100% YES.

We've just changed our phone carrier (again) and rearranged our web/email vendors (we have small businesses) and saved $45 a month.

We've cancelled everything that used to arrive automatically by mail such as subscriptions, coffee, and so on.

I try to make things from scratch when possible. Dining out rarely happens now. I figured out that to make a 13" pizza costs me about $5 if I make the crust from scratch, which is not that much less than a take and bake one costs at walmart. = (

I buy most of our clothing at a nice, local Goodwill shoppe.

I bought almost everyone used books for Christmas this year (most were $2 or less plus shipping.)

I agree with nicks nicks, food and gas are luxuries right now. everything else will have to wait.

Yes Doug. I used to watch nickels. Now I am watchng pennies LOL xx

We in the UK are suffering too. I have cut out a lot. Sold my car (insurance, tax and petrol where too expensive), I now never eat out, I cook more, look in the 'damaged' section in supermarkets for dented cans, stocking up on cans so I can actually eat something. I got paid 4 days ago. My account has 35p in it (about 70c). Next payday is in 24 days. :(

Buying healthy food and cooking from scratch, no frills. Turning off lights; not turning on heat even when it is cold. Plan errands to reach the most places on the shortest route; no extra driving. Not going out. Doing without. No money in savings, living paycheck to paycheck or unemployment to paycheck. Keeping Internet; consider it essential.

You have to spend more when the value of your money is worth less and spend it quick.... before the equity in your property vanishes completely !

savings and gas is what my money goes for

weve gotten rid of our long distance on our phone and are also reciving help from the phone comapny with a low income credit of about 13$ a month on our bill wich should bring it down to around 25 a month. i try ont to drive too much since gas is like gold we also turn down the thrmostat and i spent some precios money on some energy efficient bulbs for the few lights that get used frequently and i have already gotten us signed up for food stamps and medicade which is the only way we can afford to eat right now and pay for my sons medicine and psych visits. we were fortunate that when a friends grandfather passed they gave us the majority of his food. we eat alot of rice and i try to make everything stretch. in addition we are trying to make meals ahead and freeze them for the next few months when my husband will be having surgury. we may end up losing our truck as the bank calle dyesterday wanting their money . we never have had credit cards so thats good i only pay 6.95 a month for my internet but will probably let that go were rehoming the last of our 2 dogs and we never have had satilite or cable so i suppose thats good too. i think to those of us who have never lived thru the great depression or were too young ( i am 24 ) to notice the implication of past crisis this is going to really suck but i hope that it doesnt end up as bad as the great depression did .

We have dropped to basic cable - no frills went from $60 mo to $10.

Land line gone ($45 savings) - use cell due to text capability as wife is deaf.

More effort put in to grouping errands into bunches.

When we want steak we buy beef roast on sale then cut our own.(Do the same when we make soup/stew $2.19# VS $3.99 for stew/soup meat!) and I remember when the butcher would give away the bone with meat on it for mom to make soup) :>(


When or if we eat out - only go to places with BOGO free coupons.

NO FAST FOOOOOOOD!

Use coupons for cents off on gas.

Only buy in season fresh fruits/veggies.

Making effort to buy USA made products ONLY.

I am reducing meds I take(calls for 2 pills a day only take one) etc..

Am a on SSI so income is fixed - the raise announced recently will more than likely be eaten up by an increase in Medicare payment so no increase to speak of in the future.


Good Luck to all during your non-recession/depression.

my husband and i have become so careful about our money that we are able to afford what we need. we dont have cable we dont go out to dinner. we dont go places we stay home every single day and save money and gas. we get blockbuster online and that is our entertainment. i buy everything in bulk and fresh cause processed food is so expensive and not really good for you.

I have seen this financial crisis coming for some time so have been cutting back for several years. I then got into a bad relationship where the guy caused me so much debt, had an affair with another woman, was verbally abusive and I had to put him out of the house. In the process he didn't keep up with bills for items I had financed and I am now in the process of filing bankruptcy.

This is a whole new way of life for me as I'm used to having a cushion to fall back on, whether it was cash or credit.

Now with the economy failing things are even tougher yet but I'm living as cheaply as possible. My son and I have made a game of how much we can save. A few of the things we are doing is air drying clothes and only using the dryer to fluff things, cutting meat out of our meals, collecting and recycling aluminum cans, putting plastic up to windows to cut out drafts, keeping the house cooler and wearing warmer clothes, not using our local garbage company. We don't have money to go out to eat or for any entertainment so we are using the local parks and any free venue we can afford to drive to.

I'm trading more with the local farmers to buy vegetables, eggs, etc. Going to yard sales for many perishable items such as body wash, shampoos, etc.

And yet I know we will continue to find ways to cut back. I'm just thankful that I do still have a job but even that is going to end soon. That's when no matter how frugally I live there may be no way to make it on my own.

I'm trying to but at the same time I really haven't ever set spending habits. I just moved and I'm on my own for the first time in a long time so I'm kinda figuring my habits out. For now I'm really just trying to focus on my food dollars and making sure their balanced and spent appropriately.