Cut It OUT!

I have really been thinking about all the things the media and everyone says we NEED......  Are they needs?  Here is a list of things you might think you need...... think twice!

Do I NEED to have satellite tv or tv at all?    (save $500-$1000/year)
Do I NEED to have Internet access on my cell phone?     (save $300-$500/year)
Do I NEED a cell phone?        (save $400-$1200/year)
Do we (a household) NEED 2 cell phones?      (save another $400-$1200/year)
Do I NEED in style clothes and shoes every season?      (save $400-$1000/year)
Do I NEED the newest gadget?       (?)
Do I NEED the Internet?          (save $400-$600/year)
Do I NEED 2 vehicles?  (save $1000-$5000/year depending on car payments, gas use, and maintenance)
Do I NEED gifts at every occasion like anniversary/birthday/holidays   (save $200-$800/year)
Do I NEED to eat out for lunch during the week?  (save $1000-$4000/year (no joke, do the math!!))

These are just a few things we all think we need, including myself at one time, but we really don't.  There is a potential savings of $4600-$19000 a YEAR if you cut out all these WANTS!!!  Not needs!  I am not saying cut all these things out but there is always room to cut.

TV (like satellite and cable) can be cut out completely and resort to watching movies.  The local library has lots of movies that can be rented out.  You could also allot an amount each month to renting movies.  There are always sites online though that could provide you with movies and tv shows.  A few of these sites are:

• www.tvduck.com
• www.sidereel.com
• www.free-tv-video-online.me
• tv.blinkx.com
• www.surfthechannel.com
•  And there is also netflix which isn't free but at a low rate of $8 a month you can watch TV shows and movies on demand!

Cell Phones:  think back 7-10 years ago we didn't carry cell phones around, and if we did we hardly used them.  There is no need for internet or long distance on our cell phones (when used for normal day stuff, not including business and such).  Those alone can account for $35-$50 a month on your cell phone bill.  If you want to cut back and you have these on your cell, this would really show over a months time.  You can call and take these off of your cell phone plan at any time and shouldn't be charged.  As well, if you have 2 cell phones at home, do you need them????  Another question to ask is, do I have a home phone as well?  Am I using my home phone or am I mostly using my cell phone?  If you are mostly using your cell phone, look into getting rid of your home phone and getting some day time minutes.  This could save you some money, but really study out your numbers before going ahead and doing this.

BUNDLE!!!!!  Thank you so much to one of my readers, you reminded me of a very good idea to saying money with cable, telephone, and internet..... bundling.  If you bundle these three or two you can get a great deal.  With our internet and tv bundled we save over $15 a month.  And, like Angie said, it's as easy as calling and asking to lower your monthly payments.  Ask where you can save money, most providers will have answers to that question because they want to keep you.

Clothing:  This can be super pricey but if done properly, could be a great bargin too.  I am not that fashionable..... sad to say but I do enjoy shopping.   Try and shop at the end of each season when those items for that season are marked down.  You can find things at 50-75% off!  Think, do I really need another red shirt, or another pair of faded jeans?  Some things that could really save you money is go through your closets often and really get to know what you own for clothing, get rid of things you no longer buy, and always look for deals.  Another smart thought is to find a stylist and have them figure out what colors look best on you.  That way you aren't buying clothing that will end up hardly being used anyways.  When it comes to kids clothes, especially younger children, go to a thrift store to pick up everyday outfits.  They are cheap and you won't feel bad when chocolate or a large hole is made in those jeans which potentially could have cost you $15-30.

Vehicles:  For some families, the use of 2 vehicles is a must, but for others, if you find your car is in the garage 80% of the time, you may want to think of selling it.  Especially if there are monthly payments being made on it.

Holiday Gifts:  Do you really need them??  It is nice to get flowers/chocolates on Valentines day but when that credit card statement of $80 is noted a month later for that small bouquet of roses and some chocolates that have now been long gone, it hits ya hard.  Decide at the beginning of the year that these times are really going to be budgeted.  In our family, instead of buying each other something for an anniversary or a holiday, we go out for a sit down dinner, and not to up scale.  As an example we budget $50.  This saves us between $50-$100 a holiday (before we would allot about $50-$75 a person/holiday).  Even Christmas is included.  Instead of going to dinner we would decide on one thing each we wanted that Christmas with an acceptable budget and that would be it.  Making a plan and communicating really makes this process easy!!

Lunches:  Probably one of the easiest things to do to eat up your money, literally!!  Eating out is ridiculous and the amount can really creep up on you.  If you are spending about $8 a meal (fast food) and ate out 4 times a week that would add up to $100 a month/$1200 a year.   I know I could do a lot with that $1200.  How to tackle..... make a lunch!  Here are some ideas:

• take left overs.  Make more at dinner then you usually do so you have left overs to take to work.
• make a lunch.  Buy sandwich meat and make a sandwich.  If you don't like sandwiches, find something else you enjoy.  And include snacks you enjoy.  Anything you buy grocery shopping to put in your lunch will be cheaper then eating out every day.  Don't go crazy on this idea but also treat yourself.