Treading water financially - need to find ways to save

[Anonymous]

I DVR 10+ shows each week, and some specials that sound interesting. The DVR is a Comcast device. That's why I've been hesitant to get rid of cable. Also, we have it bundled with internet, which is as much a necessity in our house as running water. I also have netflix (the cheapest version) and watch a lot of stuff streaming online. I suppose it's worth a call to see if there are any bargains to be had on the cable, though. Can't imagine going without the Daily Show!

[Anonymous]

I gotta have Law and Order: SVU !

[Anonymous]

Say you have deluxe cable or satellite now and cut it out totally. You're saving, whta, $1200 a year at most? Gotta think bigger, like mortgage, daycare, cars, private school.

Cutting out the small stuff will only make you feel deprived and won't add materially to your savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you need the Internet & a PC to access RedBox or Netflix.

No.

RedBox is those kiosks at Giant/Safeway where you can rent a DVD for $1/night. Just need a DVD player.

Thanks. I don't have a DVD player. Does Redbox have Poirot/Miss Marple type programs?

On many laptops there's a port that you can hook into the TV. put a dvd in the laptop and the tv is the monitor. Also if you or DH has a ps2 or xbox it is also a dvd player. Wait-another expense is cancelling xbox live.

Some get rid of landline phones.
If you live in FX county and don't have cheap county trash pick-up and recycling you might be able to cancel AAA or whomever and sign up for the park-out [take your own trash on Saturdays].

Go to shoppers and $dollar store. The latter even has laundry detergent for $1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say you have deluxe cable or satellite now and cut it out totally. You're saving, whta, $1200 a year at most? Gotta think bigger, like mortgage, daycare, cars, private school.

Cutting out the small stuff will only make you feel deprived and won't add materially to your savings.

Agreed with this post. Also remember daycare will disappear over time if you live in a good public school zone.

[Anonymous]

When I spend less, I enjoy life more. I have more time to connect with my family. I appreciate nature and the small, but valuable, things in life.

We do:
1. second-hand clothes
2. internet/phone bundle, NO cable, Netflix is great
3. no eating out, planning unprocessed meals
4. pay as you go phone - less than $100 per year per phone

Our biggest expenses are:
1. organic food at Whole Foods
2. our new mortgage (previously renting a tiny apartment)
3. travel to Europe to see our elderly parents

[Anonymous]

PP, no childcare?

[Anonymous]

I stay home and look after DC2.
Yes, DC1 goes to private K, but we will mainstream him in first grade in the public ES, which will save 10k a year.

[Anonymous]

Say you have deluxe cable or satellite now and cut it out totally. You're saving, whta, $1200 a year at most? Gotta think bigger, like mortgage, daycare, cars, private school.

Cutting out the small stuff will only make you feel deprived and won't add materially to your savings.

I agree with this. I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking they can latte and cable away their money problems. Not that cutting those things won't help, but you need to look at where the bulk of your money goes. For most people that is your home, your vehicles, and child care/school expenses. Debt (credit card, student loans) can be another big category. Making major changes to these categories is how you save big money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you need the Internet & a PC to access RedBox or Netflix.

You do need internet to tell Netflix what to send you, but if you've got a long list you can just put it all in and not access it for quite a while.

We got rid of the cable 6+ months ago and don't miss it. My 5 year old was turning on the TV every time he came into the room and I was sick of fighting him (and DH, who will watch any crap MTV puts on even though he's 40) to turn the damn thing off. Now I just watch MY shows on Hulu and we can pop in a video (VHS kids movies for $1 at goodwill) for my son on occasion.

[Anonymous]

Here's the lentils and rice (mujadarrah) recipe, for the PP who asked:

http://greatgrub.com/stories/mujadarrah_memories

Warning: Do not put too much water in. Err on the side of less water , and add more later if the water is running out and the rice is still undercooked. The first time I made it was a total bust, it was like lentil slop. Then I saw a picture of what it's supposed to look like, made it with less water, and it was perfect. I make 1.5 times the recipe and that feeds six hungry people nicely. Or two hungry people three times. Really, one of my all time favorite dishes, and not just for vegetarians. (I'm not a vegetarian)

[Anonymous]

"Our biggest expenses are:
1. organic food at Whole Foods "

Wow! What a waste of money! There's one born every minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say you have deluxe cable or satellite now and cut it out totally. You're saving, whta, $1200 a year at most? Gotta think bigger, like mortgage, daycare, cars, private school.

Cutting out the small stuff will only make you feel deprived and won't add materially to your savings.

Can't say I agree 100%. Just eating lunch out less (once a week, rather than every week) can save her and her husband over 300/month. That plus some of these other things that really aren't a huge deal (lattes or whatever) can save them 400/mo. In 8 months, her credit card debt would be gone. And if you cook at home, you can have nice lunches - I take lunch from home and it's often better than whatever i'd be eating if i were eating out for lunch.

Good to look at mortgage, cars, private school - but some of these smaller suggestions are things they can start doing this weekend!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the lentils and rice (mujadarrah) recipe, for the PP who asked:

http://greatgrub.com/stories/mujadarrah_memories

Warning: Do not put too much water in. Err on the side of less water , and add more later if the water is running out and the rice is still undercooked. The first time I made it was a total bust, it was like lentil slop. Then I saw a picture of what it's supposed to look like, made it with less water, and it was perfect. I make 1.5 times the recipe and that feeds six hungry people nicely. Or two hungry people three times. Really, one of my all time favorite dishes, and not just for vegetarians. (I'm not a vegetarian)

Yikes! I'd rather eat plain rice with a little butter than this muck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say you have deluxe cable or satellite now and cut it out totally. You're saving, whta, $1200 a year at most? Gotta think bigger, like mortgage, daycare, cars, private school.

Cutting out the small stuff will only make you feel deprived and won't add materially to your savings.

For some of us not in the $250,000 middle class, $1200 a year is a big deal.