Quote:
Look at all your subscriptions and services and see which ones you can cut. Within the past year, my family has made some major cuts that have saved us a lot of monthly expenses. We cut out our landline phone, since we were paying for both that and cell phones. Haven't missed it - the cells mean we can still make as many calls as we need to and its usually easier for us to get hold of one another. We cut out our paid TV service ($70/mo) and subscribed to Netflix instead ($15/mo). Its not often you can cut services and expenses and have the whole family say "I LOVE this" but that is what happened in this instance. We can watch our favorite TV shows either via instant streaming on the computer or via DVD. Either way - no commercials. We're actually about to cut that service back to the $10/mo plan, since we don't really need to have two DVD's out at a time any more. I cut memberships to a couple of organizations I paid an annual fee for. Look at your insurance costs. If your cars are over a certain age, you own them outright and you have full coverage, consider dropping back to collision only. Can you increase your deductibles for a lower monthly rate? Look at your utility bills. Can you find ways to cut them? (Like turn the heat way down in winter. We have our house temp set to 57 in winter and just wear more clothes. When the electric bill comes its nice to know we won't starve in order to pay it. Set up a clothesline and dry your clothes using solar energy instead of a dryer. Water bill too high? Take fewer and shorter showers. When running water to get it hot for doing dishes, save the water instead of having it go down the drain (I keep a couple of empty gallon milk containers by my back door for this purpose). When I need to refill pet watering bowls or water plants, I use the saved water. Gas prices are so high now I think we are all trying to buy less of it. I know I think now about running errands and try to combine my errands into one trip instead of making several separate trips. I'm also going to brush the cobwebs off my bike and start using it more, or even walk some of the places I go. I'll get fitter and spend less on gas! Basically what I'm saying is look at all the ways you are currently spending money and see if there is a way you can lower the amounts you spend. You may be surprised.