How do you cut costs?

[5kidsdad]

OK, here's one we all can deal with and appreciate. What do you do to cut down on expendatures? I know that I have less money to work with now than I did before. I thought this thread might be a help for anyone who is facin shortages of money. One of my weaknesses is that I like crunchy stuff like chips, and I like sweets. I am now buying off brand cereal, and covering both bases. Much less expensive. Another way I combat wanting sweets is PB&J. I know it sounds wierd, but it works for me. Of course, the whole discount, and bulk buying works, too. I just thought it might be helpful.

5kd

 

[rppearso]

What does this have to do with divorce?

 

[Atheian Libertarist]

Don't spend as much money. /thread

 

[5kidsdad]

Maybe I should have phrased the question better. Regardless of which side you are on in a divorce, you may have to make some cutbacks to your lifestyle, and in other things. I have been receiving e-mails daily from DivorceCare, and they are now talking about budgeting, emergencies and other ways to watch your payout as far as money is concerned. As I am just a few months into it, and others might just be seeing that they are tight on money as well, I thought that this might be a good post for those that are here to learn creative ideas for budgeting, buying food, and planning for emergencies. I just thought that others might have some good ideas to help each other out. This is how it applies to a divorce forum...it is someting that some of us have to face.

5kd

 

[rppearso]

Ok that makes more sence, I did not have to cut back on anything, of course by the time I pay my bills I dont have anything left anyways so that makes it easy lol. The only time I could see if you had to cut back is if there are issues with child support and you were being extorted in which case you may need to take very drastic measures like quiting your job, child support enforcement was a good idea at the time to get dead beats to pay but it has mutated into mob style extortion and the only way to escape it is to quit your job until you work out a satisfactory resolution just because the non custodial parent bank rolls should not entitle the custodial parent to exorbant payments, kids cost pretty much a set amount to raise and kids dont need 3K a month to live and lots of familys raise there kids very well on much less but child support does not care, if the non custodial parent makes alot of money they will take it and they could care less what your bills are or what debts you have when determining your adjustments, I am actually very surprised that this has not become a topic of discussion in government as a contributing factor to the economy, I guess thats because the money still goes into the economy but through the custodial parent who is extorting the non custodial parent so what is the point of working especially if you job is hard work. You should never cut back your life style because you are being extorted just get smart about it.

Maybe I should have phrased the question better. Regardless of which side you are on in a divorce, you may have to make some cutbacks to your lifestyle, and in other things. I have been receiving e-mails daily from DivorceCare, and they are now talking about budgeting, emergencies and other ways to watch your payout as far as money is concerned. As I am just a few months into it, and others might just be seeing that they are tight on money as well, I thought that this might be a good post for those that are here to learn creative ideas for budgeting, buying food, and planning for emergencies. I just thought that others might have some good ideas to help each other out. This is how it applies to a divorce forum...it is someting that some of us have to face.

5kd

 

[5kidsdad]

I am trying to adjust to a new lifestyle...my take home has been cut by about 2/3 to 3/4 of what I used to get, thanks to the interm orders. Nothing is final, but that's where I stand. I refuse to stop giving to my church. In the dicussions I've seen on various other sites, they have talked about going with others to buy in bulk, working deals with car repair sshops, and talking to docs and pharmasists about their medical needs. I am just about to drop my insurance, and look at other options. anyway...that is my main idea for this thread, help.

5kd

 

[hope_faith_love]

Well, I for one am turning my cable tv off since I can see all my shows online anyways. Also, there is this internet phone thing calle Skype that is supposed to be really cheap. It am not 100% sure how it works, but I know some people that use it. I really watch what I spend on groceries and can't eat out. I know how you feel. It stinks going from not having to worry about $ to watching every penny.

 

[hope_faith_love]

Oh yeah.. if you have a Dollar Tree or something in your area is good. You can get name brand stuff there for $1.

