I'm single, and brand-new to the forums (but have been reading Dollar Stretcher for about four years), and need some help! I'm ready -- intellectually -- to take real, concrete steps toward cutting my costs (going down to the lowest cable available, getting rid of high-speed and going to dial-up, disciplining myself to not buy it if I don't need it, making a workable budget, etc. etc.) But frankly, I'm scared.

Yeah, that sounds dumb ... but then, change is a scary thing. What I need to know is, does this kind of cost-cutting really produce results? Will it take a while to see results?

Forgive the seemingly-dumb questions -- I never really had much of a money education growing up, but I'm finally, FINALLY, sick and tired of not having money for emergencies, living on credit, and generally running out of money WELL before the end of the month.

Thanks for your help.

 It's not just about cost cutting, it's about making wise choices. There's a big difference in being frugal & being cheap :-)

Recently, my partner & I got our gas bill down to 1ccf used for a month! We were no-nonsense about our showers, did not take baths, ran the wash on cold, etc. We saved so much money by getting that bill down! At the same time, it didn't feel like we'd put the squeeze on anything.

As far as the cable & internet situation goes. Once (while single), I turned off the cable & kept the high speed. I was able to watch all 'my shows' and lots of movies online. The shows were free & the movies were from netflix. My $15/mo netflix bill was much less than a $65 cable bill. That means I saved quite a bit of money, but I didn't sacrifice anything! (Well, ok....I did have to watch my shows a day later than everyone else. big deal :-P )

 Another cost cutting place is food expense. By paying attention to your food needs & a little planning---you can really cut this down! Angel Food and other like services also help with this. 

You can do this! And you don't have to go to major extremes to make a real impact on your budget! Good Luck!

 

forginahead:

What I need to know is, does this kind of cost-cutting really produce results? Will it take a while to see results?

 

The answer to these questions depends on what your ideas of results are. If you are the type person who notices and appreciates little things as well as big things, then you will notice quickly. If you are the type person who expects instant huge results amounting to hundreds of dollars, then you have the wrong idea. Just remember to take the savings and apply it to savings or debt, don't just go on a shopping spree! No matter the debt load or lack of savings, it is all significant. Even if you pay off a bill for $30, it is $30 you never have to worry about again and can work on the next debt. I recommend Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey. Always remember, every dollar counts and it is worth all the effort in the end to be able to lay your head down at night and not stress as bad about money, I can promise you that. There will be things to pop up, but just remember that you can't walk down a sidewalk without finding a few cracks in it. Just cross them and keep going! I will keep you in my prayers that this be a easier transition for you.

Thank you, both of you! Your suggestions and ideas will make this easier. (As far as results ... well, I've never been a patient person, but I'm trying to learn to take it slow LOL) I guess this will take more discipline than anything else -- which is never easy.

I appreciate the support.

Patience is something you may struggle with in terms of seeing instant results. I recommend that you make a ledger of your past bills for the last year and write down what you've paid in the past. When you start getting the new bills, add that information to it so you can see first hand the comparisons. As you track this info and see your bills go down, you will have a reminder that what you are doing IS working. And as was mentioned earlier, make sure you apply what you've saved to other debt.

 A word of caution: Don't cut so fast or drastically that you find yourself feeling deprived. It's like dieting. If you cut too much too fast, you'll wind up gorging yourself at some point. Take it slow and easy, one step at a time. Write a plan, but make it flexible. If you depend on TV and internet for input and entertainment, don't cut them both at the same time. When you adjust to having no cable TV, then think about going to dialup instead of high speed internet. Find ways to cut utilities that you can live with, then stretch yourself to do a few things that you're not quite comfortable with. Adjust to those before doing more. 

Keep posting here, join the daily dollar stretcher posts to help keep yourself on track and you'll soon be encouraging others. 

 There is a good feeling that comes from not owning - "things". Spending money, buying, buying buying, may feel good for the moment but then you have to sort, maintain, handle and store what you bring home. It's a chore that is made easier with the less that you have, the less you bring home. I know this sounds weird, but the greatest benefit? More money in your pocket, and that money is available for really necessary things, and really important things with long term benefits. Using your own money to pay as you go also gives you freedom from credit card problems, or needing to borrow from others for a necessary expense. It gives you a level of independence that you will never get otherwise. Money in the bank means you have a cushion if/when you lose a job. It will pay rent and buy food when you have no income. Money that has been spent can't do that; neither can anything that you own, unless of course you can re-sell your things to get some cash back. So just think of these things when your resolve to do better may get weak. Being a single person can be stressful by itself, due to supporting yourself alone, so living within your sole income can go along way in reducing that stress.  Edey

Wise words, Edey.

 Jill

Edey, that was well put.   karen

 When I was in my early 20's I lived alone - entirely- for 3 years and was self supporting during that time. I couldn't fall back on parents as they were living on disability income and still had my older unemployed sister at home, and they lived 600 miles away from any place that I could easily find work. I remember that stress and fear of possibly being homeless should I lose my job. I was fortunate that I made it into a permanent government job, where I met my future husband. Edey