noticed an increase in that, I go by the maxim, if the price feels too high, seek an alternative, or go without. Often it is with me, I criss, cross the town to shops I have found to be cheap for the things I need, lots of lugging heavy food bags, but the exercise is useful. Supermarkets have made us all lazy, and they are not as cheap as they make out.

Just to think though, though we no longer have to go out hunting and gathering our food stuffs, which basically is what we do in a modern context, supermarkets go against what we are as hunter gatherers, as they provide everything in one place, thus denying us of the ingenuity we had in finding food, I know people who will not shop anywhere except a supermarket, they admit they have no clue where to get the deals if supermarkets did not exist.

As I tend to eat an agrarian diet, I find the stores that cater for Asians, Africans, Chinese and other immigrant tastes, a good source of quality food stuffs in larger quantities and far cheaper prices than the supermarkets, also there is choice, and the taste is how it should be, not the nullified blandness we are told is western taste.

The only problem I do have, is my college course, the materials I am meant to buy, the course contains silversmithing, and that material is expensive, so I tend to source scrap materials, discarded materials and waste, I have found myself reluctantly at first learning to make with discarded materials, but now I am all for it, recycling, cheap material costs and a bit of ingenuity, a good work ethos.



sharainks -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 5:37:53 AM)

The first thing I'm doing is paying my one major credit card down until it has a zero balance.  Then my car is almost paid off anyway so will use this years tax refund to pay it off. 

Then I am making a brand of dried soups that come in a bag, just add water and you get half a gallon for $2.99.  Put in small containers and frozen its great to take and heat up for office lunches.  Honestly home made soups are a good value any way you look at it.  Some of the ethnic soups from the Germans here in this area are very hearty like the green bean and dumpling soup.

Eating at home-period.  I may spring for a delivered pizza once in awhile when my 20 year old daughter pops over.  I don't do that as much now as she is happy to have grilled cheese sandwichs and tomato soup in the winter.

Mostly I find that groceries are one of the few areas you really have control of.  So much else is fixed and beyond our ability to control costs. 



Termyn8or -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 5:45:11 AM)

Buying beer by the case, cheapest per ounce that way.

A cigarette making machine.

Another substance I intend to buy in larger quanties and save 25%.

A case of good quality motor oil for a buck a quart on sale.

Anything mismarked in the grocery store, recently meat worth about five bucks marked fifty nine cents. There is a bit more theory on that, I think that instead of stealing outright, store employees mismark certain things and tell their buddies where to find them

Manager's specials, day old and so forth. With meat for example, if marked down per pound, get the biggest package, if marked down by the packege, get as many small packages as possible.

A friend who is a mechanic - buying cars that are broken down and fixing them up. At least you know why they were for sale, rather than some obscure intemittent problem. Have done pretty well with this.

T



sirsholly -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 5:52:48 AM)

-planting and canning/freezing the produce
-buying childrens clothing in a large lot on e-bay
-grocery shopping at discount food stores
-buying in bulk when things are on sale
-less frequent trips to town to save gas
-little or no impulse buying
-rarely eating out

although..these are things i have always done, so not too much has changed.



sirsholly -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 5:55:46 AM)

quote:

shop in cheaper supermarkets...buy other brands.

sometimes this can actually cost more. I bought an off brand dish soap and ended up using three times as much for a sink full of dishes. It is a trial and error thing [:)]



pahunkboy -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 6:00:09 AM)

hell- this is a great time to spend money.  I am hoarding silver.   oh,  my drugs that I import are cheaper now due to the strong dollar.



Crush -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 6:02:05 AM)

i think i'll us mor abbr.and stop using th "e" ky whn i post & no caps

forget good grammar and spelling...it is a recession already...save keys on your keyboard.

Seriously,  making frugal choices, but not giving up that occasional kobe burger.



CatdeMedici -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 6:17:47 AM)

I have always maintained a "scaled back" home--we never got things just because everyone else did or we were bored. I have always done canning and freezing, bought meat in bulk etc.  Our cell phones are pay as you go--I haven't had a credit card except My faithful load as you go card for over 15 years --we don't have the green, we don't do. My UM is getting her first MP3 player, because it was an award at work, sure everyone has ipods, but this is all she needs based on our lifestyle.
 
I have a substantial vegetable garden and I use the manure from our horses for fertilizer in the garden, flower beds and actually ground for the lawn--and our greenery is way better than the neighbors!
 
 Though I have put a closer eye to the extraneous charges on the cable bill and have reduced what we never used, re-evaluated the landline phone charges to see if there is a cheaper plan and in a recent check of the showerheads, found an old energy saver wasn't, so replaced it with one on sale.
 
We don't do those things because of the economy, we always did them, However, we do keep a keener eye to those charges I mentioned, because when times are tough companies like cable find ways of charging more and making you think you are getting more.



sirsholly -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 6:25:22 AM)

 when the need arises for something new (a toy box, kitchen chairs and table) i hit the resale shops first. If i cannot find anything there, then we go to the discount stores. You would be amazed at the name brands at Big Lots

and if i feel we need something new i write it on a list for the next time i go shopping...always a few days away. It is amazing how many times i realize the item is not needed once i am in the store



Termyn8or -> RE: What are you doing to scale back since the economy isn't doing well right now. (1/11/2009 6:44:47 AM)

I don't agree with water saving shower heads and faucets. Under the shower it just takes twice as long to get wet, and if you are filling a sink with water you are using the same amount. The only difference is that you have to wait longer for it to fill.

T



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