tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post753683192890051113..comments2023-11-03T08:22:02.385-05:00Comments on The Everyday Adventures of Me in the City: When the recession starts getting realBayjbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09544971638369054902noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-30727765386925489412009-02-23T07:37:00.000-06:002009-02-23T07:37:00.000-06:00you can seek proffesional help to eliminate your d...you can seek proffesional help to eliminate your debt . That is the best way to deal with this difficult situationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-13478051935205465412009-02-06T22:41:00.000-06:002009-02-06T22:41:00.000-06:00Honestly reading The Secret, and focusing on I'll ...Honestly reading The Secret, and focusing on I'll have the money regardless has really helped. I no longer worry about being in debt, and knock on wood...I actually have more money than I did in the past.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-21676598469902786262009-02-06T20:12:00.000-06:002009-02-06T20:12:00.000-06:00I am overall very mindful of my spending. I watch...I am overall very mindful of my spending. I watch my grocery budget and eat smaller portions to try and stretch meals. I really watch my thermostat since getting my last electric bill of $400.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14149777435132497067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-62314349745126303902009-02-06T01:23:00.000-06:002009-02-06T01:23:00.000-06:00You could forget to take your debit card out of th...You could forget to take your debit card out of the ATM after depositing a check. Because that's what I did today and so far it's working...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-76098112956236598682009-02-05T19:59:00.000-06:002009-02-05T19:59:00.000-06:00I'll start by saying I have no connection to mint....I'll start by saying I have no connection to mint.com. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone out there struggling to stick to a budget. It's free. Easier than microsoft money. Shows cute graphs of where your money is going. Alerts you if you are over budget in a category. Can be depressing to see what money you don't have but it's a great snapshot of where you are and tracks where you've been so you can get where you want to be. Check it out. And hang in there. It's only money. Life is soooo much more than that.ayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221715537017356275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-2320556788766898162009-02-05T14:08:00.000-06:002009-02-05T14:08:00.000-06:00I've found that meal planning is one of the be...I've found that meal planning is one of the best things out there. It means I can buy the groceries all at once instead of buying constantly through the week, and helps prevent me from getting take out too often. <BR/><BR/>That and I do what you do for the weekend all week so my spending on lunches & after dinner drinks all comes out of the same pot. Variable spending is just that, variable.Kyla Beahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532585682101907154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-53463920604609701652009-02-05T12:55:00.000-06:002009-02-05T12:55:00.000-06:00I actually have two checking accounts - one for bi...I actually have two checking accounts - one for bills, one for fun/daily expenses (coffee, lunch, shopping) - and have my paycheck direct deposited, split 80/20. When the money runs out in the fun account, I have to wait until the next payday since I can't transfer money between accounts (two different banks). It's really been helpful for me to curtail spending, as has using Mint to see where the money goes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-87155664174306374602009-02-05T12:54:00.000-06:002009-02-05T12:54:00.000-06:00Sorry about your friend's job! That is scary and a...Sorry about your friend's job! That is scary and a tough deal... <BR/><BR/>About your saving strategies. Way to go! That is great that you being proactive. Little changes do add up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-11599563660710344942009-02-05T09:42:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:42:00.000-06:00I've definitely cut back on random clothing and sh...I've definitely cut back on random clothing and shoe shopping. I'm also trying to go out less, whether it's to dinner or to a bar, but that doesn't always work too well! <BR/><BR/>All in all, I'm trying to make wiser choices, but not stop spending completely. If we all do that, the economy will never recover! =)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-38955889806860440732009-02-05T09:00:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:00:00.000-06:00I'm being laid off in May, so we're hardly spendin...I'm being laid off in May, so we're hardly spending any money. <BR/><BR/>I'm selling my dream car that was an awesome deal and 0% financing. My dad is giving me his old junker to drive until I go back to work.<BR/><BR/>We're already a pretty cheap little family (I only buy clearance merchandise, didn't eat out a lot anyway, hardly go out, etc.)<BR/><BR/>Good luck - sounds like you've got a great plan and will be okay!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02897358252031026173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-79312318618951824432009-02-05T07:32:00.000-06:002009-02-05T07:32:00.000-06:00I think that six months is tough. And you are rig...I think that six months is tough. And you are right, in this city, that is alot! Your plans sound great, though.<BR/><BR/>We are cutting back, too, and have been since October. I have friends over to the condo more for cocktails and wine instead of meeting at the bar and we only eat out once or twice a week (which is a big difference from the six days a week it used to be). Ended up being a good thing as work is having troubles and I've been as much as 7 weeks and 6 days behind! Now I'm just owed a month of backpay. But because of our savings we were okay.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795668965659926769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-41706955460568828822009-02-04T23:29:00.000-06:002009-02-04T23:29:00.000-06:00thanks for the encouraging words! :)thanks for the encouraging words! :)CChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506366051652195736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-33729110042817002512009-02-04T20:33:00.000-06:002009-02-04T20:33:00.000-06:00I hear you with the whole cutting back thing. I've...I hear you with the whole cutting back thing. I've definitely been trying, and I like to think I've done pretty well. Trying to keep the eating out to a minimum, and random shopping trips out. It just SUCKS that eating healthy isn't the cheapest option.