Last year, I traded my 2002 Jeep Cherokee for a 2004 Chevy Avalanche, because I wasn't comfortable towing my camper with the Jeep. I lost about 2-3 mpg on the highway, but gained 2 while towing, so it's a tradeoff.
FWIW, the Avalanche is the only car I have with less than 200k on it, and it has over 100K. 
Insurance for us is $85.00 per week, Medication for me is under co pay $30.00 a month----Without insurance as high as $160.00 + a month. add in Hubby's $80.00 a month with no co pay and darn we would be paying a whopping amount just for those little pills. The doctors visits have a co pay of $20.00 and if treated at the ER no co pay. When admitted to the hospital, all tests and procedures are covered.
I have found out that if one cannot afford prescription medication with no insurance, one just has to go to the ER and they get the medication free. Has to be life saving medication but there are clinics that give out methodone at no cost.------Interesting that the drug is more addictive then the illegal drugs that caused a need for it.
The idea of down scaling a life is so horrid to people, Dinner out once every 6 weeks, makes this special. Cable basic and watch TV on the PC, HULA, want to have a party, tell guests to BYOB and a covered dish.
Keep the Autos up to date on maintenance, a paid for auto that runs for another 6-7 years saves you a ton of money. A friend was complaining that her paid for car was nickle dime her to death. In the last year she had to put $600.00 into her car. So we sat down and figured out the car was good for another 2-3 years, what would be the cost to buy a new one. Do the math.
Buy a new stove or kitchen appliance that the seller wants you to buy a maintenance contract on, Check it out the contract covers the price of parts but the owner has to pay the outrageous hourly wage of someone to come in and slap in a new piece you could buy for $40.00 yourself.
Lot's of stuff we want but do not need, Camping taught me how to wash dishes in cold water and then rinse them off from boiling water heating on the stove. Saved energy and most likely more germ free then any other kind of washing.
Have to use a Laundromat, I was taught to rinse out my socks and undies and hang them to dry in the bathroom, got kids, really cuts down on the amount of clothing to wash and no lost socks.
Grocery's, amazing how much we spend on those crappy sugar filled cereals, what is wrong with oatmeal and fruit ???? Don't throw out stale bread to the birds, grab an egg and make french toast, or before bed time Mix up some pancake batter, refrigerate it and in the morning all one needs is a hot griddle or pan.
Bitch, Bitch all you want, there are 101 things one can live without and still have a well and happy life.
