I need to cut some of our expenses but what can I cut?
By missybal
@missybal (4490)
United States
January 22, 2007 12:03pm CST
I feel so bad because I am not making as much money as my husband. He makes very good pay and I have my work at home businesses but at this time of the year one is not doing so well, just like it does every year after christmas. The other isn't enough to pay our bills, and my husband may be out of work for a while due to government cut backs. He will have to get a job working for a lot less and under more stress. I will need to find a part time job outside the home and with my health I wonder how long I can last. I try to think of things to cut but the things we could are things I need for busniess. Here are our bills...
$425 a month rent
$50 a month heat (winter rates)
$50 a month directv
$45 a month internet dsl (the lowest rate I can get in my area)
$65 a month cell phone
$20 a month home phone
$150 a month health insurance
$228 a month car payment
_________________
$1,033 a month... Not to mention needing to pay off credit card bills of about $4,000 that we rang up last time I got sick. It may not seem like all that much but due to my health something always comes up to suck away all the extra money and we end up barely getting by. My health insurance doesn't cover everything and the health insurance we have only covers me and my husband doesn't have any at all. I thought about going with only our cell phones again and cutting the internet, but I need the extra phone line and the internet for my home business. The television is the only other option I see. I can't really go without health insurance because every time I do I get really sick and it ends up costing an arm and leg.
Am I the only one that feels like they can never get ahead?
6 people like this
38 responses
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Okay, first off get rid of the directtv and cell phones. A lot of people today consider them necessities, but they aren't. They are luxuries which is where you want to cut expenses. You can also get peoplepc internet for something like $10-$12 a month which would give you a savings. I make money from a lot of different sources on the internet and sell things on ebay all with one phone line and dial-up internet access. By eliminating these things you can save about $150 a month which you can apply towards your credit card debt. Also, take a look at homejobstop. That's a website that screens potential online jobs and only posts the real ones. It costs a little to join, but I've found 2 pretty decent jobs there. Or if you tell me what you're interested in, I could look there for you and see if they have anything in your area of expertise.
1 person likes this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Thanks but as I said I have two home businesses now one is a business with ebay. The internet truely is the cheapest I can get because there is only one company I can get it from. I live in a wierd spot that you don't get a choice. I called them all about finding something cheaper and could not because they would charge me long distance. There is dial up but for one of my home businesses it is so slow I can't manage to do what i must with it. And the Dial up that is the cheapest would still cost me $25 a month and it may hurt my ability to work my home bussiness. The tv is the only thing I fear I can cut.
As far as something online that could be free to do... Do you know of any others besides mylot that can be done and pays? Really with my other two jobs I can't get into anything too demanding because I have high and low times in one and so I sometimes have time to kill and am looking for ways to make something during that time. That is part of the reason I do mylot when I am bored.
1 person likes this
@skittles46 (388)
• United States
23 Jan 07
If you're seriously looking for something else the other thing I do besides here and ebay is being a chacha guide. You totally set your own schedule, and its made me almost $1000 since September. If you're decent at finding things on the web, it could be a good opportunity for you. You basically run searches for other users, and help train other guides. If you're interested you can find an invite thread on the forum at wahm.com or you could let me know and I can send you an invite.
@mommy2taylor1 (405)
• United States
22 Jan 07
-O- gosh! Is there anyway you can get rid of your cell phone-- that's a pretty big bill along with the TV? That would save you extra. I do know what your saying, it seems like any time you do come into extra money, something always comes up that needs to take that money. & No, you don't want to get rid of health insurance. I feel bad for you especially though, with your husband maybe getting laid off, but if he works for the GOV. why aren't they paying his health insurance? That doesn't seem right.
I don't work, I stay @ home with my little girl & we get by but it would be nice to find something so we weren't so short changed @ the end of the month.
My husband made some extra money last month & we were excited we could get some things paid off-- we'll, I ended up having to get a root canal -- so there went that money. I do feel like we can't get ahead too- & it really sucks and is frustrating. But, I hope things look up for you!!
1 person likes this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Can not get rid of the cell phone. My husband is military. He is in the researves but usually gets full time work, but they are having a shortage of funds. They had funding for $200,000 that went into the gym on the researve base and they bought all new furnisher for the offices yet they don't have enough for orders for their men. Any way he needs the cell phone because when he does work he is gone Monday-Friday and stays in a hotel on base and calls me all the time to check up on me. We have verison and the family share plan so we end up using like 3,000 minutes just talking to each other and thank god that is free with verizon to verizon.
