Mommy Can I

Although we could afford to continue paying to have what we want, we are trying to reduce some credit debt, so we are going to sacrafice things we do not need.

1. I reduced our cable package to $29.99 and we now have 50 channels, plus all local channels. Sports channels will just have to go to the back burner until Fall.

2. We are dropping our prepaid cell phones and getting cell phone service bundled into our Qwest package. This will give us more reliable service and it will be roughly the same amount we were purchasing the prepaid cards for. We did have to pay for the cell phones, but I got 2 cell phones for under $25.00.

3. Once we activate the cell phones, I will cancel our unlimited long distance of $20/month and just get a minute plan for the home phone for emergencies.

Total savings:

DirecTV  $50.99 to $29.99 = $21.00 savings

Cell phone  $45 – $60 to $60.99 = $0 savings

Home phone  $59.99 to $30 – $40 = $19 to $29 savings

Every little bit helps.

I think we are going to look at how we can reduce our energy costs. Our electric bill is only $65/month, but seems to be high considering we’ve replaced all the bulbs. May need to unplug things.

Our grocery bill stays constant at roughly $300 to $400 a month. We’ve GOT to stop eating out! I’ve budgeted $50/month for eating out, but we usually go over that. May need to go on a cash system and then when the money is gone, no more eating out.

I’m attempting to contact my credit card companies, hopefully tomorrow, and ask for a lower interest rate, or a credit limit increase on my lower rate card to transfer my other balances to it. We already were able to get a consolidation loan for 1/2 of the debt, mostly Husband’s, but if I could consolidate my own, then it would save even more.

My paychecks are going to paying off my debt, which will start back up this month. We had some family expenses; soccer, new shoes, etc. that popped up, so we took care of that with cash instead of charging it, which I have to say was very liberating!