Compensate for Greenway toll charges (sale, coupons, how much)

[vauser]

What's a reasonably easy and related way to save the equivalent of the toll charges paid? Assuming a $11 extra charge per day for using the toll what would you to save that equivalent amount of money through some other means?

* Skip eating lunch outside?
* Try not to take the toll on the way back home, perhaps?
* Skip 1 fine dining per week outside (assuming you do something like that already)?
* Anything else?

[pcity]

That's not the way I'd budget. Better to look at it from a monthly perspective:

Your commute costs have gone up by $200-250 a month. Prioritize your other monthly spending and look for places to cut that much money. It doesn't have to be just from one thing. Might be a combination of a few less outside lunches, a few less evenings out, a lower cable package, decrease in movie tickets bought, etc.

[Caladium]

We've done some cost cutting this year. In our case it was a New Years resolution because we realized we were wasting money on stuff we don't use, but maybe this could give you some ideas:

* Discontinue subscriptions. I read the news online, and get coupons from the local free newspapers. We stopped getting Wapo and WSJ, and discovered we didn't really miss them. And we can still by a single copy at the grocery store if there's a specific story we want to read in print.

* Cut Netflix down to "mail disk" service. We don't use the streamline video service, so why pay for it?

* Buy steaks and a few other pricey food items at Costco only. We buy a lot of things at Weggies but we've stopped buying meat and wine there, and have saved quite a bit doing so. Also, buy gas at Costco.

* You can save a lot of money bringing your own lunch instead of eating out. Even if you just do this once a week, you'll save quite a bit.

* Before you buy something, walk around the store for awhile and try to talk yourself out of it. I think, do I really need it? Do I have room for it? Is there something better I can do with the money? If you still want it, get it--you can be happy knowing that you really bought something you want and meanwhile you've gotten a little bit of exercise.

* Don't buy pet products from your vet. All of my heartworm/flea control, shampoo, etc. gets ordered online.

* Pay attention to your car and you can lower your maintenance bills.

* Mow your own lawn, learn to fix things around the house, etc.

* Make coffee at home instead of going to a coffeehouse. Or, drink coffee for free at work.

* Make sure your home is well insulated (and also well ventilated). Keep the temperature at 65 degrees in the winter and 85 in the summer.

* When you see a sale on something you use regularly, buy in bulk. You need a storage space to keep it in, but you'd be surprised where you can find a little extra space. I save a lot of money this way.

If you do just 1-2 of these things you can save more than enough money to pay for the Greenway (or any other similar luxury). I started mowing the lawn for exercise, but was amazed at how much money we saved by doing it ourselves.