2 people like this
@gandhi_rikin (60)
• India
23 Jan 07
a newyork based designer has come up with a mirror equipment with infrared technology that send a live video feed to any cellphone emails accounw or personal digital assistant device relevued by a sion
@prasadr (872)
• India
23 Jan 07
Oh my fried, if i get that 1000 Dollar a month, then will live happy with out doing any extra work. Here 1 US$ = 45 INR (India Rupees). And the way for u to decrease the spending is just to packing to india). Here an average person will live with a salary of 120US per month...
@missybal (4490)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I know, My father lived in India when he was a kid. He says they were dirt poor here and they went over there and had a mansion with an armed guard and a maid and cook and the whole nine yards. I know an indian family, good friends with the kids. There parents plan to save up a bunch of american money and then move back to India and live like royalty. However I am happy here and I have lots of family and that I guess makes me rich.
@wildecoyote (975)
• Australia
22 Jan 07
I would get rid of direct TV try to use the mobile phone less, even get a prepaid one as it stays connected even when you have no credit, at least for a while. you could try going back to dialup for internet.
1 person likes this
@myarticlemalldotcom (217)
• United States
22 Jan 07
You may want to sit down with your husband and decide what is important to you guys. The cell phone and the internet are 2 that may be removed. Make a decision together and you will feel better about it.
1 person likes this
@dirtpoorboy (156)
• United States
23 Jan 07
i would just cut stuff like direct tv if you have it, and just try to cut back on the types of food that you really like and get some cheaper foods like mac and cheese, hamberbuger helper, ramon noodles, frozen pizzas. things like that!
1 person likes this
@pagli84 (1850)
• Netherlands
23 Jan 07
it seems like you're not really spending that much monthly, but i understand that you might want to cut back a bit. one of the important things to ask is whether there is cheap public transportation in your area. if so, is it really necessary to have a car? you can save on both the car payments and the car insurance. also, im confused as to why you are paying $115 on internet, television, and telephone. there are services out there that combine all three or at least internet and television for a lot cheaper than what you are paying now. i think you should look around for a cable service that does so. if its not possible, maybe you should get rid of directv and just have regular tv and get rid of the internet and just go to the internet cafe when you need to use the internet. your cell phone bill seems to be high as well. is that just for one cell phone or two? if its for one, that is way too high. you can get plans for $30-$40 a month. otherwise, you could just get prepaid so that you only buy $20 or so a month depending on how much you actually need the phone. the rent, heat, and health insurance are the most important things. you should not get rid of those, but maybe you can find a cheaper health insurance. another thing that maybe you could do is take out a loan until next year when your business picks up. that way you wont have to worry about cutting back so much now. hope this helps..good luck!
@emarie (5442)
• United States
23 Jan 07
well, you could get rid of your land line phone and just use a cell. i know some people do that. my mother and sister did since both of them have cell phones. also, you can cut expenses by shopping at discount grocery stores or using more coupons or only buying things on sale. don't go out much and basiclly stay home. you can possibly get something other then directtv since it is expensive. probably basic cable or no cable would save a lot. turn off lights more and use less heat if possible. those are ways to cut down less.
@Mtushar87 (488)
• India
23 Jan 07
your phone bill is around $85 so why dont you try someother online money making work and pay your phone bills and a quater of car payement from this work..here i m giving you links of someother sites where you can online money..i think being a part time worker will cost you the same..
http://www.payposter.com/index.php?refer=tushar
http://www.webmastersroom.com/profile.php?mode=registerandrefer_id=4871
just copy and paste these links in an blank addressbox..and get rid of your problems..
@Bytemi (1553)
• United States
23 Jan 07
There are so many more things that you spend money on that are not listed here, groceries how much do you spend? Do you cut coupons. What about gas for your vehicles, over the counter medications, entertainment, eating out, do you have pets. I am pretty good at getting blood out of a turnip when I have to.
My suggestion to you would be carry a little notebook around with you in your purse. Write down everything that you spend even it is a penny for gum ball and then look it, figure out where all the money is going, every last cent, bank fees. When you take money out of an ATM take out enough a week so you don't pay the fee over and over again or always go to your bank.
