Making It Work

We're grad students so this might be a little extreme for you. But we have no cable, and no Netflix. We do sometimes buy DVDs, and a couple of months ago when we cancelled Netflix we got an antenna for the TV. We have one cell phone which is a prepay. And we eat a lot of beans and rice. We are keeping internet (obviously) but are going to switch to VOIP as soon as I get off my butt and get it set up. Also DH had a bit of a lighter schedule this semester, so he took an extra part-time job.

This isn't about heating though, because we live in southern California. It's just the starving student thing.

Is not as much of an issure right now as it was about 5 years ago, but I still remember how!

We only have an antennae for our TV, no netflix
one pre-paid cell phone for emergencies only
drive as little as possible
use the library for books
eat lots of macaroni, canned veggies, and bananas, and drink water from the sink
buy clothes at resale stores
share and recycle things like kids sports equipment with friends and relatives
play board and card games for entertainment
home haircuts
My MIL gives me her newspapers and magazines when she is done with them

Actually, we still do almost all of these. The biggest change for us when we have more available funds is different food, eating out more, and I tend to buy lots of books. We also travel more, and the kids take lessons, which they don't when things are tight.

FWIW
Jo

*I cancelled the newspaper subscription (though more because I'm mad at the editor. I write a weekly column for them and he keeps changing my words around, among other things I'm mad about. Still, saves $130/year)
*We still have Directv, but no premium channels.
*We seldom rent movies and we don't do Netflix. Once in a great while we rent something of the PPV.
*I'm really trying to limit town trips to 2 a week.
*Heater is turned down and I wear a sweatshirt around the house instead. We also use the fireplace when it's really chilly at night (but we have had a really mild winter. Not even any snow this year).
*Changed cell phone plans. We had the same plan for the last 11 years. When DH wrecked his last phone and we went to replace it, they didn't carry that type of phone anymore and we both HAD to switch plans. But, it worked out better. Cut the bill in half AND it includes free longdistance (I'm going to cancel my current long distance thing with MCI). Saving about $700/year!

We still eat out a little too much (I think a trip to town means I get to eat somewhere! LOL!). But I'll work on that.

We are currently in the situation of my DH doing grad school, and me staying home with the wee ones. Here are some things we did:

First, when we knew I'd be home purchased a GOOD mixer (bosch) and a grain grinder (back when we had a bit of $$). This may not work for those already home, but here's where we cut...

-Buy grains whole (healthier too!) $7 for 50 lbs at our local mill. Cook with them from scratch.
-Buy veggies in bulk or garden (seems expensive to stock up, but when you only go out to get them weekly, or less, you spend much less).
-Clothing at yardsales, thrift shops and sale racks at discount stores.
-Keep heater down (about 65 for us, sometimes lower if I'm feeling stingy).
-Eat out only with gift cards (I signed up on mypoints.com I get only the items I need via them, and read all 5 point emails. I use them to get gas gift cards, and diner gift cards).

And if you haven't read it yet, I LOVE the ideas in The Tightwad Gazette (by Amy Dacyzyn (sp?)).

I have one of the Tightwad books and will need to go through and re-read. Thanks! I forgot I even had it, so that will definately bring on some ideas. I found from another blog here a grocery shopping list and I am anxious to try that out. All of your ideas are very appreciated, thanks!