Yankee Thrift: What Cuts Have You Made ?

take the poll please (0.00 / 0)

Clothing movies restaurants are in the lead. Movies and Hollywood had a record year in 2009, hmmm?

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 15:53:47 PM CDT

Cellphone service (0.00 / 0)

I switched to Net10 Prepaid service.  $15.00 a month for 150 minutes, more than I ever use, will save a bundle over the previous service.

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by: mevansnh @ Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 17:01:21 PM CDT

Don't have a TeeVee (4.00 / 2)

or cell phone.  Don't buy newspapers or magazines.

I go to maybe 3 movies a year, maybe one concert.

I am thinking on splurging for an iPad, but: I am overdue for a new computer, and it's actually a lot cheaper than getting another MacBook.

I've got some home repairs above my DIY level that can't wait much longer, so that's kind of a bummer.

With Peter Christian's closed I am less tempted for a quick bite to eat out.

(Wow, I am soooooo boring.)

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 21:28:03 PM CDT

Depending on scope of work, Dean, (4.00 / 1)

I'd be happy to barter with you, or just trade day labor.  I do this with my brothers and a couple of good friends and it works great.

Kill your TV.  It's poison.  There's nothing on the boob tube that you can't stream in if it's worth it.

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 11:09:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

the last storm (4.00 / 1)

knocked the pipe from our radon reduction system off the house...the 16 year old wood anchoring it had rotted and that wind was enough two weeks ago. They came out from Secondwind Friday morning and got it back up in time for this weekend's storm. We looked at doing the simple work by ourselves, but it was on a high side of the house, we let them do it, with two guys a ladder the right abs pipe cement portable saws and drills. Thankfully we did not get another 3" of rain going down an exposed pipe into the system.

I am with you on the 2-3 movies a year, though we have a TV.

Coffee from home is.20/cup while refill in town is a buck.

Restaurants are for splurging once in a blue moon, though we'll do some take out or pizza occasionally.

Travel for business or family, not for pleasure.

Looking forward to the end of heating season...
when do you turn off your furnace?

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 11:57:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You guys have a furnace? :<) n/t (0.00 / 0)

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 12:08:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

burning oil for heat and hot water n/t (0.00 / 0)

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 12:40:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We spent some dough (4.00 / 1)

on tightening up the insulation and burn 3 to 4 cords of wood, plus 200 gallons oil for heat backup and hot water.

I'd love to install a solar hot water heater and some solar panels.


"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 14:43:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We use a wood stove (2-3 cords a winter), combined (4.00 / 1)

with an electric thermal heater that uses off-peak elex rates (it was installed in the 90s when off-peak was a much better rate than currently.)

The combo seems to be much cheaper than when we used an oil furnace combined with a wood pellet stove in my first home.  Plus there are no hazardous waste in my basement, which is nice.

I would LOVE to get some solar/wind up and running, as the house seems well situated for it, but I'm still waiting for the WH to figure out that middle-class folks need no or low interest loans to pay for it, rather than tax credits on the other end.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 17:56:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

PACE (0.00 / 0)

is a great new concept that is gaining traction.  You can read a little about it here:
http://solarfinancing.1bog.org...

From the website, here are some basic details for anyone interested:

How does PACE work?

The city partners with a company to administer the program (or the city decides to do it themselves).
The program is then usually funded with municipal bonds.
The homeowner gets a site evaluation for solar power or energy efficiency improvements with any company they choose. (If this occurs in a 1BOG program, you'll benefit from our discounts and vendor selection process).
Once a quote is given, the property owner applies with the city program administrator. A small fee covers the cost of the municipal solar financing program administration and discourages frivolous applications.
Once the homeowner's solar system is approved by the city, the program administrator pays the installer for the system that the homeowner purchased. The check is forwarded directly to the solar installer. There is no upfront payment for the homeowner, except possibly a deposit.
The property owner pays it off on his or her property tax bill over 20 years, at a competitive rate of interest.
If the home is ever sold, the solar system goes with it along with any tax liability.

Vermont and California are two states that I know of that are doing this...why not NH?


"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 10:31:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not a shopper anyways, (4.00 / 1)

so there's not a lot of fluff to cut out in the first place.  That said, I cook at home a lot more and eat out less.  I also try to take the bus more, but routing and time don't make that possible as often as I'd like.

Well, this was a true sacrifice: I now buy my Diet Pepsi in the 2L bottles rather than in the more convenient but more expensive cans.  ;)

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by: Love Child @ Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 23:03:21 PM CDT

Cable is a quiet killer - (4.00 / 1)

anesthetizes the mind (your brain is more inactive watching television than while asleep), manipulates emotion, and costs you a fortune.

I don't drink, smoke, or wear jewelry.  Vices are that I love food and the movies and would rather fight than give up the internet. :>)


"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 11:13:51 AM CDT

17 voters 95 total votes (0.00 / 0)

Things to cut back on
* Restaurants - 12 votes (12.63%)
* Newspapers - 11 votes (11.58%)
* Travel - 9 votes (9.47%)
* Clothing - 9 votes (9.47%)
* Movies - 8 votes (8.42%)
* Concerts Sporting Events - 7 votes (7.37%)
* Bars - 7 votes (7.37%)
* Investment - 6 votes (6.32%)
* Wine - 5 votes (5.26%)
* Jewelry - 5 votes (5.26%)
* Sporting Events - 5 votes (5.26%)
* Cable - 4 votes (4.21%)
* Art - 4 votes (4.21%)
* Food - 3 votes (3.16%)
* Internet - 0 votes (0%)
Total votes: 95
Total voters: 17  

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 11:47:38 AM CDT

Needs a supplementary poll: (4.00 / 1)

"What were you already spending absolutely nothing on?"

For me:

Newspapers
Cable
Concerts
Sporting Events
Bars
Travel (vacation type travel, that is)
Investment
Clothing (intermittent laundry-delaying socks/underwear purchases excepted)
Wine
Art
Jewelry

Also:

Makeup
Pharmaceuticals (legal)
Pharmaceuticals (illegal)
Strongly recommended root canal re-excavation
Lobbyists
Dance lessons
Blackmail
New radiator
Pedicures
Software
Gym membership
Emails offering Ro1exes and V|agra
Bumper stickers
Tax preparers
Consultants (political)
Consultants (fashion) (obviously)
Consultants (other)

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by: Tim C. @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 16:46:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

get the radiator n/t (0.00 / 0)

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 18:41:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

1 Car (4.00 / 2)

We are down to one car since November. It has worked out fine  thus far but works because we are 1.5 miles to downtown and 1 mile to my fmr. office.

Not sure how much longer we will be able to keep it up but its a huge difference in family budget.  

Hope > Fear




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by: Mike Hoefer @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 19:04:40 PM CDT

bike weather n/t (0.00 / 0)

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 19:07:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]