Share your tips on cutting down the cost of living.

Good and Useful Discussion!! Here is what I will suggest: 1. Keeping all electric appliances turned off when not being used. 2. Turning vehicle off at signals and driving at 45kmph speed will save around 20% fuel. 3. Cooking food in closed utensils and cookers save around 20% gas. 4. Walking or Cycling to nearby places instead of using gas, petrol operated vehicles. 5. Investing money in Insurance Policies will give income tax benefits, thus saving money. 6. Cutting too much useless talks over phone (unless its free) will save some money. 7. Learning the habit of Saving also results in avoiding unnecessary expenses. 8. Utilize Sale offers when planning to buy things save some money. 9. Using less power consuming appliances. These can save a lot of money!

I try to save money but I am not able to save much. I would switch off the lights when not in use. I try to minimize the electricity usage. Instead of aircon, I would use ceiling fan. I do not go for movies as I have two small children. I save on food by going to market for shopping instead of super market. This way I get very fresh things at a cheaper price. Collecting coupons is another way of saving money.

I am reducing my drive time in short distance trip, turn off my light few hours earlier, buy lower priced products (presumably lower quality) instead of brand name, eat less and shop less, all in hope of staying afloat in this economy hard time.

Share tips on cutting down the cost of living. First off I always try to cut off all lights and any form of electricity that I"m not using, tv's etc. Cut up all credit cards accept for two..... Save money at the grocery store by buying in bulk or generic brands.....Make a store list everytime you go out to shop. You will not be tempted to buy things that you don't really need. Go to this website and sign up. It is a place where you can watch free movies and make lots of new friends. Best of all it's free to join. Hope these tips help! http://www.flixster.com/user/ladysinger1

There are many ways to help cut on the cost of living and some can even help the environment. For example: unplugging unused electrical appliances because even if they are off they still take in electricity. Or turning off lights, tv, computer when you're not using them. Also, taking shorter showers and using reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones simply cause they waster your money and they use a lot of plastic packaging. Also a tip I've heard is that whitening toothpaste is not actually better than regular toothpaste, but it is the same thing.

I drive an SUV and I don't have any other choice. I try to keep down gas costs by always checking my tire pressure and I always change my oil on time. Basically preventative maintenance to try to avoid costly damages in the future. I have also started using coupons and I don't go out to eat anymore. I haven't been to the movie theatre in a year almost, and I watch movies on my computer instead of renting them. Before going to the store, I make sure I've only got necessary stuff on my list. I splurge once in a while, but not nearly as much as I used to.

hi..an apt topic in the present scenario...good idea atleast we can share and gain some more tips around to keep our liquidity intact wiht us.. 1) i have cut down on my plastic money as to me if i have plastic money as in credit cards and all i tend to spend a lot but with little cash in hand i know my budget is tight so i will spend accordingly. 2) saving electricity like spending time in a single room by evryone in the house this has also increased the time we used to spend with the family members.. 3)trying and avoiding more spenings on luxury food items which has also allowed us to be in shape as cutting on alot of things which are not realy needed and eating a simple and protein filled food. 4)cutting on mobile bills talking less over the phone. 5)movies is generally seen by all at home and not much in cinemas 6)avoiding frequent visits outside the house in market so no temptation to spend money. 7) budgeting the house ecpenses and individual expenses at the beginning of the month itself so all the needy things are bought only once in the beginning of the month and so not much of expenses during the month ...is totally avoided. thanks hope i get to learn alot from this discussion...

Like you, we've also changed our bulbs to the energy saving ones. We also unplug any electrical appliances if we're not using it, because they say it still consumes electricity even if you don't use it but it's plugged in the socket. I also commute to work to save expenses on gasoline. If it's possible to walk, I'd rather walk, it's also exercise. We buy and cook our own food rather than eating out everyday. It helps us budget our food and money as well. That's just some of the things we do to save money.

Minimize the use of appliances which u know would require more power. Just don use things around you just cuz u bought them or just cuz u have the facility. Theres something called NEED n wen it arises u can utilize it. Do not lite all your rooms in a house jus cuz you are lazy enough to turn it off or on. Do not switch on n off tube lights frequently since it consumes more power wen it starts up each time. Use alternatives n try natural ways of illuminating your house. A home wit a good planning can give u enough light n air til 6 in the dawn. These aren much technical words to save resources but it sure is how i have managed so far..

Yes there are many cost cutting methods which are implemented every where. Even we at our home are also implemented some methods to do some cost cutting There has not been any major shopping. Avoiding unwanted journeys with friends and night-outs and preferred to stay at home. Saving electricity by turning off when not required even for few minutes.

