Recession is Here--What Indugences Have You Given Up?
By Kareng
@kareng (54301)
United States
February 19, 2009 1:27pm CST
Ok, it's official. We are in a recession. Times are tough for many Americans. Budgets are tight with some losing their homes, jobs, etc. I'm wondering what you have had to give up in order to make ends meet at your house? Have you given up visiting coffee houses, eating at fast food places, eating out at nice restaurants for dinner, cut out unnecessary driving, movie theaters, movie rentals, game rentals, concerts, etc?
I have cut out all unnecessary trips across town, to the grocery store or just going for a leisure ride. I'm not saving a whole lot of money by doing this but it will add up by the end of the year. I see it in my gasoline bill.
I'm also not doing a weekly grocery trip. I normally did this in the past. Now I only stop at the store when I need something and just buy what I need and something if it is on sale and a product that we actually use. I also clip coupons for items that we use on a regular basis. I don't always remember to use them but this is another way to save money!
My husband and I are also carpooling to work. We leave one vehicle at his mother's house and drive the major part of the way to our home together. This is a big saving since we have an hour and fifteen minute drive to work.
So what things are you doing to keep your budget within the budget? Is it helping? Or not helping enough? Do you think you will have to take drastic measures?
6 people like this
26 responses
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
6 Mar 09
We do our menus by what is on sale and buy what is marked down. I try to do my shopping when someone else needs to go so we can double up on the trips. I use lots of coupons, although find these are getting scarce also.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157463)
• United States
18 Apr 09
I have always shopped the food that is on clearance. It is just the way I was raised.
1 person likes this
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
20 Feb 09
People need to stop saving money and start spending. Saving money will only worsen the economy. Buying less stuff means less jobs. If you love this country then you will by more home electronics. I haven't given up jack. I bought myself an all new computer with flat screen monitor. Hells yeeeaah! Capitalism works!
1 person likes this
@Raven1 (577)
• Australia
26 Jan 10
I've given up nothing. In fact, I just bought a new home by the beach.I refuse to participate in a recession. In fact, my writing business has increased dramatically since this "global financial crisis" and I've earned more than ever before.
Yes, times are tough for many people, but think about your current skills and see how you can market them to increase your income. You'll be surprised at what you're capable of.
1 person likes this
@tudors (1556)
• China
22 Feb 09
hi, well i'm in China, i am not affected by this though people around me are. my life hasn't changed much. i've always cut down unnecessary activities like going to a bar or coffee shop. coffee shop is very expensive mainly open to high-salary class. but one thing i cut down is that i reduce my taxi fees. when i raise my hand to call a cab, i remind myself "you are not uncomfortable today, the weather isn't windy and cold, save it and buy yourself a box of chocolate or buy home some fruit with the taxi money.", then i walk 9 minutes to the bus stop. oh, one more thing, very important, i find it hard to invest now, low risk investment are hard to follow, due to last year's investment failure which caused me a big loss, my confidence is frustrated, and i'm not completely out of the shadow. The bank interest drops to nearly bottom, so putting money in bank is not a good choice but currently i can't find better and safe source. so, that's it. thanks for the discussion for us.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
18 Apr 09
I've always been the same way with cabs, I take buses and sometimes when I don't want to wait - hate waiting I walk - I used to walk 45 minutes to school and I did the same for work as well. I think its great that you do that too!
1 person likes this
@ShelleD (30)
• United States
28 Jan 10
We are in a recession and I find that this gives us an opportunity to be more resourceful in many ways. I've given up going out to get coffee all the time. Instead if I get a craving for a mocha, I just make it myself with what I have in the fridge. As it turns out, I make it better and bigger for way less than I would have had to pay for it.
Since vintage clothing is so in, I take advantage by getting my clothes secondhand in thrift stores. My kids go through clothes so quickly, I find myself saving hundreds of dollars in this area.
We always use to dine out all the time, now we just go on a special day as a treat. I've learned to cook better and healthier by cutting out fast food stops. In this way, my kids don't take dining out for granted and are most of the time well behaved for us.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157463)
• United States
18 Apr 09
I took a full time job, and then some. I guess you could say I am giving up free time. Financially we are doing okay. I am even putting some money aside for a trip in a few weeks when my next grandbaby is born. We are paying down some bills as well. It is because hubby has Social Security, plus a job, plus I have a full time job as well. It will feel good when some of the bills are gone, but it will take awhile. Since we are so busy with work and seldom see each other, we also eat out less, and we plan for it and put money aside.If that money runs out, we cannot go. We go out about 1/3 of what we used to do. I do not go to the store real often. I buy fresh foods as much as possible because I feel that I get more bang for my buck that way.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
20 Feb 09
well i think i will be giving up my drumstick icecreams,sadly missed.i think there will less trips to macdonalds for the kids and a few little luxuries like my icecreams.i use my shopper dockets with things like buy one coffee get another free,so i still feel i can indulge in a coffee out every now and then.i will just take it day by day.cheers sue
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
9 Mar 09
Well Kareng, we are eating less meals outside - it's cheaper and healthier to have our meals at home. We have tried to limit our grocery shopping trips to once a week, as we have to drive out; moreover it's also more cost-effective to buy in volume. Less socialising - we used to go to clubs every week. And hunt for bargains, promos, vouchers/coupons or other offers.
