What positive changes have you made in this economy?

[Colleen27]

We paid cash for a house. That's not something we could have done under normal circumstances, but this place cost us less than the new minivan I'd been saving for. We're putting a lot of our discretionary income into making it more energy efficient (built in 1880 - beautiful, but drafty!) to cut the monthly bills down too.

I'm also making a point to think more about where my money is going when I do buy things. We haven't had to cut back a ton - we live pretty simply and there wouldn't be much to cut even if we wanted to, just basic cable, internet, and Warcraft - but I'm making more of a point to support local businesses whenever possible.

 

[Virgderon]

I didn't make any big changes until change came to me. DH got laid off twice since 2001, and the last time we ended up leaving our home in Chicago, renting it for a loss, and moving to Tampa. We took a 30% pay cut.

Since we have been here, I've gotten into couponing big time, we eat out way less, and we try to find cheap , fun things to do. I rarely buy clothes since I work at home, and I only have about 5 pairs of shoes.

The most important change I made was accepting change.

 

[le9397]

I decided a long time ago the queen was never coming for dinner and that my husband and kids are the most important people that will ever eat at my dinner table, so it's not unusual at all for us to use fine china and crystal for dinner once in a while.

I just love your attitude! I am so guilty of "saving" things. I am consciously trying to make myself use them now.

 

[KKB]

Interesting, 100 personal things. It could be a goal, I keep complaining about having too much stuff.

We have put much more into experiences than stuff the last couple of years. Our friends are buying new furniture, new cars, etc. We go to Disney and on cruises, long weekends away.

I LOVE the idea of 100 personal things...seems like an overwhelming task w/ a family of 5...
I am NOT a shopper anymore...and I am always trying to get rid of things that we don't use...so I am slowing whittling things down!
I squeeze the value out of every penny we make--why NOT get the most for our money??!!
We too prefer to spend our luxury $ on travel...we have no car payments...we replaced 15 year old furniture/TV 3 years ago...paid on interest free account..paid that off, and just bought new kitchen appliances (10 years old...all w/ issues)...again interest free for 3 years PLUS $600 stimulus $--woo hoo!
I have a friend who complains they have no $ to travel--YET she stops at Starbucks EVERYDAY!!!Ummmm....that is $1800/year!!! Travel budget!