Anonymous
01/04/2013 13:27
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Have you actually written down all your monthly expenses? You might find there are things you could cancel or you are paying for 2 very similar things when you only need one.
I just saved myself money on my newspaper subscription by calling and having them offer me a YEARLY bill that was only slightly more than my quarterly. I know, I know - I can get most stuff online, it is just an example of cost cutting that you can get by threatening to cancel something.
I just saved myself money on my newspaper subscription by calling and having them offer me a YEARLY bill that was only slightly more than my quarterly. I know, I know - I can get most stuff online, it is just an example of cost cutting that you can get by threatening to cancel something.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 13:21
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
there are lots of good blogs/websites that can help with your food budget. Taste of Home has a Budget Cooking newsletter. There is also a writer/blogger who does $5 and under dinners.
Do you have savings to dip into?
When I was cut back on my hours this summer, we cut out our retirement and savings deductions that we do through our FA and watched our food budget a little more. We got through those few months pretty well.
Good luck!
Do you have savings to dip into?
When I was cut back on my hours this summer, we cut out our retirement and savings deductions that we do through our FA and watched our food budget a little more. We got through those few months pretty well.
Good luck!
Anonymous
01/04/2013 13:21
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, it will cost us more to cancel and restart contracts for cable, etc.
Unlikely. I've had two friends go cable-free and they both receive regular offers to come back at lower rates. Also, you may find you don't miss it and it will be a long-term cost savings.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 13:03
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Thanks everyone!
Canceling cable would cost us a $200 cancellation fee and its only $50 a month, so assuming (hopefully) he is out of work for approx 4 months, it wouldnt be worth it.
I definitely have to do a better job with meal planning. I already buy generic, eat veg often and use coupons but somehow the food bills are still out of control.
I think I will unsubscribe/block n FB some of the "budget blogs", bc they often inspire me to buy stuff I dont need bc they are on sale.
PLEASE keep the tips coming!!
Canceling cable would cost us a $200 cancellation fee and its only $50 a month, so assuming (hopefully) he is out of work for approx 4 months, it wouldnt be worth it.
I definitely have to do a better job with meal planning. I already buy generic, eat veg often and use coupons but somehow the food bills are still out of control.
I think I will unsubscribe/block n FB some of the "budget blogs", bc they often inspire me to buy stuff I dont need bc they are on sale.
PLEASE keep the tips coming!!
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:58
Subject: Re:DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
To add to the food tips, plan your meals so that nothing goes to waste.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:55
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Lots of great ideas here. We saved a lot of money on take out this month by having our freezer stocked with soups we had made and frozen. Make two-three big batches of bean soup over the weekend and buy some cheap rubbermaid containers and freeze them. Freeze a few loaves of bread too. Then when we had a busy time, we just re-heated soup and toasted bread from the freezer. Though your DH could cook at home, he may also need to spend his time applying for jobs and networking.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:54
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Anonymous wrote:- Call car insurance and tell them he doesn't drive his car to work and it's only like 5 miles/day PT driving.
- Cancel cable TV and buy an HD Roku box and HD antenna and subscribe to Amazon Prime for free TV/movies. You can buy new seasons of cable shows you love for about $15/season.
- Cancel gym memberships.
- Get an economic forbearance for the student loans so you can stop making payments.
- Eat beans/rice twice a week and pasta once per week - groceries may be your 2nd largest bill/month. Squeeze lime on the cooked rice. To season the beans, fry some yellow onions (buy bags of yellow onion - it's cheaper), then pour in the beans and sprinkle adobo on it and simmer a few minutes. Then mix the rice/beans up.
Or, you can cook dry beans from scratch at 1/2 the price and simmer in water with fried onions and 1 packet of Goya Sazon Seasoning (the all orange box). We buy the big 5 lbs bags of jasmin rice.
Also, when we eat meat, we usually eat chiken thighs in a crock pot - just de-skin/fat and cover it with lots of water and a chopped up onion. You can season the water with lots of Adobo, or with lots of McCormick Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend and Allspice. Serve with the cheap rice.
And we only eat frozen veggies - Trader's has really cheap frozen veggies, wines, and other beverages but the meat and several other items are really expensive.
And buy everything generic that you can, although some things you cannot like dressing, mayonaise, pasta sauce or canned tomatoes.
Whoda thunk, Susze Orman on DCUM!
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:45
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
- Call car insurance and tell them he doesn't drive his car to work and it's only like 5 miles/day PT driving.
