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I'll chime in .. I do have a spouse, but he brings his own to the frugal table!
Spouse's work provides: cable tv, internet, $80/mth health pretax insurance, work vehicle, and many discounts to be utilized - ex: 25% off our cell phone bill.
How we cut costs:
1. Smart phones - cheap ones, not 'must have'
2. Cell phone - see above discount, and we are on the best plan for our needs
3. Coffee - I love gourmet coffee. Purchased a $30 cappuccino/expresso machine and learned how to make it myself.
4. No CC debt.
5. Very inexpensive, hardy vehicles - 2009 was the first time in many years we took on a car payment and purchased a very economical Honda Civic with 50% down. Prior to this, we've owned older vehicles outright and drove them into the ground.
6. DIY vehicle maintenance - Oil changes range from $25-80 ($80 for synthetic, which we use). Do it at home for about $15. Same theory with brakes, belts, etc.
7. Online vet meds for dogs/horses - we purchase flea and heartworm meds for dogs through a supplier out of Australia for about 40% less than what we would spend in on the same product at the vet office. I save about 75% in medical costs by DIY vaccines, worming, etc for my animals.
8. DIY electronic repair - We've acquired a free flat panel tv that was 'bad' .. hubby learned how to replace bad capacitors on the board, works perfect. Overall investment: $2.53
9. Used/discount furniture - my living room tables were at the curb, my kitchen table off craigslist for $40. We have learned how to refurbish wood as needed.
10. Recycle! - the house needed heat vents replaced, they were rusty and gross. Cleaned 'em up, spray painted, good as new! To replace would've been $17 x 15.
11. DIY home improvements - installed wood floors with wood mill 'reject' wood. Solid oak planks at 60-70% off retail, installed ourselves.
12. Thrift shops. - I'm cheap.
13. Sale ads - only purchase items when on sale, will buy bulk meat and throw in freezer when I get a great deal.
14. Coupon book - Its not all work and no play, we do eat out. But, I will get a local coupon book and pick restaurants that offer buy 1 get 1 free coupons.
Your post ROCKS ! I love alot of your ideas and learned a few new ones !
News on the radio AM. You don't need a cell phone.
Coffee can be made at home.
You also don't need a TV either. There is radio.
Perhaps you should have said "I" or "we" don't need a cell phone. I need a cell phone; I couldn't function at various jobs I have without one, and even if that weren't the case, I would no more be without one than I would be without indoor plumbing. If we absolutely had to, we could all make do without either one - after all humanity did just that for thousands of years - but I can't see backing up 25 years just to save a few pennies. Besides, it would be a lot worse than backing up 25 years, because 25 years ago there were pay phones around which we could use when we needed them. Now what the hell do you do if your car breaks down or if you are running seriously late for an appointment or invitation?
What do we opt out of that *ordinary* people generally spend money on?
1 Newer cars, car payment (substitute my mechanical ability)
2 "Modern" heat & A/C (Woodstove, open windows at night during summer, shade trees)
3 Cable (get about 12 channels OTA, Scot free)
4 Smart Phones (ordinary cell phones no contract from Consumer Cellular)
5 Revolving credit card debt (pay em off every month)
6 Fast Food (Cook at home or eat at quality restaurants)
7 Cola/Soft Drinks (Water, beer, wine, milk, kvas, whatever, just no sugar, no fizz)
8 HOA fees (live in the country)
9 Water/sewer bill (live in country on well)
We do have internet at home, a land line, ($8/month for limited service, but unlimited 800-# calling) and do have a cell phone each. To us, personal decision, these are worth paying for (and we get a decent deal on these items...)
Definitely agree that shopping thrift stores is worth doing, as is buying on sale, buying in bulk, etc.
DIY car and appliance maintenance does save us a lot.
I just added up what we spend on high speed internet, cable, home phone, Blockbuster movie mailings, and cell phone and came up with $135/month or $1600/year.
It might be nice to save $1600/yr but I'm not sure saving that little amount of money really necessitates going without them. What a boring life some must live with none of the above. I'm cheap but I also like to have a little bit of fun in life too.
How about live with family and help out your parents, win win situation. Split rents.
This is assuming you all can live under the same roof. We lived with my father/his wife for about a year before moving out of state - and that year was plenty enough for us! Then, a year ago, I spent about 6wks living with my in laws while we worked on another out of state move. Again - I had my fill. Its not that we don't get along, its more about we have such different ways of living and going about our every day routine that caused friction. It would have to be the perfect situation with the ability to have separate space in the house. Some families function well living together, some do not.
Along the same lines, years ago my sister and I were house mates. We both had had a list of bad house mate experiences and we knew we could tolerate each other. We made it work for about 3 years. The problem comes when lives start to take independent paths, and after a year of hiccups, making it work just became too exhausting.
I am, however, open to eventually purchasing a place that has an additional inlaw suite type apartment to either rent out or open up to my inlaws when they are ready to downsize the house.
Some of these lists are quite impressive!
*No landline (not so unusual these days)
*No Ipod
*Pretty basic cell phone plan, I don't email or get online with my phone. I thought this was a money saver until I spoke with my brother; he does all that on his phone and pays about $40/month less than me.
*Participate in my employer's facist health improvement program, so I can have my monthly medical insurance premium waived.
*No car payment, my car is now 7 years old and it's been paid off since I bought it four years ago (paid cash).
*We don't rent movies and anymore, seldom have time to go to the movie theater. Occasionally we will buy used DVDs, for $5 or less at local pawn/thrift stores.
*Live in the country, so no water or sewer bill.
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