Least frugal thing you do?

[BlingBling]

For me, its smoking. Its stupid and wasteful and sickening and still I am puffing away.

I've had success with the patches years ago, lasted 6 months before death in the family. A family member did'nt know I had quit and handed me a lit one, I did'nt realize what I was doing until after I threw it down but it was enough.


Anyhow, I am planning to attend a smoking cessation class, its a 2 week workshop and they provide the patches free. Has anyone else did this and had success. I feel as though I am almost ready but I know that the will power needs to be a bit stronger....

[PrincessPerky]

I quit back before I got married, wasn't easy, but I now have kids, can't do it while I am pregnant or nursing, or around them, or any of that. So I still 'barsmoke' of course not while nursing or pregnant, and that is it. Not that if there were a convenience store in wlking I wouldn't grab a pack on the days the kids are rotten, but fortunatly for me and them, there isn't ('bout 4 miles, to far for me .) Anyway best of luck, you can do it.

On the frugal thing, most expensive habit is cable internet.

[Momof3grls]

I used to smoke but quit along time ago it has saved me a ton but now my bad expensive habbit is diet coke. I am addicted & its probably not good for me & I would hate to think of how much I could be saving if I drank only water & how good water would be for my teeth instead of pop.

[SeeAPenny]

Yeah, cable internet (hangs head) -- letting that go would just be too painful.....

[mjrube94]

Direct TV, with local channels, HBO and Cinemax, to the tune of $83.96/month! (Plus the football package in the fall for an additional $180 and hubby wants to get a TIVO DirectTv receiver which, aside from the $100 purchase price runs another $5/month).

Alas, this is going to be one of the last items I tackle. Hubby's been good about going along with all of our other financial sacrifices/savings, but this will be a tough sell. I'm hoping that by the time I clean up everything else, we'll be able to continue this luxury. After all, you need to strike a balance between saving for tomorrow and living for today, right?

[BlingBling]

Oh I agree about the tv! I have dish and would be totally uninformed if I did not. My little neck of the woods has horrible antenna reception and cable is probably another century away.

When things were tough a few years ago, I disconnected and relied on the internet for news, weather, ect. Still its not the same. I am a information junkie. When I was free and clear I reconnected to the 100 package deal and do not have any subscriptions to the movie channels. I just don't watch them enough to justify them. My back is usually to the tv but I like the company.

I have dial up, again dsl will never make it to my neck of the woods or I would have that! Its 20.00 a month and I feel its offset by the freebies, coupons, no shipping, no tax with online shopping. I use it for work and at times have held f/t employment online. Now that my dd is away to college the internet is a neccesity. We touch base everyday so mom can sleep better at night. I found the frugal way by being online. During that tough time I disconnected it also but soon realized I was missing opportunities. I'll never disconnect either again, because I will never find myself in such a mess again.

[debtfree]

I'm going to have to say my internet connection also. We are on the waiting list for DSL, but it won't be long and that will raise our phone bill $35 per month. I also just added a cell phone for me on my husband's plan. I feel that this will come in handy for his business though, becuase he often tries to call me from his job site if I'm out shopping to pick something up for him. I guess it's easy to justify things

[Lori63]

I get my hair colored and buy salon products from the best hairstylist in the world! I really can't justify it, but I have hated my hair my whole life and this woman is wonderful.

[miclason]

stockings...panty hose, actually...I can't stand the cheap brands, they're scratchy and hot (they don't "breathe"!)

[rjn]

Going out to eat for several meals on the weekends.

[DivaJen]

Going out to eat due to lack of advanced planning as opposed to for a special reason ranks up there. Some might say having bottles water delivered is wasteful, but we can't drink our city water so I see it as a healthy choice.

[BlingBling]

Thanks for the replies! This morning I went to pick up cigs and while there I got a package of donuts, pop and a newspaper and 2.15 a gallon gas I wasted to go.

If I had not wanted the cigs, I would not have drove to town for that other stuff! Made me stop and think and added another reason to my gotta quit list!

[miclason]

BlingBling,
I don't do extra trips anymore: I buy X amount of something (say: juices or cookies for my DD, or non-dairy creamer for myself at the office) that should last me a week (or two or a month) If I run out, I'm out and have to make do....it HAS helped a lot! (but, it IS very hard!!)
Good luck quitting!
For inspiration: my Dad started smoking when he was 16...he quit at 77! He had smoked for 61 years, and managed to quit in 3 months!!

[skipper]

dinniing out and direct tv are my weaknessess just have to have Crab Dip from UNO'S once a week TGIF yeah

[PrincessPerky]

Wow, congrats to the dad!

[PennyPincher]

I guess there are a few areas where I could cut, but have chosen not to:

1. my cell phone bill ~ $86/month for 2 phones
2. cable/phone/internet package ~ $115/month
3. haircuts ~ I try to wait 2-3 months in between, but I have short hair, so it's tough ~ $35/cut (including tip.) I'm scared to go to the $10 places with my style.
4. the newspaper ~ although I pay only $1.25/week for 7 days (signed up on a pay for Sunday, get 6 days free deal)
5. eating out lots on weekends, and buying prepared meals
6. Blockbuster online rentals ~ $14.99/month
7. shoes ~ I don't buy alot, but I have no problem spending $30-40 on a pair of shoes because I have problems with my feet.

I must sound really bad to you guys!!!

[zoegirl]

i also have cable internet but i feel it is very important at this time as i am a full time student and i take online classes, last semester i missed out on precious test time waiting for a test to load while on dial-up...
mine i guess is buying paper products, plates , cups , towels and scott tissue..... i have four kids and i HATE washing dishes so it really saves on my sanity to use paper plates and cups.

[Razzy]

Since we don't smoke or drink these are the things we do instead.

I love going to the bookstores so that is my weakness, and my lil one loves going to them too. but when I go I also check out the clearance section too.

Our c/m we have we use it over dial up because my dh does a lot research on the web so it is a must for us.

And yes we do do fast food once,twice or three times a week, we bring it home so dd gets something other than fastfood and go out to a restuarant once a week. We are really trying to cut down on the take out since it cost so much.

[zakity]

We have cable modem, but my husband's work pays for it but, I would have to have it even if his work didn't pay for it. 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". I have several Mom's night outs that I go to. We homeschool and I sort of figure that getting out is good for my mental health.

[mom-from-missouri]

dishnetwork and dsl