1 person likes this
@jayyerex (224)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
I cut back on my indulgences quite some time ago. For instance I got rid of my car and got a bike. I know that is not practical for some but it works for me. I save probably a thousand dollars easily every year, not to mention the headaches and grey hair. I also got rid of cable television and I only go out on the town with my wife maybe once every one or two months. Almost everything else goes to the kids. All in all I can't really complain. There are people out there far worse off than I am.
@maanrodriguez (604)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
It's not just in the US where recession has hit.Most asian countries are feeling the crunch as well. There have been mass layoffs and several multinational companies have pulled out from our country. this was why I started freelancing. though the place where I'm working it isnt really that affected, I just want to be ready.
anyway regarding the indulgense that I have given up. hmm, first we dont eat out as much as we used to. we've decided to just stay at home and cook our meals. it actually saved us a lot. basically what we've cut down are the going out kind of stuff. like we dont watch a lot of movies in theatres and I said we dont eat out anymore, etc. this also cuts down our gas bill. :)
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
22 Sep 09
My family and I are cutting on fine dining at restaurant
from once a week to once a month. Only watch free tickets-
movie in cinemas. No more paying for newspaper. Read those
free newspaper which are available from Monday to Friday.
My wife also no more buying new clothes and shoes. My son
do not go for any tuitions.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
20 Feb 09
We sometimes feel like we still spend a lot of money, but when I really think about it we have cut back A LOT. We used to go out to eat at an actual sit-down restaurant every week or even more, now we cut down to once or twice a month. We used to get slurpees, coffee or ice cream all the time, now we cut down on that... however that was mostly due to health reasons!
I have a problem remembering coupons, especially when I'm tired and just want to get my shopping over with. I've signed up for a new website shortcuts.com but have yet to use it :-D I believe what it does is put the coupons onto your kroger card so when you swipe your card you get your points.
One other thing we do, we stock up on sale foods when at Kroger. Like yesterday I seriously went to the store for 5 items, I ended up spending 98$!! But it was a savings of 40$ because I bought all these sale items. They had noodle packets for 1$ a piece, morningstar was discounted so much that I saved 2.59 or so per box! So I stocked up and bought a ton of that kind of stuff for the freezer or pantry. When I see a sale, I think it's worth it to buy extra because stuff like that won't go old.
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I've avoided eating fast food for the most part. I'm really working on cutting out ordering food and having it delivered since it can really start to add up eventually. I'm also working hard to cut out so many store trips. We tend to go to stores a lot because we're bored and don't have very many things to do during the weekend or the weekend to keep us occupied. I'm really trying to limit store trips to once a week or so that way we're not so tempted to go out and buy more stuff than we had intended to.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
19 Feb 09
I make food last longer by eating less. I buy really cheap fresh vegetables. I buy a lot of generic. I make tabouli, and you can make that last a long time.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Nothing different as I have had to live on a limited "recession" budget all my life and have done all these "save money" things just to make ends meet all my life. No new life going on here!
1 person likes this
@allentcl82 (590)
• Singapore
20 Feb 09
This recession is hitting practically everyone in this planet!! Previously, i take taxis to work daily, now, on bus.. Previously, i eat out every 3 meals daily, now, i eat instant noodles and skip lunch, since its during office hours, and its too far to go home for a meal.. Previously, i have a drinking session every friday, saturday, ordering a bottle of chivas for 2 days.. now, i quit drinking, and stay at home every weekend staring at the four walls..
I'm doing these not to save money, but to repay the debts i own... due to recession, the $ i got decrease till i'm having frequent headache.. thinking of $.. haha.. thats life, hope the economy turns well soon..
@Allen1984 (2)
• China
20 Feb 09
Recession is here! Some people aroud me said that it is hard to get a good job!
the money we gained every month is not enough for spending! that is terrible!
I have to give up some shopping which is not necessary! I will do something for my budgets are not tight,For example ,carpooling to work,cutting out all unnecessary trips.... Good luck to every friend!
1 person likes this
