Tightening the Belt?

[Dave_S]

Although I'm still lucky enough to have a job, like most people my pay just isn't keeping pace with the increasing cost of living. My better half has a job too, but we have both been told to forget about any notion of job security. We still have a mortgage and a few cars we want to keep, so we've been looking at painless ways to cut down on spending.

In my case it's fairly easy. I was already saving $40 a week by riding a bike to work instead of taking the train. Until two weeks ago I was buying coffee and toast for breakfast. By making it myself in the work kitchen I save over $20 a week. Lunch is next up - I'm one of those lazy people that tends to buy lunch, so I can probably save at least another $20 a week there.

We're also looking at groceries. We already grow some herbs, but I'm putting in vege beds in a few weeks. We bought a small chicken coup for $50 last week and hope to re-coup (bad pun) that in eggs. We're also reviewing stuff like insurance, phone plans and anything else we can think of to see if we can get a better deal. Even stuff like doing laundry off peak helps.

For us, the main thing is to cut back on spending for boring stuff so we don't have to cut back on Land Rovers, old Volvos and bikes.

Is anyone else doing the same sort of thing, or is it better to just cash in some of the cars and bikes? We already sold the only car we didn't like (a Ford Focus).

[debruiser]

I hear you. I've been doing that for ages... I very very rarely buy lunch or go out to dinner, ok well we often go to the local bowls club on 2 for 1 night but that's 2 meals for $20! it's our little splurge. I used to ride to work whenever I could and even used to ride to go shopping for little things or visiting.

I've been tempted a few times to cancel my mobile plan because I don't really see the need for it - we have 2 mobiles and a land line for 2 ppl. We have our A/C hooked up to a cheap tarrif so it runs on the same hours as the hot water system - turns off for a few hours a day, but it can been worked around by turning it on earlier and getting the house cool, it'll stay cool enough till the A/C comes back on.

I'm always chasing deals on stuff - try to wait for a sale to buy clothes, tools, food, camping gear, electrical gear etc.

We have a little veggie patch, but no chooks - not enough room unfortunately.

I lost my job at the end of last year and ever since have been in and out of a couple of things but nothing real good, I'm now on a casual thing where they call me the day they want me IF they need me.... haven't worked for over a week now.

I used to have a focus, (2003 model) it was a great little car..... now we have a 2013 D90, 1980 S3 LWB, 1975 S3 SWB - my project car, I should be out there now stripping off the paint but....

[discovery39]

Dave S
If your going to go down the Chicken path, and you want them purely for eggs, then get Isa browns. They are specifically bred to lay eggs. They are egg machines!
You will have eggs Galore.
They don't go/get Broody and stop laying, like most of the others breeds.
Of course, you may already now all this.........

[trog]

now that i have been made redundant again, fourth time in three years we are now strictly enforcing the essentials only spend. no more meals or drinks out , repairs on the disco or entertainment. after a while it gets easy subsisting on library books and home cooking with the food from the discount bins at the supermarket . having a good music collection and a gym memberships helps considerably

[discovery39]

You had me all the way until I read Gym Membership..................

[trog]

a cheap local 24 hour place is less than 10 per week. it is also warm in the winter and has a hot shower. beats sitting in an un heated house.maybe for a negotiated price i can give lessons on existing with little

[Homestar]

We're probably in the same boat as many - both working full time, but been told that there will be no pay rises in the forseeable future, so things will continue to get tighter.

We earn a good quid between us, but we are now starting to tighten the belts and pay off debt rather than blow our dough on crap. All credit cards have been cut up and all will be payed off soon, then we'll be concentrating on paying down the Mortgage as fast as we can.

We rarely go out for tea now, we hardly drink now as well - but that's more about getting older and not caring so much about that sort of thing. Vegie patch will be going in soon - room has been made for this, but I'll be building some raised beds for this, so its easier to work and the Pugs won't get in it. Bee hive will be arriving in spring.

Athough the L322 is soon to be sold - it's just too big for a commuter and that's all it gets used for, no other vehicle will be sold - in fact, all this cost cutting may mean I can save up for that 6x6 Perentie that I want...

If everything went belly up for us, I'd just tow the van down to the inlaws property and live there with my Land Rovers... We've actually been thinking that wouldn't be a bad thing anyway and simplify our lives a lot...

[Tote]

Cutting down on lunch and coffee purchases is a biggie, I have been bringing a packed lunch for years now.
Not going shopping when you are hungry
Not going shopping on weekends ( yes even to camping stores / Car parts shops and EBAY )
Forcing yourself to consider the action plan for the bits that you do buy for your toys ie. I'd really like a new compressor to spray my vehicle except the vehicle isnt ready to be sprayed for six months. Don't buy the compressor yet. Same applies to parts unless they are really cheap.

Regards,
Tote

[Dave_S]

Part of all this has also involved going through stuff to work out what we need and what we don't. Seeing as a lot of charities are under the pump these days, we've given a lot of unnecessary (but still useful) stuff away. Things that we haven't used or worn for ages. I think having less stuff helps you want less stuff - it also makes you realise how much you must have spent on crap you don't need.

Of course, that doesn't mean I won't hoard car parts, tools and bikes. I'll just keep them hidden in the shed. Someone offered me a car on the weekend for a couple of hundred bucks, but so far I'm resisting

[loanrangie]

Same here, cutting down where we can but still wanting to hold onto the things we have and not willing to sell of the bike or Kombi or FC holden.
I dont like my job but the thought of going back out into the job market at this time is daunting.