In this economy, . . .

janie1234

janie1234

Cathlete
what have you down sized or given up? I hate this economy. I feel lucky to still have a job but the dental office that I work for has cut hours because fewer and fewer patients are coming in for dental work since so many of my patients have lost their jobs. It is only a difference of a couple of hundred dollars but as my kids get older the most they seem to cost more, . . with Little League, ballet, tennis lessons, swimming. It probably doesn't help that I shop at Whole Foods all the time either. So I'm chopping away at luxury expenses. I'm downsizing my Cable, cutting out tennis and swimming lessons, shopping more at CostCo for my food, driving less, uplugging everything in my house that is not being used to save on electricity, and buying knee patches for my kids pants instead of buying new jeans when they tear, oh and no more Starbucks, or Peets coffee or eating out! As much as I really want to keep shopping at Whole Foods they are sooo expensive. Does anyone else have a cheaper way of eating well without costing more? It just seems like good quality organic fruits and veggies cost so much more.
 
I used to buy at Whole Foods all the time but had to cut back due to economic woes :mad:

I am a member of an organic buyer's club that one group of people started a few years ago. I get a basket of organic produce every week, it's whatever is in season, costs $ 40. I can't choose what is in the basket but I can order extras and once a month we order everything else you can find at WF (pet food, vitamins, cosmetics, cleaning stuff, etc) and we pay wholesale prices plus 15 % which is usually about 20 to 50 % off the price at WF.

I know those buyer's clubs are all over the place now, maybe there is something in your area, otherwise you can always start your own :cool:

I also buy locally at farmer's markets which is much cheaper than Whole Foods.

Or you can try and find a local farmer and buy directly there. You may want to check out www.localharvest.org.

HTH
 
actually i havent cut back anything:eek::eek::eek::eek:
trying my best to keep the economy stimulated!:D dh says i dont have to try too hard!:p
 
Another economy stimulator here, I may have cut back subconsciously on some items, like my nails and buying way less clothing, but I more than make up for it in fitness equipment and dvds, so really just shifting money around to different industries.
 
We are focusing hard on understanding what's really a want and what's really a need, and prioritizing the purchase of our wants. We are still purchasing wants, just carefully. And I consider a squat rack a "need", as I told my husband, so that stays on the list :) But I was happy to agree to stay with our existing vehicles longer than we otherwise might, as a trade-off. You can get great prices on cars now, but we honestly don't need to upgrade.

Some of what we're doing now is spending extra money now so as to save down the line. We're working to pay off the mortgage more rapidly, for instance. Some earlier investments, such as switching to geothermal/ground source heat, have already reduced our costs for heat/airconditioning, so we're thinking about adding wind power and selling power back to the government. I like investments that pay for themselves!!!

We also rethought a few areas and made changes based on cost comparisons - that dropped our monthly phone bill, ditto on the satellite tv, cost comparisons on insurance, and so on. That helped cover the extra mortgage payment.

Dave Ramsey, Clark Howard, and Brian Preston are constantly on my podcast play list so as to stay motivated :) Along with Fitness rocks, and Cathe TV once I can get that download working :)
 
We really didn't start cutting back until recently. We only recently started to feel the effects of this slump.

I am trying soooo hard to cut down the grocery bill but it's hard. I am trying to cook with more frozen versus fresh and having dinners based around beans instead of meat. We have cut back on eating out, or carrying out if we do. Our electric bill has been insane these past few months, so we are cutting back on the heat, and turning lights off.

My DH's salary is based on how many customers come in, and there aren't as many these days. On the other hand, he has more side work because people are looking to get the work done cheaper.

My job usually gives a 5% raise annually, but this year it will be 3%. I am just glad to still have a job!
 
We've always operated on a budget, so we haven't cut back on anything because...well...there isn't much to cut back. What little we do have in luxury expenses are still affordable for us, most likely because of the budgeting we've done for the past 15 years.
 
Groceries and electricity are the two that I have been trying my darndest to reduce... I only shop at Walmart for groceries/sundries (a place I hate, but in this area, it's the only reasonably-priced grocery store) and I cut out most organics because I simply cannot justify spending $250 a week to feed two people!! I've made about a $50 cut per week, but I'm always looking for more ways to reduce. We hardly eat any meat, I always buy frozen veggies instead of fresh (with the exception of tomatoes, potatoes, and onions), I stopped buying organic anything, and I buy the Walmart brand canned foods, trash bags, etc. The main place I cannot bring myself to cut costs in is the laundry detergent and cleaning products... I buy the more expensive earth-friendly stuff because I feel I cannot violate my conscience and pour harmful chemicals down the drain if I can avoid it!

Electricity is another battle altogether because I am always turning off the lights and TVs and lowering the thermostat, but DH is always right behind me turning everything on and upping the thermostat!! Argh! I haven't made a lot of progress in that area. For some reason, showing him our $300/month BGE bill isn't enough to entice him to put on a sweater and not turn on every electrical thing in the house. :(

MC
 
If we had to look for a silver lining, this recession teaches us (countries, governments, the world, individuals) a few lessons.

