if the economy got worse

I could never cut the internet out my friend, because that is my lifeline and without it well it doesn't bear thinking about and I actually consider the internet as a necessity not a luxury. I think I would get rid of my car as I hardly ever use it, I tend to walk more now or get public transport, I haven't used the car since before Christmas, so I have saved a fortune on petrol and wear and tear of the car. There is not much more I could cut down on to be honest without making my life uncomfortable and what is the point of that, sure there are ways and means.

I already cut my internet several months ago. I know only use the computer and internet at my parent's house. I don't think I would cut my cable. I mean if I had to I would, but sometimes if I am too sick to get out of my house, the television keeps me from losing my mind. I only buy books at used book stores now, so I have cut back there too.

It is a wise thing to cut on expenses, get a bike instead of your gasoline gazzling BMW, walk more, choose between the intrnet and TV, if you are in Africa where solar is plenty, just go solar!

I would not cut off cable or the internet either and the only time I drink booze is on special occasions or when we are visiting someone. I would however cut out the name brands and go into no name products. I would do the turn off the lights when you are not in the room, put the thermostat down at night. Cut down on restaurant spending, so if I go to the restaurant once a week, will make it once a month. I will only subscribe to the magazines I like, put insoles in my boots or shoes instead of buying new ones, use clear nail polish to fix the hole in my nylons before they run. Make my own fries instead of buying them. Have a garden and if I cannot, plants in containers. Switch to those curvy lights. Then I will not suffer.

I use the Internet in making my living so I can't cut that out and since my Internet connection is by cable and it cost less with basic TV included than it would alone, I have no reason to cut out the basic cable TV. There is really very little else for me to cut out. I don't smoke, drink, dine out or go to movies unless I have a free pass. I even cut my own hair and have been for almost two years. I buy grocery items on sale and in bulk whenever I can which means sometimes getting store brands and sometimes getting more name brands depending on what is cheaper. I don't even have a cell phone(never have) so that isn't something I can cut out or down on. I work at home so I don't drive much and therefore can't really cut down on gas usage, I only fill up about every 2 to 2 & 1/2 months anyway. One can really keep food costs lower by buying on sale and stocking up and not getting expensive stuff; I eat mainly canned goods except for milk, bread, eggs and broccoli.

Hey cher! That is a very tough choice! If I cut the cable then I lose my internet and phone because I have them all connected together. And if I do cut the cable I won't be able to watch any tv at all! I do pay alot for the 3 services together and it would be a big savings but in the long run what would I do without my tv, computer and phone? It is really difficult to make any more cuts than I have already!

I really think you do not need to get down to bare bones and do without some of the things you love. If you budget you do not have to worry about having to go back to the rabbit ears or wear potato sacks for clothes. There is a difference between being frugal and thrifty and being stingy. oh and thanks for the best response.

I would not want to get rid of my cable or my internet service but I guess I would if I had too. I think that I would cut a lot of other items out before I took those steps. I could eliminate my cell phone and a few other small things that take up some money first.

Well, I can't go no worse than where I'm at. I had two computers, cell phone, this that, and now, I have just a land line phone, one computer, that's it. I haven't worked in almost four months so I feel I have hit the worse bucket and there's no other way to go but up!!

I get absolutely no reception where I live, so cable is a necessity for even just the local news. But I could cut back and go with just basic, which would save me about $20-30 every month. Other than that, I don't know where else I could cut back, since I already pinch every possible penny. I guess I would have to stop buying things that are not absolutely necessary, like coffee- or switch to a cheaper brand. When times get tough, you find ways to cut back. Unfortunately, I'm running out of ideas for now. Hopefully I won't have to cut back much further.

I would drink more water and less juice and pop. I would buy less gas and make all my trips count by figuring out where all I need to go and do errands once or twice instead of several times a week. I would probably have to give up cable but I couldn't give up the internet unless things go really bad. I make extra money so I can justify keeping it.

Well I suppose the smokes would have to go ,after all the kids food and security comes before all that,we don't drink anyway, or go out, so apart from a few smokes that is it,my trips to the hairdressers would stop.The internet is essential at the moment because of my sons studies and i earn a bit extra on it,so really it pays for itself in more than one way.We live in a little village and we cannot get cable in this area so we have a sky dish,We cannot a descent tv signal without it and things would have to get pretty bad before we got rid of the only entertainment we have.The landline might have to go as we can manage with mobiles except the only place we can get a signal is up the end of a hundred foot garden.You would never beleave where we live in this day and age and what we cannot get,even if you did have the money.I think I am rather like you what else is there to give up ,most of it has gone with frugal living,we will probably find something to go without,I think we would probably go to bed early and turn the lights and heating off.take turns at eating,I really don't know,lets pray it does not get that bad!

All ready thinking about downsizing our satelite tv subscription. We have started looking to buy food for less at area discount stores. Really don't do to much fast food. I don't think i could live without the internet, so that has to be something we spend on. Anyway, we do most of our bill paying online so that save a little, right?

well one possible thing is cutting out expensive brand food, if you can get a hold of a off brand food item that can lower the cost of food price per year heh heh XD oh and another thing you can probably get rid of is using alot of gas to go to short distances because going on short distance drives can add up on gas spending. You can also take off like monthly fee useless stuff like sports and activities but that'd get boring for your life probably, thats just some little ideas i came up with XD

I know what you mean. We have cut every thing out already. We cut cable a lont time ago, we can watch anything free on the internet! I smoke, but now I roll my own the difference - $40 carton or by doing it myself, I can make four cartons for $30. As far as drinking, we don't go out anymore, we will buy a cheap bottle of rum about once a month. We only drive when absolutely necessary and try to do everything on one trip. There really isn't much left to cut! I guess we could cut out electricity.......

Hi Cher, There are so many ways to cut back without it affecting your cable or your net. The most simplest one is to add extra layers of clothing instead of turning the heat up, use natural products that you have in the cupboard anyway to clean instead of buying expensive cleaning products, for example, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice. Cook extra and freeze so you are using oven less. Buy cheaper cuts of meat cook in a slow cooker and will come out as tender as top cut. Make soups or stews with any left over veggies that you won't get round to using to save on waste. Buy food items you regularly use when on offer. I don't have cable as I receive enough free channels and what you have never had you don't miss but I can understand why you would want to keep yours. Huggles. Ellie :D

I'd probably stop buying carbonated drinks like Pepsi and Coke. I wouldn't get rid of cable or the internet unless things got really bad. Right now I'm doing okay. I'm pinching my wallet a bit more but nothing severe. Things are going to get worse though so now is the time to start saving. I've already stop buying name brands at the grocery store and stopped by luxury items.

in my views of sayin wen it come 2 me cut any in like tv,achol etc i would cut my cable tv because i used 2 watch the tv frm morning 2 late nite with out rest. so i got an eye sight increased 2 minuse five.so watchin is not bad but watchin the tv continuesly is ver bad?????

I wouldn't mind cutting down my air intake. We could have masks that count how much air we consume, and we'd get fined if we go past a certain limit. I'd just take deep breaths that'll last longer rather than many short breaths.

Cable/satellite TV is a great one to cut out. You can get all the best shows online or on DVD anyway or you could always read. You get smarter and have more money in your pocket. Win-Win.