Have you changed spending habits yet? (credit, how much, buying)

[Submariner]

I do not think that we have changed our spending at all.

We did change in a few ways when I first retired, but not since then.

[BacktoNE]

We really haven't changed our spending all that much, but we aren't frivolous with money anyway.

The one area where I will not compromise is on the quality of our food. I refuse to downgrade on that. So as a result, our grocery bill for just the 2 of us as crept up approx $140 per week. I don't purchase any packaged convenience foods as I cook 100% of our meals from scratch. They are healthier, less expensive and taste better.

Our here we heat with natural gas and because we have a small house, our monthly bill which includes our electricity as well is just $108. Can't complain about that at all.

Our cable/internet/digital phone is bundled together at $138 a month. Expensive but we watch a lot of TV so it's worth it to us, and we aren't wasting $20 a pop going to see a movie that we rarely like afterwards.

We only have 1 car payment and our house payment is well within our self-imposed budget.

Times like this it really pays to be cheap

[RANGER.101ST]

my spending hasnt changed to mutch other.i didnt buy the new 4 wheeler i wanted this year.but i will ride my old one and buy a new one next year.

[shadowfax1997]

Originally Posted by mrs1885

Actually, I'm doing all I can to stimulate the economy and spending what we safely can. I've upped the amount of money from each check that I put into my retirement account. I hear there's a great sale going on in the stock market. I'm not going to put us in debt or leave us broke or homeless, but cutting back is the last thing the ecomony needs right now.

You are so right. Spending will help, but people don't want to overdo it.

We spent another day riding and saw many people out and about. people certainly aren't just sitting at home doing nothing.

[mollysmiles]

I'm definitely a person who believes that Mainers weather these storms a little better than some of the other areas. We're pretty frugal here, but our expenses are higher this year on some fronts. We have a daughter in college, a son who is a senior in high school and newly driving, a daughter who will be taking driver's ed this year--so these are new expenses for us, and while initially they seem small, they have cut into what we normally are tucking away.

[puntin]

We've cut back some. We used to just take drives on the weekends, and we don't do that anymore. When we go to town we generally will take the car versus the SUV to save on gas. We eat at home more often. I was at LL Bean yesterday and it was very busy. But I'm not going to worry too much, I buy what we need, and I'm sure my husband would say "and then some".

[Nor'Eastah]

We're "getting ready to get ready" to cut back. In line at the supermarket yesterday, I heard the cashier talking with the bagger, something to the effect that "it's getting busier lately, don't you think?". We do still eat out, infrequently, but find that the pricier establishments now have no lines and we are seated right away. McDonald's and Wal-Mart are doing well here; other places not so well.

My next-door neighbor filled his oil tank yesterday for $2.59 per gallon, at least 125 gals and cash on the barrelhead. I recall all those posts earlier in the summer about wanting to 'lock in' at $4 per. Also recall how disgusted I was to pay $3.48 to fill my own tank last March; now I'm doubly-disgusted because I should have waited till now!

Could-a - would-a - should-a! Ah well, easy come, easy go!

[Elcarim]

So, I have this fantasy weekly budget built into my Quicken register of $100. That is supposed to buy groceries, paper goods & incidentals for the week. My ACTUAL spending on those expenses is running more like $900 a month on average. Talk about WAY over budget!!! And when I look at that $500 monthly budget overage over the next 4 months until will move.............we're losing $2000 of our moving money! That's not acceptable.

So........I've got to get that expense down a LOT. My mother tells me she only spends about $50 a week to feed 4 big people, so I shouldn't be spending what I am to feed 2 big people and 3 little people. Our biggest single item expense has been milk for the last year. I can't do anymore about that - I'm already rationing the kids somewhat to their 3 cups a day. They need their milk, though. And we eat healthy foods. We eat lots of veggies, fruits, whole grain cereals and multi-grain pastas, etc. I also shop the sale papers every week and stock when I can.

Can you guys share some cost cutting practices you use? It appears I really need the help to keep my bank account from bleeding away our moving money.

[shadowfax1997]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

So........I've got to get that expense down a LOT. My mother tells me she only spends about $50 a week to feed 4 big people, so I shouldn't be spending what I am to feed 2 big people and 3 little people. Our biggest single item expense has been milk for the last year. I can't do anymore about that - I'm already rationing the kids somewhat to their 3 cups a day. They need their milk, though. And we eat healthy foods. We eat lots of veggies, fruits, whole grain cereals and multi-grain pastas, etc. I also shop the sale papers every week and stock when I can.

Can you guys share some cost cutting practices you use? It appears I really need the help to keep my bank account from bleeding away our moving money.

I too would love to hear how people can eat on so little money. Someone earlier posted the spend about $1/day - which personally I think is BS. $50/week for 4 people? Not unless you are raising your own food.

[RANGER.101ST]

ok this thred has worne me down,so i must confess.yes i have changed my spending habits.i dont go to the bar as mutch becouse when i drink i like to leave the bar and go to the strip clubs and give dollar bills to the dancin ladys that smile at me and say im just doing this to pay for school i wana be a nurse or a doctor.