Least frugal thing you do?

[Lori63]

Originally Posted by zakity

We have an addiction to a local Chinese restaurant. We have to go at least once a month (sometimes a little more) to get our "fix" .

Us, too.

[Razzy]

I think we all have our "addictions" of some sort and I think we need to have those in order to balance out everything we do frugally.

Razzy

[tclah]

Mine is, books, my son and I love them. We do try and hit Saint Vincents, etc and the library, but we do spend a bit on new ones. Also my friends and I get together for girls night out about once a month/month & 1/2, which usually means a new outfit, shoes or accesories, depending on what we are doing. But the usual cost is between $40 - $100, depending on if I bought new clothes or shoes, etc. Except for when we go bowling then its just about $20.

[jodi]

Before kids, we would scrimp and save for our vacations - at least once a year for a week. Now we settle for a nice dinner out every month or so without the kids - drinks, dessert, movie afterward, the works.
Also our cell phones - $80 for 2 b/c DH travels 45 minutes to work each day and I use mine for work. I've been looking for a cheaper deal, but can't seem to find one for what we need.

[Julianna Wolfe]

Smoking. That one word sums it up. (though I am hoping DH will want to try the patch with me soon)

We have cable but feel every penny of the $115 (t.v. and computers) a month is worth it.

[jmjj215]

Gym membership. Although I see it as a must-have, many others see it as a luxury.

[Razzy]

The way I see it someone "must have" is someone elses luxury and if your using it and getting something out it then you are getting your monies worth from it. I just think it is a waste if you have a gym membership and not use it.

Razzy

[mom-from-missouri]

Also depends on your health. If you are using the gym membership, and improving your health from it, then it is more than worth it.

[al0061]

Since I've just really started with frugality in the last year, in an unorganized sort of way, I have lots of areas that are ripe for improvement.

The areas that I will continue to be 'unfrugal' are, like many of yours, areas of extreme convenience.

All services from the cable company. These include:
Cable TV with Movie Tier (no premiums) with DVR boxes. (I watch a lot of TV, and I adore having this kind of control!!! Definitely NOT frugal.
Digital Telephone - part of the entire package, to make it less expensive. Service is fine, and we have call waiting, but no voice mail.
Cable Internet - also part of the package, couldn't do without it. I use the internet for fun, learning and work (when I work from home, which is every morning, before going to the office.)

Other non-frugals: our 2 phone family plan on nationwide service. No roaming, no long distance, just minutes. 600 per month. We never go over anymore. I used to travel 75% of the time. This is changing to hopefully 0 percent of the time. (Being on the road all the time is agony.)

Cigarettes.

We buy good meats, and packaged foods. Very non-frugal. I'm hoping to start doing better with this area by buying more fresh foods.

Torch - aka al0061

[Razzy]

It is so hard when you start being frugal. But you will get better at it. I think the way a person defines frugalness is up to the individual. Me buying books at the bookstore and not the second hand bookstore may not be frugal to some. But I like buying my books their and when I have a coupon or get books off the bargain table/s I feel that it all works out. I guess what I am trying to say is that we all have one or a few things we still do that are not frugal but in the end they make us happy.

Raz

[2moretrees]

Originally Posted by al0061

All services from the cable company. These include:
Cable TV with Movie Tier (no premiums) with DVR boxes. (I watch a lot of TV, and I adore having this kind of control!!! Definitely NOT frugal.
Digital Telephone - part of the entire package, to make it less expensive. Service is fine, and we have call waiting, but no voice mail.
Cable Internet - also part of the package, couldn't do without it. I use the internet for fun, learning and work (when I work from home, which is every morning, before going to the office.)

I learned how to cut my movie and cable bill in half by accident. I was going away on a trip for an extended period a few years back and decided it would better just to cancel the cable Internet and channels.

When I called, they offered be keep me as a customer by reducung the bill by 50%. At the time I didn't, but I always remembered afterward. You have to remember to call every 3 months (that is usually how long there promo deals are that they are willing to give you), but all you have to say is that another company offered you a better deal and they will lower your payments right away. I was amazed at how easy it was!

[al0061]

Wow. I'll have to try that!
Thanks for the tip!!
Yes, frugality seems to be difficult to really dedicate oneself to. Just reading all the advice is helpful, but I'll have to mull it around in my head, and choose one or two things at a time that will be right and do-able for me.
I'm familiar with 'setting myself up for failure' with quitting smoking. I don't want to do that with this endeavor, so I'll not rush into anything.
Thanks again.
Torch

[Razzy]

I see frugality as taking a lot of babysteps and I see your point with mulling things around before you do them.

I know it took me about a year to change from using reg fabric softnerr to using vinegar instead. Yes the change was hard at first but I do not have to buy fabric softner anymore, I save money and my clothes come out cleaner and smelling better.

So keep up what your doing and don't worry what others think.

Raz

[michellelab]

I have lots of areas where I could cut back on spending. The main one is smoking, my motto with that is "there's nothing to it, but to do it", but for some reason I just will not quit. It is such an annoying habit, I don't smoke around my children so I have to go outside, even when its freezing, I smoke after leaving a store, because of my little girl I don't smoke in my car (besides the fact that a smokers car typically smells aweful to me). I hate running to the store to buy them, but it's better than the alternative. (even though quitting is supposed to be my goal)
I also could reduce my DiretTV bill, and I have DSL, and a gas guzzling 8 cylinder vehicle, I could really cut money on the grocery bill, I habitually overspend in Walmart,oh yeah, and a 14 year old that must truly believe money grows on trees, her hand is always outstretched, and its not for a handshake, I have tried the handshake thing with her, it didn't work.

[michellelab]

Originally Posted by michellelab

I have lots of areas where I could cut back on spending. The main one is smoking, my motto with that is "there's nothing to it, but to do it", but for some reason I just will not quit. It is such an annoying habit, I don't smoke around my children so I have to go outside, even when its freezing, I smoke after leaving a store, because of my little girl I don't smoke in my car (besides the fact that a smokers car typically smells aweful to me). I hate running to the store to buy them, but it's better than the alternative. (even though quitting is supposed to be my goal)
I also could reduce my DiretTV bill, and I have DSL, and a gas guzzling 8 cylinder vehicle, I could really cut money on the grocery bill, I habitually overspend in Walmart,oh yeah, and a 14 year old that must truly believe money grows on trees, her hand is always outstretched, and its not for a handshake, I have tried the handshake thing with her, it didn't work.

"There's nothing to it, but to do it."

[witch]

i would have to say buying sprite I love it.
Thankfully my DH job pays our internet and his mobile So it is free for us.
And also here in Iceland we can pay for extra tv channels and we do that because i love watching tv

[srace]

I would have to say smokinf=g and my mountain dew addiction also DH l;ikes his beer too.

[mz1cent]

hello , I am a newbie to this site......anyway I have to say I had to become very frugal because of our job situation.....
we both quit smoking
no cable tv
dial up computer
couponing and rebates
home hair cuts
eating at home 99% of the time
hanging clothes on a line instead of using dryer
no trash service, recycling
lowering deductables from cars...( they are older anyway)
packing lunch from home

I have to tell you it snow

balls and the savings in substantial.. it was hard at first but now its just a big game to me....we all chip in and the benifits are great..... I leave a certain amount in my checking and at the end of the month whatever is over that amount get put into a CD.... I was so surprised because we have less money now but I made it up ....its like being tax free...... also I have found better things to do with my time, instead of being a couch potato.... thanks for reading and have a great day.....

[baselle]

Lunch, dsl, and the buying/owning of dvds

[BillsGirl]

I would have to say Run the ac, I can not live without it!! especially since I am in florida