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March 27, 2008 at 6:51 pm #586629
cruiserMemberI’m curious with all this talk in the media about the economic slowdown, is it changing the way in which you go about things like shopping,driving,travel plans etc..
To those of you who own property are you concerned about the decrease in home values? To those of you who rent and may wish to buy are you getting tempted?
To kick off,today form the first time ever I bought the brand name cornflakes in safeway this morning and saved myself nearly $3!!
March 27, 2008 at 6:55 pm #620165
AnonymousInactiveCruiser – Great topic! We haven’t really changed our lifestyle too much… yet!
We do rent and are thinking that we timed it perfectly as far as our lease being up in a few months and buying then. Seattle is the last to feel the hit to the market, so I think it may still come down a little bit (I’m hoping anyways, as a future buyer). I do know that in our neighborhood, at least, there are about three homes for sale on every street. It’s definitely a buyer’s market.
March 27, 2008 at 7:25 pm #620166
AimParticipantWe’re saving where we can but trying not to change our lifestyle too much either. More of our income is going to paying off debt, and a little less to recreation. We still eat out, but not quite as often (once per pay period not once a week) and we do our grocery shopping with careful planning around menus. We’ve been shopping at Grocery Outlet for basics such as eggs and milk, trader joe’s for fish and chicken, and Tony’s for produce – with a trip past the dollar bin for soup makings. We’re eating a lot of soups, stir-fry with tofu, etc. We’re making as much as we can from scratch, and using coupons and rebates religiously. I’ve switched my prescriptions over to mail order to get the 3rd month “free” and we buy generic as much as possible.
Lastly, we’re shopping around for refinancing on the car, better priced insurance, etc. The biggest thing, though, is getting debt paid off as much as humanly possible, and as fast as we can.
I also use the CashBaq referral service(http://www.cashbaq.com/?refer=406594) for ALL online purchases. The rebates come 3 months later, but they are rebates and they help.
This is a good topic. I like saving money – I’d love to hear tips from others.
March 27, 2008 at 9:51 pm #620167
JoBParticipantThis is timely.. i just spent most of the day shopping…
i combine all errands now to save gas…
so.. i dropped the phone hubby forgot off to him at work by the train depot..
went to costco to save on gas (still cheaper than safeway with my 10 cents off a gallon card).
while there i did my costco shopping for the things that i buy that are much cheaper there.. like the instant coffee and peanut butter hubby has for breakfast every day…
i picked up turbotax… AARGH!!!!!! but for us.. with our mostly uncomplicated finances… it beats paying an accountant.
3 big costco bags and $150…. i escaped.
i plowed up (or down) 509 to Burien..
hit trader joes for 2 bags of dogfood (i buy more than i need so i don’t have to go back so soon.. and save about half on each bag over what it would cost on the internet or in a local pet store)…
big lots (for cheap ice cream topping) …
canned foods … for whatever they currently have that i use…
and finished with a stop at Tony’s. I didn’t know about the dollar bin.. i will look for it next time i go…
All told.. i just spent a little over $225… but in the process i saved myself about $200 over what it would have cost me to buy all of those items at the local market… and that doesn’t count the gas savings… or tax prep savings.
My goal in a shopping trip is to save 50% over retail.. and when i do my coupon shopping at the local stores i often exceed that….
I have even rediscovered goodwill clothes shopping… it’s amazing what you can find brand new there.
We eat out too much (if you count the occasional lunch .. probably twice a week) and i am trying to use coupons more…
And we eat really well with an emphasis on fresh and local…
but it amazes me that with the salary hubby makes, we still need to economize to get by.
If i could work.. that might be different… but then i wouldn’t have the time to shop either. i don’t know how it would pencil out .. since it’s not an option.. i haven’t looked.
Yes, we are being more careful what we buy.
We will probably be looking for a cheaper rental when the lease is up here. And we would like to buy but will probably wait for the market to bottom out and the viaduct work to make it more feasible to buy in West Seattle.
That said.. we are incredibly wasteful. i still buy books and magazines… we own more than one car although we mostly use only one (hubby buses). Planting fever has hit… my gardening starts bill is always too high… even tho i plant veggies and herbs… our total communication services bill appalls me.. satellite tv, internet, home phone, cell phone, cell phone internet.. etc…. and i could go on and on.
We are not what i would call frugal:(
We simply live well as inexpensively as we can.
i think we are not alone.
