It seems that everyday I turn on CNBC and see the talking heads telling me that gas has hit another all time high and that basic items like milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables are up 20% or more from just a few months ago. Now to top it off, our local utilities are asking for significant rate hikes, including my county which institued water conservation late last year and now wants to raise our water rates 15% - 20% to make up for the shortfall.

It is hard to continually figure out new ways to save to combat these things, but I was hoping that this forum could be a sounding board for people on whate they are now doing or have cutback on.

We have basically stopped eating out altogether, have replaced most of the lightbulbs in our house with compact flourecent bulbs, I rarely drive the sports car and instead opt for my 4 door Acura. I have changed the way I drive this car as well, and find myself shifting it no higher than 2000 rpm and keeping speeds no higher than 65mph. Last two tanks of gas in this car have averaged 28 miles and hour with 29 miles per gallon (on board trip computer), the old average was 22-24 mpg.

Of course my wife and I already use lots of coupons and all the rebates, but we have been doing that for several years already. So anyone else have some savings stories or what they are cutting out to save money that they wish to share?

There's a whole thread on it here:

Please post your specific suggestions for living frugally without hardship here

well i don't live paycheck to paycheck to begin with, so the slight price increases lately aren't hurting me. just $20 less at the end of the month that goes into savings. prices would have to go up several hundred percent before i'd have to worry

Pregaming at home before heading to the bar. Easily saves me $200/month.

I stopped burning 100 euro notes to light cigars, and switched to 100 dollar bills.

mzbagel said:lostdude said:Cutting back on hooker and blows.

Seems pretty logical...assuming hooker=a, blows=b, and the ratio of a:b is 1:x (hooker being used in the singular here) where x >= 1.
using the above we learn that: b=x(y) (where y is 1 or > 1)
Cutting back by at least half gives a/2, therefore b is reduced proportionally b/2, giving you x(y)/2 = reduction in overall b.

i think you are taking it way too far

Betelgeuse said:All this crazy inflation and Mcdonalds still has the $1 menu. So, the economy can't be all that bad.

But the after 3 flush trip to the bathroom still remains, so you waste more water.

Zuke76 said:joedaddy123 said:flip condoms inside out.
Even cheaper - pull out towel off.

cheap b@astard (in the nicest way possible )

I stopped driving myself and take the train or public transit everywhere. I do log a few miles a week just moving my car and running a couple errands on the weekend but thus far for April it's been 91 miles total.

Called progressive and updated my insurance to reflect this. Right now it's reduced my overall ownership costs excluding depreciation from $250-300/mo to < $100 mo. Thinking of getting rid of the car but probably not ready to do that yet.

If you can sell both/all cars, then you don't have to pay gas, insurance, mechanic's boat payment, tabs/excise taxes, parking and/or parking tickets, plus you get the revenue from the sale itself. If you live near public transportation or can bicycle, cars are a big luxury that can drain your $$$. Most would say it's worth the cost, but obviously that depends on how badly you need to save money, which is the factor that can change from one "save money" thread to the next.