 

[rppearso]

Why is your take home cut? Did they cut back your hours at work, I guess I look at from the stand point of not how to live like a poor person but how can you get your money back. Buying in bulk is always a good idea as long as you have a large freezer and fridge, working deals with repair shops is not likely going to happen unless you know someone and usually if they are doing something for you as a favor the full paying clients will take priority so you should anticipate your car being out for a long time, you could possibly learn to do your own car repairs but that will require a shop and your own tools which are expensive. Dropping your medical insurance is a bad idea unless you are just looking for something a bit cheaper somewhere else and if you do drop it and something happens you might want to be prepared to pass away becasue if they treat you you could be so broke for the rest of your life you wont have money to rent a movie, and in that case its probably better to just let them pull the plug so if you cancel your insurance you might want to make out a living will just in case. I think your focues is a bit misguided, while I agree its good to save money as I dont like wasting money either you have to look at why your money is going away and how you can keep more of it. The american way of life is slowly fading away because of this thought mentality, pretty soon we are going to be like india where one person is supporting 10 other people and everyones life sucks, I hope I never see the USA reduced to living that way in my life time. You cant look at things like this in a vacuum, I can say yea shop at costco and change your own oil and increase your deductable but that is not treating the root cause of your problem.

Another thing you could do is go back to school full time so you can get a better job and you can have your child support adjusted to like 50$ a month for the next 4-6 years while you are in school.

Is there really no one left that thinks like me anymore.

I am trying to adjust to a new lifestyle...my take home has been cut by about 2/3 to 3/4 of what I used to get, thanks to the interm orders. Nothing is final, but that's where I stand. I refuse to stop giving to my church. In the dicussions I've seen on various other sites, they have talked about going with others to buy in bulk, working deals with car repair sshops, and talking to docs and pharmasists about their medical needs. I am just about to drop my insurance, and look at other options. anyway...that is my main idea for this thread, help.

5kd

 

[5kidsdad]

I like he phone idea. Skype, I've heard is good. There is also a product called MagicJack. It hooks into the USB on a computer, and you just plug a regular phone into it. I think it cost $40 for the first year, then $20 after. No monthly fee or anything. Supposedly it has caller id, voicemail, and direct. assistance. I have seen the infomercials for it, but haven't bought. I have a cell phone for all the obvious reasons. I got it before I got hit with the orders, so I can't cancel unless I pay the UNGODLY fees. That is my home, personal, and cell phone. Eventually, I want to get my own place, so I am thinking of the ways I can cut down costs. The cable is great...I watch a lot of stuff online now. With small kids, that might be a little more difficult for me, but is a good idea to consider. Something else, my folks have bought me a family pass to a museum in our nearest big city. We can go whenever, and it is free now. My kids love it. They are considering getting me other passes to other museums, zoos and such, so I can take the kids whenever. The cost of admission once versus the year membership was about $10 for us. Thank God for family...

Thanks, and God bless,

5kd

 

[rppearso]

you cant be serious, how much does your cable tv represnet as a percentage of your total bills, your cutting out history channel and discovery channel to save like 5% unless of course you have cheap rent and no mortgage or car payment in which case if you still cant affort cable you need a better job and/or an education. I looked into sharpening the pencil (figure of speach) down that far and realized I would be cutting out significant entertainment (cable and internet) to only save like 5-8% of my total expendature. Also for phone you can get a prepaid cell phone with like 800 min on it for like a few hundred bucks and that will last me a year. Eating out is not to bad as long as you can find coupons, my area has a state wide coupon book you can buy each year with buy one get on pizza free, when you start getting half off on eating out you almost cant afford to make it that cheap if you consider your time to prepare the food.

Well, I for one am turning my cable tv off since I can see all my shows online anyways. Also, there is this internet phone thing calle Skype that is supposed to be really cheap. It am not 100% sure how it works, but I know some people that use it. I really watch what I spend on groceries and can't eat out. I know how you feel. It stinks going from not having to worry about $ to watching every penny.

