Comments on: Some Ways I’ll Cut Expenses in 2009 http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/ Extreme Frugality - How to Live Well on Very Little Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:12:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy Hough http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24290 Andy Hough Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:14:19 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24290 Diana- That's cool that your friend owns the Bear's Den hostel. I haven't stayed there but I've heard good things about it from other hikers. I'll be hiking from Maine down. My GF might do a couple of days with me but otherwise I'll be solo. Diana- That’s cool that your friend owns the Bear’s Den hostel. I haven’t stayed there but I’ve heard good things about it from other hikers.

I’ll be hiking from Maine down. My GF might do a couple of days with me but otherwise I’ll be solo.

]]> By: Diana http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24284 Diana Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:52:06 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24284 Andy, That's great that you're going to hike the AT. We live right by it in Northern VA--one of my best friends here runs the hostel in Bluemont, VA (Bear's Den), as a matter of fact. So will you be hiking from Maine down or will you be heading North? Either way, what a great experience you'll have!! Is your GF going, too? Andy,

That’s great that you’re going to hike the AT. We live right by it in Northern VA–one of my best friends here runs the hostel in Bluemont, VA (Bear’s Den), as a matter of fact. So will you be hiking from Maine down or will you be heading North? Either way, what a great experience you’ll have!! Is your GF going, too?

]]> By: Andy Hough http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24256 Andy Hough Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:40:38 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24256 claire- I might get a phone on my GF's plan but I think I'll more likely go without a phone. I haven't had much trouble finding phones when hiking before. claire- I might get a phone on my GF’s plan but I think I’ll more likely go without a phone. I haven’t had much trouble finding phones when hiking before.

]]> By: claire7676 http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24221 claire7676 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:35:30 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24221 Andy, Nice goals. I'm jealous that you can get by without a car. But how are you going to get by with no phone? Public phones are hard to come by. And, I know the reception could be spotty anyway, but I would feel safer hiking if I had a cell phone on me. Either way, good luck! :) Andy,
Nice goals. I’m jealous that you can get by without a car. But how are you going to get by with no phone? Public phones are hard to come by. And, I know the reception could be spotty anyway, but I would feel safer hiking if I had a cell phone on me. Either way, good luck! :)

]]> By: Andy Hough http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24050 Andy Hough Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:57:29 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24050 Angela- That is a good savings you have planned. Hope your plans work out. Angela- That is a good savings you have planned. Hope your plans work out.

]]> By: Angela http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-24012 Angela Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:05:40 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-24012 My biggest savings will come from reducing or eliminating eating out by myself, which could save me up to $900 in 2009. I usually buy fast food or Chinese takeout when I miss breakfast, cook too much and get sick of the same food, and fail to prepare dinner the day before. I intend to meet this goal by going to bed 30 minutes earlier, packing portable breakfast items in my bookbag, cooking only two day's worth of meals at a time, and cooking one day in advance. There is still room in my budget for eating out with people. If my social life picks up and I do eat out or cook with friends more often, then given my usually low cost food choices, I think any additional (if at all) expenses will be worth it. More savings will come from switching from brand name to generic prescriptions. This will save me $348/year. I will also cut short the remainder of my gym membership, thus saving me an additional $100 and canceling my Netflix subscription will save me $114. I will start planning ahead when it comes to street parking to avoid parking tickets and street sweeping tickets--these cost me $190 this year. I will note the earliest due dates on my calendar to avoid library fines which have cost me $67.70 this year. All in all, if my intentions manifest, I could save a total of: $1719.70! Eighty percent of these extra savings would go towards purchasing my first real estate rental property and the remaining 20% would go toward my vacation fund. My biggest savings will come from reducing or eliminating eating out by myself, which could save me up to $900 in 2009. I usually buy fast food or Chinese takeout when I miss breakfast, cook too much and get sick of the same food, and fail to prepare dinner the day before. I intend to meet this goal by going to bed 30 minutes earlier, packing portable breakfast items in my bookbag, cooking only two day’s worth of meals at a time, and cooking one day in advance. There is still room in my budget for eating out with people. If my social life picks up and I do eat out or cook with friends more often, then given my usually low cost food choices, I think any additional (if at all) expenses will be worth it. More savings will come from switching from brand name to generic prescriptions. This will save me $348/year. I will also cut short the remainder of my gym membership, thus saving me an additional $100 and canceling my Netflix subscription will save me $114. I will start planning ahead when it comes to street parking to avoid parking tickets and street sweeping tickets–these cost me $190 this year. I will note the earliest due dates on my calendar to avoid library fines which have cost me $67.70 this year. All in all, if my intentions manifest, I could save a total of: $1719.70! Eighty percent of these extra savings would go towards purchasing my first real estate rental property and the remaining 20% would go toward my vacation fund.

