Cable TV
Even if I had an apartment, I wouldn’t get a TV or buy cable. All the shows I’d ever want to watch, or need to watch, are available online at Slice.ca or on DVD for rental … or I just go to my friends’ places, hang out, and watch some episodes.
Check out my “True” cost of TV post, where I calculated how much a TV would really cost me.
Landline Telephone
My cellphone is enough. No one really calls me. And the company pays for my cellphone. It’s a win-win. If I was permanently settled and not travelling any longer, I’d consider getting a landline and ditching the cellphone.
Space
I’m talking about paying more for an apartment because of the space. Now that I’m on a new path this year to become more of a minimalist (hence the massive wardrobe cleanout), I could definitely live in a very small space and be happy. I just need a separation between the apartment and a washroom, a decent kitchen (I’m talking stove, refrigerator and a spot for a microwave) and my bed, with a desk.
The bed could double as a couch. And the desk is kind of optional because I work sitting in bed a lot, so… I’m not sure I’d need the desk if I didn’t have the space.
But paying a premium for a larger apartment is nuts to me (now), because you never really use all the space. At most, I take up maybe 600 square feet because you spend most of your time on the couch/bed, or in the kitchen. Which is what I’m finding, living in my small bedroom.
Makeup/Toiletries
I recently posted about this when Anonymous made a good comment, but now that I’m kind of on an experiment with washing my hair where I now I wash it once every other day and trying to use up my points to buy body lotion, face lotion, feminine products, etc etc, I’m really paring down on how much makeup and how much product I use.
Clothing & Shoes
O.K. I’ve been trying NOT to buy clothing or shoes, and quite frankly, given my previous track record, I’m doing pretty damn well. As for clothing… eek. This is a bad one for me. My thing is just not to go into malls or shopping centres any more. That’s it. Out of sight out of mind. My new shopping mantra. Just kind of hard to stay away when you’re bringing in your MacBook for repair or something and you happen to lay eyes on the cutest little white trench coat you’ve ever seen, and keep fantasizing in your spare time about how cute you’d look with that white fitted trench coat on, with a pair of sexy red heels, tights, and a wonderfully beautiful black-laced covered bag hanging off the crook of your arm…..
DAMN IT.
Actually. Come to think of it, except for the red heels, I can actually build that look from what I own. I just need to tweak the heels and maybe the tights. I could just shop in my own wardrobe eh!?
Going Out/Eating Out
This has been a really good one for me.
My Starbucks damage has been quite minimal lately, under $20 a month (and $20 does NOT buy you much at the Bux). I go and I see friends, but I watch TV when I’m there, or I go for a coffee, or a small bite to eat, but I limit myself to those kinds of visits once a month. Don’t get me wrong, I see my friends more often than that, but not accompanied with a dinner and coffee because you don’t need dinner or coffee to be with your friends.
This has also saved me money in buying tokens for public transportation. Each time I see my friends, it’s $4.50 (round trip). So each time I make the most of my visit, is maximizing that $4.50 trip in my mind.
I’d get a monthly pass, but I worked out the calculations and it’s not worth it unless I’m in the city on the weekends and if I went out at night as well. It’s cheaper just to buy the tokens/tickets.
What it all adds up to
- Being able to be with my BF on the weekends because I’ve pared down on other areas, so I’ve prioritized travelling to see him. Many co-workers and friends (his and mine) think we’re a bit nuts.. well, I’m a bit nuts for travelling all the time, 10 hours in total commuting to be with him, but it makes sense for us right now because I don’t have to be in the office 5 days a week like he does, and it’s easier for me to come up to his apartment than for him to come down and awkwardly deal with my parents.
Yeaaaaaaah.
- Being able to put the remainders in debt. So I’m snow-ballin’-flakin’ the money into my debt when I can, and it gives me a nice financial cushion so that I know if I ever need $500-$1000 at a time in a pinch, I can stop putting the money into my debt for that month and come up with the cash. It’s kind of nice to have that security, but I haven’t foregone an Emergency Fund. No worries.
- Prioritizing travel this year. I have 2 weddings to attend to, and without paring down in other areas, I wouldn’t be able to afford it. This time, I’m saving the money in advance in a fund and having it ready for when I actually take the trip, so I won’t feel like I have to retroactively pay for the trip after it’s been taken.
- Breathing easier. I still don’t sleep very well at night (I don’t think it’s due to debt, it’s more of a .. I-sleep-better-with-BF-next-to-me-in-bed… kind of thing) but I sure as heck breathe easier because I know that I’ve targeted for this Summer (August at the latest) to be done my 7.75% loan (remaining: $15,000, $6,000 after that fab tax refund..!!!!).
It’s only 6-7 months away. Can you believe it? I’m beside myself. I feel like making a chart of the 6 months and crossing each day off with a big red marker on my wall.
- August 2009: Budget Recap
- How to make saving money less painful
- Revisited: Faring on a $1000 budget
- July 2009 Budget Recap
- There is such a thing as being too frugal
QuiteLight
on Apr 6th, 2008
@ 5:58 PM:
Right on! I am celebrating our victory this month; our first completely balanced budget! Damn, it feels good! OK, so no emergency fund yet, but it’s a start! Thanks for being really bold & posting all your gory details on-line; it reminds me that other people are stretching & sacrificing & pulling it off too.
And I did the same thing with my time where Mr. Man & I were long distance (3 years) in university & design school, killed myself doing all my homework during the week so my weekends were free to be with him.
By the way, the TV/computer/work in bed thing can really mess up your sleep pattern; your mind gets confused about what it’s doing in bed (should be sleep & *ahem*), AND the blue light frequencies of video screens stimulate the brain into staying awake.
Hey, I’m a semi-recoverd insomniac. I horde this knowledge.
Secretista
on Apr 7th, 2008
@ 2:24 AM:
WOOO! YOU GO GIRL!!<333
I don’t think I could live without TV. I love my laptop, but nothing like catching a good TV show on the day it aired. Plus, Tv is a common bond I share with my family. But if I coulddd I probably wooulldddd live without it, but I can’t soooooo…
twentysomethingandclueless
on Apr 7th, 2008
@ 2:37 AM:
Yay on that debt!! That’s incredible
I”m really gonna have to take a few (or a whole lot) of tips from you when I’ve moved to NYC – it’s gonna be seriously expensive setting everything up and paying rent for the first time in my life – especially since I won’t necessarily have a job yet!
Anyway, still loving your blog, of course
Elisabeth
on Apr 7th, 2008
@ 10:10 AM:
Wow, well done you! I am impressed
Fabulously Broke
on Apr 7th, 2008
@ 12:55 PM:
Quitelight: NO problem
Glad to share…
Re: the computer thing – really? hmm.. then again, I don’t sleep in a bed, and I’m usually out like a light the minute my head hits the pillow…
Secretista: Yea, my family bonds over TV too.. but I just have so many more things to get done!
twenty: GOOD LUCK and thanks
Elisabeth: *blush*
Nerida
on Apr 7th, 2008
@ 10:42 PM:
It’s true about working in bed and how it can affect your sleep. Not just getting to sleep, but later not being able to get back to sleep. You did mention that you’re having trouble sleeping. Is there anywhere else you can sit to use your laptop so that your bed is just reserved for sleeping?
Fabulously Broke
on Apr 8th, 2008
@ 8:37 AM:
Nerida: Yes, I have a desk but I use a chair beside my “bed” area as my desk…
I think I’ll move the laptops to the desk and leave the bed area as a bed, and see how that works out