 

[5kidsdad]

Good idea on the coupons and such...I completely forgot about that. Another one is the value menu at the restaurants. Nuggets and fries for the kids, and drinks at the house. I read that while the economy slips, video game purchases are increasing...good, cheap entertainment, especially for the kids. Especially when you can trade in the old games that they are bored with, and get $$$ towards other used games. Get the discount card if you can...it takes another 10% off of the used games, etc.

 

[rppearso]

for some reason it wont let me view page 2 of this thread, anyways cutting the chips and junk food is a good idea for your health, I would not cheap out on healthy food because you will pay for it in health costs later on, I am trying to use fresh vegetables when ever I can and lean meat or turkey meat or something like that. Im not saying dont eat pizza since I just recommended it but I would not live off the value menu because that food is super unhealthy. If you get the executive membership at costco you get money back and discounts on stuff at costco which is already really cheap. Also always use cash for everything so you are not suck paying wierd fees for atms and such. Teach your kids to cook so you can all get in there and make healthy food. take your truck out of 4 wheel drive if the roads are not icy but dont toggle it back and forth all the time or you will be replacing your transfer case 1000$. buy a temperature control thermostat so you can keep the heat down when no one is there it reduced my gas bill by 1/3 and the controler was 80$ it payed for itself and then some in one month. Buy energy saver bulbs, put in low E windows and garage doors. Make sure to take all of your charitable contributions off on your taxes. Video games are ok, they are for the most part a waste of time, of course I am one to talk typing in a internet forum when I should be studying for my professional engineering exam this october (I am mostly done but have a little more to do) and my GF is comming over soon and there wont be any studying going on then lol. You can also buy temperature controled hot water heaters but I have not got one yet, you could probably get a temperature control valve for a gas hot water heater but I got frustrated with the people at the store because if its anything beyond a standard install usually no one knows what you are talking about or if they do they have no idea where to get it. You could also hunt for meat and buy a meat processor for like 300$ of course you will have to learn how to hunt, this might be to extreme for some people, its what my parents do, they hunt and I bring them the spices and such to season the meat and anything they need in town so my grocery bill goes down.

 

[5kidsdad]

Why is your take home cut? Did they cut back your hours at work, I guess I look at from the stand point of not how to live like a poor person but how can you get your money back.

Cut due to things the court ordered for me to pay until the permanent orders are handed down. CS, insurance riders, and house payments for a house I do not live in, and do not want...tha's why I am down to 2/3 or 3/4 for now. Throw in the break downs of vehicles, unexpected expences, and paying for medical necessities of the kids, and it disappears fast.

 

[hope_faith_love]

I watch the History channel online. We don;t watch that much tv. My kids really love to read and play games. When the weather is nice they are outside all day. You can borrow movies for free at the library so I hear. You don't have to sacrifice your quality of life, just get more creative!

 

[rppearso]

You should just let the house go into foreclosure if that means quiting your job so be it, if your ex knows she can get a free ride you will be playing this game for the next 18 years. Im not sure what an insurance rider is I would think you would just have your kids on your standard insurance and thats it, the CS is probably like 25% of your net income. Do you ever feel like just not working becasue you are not getting anything out of it, I know I would take this as an opprotunity to go back to school. Now I can see why you would want to take yourself off of your insurance and just write out a living will and call it a day, of course your kids will be 18 and the extortion will end and you can pick your life back up again except less horny and then you can go buy a boat or something.

Why is your take home cut? Did they cut back your hours at work, I guess I look at from the stand point of not how to live like a poor person but how can you get your money back.

Cut due to things the court ordered for me to pay until the permanent orders are handed down. CS, insurance riders, and house payments for a house I do not live in, and do not want...tha's why I am down to 2/3 or 3/4 for now. Throw in the break downs of vehicles, unexpected expences, and paying for medical necessities of the kids, and it disappears fast.

