What measures are you taking to "downsize" .... not just in
your stash, weight ... etc. But overall due to economy.

Started a 1 year no buy with friend beginning 10/1. We will barter or swap if we need something new. Excludes battig of course.

Funny you should ask, I realized today that I can save 180.00 per year by simply giving up my reserved parking space and going into non reserved!! I am still guarenteed a spaced, but just not an assigned space...Small price to pay to save 180.00!!

Not eat out as much, shop at Walmart for staples, cut down on my fabric purchases.

We're cutting our satellite package down to a lower level. $100 bucks a month for TV is crazy! Also, cutting our cell phone minutes. Seems we all text more than we talk nowadays...especially our teenage daughter! She can blow up a phone with text messages. Good thing we have unlimited. :)

fabric money,lol

I refi'd my house. Paying $200 MORE per month, but went to a 15 year loan. Saving thousands and I'll own it sooner. Like a forced savings. Also $200 less spending money. I don't have cable or most other entertainment expenses. Quilting and sewing are it for me. Praise God, my family is doing well, when others are struggling.

There are lots of places to cut back economy wise. We did so two years ago. We no longer have TV/Satellite, no cell phones, we don't go out to eat but once per month. I buy all my fabrics/books/patterns/second hand. I shop garage sales and auctions for household goods and any furniture I can make over and re-use. I cook from scratch. I gave up driving but kept my cars so I don't pay for gas/tags anymore. I walk instead, easy in a small town. Last year I didn't fill the propane tank and heated my house with electric heaters instead, it saved hundreds of dollars and we were warm enough. Since I'm at home all the time I fill the space with sewing and quilt making for my kids and grand kids which helps them out too. The only extra we hung on to was internet service, you have to stay connected to the rest of the world somehow.

When I stopped working last Dec I knew my life would change. I haven't shopped for any new clothes in months. I've been hitting the estate sales, GW and garage sales for those things I need. Canned my vegs this year. Not driving as much. Eating in more than out.

Cut cable service in half--just basic channels, reduced cell phone package, don't eat out, drive the least possible, trade fabric, ended the luxury of having nails done, cook from scratch--what everybody else is doing!

Instead of buying new clothes and accessories for this fall/winter, I hosted a "New To You" party for about 15 of my friends. It was potluck for the food, and everyone brought their purses, earrings, accessories that they no longer want or use. We made a big pile in the middle, and we all got to "shop". We had a blast, and have made plans to do it again in the Spring. We all saved a bundle, and got lots of new ideas and outfits for nothing. I even had two of my sewing machines set up for people to make quick repairs or alterations.

We've bargained our price down with the TV satellite company over $75 a month, same service lower price. Stopped long distance service on land line phone line. We have to keep phone to have internet here in the country, but make all long distance calls on cell phone. See all movies on TV, no entertainment budget. No new clothes for me, only essentials for husband as he is losing weight. Eating cheaper meals at home. Cutting back on usage of electricity to save on electric bill. Not replacing shrubs killed by summer heat and drought.

Same as a lot of folks here. Gave up TV/Satellite, haven't purchased fabric since January of this year, no dining out, cooking extra servings for hubby to take for lunches, shopping sales and with coupons, scaled down all possible household expenses and I watch my dollars like a HAWK now!

DH and i have always been financially responsible.

the only thing we've changed is how far we're willing to drive to a quilt show now that the price of gas is so high.

we are putting every spare penny into the stock market though - DH and i have always been long term investors in the stock market and the prices are low now and they certainly won't stay that way for 20+ years - which is how long we intend to keep the money invested.

we're also thinking about buying another home for investment purposes now that its a buyers market and rate are so low.

I started couponing....and it has saved me tons...going again tonight...it is worth every penny...but we are finally doing okay financially with me couponing....

We pay cash for anything we want. If we dont have cash, we dont buy until we do. ZERO credit card debt and soon to be vehicle payment free!! whoohoo, what a great feeling.

We, too, are a cash-only basis. We have no car payments and no mortgage...we paid off our house June 2009!

We pay our utilities and our cost of living...the rest goes into retirement accounts and savings.

I am a couponer and save us a couple hundred dollars a month doing that.

since Walmart matches competitors' prices, I spend an hour or so each week comparing all the ads from the various stores around here to make my grocery list. and I clip coupons.

DH and I just moved from an 8 acre place with 4 outbuildings to a mobile home park. I now have all my sewing stuff in what was the dining room. I have 2 fewer sewing machines. I have to be more conservative about buying anything now. Yes, we cut back our dish TV level. we found good new homes for our 2 parrots and our husky-wolf mix. We sold our travel trailer and our box trailer. My kitchen is much leaner as to equipment, storage, etc.

For 3 years ago my husband lost all of his overtime. He had worked it steadily for 8 years.
Then the hours got cut to 20 a week.
I had no idea what I would do. But we have managed to make it. I just thank God everyday we still both have jobs
Last year out house payment went UP over 200 $$ a month (new school higher property taxes. and now we have a school income tax)
Needless to say.
We do not eat out.
My son started packing his lunch.
We dont go anywhere that isnt needed because of gas prices.
I use coupons everytime I shop. The prices of groceries are crazy I feel like crying everytime I leave the grocery store. Everything cost more and is packaged smaller. We eat ALOT less meat and alot more pasta. I usually by store brand unless I have a really good coupon.
I cut the cell phone minutes.
I turned off my internet for a month so I could get back in at a 15 dollar monthly rate.
I havnt bought any fabric in months.
We dont buy new clothes unless absolutley needed.
I closed charge cards so we could get a reduced interest rate.
We are trying to move back into the cash only times.

We too spent a few years to pay off credit cards and also all vehicles. It really is helpful not to have those payments. Still have a mortgage though.

It is such a relief to not have that debt. It stunk while paying it off, but now frees up a lot more of the income for other things. And it means we don't have to downsize other things quite as much.

But I still try to buy fabric/thread only on sale unless it is a specific thing needed for a specific (current) project.

I have always had to live conservatively so I do without cell phone, fast internet, cable t.v. going out for dinner, buy clothes that on sale but comfortable.....tee shirts in summer and sweatshirts in the winter, only one Quilt magazine subsciption per year [this is my luxury because I love quilt magazines. There is more but this is an example. I would like to see the younger generation live more consevatively which could keep them out of trouble but it seems many of them think they are owed a living. Looks like it is going to get worse before it gets better so hopefully they will see that one can live with less and be contented.