Confession time...

[sherry7]

Hmmm, I had to think about this one for a minute.

I'm actually fairly frugal with most things. I do order lunch a couple of times a week at work, which is about $15-$18 total. That's something I could definitely cut out...or just do once a week.

I suppose my big budget buster is my car. I have an extremely impractical 2 seater sports car. I can't drive it in the winter (totally garaged from early November until mid March), and it only holds 2 people. Forget about going grocery shopping in it...only a few bags will fit in the trunk. The maintenance costs are astronomical too. I just had my oil changed last week, which cost $164. I also had to special order 4 new tires for it, and those were $850.

All of that being said, I absolutely LOVE my car. It's fun to drive, and I feel awesome when I'm in it. I've thought seriously about selling it, but I just can't do it.

 

[oldbay]

My biggest weakness - starbucks! Probably spend $10/week there. Just realized this is $500 per year - but well worth it to have my crumb-making children eat their blueberry muffins NOT in my kitchen!

On the cat pan thing - they used to sell liners that were plastic so you could just dump that and put a new liner in each week. Much cheaper than the whole pan. It has been 2 years since our cat died though so not sure if they still have these.

 

[MaryKLady]

I spend too much money on ink for my printer...

Ugh, right...why does ink cost so much anyway!?!? I hate buying that stuff.

 

[daleswife]

McDonalds Tea!!! I find myself taking a trip to McDonalds just to get a tea for $1!!! Sad I know, but I do. I get 3 or 4 a week....lets see at 4 a week, thats $208 a year!!! OMG I gotta stop that habbit!!!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Eating out...we spend WAAAYYY too much $$ on this. We always seem to have an excuse...we are already out or we were moving or we just moved (guess after a month that is no longer valid). I really do have great intentions to stay home and cook (especially since I need to get healthier), but then it just goes out the window.

My other downfall is ANYTHING Disney (especially Ariel) for DD. Nearly her entire wardrobe is Disney!!!

We also like to do things with the kids...vacations, museums, bowling, etc...all things that cost $$. At least with the museums we got year passes so that does save a lot of $$ in the long run, but it is still transportation downtown, parking, and of course a meal (when it is all day).

 

[loydandmel]

Eating out almost everynight. Especially during the school year. I cook more during the summer. I do order water to save on the cost.

Cleaning Lady every two weeks. It is a huge waist of money but it has saved our sanity.

 

[Lashawn131]

I would definitely say eating out for lunch instead of bringing my lunch. I cannot seem to get it together at night or in the morning to bring lunch.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

we all know what we SHOULD do to save money and cut costs but does anyone else have any DEEP DARK SECRETS about what they do to waste money?!

I'll be first:
every week i spend $4.00 on a new litter pan and i just toss the whole old one in the trash so i dont have to clean it... before anyone tells me i know, thats over $200 a year...but its so much easier!!!

NEXT...

You know you could buy a box of liners for much less that would solve that problem. Not to mention filling up the landfill with 52 plastic litter boxes a year.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

We have spent waaaaaaay more money on Duncan Donuts, Lego, and American Girl stuff in the last 12 months than I would like to admit. Oh, and don't forget about travel/vacations.

It's really time to buckle down... right after our August WDW trip...

 

[JeMarie6]

Very frugal shopper here. Never buy my stuff at full price. Kids know I don't even like to pay full price at goodwill since quarter day is a much better deal.

Though I like to wait for coupons and such, I don't mind paying a lot for Coldstone Ice cream even though I know I could get a whole gallon at the store for what they charge.

 

[RN4Babies]

I have two vices....

The first one is books. I adore bookstores, whether it's a big national retailer, a locally owned bookstore or the half-price place. We frequent the library, but I easily spend $100/month or more on books for me and the kids.

My other extravegance is Coke Zero. I drink a LOT of it at work. I know water is free, and generic diet soda is much less expensive, but I'm addicted to Coke Zero.

 

[piglet50]

books, but i don't consider them to be a bad splurge. for me they are a necessity. i use the library, too. we do eat out more than we should.

 

[maggieusa]

I love to buy scented candles thats my downfall.LOL

 

[brandiramirez]

Lets see where to start, it could be with the red bull or five hour energy shots, the daily coffee in the morning, 77 kids and kohls are killing me with the great sales. And most def eating out way to much. I stopped netflix because redbox was cheaper, redbox is now more expensive when you never take the movies back on time! Oh and I forgot to tell everybody you can sell me ice in Alaska.

 

[kellzkidz]

my kids are my budget buster....but if I am to be honest here, my bad habit is Bath & Body works, and Yankee candle!

I think my nose is connected to my wallet!

 

[derocas]

I forgot to mention Rita's or Ralph's Italian Ice. On top of our already bad habit of eating out too much, my family hasa thing for italian ice.

 

[spare+a_pair]

Ours is fast food and eating out .......

I always plan to run errands, come home, and fix lunch .... BUT we always seem to end up in the drive thru. I really need to cut this out since it would save SO much money. We go through the drive thru about 3 times a week - which is anywhere from $10-$20 - which I just added up was $780 a YEAR ..... Ok this has to stop TODAY

We usually also eat out twice a week. We could cut this down to once a week - it really is just pure laziness and lack of planning on my part .... and we LOVE to eat out

I've read that it takes 21 days to break a habit, I think I will stop buying fast food for 21 days and see if I can stop part of our wastefulness

 

[msminnie2010]

I confess...I buy grocerys just about every other week but I still end up going out to eat (lunch or dinner) at least 4 times a week sometimes more because I dont feel like cooking the food I bought...But I never waste food. Thats a good thing!

 

[stahshee]

Ok mine is real BAD. I spend 200.00 every 5 weeks on my hair extensions...(I love them so much and so does DH.... Ahhh I confess. After this summer Im will be done...gulp I hope

 

[Teacher03]

Scrapbook paper. I just can't resist it even though I have stacks and stacks and drawers and drawers. I have to stay out of he stores if I don't want to buy. Luckily the paper is often on sale but I buy way too much.