A Balancing Act.
By Kandase
@Kandae11 (54997)
October 17, 2022 10:24am CST
Shrinking food and other items, rising prices, scarcity of goods and services, managing a budget these days has become a real balancing act.
Those who were not thrifty before are finding it necessary to cut back on unnecessary items and practices.
Have you found the need to cut back on anything? Or are you managing quite well?
I have made a few sacrifices- - like cooking and baking less to conserve on gas. I do not eat fast food and l hardly ever dine out in restaurants - so no loss there.
I conserve electricity as much as l can. In fact l have started using candles in my bathroom at night, gives it a lovely glow anyway.
Name one service that you are paying for which you would find extremely difficult to give up or cut back on.
Pixabay image
23 people like this
21 responses
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
17 Oct 22
There are several things we can't do without; air, heat, light... I can only hold my breath about a minute. 
We don't WANT to give up our house, electric, gas and water... We could drop the internet since both phones have unlimited internet and they are hotspots but... the house internet is faster. *shrug*
We don't WANT to give up our house, electric, gas and water... We could drop the internet since both phones have unlimited internet and they are hotspots but... the house internet is faster. *shrug*4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
17 Oct 22
@Kandae11 The phone company just changed my internet to unlimited last month. Pretty qualified for a free phone and service with unlimited internet... We pay $60 a month for our house internet and Pretty makes enough online to pay that.
3 people like this
@Kandae11 (54997)
•
17 Oct 22
@DaddyEvil. in my very rural part of town, the lines are not available, but we keep getting promises. Sixty dollars is about thirty more than l paid for internet service when l lived in the city 7 years ago.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82778)
• United States
17 Oct 22
You are right about everything being a balancing act these days. I haven't eaten in a restaurant in the past few years and basically the only take-out we get is pizza. We've cut way back on our grocery shopping and limit ourselves to impulse buying.
Recently I got rid of my cable which was costing more and more and now have a few streaming services. I enjoy watching tv so that's my luxury. That's the one service I was paying for month after month before I finally gave in and got rid of it I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82778)
• United States
17 Oct 22
@Kandae11 Do you miss not being able to order pizza or don't you eat it anymore?
2 people like this
@Kandae11 (54997)
•
17 Oct 22
@Marilynda1225. I wasn't that much of a fan. My son ordered and l would have a slice.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Oct 22
Only the internet I would not want to give up Kandase.
And grocery delivery fee second..yearly membership
Saves me going to the store and catching covid.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471497)
• Switzerland
18 Oct 22
I do not buy beef anymore, it is too expensive. As other products are becoming too much expensive I am switching to more reasonable options. I turn of all the light bulbs when I am not in the room and I turn off my computer when I am not using it. I also wash the glasses using cold water, they are not greasy.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16389)
• Raurkela, India
18 Oct 22
I am cutting down on gas and electricity bills but can't do away with anything as I am not a spendthrift. I only occasionally get my snacks and dinner from a restaurant.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16389)
• Raurkela, India
20 Oct 22
@Kandae11 Yes, saving money is very important and I do it to use it when essentially needed.
@allknowing (136369)
• India
18 Oct 22
Never felt the need so far to cut down on anything - hope it stays that way
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (35574)
• Philippines
19 Oct 22
The rising prices on daily needs is alarming.
The one thing I cannot give up is the AC. I can't handle the heat.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26680)
• Singapore
18 Oct 22
I am retired and my daily expenses are less now.
I have always been frugal but I did travel quite a bit almost every year.
Now I tend to eat less and reheat and consume leftovers more.
It helps that we are only two now under the same roof.
And this virus has reduced our travels as it is not worth the money spent with all the additional precautions and paperwork.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (54997)
•
18 Oct 22
Yes, it is wise to cut corners in whatever ways we can.
One of the complaints I have been hearing is that some people have to decide whether to buy their prescription pills or food. The thing is you are advised to eat before you take some medicines. I suppose those persons will then spend half on pills and half on food.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180665)
• United States
17 Oct 22
Well the internet of course. I mean if I absolutely had to, I could use the internet on the phone, but that would be a last resrot. I do use it sometimes to browse and play podcasts even watch movies sometimes,
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Oct 22
I had already been in a similar situation during the financial crisis and meltdown of 2008-2009 so I already learned a few lessons from a similar situation on how to fight it. Cutting back on things is good which I also did before but I think the real key is to find and explore more ways to increase and augment our income. The internet is one service to find alternative ways and means so in a situation like this, it's not something I would cut back or give up on.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14553)
• Hong Kong
17 Oct 22
Same as @snowy22315, internet for sure.
1 person likes this
