In Reply to: Unexpected drop in income.. need hints, ideas, tips, etc. of ways to cut back. posted by I'll start the list... please add so we can all learn! on August 22, 2005 at 11:00:56:
Keep track of ALL your purchases, hopefully for a month. Then you can have a better idea what you are really spending and where.
I have a budget that lists expenses by house, fun, medical, pets, etc. Some expenses are must-have, like the mortage and insurance and food. Some are uncontrollable, like repairs and maintenance and medical bills. Then there are the other things that can really add up. We can afford some fun stuff, but not too much. I like to know we are spending it where we really want and not just out of a bad habit that we don't really care about.
If you have to cut back a lot, you need to cut back where you will have the best chance of making it stick. Would you rather have a night at the movies once a week or cable TV every day. Would you rather have dessert every night or a better cut of meat? Can you find a fun activity that doesn't cost as much (Sunday afternoon bowling versus friday night first-run movies.)
Again, if you can keep track for a month you will see where your money is going and what sounds reasonable for you. You have to cut back in a way that you can cope with, just like the right diet.
Speaking of which, planning your meals for the week can really save money. Just like the old days in the school cafeteria, you can use leftovers to make the next meal. If you plan well you will likely spend less, noting what you already have versus what you need to buy.
And if you or your husband or parents were in the military, consider joining local American Legion or other military post. Many of those have wonderful kitchen/restaurant for members at a great price. They usually have a nightly special for just a few dollars. On Saturday afternoon at 3:00 we have t-bone steak and all fixings (including a nonalcoholic drink) for $5.50. This way we can go out to a nice healthy meal without breaking the budget.