Speaking for myself:
- I lost significantly from my savings because I was over invested in equities....lesson learned.
- I never believed in credit or mortgages unless I could easily afford the instalments without affecting my ability to save and without creating a liquidity squeeze of any kind. I was beginning to doubt myself at the height of the "leverage" economy when people were telling me I was foolish. I am grateful I trusted my instincts or I would be worse of today.
- Like other posters have mentioned, I am learning the difference between "want" and "need". I always considered myself a relatively "non-acquisitive" and "non-consumerist" person. I am learning just how much less I need.

This recession has deepened my resolve to be a business person and self employed rather than work for a corporation. I had quit my corporate career just before the downturn started. Initially I was torn about getting back to the familiarity of corporate life. I am disillusioned with corporations now and am resolute about not going back now. With the resolve, I actually saw progress in my new career. As long as I was dithering, I wasnt letting myself take concrete steps. If I had to live my life over, I would still resort to corporate life for the training, exposure and foundation it provides, but I would get out sooner and use that experience to work independantly.

To answer the original question, yes I am cutting back. I feel the occasional twinge. But I am also discovering joy in simpler pleasures and satisfaction from not wasting and not over-indulging. Deep inside I know this is a more balanced lifestyle. (Then again, maybe it has to do with growing older and the natural decline in materialism that accompanies it and the recession has little to do with it.)

I still believe it is important to buy goods and services as this is the way we support each other in society to earn a living, but I am far more convinced against conspicuous consumption now.

I have never been an "organic" buyer. In India, organic stuff is not easy to come by and there is very little regulation about what can get labelled as organic. To some extent the full horror of genetically modified and processed food hasnt yet struck this part of the world. Fresh veggies and fruits are far cheaper than canned or frozen and the more unprocessed/natural something is, the cheaper it tends to be!
 
hiitdogs said:
Or you can try and find a local farmer and buy directly there. You may want to check out www.localharvest.org.
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Localharvest.org is an awesome resource. I found several great local sources for grass fed beef and pork, as well as pastured chicken.

DH and I are notorious cheapskates, so there hasn't been a lot "luxury-wise" to cut back on. We used to maybe eat out or get take out a little more often, but not much really. I buy fewer of the pricey "cool things to try" like weird dips, salsas, funky oils, etc. when I grocery shop and stick with my basic "cook from scratch" stuff. I still buy local and organic as much as possible, cuz I refuse to skimp on the quality of that stuff. I've also been experimenting a little more with beans and lentils, which has been fun. I also have developed a serious addiction to my crock pot! I can't believe I lived so long without one!!

If I've given up anything, it's been some fitness purchases that Ive wanted to make - additional kettlebells, a rower, a nice barbell and bumper plates for home, more AOS videos...

We've been undergoing a home renovation project for a while now that we are trying to complete without any loans. We are slowing progress a bit so we don't feel tapped out. But what's a few more months on a 4 year project anyway. :eek:
 
Gayle said:
I also have developed a serious addiction to my crock pot! I can't believe I lived so long without one!!
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I know what you mean.

As a new bride 15 years ago, I received a crock pot as a gift from a distant family member. I remember saying, "What the hell am I going to do with THIS?!" I took it back to the store.

Over a decade later, I bought myself one after hearing great things about them, and now I use it at least once a week. :rolleyes:
 
I am buying far fewer clothes. It kind of surprises sometimes all the money that just got spent on impulse. I also used to buy Chanel cosmetics and now have gone back and looked at what I have stockpiled and found some real winners that just never got used because I bought something else. My other cutbacks have been heat--used the woodstoves for the first time this year and discovered I loved them far more than the furnace. I am also watching the electricity bills and have tried to unplug but always forget. Our rates have skyrocketed and there is talk in NYS by both the senator and the legislators of investigating the electric companies. We have our own art and antiques business and it has been slow to say the least tho the past 3 weeks have picked up a bit. We are just hoping for a profitable spring and summer.
 
hiitdogs said:
Or you can try and find a local farmer and buy directly there. You may want to check out www.localharvest.org.

HTH
Click to expand...
This was great thanks! Funny I entered my city and most of the sites were restaurants that use organic products from local farmers. It was nice to know that some of the local restuarants down the street support local farmers. There was even a local farmer I didn't even know existed that isn't to far away from me. I wish the city I lived in would have weekly farmers markets. They used to but for some reason stopped.
 
By the way I appreciated the posters who said "want versus need." It sorta struck me like a ton of bricks. My parents who both grew up on farms totally understand how to live off of necessity. I'm almost embarrassed that I never lived up to their example. To them going to school was a privilage not to mention having shoes. They both worked so hard so that my bother, sister, and I could go to college. Now that I'm older with my own children I can appreciate how financially hard it is to raise a family.
 
I have not really cut back. I always operate within a rather strict budget. I have put off several projects waiting to see if the economy improves. MY 401 and stock portfolios really took a hit with the market down turn.
 
I'm more aware of my spending now and before I buy something I ask myself if I actually need this or want it. If I just want it, I don't buy it. We've had layoffs at my company and although I've been told that I'm not on the cut list for future layoffs, I'm not really buying that right now. My focus right now is on saving in case I do get laid off or the company goes under.
 
All I know is I work for a shipping company and, all the sudden, business has REALLY picked up. We're all scratching our heads about it.
 
I had to cancel my cell phone,we use to have 4 so it was to expensive,and groceries I have to cut more coupons,good we live on base so we don't pay water,electricity or gas but still no more shopping...
 
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