March 27, 2008 at 10:00 pm #620168
beachdrivegirlParticipanthmm. carpooling to and from work is the biggest way that I save. Although I only work down near Safeco it saves me over a tank of gas a/month by carpooling or ($50). Otherways I saved, had to start after purchasing a place, include not eating out as much during the work week. Although it is not as fun :( b/c I typically end up either going home to let the dog out too or eating a meal at my desk. This has saved at least $100/month…I also now try to keep snack food @ my desk therefore it is a bit more cost efficient and healthier… I have been trying to use coupons lately, but it really hasnt worked out to well for me..typically i end up with just a bunch of paper in my purse and then by teh time I go to use them they are expired.
March 27, 2008 at 10:06 pm #620169
AimParticipantJoB, you and I are very similar in our habits, it seems. The dollar bin at Tony’s is immediately to your left as you walk in – next to the new refrigerators. We do eat out more than we could, but for us it’s truly our entertainment budget. $40-50/week for the two of us isn’t terrible. And we pick up the Entertainment Book this time of year when it’s half-price. For $15 including shipping we can save hundreds on stuff we already do. They’ve expanded over the years and tend to have lots of things we use – even groceries.
I also still buy magazines (my guilty pleasure is People Mag!) and my partner is in school so we don’t have much choice on the books, but at least we order them from half.com as much as possible (and log in through cashbaq for the rebate action) You should see our living room – it’s lined with bookcases and still has books overflowing the shelving!
Rather than going to a bar, we do a weekly “cocktail hour” with the neighbors. One household provides a bottle of liquor and mixers, and the other brings snacks. We trade off regularly.
March 27, 2008 at 10:09 pm #620170
JoBParticipantbeachdrivegirl..
i threw out a bunch of expired coupons yesterday.. but i keep clipping them, it doesn’t cost me anything and sometimes i get it right and use them:)
we ought to do a coupon exchange.. and maybe a shopping contest:) that might be great fun.
and i have been looking for the best consignment, outlet and thrift stores around… when i am stressed.. i clothes shop… just trying things on calms me.. i don’t have to actually buy:)
March 27, 2008 at 10:10 pm #620171
AimParticipantBDG – I also work down near Safeco. My partner works right where we enter the WS bridge. So I drop him off and drive only 2 mi alone. We actually got rid of a car so we just have the one between us. It’s been about 2 years since I sold my car and it works out wonderfully!
I agree also on the work snacks. I bring my breakfast and lunch every day, and keep a box of instant oatmeal and a bag of protein powder in my desk for the days I forget.
March 27, 2008 at 10:29 pm #620172
JanSParticipantJoB…try the American Cancer Society thrift store in the junction, just south of the liquor store…and I think if you go on a Tuesday you get an additional discount…maybe senior citizen? I’m not sure, but I was told that. There are 2 places that I want to go to up in Greenwood that I heard about (Greenwood and 85th) that I’ve heard has decent things…I think one is ThriftKo…daughter mentioned the other in her Greenwood blog….
Economy took on a new meaning for me in Aug. of 2004. I am self-employed…no work? no pay. I had hip replacement surgery, didn’t work for a month…and I got a kickstart as to what I could live without. Then along came cancer 4 months later, with chemo, etc…and I gave up my office outside my home…saved me 350/mo. But…the downside..could only work part time. I’ve had 10 more surgeries since that hip surgery, each with a minimum 2 weeks off..you learn to live without. No new clothes, no new shoes..you work with what you have. I now work at home, so no commute..saves lots and lots on gas. I live across the street from Safeway..and close to PCC. I buy rices, other grains, steel cut oats, mostly organic, in bulk at PCC. My 2 “splurges, if you will, are my DSL (use computer for business), and my Satellite dish, which I just broke down and added last summer. I lived with an antenna for years. Oh, and netflix…I almost never go out to a movie. And dinner out is about once a month.(and use 2 for 1 coupons as much as I can…I have lots for places other than west seattle that I don’t use, and am willing to share them…just e-mail me :)
I’ve learned that there is a difference between what I WANT, and what I NEED. And it’s gonna happen again…another hip replacement mid-May…
can you say rice and beans? lolol…
March 27, 2008 at 10:38 pm #620173
AimParticipantJanS – completely relate. Chronic Illness of any sort sure changes one’s perspective.
I also told Comcast to shove it this fall, and went with Clearwire for internet and we gave up TV. We do have a Netflix subscription, so for $60/month we have movies and ‘net access. Comcast was hitting at least $120/month for the two. If needed we could certainly cut them both out too, but at some point it’s worth it to us … for now.
