In a recent story, people shared how they’ve been budgeting in today’s increasingly expensive economy. Their responses struck a chord with readers, who also chimed in with their own experiences. From giving up expensive coffees to cutting back on food delivery and more, along with a few responses from Reddit, here’s how people are cutting back on everyday expenses:1. “Bottled water. Bad for the environment. Fill up your water bottle, and you’re all set.”
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2. “It makes me feel better to know I’m not the only one cutting out trips to the salon, or not spending $8 a day on Starbucks coffee. If someone thinks they won’t see a change in their budget if they stop getting those lattes, they’re wrong. That **** adds up.”
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3. “We’ve stopped using DoorDash and Instacart. I cook most of our meals at home and make myself go to the grocery store even when I don’t feel like it!”
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4. “Not getting my nails done and rarely paying for drinks at restaurants. You don’t realize how much money you will save by actually drinking water for once.”
5. “We make our own dog ‘fud’ and kibble. Yes, we spell it that way. I make a special seasoning mix using herbs that are good for them, which we mix into the food. We add ground eggshells, which are great for their teeth and bones, along with chia seeds, yams, etc. I slow cook their kibble using a convection oven at low heat to avoid toxins that develop when cooked at extremely high heat, as they do with most OTC kibbles. Our 9-year-old is acting like a puppy again, and both of our dogs’ health has visibly improved in the last two years we’ve been making it. We’ve had zero issues with their digestion and no reasons to bring them to the vet, which has been unheard of with all of our previous pets. Huge savings as well as the health benefits have made making all of their ‘fud’ a no-brainer.”
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6. “I’ve cut down my pop intake to a Coca-Cola at the movie theater. It’s big enough to float a boat, but it’s only one.”
7. “Expensive men’s colognes. Paying over $100 for a bottle of scented water and alcohol mix is nuts. I don’t really care if Tommy, Jimmy Choo, or some other famous name is on it. You can buy after-shave for a tenth of the price and still smell great.”
8. “I’ve stopped getting my hair done at a salon. It costs me $150 every month. I buy Revlon for about $5 a box instead. No gray, and my hair color looks totally natural. My sister does my trims when needed.”
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9. “We cut the US from our budget. It was the best move we ever made. We relocated to Mexico in 2017 (for obvious reasons) and never looked back.”
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10. “I stopped going to Starbucks and other coffee places and saved a fortune. Stopping this and sodas daily helped me lose 55 pounds without using weight loss medications as well. No more type 2 diabetes!”
11. “Bread. I make my own now. Not only is it much cheaper, but the quality is better, and it’s better for us.”
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12. “I switched from disposable razor blades to a safety blade. I buy a 100-pack of double-sided razors for $10 about once a year. There was a learning curve to use it at first, but now my shaves are smoother than they ever were.”
13. “I stopped buying cereal. It turns out it wasn’t filling enough, and I was getting hungry again mid-morning. Now, I have oatmeal or a protein shake or a piece of toast for breakfast, and I’m good until 12:30.”
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14. “I still buy what I want in terms of food, but I freeze things now. I freeze all sorts of things, and it really is a money saver. Very little waste.”
15. “Season passes are the way to go if you’re going a lot and the kids are enjoying it. Yep, food is usually ridiculously priced at those places; that’s how they get you. When we go to these kinds of places, we’ll make and bring sandwiches or grilled cheese.”
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16. “Cutting all the streaming services. There’s no need for more than one or two at a time. I maintain two for work reasons. Peacock for work, and then any other is on a monthly rotation. Nobody needs Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, Max, Paramount Plus, Disney+, and Hulu all at the same time.”
17. “Fabric softener. I ran out of it one day, but I really needed to get laundry done, so I went without it. It made no difference at all and I never bought any again.”
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18. “No more brand-name sporting clothes (unless they are on a big sale). But okay, don’t beat me up. I love running, and good shoes aren’t a luxury. They keep my feet healthy and help me stay active. Priorities, right?”
19. And lastly, “Cleaned out a storage unit.”
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How are you budgeting in this economy? What everyday items have you cut back on? Let us know in the comments! Or, if you prefer to stay anonymous, you can fill out the form below.
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