What's the first thing to go?
By commonground
@commonground (367)
United States
December 20, 2010 5:16pm CST
Tough economic times often call for cutting back on expenses. We all have certain things in our lives that could be considered luxuries. It may be different for each of us but there are a few things we know we could live without if we had to. I always think of sattilite TV first thing when it's time to cut back. I'd really miss it but it's not something I HAVE to have. These days we can usually find whatever we like to see on Hulu or some other online source. I don't watch that much TV anyway.
Some people say cell phones are a luxury and in tough times we should get rid of them. Not in my case. I don't have a land line phone so my cell stays. Besides, I need a cell phone with me all the time in case of health emergencies.
A lot of people get rid of their pets inhard times because of the expense in feeding and caring for them. I love my pets like family, so I keep them.
They can share what I eat. I cut way back on driving to save gas. I don't go shopping for anything other than what I need. I use Goodwill a lot more often.
Some think the internet should be given up but I'd have a real hard time doing that. So far I've never had to make that choice. That's the one thing that would be the very last thing to giveup.
What's the first thing to go for you? And what could you just never give up no matter what?
2 people like this
9 responses
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
31 Dec 10
The television would be the first thing to go. To be honest, it is just one of those things that are around because of a force of habit. Therefore, I think that to some extent that it is pretty much useless with the Internet. On that same vein, I would not give up the Internet. I would cut a lot of corners to keep my Internet access.
1 person likes this
@commonground (367)
• United States
14 Jan 11
I agree with you, TV can become just a habit that we would not miss if it was gone. The internet has every thing we can get from TV. We are about to let our Direct TV go. As soon as the contract is up in March.
I would not want to be without my internet either. What ever it takes, within reason.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Cable television, newspapers and magazines were the first to go. The news and most of my magazine reading is online now. I watch antenna tv. I've pared down the groceries to the cheaper cuts of meat or no meats at all. I've bought fewer clothing items during the past year making do with what I have. I have a cat that will not be going anywhere and my internet service will stay even if I have to go back to dial-up. Instead of buying books, I've joined a swap group and we trade books with the only expense being postage. This money crunching will be with us for a long time I think. It's time to just hunker down and go back to basics.
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
yoyo, it looks like you've done all the right things to pare down your expenses. It really doesn't have to be a painful experience. Cut a little here and there and it can make a big difference.
We all seem to agree, we'll keep our pets. I'm glad to hear that.
Cutting internet back to dial-up would be a great way to save, I hope it doesn't come to that for a lot of us.
I agree we all need to get back to the basics. We will have some much harder times coming I'm afraid, also. If we can cut back a little here and there it may not be so hard when things really get rough.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
21 Dec 10
Hmm, let's see, my 2 cell phones have to stay as I use mine for our kids'doctors appointments and social workers, and itinerant teachers (they're special needs) and Hubby needs one for work because he's on call Monday to Friday. I called up my cell phone company a few months ago and we put together a package deal for the fewest features (for what I need) for the cheapest price.
We have no cable or newspapers or anything like that. But my Internet is here to stay as we rely on that for movies (good ol' YouTube!) and I use mine for earning a bit of money here and there. Even Hubby is helping me out on Sidetick.
No pets here, and we've cut out eating out.
Now I bake everything - bread, pizza, cakes, cookies, nothing is store-bought nowadays.
Hubby is walking to/from work more often instead of taking the van, except for when he does grocery shopping. That saves on gas, and we'll know that we'll have gas each time we have a doctor's appointment.
We only purchase 2nd hand clothing nowadays, and me...well, I just wear the same thing over again LOL (I'M CLEAN!!!!) tee hee ;-)
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Sounds like a very thrifty household there. Good for you.
We watch movies on the internet also and a lot of our favorite shows from the cooking channels are available online now also. It won't be hard to give up Direct TV when the time comes.
Fantastic that you can do all your own baking. Saves money plus it's so much better for you. Not to mention delicious!
Yes, we gave up shopping for new clothes a good while back. It's kind of hard finding modest clothing in the stores today but we have much better luck at Goodwill or second hand stores. Saves an amazing amount of money and we are still able to dress nicely.
Great to hear of a family doing all the right things to cut back and still enjoy life.
@preppydezza (309)
• Philippines
21 Dec 10
I don't really pay that much for everything because I still live with my parents. But to help them with the economic crisis that is going on in the world, I always make sure in helping saving energy. In terms of luxuries and all, I think I have to lessen on buying of books. And I should also lessen up the use of the internet because I spend too much on it but I am not being productive. If I will use the internet for long hours, it should be that I am being productive of the time and energy that I have made. ;)
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Hi, preppydezza. Helping out with energy savings is a big step. That's probably the biggest expense we have other than rent.
I think books are always a good investment, I probably have way too many myself.
It is a good thing if you can make your time on the internet profitable in some way. While still living at home you can start to learn what it might be like for you when you are finally out on your own. Pick up some good habits now and it will make your life easier later.
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
If you are fortunate enough to have more than one mobile phone and ipods then that would be a good place to start. Yes, laptops and computers in general seem to be the last things we all would let go. They have become very important to all of us, it seems.
@ruhanoooooo (11)
•
21 Dec 10
TV! I don't watch American TV, there's never anything good on. It's a waste of money. If I want to watch TV I can watch it online ^^
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Right.That's why so many of us have cable or satillite. That seems to be the first thing to go for most of us. But what would be the last thing you would let go?
@peavey (16936)
• United States
21 Dec 10
I'm kind of surprised at how many people would give up TV first. That's where I would start and actually I am going to do that right after the first of the year. I had a "deal" where I could get cable TV for around $30 a month, but that ran out, so it's much too expensive now for what I get out of it. I might get a converter box and a set of rabbit ears antenna so I can watch local channels now and then.
The internet would be the last to go. Not only do I make a little from it, it saves me money because I print out coupons and find good deals, read the newspaper online, download free audio books and so on.
I don't spend much at the grocery store and I hardly ever buy new clothes, but I could cut back on both of those things.
I'd keep the cellphone but might go to a cheaper service.
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Yeah, TV looks to be the first to go for most of us. We have a 'deal' also and when it is up we'll let it go and return to the converter box and antenna. We only get a couple of channels that way but it's enough for the local news, anything else we can get online.
We all love our internet, don't we? You're right, it can be a money maker and a money saver. I'll hang on to the internet as long as possible, if it comes to that. So far it has not got that bad.
@kodukodu84 (1569)
• Malaysia
21 Dec 10
Hmmm if that happens then I would probably give my TV up first. I don't think I can for cell phone as I also do not have a landlines phone, and though I don't use it much but very important for emergency case. I also would keep my laptop and Internet with me because it is one of the important thing I need at the moment apart from family, love, and few other things in my life. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
Yeah, I would give up my TV before my internet also. With the internet you can get just about everything on TV and more. And my computer and internet are pretty important to me, too. It would be very hard to give up.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16537)
• China
21 Dec 10
Perhaps the internet is the very last thing for me to give up.It has benefitted me a great deal.
@commonground (367)
• United States
21 Dec 10
The same for me. I make a little money here and there and also get a lot of enjoyment from the internet.
