pinching pennies

[njcarita]

Anyone else pinching pennies till they scream????

 

[ADisneygirl]

Yes, lately I have been. No fun.

 

[SillyMe]

Me, too. Besides our upcoming trip to the beach, I'm saving to buy a house for my girls.

 

[Chris2597]

Well....after today I will be....We bought dd17 her first car and paid cash....We had been saving for a long time....but it still hurts to deplete or at least half way deplete your savings acct. We are hoping that this car will last her through college.
It all of a sudden seems that the cash flow is a steady stream out....It is of our own making....we had to pay our hefty property tax bill in Jan 5k, dh and I took a cruise in the spring (great deal, didnt spend alot ), went to Fl in June to visit inlaws, now the car.....Dh and I both agree that the belt needs tightening....It is also the little things that are adding up....quick trip to Walmart....intending to pick up one thing and spending $50, going out to lunch (I am off in the summer....so dd and I have been shopping and lunching several times a week), running to the mall to look around and finding a great sale...It has got to stop...I think we have fallen into some bad habit...not dh but dd and myself....We pay cash or pay off the credit card every month so it really does hurt and I think seeing the acct balance drop today has been a reality check.
We have another cruise planned in the fall, which may have to get cancelled as DH pointed out...3 vacations in a yr is alot and we may have to rethink this one...We have paid the dep, which is half but the final pymt isnt due for another 2 months....we can cancel before final pymt is made....

 

[Evil Queen]

More than I'd like.

Really starting to hit hard over here.

 

[Minniespal]

It's no fun

 

[floridahippy]

money just goes incredibly quickly these days - our wages go in on the 1st of the month and by day 10 its nearly depleted due to all the direct debits that go out (we basically live off my pathetic wage and the girls both pay rent (hard work to get them to part with it!!!)
This year seems specially fraught but we are still heading for WDW in November and the penny pinching will all be worthwhile!!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Starting next month I have 2 in college. We are definitely feeling the pinch. No summer vacation this year.

 

[Teacher03]

Starting next month I have 2 in college. We are definitely feeling the pinch. No summer vacation this year.

I feel your pain, we also have two in college. We have had two in college for the past 3 years and will have two in college (when my youngest starts) for the next 3 years. We have really watched our spending since they started We actually are in better shape then before, just because we are so aware of our spending.

 

[Stitchfans]

Talk about poor timing. 4 months after our trip to WDW oldest DD is getting married. Like I posted on another thread ex-husband is already bugging me about who is going to pay for what? Even though he just sold his Mustang convertable for mega cash, and owns two homes that he rents out. Lives with his gf rent free and works full time.

I always say if there is a will there's a way and no doubt we will be ok and be able to pay our fair share. Just wait until DD (stitchfansjr) gets married that is all our responsibilty. That lucky DOG is getting a real deal having us help.

 

[vsimeone]

Me! That would be me with the sore fingers (from all the pinching) and empty wallet.

Hmmm... wonder if that's why I've been hanging out on the Disboards ALL weekend instead of going out anywhere??? But it DID earn me my first tag!

We have an anniversary trip planned for WDW - 5 weeks from today!!! And a Christmas trip for the family. DD starts college next month. DS's school levy failed and they will be insituting "pay to play" this year. It's his first year of high school band.

Looks like you'll be seeing me hang out here a LOT more in the future since I can't afford to do anything else!!!

 

[njcarita]

Me! That would be me with the sore fingers (from all the pinching) and empty wallet.

Hmmm... wonder if that's why I've been hanging out on the Disboards ALL weekend instead of going out anywhere??? But it DID earn me my first tag!

We have an anniversary trip planned for WDW - 5 weeks from today!!! And a Christmas trip for the family. DD starts college next month. DS's school levy failed and they will be insituting "pay to play" this year. It's his first year of high school band.

Looks like you'll be seeing me hang out here a LOT more in the future since I can't afford to do anything else!!!

Congrats on your anniversary!!!!!

 

[disneylizzy]

While I am not washing out sandwich baggies (!) as I have done in the past, I am pinching pennies now.

It sure gets old packing my lunch everyday, but I have another year til the credit card is paid off, the divorce is final and I replace my car (11 years old with 140,000 miles). Then it is WDW Here We Come!!!

 

[njcarita]

I'm also hoping to have my credit card paid off before our next disney trip!!!!

 

[hiwaygal]

Anyone else pinching pennies till they scream????

those poor pennies...

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Sadly, I don't have any pennies to pinch.

 

[njcarita]

So what are some of your best penny pinching idea---

Here's mine

1)I meal plan for the week.

 

[disneylizzy]

Consolidate trips to save on gas.

Cut back on the premium channels for cable.

Pack lunches - I really hate this because my whole office gets take out everyday and we have some amazing ethnic restaurants around.

Driving my kids crazy with bugging them about shutting off lights, turning down the A/C, shutting off the computer before they go to bed, etc.

Stopped buying crackers, cookies, snack cakes, ice cream, junk, etc. (everybody's trying to get in shape anyway).

 

[HayGan]

Since I have gone a little overboard on planning trips this year (I'm going to WDW and Atlantic City within the next 2 months plus the big WDW trip in Dec.), I've really had to try and tighten my belt (although I'm not doing to well at it ) Not to mention all those extra summer activities including several trips to amusement parks, pools, drive-ins, etc.

I need to start leaving my debit card at home! I think I am going to start leaving $40 in my truck for gas and that is it. I think we also need to start a weekly family budget for activities and stick to it! I did really cut back on trips to Target, Walmart, etc. to help reduce the temptation factor. I began putting all my change and $1 bills in a sealed jar at the end of each day as an extra savings for the trips but I find myself hitting the ATM every couple of days I think I also need to start going on my ebay stuff again. I know that I could easily cover the cost of so much stuff if I would just start listing a few things every week!

Oh, so much to do and so little time in between vacations

 

[njcarita]

Consolidate trips to save on gas.

Cut back on the premium channels for cable.

Pack lunches - I really hate this because my whole office gets take out everyday and we have some amazing ethnic restaurants around.

Driving my kids crazy with bugging them about shutting off lights, turning down the A/C, shutting off the computer before they go to bed, etc.

Stopped buying crackers, cookies, snack cakes, ice cream, junk, etc. (everybody's trying to get in shape anyway).

what do you have as snacks instead???

I live with a bunch of snackaholics...me being their leader