primitives discuss trimming expenses

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018305641

Oh my.

alarimer (11,399 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 07:51 PM

How do you trim expenses?

I am in trouble financially. My paycheck went down by $60 because of the rise in the payroll tax. I am, to put it mildly, screwed. Thankfully, my rent, though higher than I would like, did not go up. But I cannot keep my head above water. I do pay myself every month,, saving $100 that I put in an investment account, which so far is doing better than any savings account would.
 
Still, I find myself spending more than I make. I did realize I spend way too much on dining out. $70 last month. So that has to go. I decided I will make the drive to Virginia Beach so I can shop at Trader Joe's instead of the more expensive grocery stores in town here. What else can I do? I could give up my gym membership, which is $60 a month, but it's the only decent gym in town. I tried the other one for a while and it just scared me. But maybe I will have to go back. It's around $35 a month. I don't like to exercise outside. There are no sidewalks for one thing and my apartment complex does not have a fitness center.
 
I've said before that this town sucks in so many ways and I'm sorry I ever moved here. I took a pay cut to do so. I am clearly an idiot. But having said that, I have to deal with reality and make the best of it until I can get the hell out.
 
So the areas that I have identified as possible savings are in the grocery area. I spend over $300 a month (and get basically nothing for it). I end up going every other day or so because I don't really plan meals. I can't cook really. So I buy stuff like prepackaged pasta, which lasts me for two days, but still is pricier than the boxed pasta.
 
Cooking for one sucks. All the more reason to be pissed at my ex-boyfriend.

riderinthestorm (12,318 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:05 PM   

1. Well my first bit of advice is usually to tell folks to learn to cook, its MUCH cheaper than dining out or buying pre-packaged food. And healthier.

But if you don't want to do that, I think cutting back on eating out is a good idea. Also if you can get disciplined and actually plan meals ahead, you will cut some costs - even if you ONLY plan breakfast and lunch. You can then stock up on bulk yogurts, lunchmeat, cheese, bread etc and save $$ there. Think about the savings you can implement with the food itself. Do you always eat a bagel or english muffin for breakfast? Two pieces of toast have the same carbs but are much cheaper.
 
People report really great prices on canned goods and other pre-packaged foods at dollar stores (I've never been). Maybe explore those?
 
I shop at thrift stores exclusively for clothing. Same with household goods like coffee cups, tea kettles etc. I pretty much only buy underwear and socks new.
 
Go over things like your cell phone plans or credit card interest rates - sometimes you can haggle deals/rates that are cheaper. Its always worth asking. Those monthly costs can add up.
 
I think its great you pay yourself first. Its a smart strategy for the long run.

Sanity Claws (13,328 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:11 PM

5. groceries and eating out

Do you eat lunch out or get coffee in the morning? If you pack your own lunch and make your own coffee at home, you can save some money.
 
You can learn to cook some basic things. Eggs, tuna salad, salmon salad.

Make a lot of pasta and eat the leftovers for lunch or the next day.

Can you eat less meat and more bean and rice dishes? Meat is probably the most expensive item. Cut back on it.
 
I live alone and know what you mean about cooking for one. I cook up a couple of servings at the same time and freeze the leftovers. You can bring the leftovers to work as your lunch.
 
We can talk about specific recipes if you want.

I don't know where you live but can you find things that are inexpensive to do as entertainment? Can you rent movies from the library instead of going out to the movies? Can you borrow books at the library instead of buying books?
 
As for utilities, can you be frugal about energy usage?

alarimer (11,399 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:25 PM

8. I don't have cable because I knew I was losing money moving here

I don't really have a lot of extra expenses.

I don't buy books generally. I only have Time Warner for internet and that's about $40 a month. The cheaper options just don't work for streaming Netflix. Entertainment wise, I really don't go anywhere or do anything. No movies, or concerts. Maybe a couple of beers at a bar once a month or so. Bowling occasionally.
 
I think I'm about as frugal as I can get at this point, with the exception of food. I keep the temperature at 68-70, which is as low as I can stand it, although I guess I can learn to be colder than that. Summers I let it get hotter. All of my utilities together amount to about $150 a month, which varies $20-30 or so, but not much more than that. That is the only thing that's cheaper than Texas. I guess because of the a/c in summer.
 
I don't go to the doctor because I don't want to pay the copayments, although I do have one of those flex-pay accounts in which money is taken out of my check before taxes so I have enough this year for basic exams now.

Angry Dragon (23,474 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 08:59 PM

12. Question .......... How often do you get paid and where do you live??

alarimer (11,399 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 09:01 PM

13. I get paid once a month

I'm in North Carolina.

I'm used to that pay schedule. It's the last day of the month, rather than the first for some reason.

politicat (7,662 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 11:14 PM

25. Can you eat the same thing several times a week?

Because some people just can't. And that's fair.

