Comments on: Recession Sacrifices Only Go So Far

By: marci

marci — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:58:39 +0000

As with other frugalites, the recession has not affected me personally much either.

I wouldn’t give up internet at home til the last minute… my cell phone because it’s my only phone and the grandkids can find me in an emergency… my outside cat for mouse reduction…and my 2nd rig (It’s just me and I have a older forester and a newer silverado truck and I see no reason so far to part with either one – both paid for. ) I can’t bring home firewood with the forester, but it gets 8 mpg more than the truck.

I will not give up the gas it costs to go clamming, crabbing, fishing, and hunting – and I will not give up my annual hunting license.

The other thing I will not give up is my garden, and a few fun packets of new varieties of seeds every spring, just to see how they will do. Normally I save seed from the previous year, but like to experiment a little also

By: Small Steps to Health

Small Steps to Health — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:47:16 +0000

I have to agree that for most frugal people, the recession does not impact us as much. My husband and I are not cutting back on our expenses because our expenses are pretty trim to begin with. Most of the stuff that we like to do are free (taking walks in the park, reading books from the library, etc) or cost very little money (blogging)to begin with.

So while I have friends that are talking about selling their jetskis and getting rid of the extra car, my husband and I are purchasing our first house and making renovation plans.

I have to admit that when you do not upgrade your lifestyle with each payraise that when times are good, we do really good. And when times are bad, we do ok. It is nice to not have to worry about your money.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:45:18 +0000

We’ve often had a genuine extra car– because our youngest car is 11 years old. (All paid for used cars, btw) If one breaks down, my husband isn’t forced to get it repaired immediately in a shop; he can park it in the garage and fix it himself on the weekends. If every car is running, it can be a loaner to others in break-down situations. Now we have a 16 year old driver as well, so it’s his car that’s the extra. So is that “extra”? Three drivers and three cars? For a working teenager who saves nearly half his paycheck and pays his insurance bill? I’m good with that.

Not giving up:

Giving away money as much money as we can stand. No way are we doing that bad, ever.

Better food. Read “In Defense of Food” last week and I’m spending more now. But cooking less quantity, to see if it evens out. Will not be going back to a corn-syrup based diet for my family. Also much more tasty this way.

Private school for the kids before high school.

Internet. I would babysit for my internet bill. No, that’s a lie. I would babysit if my own kids were going to starve otherwise. That’s my threshold. But I’d figure out something to pay for the high speed internet.

The animals. All 6 mammals plus fish.

Would cut out, if forced to: Cell phones, all paid for entertainment, including eating out once in a while, and library fines.

By: Organize Your Home, Stop Spending, Get Ready For Baby

Organize Your Home, Stop Spending, Get Ready For Baby — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:05:07 +0000

[...] Frugal Dad: Recession Sacrifices Only Go So Far [...]

By: CathyG

CathyG — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:29:06 +0000

For those not willing to give up your gym membership, you might try looking into a prepaid membership instead of month-to-month. When I got mine, the month-to-month was about $30, but the prepaid was 3 years for $900(including 6 personal training hours), renewable for $50 per year ever since. I’ve had mine for 6 years – total cost $1050 instead of $2160 so far, and every year is just another chunk of savings.

Of course, heed all those cautions about whether or not you will really use it, whether or not the company/facility will be around that long, etc. But if you have already been going regularly and you are with a reputable company, you might want to look into it.

By: Kuponera

Kuponera — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:45:21 +0000

Can’t give up internet access. At least for right now as we need it to watch movies and shows and it’s a resource of our telecommunication (magic jack). We gave up our cable service and cell phones. We also gave up going out to eat as both my husband and I like to cook and believe we can cook just as good of the food restau. can make. Luckily, we live near the beach so we won’t need gym membership or vacation as we can do a lot of walkings and sunbathings for free.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:28:56 +0000

I think it shows just how well-off we are as a whole in this country, if we have the option to even consider the question “What won’t you give up in a tough economy?” It can’t be that terribly tough if people refuse to give up what would certainly be considered over-the-top luxuries in other places.

By: Krystle

Krystle — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:11:42 +0000

Geez, we’ve given up everything in both columns (except the two car, but they are paid off). As much as I’d like to cut fat from our budget, there is none to speak of. Next up is cutting meat, I guess.

By: jpritchard

jpritchard — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:34:32 +0000

I TOTALLY agree–& you are actually the first person I’ve seen blog about this I had to laugh today when I read an article explaining the breakdown of the trillion dollar “stimulus package”–something like $650 MILLION (million!) dollars was going to the TV Digital Converter Box Coupon Program….

SERIOUSLY!?!?!

I don’t even OWN a TV because I’m a medical student and IT IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE. For the first time in my life, I’m embarassed for the citizens of this country & what our spending habits are saying about us….

Thanks again for the post…:)

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:43:43 +0000

I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. I agree on all your points and can also say that we haven’t made very many lifestyle changes because we have been doing them so long.