Is there something that will save you $$ that you WILL NOT DO?

[sparkysgirl]

For me it is showers! I cannot taking showers. Right now I am using my kids bathwater, and I can justify that as saving some money , but not as much as I would save taking a shower. How about you?

[disneysteve]

Lots of things. We use a lot of store brand grocery items, but there are some we've tried and just didn't like, or didn't work as well. We won't buy things just because they are cheaper.

For about 10 years, I mowed my own lawn, but I finally gave in and hired a pro a few years ago. I didn't like doing it. I didn't do a very good job, and the lawn always looked lousy. So I'm spending more now, but it's worth it.

I would turn the heat down more, but my wife won't go for it.

We used to stay at really cheap motels when we traveled, but we got tired of low class, noisy, often drunk patrons. Now we stay at nicer places but the rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and the halls are quiet. It's not much of a vacation if we're kept up all night by people partying and running through the halls.

We could live on junk food and the $.99 menu at McDonald's, but our health is far more important than that.

[tinapbeana]

oh, lots of things! i don't wash baggies. perhaps i would/will if/when we had a dishwaser installed, but for now the thoughts of washing those buggers by hand is just mind-numbing!

i buy name brand/organic foods when i know we like them better and are therefore more likely to eat them rather than waste them. like dairy fresh milk: a gallon lasts a week with the 2 of us, but it's worth the money we spend on it because it doesn't get thrown out. and tastes sooooooo much better!

i have expanded cable, including video on demand. what i pay for this each month is about equal to 2 movie dates out for DH and i. by dates i mean tickets and a drink and popcorn to split... no dinner, no nothing... blech! i don't like movie theaters but i do like movies, so i like having expanded cable and free movies on demand with no commercials. plus we save costs on gas driving to the theater, and we eat in rather than being tempted to eat dinner out, and/or get coffee and ice cream afterwards. if we added those in, one movie night date out would cost about the same as my expanded cable. ACK!

i admit that these things, and many others, are little luxuries in my life. acknowledging that fact and knowing that they could and would be cut if times got hard is what makes the difference.

[Broken Arrow]

Oh yes, a hot shower is a good one.

Hmm. Video games maybe? I still like playing it, though I haven't bought anything new for it in... 6 months now? In fact, I'm wondering if I should sell it.

Things for the kids. I generally don't put as much restriction on it, but I still keep it within budget.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh yeah lots of things....some small savings, like flushing, we always flush, though if I have a line of three kids all three can pee before we flush, but not if there will be any wait.

I take anything I wont do, and classify it as a luxury, and since I am not going into debt, I feel some luxuries are justified..like a hot shower..a very hot shower . Which means I feel spoiled everytime I take one..well ok I don't feel to spoiled everytime I flush, but I do feel greatful that I can afford to do so...

[pearlieq]

You betcha!

Mostly it all falls under the general heading that I refuse to screw anyone to save a few bucks.

I don't skimp on tips for good service. I don't steal extra samples/condiments from stores and restaurants. I don't "borrow" money from people and conveniently forget to pay it back. I buy nice food, good wine, and comfy pillows for my guests. I try hard to give meaningful gifts to friends instead of just picking out the first thing I see that's cheap.

[crazyBMB]

I won’t buy off brand products that don’t taste good or no one will eat. I would love my DH to hire a person to mow our yard, he hates it. My DS loves really, really love cheap cookies so I buy to good stuff w/ the extra $.
We tend to spoil the kids a bit though.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I no longer eat cheap and unhealthy food. When we were broke and eating pasta, ramen noodles, and gross fatty ground beef, I swore we'd make more money than the allotted $20/week. We scrimped like crazy starting out.

NOW I buy meat, poultry, seafood, fresh vegetables, pretty much anything I desire. We cook a lot from scratch and I can now buy spices. I won't go back to eating crap food to save money. We don't buy potato chips, frozen food, etc. Sure it'd be cheaper to eat hamburger helper, some processed stuff etc, but I enjoy good food.

I like eating organic fruits/veggies, and milk. And it does cost more period. But I love it.

