How Are You Doing It?

Trilby · 06-06-2011, 12:22 PM

Making ends meet, that is.

I know we are a diverse group of people with equally diverse incomes and outgoes...but surely most of us are feeling the butt-f*ck in the mouth that is the current grocery/gas/mortgage/various sundries squeeze.

How are you and your family making ends meet? Are you doing things differently than, say, two years ago? How do you downgrade a lifestyle?

infinite monkey · 06-06-2011, 12:29 PM

I'm not.

I'm thinking of selling a kidney.

Spexxvet · 06-06-2011, 12:35 PM

I'm thinking of buying Infi's kidney. It's what's for dinner.

morethanpretty · 06-06-2011, 12:36 PM

Selling crack, anyone interested?

classicman · 06-06-2011, 12:37 PM

Cutting everywhere and anywhere. Adjusting the thermostat. Planning purchases in advance, not buying many frivolous items. . . . Fixing things instead of replacing when available. Simply doing without in many cases. . . .

glatt · 06-06-2011, 12:58 PM

I work. We spend less than I make.

My wife has been a stay at home mom for about a decade. She's going back to work in the Fall. About 25 hours a week. Perfect job, a permanent substitute teacher at my son's elementary school. She'll float around from classroom to classroom, wherever they need her. And be home around the same time as the kids get back from school.

We had been doing the belt tightening for so long, there wasn't anything left to tighten.

Spexxvet · 06-06-2011, 01:03 PM

Dipping into savings

zippyt · 06-06-2011, 01:07 PM

beer in cans instead of bottles

infinite monkey · 06-06-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippyt

beer in cans instead of bottles

OK, damn you. That made me giggle. Stop it, I wanna be pissy.

HungLikeJesus · 06-06-2011, 01:25 PM

All of you belt tighteners are crippling the economy. Spend, spend! Take out a loan from Guido, if you have to.

limey · 06-06-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

I'm thinking of buying Infi's kidney. It's what's for dinner.

Haggis!

Undertoad · 06-06-2011, 01:39 PM

starting a new business during a recession with no money up front

Sundae · 06-06-2011, 01:59 PM

I'm not.

I've living back with my parents and looking for a part-time job - ANY part-time job - to supplement my income. But I am up against many, many, many other people willing to take part-time work, especially including teens looking for a way into work, Mums looking to come back to work and both genders above 50, needing still to work before retirement and far more flexible than I am.

And note, I am looking to top up my income so I can continue to pay off my debts, afford dentist & prescription charges and look after my boy. I can't even imagine earning enough to live alone and manage all my utility bills.

I get no benefits or income support because I have no children and am in a "safe" living situation. Both of which are true of course and both are actually blessings. It's just I'm £10 a month better off now I'm working. Cash-wise. Meaning I now get no concessions, free prescriptions, free dental or optician care.

I would be better off volunteering.
But I'm SO much happier working.
And I'd rather be in my right mind than at my leisure.

It's just I'd rather be working and in my own place than at my parents. And the truth is I don't think I will EVER afford it now.
I'm not quite on the breadline yet though.

ETA: White bottoms, white bottoms, talk about breadlines my girl's got'em

'cept the original was more accurate!

skysidhe · 06-06-2011, 02:15 PM

Funny you should ask, just this morning I did an estimated budget through September, using Excel, so I could modify amounts as they come in.

I am not on public assistance. I pay all normal bills and have no credit cards or time purchases. (I have not factored in the student loans yet *cringe*) What is left over is what I spend on food, gasoline, etc.

I think I could save money in the food department. I am an impulse buyer but stay away from processed foods, mostly. I find I do the best working from a menu but I am either lazy or I suck at cooking or both, since I lack the motivation for it.

Rrrraven · 06-06-2011, 03:57 PM

Just cut back my Comcast bill in half by disconnecting land line and taking a cable box back.

Stopped buying coffee/lattes out every day.

Bringing lunches and breakfasts to work instead of eating out.

Trying to pay cash for everything even though tempted to charge to feed my retail therapy.

I work two jobs - full time social worker, part time college professor, but I don't teach in the summer. Money is always really tight in the summer and the social work job is getting the 3% pay cut in July. Should be a fun summer, but I'm thankful every day that I have employment.

