Cutting Back save some cash

[FinsnFur]

I wanna hear some of the things some of you are doing to cut back and save a little cash as we go through this economical disaster, or as others might call it, recovery process.

Some of the stories should be kinda funny.

I usually use around 600/700 gallons of Diesel Fuel (Fuel Oil) to heat my home between October and April.
I decided to start closing off registers, and on the rooms I cant, I hung a blanket over the doorway like they do in the trailer parks for curtians you know what I'm talking about Baxter.

It worked so well, I just kept going and got it down to the only room really being heated is the living room.
I started laying a thermometer in the rooms to see where were setting on a average night of around 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
The bathroom which has the heat off and the door closed 47 degrees.
The kitchen, if I'm not cooking, hovers around 56 degrees.
Dining room, around 60.
Upstairs, totally blocked off, 40 degrees.
In the living room, where the thermostat is, and a blanket hanging half over each entry and I'm running one of those radiator style electric heaters, 66-68 degrees.
Not too shabby.

The furnace seems to run once or twice during the night is all.
Were 3/4's through January and I've used about 110 gallons of fuel oil so far

[Dan Carey]

I've decided to not cut back on anything. I like my life just as it is. I am raising my prices to cover the higher cost of living.

[Okanagan]

Wow, Jim, that is impressive, and cuts fuel consumption waaay more than I would have expected.

In cold country, the only thing to be careful about as you well know is letting it get too cold in subfloors etc. below floor level and freezing pipes.  That depends mostly on design of the house and somewhat on how well insulated it is.  We used to live in a place that would freeze pipes a few inches under the living room floor when it was 68 degrees in the living room. Had to put heat into the subfloor when the outside temps dropped below about 8 degrees F.  Pain in the neck if electricity went out or the oil furnace had a problem, especially below -20 F and lower.

My wife and I are cheerfully frugal, and for now are blessed with good income, so I'm grateful to report we have not yet had to work at cutting back this time around.  Been there and done that in years past!    Hmmm... you have gotten me to thinking.

[Tikaani]

We keep the radiant floor heat downstairs at 60 degrees, the residual heat works it's way up the stairway, where all are zones are shut off.  During the day while at work the house stays at 53 to 55 degrees.  We normally burn 1000 gallons of heating oil every 14 months.  I am usually the first home and get the woodstove going, the house warms up to about 67 which is about all we can handle.  Sounds cold but when you are outside and dealing with -10 to -40 outside everyday, 67 feels like the desert.  We haul our own heating oil, water, cut, buck and split our own trees for firewood, butcher and process all our own moose and caribou meat, can, pickle, make our own jams, syrups and ketchup.  How's that Jim, and with all the money we save I go run out and buy a new snowmachine LOL. 

John

Just so you know I would not BS you boys this was taken in my truck yesterday

[centerfire_223]

Tik, where exactely is it you live? I was thinking somewhere in Alaska. A guy I work with keeps telling me about temps like that and he is from Tok, Alaska.

[KySongDog]

I'm with Carey.  I ain't cutting back any.   

[Mallardsr]

People cutting back is why the economy sucks today. Its why unemployment is so high. Don't contribute to the problem unless necessary.

[Bills Custom Calls]

Some folks are forced to cut back when they get laid off,because they only receive half the salary they were getting,so it is not by choice.

Retail,gas prices go up the working man is forced to make cuts also/
We heat with electric furnace and I have a wood burner in the basement
I put a bigger blower on the wood burner and hooked it into the heat ducts
The electric company called and wanted to know if we had a problem  Last year our electric bill was $400 -$500 a month through the winter and this year even with the rates going up our bill is running $250- $300  The wood burner isn't big enough to hold a fire for more then 4 hours but when I am home the furnace never runs

Edit to say Some one is gonna say well you spent the money to make wood
Yep your right all the way to about $20

[pitw]

  1) Use both sides of toilet tissue.
  2) Shut off water heater.
  3) Use a good ecaller[saves on power].
  4] Don't pay the domestic help[seems to be working for some States ].
  5] If your a smoker just hang around casino entrances .
  6] Go to Tiks for good food.
  7] Put a string from your money to your pocket[makes you think do I really need this item].
   

[FinsnFur]

People cutting back is why the economy sucks today. Its why unemployment is so high. Don't contribute to the problem unless necessary.

Yeah so far the people NOT making any cut backs are those that aren't punching a time a clock for a living, or retired. Yeah that'd be fairly easy when the income never changes.

For people like myself that have an employer and either get pay cuts or laid off, that kind of changes things. Trust me.

I've never met anyone yet that could make all their electric bill, phone bill, mortgage payment, vehicle repairs, buy groceries, car insurance, heating fuel, auto fuel, property taxes, and maintenance....on an income that gets reduced or removed completely. Especially without making some cutbacks.
Thats just plain crazy talk


Tikaani, for what you have to go through up there everyday.....you more then earned that snomachine

[Hidehunter]

Tik thats sounds like an awesome way of life.  Wish I could do the same.  I could deal without the -40 though lol.

