Comments on: How I Learned To Love The Recession

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:50:59 +0000

1. What expenditures were you secretly okay with/pleased with/down-right joyful to give up?
I made myself check and see what better prices I could get on my cell phone plan and car maintenance–my car goes through a lot of oil and Jiffy Lube does free top offs in between changes.

2. Now that your entertainment dollars are lacking, how are you and your family rocking a good time for less?
$5 movies at AMC theaters Mon-Thurs are amazing. Also, Netflix. And Hulu.

3. Have you found new ways to party for less with your friends?
Costco! Trader Joe’s! Deliciousness on the cheap. We had a crescent roll party, even. As host I provided dough, and everyone brought fillings.

4. What other random, tasty drinks have you made out of Recession Lemons?
It lit a fire under me to pay off my credit card for good and host a Suze Orman-themed costume party to celebrate…which led to being on the front page of the Pioneer Press AND I filmed a segment for Suze’s show!

By: Carol in Indian Spri

Carol in Indian Spri — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:19:12 +0000

(1) I’ve gladly given up swapping gifts with adults in the family – we only buy for the kids now. I avoid the stress of looking for something for them as well as acting happy that I got a hand painted quail egg necklace.
(2) We spend more time staying home and cooking with each other. We’ve really enjoyed our home more; we have always been ‘nesters’ but we love watching movies together and trying cooking a new dish.
(3) Several couples rotate hosting a game night and dinner. Once a month we go to someone’s house and have a meal – nothing fancy but it is home cooked – and play games. Turns out a lot of us are pretty competitive!
(4) Well, I have to admit that it isn’t all good. We’ve put a needed renovation on hold and my husband may lose his job in the next year but I think we have reprioritized our goals and place much less emphasis on ‘things’. Our TV works just fine even though it isn’t a flat screen super duper HDTV. It’s just an old fashioned 32 inch TV. No super cable, just basic. We’ve read more, talked more and enjoyed what we do have. I am on a personal quest to not buy new clothes for 12 months. I’ve done fairly well in the first few months but did have to purchase a few winter clothes and a coat. But starting November 1 I’ll try to not buy any clothes for a full 12 months. I’ll see how I do!

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:59:26 +0000

Grrr. I meant, “horizons”. The pitfalls of a BlackBerry means dealing with teeny-tiny keys, and not always catching typos. Maybe BlackBerry was being frugal by making the keys miniscule.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:49:54 +0000

I’m happy to be saving money by not getting my hair colored at the salon. I’ve been doing it myself for several months, and it looks great. I found some great stuff at Sally Beauty Supply, and spend a mere fraction of what I was spending at the salon (which I still patronize for eyebrow appointments — I can’t get my brows as good as a salon can.).

As for entertainment, I’ve found lots of goodies at the library too, either by checking things out, or by a purchase.. Just today, I bought a 2-cd set of Peter Frampton’s “Frampton Comes Alive” and an old library book for a dollar, total. I’m not a huge Frampton fan, and probably wouldn’t have bought his music, were it not for the 50-cent price I saw on it today. No better reason than to expand my horisons, especially nowadays. Being I’m a huge book-a-holic, anytime I can get a good read, and for almost free, is good entertainment to the “Nth” degree.

I e-mailed the Oprah Show today and put in more than a few good words for you, Erin!