Few things that have definitely changed for me is like I am eating out less. My habit was to eat out a lot ........ it was like 20 days in a month I used to eat out and now I have reduced it to only 4 days per month basically I will go out only a day in the weekend. Now I have started saving money in the bank as deposits whatever is left at the end of the month ... previously i used to spend that for some discretionary items that i wanted. Also I am trying to reduce phone calls specially long distance once and instead using skpye more to reduce my cellphone bill. It is helping in these tough times. Good luck.

I think this is a great discussion. I don't have as much to add as the rest of the others. I live in the country so the only thing bills we have are Hydro, phone, and satellite. We use well water and use a woodstove for heat so we save alot of money there. The only other thing I do to save money is clip coupons! I am extremely good at doing this and save hundreds of dollars every month. I get loads of stuff for free and even more for next to free! It's unbelievable how much you can save as long as you are smart about it!

when we go to sleep at night, we unplugged everything except the fridge and the electric fan (of course as we use this in the evening), tv still uses up electricity even when turned off if not unplugged. i walk to the grocery instead of using our car, or riding tricycles/jeepneys. walk walk walk... we dont watch movies anymore, we seldom eat out. that one order of chicken/rice at mcdo i can buy one whole chicken already and my entire family can eat. i use herbal medicines, when somebody gets cough and colds here i use herbs, to treat wounds i use herbs, uti i use herbs too. i have some planted here in front of my house. sometimes we use charcoal for cooking. and most especially, the best savings of all we have here is that our car runs on water... =), yep it does.

I've been working with my kids, ages 3 and 15, to pay attention to lights being left on, running water, even paper towel waste. I know those are small things but it gets them on the right track. I've just found an alternative to dryer sheets that I love. I'm now a free sample and coupon fanatic also lol

I unplug all of the appliances when they are not in use, excluding the stove of course. I turn off my pilot light on my heater as the seasons change and it begins to get warm. This saves on the gas bill. I use coupons and take advantage of rebate offers for products that I use often. I try to stock up on items when they are on sale and when I have a coupon for them. Walgreen's offers several items free after a rebate each month. If you have a Walgreen's near you check it out. We did away with the home phone several years ago because we all have cell phones and never used the home phone. I reevaluated my insurance needs at the beginning of the year and I am saving a great deal of money each month by having that changed.

My savings plan is like this:a planned expenditures,such as the supermarket shopping,first planned to be the purchase of goods.Others do not look at the firm;the quality of the same object at the same time in the election more than the price comparison;cook their own meals with food. saving\electricity\gas is the most basic.per month will be a part of my salary with a loan.remain a part of its determination not to spend the savings.

Hello! It is difficult to adjust the expenditure to that of our earning because of the rising cost of all commodities.However soon after receiving my money I save first 25% of it and then prepare the monthly budget.Cut down the expenses on telephone bills and bills on groceries.Don't go outside for eating meals.Prepare your foods at home and save money and your health.So also reduce your expenditure on fuels.Go by foot or by bicycle or public transport where ever possible and save money.thanx.

Cutting down the cost of living is a wonderful idea,especailly during current recession situation. I tend to pay for barely needed things. i don't like to eat out. I also don't like watching movies. during weekends,I prefer to stay at home and study in order to enhance my working skills to make more money. thus my wife wouldn't need to work anymore. Honestly,I can't offer you any practical idea on saving money, but i hope all you guys may live a happy life and don't have to worry about money all the time. good luck!

To save on bills, you regularly remove the plugs of our appliances if they are not in use. This does not only save us from money but also from starting fire. Another thing we do in our house is we regularly turn off our PCs. We do not but them to sleep or hibernate. And if we will us it again, we are better of with turning off the monitor than relying on screen savers. Hope my tips helped in someways.

Great discution! I have been getting cheaper and cheaper over the last few years lol. Some of my big things to save money are to make my own cleaning supplies. Vinigar does sooooo much, you wouldnt believe it. For fabric refresher I use cheap already used dryer sheets. I use them in my dryer first, then after that I will put them under my cusions on the couch and chairs or put them on a shelf in the closet. I love to burn sented candles also and have found a great way to make them last longer. They have this warming thing, I got it at the dollar store its like those warming plates for you coffee cup. But you set your candle on them and it doesnt burn them up it just helps release the sent. The when that doesnt work any more I burn them and still get the sent and the candle. Makes them last twice as long.