October 30, 2008 | Ginger | Comments Comments

Hard Times: What Wouldn’t You Give Up to Save Money?

We’re constantly inundated with the news of people losing their homes, not being able to make ends meet and being stripped down to one or no income at all. What if this happened to you? How would you make ends meet? Most of us are in in frugal mode right now because we want to make sure that we are saving as much as we can for a rainy day.

But what about the things you just can’t do without? What wouldn’t you give up to save money?

Personally, I could stop getting my hair done but I wouldn’t give up hair and beauty products and Internet service. I could give up our car, the house and cable but hair/beauty products and my Internet are here to stay. Well if I could grab a wifi connection I could give up Internet.

What about you? What would you give up if you were forced to live on the edge?

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Filed Under: Save Money

Tags: Needs vs Wants • Save Money

About the Author: Girls Just Wanna Have Funds is for the woman that wants to take charge of her personal finances. We value budgeting, investing, frugality and remain mindful of our spending habits. Move over and make way for women who are in control of their financial destinies and not afraid to say it. We're armed with a positive net worth and not afraid to flaunt it while breaking financial ceilings one stiletto at a time!

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Miranda (10 comments.) | Oct 30, 2008 | Reply

I would have to keep the Internet connection (since that’s my livelihood). And my husband and I would not scrimp on the quality of our food. We did the living on 50-cent (that’s what it was then) white bread and processed, unhealthy food thing. We’d give up the satellite TV, take public transport and cut our Christmas presents to each other budget before giving up our foods.

For now, we have struck a compromise on eating out. We do it once a week, and instead of dinner, we do lunch (which is cheaper). Really, other than the food thing, we could give up almost anything. We’ve already cut back on our travel quite a bit, and on our little pleasures (new books for me and new video games for my husband).

Miranda’s last blog post..Fed Rate Cut: How Will It Affect the Economy (And You)?
Abigail (8 comments.) | Oct 30, 2008 | Reply

I agree with Miranda about the Internet. I’m doing some contract work that requires a good connection. Dial-up is really not an option.

My husband and I are actually living pretty close to the edge. He is on unemployment, I am on disability. I’m slowly getting to a point where I can do a part-time job — the aforementioned contract work — but that leaves us with $3000 a month total. With that, we are surviving and even paying down debt. That said, we have a good network of family and friends to fall back on in an emergency.

If we didn’t, I would cut everything but the Internet, I suppose. Technically, if I were most people, I could even cut that in a pinch and just head to the Starbucks that’s four blocks away. But I have Chronic Fatigue and some days I can’t even leave the house. So the cable modem stays.

Otherwise, I think most expenses could be cut. Cable TV is definitely a luxury, though one that keeps us sane, with two people in a 1 BR most of every day.

Abigail’s last blog post..Can everyone see me?
Small Budget Big Style Chick (8 comments.) | Oct 31, 2008 | Reply

Lets see I could give up without too much trouble the following things:

1) Hair salon visits;
2) Cable…really tv altogether as long as I had the Internet, I could still watch my favorite tv shows and see what’s in the news and my favorite blogs;
3) Shopping for new and clothing acessories;
4) Meat;
5) Travel beyond family obligatory visits;
6) Downloading music for my Ipod.

I’m sure there is probably more, but that is all I can think of.
Heather Paige (1 comments.) | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply

I could not give up a 1 week vacation each year or eating out once a month.

Heather Paige’s last blog post..Halloween Deals
Slinky (3 comments.) | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply

I wouldn’t give up:
Warm apartment all winter long - I HATE to be cold, and there are no socks ever made that are warm enough.
My car - No, just no way. My car is freedom, without it I am trapped.
Yarn to knit, I’d buy yarn for complicated projects that would take me a long time, but I wouldn’t give it up completely.

Slinky’s last blog post..Life is awesome
Courtney (1 comments.) | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply

My DVR. I had no idea what I was missing until I got this. It’s such a timesaver.

Courtney’s last blog post..Sign me up!
CreoleInDC (26 comments.) | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply

Internet and my housekeeper. I know…terrible…I know.
Ginger | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply

LOL! I said that too but if we had to I would.
LAL (4 comments.) | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply

My dogs. I know many people cheap out on pets, but not me.

LAL’s last blog post..The next meltdown?
Slinky (3 comments.) | Nov 7, 2008 | Reply

Ooh….good one. I wouldn’t give up my cats for anything either. If I was really destitute I’d find them a ‘babysitter’ for a while until I got back on my feet, but I wouldn’t give them up if I had any choice at all!

Slinky’s last blog post..Christmas
Sue Foss (1 comments.) | Nov 8, 2008 | Reply

Hmmm, good responses all.

This year I’ve given up quite a bit! Haven’t had any new clothes in some time now, stopped eating out often. I could give up TV/cable but not internet-I can still watch movies and some shows and keep in touch with everyone.
I would also not want to give up:
making art
getting my bi-monthly highlights
making good food at home
good beer!
Jazzy (2 comments.) | Nov 9, 2008 | Reply

With the economy and potential SAG strike, we have had to give up a couple of things to make it through. 1) Wine that costs more than 10 bucks. 2) brand name cereal [believe it or not, my son could taste the difference and is not pleased] 3) did I mention my wine [so long Conundrum]? 4) Movie nights.
dcfashionista | Nov 21, 2008 | Reply

I have given up digital cable, home phone and internet. I have the internet on my side kick, I only watched basic cable anyways and I use my cell phone for my calls.

I cannot give up:

hair styling
shoes
handbags
coffee

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