You need to cut $500 in monthly spending, how? (property, costs, bank)

[CouponJack]

I buy store brand on 90% of items...some name brand items are a "treat" for me and the family so won't skimp there...people don't realize how huge the savings are...

I check the freezer bins at the supermarket and many times meat/chicken will be marked down if its close to the "freeze by" date....of course if it doens't look good I won't buy it no matter what.

trying to get the wife to pack lunches more and more when she's w/the kids....

I cut out soda and quit smoking last year. Drink alot of bottled water (I know tap is much cheaper, but rome wasn't built in a day)

I use my AMEX blue as much as possible to get the huge discount at the end of the year. NEVER have any late payments..

that's all for now I can think of...

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by Sunnydee

Get rid of the dog(s)! That's an economical, but terrible idea. I'd rather get rid of . . . I better not finish that thought, it'd get me in trouble.

Very funny!!!!!

[kelly237]

The dog and cat are safe but I have considered putting the
rabbit in a brunswick stew...yummm

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by total_genius

The experts tell us our costs are going up but wages will not match the increase. It would be to our advantage to cut $500 from our monthly family budget. This could go to pay increasing energy bills and save for upcoming deep economic recession in 2009.

Please tell us how your family is going to cut out $500 a month in spending.

You wouldn't believe how much gets wasted in groceries simply by not thinking ahead.

We shop warehouse stores like Sam's. At the same time, we've gotten smart and bought groceries at our regular grocery only when they're on sale, or two-for-one, etc. We realized that we're saving $600 a month for a family of five that way. So there you go.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

You wouldn't believe how much gets wasted in groceries simply by not thinking ahead.

We shop warehouse stores like Sam's. At the same time, we've gotten smart and bought groceries at our regular grocery only when they're on sale, or two-for-one, etc. We realized that we're saving $600 a month for a family of five that way. So there you go.

same here..I started combing through the monthly spending and here
are ways we have already made changes and I am still cutting

All Errands are now combined trips
canceled unused YMCA membership
no more fast food
Eating out -gone (saves 500/month)
drinking tea (no soda &fancy drinks)
reduced cell phone plan
buy fruit on sale -not as many types at one time
got greenbags that keeps produce longer(these really work)
basic cable now
print on "draft greyscale to save ink"
woodchips from tree guy for free
putting window screens back in to use attic fan when nights are cool
set ac higher
put window ac in bedroom and leave house warmer in summer
in winter we wear more clothes and set thermostat at 68.
Use programable thermo.
use dishwasher less
rent movies from redbox/not blockbuster
we use a credit card and pay off each month (I called company and said we needed to cancel because of annual fee and they waived it forever $20/year)



Next changes
**********
canceling bottled water and getting a filter
drying clothes on the line.
considering raising rabbits for meat.
smaller gifts
birthday dinners are home cookouts now/not eating out

[Sunnydee]

Thank you for starting this thread. I'm really enjoying reading everyone's ideas.
I just thought of a big one:

Always pay off credit card bill on time and in full. Those interest charges are a killer.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by kelly237

I am also pretty impressed with growing your own mustard.
really didn't know you could, its one of those things I never
thought about where it came from like bouillon cubes...I don't care what they are ...
I need them.

If you need them [whatever a thing is] then you need a source.

If shipping fuels continue to raise in price, then everything being shipped to you will also raise in price.

My Dw has been making a list of what things she needs, and which ones we can make ourselves.

[gallowsCalibrator]

Let's see... $500 cut?

Remove $100/monthly cellphone plan
Add $20/month for a Pay as You Go phone
Remove $75/month for driving my car to work
Add $25/month for my share on carpooling to work
Remove $25/month for driving to the grocery store in my car
Add $5/month for driving to the grocery store by scooter
Remove $140/month for Cox Cable/Phone/Internet bundle
Add $17/month for Internet

That's only $273/month difference.

The rest is all necessities:

Insurance (renter's, car/scooter, medical)
Gotta pay the rent
I make meal plans based off of coupons already and stick with store brand when cheapest
I've no car payment - second vehicle is a scooter.
I run the A/C as little as possible...

Oh wait, I'm already living with a surplus of cash because I don't fret with frivolities

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by kelly237

The dog and cat are safe but I have considered putting the
rabbit in a brunswick stew...yummm

Originally Posted by kelly237

Next changes
**********
canceling bottled water and getting a filter
drying clothes on the line.
considering raising rabbits for meat.
smaller gifts
birthday dinners are home cookouts now/not eating out

Maybe you two should get together and swap?

[the painter]

Here's a new one- I dont buy veggies my neighbors all grow them. One widower brings me all we can eat along with fish from his pond in exchange for home cooking, I also get local fruits. My grocery bill dropped alot. Another is all the soaps and bath products, shampoo is alot of the same as the fancy body soaps, liquid off brands are the same as high dollar. We also swap alot of services here. Another neighbor trades fishing rights with one couple and they put in the garden for them. I trade yard services in the summer with a couple teen agers to let them use the pool, liability released of course.