Suggestions on cutting monthly/daily expenses?

[CTSMOM01]

I'm trying to find some suggestions and opinions on how to cut back on everyday and monthly expenses. So far I'm thinking about cancelling the following:

1. cell phone insurance $6 mth with a $130 deductible

2. cable service $95 monthly (just lost discounted rate)

3. unlimited text messaging? (hmm and putting a block on my phone) $15 mth on my line and $5 for ds

 

I'm still thinking???????

any help would be appreciative.

[Guest Resplendence]

I'm trying to find some suggestions and opinions on how to cut back on everyday and monthly expenses. So far I'm thinking about cancelling the following:

1. cell phone insurance $6 mth with a $130 deductible

2. cable service $95 monthly (just lost discounted rate)

3. unlimited text messaging? (hmm and putting a block on my phone) $15 mth on my line and $5 for ds

 

I'm still thinking???????

any help would be appreciative.

Cook at home more frequently.

[TJ Girl]

You might get a better response if you post your monthly budget. Then people can suggest where things look high and can be trimmed back.

[evanostrand]

Well, to save money on my telephone, we did this.

 

Now, bear in mind that my spouse and I RARELY use the telephone and our cell phone is strictly for things like calling cabs and/or if my immigrant spouse got lost somewhere or something. Boss calls if i oversleep. Emergencies basically.

 

We have a prepaid one and we put 10 bucks a month on it, if that.

 

Then, we got the 500 minutes per month Vonage plan for 14.99 a month and that has saved us SO much money. There is nothing better than that out there, at the moment.

 

The other big culprit for us when we were fixing our budget was eating out. I am not exaggerating when i say that when we stopped eating out, we had enough money left over to have a maid come in and clean the apartment once a week AND still save several hundred each month; no joke.

Edited September 28, 2009 by evanostrand

[squirrelgirl]

Easiest way I save money every month is eliminating "impulse" buys. Meaning, anything I don't actually NEED, I weigh the pros and cons of buying. Usually just walk away without it. I bet I save at least a few hundred a month doing that...

 

Like others said, if you post actual expenses, you'll get more/better answers.

[TJ Girl]

Easiest way I save money every month is eliminating "impulse" buys. Meaning, anything I don't actually NEED, I weigh the pros and cons of buying. Usually just walk away without it. I bet I save at least a few hundred a month doing that...

Another similar approach is to make a decision that you won't buy anything now. If you see something you want, tell yourself that if you still want it tomorrow, you'll buy it.

Chances are, it won't seem so important or desirable when it's not right there in front of you, and you won't bother going back.

[hegemony]

did anyone in your household get a tax refund? if so, consider adjusting your W-4 so that you get to take home more of your own money and avoid giving the IRS an interest free loan.

[CTSMOM01]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm really going to STOP EATING OUT! It's just me and DS and we spend big bucks on eating out!

[cb_opus]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm really going to STOP EATING OUT! It's just me and DS and we spend big bucks on eating out!

 

You can always make it a budget item, if it's something you enjoy doing together. Say, every first Sunday of the month, you go out together. Make it special and something to look forward to.

 

Eating in together could really create some wonderful memories. Teach him how to cook some simple things, have him help with cleanup, and future SO's will bless you mightily!

[AnonymouslyIndebted]

I'm trying to find some suggestions and opinions on how to cut back on everyday and monthly expenses. So far I'm thinking about cancelling the following:

1. cell phone insurance $6 mth with a $130 deductible

2. cable service $95 monthly (just lost discounted rate)

3. unlimited text messaging? (hmm and putting a block on my phone) $15 mth on my line and $5 for ds

 

I'm still thinking???????

any help would be appreciative.

Don't think about it anymore. I suggest you cancel your cellphone insurance and look at your phone bill and check what you are actually paying for. Are you paying for an internet service you're not using? Or have excess minutes? You might also want to check and compare rates with other phone companies. If it's still worth staying with your current phone company, call them up and make some changes to reduce your monthly payment.

 

Aside from the things you mentioned above, you can also cut on food expenses. Instead of eating out, why not bring a packed lunch? Buy food that you are going to eat and eat what you have. You wouldn't notice that this will actually save you 50% of your food expense.

 

...and always pay your bills on time, because if you don't it would incur fees which is an added cost to you.

[AmnCorny]

I'm trying to find some suggestions and opinions on how to cut back on everyday and monthly expenses. So far I'm thinking about cancelling the following:

1. cell phone insurance $6 mth with a $130 deductible

2. cable service $95 monthly (just lost discounted rate)

3. unlimited text messaging? (hmm and putting a block on my phone) $15 mth on my line and $5 for ds

 

I'm still thinking???????

any help would be appreciative.

Don't think about it anymore. I suggest you cancel your cellphone insurance and look at your phone bill and check what you are actually paying for. Are you paying for an internet service you're not using? Or have excess minutes? You might also want to check and compare rates with other phone companies. If it's still worth staying with your current phone company, call them up and make some changes to reduce your monthly payment.

 

Aside from the things you mentioned above, you can also cut on food expenses. Instead of eating out, why not bring a packed lunch? Buy food that you are going to eat and eat what you have. You wouldn't notice that this will actually save you 50% of your food expense.

 

...and always pay your bills on time, because if you don't it would incur fees which is an added cost to you.

 

 

I'm sure since this post is over 3 months old that the OP has either done something about this or not, but I would like to say that you probably don't want to cancel your cell phone insurance, as suggested above.... but it does depend on what phone you have. If it is a cheap one then yes cancel the insurance, but if you have a smart phone definately keep the insurance.

[Operation_Home_Ownership]

I'm sure since this post is over 3 months old that the OP has either done something about this or not, but I would like to say that you probably don't want to cancel your cell phone insurance, as suggested above.... but it does depend on what phone you have. If it is a cheap one then yes cancel the insurance, but if you have a smart phone definately keep the insurance.

 

9.5 times out of 10 cell phone insurance is a complete bogus expense. Break your phone and you will still be $$$ out of pocket. Phone company scam with red tape when it doesnt pay out.

 

No one needs to set cash aside for that "IF" when they are needing to cut expenses. Lose it and cross that bridge when it comes, and if expensive phone breaks, choose a new option that you can afford under new budget.