To use the car less saves gas and more. Thank you
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I too have cut back on my driving. Right now gas is $2.75. I make a list of things that I have to do, and then do them all on one day. Before, I just hopped into the car anytime it pleased me to do so.
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My land-line telephone (at around $20/month). We only have cellphones at my household. After about a year without the land-line phone, nobody has missed it.
Source(s):
personal experience

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Going out to eat. Although we still do it a lot, we make sure if we're going out to eat...we're getting a great meal and experience. No point in paying for a mediocre dinner!
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My family and I dropped to a cheaper Dish Network package. We're finding that we don't actually miss the extra movie channels and other programming that we used to have. We're watching less TV in general, which is usually a good thing.
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I would have to say I cutback on going out to eat, and traveling. I would go out to eat about 4 days out of the week. I went to McDonalds recently and spent $13.00 on breakfast. I don't know if its because I am in a new state or what, but I use to only spend $7.00 at the max. I cut back on traveling because gas prices are creeping back up as we move further into the recession. I would go on trips almost every month. Now I'm going every 3 - 5 months.
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I've made a few cutbacks during this recession, but none of them motivated by the recession.

The primary ones are going out to eat less and switching to a cheaper satellite package.

Dining out less has the added advantage that I tend to eat healthier foods at home, and I really don't miss it all that much. I really didn't watch all that much TV in the first place, so reducing the satellite programming hasn't really had many non-financial implications.

I haven't really found that things such as gas prices have substantial effects on my budget. Dining out is a much higher cost for me.
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I guess I have to look on the bright side of losing my job.
Let see...
1)No more commuting back and forth each day
(+ or - $45.00 per mo. on gas)

2)Don't have to buy tacky corporate clothes that I wouldn't be caught dead wearing outside of the office
(+ or - $50.00 per mo. over a year)

3)Not going to the Starbucks outside the office building every afternoon
(+ or - $36.00 per mo.)

That's a savings of $131.00 per month!
Now I have plenty of free time for Mahalo! This is a nice temporary home!
http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/funny-dog-pictures-homeless-hug.jpg
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Our biggest cutback has been less travel. We combine trips, don't take vacations, etc.

This saves gas, and all kinds of costs associated with vacations.

We're about to cancel our U-verse TV. That will save us all kinds of time, and encourage the kids to read more.

And we're thinking of leaving our phones behind, to just have cell phones and possibly a Magic Jack or Ooma.

Wish I could say we're buying fewer clothes and less food, but the kids are growing...
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Not only I, but my entire family has come close to stopping, or have stopped smoking cigarettes. It has been the most wonderful decision that we have all ever made, and it is really changing our lives.

I have also decided to only use a fan in my room, no more air conditioner.

These decisions will save me and my family about 3500 dollars this summer!
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We cut back on our grocery budget. It went from $200 a month for three people (includes toiletries, diapers, misc, and of course food) to $65 a month for everything but diapers. We loaded up on diapers before we cut the grocery bill that much. We've been at it for almost 2 months now and it is tough but doable. You have to keep in mind that we do have a food storage though and that is part of the reason why it is doable. I've found myself out at 6:00 in the morning trying to buy an item that went on sale before it goes out of stock. We're also more creative with meals. Don't worry this is only short term- four more months to go. Also prices for eggs, milk, and cheese are apparently less where I live since we're right next to dairy farms etc. I guess what I'm getting at is that no matter how low you think your grocery bill is, you can probably find something to cut out.

Are car isn't working right now so we've completely cut out driving. That one is a tough one as well, but I think you'd be surprised with how much you can save by buying a used bike, walking, and/or carpooling. We never drove that much to begin with, but I estimate that we save about $140 a month in fuel, car repair, and insurance. We were able to lower our insurance to $5 a month for a "non working" vehicle.

We've completely cut out entertainment which is also hard but doable- if it's short term. I strongly recommend getting on a budget for entertainment. Before we completely cut back, we cut our entertainment budget down to $5 a month. You'd be surprised on how much you can do for that amount. We went to the park more often since it's free. We borrowed movies from friends and rented them for free from the library. We've read more books. Sometimes we'd go and buy a $1 item from McDonalds and then my husband and I would share it while our son ran around on their inside play ground.

With all the added physical exercise, and eating healthier my husband has lost 10lbs since we started this, and 15lbs since the beginning of the year. We still have a long ways to go- but we've actually started preparing for a triathlon next spring!! Also we spend more quality time with our family away from the TV, and outside of our home. I love it!!
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I gave up fast food and eating out. Now I'm cooking more often and I starting to eat more healthy food.
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