@givemebigmoney (21)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Great approach. I agree that the best way to start cutting expenses is to get a handle on where every penny is spent. Cut the things out that mean the least to you and use it to pay off some of the things that drain your bank account. It is the first step to building wealth.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Well first I would call the credit card company and try to get a better interest rate-- Tell them you may not be able to make payments at all if they cannot help you and explain that you're husband is not working as often. Alot of times they will help out.
I guess I would cancel the cell and get a prepaid Trac phone- for your hubby when he is away at work.. If he is going to be working less.. You said you talk alot and rack up the minutes- You will have to stop this with a trac phone.
Call the cable company in your area (Time warner here) and see what the cost is for basic cable. Local stations- Switch to this- It should save a bunch of money.
You may even have to switch to dial-up.. You can get that way cheaper than $45 a month! Unless you need fast for your home business..
Hope you guys get out of your financial slump soon.
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
23 Jan 07
well, i am sort of in the same position with our bills. I can't cut off the dish network because we are in a contract...plus, i really like my kids to have the disney channel and all. going w/o my cell is sort of out of the question since i have 2 small kids and a not so good car. Hmmm...do you HAVE to have DSL? or can you get a lower rate on DSL? i go thru SBC and they have DSL for like 19.00/ month. can you lower your cell plan to be a bit cheaper? sorry i am not much help. i hope things get a bit better for you. it will get better...just takes good budgeting and patience. good luck
@marymarj2002 (1769)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
You are not alone. I also do not know how to have more money because our income is very little to our expenses especially that we send our siblings to school and we have a little baby. I hope to earn more. Like having sidelines. i think it would be nice if we have parttime jobs or little businesses.
@laltu86 (1249)
• India
21 Mar 07
Its a very tough decision you have to make , its just like whom do you like more your son or your husband, but what i can suggest is that if both your husdand and you carry a mobile then i feel you can cut out the expense of carrying the overloading home phone. more over you could curtail your daily expenses may be by a few dollars, but ultimately after a month you would be a happy women with a good bit of savings in your purse.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I would cut the TV out. I personally don't watch a lot of TV, so this would not affect me much. Also, I noticed you have a great home-based business. There aren't many expenses with it so it's almost all profit. I suggest working with your upline to help you increase your business to help you expand. Mine is doing wonders with me!
Good Luck!
@shemb1 (464)
• Sri Lanka
23 Jan 07
I think oyou are a good wife more than I think and I think you save more like make foods inside and dont always buy some ready-made foods. In that way I bet you dont get nutritions but if you buy non-ready made foods you can save lots of money.
And dont spend some small extra money always. I got lots of experience how to control the money and I think most expenses are we doing for some small stuuf that we going to buy daily. remember to cut those unwanted things, then you can save your money.
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
23 Jan 07
While you might have to cut back on a few things, stop saying you feel so bad. That kind of thinking will make it more difficult to feel better. It does take time to get an Internet business going. If you like to write articles, you might try Associated Content. You could certainly make enough in a month to pay the cell phone bill and DSL.
Why are you getting sick? Are there some changes you can make to help keep yourself healthier? Try to think in terms of being healthy, happy and prosperous.
By thinking you will never get ahead, you are reinforcing that belief. There is nothing to get ahead of. If you want to increase your income, think in terms of abundance. When you are worried and stressed out, your mind cannot think freely because your thoughts are about all the bad things going on.
Change your thinking about the things going on in your life. Think about the things you do want in your life. Do you know why you and so many others keep going in circles? It is how you think. You are constantly thinking of all the bad stuff happening and that is what keeps it coming back.
In effect, your thinking is attracting the things you don't want because that is where your attention is. Be bold and ask for something different. Ask yourself how you can feel better, be happier and prosperous. Keep thinking about living well and feeling better. Continue to ask yourself what you can do to earn more money. Concentrate on finding things you like to do and do the things that create a happier you.
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
i would agree that you stop watching television. if you can't stop watching, buy a video card with tv/out or tv tuner, install it in your pc (if you know) or have someone install it for you, then you can watch tv shows on your pc. by the way, i have a pc with a tv tuner but i seldom watch tv sometimes i really don't watch tv shows. that's why this is my suggestion. good luck on your decision.
@meet_abhinesh (39)
• India
23 Jan 07
you can get rid off ur cell phone and tv for sometime till ur condition is fine ....
