If you try to cut corners, what's the first thing you cut back on?

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

We all have our ways that we try to economize. A little here, a little there. It all adds up!

When you find things a little tight, where do you go first to try and make the ends meet?

DH and I used to have occasional times when we had more days than dollars at the end of the month, and we would not go out to eat at all until things were back in line.

Now, it's a way of life -- trying to figure out how we can cut back a little here or a little there.

When you find yourself faced with being short --- whether it's a temporary or permanent thing, where do you cut your corners first?

Now a days, we seldom ever go out to eat. And when we do, it's usually some place very economical such as Denny's or Eat 'n Park. Except for a very special occasion. Or, instead of going out for a meal, we may go out for a coffee and pastry instead.

Also, for myself personally, I try and stay out of stores as much as possible. Clothing and shoes are hard for me --- that's a big temptation.

And makeup ---- drugstores --- best to avoid them except when I absolutely have to go. It's too easy to pick this little thing up and then that, etc., etc.

Magazines --- I love, love, love them. I cut those down dramatically. I still have my certain favorites, but I no longer buy all the weekly tabs, and I've drastically reduced my subscriptions.

I try to be more mindful of spending money needlessly.

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

Not because we had to but because I wanted to, I stopped buying my daily iced coffee, gave up the nail salon - that was something I no longer looked forward to, it wasn't fun anymore and was becoming a chore, so I do it myself, I pay all our bills through the bank's bill pay service and save on postage.

Just those three little things add up at the end of the year.

MaggieToo · ‎03-09-2010

I have already stopped:

Newspaper, hairdresser once a week, dog grooming, movies (still go, but only once or twice a year), car wash every month (now just run it through self serve every 6 months), and eating out often.

I don't have much left to cut out. I guess I could stop internet and tv, but I won't.

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

I try to keep my visits to Wal-Mart once a week, if I need something between visits I go to the dollar general.

We are not eating out as much, after I saw a local news report of a policeman going to eat out and someone working in the back spit in his food and somehow this was recorded the guy is being charged, and my desire to buy my dinner has drastically decreased.

My grandpa told me one time the secret to saving money was to always ask yourself if you really needed whatever it was you were wanting to buy or if you could live without it.

Luv2Decorate · ‎03-12-2010

I look at our expenses and see where we are spending the most money on non-essentials and start there.

If we had to cut back, eating out would be the first to go, I'd cut more coupons and do free things as entertainment. Like having friends over to play cards.

missy1 · ‎03-10-2010

There's not many more corners I can cut. No eating out, buy store brand products. Buy what you really need.

Luv2Decorate · ‎03-12-2010

On 2/27/2014 AngelPuppy1 said:
We all have our ways that we try to economize. A little here, a little there. It all adds up!

When you find things a little tight, where do you go first to try and make the ends meet?

DH and I used to have occasional times when we had more days than dollars at the end of the month, and we would not go out to eat at all until things were back in line.

Now, it's a way of life -- trying to figure out how we can cut back a little here or a little there.

When you find yourself faced with being short --- whether it's a temporary or permanent thing, where do you cut your corners first?

Now a days, we seldom ever go out to eat. And when we do, it's usually some place very economical such as Denny's or Eat 'n Park. Except for a very special occasion. Or, instead of going out for a meal, we may go out for a coffee and pastry instead.

Also, for myself personally, I try and stay out of stores as much as possible. Clothing and shoes are hard for me --- that's a big temptation.

And makeup ---- drugstores --- best to avoid them except when I absolutely have to go. It's too easy to pick this little thing up and then that, etc., etc.

Magazines --- I love, love, love them. I cut those down dramatically. I still have my certain favorites, but I no longer buy all the weekly tabs, and I've drastically reduced my subscriptions.

I try to be more mindful of spending money needlessly.

Sorry to take this in a different direction but, Don't you think that Eat n Park is a strange name for a restaurant? When my mom goes back to PA she always goes there. Ha! Shouldn't it be Park n Eat?

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

I make my own chai latte at home...Starbucks prices are outrageous.

I could probably go w/o food shopping for 3 weeks or so if I just ate everything already in the house, cleaning out the freezer and the cupboards.

Lila Belle · ‎01-24-2013

Clothing for me, snack food, and buying some store brands. I always use coupons.

Mersha · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/27/2014 Luv2Decorate said:
On 2/27/2014 AngelPuppy1 said:
We all have our ways that we try to economize. A little here, a little there. It all adds up!

When you find things a little tight, where do you go first to try and make the ends meet?

DH and I used to have occasional times when we had more days than dollars at the end of the month, and we would not go out to eat at all until things were back in line.

Now, it's a way of life -- trying to figure out how we can cut back a little here or a little there.

When you find yourself faced with being short --- whether it's a temporary or permanent thing, where do you cut your corners first?

Now a days, we seldom ever go out to eat. And when we do, it's usually some place very economical such as Denny's or Eat 'n Park. Except for a very special occasion. Or, instead of going out for a meal, we may go out for a coffee and pastry instead.

Also, for myself personally, I try and stay out of stores as much as possible. Clothing and shoes are hard for me --- that's a big temptation.

And makeup ---- drugstores --- best to avoid them except when I absolutely have to go. It's too easy to pick this little thing up and then that, etc., etc.

Magazines --- I love, love, love them. I cut those down dramatically. I still have my certain favorites, but I no longer buy all the weekly tabs, and I've drastically reduced my subscriptions.

I try to be more mindful of spending money needlessly.

Sorry to take this in a different direction but, Don't you think that Eat n Park is a strange name for a restaurant? When my mom goes back to PA she always goes there. Ha! Shouldn't it be Park n Eat?