06-06-2011, 12:22 PM	#1
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	How Are You Doing It? Making ends meet, that is. I know we are a diverse group of people with equally diverse incomes and outgoes...but surely most of us are feeling the butt-f*ck in the mouth that is the current grocery/gas/mortgage/various sundries squeeze. How are you and your family making ends meet? Are you doing things differently than, say, two years ago? How do you downgrade a lifestyle? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

06-06-2011, 12:35 PM	#3
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I'm thinking of buying Infi's kidney. It's what's for dinner. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

06-06-2011, 12:36 PM	#4
morethanpretty Thats "Miss Zipper Neck" to you. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: little town (but not the littlest) in texas Posts: 2,957	Selling crack, anyone interested? __________________ Addicts may suck dick for coke, but love came up with the idea to put a dick in there to begin with. -Jack O'Brien

06-06-2011, 12:37 PM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Cutting everywhere and anywhere. Adjusting the thermostat. Planning purchases in advance, not buying many frivolous items. . . . Fixing things instead of replacing when available. Simply doing without in many cases. . . . __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

06-06-2011, 01:03 PM	#7
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Dipping into savings __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

06-06-2011, 12:29 PM	#2
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	I'm not. I'm thinking of selling a kidney.

06-06-2011, 12:58 PM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I work. We spend less than I make. My wife has been a stay at home mom for about a decade. She's going back to work in the Fall. About 25 hours a week. Perfect job, a permanent substitute teacher at my son's elementary school. She'll float around from classroom to classroom, wherever they need her. And be home around the same time as the kids get back from school. We had been doing the belt tightening for so long, there wasn't anything left to tighten.

06-06-2011, 01:07 PM	#8
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	beer in cans instead of bottles __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

06-06-2011, 01:25 PM	#10
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	All of you belt tighteners are crippling the economy. Spend, spend! Take out a loan from Guido, if you have to. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

06-06-2011, 01:39 PM	#12
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	starting a new business during a recession with no money up front

06-06-2011, 01:59 PM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'm not. I've living back with my parents and looking for a part-time job - ANY part-time job - to supplement my income. But I am up against many, many, many other people willing to take part-time work, especially including teens looking for a way into work, Mums looking to come back to work and both genders above 50, needing still to work before retirement and far more flexible than I am. And note, I am looking to top up my income so I can continue to pay off my debts, afford dentist & prescription charges and look after my boy. I can't even imagine earning enough to live alone and manage all my utility bills. I get no benefits or income support because I have no children and am in a "safe" living situation. Both of which are true of course and both are actually blessings. It's just I'm £10 a month better off now I'm working. Cash-wise. Meaning I now get no concessions, free prescriptions, free dental or optician care. I would be better off volunteering. But I'm SO much happier working. And I'd rather be in my right mind than at my leisure. It's just I'd rather be working and in my own place than at my parents. And the truth is I don't think I will EVER afford it now. I'm not quite on the breadline yet though. ETA: White bottoms, white bottoms, talk about breadlines my girl's got'em 'cept the original was more accurate! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 06-06-2011 at 02:52 PM. Reason: A lickle joke

06-06-2011, 02:15 PM	#14
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Funny you should ask, just this morning I did an estimated budget through September, using Excel, so I could modify amounts as they come in. I am not on public assistance. I pay all normal bills and have no credit cards or time purchases. (I have not factored in the student loans yet cringe) What is left over is what I spend on food, gasoline, etc. I think I could save money in the food department. I am an impulse buyer but stay away from processed foods, mostly. I find I do the best working from a menu but I am either lazy or I suck at cooking or both, since I lack the motivation for it.

06-06-2011, 03:57 PM	#15
Rrrraven Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 87	Just cut back my Comcast bill in half by disconnecting land line and taking a cable box back. Stopped buying coffee/lattes out every day. Bringing lunches and breakfasts to work instead of eating out. Trying to pay cash for everything even though tempted to charge to feed my retail therapy. I work two jobs - full time social worker, part time college professor, but I don't teach in the summer. Money is always really tight in the summer and the social work job is getting the 3% pay cut in July. Should be a fun summer, but I'm thankful every day that I have employment.

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