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What are you giving up to save money?

post #1 of 79
3/26/09 at 12:46am
Thread Starter 
My roommates don't know how to save their money so they are bitching about paying for cable (its roughly $25 a person/mos.) so we are likely going to get rid of HBO and move down to the most basic cable channel plan. I have Netflix so I'm not so concerned about HBO, but I will certainly miss IFC, Bravo, FX, Reelz and a host of other great channels.

We are also trying to get rid of our land line, but our DSL runs through our phone. Any suggestions on good internet service that doesn't require phone service?
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post #2 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:41am
I use Clearwire -- it works if you don't need a shit-ton of bandwidth.

I nuked my subscription with CI's Cigar of the Month Club...hopefully temporarily. I still bought a couple of things on Cigarbid, but that's getting put on hold now, too.

I'm also moving into a completely different living situation to try and save on rent -- it's all to prepare for a move to Austin in May, though.
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post #3 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:50am
- I get my cable and internet through the same provider, but I'm thinking about dropping cable altogether and going to DSL. That would save me at least forty bucks a month, and I truthfully don't watch all that much TV with Hulu and other online options.

- Xbox Live is kaput and video game purchases are down by about 90%.

- I'll be moving some place way cheaper this summer.

- I'm buying generic whenever and however I can. Except for toilet paper. I refuse to cross that line.

- Running the AC as little as possible. This is ok for now, but will not be an option once summer sets in.
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post #4 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew S. View Post
- I'm buying generic whenever and however I can. Except for toilet paper. I refuse to cross that line.
Yeah, last time at the store, I bought H-E-B's line of TP and that isn't working out very well, at all. Looks like it's back to Angel Soft for me.
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post #5 of 79
3/26/09 at 2:58am
I'm stealing cable.
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post #6 of 79
3/26/09 at 3:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miyazaki View Post
I'm stealing cable.
From Time Warner?
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post #7 of 79
3/26/09 at 9:28am
I've been paying $500 a month in debt, and getting next to nowhere with it. I'm staying with family for a few months to become debt free, except for my car note. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I get an extra $500 a month...but it doesn't matter, because I'm buying a house at the end of the summer.
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post #8 of 79
3/26/09 at 9:51am
Most of my hobbies are on hold or finished for the next few months, and I'm holding on to my tax refund until I find out if I'm getting a temporary pay cut for March (I get one paycheck for the month. March was rumored to be the month where everyone was going to get half pay, then get the money back in addition to our regular paycheck the following month - we're waiting for payments from some clients).

When things calm down, I'm looking to get 2 out of 3 credit cards paid off, then I'm cancelling 'em. My focus then will be paying off the home equity loan.

Looks like it's back to gyrating on tables for money... again. Good thing I have a nice ass.
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post #9 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:08am
I'm lucky enough to be in one of the few industries that's really thriving right now (the adult industry), so thus far cutbacks have been minimal. I'm buying a little bit less beer, and mostly generic foods. I drive a hybrid so gas hasn't been a biggie (+ I work from home one day a week). I guess the big thing is I've been staying in a lot more often instead of hitting the bars after work.
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post #10 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:12am
Everyone suddenly hoarding their money is actually helping torpedo the economy.
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post #11 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:19am
Refinanced the mortgage (30yr instead of 15). Cancelled MLB Extra Innings.
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post #12 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4496 aka Joe Sixpack View Post
Everyone suddenly hoarding their money is actually helping torpedo the economy.
Yeah, well when your pay checks stop coming you don't have any money to spend.
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post #13 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy225 View Post
Most of my hobbies are on hold or finished for the next few months, and I'm holding on to my tax refund until I find out if I'm getting a temporary pay cut for March (I get one paycheck for the month. March was rumored to be the month where everyone was going to get half pay, then get the money back in addition to our regular paycheck the following month - we're waiting for payments from some clients).

When things calm down, I'm looking to get 2 out of 3 credit cards paid off, then I'm cancelling 'em. My focus then will be paying off the home equity loan.

Looks like it's back to gyrating on tables for money... again. Good thing I have a nice ass.
Don't cancel them, just don't use them. You'll nuke your credit if you do that.
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post #14 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton View Post
Don't cancel them, just don't use them. You'll nuke your credit if you do that.
This. Credit cards good. Irresponsible use bad.
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post #15 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:40am
I've been cut to 32 hrs a week since January. I scaled back Netflix from the 5 at a time plan to 2 at a time. I no longer buy DVDs (except I bought Let The Right One In last week) or comics (that one has been true for a couple years), We don't eat out at all and make economical use of leftovers.

