Anonymous wrote:A written out google sheets or other tool budget. It’s like going on a diet, unless you write down everything you eat and can see it on (digital) paper, you won’t know where your money is going. 200/mo for cable/internet is steep - do you need to have cable? Could you get just internet for 50-60/ mo then tack on Netflix or something. That would cut that cost in half

Dump the cable - we still have it because DH wants certain channels. Assume you pay the now 139/year for amazon prime. That includes video and there are deals where for certain numbers of months you can get certain channels for $.99 /month. Or make use of the free 1 week trials on amazon. Other source can be free 1 week trials on the streaming device site.

We have a few credit cards - use passed on how many points we get per category and always click on available deals.

We pay for internet and then my two siblings and I share YouTube TV, disney+, Netflix, and HBO max accounts. It's worked for years but we'll how much longer before companies crack down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A written out google sheets or other tool budget. It’s like going on a diet, unless you write down everything you eat and can see it on (digital) paper, you won’t know where your money is going. 200/mo for cable/internet is steep - do you need to have cable? Could you get just internet for 50-60/ mo then tack on Netflix or something. That would cut that cost in half

+100. We pay $55 for internet only (Fios), and then Netflix (most basic plan, like $12/month). And we already have a Prime membership so we also have access to Prime video. I find that's enough for us (family of 4, 2 kids)

This is what we do and our cell phone package also picks up the Netflix. So we went from $220 for cable internet + $15 for basic Netflix to just the $60 for internet and we reduced our cell phone bill by switching carriers. The only time I’ve missed cable was during the Olympics and so I paid $5 that month for Peacock. It’s been 2 years since we cut it. So that’s just shy of $4,200 in savings over 2 years.

OP here; I took the advice and called Verizon to switch my packet to internet only. It dropped from $200 to $89, including tax. After starting this thread, I realized that nearly everything I watch is on YouTube. I'm binge-watching Lost again but can likely get rid of Hulu when I'm done.

Good call.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what are you paying for entertainment, cable, internet connection, streaming services etc.

Cable/internet $200 month/Verizon
T-Mobile $160
Netflix, Hulu, and Prime subscriptions are about $30 per month

I know almost no one my age (GenX) or younger who still pays for cable. Prime, Hulu and Netflix give you plenty to watch, and you cam bundle HBO Max into Hulu for a discount if you really need four services. At that point, though, I’d start looking for hobbies that aren’t just endless hours of screens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A written out google sheets or other tool budget. It’s like going on a diet, unless you write down everything you eat and can see it on (digital) paper, you won’t know where your money is going. 200/mo for cable/internet is steep - do you need to have cable? Could you get just internet for 50-60/ mo then tack on Netflix or something. That would cut that cost in half

+100. We pay $55 for internet only (Fios), and then Netflix (most basic plan, like $12/month). And we already have a Prime membership so we also have access to Prime video. I find that's enough for us (family of 4, 2 kids)

This is what we do and our cell phone package also picks up the Netflix. So we went from $220 for cable internet + $15 for basic Netflix to just the $60 for internet and we reduced our cell phone bill by switching carriers. The only time I’ve missed cable was during the Olympics and so I paid $5 that month for Peacock. It’s been 2 years since we cut it. So that’s just shy of $4,200 in savings over 2 years.

OP here; I took the advice and called Verizon to switch my packet to internet only. It dropped from $200 to $89, including tax. After starting this thread, I realized that nearly everything I watch is on YouTube. I'm binge-watching Lost again but can likely get rid of Hulu when I'm done.

I get Netflix for free with T-Mobile on the magenta max plan. Check if that works for you! I have internet also form T-Mobile for $50. I have to keep T-Mobile because the cell phone plan is free data international and I travel often.

Anonymous wrote:OP, an old fashioned idea which (for good reason) has fallen out of favor but works very well: The Envelope System. Take out a set amount of money each month. Put cash into different envelopes. Each envelope has a budget category written on it ~ Eating Out, that might be one. You can review, throughout the month, how you are doing with your spending. Most people do occasionally 'rob" one envelope if more $ is needed in different envelope, towards the end of the month.

I could try this but I am historically terrible with paper money-- it burns a hole in my pocket. I do much better budgeting with a card

Also, Mint Mobile ads are all that's showing up on DCUM for me now

The streaming services (Netflix/Hulu) don't have to be an all or nothing thing. They are so easy to enroll and cancel that you can get one for 2 or 3 months to watch everything of interest and then cancel. You can then try a different service for a bit.

