Welcome to No More Spending; how we manage our budget as we attempt to pay off our mortgage early, move abroad, and reach Financial Freedom by 2020. You can read more about this site here and subscribe to get all the latest updates sent to you by email or RSS feed here.  Thank you for visiting!

8 April 2009

What Have You (Totally) Eliminated From Your Spending?

If you're really serious about getting debt free, one of the first things you'll do is look at areas of spending that you can eliminate from your budget.

Here is a list of things, that has built up over time, that I no longer spend money on; All these things I've eliminated from my spending and don't miss.
  • Beauty Treatments
  • Wash, cut and blow dry; now just dry cut
  • Paper towels
  • Fabric softener
  • Ready meals
  • Magazines
  • Cd's/Music
  • DVD's
  • Buying lunch
  • Afternoon sugar fix
  • Fizzy pop
  • Credit card interest
  • Newspapers
  • Cell phone
  • Gift wrap
  • Jiffy bags
  • Bottled water
  • Cleaning items; use vinegar
  • Handbags

That's it so far, but I'm sure that there will be more to add.

What have you eliminated from your budget, that's not on this list?

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12 comments:

  1. That´s incredible and very very dedicated- obviously! And I can see how that has got you where you are. There are a few things on that list I could never give up though - my professional hair colouring and haircut, DVDs, cell phone and one magazine. Actually everything else I more or less do without :)
    ReplyDelete
  2. I think we've pretty much covered the gamut there too, except I have a cellphone (my only phone line).

    Am going to write my answer, and link to you :D
    ReplyDelete
  3. Most of those things I have given up also, including cable which you didn't list. One question, though, how do you give up gift wrap? What do you wrap your presents when you give gifts?
    ReplyDelete
  4. I've given up many of the same things, but I do have a cell phone, I'm drinking a fizzy pop right now and with 3 dogs I'd die without paper towels. In fact I should have bought stock in a paper towel company, one dog is still not fully house trained and I clean up a lot of pee. I agree that cutting back is a big part of getting out of debt, if you don't change your habits, you won't change your situation.
    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi RML and welcome :)

    Thanks FB :)

    myprettypennies, I use parcel wrap at Christmas and decorate it myself, for birthdays etc:

    http://movetoportugal.org/recycling-packaging/

    Miss M, I have a work cell, which I can use in emergencies, so I cancelled my personal one.
    ReplyDelete
  6. Cable TV

    French Fries/Coke - I drink water and if I am at a fast food joint, I order from the dollar menu which isn't too bad.

    Expensive Restaurants - I used to do this almost weekly. Now, I can hardly do it at all and if I did, I wouldn't order alcohol or coke. I'd order an appetizer and drink water with my entree. This makes a huge difference somehow.

    Generally, things that I don't instantly use or eat
    ReplyDelete
  7. you are definitely dedicated. Good for you!

    What have I given up? Well... Hmmm... I've really cut down on manicures, newspapers, buying lunch & eating out and buying Starbucks. I did cut out bottled water. I'd like to get rid of more but I have family members that think they can't live without some of it.
    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. Christmas gifts
    2. The newspaper
    3. Expensive steak
    4. Movies
    5. Hairdresser
    6. Bottled water
    7. Chiropractor and Dermatologist

    yeap. they had to go.
    ReplyDelete
  9. Dave, Money Funk and Sandy

    Thanks for dropping buy and leaving your lists :)

    Dave re fries: I forgot to add Macdonalds to my list. Ill have to do a follow up post in the future.
    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't have cable, and I have very infrequent salon trips. I tried to replace book buying with library trips but I still buy books when I can't borrow them.
    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow. I'm incredibly impressed and very inspired.
    ReplyDelete
  12. For people who still like to get books, you might try bookmooch.com, it's a free book exchange site. Someone doesn't always have what you want when you want it, but I've gotten over 30 books and gotten rid of over 50 books I didn't want. The only thing is you have to buy postage, which you can do at the cheapest, media mail rate. It's still cheaper than a used bookstore. The site has participants worldwide.
    ReplyDelete

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