<BR/>I have also been listening to Suze Orman and it would probably take me 15 years to save up a 6 month reserve...Jen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582621949881841010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-45367907282317999552009-02-04T16:56:00.000-06:002009-02-04T16:56:00.000-06:00I've stopped going out to dinner as much. I also s...I've stopped going out to dinner as much. I also stopped with the crazy expensive haircuts and only buy clothes that are on sale. I think it's good to be prepared and aware of what's going on - I've seen too many people get blindsided when they're laid off and I just want to ask them if they've been living under a rock for the last year.Megkathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14607783073882197697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-46342610054639425352009-02-04T16:27:00.000-06:002009-02-04T16:27:00.000-06:00I am practicing C.A.S.H ( CLothes Accessories Shoe...I am practicing C.A.S.H ( CLothes Accessories Shoes Hiatus)I'm trying not to buy anything of this sort until March when I have a wedding to attend. I also have started keeping a budget and write in a finance blog to start holding myself accountable. :)Athena Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15319471936574434413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-2603754711450484862009-02-04T15:36:00.001-06:002009-02-04T15:36:00.001-06:00Oh and the library. I started going to the librar...Oh and the library. I started going to the library again.Jenny Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12943823729806115657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-18349960787087352272009-02-04T15:36:00.000-06:002009-02-04T15:36:00.000-06:00I downgraded my cell phone plan, I make a consciou...I downgraded my cell phone plan, I make a conscious choice to drive less, and I try to get all of my retail highs at thrift stores and target.Jenny Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12943823729806115657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-64095216080506189512009-02-04T15:27:00.000-06:002009-02-04T15:27:00.000-06:00Those are some great tips! We do the same thing fo...Those are some great tips! We do the same thing for the weekends! Take out cash and then only use that. It helps keep us from racking up huge bar tabs LOLBecka Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478686301976020706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-67405232818518776442009-02-04T14:08:00.000-06:002009-02-04T14:08:00.000-06:00I too cook on Sunday for the week for both me and ...I too cook on Sunday for the week for both me and my boyfriend, which saves us from buying lunches and/or dinners all week. I also suspended my monthly IRA contribution to avoid going into tuition debt (I know this is a bad idea, I plan on starting back up again in June). And the most sad sacrifice has been going back to my natural brown hair color... I loved being a blonde! But this should save some serious cash...Sarah Alwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592856192999277982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-26205565273630526302009-02-04T13:51:00.000-06:002009-02-04T13:51:00.000-06:00I'm doing Oprah's Debt Diet - it's my New Year's R...I'm doing Oprah's Debt Diet - it's my New Year's Resolution - but I'm haiving a hard time with not buying coffee in the morning!Lauren Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10588271881309574286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-13616974297692396002009-02-04T12:52:00.000-06:002009-02-04T12:52:00.000-06:00I love to cook, so one of my big weaknesses is gro...I love to cook, so one of my big weaknesses is grocery shopping. I'm trying to trim a little here by making better lists, planning meals, and only shopping twice/month (rather than running out and buying something everytime I have an idea for a new meal).<BR/><BR/>I've also got a big weakness for hair cuts and colors and change mine frequently. I'm spacing my time out more and accomplishing a few goals with this - saving money, growing my hair out, and I'm going to pick an all-over color next time instead of blue streaks or something else random that will grow out nicely.<BR/><BR/>I like your weekend spending plan though - that really gets me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-5272767035697025002009-02-04T12:24:00.000-06:002009-02-04T12:24:00.000-06:00i just canceled matt's gym membership and paused m...i just canceled matt's gym membership and paused mine for a couple months, that will definitely come in handy. we've also been using the rents to do our laundry and save us some quarters, haha.Katelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15994241556437259884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-37624471518340560232009-02-04T12:00:00.000-06:002009-02-04T12:00:00.000-06:00Ummm...I'm going to Vegas this weekend...I'll just...Ummm...I'm going to Vegas this weekend...I'll just stick to drinking and forego the gambling. <BR/><BR/>Maybe.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10381000631095705297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-54728860917823177142009-02-04T11:34:00.000-06:002009-02-04T11:34:00.000-06:00although I am a college student, living at home wi...although I am a college student, living at home with my parents (and virtually bills-free) I have cut back on some unneccessary spending such as reducing my trips to Target and eating more leftovers.thatShortchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16288631989393793592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894166322205551970.post-45043386112844990392009-02-04T11:07:00.000-06:002009-02-04T11:07:00.000-06:00Considering the facts that I'm still in college an...Considering the facts that I'm still in college and that I am renting a house with a friend come this July (hopefully), I've been cutting back on "fun spending" for a while now. Also buying groceries in bulk whenever possible and rarely eating out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com