Oh and I won't sell my dogs just because they cost money. I can afford the luxury of having a companion that doesn't talk.

[PRICEPLUS]

I won't buy generic Mustard or Mayo. I need to use Gulden's mustard and Hellman's Mayo.
I use Heinz instead of anything else.

I won't do anything unethical or illegal. I won't screw people to save money. I won't go without bathing unless on a hunting or camping trip.

[Aleta]

I agree with taste with most people here, because I like Heinz Ketchup. But, remember, that the same people who make mayo and mustard for the big guys also make the same for the big grocer. I have found Kraft mayonaise to taste the same as Winn_Dixie's. Helman's to taste the same as Publix. If there is a difference, there's little.

[tinapbeana]

gulden's mustard is goooooooooooooood!!! not a ketchup fan, so can't comment. DH only eats duke mayo: it's one of the few that is sugar free and he was raised on it since his dad is diabetic.

back to mustard: try inglehoffers. pricey, but their sweet hot is perfect on a hot ham and swiss!!!

[Aleta]

Thanks for the info. I will try it.

[Ima saver]

I won't give up our many nights of going out to eat and having a date every night. I just try to order something that is inexpensive on the menu.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I no longer eat cheap and unhealthy food. When we were broke and eating pasta, ramen noodles, and gross fatty ground beef, I swore we'd make more money than the allotted $20/week. We scrimped like crazy starting out.

NOW I buy meat, poultry, seafood, fresh vegetables, pretty much anything I desire. We cook a lot from scratch and I can now buy spices. I won't go back to eating crap food to save money. We don't buy potato chips, frozen food, etc. Sure it'd be cheaper to eat hamburger helper, some processed stuff etc, but I enjoy good food.

I like eating organic fruits/veggies, and milk. And it does cost more period. But I love it.

That's a good point! I'm not there yet, but when I do, good healthy meals would be another thing that I won't skimp on.

[lrjohnson]

I won't be less generous. I have worked hard to be able to give presents on My Challenge this year, and today was great-all the work folks got gifts, some bought months ago, some with a lot of thought put in, low cost, maybe even cheap or free, but a present. Some co-worker said her kids don't always get her present sbecause they are broke. Well, shoot, I'd rather skimp on my own stuff than other people.

I won't undertip.

I won't have others be uncomfortable-the house may be chilly and shivery and I'll put on many sweaters, but the heaters are on for guests and that's that.

I won't not give to selected charities.

[BCHGRL]

Sure, cable tv & internet are not exactly necessities.

Sorry, but taking a bath in another person's left over bath water seems more like a personal hygiene issue than a money saving tactic.

Driving a car with Siruis radio or GPS navigation is not a necessity either. Drinking 4 boxes of sodas (b'tween me, DH, and BIL) each week is not exactly frugal but it is one of our vices (we don't smoke or drink alcohol).

The hardwood floors that we bought certainly weren't a necessity, but they increased the value of our home, which is important to us when we are nearly upside down on our home.

[Ima saver]

I won't skimp on anything for my dog. She only likes one type of food and it is expensive,but she gets it. I never skimp on tips, if I can't afford to tip, I can't afford to eat out and should stay home.

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by sparkysgirl

For me it is showers! I cannot taking showers. Right now I am using my kids bathwater, and I can justify that as saving some money , but not as much as I would save taking a shower. How about you?

That is something that would worry me! You know how kids are! what if they pee in the water???

[sarah]

I try to be ethical and not hurt anyone in my consuming. So I try not to undertip or to cheat anyone.

Won't use a Diva Cup - Don't Ask

[jodi]

Anyone who's been around these boards for a while probably already knows what a Diva cup is

I won't give up certain entertainment, like my weekly bowling league. It gets expensive, at $20 a night, plus sometimes $15 for the sitter, but it's a regular night out for DH and I.

I never scrimp on health care, especially for my kids. I'm lucky to have good health insurance, so I don't have to pay too much out of pocket.

I buy nearly everything I can secondhand - but I won't buy used underwear. That's my limit!