Least frugal thing you do?

[PennyPincher]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I guess there are a few areas where I could cut, but have chosen not to:

1. my cell phone bill ~ $86/month for 2 phones
2. cable/phone/internet package ~ $115/month
3. haircuts ~ I try to wait 2-3 months in between, but I have short hair, so it's tough ~ $35/cut (including tip.) I'm scared to go to the $10 places with my style.
4. the newspaper ~ although I pay only $1.25/week for 7 days (signed up on a pay for Sunday, get 6 days free deal)
5. eating out lots on weekends, and buying prepared meals
6. Blockbuster online rentals ~ $14.99/month
7. shoes ~ I don't buy alot, but I have no problem spending $30-40 on a pair of shoes because I have problems with my feet.

I must sound really bad to you guys!!!

[zoegirl]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

i also have cable internet but i feel it is very important at this time as i am a full time student and i take online classes, last semester i missed out on precious test time waiting for a test to load while on dial-up...
mine i guess is buying paper products, plates , cups , towels and scott tissue..... i have four kids and i HATE washing dishes so it really saves on my sanity to use paper plates and cups.

[Razzy]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Since we don't smoke or drink these are the things we do instead.

I love going to the bookstores so that is my weakness, and my lil one loves going to them too. but when I go I also check out the clearance section too.

Our c/m we have we use it over dial up because my dh does a lot research on the web so it is a must for us.

And yes we do do fast food once,twice or three times a week, we bring it home so dd gets something other than fastfood and go out to a restuarant once a week. We are really trying to cut down on the take out since it cost so much.

[zakity]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

We have cable modem, but my husband's work pays for it but, I would have to have it even if his work didn't pay for it. We have an addiction to a local Chinese restaurant. We have to go at least once a month (sometimes a little more) to get our "fix". I have several Mom's night outs that I go to. We homeschool and I sort of figure that getting out is good for my mental health.

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

dishnetwork and dsl

[Lori63]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

We have an addiction to a local Chinese restaurant. We have to go at least once a month (sometimes a little more) to get our "fix" .

Us, too.

[Razzy]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I think we all have our "addictions" of some sort and I think we need to have those in order to balance out everything we do frugally.

Razzy

[tclah]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Mine is, books, my son and I love them. We do try and hit Saint Vincents, etc and the library, but we do spend a bit on new ones. Also my friends and I get together for girls night out about once a month/month & 1/2, which usually means a new outfit, shoes or accesories, depending on what we are doing. But the usual cost is between $40 - $100, depending on if I bought new clothes or shoes, etc. Except for when we go bowling then its just about $20.

[jodi]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Before kids, we would scrimp and save for our vacations - at least once a year for a week. Now we settle for a nice dinner out every month or so without the kids - drinks, dessert, movie afterward, the works.
Also our cell phones - $80 for 2 b/c DH travels 45 minutes to work each day and I use mine for work. I've been looking for a cheaper deal, but can't seem to find one for what we need.

[Julianna Wolfe]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Smoking. That one word sums it up. (though I am hoping DH will want to try the patch with me soon)

We have cable but feel every penny of the $115 (t.v. and computers) a month is worth it.

[jmjj215]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Gym membership. Although I see it as a must-have, many others see it as a luxury.

[Razzy]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

The way I see it someone "must have" is someone elses luxury and if your using it and getting something out it then you are getting your monies worth from it. I just think it is a waste if you have a gym membership and not use it.

Razzy

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Also depends on your health. If you are using the gym membership, and improving your health from it, then it is more than worth it.

[al0061]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Since I've just really started with frugality in the last year, in an unorganized sort of way, I have lots of areas that are ripe for improvement.

The areas that I will continue to be 'unfrugal' are, like many of yours, areas of extreme convenience.

All services from the cable company. These include:
Cable TV with Movie Tier (no premiums) with DVR boxes. (I watch a lot of TV, and I adore having this kind of control!!! Definitely NOT frugal.
Digital Telephone - part of the entire package, to make it less expensive. Service is fine, and we have call waiting, but no voice mail.
Cable Internet - also part of the package, couldn't do without it. I use the internet for fun, learning and work (when I work from home, which is every morning, before going to the office.)

Other non-frugals: our 2 phone family plan on nationwide service. No roaming, no long distance, just minutes. 600 per month. We never go over anymore. I used to travel 75% of the time. This is changing to hopefully 0 percent of the time. (Being on the road all the time is agony.)

Cigarettes.

We buy good meats, and packaged foods. Very non-frugal. I'm hoping to start doing better with this area by buying more fresh foods.

Torch - aka al0061

[Razzy]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

It is so hard when you start being frugal. But you will get better at it. I think the way a person defines frugalness is up to the individual. Me buying books at the bookstore and not the second hand bookstore may not be frugal to some. But I like buying my books their and when I have a coupon or get books off the bargain table/s I feel that it all works out. I guess what I am trying to say is that we all have one or a few things we still do that are not frugal but in the end they make us happy.

Raz