March 27, 2008 at 11:47 pm #620174
AnonymousInactiveJoB – I know that everyone probably goes there, but for cheap, cool clothing, I love going to Ross or TJ Max (do you guys have that here?). I bought one of my favorite dresses there (Ross) for $7.00.
I have a really good girlfriend who’s “gift” in life, I swear, is to find gems among all that STUFF! I’ve learned a thing or two from her. You basically have to go through every garment, but when you find that “something special”, it is sooo worth it!
March 27, 2008 at 11:49 pm #620175
beachdrivegirlParticipantRoss is up in Northgate as well as in Factoria. The Marshalls is actually pretty nice by Target. I also think there is a Ross/TJ Max in Southcenter. I defintley enjoy the rack too in Southcenter. I get most of my work closthes there and they are always a steal!
March 27, 2008 at 11:59 pm #620176
AnonymousInactiveNewRes,
TJMAXX and Marshalls are the same company and carry almost exactly the same merch. Marshalls, IMO, is kept a little cleaner/nicer and as BDG said, the one by Target is good.
March 28, 2008 at 12:04 am #620177
AnonymousInactiveTarget at White Center?
March 28, 2008 at 12:06 am #620178
AnonymousInactiveWestwood Shopping Center, on Barton. White Center begins on the south side of Roxbury.
March 28, 2008 at 12:16 am #620179
AnonymousInactiveOh, right, Westwood. That’s on Barton! Thanks, you guys! Btw, LOVE Target! That is my absolute favorite store of all time! The problem I find, though, with Target is, everything you like is around $20, and you say to yourself “Oh, This is great and it’s ONLY $20”, all of a sudden, you’ve done that like 20 times and you’re spending well over $100!
This is why I am banned from having a Target card!
March 28, 2008 at 12:26 am #620180
JoBParticipantnewresident..
i rue the day i got my target card… i am still paying for that:(
JT.. so roxbury is where white center begins… i didn’t know. but had wondered.
March 28, 2008 at 12:31 am #620181
AnonymousInactiveI have a friend that calls her clothes she buys at Target, “disposable clothing”. I actually wear my clothing from Target over and over and over again, but I thought that was kinda funny.
March 28, 2008 at 12:32 am #620182
beachdrivegirlParticipantYes me and all credit cards do NOT work! In college, the credit card companies decided to give me over $15K of credit @ 18….lets just say I used nearly all of it….but on the other hand I have to say the proudest day was last year when I made my last payment!! I used to be embarresed about it but now I will say I use it as a lesson learned…
March 28, 2008 at 12:33 am #620183
AnonymousInactiveI think a shopping spree is in order for me. I am getting way too excited over the Target talk!
March 28, 2008 at 12:35 am #620184
AnonymousInactiveJoB, kind of. It’s also to the east of 30th, so Arbor Heights, which extends well past Roxbury, is part of West Seattle.
March 28, 2008 at 1:12 am #620185
cruiserMemberOK you lot calm down, I was thinking of how you guys are cutting back at this time not trying to get you spend more:))
March 28, 2008 at 1:15 am #620186
AnonymousInactiveI know. Sorry, cruiser, totally lost focus! I realized AFTER how inappropriate my post was for this thread!
March 28, 2008 at 2:09 pm #620187
GinaParticipantWhen my microwave went “poot”, I decided to wait 6 months before replacing it. So far I haven’t missed it, the oven makes food warm, and the burners can make a pan with liquid, hot.
I have also skipped cell phones, i-pods, laptops, handhelds. I scaled back to the lowest digital tv plan from Comcast, and feel foolish with that much. Comcast seemed surprised to hear from someone that doesn’t want every channel on the planet, but they are salespeople, so I take their protests with a grain of salt.
March 28, 2008 at 2:54 pm #620188
charlabobParticipantWe’ve definitely scaled back eating out — used to be the default when noone wanted to cook. Now it’s special (and much more fun, actually).
We’ve rediscovered TJs.
We look for sales on things like Diet Barq and go to whichever market has the deal. I will not pay $4.95 for a 12-pack of soda!!!!
Go to the library rather than the amazon.com website for my book fixes. Again, books we buy are more special.
The number of things bought and never used in our house has gone WAY down. (Anyone want to trade a slow cooker for my barely ever used bread machine?)
I didn’t realize it’s changed our behavior so much until this thread made me think about it.
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