Between my wife's job, our investments, and not having a ton of debt we aren't doing horribly, but we've scaled back just in case.

I have also been waiting to hear from a Fortune 500 company that I have been trying to get in at for the last year. I have a 2nd interview next week and have my fingers crossed, but I am going to do my best to maintain this scaled back lifestyle even if I do get this position. It's been nice seeing my savings increase even if my take home pay has gone in the opposite direction.
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post #16 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy225 View Post
Looks like it's back to gyrating on tables for money... again. Good thing I have a nice ass.
You're lucky. The only out for me is probably gay bear porn and/or prostitution.

I can't fucking believe I was debt free six months ago. Damned medical bills. As far as cutting costs down, games went first for me. Books will sadly be next.
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post #17 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy225 View Post
Looks like it's back to gyrating on tables for money... again. Good thing I have a nice ass.
*waves a single*
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post #18 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:55am
We got rid of our house line, since the only calls we ever seemed to get on it were telemarketers and bill collectors who were looking for other people. We also knocked off the cable package we had that gave us all the movie channels down to just HBO. And we've started doing most of our food shopping at BJ's Wholesale Club, and so for one big $300 trip has lasted us the entire month, as opposed to the weekly $100 trips we'd been making. And a lot of the stuff we bought isn't even close to running out yet, so the next trip won't even be that much.
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post #19 of 79
3/26/09 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton View Post
Don't cancel them, just don't use them. You'll nuke your credit if you do that.
I was going to say the same thing. Don't cancel them unless you have to, just lock them up in your safe.

For us: Apart from our mortgage and my car payment, we're totally debt free. Knock on wood, both of our jobs seem very secure for the next year, but you never know.

The plan was to buy a new car for my wife this year, but we may hold off. The incentives to buy the car for her are really, really good, so we may go ahead and buy one if we find the right deal. We're also considering putting off our Autumn vacation for our 10th anniversary. Other than that, we've cut down on alot of the frivolous expenses (like Starbucks and such).

ETA: Luck appears to be on our side, and I don't take it for granted. I just got promoted recently (with a raise and bonus), and my wife has been made virtually irreplaceable at work. Whatever force is providing this 'karmic economic immunity shield' over us: THANK YOU.
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post #20 of 79
3/26/09 at 11:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Other than that, we've cut down on alot of the frivolous expenses (like Starbucks and such).
That's been the big thing for me, cutting out a lot of small purchases. When I stop to get gas I don't also go in and buy a pack of gum and bottle of water. I don't stop 3 times a week to get a kolache in the morning. A couple co-workers and I decided to go out and grab lunch every other Friday, so we don't consider going out everyday, and we always go to the same sandwich shop so it's pretty cheap. I've also been dating less, and been a little less gung-ho about having a girlfriend, and that's saved a lot of money, though I don't know if it's worth it.
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post #21 of 79
3/26/09 at 11:06am
If you're carrying balances on your credit cards, be careful. I have one that I was comfortably under the credit limit with until, due to a "periodic review" of my account and my activity, they dropped my available credit to about $200 above my balance. So if I keep paying the minimum payment, the finance charges will eventually nudge me over the limit. I was already paying more than the minimum, but now I've raised what I'm sending them just to create more breathing room. It's perfectly legal, although the lowered my limit before notifying me about it, which kinda sucks -- it's only the fact that I regularly check on my accounts that let me catch it before I tried to use available credit I didn't actually have.
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post #22 of 79
3/26/09 at 11:11am
If possible, try and get your credit card balances at or below 20% (if your limit is $10,000, try and get it below $2000). Being over 20% really effects your credit score and overall viability. My thread on banking advice goes into greater detail on this.
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post #23 of 79
3/26/09 at 11:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HBarr View Post
*waves a single*
Hey, hoss, I better see some Jeffersons and Jacksons if you want me to pay any attention. Cheapskate.

Judas and Jared, I'll heed your advice and keep the cards (I defer to your wisdom in all things financial). I'm in the 20% range for all three cards anyway, and it wasn't long ago when they were all paid off (damn car repairs and household expenses!). Living paycheck to paycheck sucks wind - I used to have an extra $200+ a month thanks to my freelance art/graphic design work, but that's dried up since last year.