]]> By: Frugal Babe » Archive » A No Spending Day And My Weekly Round Up http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-23968 Frugal Babe » Archive » A No Spending Day And My Weekly Round Up Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:51:46 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-23968 [...] the Frugal Blog Network, Tight Fisted Miser details how he’ll be cutting expenses in 2009.  I love his plan to hike the Appalachain trail (for only $200/month) for a few [...] [...] the Frugal Blog Network, Tight Fisted Miser details how he’ll be cutting expenses in 2009.  I love his plan to hike the Appalachain trail (for only $200/month) for a few [...]

]]> By: Andy Hough http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-23958 Andy Hough Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:23:55 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-23958 Ashley- Saving for the new car will save you money when you buy the new one. Meghan- It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into cutting your expenses. Hope your plans work well for you. Ashley- Saving for the new car will save you money when you buy the new one.

Meghan- It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into cutting your expenses. Hope your plans work well for you.

]]> By: Meghan http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-23938 Meghan Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:16:23 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-23938 The biggest way I'll be cutting is by downsizing to a 1 bdrm or studio apartment closer to work in March. I'll live in a safe, good area, but not the "cat's meow" area I live in now in a 1.5 bdrm. I've done lots of initial preparation, mental and otherwise, to get rid of clutter. Based on my research, I should be able to pay at least $400, and probably closer to $500-600 less a month in rent by doing this. An added benefit will be a much shorter commute to work. I've slowly but surely given up little things all throughout 2008, my cable silver package, near daily Starbucks, weekly manicures and regular pedicures, etc. The next big one I've got to get control of, and really struggle with from a personal discipline perspective, is what I spend per month on eating out. I do great for breakfast and lunch, always bring from home, shop for specials, etc. - but I work very long hours and it's very stressful, so what typically happens is that it's 7 p.m. when I walk to the bus, my stomach is roaring, I could kill for a glass of wine (no, I'm not an alcoholic, on weekends and vacations I never think about wine...LOL), and the choice is typically to wait outside in the cold for the next bus in 20-30 minutes (before a roughly hour total commute home) or dart inside the restaurant just behind the stop for a happy hour glass of wine and one of their $5 appetizer (really a small meal) specials. Guess which choice given my stressed, starving state usually wins out? :-) At one point, I tried bringing dinner food to work and making a point to stop and heat it up at 5 or 6, which was hard because that's not where my focus is at that point in the day, but I HAVE to get back to that. Even at happy hour prices and specials, I'm spending $15-20 a day on dinner. The biggest way I’ll be cutting is by downsizing to a 1 bdrm or studio apartment closer to work in March. I’ll live in a safe, good area, but not the “cat’s meow” area I live in now in a 1.5 bdrm. I’ve done lots of initial preparation, mental and otherwise, to get rid of clutter. Based on my research, I should be able to pay at least $400, and probably closer to $500-600 less a month in rent by doing this. An added benefit will be a much shorter commute to work. I’ve slowly but surely given up little things all throughout 2008, my cable silver package, near daily Starbucks, weekly manicures and regular pedicures, etc. The next big one I’ve got to get control of, and really struggle with from a personal discipline perspective, is what I spend per month on eating out. I do great for breakfast and lunch, always bring from home, shop for specials, etc. – but I work very long hours and it’s very stressful, so what typically happens is that it’s 7 p.m. when I walk to the bus, my stomach is roaring, I could kill for a glass of wine (no, I’m not an alcoholic, on weekends and vacations I never think about wine…LOL), and the choice is typically to wait outside in the cold for the next bus in 20-30 minutes (before a roughly hour total commute home) or dart inside the restaurant just behind the stop for a happy hour glass of wine and one of their $5 appetizer (really a small meal) specials. Guess which choice given my stressed, starving state usually wins out? :-) At one point, I tried bringing dinner food to work and making a point to stop and heat it up at 5 or 6, which was hard because that’s not where my focus is at that point in the day, but I HAVE to get back to that. Even at happy hour prices and specials, I’m spending $15-20 a day on dinner.

]]> By: Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/12/26/some-ways-ill-cut-expenses-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-23874 Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:38:59 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=755#comment-23874 Hopefully we will be paying off my husband's car. That will cut $260 a month... but I would like to put that money aside for a replacement. Hopefully we will be paying off my husband’s car. That will cut $260 a month… but I would like to put that money aside for a replacement.

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