[nastygunz]

I dropped the thermostat a few degrees and dress a litle warmer when im home...I stopped buying coffee on the way to work and drink free company coffee during the week..I stopped buying guns which aint easy...even sold a few I dont need...sold a bunch of old gear on craigslist...and work a few different jobs on the side to build up the war fund...decided to keep my paid for vehicle for another winter..Im trying to prepare if we should ever lose our jobs...something most people worry about these days...I did break down n buy the female unit a new snow shovel...

[Mallardsr]

Jim, I apologize. I did not tell you that I punch a time clock. I have been on 32 hours a week for 30 months. No vac time allowed to make 40.  Laid off ? No. Feeling the pinch ? Yes

[Okanagan]

I dropped the thermostat a few degrees and dress a Little warmer when I'm home...I stopped buying coffee on the way to work and drink free company coffee during the week..I stopped buying guns which aint easy...even sold a few I dont need...sold a bunch of old gear on craigslist...and work a few different jobs on the side to build up the war fund...decided to keep my paid for vehicle for another winter..Im trying to prepare if we should ever lose our jobs...something most people worry about these days...I did break down n buy the female unit a new snow shovel...

We pretty much operate that way all the time.  My wife prefers a cold temp in the house so I got used to wearing a sweater, like now.     Our income has always fluctuated widely, so a long time ago we decided to avoid monthly payments as much as possible.  House and utilities is it.  We save ahead for everything else, and during our last personal downturn we sold our house right away to eliminate every monthly payment that might bankrupt us.  Turned out we could have kept it but that is hindsight.  Made the safe and cautious choice at the time.

Avoiding monthly payments has helped us hunker down and ride out low income times when needed.  But you have to get ahead enough to save up some money in the good times for that to work.  It is rubbing salt in a wound to tell people they should do that when they are not far enough ahead financially to operate that way and that's not my intent.  I feel for anyone in the hole.  Been there.  Didn't like it.

Americans are resilient and create opportunities but the whole country is working through consequences of some bad financial juju.

[HaMeR]

Other than the trip a couple weeks ago,, deer & lake pics,, we've just been in our usual winter slumber. I'm having a rough time not coyote hunting but it's ok since gas went over $3.10 here. We also make the most of our trips around town. Never a one stop trip each day of the week. Lump them into 1 trip & come back home & set. Altho we might drag Diane's Monte out of the garage & drive to Cabelas today.    But hey at 30mpg it aint that bad.  Around the house we just wear sweats & slippers with the heat on 68*. We've also found that keeping the doors pulled close enough the cats can still get thru each room feels warmer.  Not too many nights out for dinner for us from December thru March either. And Diane makes big meals so she only has to cook 3 times a week at the most. That saves on electric I suppose.   

  Maybe we aint saving a dayum thing afterall. 

edited to add-- We also try to squirrel away 4-6 months worth of bills when I'm working. I have my employer take an extra $20 from my check each week so I don't have to have unemployment deduct 10% or have to pay it out of our tax returns. I like getting full unemployment checks when I'm laid off. The other thing is I have a PT job. I've found I can make about $80/week without it affecting my unemployment check by more than a few dollars. 

[Okanagan]

People cutting back is why the economy sucks today. Its why unemployment is so high. Don't contribute to the problem unless necessary.

With all respect, that's the line being pushed every day in every media by the same bunch of politicians and money men who got us into this mess.  Don't buy it. It's a scam to bail THEM out and blame us for the mess.  Obama recently said essentially that the bad American people aren't spending enough to achieve the rosy economy he promised us.  It's your fault that your hours are cut back.  You aren't spending enough!

At the same time, my grandfather said during the Great Depression that the worst thing a man can do during hard times is to talk hard times.  Talking positively is different however than spending personal money for the sake of the economy.   

If everyone spent less of what we earn and saved more it would run the economy through a short wringer and come out WAY stronger.  It would be a stable economy based on real goods, paid for, and real value rather than a house of debt cards.  There would be more investment money, expansion and jobs.  I don't think that is going to happen any time soon on a large scale, but we can do it personally, and ultimately have more to spend.

[Mallardsr]

I new better and posted anyway. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

[pitw]

  How any one can think spending your way out of a recession is a good idea is beyond me .  In a throw away society I find it quite easy to have everything I need or even sometimes want at a fraction of what others are paying . To get caught up in the craze of "gotta have" is the one sure way of making sure at the end you won't "have" much at all.   

[HuntnCarve]

"I've never met anyone yet that could make all their electric bill, phone bill, mortgage payment, vehicle repairs, buy groceries, car insurance, heating fuel, auto fuel, property taxes, and maintenance....on an income that gets reduced or removed completely. Especially without making some cutbacks"

Stay tuned, I'll let you know how it pans out? 

[FinsnFur]

Jim, I apologize. I did not tell you that I punch a time clock. I have been on 32 hours a week for 30 months. No vac time allowed to make 40.  Laid off ? No. Feeling the pinch ? Yes

No harm no foul Reggy.
Everyone's going to be effected differently. And I did know you were working.

Some people will be forced to cut back whether you, I, or anyone else wants to admit it.
If the money isnt there to spend, then the money isnt there to spend. We can't click our heels and make it materialize, we go with out, hence the phrase "cutting back"