It's true what they say: little things do add up. Small luxuries can become very big luxuries when you consider how much you spend yearly. A co-worker recently admitted she's saved a few hundred dollars by doing her own mani-pedis, which used to cost her about $60 a month, since her husband was laid off.
I continue to read stories about people cutting cable, splitting entrees, and naturally, staying in more instead of going out and running up a pricey bar tab. What little luxury was first to go for you?
Hudson
Judith Leiber
theOutnet
Last year the first thing I cut was home newspaper delivery, which really stunk because I love the morning ritual of the coffee & newspaper. Then I gave up my alone time (the commute) by carpooling. Then I gave up regular haircuts, which some might argue is a necessity, not a luxury.
1As for me, I've cut back on jewelry purchases. I have a penchant for high-end jewelry. I love to wear them, and collect them.
I'm doing it for practical reasons. Right now, I'm spending our funds upgrading our home, not add to my already large jewelry collection.
2I've cut back on buying shoes and clothes. I've been re-purposing my wardrobe and trying to come up with new looks without having to buy new stuff. I've also cut down on purchasing books/DVDs/etc. If it's at the library, I get it from there.
I also do my own manicures. It's not that hard and you can really save a lot of money by doing it yourself. I invest in really nice polish and it makes the whole process a lot easier.
3i've stopped going to the spa for regular facials and waxes - i know - sometimes there's a NECESSARY upkeep but sometimes you just have to pick your battles, and i guess that i can do things for myself until times get better
i lucked out with my job that i have some perks where i'm still able to get manis/pedis and spa appointments from reps, which is kind of ironic since i never went to the spa nearly as regularly before.
4I cut back on my shopping. I also do less take-out.
5I cut back on clothing purchases. I totally always bought it like, as my comfort. I cut back on my workout classes (since I can do yoga in my own home, and fitsugar often provides us with cool new poses to try!) and I also dye my own hair now.
6I have cut back on Starbucks.I now make my own coffee.I also don't eat out as much.I try to cook during the week and go out only on the weekends.
7Books and itunes (that really nickel&dimes you to death), I also cook from scratch and bring my lunch and coffee, such a dramatic difference for just a little more work and organization. My job/salary hasn't changed, but I think we all feel a little more insecure these days!
8I color my own hair, and get my hair cut less often. I also don't get a mani and pedi but maybe 2 times a year.
9i cut out coffee from coffee shops
10I stopped going to Starbucks and I fix my own lunches. Le sigh.
11LOL, I was poor before and didn't have anything to cut out. Yay college! I am thinking about splitting the cost of a textbook with my boyfriend next quarter, since we're in the same class and study together anyway.
12Given up buying things just for a particular meal, and just using what I have, I gave up buying Pepsi instead I drink store brand.
13I gave up all but basic cable and have cut back on my Starbucks habit. I'm trying to cook more and eat out less often.
14mani/pedis were the first to go. I can't afford $60-$80 every two weeks or even once a month. Forget it! I have also been a LOT more conscious about eating out. Last night I had a mini money victory as I was surfing papa john's website to order some pizza and instead utilized the one I had in the freezer.
15Cable went a long time ago. being more stict with taking lunch to work. dying my own hair every second salon trip. OH and I rediscovering picnics over restaurant meals.
16I also discovered my local cosmetology school. Eyebrow waxes for $2, mani/pedi's for $10, facials for $20. Not a luxe atmosphere, but it gets the job done!
17I have cut out digital cable with basic, cheaper lunches or bring my own, coffee is done on a thrice weekly basis instead of twice per day, less take out and I do more cooking at home, I go to the cosmetology school for my roller sets so intead of $45 I pay $10. I get a manicure once per month if that and pedicures are once per month.
18i've been trying to curb my shopping habit a lot more and bus to work more often than i drive to save on parking costs. i've also been buying cheaper lunches...i still buy my lunch everyday but i know what costs $5 versus $10 and try to go for that instead...i also rarely buy coffee but i almost never did in the past anyway.
this is a tough question considering i literally just booked a haircut, eyebrow wax, mani, and pedi for tomorrow and spent $400 shopping yesterday....but it has been awhile so i feel i deserve it!
19The usual, here. Cooking at home more, less money for clothes, no starbucks! I have even been skipping my normal popcorn & coke at Target.
20I make/bring my own lunches daily and limit eating out to once maybe twice a week.What def. helps me is carrying cash and that way it know I feel it/see it way more than if I used a card.
21I dye my own hair! It is naturally medium/dark brown and I like it honey blonde. I do highlights, toner- everything! Everyone always asks me who does my hair
& I save $$$$!
22We've cut back on our traveling.
23I cut back on shopping, eating out/ordering in, daily newspaper delivery (I get weekend delivery), and pedicures
24i eat out WAAAAAAAY less, and i try to cut my waxing schedule in half. i don't go quite as often as i'm used to. that will change once summer finally arrives though
25Gave up booze for Lent and have already saved about $350 in 3 weeks. Amazing how fast little happy hour on Fridays and wine with dinner a couple of times per week can add up, plus I've dropped about 7 pounds. May have to keep it up post-Easter!
26I cut off my cable because I never used it anyway, and I don't buy any soft drinks/lemonade/gatorade...I just drink water. It's healthy and lot cheaper!
27Oh the list is long...
28cut the daily starbucks run, making food at home rather than eating out, cut the shopping for clothes and shoes, cut the mani/pedi, and vacationing at national parks instead of going overseas.
I cut my office subscription to Sirius radio as I listened to mostly news. I bought a SlingBox instead. One time product purchase, versus monthly fee. And Sirius was only usable when I had a clear line of sight to the sky, and with a SlingBox I can get what I need anywhere with an internet connection, even the BlackBerry.
29I used to get a pedicure and eyebrow wax once a month but I stopped. When the bf and I want to go to the movies, we shop On Demand and make it a boo loving night. I cut back hair appointments to non-exsistent but now I just plan on going once per month because I am starting locs.
I also stopped shopping. I put myself on a $20 limit per paycheck. I can't do shoes, clothes and books together so I plan and choose which one I really want.
30Coloring my own hair ... I am too afriad to do highlights at home, but I just did overall color (Feria for $7.00) and I think it looks good... saved $60ish !
31Long list here too:
No more TV therefore no more cable (and I don't really miss it!)
bringing in my own lunches
cooking at home/eating in
cutting back on happy hrs/drinking out on the weekends (finding wine deals and beers on sale if I must have a drink, lol)
no more mani/pedis and last but not least...
my work gives me my NYC Unlimited metro card every month (an $81 savings!).
Trying hard to turn it all around!
32Mani/pedi, and doing my own waxing for now, still have to get my brows threaded monthly, out of necessity, lest I invoke the spirit of Burt from Sesame Street.
33Its sad to say but I've had to sacrifice most of my beauty rituals. These days I just feel too guilty spending over fifty bucks on anything that is not a necessity. Goodbye mani's/pedi's , goodbye Lisa and Sharon my haircut and color queens, goodbye MAC.... times is tough ladies!
34most of my beauty rituals.. like.. blowdrying my hair at the saloon
(not buying stuffs i don't really need.. haha.. but i WANT them)
fine-dine nights with boyfriend..
gotta save up as much as we can
35I'm such a brat ... for the longest time I've been buying shower gels and so forth at Target, been coloring my hair and mani/pedi's at home, etc (so that isn't changing) ... but, I am thinking a little longer before I buy something (do I really need it and if so will my husband have a fit?). Also thinking about changing my cell phone plan ... do I use the minutes/text, when was the last time I went over/why?
36Manicures, Dunkies chai, hair and I think that's it.
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