These are some of the things that we've done to reduce spending in the past year. The bulk of the cost savings come from moving in with the BF and combining expenses. I didn't realize how much this saves us every year, but it really adds up.
Housing and utilities: Now that we aren't maintaining two places, we are saving $1200/month in rent. We merged our two family cell phone plans into a single plan, saving another $75/month, and downgraded our landline plan to save another $15/month. We also bought a space heater and have stopped using the central heat during the winter months.
Car costs: We combined our car insurance policies, saving $800/year. I take the bus to work rather than driving, which saves about $150/month in gas. Nowadays, we drive my old but low-mileage compact car on weekends rather than my BF’s more luxurious but far less reliable 10 year old BMW. This saves us about $250/year in gas costs, and hopefully it will allow us to keep his car longer and cut down on the exorbitant maintenance/repair costs.
Food costs: We have started cooking more on weekends rather than eating out, which saves about $200/month. I save another $100/month by packing lunches for work.
Household goods: We got a Costco membership last year, and have been stocking up in bulk. I also have been trying to get better about clipping and using coupons. This saves us about $25/month.
Impulse spending: Now that I’m working full-time, I have much less time for on-line shopping and impulse buying. This means I probably spend about $50 less per month buying clothes and other things that I really don’t need.
+1Seems ironic, but by joining Amazon Prime shipping for $79/year I think I'm actually saving money.
+1
We joined Amazon Prime and share with our adult kids. When they want to buy something they purchase an Amazon gift card for us in the correct amount and we order the item for them to be shipped to their address. We definitely get more than our $79 worth out of the Prime membership.
I just helped a friend out by ordering a dresser (took about 4 days to arrive, not 2) and also a cat tree house. Worked out great.
I guess as long as I buy stuff that I would have purchased anyhow, then there's where the savings is.
I was surprised when the dresser took longer than 2 days. After reading closer, the 2 days is after the product is securely packed. The dresser did come well protected so I assume the extra couple of days was Amazon doing the protecting.
I'm actually about the order a cell phone battery, but I won't be back home until Thursday night, so I might wait until tomorrow to order and then have it delivered on Friday when I know I'll be home.
so i just put things into my cart until they hit the $25 free shipping. It means deferred gratification. Will just have to tough that out. It does make me favor amazon over some of the competitors they help market who have to charge shipping.
I tried Amazon Prime and liked it but I'm too cheap to splurge on it.
So I just put things into my cart until they hit the $25 free shipping. It means deferred gratification. Will just have to tough that out. It does make me favor Amazon over some of the competitors they help market who have to charge shipping.
So I just put things into my cart until they hit the $25 free shipping. It means deferred gratification. Will just have to tough that out. It does make me favor Amazon over some of the competitors they help market who have to charge shipping.
REWahoo said:+1
We joined Amazon Prime and share with our adult kids. When they want to buy something they purchase an Amazon gift card for us in the correct amount and we order the item for them to be shipped to their address. We definitely get more than our $79 worth out of the Prime membership.
Before DH retired we switched from Vonage (basic plan including fees $24/mo) to a MagicJack ($20/YEAR) and it's been absolutely fine. I used an older computer in the basement (MagicJack needs the computer left on all the time) and ran a line to the kitchen where we hooked it up to the base phone with an answering machine.
I think Amazon prime is saving me money as well. I know it is saving me time for sure, and probably gas since I don't have to go out to pick up the stuff I need.'
About the only thing I can cut is my cable and cell phone plans, and I am working on those.