Sunday, July 27, 2008

Have you cut back on anything because of rising costs?

Have you cut back on anything because of rising costs? Almost everybody I know has. At least a little. My last tank of gas cost $70! Eek!

Usually a tank of gas only lasts me only one week. I’ve been making it last two weeks lately. Of course, it’s summer and the daughter is taking the summer off softball so I don’t have to run to the neighboring cities several days a week. I hardly turn on my AC in the van this summer even thought it’s hot. Unless it’s sweltering, I roll down the windows and bear the heat. My van guzzles gas when I use the AC. I used to go to a lot of movies. I love the movie experience. I didn’t go to any for months. Actually, lately, I’ve seen a few again, but not as many as I used to.

I’ve always tried to save $ on groceries. I hardly ever buy steak and we eat a lot of chicken and vegies and soup. I was bad at eating out a lot for lunch. Lunch is a big part of my socialization. That’s when I get together with my work friends, even my church friends. But lately, my work friends and I have been eating in the lunch room a lot more. So far, I’ve not bought school supplies or clothes for the kids. I’ll have to start soon.

I've practically forgotten what a pedicure or manicure is. My brows are getting downright furry and soon I'll get the German unibrow back. Okay, so I'll take pity on everyone and get my brows done at the mall tomorrow. I'd probably get the pedicure, too, but hubby lost (or got ripped off) $500 last weekend when he paid the umpires for the tournament. He thinks he was pick-pocketed or that he paid out too much to somebody that hasn't admitted it and given it back, so we're short $ we counted on.

I'm also having to take turns using the daughters' computer as I don't have the $ to buy a new one. I couldn't wrestle it or bribe it away from DD#1 last night to even check email much less blog or more importantly, do my EC edit. What, if anything, are you doing to cut back? Are you worried about rising costs?

9 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

We're playing catch-up, since hubby's only been back to work for a month, so I know exactly what you're talking about! He put his check in the bank Thurs; I paid the bills on Friday; we went out to eat ONCE. Saturday, after paying half the outstanding gas bill and filling up hubby's car ($50), there is barely enough left for groceries, and I won't have any spending cash. If I scrimp on the groceries, put 5 gallons of gas in my van, and only buy one E-book, we'll be okay until the next check.

Movies? Ha. The last time we could afford to go to the movies as a family was a special treat LAST YEAR, to see Harry Potter. And hubby took the baby back to the motel for some 'male bonding', as he was waaay too young for movies. We let the kids go to a few after the tax refund arrived, but that's about it.

Unknown said...

Yeah, I've been unemployed for the month of July, so there has been massive cut backs on everything. The Jr. and I just don't leave the house for the most part. It's getting frustrating, but what else can we do?

I read a quote yesterday, and I can't remember who it was from but here you go:

"10 years ago oil was $10.92 a barrel. Do you make 12 times what you did in 1998?"

Gross huh?

XoXoXo
Dakota

Anika Hamilton said...

Less grocery shopping. Take lunch to work, less socializing. Fill up my tank twice per week ($50 each time) and I only drive to and from work. I have only gone to the movies once this year, something I use to do a lot more. Although I don't intend to miss the Mummy 3.

Do these things qualify? We do what we must.
:-)

Sandra Cox said...

Oh, man, I'm sorry about the $500.

Unknown said...

I grew up in a thrifty/skint household so I have always been careful with money. As my grandmother would say "I can skin a flea and tan it's hide to make do."

Bronwyn Green said...

No new books, no movies, shopping as cheaply as humanly possible. Unfortunately the entire fam needs eye exams and new glasses and the youngest is in dire need of braces. It's not going to be pretty.

I'm so sorry about the 500. That's awful! I really hope someone's guilt gets the better of him/her. :(

Kati said...

We've cut back on groceries, the last couple of weeks. Been eatting a lot skimpier meals. (Not that it's necessarily bad for us.) Trying to make food with left-overs so that the hubby and I have lunches. The kiddo's been eatting homemade quesadillas and tinned fruit for lunches.

I'm trying to figure out a way to do some vegetarian cooking that the hubby will enjoy. Something with more beans and grains, less meat. Also we've been eatting some of our garden goodies. Have some canning to do for winter, though.

Unknown said...

I'd love to see Mummy 3, too, at the theater. But I'll have to see. Mummy (1) is my favorite movie.

It doesn't look like my gas in the van will last two weeks this time, unfortunately, so I'll have to put gas in my car before pay day.

Trixie said...

I'm not too worried, the credit crunch hasn't affected my business...yet.

But I've really trimmed back on my grocery bills, buying cheaper stuff, not so much fresh veg (so I'm not throwing out unused stuff). I've gone more into the frozen veg now.

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