OP, an old fashioned idea which (for good reason) has fallen out of favor but works very well: The Envelope System. Take out a set amount of money each month. Put cash into different envelopes. Each envelope has a budget category written on it ~ Eating Out, that might be one. You can review, throughout the month, how you are doing with your spending. Most people do occasionally 'rob" one envelope if more $ is needed in different envelope, towards the end of the month.

Op here, thank you to everyone who advised me to look at my expenses from a broader perspective. I have made the following changes since posting this thread:

Netflix- switched from the $15.49 to $9.99 plan;

Fios- switched from internet/cable $200/month to internet only $89/month;

Hulu- threatened to cancel Hulu and was promptly offered service for $2.99 instead of $6.99 per month for the next six months;

Garage parking- found a cheaper garage @ $14 per vs. previous $16;

The last item on my list is switching phones. So far, Mint mobile's plans are more appealing than Ting for my needs, so I am going to look into switching over the weekend.

With all the suggestions made that I've implemented, I stand to save $3,096 per year. Not bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of these sound less fun and more work than just earning a few hundred extra each month. I earn about an extra $2500 / year by doing website testing, product testing and focus groups. I'd say I do this about 3-5 hours per month for fun. I think most people could find extra income somewhere if they put in a little effort.

Where do you find this work?

+2

OP, I use Mint Mobile, which runs on TMobile towers. I just finished trying it out for a few months and bought a 12 month plan, 10 g plan, for $240 (so, $20 per month). I had bought a Nord One Plus 5g phone for $249 at Best Buy recently and will keep it for years. I never finance phones.

TMobile also has a $50 home internet deal that uses a ...plug in thingy?...(sort of like a speaker) I have not tried it but the price is good.

I almost never buy coffee out. I have a $17 Mr Coffee from walmart that I can set to start brewing when I get up so coffee is waiting for me to put in my travel cup. I fill the mr coffee before bed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A written out google sheets or other tool budget. It’s like going on a diet, unless you write down everything you eat and can see it on (digital) paper, you won’t know where your money is going. 200/mo for cable/internet is steep - do you need to have cable? Could you get just internet for 50-60/ mo then tack on Netflix or something. That would cut that cost in half

+100. We pay $55 for internet only (Fios), and then Netflix (most basic plan, like $12/month). And we already have a Prime membership so we also have access to Prime video. I find that's enough for us (family of 4, 2 kids)

This is what we do and our cell phone package also picks up the Netflix. So we went from $220 for cable internet + $15 for basic Netflix to just the $60 for internet and we reduced our cell phone bill by switching carriers. The only time I’ve missed cable was during the Olympics and so I paid $5 that month for Peacock. It’s been 2 years since we cut it. So that’s just shy of $4,200 in savings over 2 years.

OP here; I took the advice and called Verizon to switch my packet to internet only. It dropped from $200 to $89, including tax. After starting this thread, I realized that nearly everything I watch is on YouTube. I'm binge-watching Lost again but can likely get rid of Hulu when I'm done.

Unsubscribe from all retail marketing emails. Stop following retail companies on social media. Don’t buy anything (except groceries) without thinking about it for 24 hours first.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A written out google sheets or other tool budget. It’s like going on a diet, unless you write down everything you eat and can see it on (digital) paper, you won’t know where your money is going. 200/mo for cable/internet is steep - do you need to have cable? Could you get just internet for 50-60/ mo then tack on Netflix or something. That would cut that cost in half

+100. We pay $55 for internet only (Fios), and then Netflix (most basic plan, like $12/month). And we already have a Prime membership so we also have access to Prime video. I find that's enough for us (family of 4, 2 kids)

This is what we do and our cell phone package also picks up the Netflix. So we went from $220 for cable internet + $15 for basic Netflix to just the $60 for internet and we reduced our cell phone bill by switching carriers. The only time I’ve missed cable was during the Olympics and so I paid $5 that month for Peacock. It’s been 2 years since we cut it. So that’s just shy of $4,200 in savings over 2 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what are you paying for entertainment, cable, internet connection, streaming services etc.

Cable/internet $200 month/Verizon
T-Mobile $160
Netflix, Hulu, and Prime subscriptions are about $30 per month

You can really save here. Do you need cable if you have Netflix, Hulu and Prime? We have those as all, and have an antenna to watch "Live TV" when we want-- I've never really felt the loss of cable. I think you have save at least $100 a month here.

Phone -- seriously look into Ting, or another service like it. You can save another $100 per month here.