Cheap Livin'

Can I do it?

I always have some sort of "focus" in my life at any one time. Usually it's diet and exercise. It was often school in the last 7 years (thank spaghetti monster that's over). And sometimes it's as simple as "I'm going to make dinner every night". I choose to only handle so much deprivation and discipline at any one time, so the goals and center of focus change. My new focus is cheap(er) living.

I grew up with the most wildly opposite parents. My dad (once he and my mom divorced) saved 30% of his modest, blue-collar paycheck into savings and retirement, retired comfortably at 50,  paid cash for almost all of his retirement caddy, and cut back on contractors and did a ton of work by himself when he built his house to avoid taking out a mortgage. My mom is a financial nightmare. It would pain me to even begjn to list the traits. It makes me sad. One of my biggest motivations for going to college was thinking that someday I'll probably have to support her and not because of health...Just out of financial turmoil.

My habits have fallen somewhere in the middle. I'd like to be a little closer to my dad's habits. With the economy the way it is, and the decision to maybe start a family soon (nature willing)...I decided this would be my new focus. Dean and I have been lucky so far living  pretty much within our means (absent my risky bet to borrow for my education that is so far *crosses fingers* paying off). But we're also more financially wasteful than we should be.  (And since hubby and I keep separate finances - his habits are actually a non-issue. I know, we're weird).

Here's what I'm going to do:

1. For the first time ever, I paid way more attention at the grocery store. I cut our bill by $50. Fresh vegetables over half-way prepared or frozen. Cut extraneous shit that probably just makes my ass big. And just overall, paid attention to the differences in prices. My biggest motivation was watching some show where this crazy family with 12 kids got by on $150 a week in groceries. And here Dean and I are spending $80-$120 a week on the two of us. WTF are we buying?

2. No more eating out. Analysis via online banking tools uncovered what I spend going out to eat in a month. I almost cried. I'm too embarrassed to actually share the number. Add in the delicious iced mochas that are a stairwell away...and shit starts to add up. (Add-on opportunity to drop a few el-bees).

3. Paying shit off. I just paid off my scooter this month. It felt good. (And now I'll probably sell it next summer). My car will be owned 100% by me by next summer and I'm not going to buy a new one (even though I want to). And October blesses many of the American workforce with an extra check and that is going straight to paying something off...

4. Cut back on shopping. I spend my money on entirely random shit - not just clothing like many women. I will start to pay attention and actually ask myself what I need.

I'm not doing anything drastic. I'm still going to buy games and all...I'm just going after the low-hanging fruit at this point to see how impactful and rewarding it will be. I'm hoping for a lot of both. I know nobody ever has enough money...Ever. People that make 40K don't make enough and people that make 40 million don't make enough. But I'm going to see for the next few months how I can stretch it. The only bad news to this, is that in a recession this is exactly what is bad for the economy. *shrugs* I'm going to be selfish.