How to slash the budget?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I'm so tired of the recession! I'd like things back to normal please!

What have you cut back on? We've cut back on dinners out, and therefore babysitters. I'm trying to cut back on my Whole Foods runs...but it's tough. The cleaning lady was the hardest to let go of.

Anyone feeling my pain? Any ideas of where else to slash the budget? (And maybe get my cleaning lady back!)

[Anonymous]

I hear you. I also feel bad though for all the restaurant entrepreneurs, the cleaning ladies, the hair stylists.... we are all cutting things we can live without. But these service providers can't live without us This lowering tide is sinking all boats!

One thing I have done, I have pretty much only purchased milk and fresh fruits lately. I am using up EVERY thing in my pantry. The only other stuff I buy is on sale - Shoppers recently had spaghetti sauce for $1 a jar! So I bought as many as I could fit in the pantry.

My solution to the economic crisis? The housing plan should invite EVERYBODY to cut their mortgage payment (not principal) by 1/3. Then they'd have cash to keep their fellow citizens employed. And they could keep their homes.

But the banks will never go for it. They need to make budget on those gazillion dollar bonuses after all.

[Anonymous]

I cut back on fun spending/dinners out/profesionall highlights/too-expensive purses and shoes/etc. when I had my child, so in that respect, I haven't felt a difference with the recession. I have not, however, made larger purchases, like the dining room table I desperately want (but don't technically "need"). Since the future is uncertain, I keep the money in the bank.

[Anonymous]

I feel the pinch too. I cut back on groceries. Like a PP, I have been using up what is in my pantry and also making meal plans so that if I buy something I use 100% of it. We almost never eat out and when we do, we now select places where we can buy food to share instead of everyone ording something. Haircuts are every two months instead of 6 weeks. We don't have a cleaning person. I try to combine trips to save gas. We do just about all free entertainment. I don't ever go to the mall.

[Anonymous]

Echo what others have posted. We also do our own yard work and are cutting back on after school lessons for the kids so that we can continue with private school tuition.

One thing we're doing is tapping into our reserves to do some home remodeling; our house is in a very desirable, high end location in close-in MoCo. Home contractors are very willing to deal these days, so we're trying to take advantage of lower prices to get things done. Then, as soon as things pick-up in the economy, we'd like to option to sell and move to a less pricey area.

Our cleaning lady, who is fabulous, and cleans like no other dropped me 2 1/2 years ago when I needed (for financial reasons) to switch from every week to 1x per month. I didn't see or hear from her until very recently, but now she calls all the time asking if I want to take the latest vacancy in her schedule. Seems the cleaning lady is one of the first indulgences that people cut.

[Anonymous]

I can't cutback on Starbucks - still buying overpriced lattes 5-6x a week. But I do bring my lunches most days I work.

I am spacing out my haircuts more. And no more $100 highlights

Trying to buy more generic Giant brand on some products, still enjoying the occasional Whole Foods run.

We RARELY go out - when we do my mom babysits.

I'm keeping my gym membership but am not doing extra yoga classes on the side.

We are not planning on any vacations; I'm not buying a lot of new clothes.

[Anonymous]

My husband was laid off last April and just recently got a job in a new career. We won't be seeing any $$$ for awhile I'm working, and I do fairly well, but still, we've had to cut back. We don't want to dip into our savings.

It's only my 2 year old son, husband, me and the dog. I allot $1000K a month on groceries, Target/Walmart, extras. I still shop at Whole Foods, but make an effort to stop at MOMs before I go to WF-they're less expensive for the same products. I've cut back on buying clothes. Our largest expense is my son's school, and I would sell my furniture before before taking him out of there Our mortgage is very low, we put down more than half and have since paid down the mortgage. We make sure we turn lights off to not waste electricity. We still get carry out but only Mondays and Fridays. I color my own hair. We trim our dog's hair between groomings. I organize my errands so that I don't waste gas.

We are still taking our August vacation to the shore-after this last year, we need it! Thank goodness it's not that expensive!

[Anonymous]

For my family of 5, I have been able to cut groceries, Walmart, Target, gas and parking to $840 per month.

[Anonymous]

I heard on the radio today that Bloom is having triple coupon days over the weekend! That could be a big grocery savings if you plan it right.

[Anonymous]

The real key is asking yourself, is this a need or a want, and being honest. It's hard, I know...

[zumbamama]

I eat less. The economy is good for your figure...haha! Seriously though, I buy less food and make things stretch. I hang up clothes instead of using the dryer. I take shorter showers. I don't go shopping unless I absolutely have to. I also got rid of cable and took on 3 more teaching jobs.

[Anonymous]

I changed from cable to DSL/bundled phone for internet and saved $50 per month.

I'm eating everything in basement freezer and pantry.

I shop with a list, and make zero impulse purchases.

My family has been eating frozen vegetables and carrots all winter -- much cheaper than fresh flown in from CA (can't wait for farmer's markets to open!)

We never go out to eat; no date night; no takeout (I miss this the most)

No haircuts -- growing my hair out

When I can't stand it, I go to TJMaxx and look at their sale racks. I found a $3 sweater for my DD this way. A little purchase every once in a while makes me feel less deprived.

I'm doing all the household repairs, including cleaning out clogged drains I would have called a plumber to fix a year ago.

Keeping our 10-year-old car, even though I'm ready for a new one

I check and double check every purchase to make sure we really need something; or don't already have that item. In the past I'd just buy something new without thinking about it, but no more. We scrounged a costume for DD for the school play from things we had instead of buying stuff, which we would have done a year ago.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and I've seriously limited shopping at Whole Foods. If they have the item at Trader Joe's I purchase it there. I never used to pay attention to the price difference between these two stores. If something's $3.99 at Whole Foods, it's often $2.99 or less at Trader Joes'. Those dollars add up to quite a bit of money over time. Whole Foods is outrageously overpriced.

[Anonymous]

One more thing: I'd sell my furniture before I'd let go of my cleaner! I hate to clean, and if I had to clean my house myself, that would be the final straw.

[Anonymous]

I still do WF as our main grocery store for meats, produce, baby stuff b/c it's convenient and stuff we like but I try to waste less. That's key! We've cut down on purchases at the Dupont Farmers Market though. We goto the library now instead of our monthly buying of books at the stores or amazon. We troll craigslist for things more often and we never buy clothes unless they are on sale. No highlights, pedi/mani, massages for me for awhile now. The next step is to have housecleaning done less often.