 

[5kidsdad]

Can't let the house go back, court order for now...rider is a copay that I have with the gov't, the kids are on gov't health card. No, I don't feel like working much anymore, for the first time in 25 some odd years.

 

[rppearso]

If you did not have a job it would get you out of thoes court orders, if you cant pay you cant pay and the court has to work with you on that. You would still have to pay CS but it would be like 50$ a month, you need to get your butt into the paper work becuase you are being straight ripped off.

Can't let the house go back, court order for now...rider is a copay that I have with the gov't, the kids are on gov't health card. No, I don't feel like working much anymore, for the first time in 25 some odd years.

 

[eatenbylocusts]

. Also, there is this internet phone thing calle Skype that is supposed to be really cheap. It am not 100% sure how it works, but I know some people that use it.

If you're in the US, you should check out and be aware if calling 911 with this service gets you directed to your local police department or somewhere else.

OK, here's one we all can deal with and appreciate. What do you do to cut down on expendatures?
5kd

Hmm. You can move in with your parents. Ok, don't scream. I was on disability from two car accidents, 3 months pregnant, and knowing I needed to change careers so that is what I did. Rent/mortgage is a ridiculous joke in my area. I needed the help and companionship, then my parents needed me as my dad's life was winding down from cancer. There are many times I would like to be away from my mother (who I love), but financially I can't do it until I finish school and go back to full time. My mom has a big house and I'm kind of hoping that marriage will be the reason I move out.

Ever since I became a Weight Watchers member I've snacked on air popped popcorn and a little butter spray. I found that Walmart had my
Orville Red... popcorn much cheaper than anyone.

Also for phone you can get a prepaid cell phone with like 800 min on it for like a few hundred bucks and that will last me a year. Eating out is not to bad as long as you can find coupons, my area has a state wide coupon book you can buy each year with buy one get on pizza free, when you start getting half off on eating out you almost cant afford to make it that cheap if you consider your time to prepare the food.

I could use 800 minutes in some months so it really depends on how much you talk. My friend is doing the prepaid thing and is always saying, ok I have to get off my expensive phone. If you're dating and meeting new people, you need more minutes, lol.

 

[rppearso]

I dated over the internet and talk alot on IM. I only use the cell if my GF needs to get ahold of me when im not at home or my office. Its also good when you are in remote areas so make sure your coverage is really good. 800 min is a ton of time and my 800 min are good for one year so 190$ for 1 year of a cell is awesome. Serioulsy if you are being extorted so bad you have to move in with your parents and your not going to school full time you need to quit your job and put on your kevlar and lock and load (figurativly speaking) but its time to go to war and shoot to kill. Just wait until you start dating and your like yea I have X number of kids and live with my parents as a guy thats not going to fly and you know it dont even go there, I am begging you not to go down that road. You may have to move in with your parents when you quit your job but you will be on a mission to knock the monkey (your ex) off your back and then shoot it (figurativly speaking) so it cant get back on. If you dont start playing hard ball your going to be a door mat for the next 18 years. <staff edit>

If you're in the US, you should check out and be aware if calling 911 with this service gets you directed to your local police department or somewhere else.


Hmm. You can move in with your parents. Ok, don't scream. I was on disability from two car accidents, 3 months pregnant, and knowing I needed to change careers so that is what I did. Rent/mortgage is a ridiculous joke in my area. I needed the help and companionship, then my parents needed me as my dad's life was winding down from cancer. There are many times I would like to be away from my mother (who I love), but financially I can't do it until I finish school and go back to full time. My mom has a big house and I'm kind of hoping that marriage will be the reason I move out.

Ever since I became a Weight Watchers member I've snacked on air popped popcorn and a little butter spray. I found that Walmart had my
Orville Red... popcorn much cheaper than anyone.

I could use 800 minutes in some months so it really depends on how much you talk. My friend is doing the prepaid thing and is always saying, ok I have to get off my expensive phone. If you're dating and meeting new people, you need more minutes, lol.