Comments on: Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:03:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Festival of Frugality #129 - Try a Little Harder This Week Edition | Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-3166 Festival of Frugality #129 - Try a Little Harder This Week Edition | Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:33:13 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-3166 [...] Dad presents Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130. Thanks Frugal Dad for the [...] [...] Dad presents Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130. Thanks Frugal Dad for the [...]

]]> By: Links for Super-Charged Living - May 24, 2008 | My Super-Charged Life http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2669 Links for Super-Charged Living - May 24, 2008 | My Super-Charged Life Sat, 24 May 2008 21:00:45 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2669 [...] Wise    Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130Turn Your Wasted Money Into a Debt Reduction [...] [...] Wise    Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130Turn Your Wasted Money Into a Debt Reduction [...]

]]> By: Link Tank 6 « Available Light http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Link Tank 6 « Available Light Thu, 22 May 2008 10:33:20 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2607 [...] Six ways to reduce monthly expenses [...] [...] Six ways to reduce monthly expenses [...]

]]> By: My Six Word Memoir, The Ridiculously Small Car, and the Housing Market http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2598 My Six Word Memoir, The Ridiculously Small Car, and the Housing Market Wed, 21 May 2008 13:28:54 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2598 [...] Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130 at Frugal Dad [...] [...] Six Painless Steps to Reduce Monthly Expenses by $130 at Frugal Dad [...]

]]> By: Karen http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2573 Karen Tue, 20 May 2008 14:50:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2573 This is great advice! We analyzed our budget before my husband went back to school full-time and have been doing all of these things ever since. It's amazing to see how much you can save by doing these little things, and it really doesn't hurt at all! I also recently learned that you can pick up over the air HDTV for local channels for free (!) with an antenna. So even though we have the bare-bones basic cable subscription, we can still watch most shows in HD. Without the expanded cable, it is nice to have a steady supply of DVDs to watch, so we pared down our Netflix subscription to the cheapest package and supplement that with DVD rentals from the library. It feels great to simplify your life and stop throwing money down the drain by doing these things. This is great advice! We analyzed our budget before my husband went back to school full-time and have been doing all of these things ever since. It’s amazing to see how much you can save by doing these little things, and it really doesn’t hurt at all!

I also recently learned that you can pick up over the air HDTV for local channels for free (!) with an antenna. So even though we have the bare-bones basic cable subscription, we can still watch most shows in HD.

Without the expanded cable, it is nice to have a steady supply of DVDs to watch, so we pared down our Netflix subscription to the cheapest package and supplement that with DVD rentals from the library.

It feels great to simplify your life and stop throwing money down the drain by doing these things.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2570 Frugal Dad Tue, 20 May 2008 12:40:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2570 @Richard: I justify the TiVo monthly fee as a trade off for not watching commercials. Assuming I watched commercials, I could easily find $15 worth of junk I'd want to buy during the course of a month of live television. It also boosts productivity as I can motor through recorded shows much faster than sinking a full hour into the latest episode of Lost.

@Richard: I justify the TiVo monthly fee as a trade off for not watching commercials. Assuming I watched commercials, I could easily find $15 worth of junk I’d want to buy during the course of a month of live television. It also boosts productivity as I can motor through recorded shows much faster than sinking a full hour into the latest episode of Lost.

]]> By: Richard @ Student Scrooge http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2567 Richard @ Student Scrooge Tue, 20 May 2008 04:43:04 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2567 It's heartening to hear that even Frugal Dad has a TiVo -- I'm willing to cut back pretty far, but I don't know if I could bring myself to give up the TiVo, even with the monthly fee. It really is one of my most useful monthly fees, I think. I'm a huge fan of the library, but sometimes its nice to physically own a book... A nice compromise is going to a used book store (or the equivalent online at Amazon Marketplace or Half.com) -- good value, and often in pretty good condition. It’s heartening to hear that even Frugal Dad has a TiVo — I’m willing to cut back pretty far, but I don’t know if I could bring myself to give up the TiVo, even with the monthly fee. It really is one of my most useful monthly fees, I think.

I’m a huge fan of the library, but sometimes its nice to physically own a book… A nice compromise is going to a used book store (or the equivalent online at Amazon Marketplace or Half.com) — good value, and often in pretty good condition.

]]> By: Northern Cheapskate http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2564 Northern Cheapskate Tue, 20 May 2008 01:43:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2564 Great ideas! A lot of people scoff at $5 or $10 in savings, but they add up. I try to put it in terms of something tangible. For example, if I can squeeze $25 out of my monthly budget somewhere, well then, that is a box of diapers. $15 - maybe a fast food meal... $4 - a gallon of gas... it all adds up. I heard once that some satellite companies will let you temporarily suspend service for several months for a $5 monthly charge. This beats beats paying the full price during the summer months when there's not much on tv, and lots of time outside. I haven't tried it myself, but it's worth looking into. ~ Christina Great ideas! A lot of people scoff at $5 or $10 in savings, but they add up. I try to put it in terms of something tangible. For example, if I can squeeze $25 out of my monthly budget somewhere, well then, that is a box of diapers. $15 – maybe a fast food meal… $4 – a gallon of gas… it all adds up.

I heard once that some satellite companies will let you temporarily suspend service for several months for a $5 monthly charge. This beats beats paying the full price during the summer months when there’s not much on tv, and lots of time outside. I haven’t tried it myself, but it’s worth looking into.

~ Christina

]]> By: Natalie http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2563 Natalie Tue, 20 May 2008 01:06:50 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2563 Great ideas! We have successfully implemented these already. We got rid of cable two years ago and don't miss it. We actually put the t.v. in the attic and my husband and I watch shows online only. Great ideas! We have successfully implemented these already. We got rid of cable two years ago and don’t miss it. We actually put the t.v. in the attic and my husband and I watch shows online only.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/comment-page-1/#comment-2562 Frugal Dad Tue, 20 May 2008 00:47:06 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/19/seven-steps-to-reduce-monthly-expenses-by-150/#comment-2562 @Emily: We have a TiVo and yes, it works with basic cable input. If your DVR is offered through your cable company you would need to check with them to see if it requires a digital input signal (or is only available with the higher digital package). That's one of the great things about TiVo - it's mine and I can take it with me when I move, I don't have to pay a rental fee, etc.

@Emily: We have a TiVo and yes, it works with basic cable input. If your DVR is offered through your cable company you would need to check with them to see if it requires a digital input signal (or is only available with the higher digital package). That’s one of the great things about TiVo – it’s mine and I can take it with me when I move, I don’t have to pay a rental fee, etc.

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