My favorite expense to pick on here is the cellphone.
I use a Tracphone and I probably spent about $10/month on cellphone usage in the last 3 years. So, if the average person spends $50/month, I have saved about $1500. This is the first year I actually had to add minutes before my year was up. Even then, it's still cheaper, although sometime it doesn't seem that way because you often have to lay a lot out at once. Just don't talk a lot. . .use it for basic communication.
For about $100, you get about 60 minutes/month. Every text is .30 minutes. I dropped $200 in one year. . .so that's $16.00/month. Most people pay $49 to 89/month.
Cable TV is another. . .go with an unlisted basic package or none at all. I am amazed since I moved out of the house from my kids how little TV I do watch. I could actually go without it but keep it around b/c of my parents.
Another trick to do is have a landline with local carrier only and then buy a calling card for long distance.
You could also forego internet service and just check email at work or a local library.
Communications (TV, phone, internet) are a huge expense driver in the American household.
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