Gotta update my resume and portfolio - gotta go digital this time - and start making calls.
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post #24 of 79
3/26/09 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
I was going to say the same thing. Don't cancel them unless you have to, just lock them up in your safe.

For us: Apart from our mortgage and my car payment, we're totally debt free. Knock on wood, both of our jobs seem very secure for the next year, but you never know.

The plan was to buy a new car for my wife this year, but we may hold off. The incentives to buy the car for her are really, really good, so we may go ahead and buy one if we find the right deal. We're also considering putting off our Autumn vacation for our 10th anniversary. Other than that, we've cut down on alot of the frivolous expenses (like Starbucks and such).

ETA: Luck appears to be on our side, and I don't take it for granted. I just got promoted recently (with a raise and bonus), and my wife has been made virtually irreplaceable at work. Whatever force is providing this 'karmic economic immunity shield' over us: THANK YOU.
Everything I've read says now is the time to buy a car and go on vacations as prices are ridiculously cheap. I'm planning to go to Brazil in August and airfare prices drop every day. I'm gonna hold out another month or so before buying the tickets.
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post #25 of 79
3/26/09 at 12:54pm
I have a sugarmama. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty sweet.

But beyond that, give myself a $200/month spending limit on non-essential crap ($50/week) and then plopping the rest in savings and/or into stupid, stupid bills. Also, bringing lunch. But I'll admit I've flaked this week and haven't gotten to the store to buy sandwich supplies, so I've been going out sadly.

Not having a car also has its uses; no gas, insurance, repairs, etc. It's fucking awesome, actually.
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post #26 of 79
3/26/09 at 12:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
I have a sugarmama.
I need to get me one of those.


And with that, you made me quote a horrible Adam Sandler movie and I hate you.
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post #27 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:04pm
I downgraded my Netflix plan, too. Between financing my film for much of 2008 and the Vegas trip I'm taking in a few weeks, really starting to save is one of my big priorities post-Vegas (where I will not be gambling and drinking very little). I do have a nice "nest egg" saved up from the retirement plan and the interest I've had since 2005. I'm lucky enough in that I have pretty solid job security w/benefits and I don't have to pay for room and board. I have very little oustanding debt, but since I would like to relocate sooner rather than later, saving more is something I need to get on the stick about. Which really boils down to buying less shit.

Oh, and I've stopped buying TV off iTunes and just gotten friends who have cable to tape shit for me.
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post #28 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Everything I've read says now is the time to buy a car and go on vacations as prices are ridiculously cheap. I'm planning to go to Brazil in August and airfare prices drop every day. I'm gonna hold out another month or so before buying the tickets.
Oh, I agree with you entirely on this. It's my wife that I need to convince on the car, unfortunately. I'm kinda praying that her fucking car needs major repair work so that I can make a stronger case for buying a new(er) car for her.

The vacation is probably going to happen. We've been watching the prices drop for places that we want to go (including Europe), and they're too appealling.
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post #29 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
I have a sugarmama.
Me too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty sweet.
Word.
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post #30 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:31pm
I dropped DirecTV and went Comcast last year which saved me $25 a month for the first year in a decreased monthly rate as well as $15 in month saving by bundling my TV with high-speed Internet. I'm considering bundling further for home phone and dropping BellSouth which is a fucking rip-off at $52 a month for home phone service. If we didn't a separate line for my wife's work I'd drop home phone entirely.

I'm buying cheaper beer and whiskey. I found that I can live on Yeungling and Elijah Craig over Sweewater and Makers. Sacrifices, sacrifices...
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post #31 of 79
3/26/09 at 1:54pm
I almost dropped DirecTV in favour of Dish Network to save the same amount ($25/month). I called DirecTV and they matched the offer to keep my business. Got a whole bunch of free premium channels too (for a limited time).

Switched my home alarm monitoring from ADT ($35/m) to EMC Security ($16/m).

