Cut backs in

momofone wrote: spending. Have you been making any cut backs in spending? I have been spending alot less at the grocery store. and eating out alot less to save money. How about you guys?

A&A'smommy replied: eating out less, not going very far (at least until we get a new car that gets better gas mileage) thats pretty much it

momofone replied: I have been staying closer to home as well due to gas prices.

luvmykids replied: We cut back on cell phones, we switched to the tmobile flex plan. We also combined our cable, DSL and phone for less than 100/mo from over 300/mo for all three. Those are the big ones that come to mind.

lisar replied: We have done cut backs also, just not going shopping for crap anymore, not eating out, I have been carrying my lunch to work with me, buying cheaper stuff at the grocery store.

DVFlyer replied: Quite a while ago, I started bringing my lunch every day. Most recently, we've started to calculate what trips that at first seem "free" really cost us. i.e. Gas, food on the way home etc.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
Eatting out less-this includes not buying dunkin donuts coffee as often
Planning our meals to save money at the grocery store
Making cookies and treats instead of buying them

momofone replied: oh and i hardly ever use the heat until totally necessary because it cost so much (oil heat).

mom21kid2dogs replied: We live pretty frugally by choice so we haven't really made any substantial lifestyle changes. We did that 6 years ago when I quit work.

HuskerMom replied:
I bet homemade tastes better too!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Yes, dh would rather bring home made cookies to work with him than store bought. Im a sahm and alex is in school part of the day so why not bake since I love to anyway and its the perfect time of year for it!!
Every week I bake cookies, some sort of bread like pumpkin or banana and muffins.

MyLilAngel replied: I've cut back on eating out. I've been cooking more at home. I use to purchase a coffee every morning but I stopped that. I calculated it saves me $8 a week and $32 a month. That's alot on coffee a month.

For those of you who cut back on groceries, do you go to your grocery store website and print the online coupons before going shopping? What about trying 2 meals in 1 to save money as well?

momofone replied:
I did not know that about the coupons i will get it out thanks.

jcc64 replied: I do food shopping half as much as I used to- I used to go weekly, now I go twice per month- maximum. We make do with what we have. Doing just this has been extraordinarily helpful, considering I lost my job 18 months ago and we haven't accumulated all that much debt as a result. We will not be turning our heat on until November, and believe me, it's cold here in upstate NY. We heat with a woodstove, getting the trees from our property.

MyLilAngel replied:
What market(s) do you shop at? I usually shop at the same ones to accumulate savings and extra rewards.

I love coupons that offer atleast a $1 off an item. safeway.com has $1 off kelloggs cereal right now. Haven't seen coupons like that in a while.