How is your family coping w. the raising grocery/gas prices ?

[Anonymous]

Whoa - would be nice to have HHI of $300k but ours is more like $180k and hubby just lost his job so now $80k and baby on the way...

We need help...please keep posting good suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, we are nowhere close to $300k! Maybe about $97k? I am the one stilling waiting for my husband to bring home a paycheck.....sucks. He works sooooooooo hard and noooooooo money! Yet.

[Anonymous]

PP - I hear ya. Got to support the spouses (i am the one whose spouse just lost his job) - i am scared to death and pregnant..but really trying to put on a smile and get through it all, i know we won't go hungry and some people do...so I just need to stay positive (right ? .

Anyhow, if you all can make it on your income now try to bank your husband's income when the paychecks do come. You will be sooo far ahead. Good luck. Stay positive !!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I've stopped watching HGTV shows and came down to earth with the idea that my big kitchen remodel will probably happen in 20 years.

I'm an HGTV/DIY TV junkie too. Those shows just make you want to spend money-it's awful. I bet if those shows never sprang onto the scent, the home remodel business would not have done as well as it has. I'm trying to wean myself, but cannot seem to break the "Kitchen Renovations" show habit.

Only thing I can comment on, we got new windows, reinsulated our attic, and ripped off the walls in our freezing or sweltering MBR and added insulation. These steps have made a HUGE difference in our utility bills and the general comfort of our home. Improvements well worth doing if you have the money and want to do something to lessen the utility suck.

[Anonymous]

I make babyfood at home, instead of buying the jarred stuff.
I take my lunch to work. Good for losing weight, too. AND, once I lose the weight, more of my old clothes will fit, hooray. (10 pounds down, 10 to go.)

I read somewhere-- not sure I believe it-- that leaving the chargers for your personal electronics plugged in is a big drain, even when the phone/ipod/pda is not connected. Someone said he saved $40-50/month in electric bills by just unplugging the charger cords when they weren't in use.

And this thread has reminded me to quit procrastinating and downgrade the cable subscription TODAY. We decided like 6 months ago to cancel HBO and Showtime, and just haven't gotten around to it.

[Anonymous]

We did the same thing...added insulation etc to help reduce the utility bills. We are very careful with lights, minimal AC (installed ceiling fans);

Consolidated shopping trips and minimized Whole Foods, reduced meats to focus more on a vegetarian (not strictly) diet;

Younger child will be in school in the fall, so that eliminates daycare costs which will help tremendously (and also help reduce to a one-car commute -- saving time, gas, etc.

Thanks for the other tips which have been posted, all are very helpul.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I also read about the electricity drain from chargers plugged in even when not charging anything.

[Anonymous]

taking lunch to work almost everyday of the week and eating out as a family less often. It makes eating out even more of a treat and saves us money (and probably calories).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:an oriental supermarket chain in No. VA, they are in FChurch, Annandale, Springfield. their products are fresh and cheap, have not try the meat or chicken thought, but their fruits and veggies are a good bargain.

I have found HMart's meats fresher than at large grocery stores.

[Anonymous]

I used to drive our minivan like I was on a speedway. In the last month, simply by driving slower (and not accelerating so quickly after a redlight), I've increased my efficiency by about 30%! That saves me about $60 a month!

[Anonymous]

We don't eat out as often, I don't cook with lots of leftovers anymore, just enough, so we aren't so wasteful; I don't impulse grocery shop anymore.
I try to drive in to the office less during the week.
Mostly, not eating out is a huge savings.
This is not even so much a savings/affordability issue for us as it is a useful topic of discussion with my children about not being wasteful and finding value in what we spend our money on.

[Anonymous]

Stopped driving to work (take metro).
DH takes motorcycle now (instead of car).
On our weekly sushi order night, we order less sushi and I make japanese appetizer myself to have with the sushi.
Target brand diapers for DD (instead of Pampers and Huggies all the time).