Save money challenge: cut out something you can’t live without
What can you give up to save money? What’s extreme to you?
I haven’t bought a book in a couple of years now. My whole life I always used the library; getting the bulk of my books there, but that doesn’t mean I never bought books. I used to buy books all the time. My general rule was if I check it out from the library more than once, I should just buy it.
I woke up one day and decided not to buy books anymore. I can’t live without books, and I do like to own them, so not buying them anymore was a big step. I’m mostly driven not to buy because I hate clutter, and books clutter up fast, but an additional perk of course is that I save money.
We also don’t have cable television (at all). We don’t even have the basic cable that makes your reception come in. Cable is expensive where I live. Personally, I can live without cable, because I don’t watch much TV, but my son almost died - or so he said he might. He said he felt like he couldn’t live without cable (in so many words); but he’s on the couch right now and appears to be breathing so I guess he was wrong.
Is there something you feel like you can’t live without that you’d be willing to give up to save money? Or have you done this in the past? If you’ve never thought about it, consider the question this week. Think of something you feel attached to, and then consider the possibility of giving it up.
Ideas:
- Cable TV
- Magazine subscriptions
- A second car
- Gym membership
- Pre-packaged foods
- Fast food
- Movie theater flicks
- Shoes more than once a year
- A bigger house
- Makeup
- And so on…
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POSTED IN: Save Money, Simpler Thinking
7 opinions for Save money challenge: cut out something you can’t live without
Kim
Sep 24, 2008 at 5:14 am
Oh, I agree with you. The only books I buy now are cookbooks and that is only to help support our local schools. There is a fundraiser that only the teachers see, and I have gotten some great books that way. I have gotten some great gifts this way.
Now I am slowly weaning my girls from not having to buy from the school bookfair, even though it is a good deal.
The library has always been a good friend, but we are really developing a better relationship with it.
If I can’t get a free subscription to a magazine I borrow it from the library. This was the hardest because I am such a People magazine junkie. But I have been really good for about a year now.
We only go to the movies if we have free tickets. If not, we wait for redbox releases or again the library.
"Cents"able Momma
Sep 24, 2008 at 9:21 am
We also don’t have cable TV. I try not to buy books either (but either check them out from the public or church library). I’m not much of a shoe person, so I usually only buy 1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of winter shoes (if needed…and usually as a Christmas present).
However, there are other things that I can cut out that you’ve started me thinking about.
Allison
Sep 24, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Before moving across country recently, we sold our second car, with plans to buy a new one when we arrived in Pennsylvania. With my husband’s new job less than 15 minutes away from home, we decided to try having just one car for a while. It’s been 2 months and we hardly notice a need for a second car. We are saving upwards of $550 a month on a car payment, insurance and gas!
Peggy
Sep 24, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Hmmm. I could cut Netflix or the second car (if we move closer to work). I’m almost convinced to cut my home phone.
dh
Sep 24, 2008 at 8:11 pm
cafeteria lunches. We’re bringing. Some are prepackaged, but still staying away from the cafeteria helps.
Miss Snips
Sep 27, 2008 at 11:00 am
Ha, all except cutting out Cable, I have pretty much always lived without all the other things on your list. I find that second hand stores are great for magazines, if you go often enough you can get almost current issues of many magazines. And books are a bargin a 2 bucks for paperbacks and maybe 5 bucks for hardcovers… Makeup? I only use a moisturizer on my skin, and never gunk it up with make up stuff… A gym membership? my neighbourhood has sidewalks and I use them all the time, no second car either… My thing for saving is to try to do the make it yourself version - my hubby discovered those sweet and salty granola bars, cost 10 bucks for 36 bars, but I can make them for about 4 dollars for 36 bars… Gifts - I almost always make, too…
Jennifer
Sep 30, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Wow it’s interesting to see what people give up. Many good items here; magazines are a biggie, the second car is HUGE. My ex, my son and I lived with just one car for many years and had no problems.
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