I've also started to live my life according to the Gospel of Judas (man, that came together well).
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post #32 of 79
3/26/09 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco View Post
I almost dropped DirecTV in favour of Dish Network to save the same amount ($25/month). I called DirecTV and they matched the offer to keep my business. Got a whole bunch of free premium channels too (for a limited time).
I'm with DirectTV as well. Thanks for the tip; I'll try this approach with them as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco View Post
I've also started to live my life according to the Gospel of Judas (man, that came together well).
With the utmost in sincerity, I hope that some of that information proves of value to you.
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post #33 of 79
3/26/09 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Yeah, well when your pay checks stop coming you don't have any money to spend.

Well, of course. And I'm not advocating people spending money they don't have. Just stating the obvious.
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post #34 of 79
3/26/09 at 2:53pm
I was doing ok till i got hit with a £600 bill for my car.

Now this month is spendthrift city.
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post #35 of 79
3/26/09 at 2:58pm
I stopped going out to lunch at work. Amazing how much money you save by brown bagging.
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post #36 of 79
3/26/09 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tieman View Post
I stopped going out to lunch at work. Amazing how much money you save by brown bagging.

Not to mention how much weight one can lose.
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post #37 of 79
3/26/09 at 3:07pm
About 8 months ago my band gave up our rehearsal space downtown and moved into the lower portion of our drummer's split level. It's actually closer, and we weren't using the 24 hour access of our space to begin with, plus it saves me 108 bucks a month. Beyond that I budget the hell out of our grocery bill, and have been a general scrooge on all other levels. It sucks, I miss not caring that much about money. I'm really looking forward to a year from now when my car payment goes away.

ETA:
I agree on the brown bagging. I limit myself to one lunch out a week at most now. Saves a LOT.
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post #38 of 79
3/26/09 at 3:33pm
One good thing to come out of this: Alot of my friends that smoke have now become properly motivated to quit. $5 a pack has taken too much of a bite out of their disposable income.
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post #39 of 79
3/26/09 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Savage View Post
I was doing ok till i got hit with a £600 bill for my car.

Now this month is spendthrift city.
Only because I care:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Webster's
Main Entry: spend·thrift
: a person who spends improvidently or wastefully
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post #40 of 79
3/26/09 at 4:06pm
Hookers and blow.

But seriously, since I quit smoking 4 months ago, quit drinking as much and stopped going out for lunch, I'm saving a ton of money now.
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post #41 of 79
3/26/09 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
One good thing to come out of this: Alot of my friends that smoke have now become properly motivated to quit. $5 a pack has taken too much of a bite out of their disposable income.
Cigarettes are almost $10 in NYC.
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post #42 of 79
3/26/09 at 4:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Cigarettes are almost $10 in NYC.
You could almost get half an ounce of street weed for that here.
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post #43 of 79
3/26/09 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Everything I've read says now is the time to buy a car and go on vacations as prices are ridiculously cheap. I'm planning to go to Brazil in August and airfare prices drop every day. I'm gonna hold out another month or so before buying the tickets.
Make your way a little bit more to the south and we'll party!
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post #44 of 79
3/26/09 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton View Post
You could almost get half an ounce of street weed for that here.
Now that is economic thinking in action!

And I really really need to stop going out for lunch. But damn if it isn't difficult.
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post #45 of 79
3/26/09 at 7:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by C.Swicegood View Post
I have also been waiting to hear from a Fortune 500 company that I have been trying to get in at for the last year. I have a 2nd interview next week and have my fingers crossed, but I am going to do my best to maintain this scaled back lifestyle even if I do get this position. It's been nice seeing my savings increase even if my take home pay has gone in the opposite direction.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38690
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post #46 of 79
3/26/09 at 7:48pm
We won't be getting a 2nd car and we won't be moving into a nicer/larger place. My recent over-time pay is going towards plane tix for a wedding I'm in, vet bills, new glasses, and savings (hopefully, when the smoke clears).
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post #47 of 79
3/26/09 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Cigarettes are almost $10 in NYC.
Want to go into a little side business, Diva?
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post #48 of 79
3/26/09 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton View Post
You could almost get half an ounce of street weed for that here.
What the fuck happened to $30? I was getting ripped off.
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post #49 of 79
3/26/09 at 8:38pm
Just another reason why living in this town is expensive, Jake.
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post #50 of 79
3/27/09 at 1:00am
I keep on spending in an attempt to keep the economy going. Anybody want to help?

Actually, I am giving up cable, but that has less to do with the economy and more to do with hulu, Netflix, lots of Christmas presents I haven't watched yet, and almost no free time to watch any of it.
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