Prices are still going up. It seems like every month something (or many somethings) costs more than the previous month. Keeping up with it all is proving to be a challenge these days. I am finding that I have to cut back on services and find more creative ways of pinching those pennies. I keep asking myself when it is going to end, and I am a little worried it won’t be soon enough. How about you?
Back at the end of December I started reevaluating my purchases. My needs, and my wants. Categorizing this way is helping me to make decisions on how I am going to cut back on things this year. What needs to go? What needs to stay? And, maybe more importantly, how do I want to bring in a little more money to get a few things I know I am going to need this year and next? I know I have to make some purchases.
I ended last year working extra hours, so I did start out this year pretty well. I just need to keep up with things now. Cutting back is my priority at the moment. I already cut one of my streaming channels and find that I am fine with the ads so that bill isn’t so high. And this is the month I am making decisions on other subscriptions. Will I keep them or not? Decisions will have to be made.
I am also cutting out some other purchases and finding ways of cutting costs on some items. I’m looking at how I can spend less on food, cleaning, and personal hygiene items. I am deciding what clothing items I really need and hoping to find a few things at a discount.
Clothing is the most difficult thing for me. A couple of years ago I sold a lot of 2x, 3x, and 4x, clothes because I had lost a lot of weight. I gave away what I couldn’t sell. I had to replace a lot of items and was working within a budget. I was able to find some items second-hand, but not as much as I would have liked, so I wasn’t able to make all the purchases I needed. I lucked out and received a spring/fall jacket for free, and a well-used winter coat that I used for two years but now needs to be replaced. But I went without some things, and now am finding that I need them.
One way I have cut expenses on clothing was by using Temu. Say what you will about that platform, but I decided to try out a nightgown through them and fell in love with it. It’s the most comfortable nightie I have ever had, and I paid less than $10 for it ($7.99, I believe). I loved it so much that over a few-month period, as I could, I ordered enough to get me through the week plus a couple of extra nights. It was more affordable than buying them any other way at the time. I can’t complain about them either. They are holding up so well.
I’m now looking for a new winter coat and a few other items. I am cutting back in some areas to come up with the money for these things, hoping to get decent things at a reasonable cost. When I tried before winter to get the coat, I was looking at having to pay $60 to $125 for something nice enough. My hope is that I can get one for half the price, at least, now that winter is pretty much over.
I’m getting creative with things, trying to not go overboard on cost as I get what I need.
What are you doing to cut costs? Any ideas for finding good deals on items? I live in Maine, near the Bangor area, but I am finding I may have to order some, if not all, of the things I need online.
~ Shannon
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