Cutting costs

To offset the rising price of groceries, I am buying Target store brand products. We have Market Pantry products everywhere. And occasionally Archer Farms, though they tend to be more upscale and higher priced. I am surprised how good Market Pantry is, we are seeing very little difference in quality and an enormous difference in price in most cases.

Joe drives 110 miles per day to commute to work. Luckily, just before we moved to FL he got a new Honda Civic. He gets about 40 miles/gallon. That is the only thing saving our butts right now. We figure his commute is costing us $250/month. When we figured our budget for this move, we figured gas at $2.50/gallon. That is a faraway dream now.

We are in the midst of serious discussions regarding turning off our cable. If the cable goes, we will save both cable and TiVo monthly fees. I think we would save about $80/month. With the availability of many shows online and on Netflix, the decision is made easier. I would really like to commit to turning off our cable for the summer. I want to see what would happen.

I am hoping that it would mean that we read more, we swim more, we talk more, we play board games and cards, and in general we turn to each other rather than the TV. And I am admittedly the biggest TV watcher in this house. I love my shows and my TiVo. But I am willing to try this for the summer - this is my idea.

We are driving much less than we used to, we are eating out less, we are not even talking about trips anymore. Who wants to sit down and figure out what just the gas is going to cost to do that fun overnighter or weekend getaway. I have a pool, an art studio and a stack of unread books in my bedroom - I don't need anything more for a weekend of fun. I need to enjoy what I have.

What are you doing to offset rising costs? What have you given up, reduced, and changed? And what is still worth the cost and you are making that a priority?

Me - I am still getting my hair colored every 8 weeks. I am still eating lunch out but the where and the what has changed. I now think before I buy - no such thing as an impulse buy. Do I really need this or really love this or is it just a want? We are wasting much less food which is a great thing. I am more aware of what I am doing and spending. That is not a bad thing at all.

And now - will we do without cable? The jury is still out.