Make a list of 20 or so minimally processed foods you like. Mine is apples, red grapes, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, celery, mushrooms, bell peppers, whole wheat or sourdough bread, cheddar and mozzarella, nut butter, jam, strawberries, eggs, milk, yogurt, butter. I used to keep that list on a deck of index cards in my bag, and when I ran out of one, I'd shuffle its card to the front. Made getting groceries easier. (Now I use a list app on my external brain.) When I'm low on spare brain cycles, I can pick up nothing but what's on the list and eat a healthy, if not creative diet for about $50 a week. I'm vegetarian, so meat no longer figures in. If you've got weight watchers in the area, their points system has this sort of tool, and some have cooking classes.
 
Check your store's loss leader ads each week and try to buy from those first. Also, try to shop in season -- it's cheaper and tastes better. Now, that means root and storage vegetables (potatoes, winter squash, onions, cabbage, carrots), citrus and beef. Spring is for greens, asparagus, eggs, lamb, some fish and cheese. Summer is for chicken, summer squash, tomatoes, berries, stone fruit and melons. Autumn is for most poultry, pork, tree fruit, frost vegetables. Milk is most expensive in late spring and early summer (but cheese, which requires some aging time, lags behind) eggs are cheapest when there is more than 10 hours of daylight each day. If you have a farmer's market, go there for produce. Vegetables generally taste good, and they sub well for each other on the principle of similarities, so if the market has really cheap kale and spinach and expensive lettuce, make spinach salads instead.
 
If you like soup, start there with your crockpot. It's really hard to mess up a basic vegetable soup and success builds confidence. If there's a restaurant soup you like, search the soup name plus copycat at allrecipes.com, then follow the highest rating with the most reviews. (I.e. use a 4.5 star with 500 reviews before a 5 star with 2 reviews.)
 
Find a food blogger whose writing style and skill level you can handle and look at the archives for this month. I am fond of http://smittenkitchen.com for clear instructions and excellent photos without pretension or high cost.
 
Laundry and/or dry-cleaning -- are you paying for the latter or using a laundromat? Dropping or minimizing dry-cleaning and hanger drying clothes can cut those expenses. Hand washing undergarments can cut a load, too.

<<<usually dines upon the same things day after day week after week month after month year after year and has no problem with it.

Coyotl (4,206 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 11:40 PM

28. Good to read you have employment.

You are quite fortunate and have tons of discretionary spending. Use your discretion and quit spending it. Start saving it instead, for when you join the ranks of retired or fired.

[BattleHymn]

I am in trouble financially. My paycheck went down by $60 because of the rise in the payroll tax. I am, to put it mildly, screwed.

[Celtic Rose]

Oatmeal, dried beans, and rice aren't very expensive even at pricy stores.  A canister of Quaker Oats is usually around $3-4, and it has 30 servings, a whole month of breakfasts.  

A few $10 workout DVD's would likely work just as well as a fancy gym membership, or driving to a place with walking trails to run for a bit of variety.  

$300 a month for one person, plus $70 eating out is ridiculous.  Why do you need to buy pre-made pasta meals, is it so difficult to cook pasta in a pot, drain it, and add some jarred sauce?  I cook for one all the time, and what that usually means is I make a regular sized, or halved, recipe and eat the leftovers over the next few days.  Buy fruit and vegetable that are in season.  Potatoes are versatile, easy to prepare, and dirt cheap.

What I see in the post is a bunch of whining and excuses why he, or she, can't cut expenses more.  

[BattleHymn]

Can you eat the same thing several times a week?

Because some people just can't.

Oh yes, you can.  Get back with me when you're really and truly hungry.

You are quite fortunate and have tons of discretionary spending. Use your discretion and quit spending it. Start saving it instead, for when you join the ranks of retired or fired.

BUSH'S FAULT.

[BEG]

My husbands check (every two weeks) is $341 less. Almost $700 a month less, cry me a ****ing river you assholes.  

[Skul]

alarimer (11,399 posts)    Fri Feb 15, 2013, 07:51 PM

How do you trim expenses?

Stop posting at the DUmp.
Get rid of your high-speed access, use a hot-spot like Bobo.
Next question.

I am clearly an idiot.

Considering who you're asking for advice, I would say yes.

Before I forget, buy a Buick.

[Lacarnut]

Get a cookbook and learn how to cook or go on a internet site like Cooks.com. Cooking for one is easy. I enjoy going out to eat but things like steaks, roast beef and pasta dishes I eat at home cause I can do a better job than they can and it's a hell of a lot cheaper.  

[Delmar]

I did realize I spend way too much on dining out. $70 last month.

$70.00 for a whole month of dining out is next to nothing.  Give up pot smoking DUmmy, that'll save you a bundle.

[JohnnyReb]

Cost of breathing....more than DUmmie makes so he should stop breathing.