YOUR top money-saving techniques: How are you coping?
This blog post is all about you…
Has the economy hit your pocketbook?
Are you seeing a difference, or are you just concerned about the future?
Are you making changes?
What are three things you’ve done lately to save money?
Sara Best from Velo Communications had a great idea for Life on Avenue Z. She suggested I find a way to encourage discussions among the freelancers who read this blog, allowing more users to share ideas and solutions for problems we face regularly.
This is a fantastic idea, and I’m in the process of soliciting input from freelance readers on the best way to achieve this. In the meantime, I thought I’d experiment with this post for the Avenue Z readers as a whole.
Please don’t be shy — share your insight and your tips!
Beth on 22 Oct 2008 at 11:25 am #
Oh, yeah… I’m feeling the pinch for a variety of reasons. Here are my top three cutbacks:
1. Absolutely no more lattes. I switched from 4-5 $4 coffees a week to perhaps one $2 house blend. If I put enough half-and-half in the cup, it tastes a lot more expensive.
2. Bean soup, anyone? I’ve started cooking more at home with nutritious but cheap ingredients.
3. I made a deal with my family: No Christmas presents this year. It’s not like I *need* more gadgets or bath salts, right?
Carla on 22 Oct 2008 at 11:38 am #
If we dont visit PDX this winter (to look at houses) we will stay local for my vacation. I’ve been saving up my PTO at work in hopes that we can actually travel this year (something I never done), but it will have to wait until next year – I’m staying optimistic about that. Unless there is a family emergency (his parents are in their 80s) we will stay local, plan local, trips and events to make sure we don’t end up staying home like business as usual. We have to balance between spending too much money and staying home and cleaning house.
Broke in Philly on 22 Oct 2008 at 11:47 am #
1. No more gourmet dog food for the pets.
2. Switched to VOIP for phone line.
3. Get my business cards from places like vistaprint. Some are free if you don’t mind the ad on the back.
Jenny on 22 Oct 2008 at 12:18 pm #
Yes, definitely.
1. I’m invoicing weekly with Net 15; so there’s always money on its way to me.
2. Carpooling.
3. Tracking all business expenses to add to my deductions.
4. Being creative in the kitchen with those staples I always have just in case.
5. Shopping without a list. Create meals by what is on sale and actually looking at prices, not just what I want! this one is a huge change since I used to impulse buy, so a list was my saving grace. Now my shopping is sale motivated.
Thankfully gas prices are coming down, which was the worst offender to my budget. Haven’t shifted my latte habit yet, but that is sadly forthcoming.
Good luck, everyone!
Abby on 22 Oct 2008 at 12:23 pm #
You know, I haven’t noticed it directly so much. But everyone around me is nervous. Makes me feel like I should be nervous too.
I did cut back, tho.
1. Not going out to movies, not buying new books.
2. Going to try out shopping at thrift stores.
3. Also cooking at home more.