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Post by ellise on Jun 14, 2005 10:57:29 GMT 10
Where do you scrimp to save a little extra? We have always "paid" ourselves first even if it is only $20.00 a month. But when I had the operation on my back last year, we had to use our savings. Now basically starting from scratch. I have been able to save $600.00 since January.
Don't know where else I can cut back though. Give me your ideas maybe I can draw on that.
Thanks.
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Post by sunshine on Jun 15, 2005 13:14:24 GMT 10
Groceries----
I cut out meat for some meals, cut back the meat on all meals.
I get serious about baking from scratch, searching for loss leaders and planning my menus around them. . .. buying marked down produce, meats, dented items.
I also get vigilant on the water supply. . . . use the bath water for watering the garden or flushing the toliet. Take "Navy" showers, hand wash dishes,
We pay exorbitant prices for rural eletricity too. . .so we turn off all things not in use, unplug appliances when not in use, spend daylight hours doing the things that require light, and dusk/twilight hours doing things that don't require as much light, hang all the laundry, use hand tools and appliances rather than electric ones. . . .
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Post by dixie on Jun 15, 2005 15:07:19 GMT 10
We pay exorbitant prices for rural eletricity too We pay through the nose for electricity,too. My dsons call me the electricity Nazi.  I have to be, or else our light bill could easily reach $300 in the summer, with this GA heat. |
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Post by lucie on Jun 15, 2005 22:48:03 GMT 10
I also unplug alot of things when not in use. I am constantly going around closing lights as others open them. lol I always buy what is cheaper in grocery stores and if it's not the price I want to pay, I don't buy it. I use very little laundry soap. I set my washer to 8 minutes instead of 15 and it still still washes everything well. I cook almsot always with my electric pan and I rarely use the oven and stove top. I boil my water in the electric kettle then put it in a pot, when I need to boil water for pasta or potatoes or rice...instead of making it boil on the stove top, which takes alot more electricity. ....mmmmm....I'll think of more and let you know.  |
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Post by ellise on Jun 18, 2005 12:57:21 GMT 10
Great ideas and tips. We do most of them, but there are some things that I just can't scrimp on KWIM? Like we have to have Namebrand things like Peanut butter has to be Jif, most all of the foods I eat are more expensive mainly because they are Organic and or come from the Health food stre.
Our electricity isn't so bad. We are all electric and my bill runs about $80-$120.00 through out the year. In the winter we use kerosene for heat, Newspapers under the mattress and pile on extra quilts for night time. The thermostst is set at 74 in summer and 72 in winter.
I buy groceries on sale and I do hit the cost cutters or loss leaders, I use coupons, wash in cold water for shortest amount of time, everything off if no one is using it. I don't unplug things unless we are going out of town. Fresh fruit & veggies are ourchased at the farmer's/ fresh market or roadside stands.
I cook almost everything from scratch. Shop Thrift stores and hit the occasional yard sale, I use freecycle for lots of things.
I guess I'm on the right track I just need to do some modifying. I know I can't cut back on the phone it is bare minimal, Cable is as basic as we can get and still have cable modem internet which is something Don has to have for work. Daniel pays for his own cell phone, my cell is free the company pays for it.
I'll figure it out. I plan on returning to work in August at least to sub again, and that will help put the savings back into play.
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Post by lucie on Jun 19, 2005 22:28:08 GMT 10
Ellise, it's not simple to find more ways to save when you already are very frugal.... Sometimes don't have the impression that you need to make miracles to make your money stretch even more...
Returning to work will surely help you. Tell me what kind of work would you do? You mention *sub*---do you mean substition when teachers are absent from work?.....
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Post by ellise on Jun 20, 2005 11:08:47 GMT 10
Lucie, yes I will go back to being a substitute Teacher. I have my degree but I don't want to return to work full time and Don doesn't want me to either. |
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Post by braided-rug on Sept 16, 2005 14:23:23 GMT 10
Great ideas and tips. We do most of them, but there are some things that I just can't scrimp on KWIM? Like we have to have Namebrand things like Peanut butter has to be Jif, most all of the foods I eat are more expensive mainly because they are Organic and or come from the Health food stre. Our electricity isn't so bad. We are all electric and my bill runs about $80-$120.00 through out the year. In the winter we use kerosene for heat, Newspapers under the mattress and pile on extra quilts for night time. The thermostst is set at 74 in summer and 72 in winter. I buy groceries on sale and I do hit the cost cutters or loss leaders, I use coupons, wash in cold water for shortest amount of time, everything off if no one is using it. I don't unplug things unless we are going out of town. Fresh fruit & veggies are ourchased at the farmer's/ fresh market or roadside stands. I cook almost everything from scratch. Shop Thrift stores and hit the occasional yard sale, I use freecycle for lots of things. I guess I'm on the right track I just need to do some modifying. I know I can't cut back on the phone it is bare minimal, Cable is as basic as we can get and still have cable modem internet which is something Don has to have for work. Daniel pays for his own cell phone, my cell is free the company pays for it. I'll figure it out. I plan on returning to work in August at least to sub again, and that will help put the savings back into play. I don't think we are allowed to use kero in Australia anymore. Peanut butter we just get whichever brand appeals on the day. I have to get serious as I want to build our savings back up too |
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Post by carrie on Oct 9, 2005 7:07:21 GMT 10
While we are living in the rental, we don't have a landline phone (our internet is through the cable company) and we are discovering that with our cell plan, that we don't really need a home phone. It's actually been pretty peaceful and we're enjoying that extra savings per month.
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Post by ellise on Oct 14, 2005 10:11:55 GMT 10
Carrie,
We have to have Cable internet because of Don's work. SOmetime he send HUGE e-mails that would take days with a dial up modem. We also HAVE to keep a lan line for the faxes to come in.
I have turned my cell phone off and just use a spare that Don had. I'm back to work now but it's hard when you only get called once in a while. I don't know where else to cut my costs. We have also blown our savings once again. When vehicle taxes came around it was hard not to.
Oh my, I'm sure things will work out soon.
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I have to be, or else our light bill could easily reach $300 in the summer, with this GA heat.
