Comments on: Splurge substitutes

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:06:21 +0000

The recession is making us all start to live the way we should have been right along, with in our means. I got laid off in June and for a little while it probably saved us $ because I didn’t have to spend a ton on daycamp. We’ve now cut down to one car(it’s hard) and my boys know that they aren’t going to get much for Christmas. They have learned to prioritise, too they chose to go snowboarding for their Christmas gift instead of any games etc…So only socks and underware under the tree at our house.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:14:57 +0000

These are great ideas!
Some things we are doing…
-We can rent DVDs at the our library! Instead of renting or going to the movies, we rent them for $1 a week! Kids DVds are free!
-We compost veggie and fruit waste to lessen the amount of garbage we put out.
-We shop a resale/second-hand store for our 10-month-old’s clothes. She grows so fast, and it saves money to not buy new for everything.
-I plan our meals each week, and shop every Monday to make sure we have all the necessary food for the “menu.” This lessens our need to eat out in the evening. I freeze leftovers for my husband and I to eat for lunch–no going out to lunch.

By: Aggie

Aggie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:52:33 +0000

These are great ideas, I’m actually going to start using the library again, I love books and like you easily drop some $$ at the bookstore. And doing the same with the pedicures at home.

Great post!

By: Leora

Leora — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:00:59 +0000

Hi there!! I am a single mother that is raising 3 girls by myself. The first time I left their father, I found myself having to go back after 3 years because of the way I miss maniged my money. This time, I live debt free!!
I have a envalope method of taking care of everything. I get my paycheck at the end of every moth and sit down and put in Electric, Water, Gas, Food, Rent, After School Activities, in each of the envalopes that is set aside for them!! Then we also have an extra’s envalope. This is the one that a list of things is made up for and then we assess if it is a must for this month, can it wait, or do we really need this at all! I live with out a visa and without a checkbook!! I pay everything cash only. And guess what, I am finding out that I can live within my meens.
It has truely set me free!!!
P.S
When I say I am raising them alone, I mean with out any help from their father in child support at all!!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:48:08 +0000

Trying to cut necessities is the hard part. We are both self-employed and cannot count on a steady paycheck. After cutting our cable package to basic cable, I realized our garbage bill had gone up and up and up. We now recycle every little thing we can and we’ve cut our overflowing 2 garbage cans a week to just one that’s not overflowing. Savings= $30.00 month $360.00 year

By: Lady B Goode

Lady B Goode — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:09:32 +0000

We actually did a wants and needs day at my daughter’s school (elementary school) where we taked with the kids about what in life is a want and what’s a need. They didn’t really know the difference!

By: Lynnemarie

Lynnemarie — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:25:15 +0000

Hi,
I like all of these ideas. During sales I have been stocking up on mixes for cakes, pancakes, ect and have been baking more at home. Especially for birthdays when I was spending $20-30 on a decorated cake.

By: Jill McKechnie

Jill McKechnie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:59:42 +0000

Our family is in the same boat. One suggestion I have is if you’re a magazine junkie, ask for a subscription for Christmas. It’s a fairly inexpensive gift for a family member to give you, and that way you don’t have to completely give up your magazines!

By: Denise Jackson

Denise Jackson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:44:07 +0000

HI RACHEL!!
GOT A GREAT WAY TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVE “NEW CLOTHES” EVERY FALL. BEEN DOING THIS TRICK FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY. IT’S EASY, CHEAP, AND DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TIME OR EFFORT!!