Just as spring is a good time to clean out your closets, it’s also a good time to go through your finances and toss out the things that no longer fit your life! Go through your expenses and look at them like they are closets. Ask yourself, what am I not really using anymore?
Here are the things we’ve done in 2011 to cut our expenses:
- Cancelled Netflix- Savings: $10 per month or $120 per year!
- Reduced Cable Package- We tried to cancel our service, but the fees associated with breaking our contract were too much. Instead, we reduced our package. Savings: $10 per month or $120 per year!
- Reduced Cell Phone Data Plan- We analyzed our data usage and realized we didn’t need the unlimited plan. Savings: $15 per month or $180 per year!
- Cancelled Gym Membership- This was difficult for me! After an honest look I realized that I didn’t use the facility enough to warrant the expensive membership. I now walk my son to school, borrowed videos from a friend, and make bike rides and trips to the trail a family activity. Savings: $85 per month or $1020 per year!
- Extended Internet Promotion- When our internet bill increased I called to discuss the error and they explained that my promotion period ended. I told them it was a 12 month promo and it had only been 6 months. They apologized for the error and extended it one year from that date! Savings: $15 per month or $180 per year!
- Reduced our Blow Money- Every other week my husband and I get “Blow Money” to spend however we choose. Generally, he goes out to lunch and I buy something at Target. We reduced our amount from $30 each to $20 each. Savings: $20 per month or $240 per year!
- Reduced Prescription Cost- I have Ulcerative Colitis and my prescription is $60 per month. During my last doctors visit I mentioned the cost and my doctor quickly gave me a savings card to reduce the cost to $10 per month! This saved us $50 per month or $600 per year!
- We completed a Pantry Challenge (you use existing foods and resources to feed your family for a set period of time in order to reduce your grocery spending) in February and saved $60 that month. I plan to do them periodically throughout the year.
As you can see, every little bit helps. These small changes have saved us $2520 per year!!! What are some ways that you’ve cut back to save money?
That’s awesome! I did something similar when we got on the Dave Ramsey bandwagon back in September. We got rid of our delivered water, quit the gym and tried to quit XM radio. I called and they ended up giving me 4 months for $24 so I kept it. We’re out of that 4 months now and I keep meaning to call to cancel again. I secretly hope they offer the $24 deal again because I do enjoy The Message channel on there
I need to call DirecTV and see what they can do. I am VERY tempted to cancel the whole thing and go back to basic cable as I don’t watch TV like I used to. The kids can get sufficient programming on NetFlix. Just not sure if Scott can let go of the History channel
Amy, I totally agree about not watching much TV. I have been VERY unhappy with our Dish service from the begining-and being stuck in a contract only makes it worse. I just found out over the weekend that you can play TV shows through “ABC player”. I’m sure there are other great alternatives to cable. That would be a good post! I’ll add that to my long list.
I think that is great that you are walking your son to school…how long does it take and is it paved? I think you may be addressing preschool? I am wanting to start to pick up the boys via walking a few times per week and hope they won’t be too exhausted after a full day to make the 2 miles home on the greenway. My gym membership is only $10 per month at Planet Fitness and I love it there.
Caroline, The walk to preschool is a little over 3 miles round trip with killer hills. Overall I enjoy it, but I do get frustrated by weather limitations. My 3 year old does get bored, but I let him bring one toy and it’s turned into a neat little time for us to chat. I enjoyed the YMCA because of the childcare so never thought to look into Planet Fitness. Thanks for the suggestion. Now that the Y has removed their joining free we plan to join for two months in the summer to enjoy the pool.
We try to do a financial overhaul at least once a year, if not more. Last time, we consolidated a couple of credit cards to zero interest cards and are aggressively trying to get rid of them for good!! We also refinanced our car through the credit union and knocked quite a bit off of our payment with a much lower interest rate. God also opened the door for us to restructure our mortgage for significant monthly savings. We also did lots of the other things that you listed: cancelled gym membership, reduced cable and phone plans, etc. Of course, we are always trying to reduce our food budget and other spending!! What we have saved in other areas goes towards paying off our credit cards since that is the most worrisome debt that we have right now! Our most recent financial victory was getting our maternity provider approved as in-network with our insurance company, which is going to save us a couple thousand dollars!! That was very much a God thing because we had requested it once but did not have one little piece of info that made them approve it the second time we approached them. Lesson: be persistent and investigate every corner for savings–you never know what you’ll find!!
Wow Nena, you’ve been working hard! I believe that God honors our diligence as we try to be good stewards of what He has given us. Things don’t always work out how we had hoped…but He always has a plan. Your comment is very encouraging. Keep taking those baby steps because every cent counts!!
I am trying to reduce our expenses as well. I have installed better shower heads that have saved us alot on our water bills. We also installed dual flush on our existing toilets and last year I was able to get a front loading washing machine, with all of the changes our water bill has been reduced by half. I am home all day so I make sure to not use any fans if I am not in the room (I used to leave them running all the time), I installed light sensors on my outside lights so I don’t have to remember to turn them on or off. I set the thermostat higher. I called the cable company and worked out a better deal, since that is our only form of entertainment I don’t want to disconnect. My husband loves Nascar and I love DIY and HGTV! Just called and ordered newspapers to be delivered, saving me over $6 a week. I am also working hard at couponin and building a stock pile of items that I get at the lowest possible price. Researching everwhere I can to look for more money saving ideas. I just wanted to share what I have done to this point. Thanks for the website, I just found you but I am enjoying what I have seen so far.
Welcome Sandra! It sounds like you’ve been busy saving money. All of those extra cents are sure to add up and will make a difference. So glad you found us!
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