- Cancel cable TV and buy an HD Roku box and HD antenna and subscribe to Amazon Prime for free TV/movies. You can buy new seasons of cable shows you love for about $15/season.
- Cancel gym memberships.
- Get an economic forbearance for the student loans so you can stop making payments.
- Eat beans/rice twice a week and pasta once per week - groceries may be your 2nd largest bill/month. Squeeze lime on the cooked rice. To season the beans, fry some yellow onions (buy bags of yellow onion - it's cheaper), then pour in the beans and sprinkle adobo on it and simmer a few minutes. Then mix the rice/beans up.
Or, you can cook dry beans from scratch at 1/2 the price and simmer in water with fried onions and 1 packet of Goya Sazon Seasoning (the all orange box). We buy the big 5 lbs bags of jasmin rice.
Also, when we eat meat, we usually eat chiken thighs in a crock pot - just de-skin/fat and cover it with lots of water and a chopped up onion. You can season the water with lots of Adobo, or with lots of McCormick Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend and Allspice. Serve with the cheap rice.
And we only eat frozen veggies - Trader's has really cheap frozen veggies, wines, and other beverages but the meat and several other items are really expensive.
And buy everything generic that you can, although some things you cannot like dressing, mayonaise, pasta sauce or canned tomatoes.
- Cancel cable TV and buy an HD Roku box and HD antenna and subscribe to Amazon Prime for free TV/movies. You can buy new seasons of cable shows you love for about $15/season.
- Cancel gym memberships.
- Get an economic forbearance for the student loans so you can stop making payments.
- Eat beans/rice twice a week and pasta once per week - groceries may be your 2nd largest bill/month. Squeeze lime on the cooked rice. To season the beans, fry some yellow onions (buy bags of yellow onion - it's cheaper), then pour in the beans and sprinkle adobo on it and simmer a few minutes. Then mix the rice/beans up.
Or, you can cook dry beans from scratch at 1/2 the price and simmer in water with fried onions and 1 packet of Goya Sazon Seasoning (the all orange box). We buy the big 5 lbs bags of jasmin rice.
Also, when we eat meat, we usually eat chiken thighs in a crock pot - just de-skin/fat and cover it with lots of water and a chopped up onion. You can season the water with lots of Adobo, or with lots of McCormick Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend and Allspice. Serve with the cheap rice.
And we only eat frozen veggies - Trader's has really cheap frozen veggies, wines, and other beverages but the meat and several other items are really expensive.
And buy everything generic that you can, although some things you cannot like dressing, mayonaise, pasta sauce or canned tomatoes.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:45
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Increase deductibles on your insurance policies, eg., car, home. Those changes take effect very quickly, if not immediately.
Cancel memberships, subscriptions.
Cancel memberships, subscriptions.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:42
Subject: Re:DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Unfortunately, it will cost us more to cancel and restart contracts for cable, etc.
Cable would be the first thing I would cancel. We got rid of cable about a year ago - Not for financial reasons, just because we felt like it was a waste of money. We have netflix and apple tv. No one in our house misses having cable. We were paying $160 for cable and internet. We pay $29.95 a month for internet alone. That's a pretty significant savings. If I were trying to cut household costs, cable television would be the first thing gone.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:39
Subject: Re:DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
File for unemployment
Defer student loans
See if you qualify for assistance - food stamps, special rates for utilities
Cancel the cable with the intention of not restarting
Defer student loans
See if you qualify for assistance - food stamps, special rates for utilities
Cancel the cable with the intention of not restarting
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:38
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
In a job loss situation you might get a breather on student loan payments - they'll tack the missed payments (plus interest) to the back of the loan. Worth asking.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:37
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
Were you carrying health care insurance through your DH's former employer? If so, you need to COBRA out to ensure coverage for a period of time until you can get new covreage.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:35
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
The first thing you want to do is call the student loan holders and see if you can get an economic hardship forbearance. You will still accrue interest during that time, but won't have to make the monthly payments. I have mine through the government, Stafford loans, and when I was laid off a few years ago, they were very easy to deal with in that respect.
Anonymous
01/04/2013 12:33
Subject: DH just lost his job - any temporary cost-cutting tips?
We managed to take the kids out of early and aftercare at school in the interim. I also had to fire our cleaning lady (or at least put her on hold for a bit). Any other tips for temporary cost cutting? Unfortunately, it will cost us more to cancel and restart contracts for cable, etc.
Primary costs are mortgage, childcare, student loans ($800 month), utilities, food, household goods, and insurance.
Primary costs are mortgage, childcare, student loans ($800 month), utilities, food, household goods, and insurance.