Well We Are All Going To Have To Do It

Hi mfpsassy... My summer is already planned out for me. My mom had a stroke on the 28th of April and she's now in a rehab hospital for long term care however, she's doing so well that she's only going to be in there for another week or so and then she gets to go home instead of a nursing home/rehab center. I'll be staying with her for a week or two if not more to care for her till she's able to take over. It's not the summer I had in mind but it's the summer I have planned. BUT... I'm so very happy she's still with us because we almost lost her three times!! So I can't complain one bit, I'll be more than happy to care for her because she's still with us all....

I have been limiting my driving for months now. I basically limit myself to driving to and from work, then the mile and a half from my office to the local library for my lunch hour to just get away and the mile and a half back from the library to my office. And, once a week, I run errands. I will not be cutting anything else out of my life. I feel that making myself as stationary as I have is enough of a blow to my life, thanks to our current government, than I am willing to take. My hubby and I are going to visit the folks up north in July and, it will cost us in gas about the same amount of money that it used to cost us for 2 round trip tickets by air! So, fantastic!

If they carry on like this we won't be able to live soon any more I hardly use my Car so it will not affect me as much, I would certainly not give my Internet up as you know that keeps me going It is just everything going up and soon we will not afford to eat never mind anything else

I really cant say as of right now that we have done anything. I figure though when the gas gets higher and things start costing way to much money things around here will HAVE to change. Most likely a few things that you mentioned will have to go. Internet and cable will probably be the first. Sadly...LOL Then there will be a few more things, cutting back on what kind of groceries we buy. We dont buy a bunch of snack foods or heat and eat type foods, but the type of foods we do buy will have to change. ANd we are working on a garden....so hopefully that will go well and we wont have to buy a bunch of veggies at the store. That will help a TON.

the crush is on for everyone that really have to drive and that is not going to be good. I'm beginning to realize how much of a crush the gas prices going up is really affecting the business and work market really hard. Now there will be alot of things that people will have to start doing without and it will be hard for some but it's manageable. Have a nice one.

We had been planning a trip just after our sons finished school this month, but because of the price of gas that idea was shelved... maybe next spring if the price of gas returns to some kind of normalcy. We live about 25 minutes from the ocean, so we'll make some day trips to the beach and a relative from out of state has rented a large beach house for two weeks at the end of the summer, so we're likely to spend a night or two there (due to construction at the schools, our boys don't return to school until the middle of Sept) after Labor Day. We'll probably go to another beach resort area for a couple of nights in August (we saved money for these trips all year long)and have fun there and put the rest of our vacation money in the bank as a cushion should the economy get even worse. The local library has activities planned for the age groups of our boys throughout the summer and it's located a little over a mile away, plus we have the bay about 10 minutes from our home and a pool, so we should be able to keep them entertained this summer. The little luxuries have been eliminated, we eat at home, watch movies together at home. To help with our bills we reduced the service on our landline phone to just local and we use our cell phones for long distance calls to those in our network. Multiple trips to the grocery store have been eliminated and I stop on my way home from work to get anything we need from the store, as it's on my way home. Hopefully thing won't get to much worse!

We've cut as much as s/o is willing to cut...which is a lot more than I was willing to cut. Now we're going to have a house guest for about a month so that's another mouth to feed on an already strained food budget. So all I can do is start selling things like crazy to try to make up the difference...anyone interested in quilts, fabric coasters or car parts? LOL

I have cut back on a lot of what we are buying and doing. It is sad that we have to make such hard choices about what we will do. However, my plan is to cut back the driving that I do and to make more combined trips with others.

We are not driving anywhere! We are staying local at home and avoiding all the tourists. They swarm our area this time of year and are almost impossible to avoid. They think that they own the place and when they go home we go back to enjoying our beautiful paradise!

I am really dreading gas prices going even higher. I don't go anywhere now. I don't go out of town very often as it is to much to fill the car up with gas. I walk to the grocery store but the price of gas is affecting the prices in the store too so I have quit buying some foods I am sticking to the cheap things.

I'm just going to do less driving. We used to go away on weekend trips, but I think we will not be doing alot of those this year. luckily my main bank moved about half an hour closer to me, so I am saving gas there.I live in the country so instead of making a big trip once a week I will probably go every other week.

I've been nagging my parents to stock up on gas but they refuse to listen because our house might blow up. But I don't really pay for gas--my dad does, so it's not a really big problem. I try to save by hitching a ride with my friends and driving at around 45kmph. Studies have shown that driving at this speed will decrease fuel consumption. I don't really plan on cutting back on expenses though. Rather, I think I'm more inclined to land a high paying job so that I can afford my own gas.

Try to drive less, eat home, save more, walk more, take public transport, switch off lights and fans when not in used, use less air-conditioners, install solar planel at home, etc. All these can cut back on your budget to save money. The best way if you have a good savings is to invest, invest and invest. Both long term and short term will help to beat the inflation but make sure you think before you try anything

I just wont be driving as much this summer. I've already cut the going out to eat and all the useless things from my spendings. I'm trying to stay healthy this summer so going out to eat is a 'no no' for me this year. The other things I buy like.. more clothes that I dont need, purses that I dont need, shoes i dont need etc. I wont be buying this year either. I have so many clothes and shoes that I havent even worn yet so I'm good for the summer! I dont consider myself to be rich but I dont really have to worry about money much. I'm mainly doing it so that I can move out really soon and get a nice place along with having extra money for furniture, food etc.

I live very frugally anyway, but I'm finding new, although small, ways to cut expenses. I don't think it will be a matter of being willing, but a matter being able to survive if it keeps this up (and I suspect it will). I usually keep a stock of groceries on hand but I'm watching that more carefully now, and restocking only when I find a super deal. I'm shopping less but more carefully than ever, growing a bigger garden, bought a canner to put up produce for the winter. I am going back to patching clothes and making do more so I don't have to buy more yet. I will look more closely at quality there, too, so clothes will last longer.

We have already cut back so much that there is nowhere else to go to cut our budget. I guess the only other thing we can do is stop using the internet and telephone and remove those from our house. We were planning to take a camping trip to the coast that we had to cancel because it costs to much to drive there. We have cut out all unnecessary driving and when we have to drive we do as many of the chores as possible. We have also started to walk when we want to buy something from the local market or pharmacy. Both a two mile round trip. We have changed all the light bulbs to the compact fluorescents and turn them off any time we do not need them. We buy the cheapest food we can buy.and try to stretch $200 a month out for food for a family of five for the whole month.

i'll give up my smokes,but there's no way i'm giving up my coffee.i have no cell phone and no car,so i'm keeping that one.don't plan on traveling at all this year.

we were already struggling before the gas prices were out of control and now it is even worse. my plan is to stay home as much as possible and run chores all at one time. with the heat and having to run the air conditioning too we are going to end up in the poor house.

me,,,i will lessen my shopping and daily expenses..it is really hard to do...i hope this will end soon!i hope for every nation a good economy!

Have you considered a freecycle site? One of my friends has gotten bags full of clothes, at least half of which were wearable, and a train table with tracks and some other stuff too. I guess you just need to get in the one for your community and hope you find something good. I haven't taken anything yet, but have even seen offers for washing machines and the like. Good luck if you try it.