What have you done to cut back in these hard times?

Well like you I cut back on some stuff. I called the satellite company and took off some channels. Next month our contract ends and I heard the cable company in the area is offering cable for five dollars a month. I had the phone adjusted so it's like 30 dollars less. I am hanging my clothes up to dry now instead of using the dryer because with these last cold months our bill was past a hundred dollars. We have five kids so with the food I am always stocked up on. They are really good at eating beans, potatoes, and rice of course there is meat but that I stretch out pretty good. We don't eat out that often if any. I think because of tax refund time we splurged but we will be back on track. I do alot of free things with my kids when possible and my biggest splurge this year is our Disneyland annual passes. We pack up food and go. I don't worry about investing. Right now my dad had money invested and he is old, well the bank said he can't touch his money yet. He is really worried. You just never know. Our house payment is really low so that is a plus to this whole scenario.

I seldom go out in these times of crisis. One spends more money in going out than when you're home Mylotting or watching TV.

Truth be told, my husband and I are two of the lucky ones. We are both on fixed income. I'm on disability, and he's on social security. We live in a small apartment in the middle of town near a bus system. Neither one of us can see well enough to drive, so we save a lot of money not owning a car. Our lifestyle is not an expensive one, so after food and household bills, we are able to have a little extra for ourselves.

We feel bad for people we know who live more expensive lifestyles who do have to cut back. Since we are used to a modest existance (well by North American standards anyway) we're not really feeling the pinch the way others are.

I have done all that you just mentioned, and much more. I don't buy prepared food, all is prepared at home. I am switching into raw food, no preparation needed...more time and money, not mentioned health.
I buy whatever is seasonal and only organic. Food is never spoil, because I dehydrate all fruits and veggie. I buy recycled clothes or on huge sale.
I have to do this way, because my income is 1/2 of what used to be 2-3 years ago.

we did our savings by minimize buying stuff is not needed,not going out all the time to save petrol and money and eating in restaurant only for special ocassion and not every sunday anymore.just staying the house an dsurfing the net and if summer fishing with pic nic

I will eat less as I want to control my weight anyway. Kill two birds with one stone.

I won't buy things until they are used up.

Stop buy brand merchandises.

Just like you, go out only when necessary.

And I also stop changing hairstyle very often and stop buying trendy accessories.

Hope this help a bit in these hard times.

We do similar things, with the exception of investing. Until I can see precisely what the stronger companies are that will still be in business this time next year. Right now, there`s nothing that I see that isn`t on very shakey ground financially. We`ve got very simple lifestyles, so there wasn`t much to cut back on. We always eat good food and eat well because it`s less expensive to prepare your own, than to go out.

We already live on a shoestring very nicely. Neither of us has any extravagant needs (besides my overly expensive cigarrettes), so we really don`t have that many expenses that aren`t concerned with basic survival. The largest corporation in the world, the United States Government, is currently one of the worst investments I can imagine.

With the gasoline prices going high, I don't use my car as often as before, instead I am using the public transport, buses and trains.

I' ve cut back on eating out I don't do it as much. I ve have not been out playing Bingo as much going bowling. I try to get all my shopping done in one place and not do as much driving as I was to save on gas prices. It's hard out there with the economy the way it is.