Our poor economy & what will you and won't you give up

[sunspotbaby]

In these tough economic times, I did the smart thing and gave up my job!
So I've given up
- 200.00 a week in childcare expenses,
-gas to get back & forth to work,
-clothing and "self improvement" expenses associated with work
-time,effort and huge headaches not having to get myself, plus 2 babies out the door by 7:30AM.

-one downer though, don't have health insurance anymore.

Hubby has quit stopping to "have a couple of beers" after work. Those are the most expensive.....!

We won't give up our beer! We just drink at home and rarely go out to eat.

 

[audie]

i never go anywhere anyway, so i didn't have to give up the gas consumption

 

[CPort]

Living 8 miles from the nearest grocery (one way) I've always though out my trips. To get to a large grocery like Kroger (think Publix) it is 14miles (one way) to Walmart about 17 miles one way,to a Target 31 miles (one way) to a decent dept store about 25 miles (one way).

I 've stopped eating out except once or twice a month when a group of ladies get together .

As recently as 6 months ago,Johnny (remember JBO)and I drove around for hours on end just checking out places. Well he went on to his reward and gas went up so that ended that!

I now get my hair cut and colored right here in Clearbranch for next to nothing. I did go into town for that and paid twice as much.

I've also turned the air up and use fans throughout the house.
I do my own nails ,cut and maintain my own yard.
I also dropped the regular cell and have a pay as you go one now.


retirement is grayt but hard on the ole pocketbook!I'm serously thinking about going back to work.

I haven't given up my cokes and I drink way too many!Also I havent' given up buying fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market. Yesterday I bought a bushel of green butterbeans for $22. and got 8 pts. That is a lot more that you pay for frozen ones at Kroger, but I can tell such a big difference.

 

[hnooe]

I won't give up anything!!! I will just trade down temporarilty; Absolute instead of Belvedere Vodka; Starbuck house blend instead of White Chocolate Mochas: Publix Drinking water instead of Fiji water..etc.

 

[hnooe]

Give up and cut out...

Sowal membership, it was tough, but it was really starting to wear down the credit card.

Won't give up no matter what...

Brunch

You mean I am being charged by the post!!! D.G.A. I got to look at my statements!!

 

[InletBchDweller]

i never go anywhere anyway, so i didn't have to give up the gas consumption

Audie, you help us, you excrete gas...

 

[audie]

Audie, you help us, you excrete gas...

oh great, now i'll be blamed for global warming

 

[Hop]

oh great, now i'll be blamed for global warming

:funn:

 

[organicmama]

We actually gave up cell phones and cable about a year ago. People think we are weird not having a cell on either of us, but it's not that bad. We are considering the same thing as Mango and doing the prepaid, so we don't go overboard. Decision still hasn't been made, so we're still just a landline.

I color my hair at home MAINLY because chemical dyes really irritate my scalp. The henna dyes at For the Health of It are cheaper than even regular store brands (at least the ones I would use) and basically I have to use either one every 3 weeks or so. If I had my hair professionally dyed, it'd break us because my hair grows so fast and is so f'ing gray, even at 35. I tried to suck it up and let it go gray, but that was scary. The agreement is: henna at home and professional cuts from now on. Luckily, I have a good hubby who just wants me to feel good about myself.

I won't give up good food. Our grocery bill is huge each week, but I won't sacrifice healthy food for us and the kids. I won't even tell you how much it is. We don't have many medical costs for them or for me. I do feel that has made part of the difference.

When it comes to wine & coffee, I can't sacrifice the organic, either. It just ain't happening. The coffee is my major habit. Wine isn't. I don't drink as much as I used to, since becoming a parent, so I'm a cheap date for Mr. OM on that end.

Ironically, being hit hard financially by Mr. OM's long-term illness has given us a bit of a cushion right now. We aren't feeling any different than we were before. And actually, we can see a point in the near future where we will be able to breathe again regarding finances, as he is healing nicely.

 

[audie]

We actually gave up cell phones and cable about a year ago. People think we are weird not having a cell on either of us, but it's not that bad. We are considering the same thing as Mango and doing the prepaid, so we don't go overboard. Decision still hasn't been made, so we're still just a landline.

I color my hair at home MAINLY because chemical dyes really irritate my scalp. The henna dyes at For the Health of It are cheaper than even regular store brands (at least the ones I would use) and basically I have to use either one every 3 weeks or so. If I had my hair professionally dyed, it'd break us because my hair grows so fast and is so f'ing gray, even at 35. I tried to suck it up and let it go gray, but that was scary. The agreement is: henna at home and professional cuts from now on. Luckily, I have a good hubby who just wants me to feel good about myself.

I won't give up good food. Our grocery bill is huge each week, but I won't sacrifice healthy food for us and the kids. I won't even tell you how much it is. We don't have many medical costs for them or for me. I do feel that has made part of the difference.

When it comes to wine & coffee, I can't sacrifice the organic, either. It just ain't happening. The coffee is my major habit. Wine isn't. I don't drink as much as I used to, since becoming a parent, so I'm a cheap date for Mr. OM on that end.

Ironically, being hit hard financially by Mr. OM's long-term illness has given us a bit of a cushion right now. We aren't feeling any different than we were before. And actually, we can see a point in the near future where we will be able to breathe again regarding finances, as he is healing nicely.

i gave this up long ago. gray is the new blonde in my book.

glad for you and your hubby