You know you should be saving more, but...

[TBH]

I'm just wondering if anybody else has a little list of things in their head that they know would allow them to save more money, but that they just haven't been willing to do.

Here's a partial list for me:
* Could give up DSL and go back to (gulp) a dial-up connection

* Could cut down on perks on my landline (paying those snakes at Verizon to give me an unlisted number, paying for voicemail every month, etc)

* Could ride my bike to work once a week to save on gas

* Could switch to fluorescent bulbs

* Could buy less organic foods (spouse not flexible about this. I often buy non-organic and just don't tell him, unless it's something only the baby eats and then I'm willing to pay a small amount extra for organic)

* Could buy less prepared foods (have gotten a lot better about this)

* Could, and really should, do less travelling (I've gotten better about this, too)

* Could stop buying coffee except to make at home (I now buy coffee only about once a week when I'm out and about, and only a plain drip coffee)

[marglo]

Yes, of course, there are things we could cut out...DSL, cable, Netflix (we have the cheapest plan..one movie at a time), we could sell our RV and quit traveling so much, same with our timeshares, but we enjoy these things and have no plans for giving them up. We have cut way back on our traveling this year but that's what we plan to do in retirement so we are determined to do it as long as we don't have to debt to do it. We could also stop buying organic foods...in our house it's me that wants them...but I feel we are eating healthier and have no plans to stop that either.

[sweeps]

I could give up DSL, but then I would have to start taking Xanax so it's a wash.

[jodi]

I was just thinking about this today...we have been paying $5 a month for WAY too long to have an extra Dish TV box that we do not use...we really should cut that off the bill. Of course we pay too much for our cell phones too, but I have been trying to no avail to find a cheaper plan. We just started the South Beach diet, which is really hitting us in the wallet, but I think it's worth it over the long run (no processed food, whole grains, lots of veggies).
There are always things we can cut out, like entertainment and travel, but those are the things we scrimp for, so I do not feel guilty enjoying them

[Russell]

Here's my 2 cent advice

The DSL prices are almost as low as dialup but the difference in download speed and web-surfing is enormous. I'd say either do away with the Internet access altogether or keep DSL/cable. In the former case you could do all your surfing/emails etc at work or spend an hour at the local library/'net cafe (most around here have free wireless access) to check emails, send emails and surf the web. You can also download (while you have DSL) the free version of Netzero for those desperate times when you have to check email but can't go out to the cafe/library.

Someone once told me to see bigger results target bigger expenses. When you start to focus on saving pennies you not only drive yourself nuts you also make your life less enjoyable. Life is supposed to be a fun and enjoying experience. I agree with saving as much as possible but there's also a point at which time you have to just take a deep breath and remind yourself that you maybe going too far with this. I know a lot of members here love the tightwad gazette and personally I think it lists some good ways to save money but a lot of them were downright absurd. How can one live a fulfilling and enjoying life when every waking moment you're trying to save a penny.

Yes by all means, find ways to lower your car insurance, your home insurance, get rid of those subscriptions/memberships/accounts you don't use but beyond that I think if you're not wasting money on buying the latest ipod, the latest camera phone, the latest luxury car etc then you're doing a great job. If you want to save even more look at other options, maybe a light weekend job, buying stuff at the garage sale and selling it on ebay, maybe investing etc. They'll most likely result in netting you more money.

[PrincessPerky]

Well after I cut all the big stuff, all I have left is pennies to save And for me save is relative, I am still paying the CC bill. (mostly for DDs birth, then some non adjusting to new life, less income one more kid)

And I really should go get a retractable clothesline for the garage, but I haven't, the luxury of running the dryer for towels sortof keeps me from wondering out and getting one ( that and they didn't have one at the last store I was at)

[cercis]

We could give up eating out so much (once/week or so). But we enjoy it more than anything else.

We could give up the expanded cable (really! $120 for cable? It's outrageous).

We could give up dh's cellphone - he has one for work, they charge us 7cents per minute for personal calls, but I don't call his cell phone much at all. My cellphone is our only phone. I have the smallest package that has rollover minutes (which I've used this month, let me tell you).

I'm hoping that when we move, I'll be able to bike to work some, that would be nice.

[abowers]

I could give up cable ($50/month) but, without cable all I get is PBS. I *did* give up my $19/month Netflix when we got Cable though.

Could eat out less, but we enjoy it (1x/week or week and a half).

In August through October I did bike 5 miles to work (which saved me from sitting in traffic and wasting gas for 20-30 minutes on the poorly planned expressway with stoplights every 1/2 mile). Now it is a little chilly for that at 7am though.

Already don't buy boxed dinners, etc - we make dinner ourselves which is a lot cheaper.

Could ditch our 2 cell phones (500 peak min/month, $70) for 1 landline - but we just moved a couple months ago and it has been easier to have the cell phones. Will probably get rid of the monthly plan and drop down to a pay-as-you go cell phone once we are in a more permanent location.

[cercis]

Amanda - your bags are gorgeous!

I dabble in knitting and really need to get back to it. Of course, knitting was one of the things costing me money ...

[abowers]

Thank you! Knitting was costing me a lot of money too, but I was trying to mostly do it for gifts. A couple months ago my aunt got very in to this and helped me sell some of these bags (She had 30ish people show up for an open house at her house the other night, and she has a couple friends with shops that have sold some bags)-- so that has helped make it worthwhile too.

[seaar2000]

The only thing I can think of is that I can cut out cable. Don't go out to eat, don't have a cell phone. Started to line dry clothes. Not as bad as I thought it would be. Not only that it saves me on using dryer sheets. I have concentrated and successfully kept my house insurance down and car insurance down without upping my deductibles or eliminating anything on my car insurance and house insurance. Just call my agent and tell him we have to talk and he keeps my rates the same. Thank goodness!

[niki_the_tiger]

We could eat out less. We do eat out quite often, though in our defense, it is mostly sharing a $6 meal at the local chinese restaurant or grabbing a few items off the $1 menu at the fast food places (when we're out and about). We do have to be careful though cuz occasionally we allow ourselves to indulge and eat out at places like Applebee's etc and that can get expensive quick cuz of drinks. :S

I need to get my oven fixed, cuz I do love to cook and bake but right now it's broken so I haven't been able to as much as before.

We cut out satellite awhile back cuz we were paying $45 a month and not even getting local channels! I really miss HGTV and the Food Network though... sniff sniff. Especially now that it's winter. I might fish around for a good deal on that for a few months. We missed out on a great deal from Adelphia (procrastinators that we are! sigh!).

I agree about the DSL thing... we would pay the same here for a good dial up company as we pay for our DSL, and hubby and I both NEED it. I sell on Ebay and my hubby is starting his own business and part of it is run online, so it is a *must*.

We have to be careful when we are out shopping... sales are very dangerous... you often buy things you could do without because they are on sale for a great price.

And I need to cut down on grocery expenses too.

Other than that, I think we've mostly trimmed the fat.