Just my two cents, but netflix costs us roughly $12/month. Even the cheapest cable option would be $30, and that's only the very basic channels. Regular cable would be $50-60 or so. Not everyone lives in an area where they can get tv by antenna. So netflix would be a significant savings with more selection imo than cable tv offers. TV is not a necessity, but it can be worth it for the entertainment value.
Hulu offers free streaming of most network shows, and even some cable networks offer their shows online for streaming. My aunt's older computer uses an S-video out, while most new computers use an HDMI.
We play our laptop to the TV by using a $25 HDMI cord... found at Target (
Best Buy will try to sell you a $100 monster cable... not necessary)
If your TV is older it may take a different plug though...
HDMI is digital, it doesn't matter what brand, or how fancy it looks, it doesn't change it's performance. Only when you get into cables 10ft or longer, do you need to spend the extra money. Go take a look at thrift stores or online, they're practically pennies for what they sell in retail stores.
Unfortunately, the ones that I read about who are wishing for advice on cutting their budgets, are not WILLING to "eat Cheerios for dinner".
If I just HAD TO GO TO WDW but was short on funds, you can bet it would be the value resort and the 'ole PBJ sandwich route.
As you say, too many of them think they cannot go if they can't stay deluxe!! LOL.
There are plenty of cheaper options for Disney, and can probably slash that resort stay in half by changing resorts or going to SofG. BCV and BWV are highly over-rated and over-priced. Go to Wilderness Lodge, Ft Wilderness Cabins, or Saratoga Springs, if you need the room. Military tickets bought at SofG or on base are much cheaper than through a Disney Package.
At this point, just drop the package completely and do things more "al carte". And if you make a reservation for just a resort, you have up until 7 days prior to cancel and get your money back. 45 days might not be enough time to know in advance if you'll be able to make it. And then you're out 200 bucks on the deposit with the package.
And don't opt for the Christmas Party or anything else that would cost more money. I hope you're going the first two weeks of December (I didn't count out the weeks to know the dates), when resort prices are still in value season, rather than rack rate.
Whatever method you're comfortable paying with now, drop it all together. If you're used to cash, use the debit card. If you use a card, use cash. Changing the way you spend makes you realize when you're spending. It's easy to get in a habit and not even notice the money falling through like water. I use cash, and hate watching it go, or looking in my wallet to only see $2. Although I'll often times put change in my pocket rather than my wallet and just dump all of it in a jar at home, bills and coins. So if I break a $5 for something that cost $2 something, I'll stick the $2 something change in my pocket and count it as spending $5. I also get a variety of bills at the bank rather than $20s.
Is there a good reason for having your kid in Preschool?? If the list is ten miles long, then wait the ten miles.
Obviously, you're not "low income" you just have high standards of living. Some people can think 75K is an amazing income and live with no worries. While others think that's living off of ramen noodles and PB&J in a 200 sq ft apartment. We all have that different threshold of what we think is comfortable living.
As for the phones, you can downgrade your plan without affecting your contract. So toss (or ebay) your sprint phones, and use that to get yourself a non-smartphone. Everything can be changed, downgraded or upgraded, without cancelling your contract. And don't go for one of those all-in-one plans (well with major companies) because they're worthless. Most companies offer free mobile to mobile (some with the same company, others with any company), free nights and weekends and so forth. Are you using all your minutes up each month?
Do you have a texting plan? How many do you send and receive each month? If you only get a few here and there, it's worth the 10-25 cents per message rather than paying for 100 or so messages. But if you use it the most often with 1,000's each month, then check to see if there's a "family text plan" were there's only one fee for all the lines rather than individually.
I use AT&T and I know I keep changing features and such to keep up with the needs of the lines. However changing the minute plan wouldn't be smart as it's an older plan with more minutes for cheaper.
There's probably more to say, but can't think of it at the moment. Anything is possible, but it's so hard when you're in the middle of it all to be able to start from a blank piece of paper.
and it kills me. 
