Cutting or trimming the budget is a whole package of different things.
First you have to look at the big stuff mortgage, car payments, CC debt... You might want to talk to a financial planner. Look at refinancing your home even your cars.
Insurance shop around, bundle everything under one roof... with that said cheapest is not always best, figure out what coverage you need for everything, then think about having to replace everything... then make the decision... We got a huge discount on home owner because we have an alarm system. House, car and boat all insured through one company.
Don't go crazy, one of our friends cut out dental, eye and prescriptions on his health insurance... and now they are waiting till he can re-enroll for next year, so he can go to the dentist.
Paying off credit cards, get rid of the ones with high interest rates, and yearly fees... Shop around.. look for cash back or airline miles perks.
Electric bill out of site... make sure to change the filters, turn off lights, and fans when not in the room, turn up the air when your gone... But not so much that when you get home the air will run non stop to get it back to a cooler temp.
Cable/ internet/ cord cutting.... Our friends did the cord cutting thing, and thought wow its so much cheaper until they realized that not everything was included that they needed then once that they got what they wanted and needed, it was more than the cable bill, and less reliable service... So know what you are getting into
Phone - keep the phone you have, you don't have to upgrade just because a newer shinier model comes out.
Grocery shopping, couponing, meal planning, and freezer meals... all will save you money... Shop seasonal and flyer specials, cut out the quick stop at the store on the way home. Create a solid pantry, I shop at Aldi for all most all my staples, and pantry items, We warehouse shop for alot of things as well, paper products, drinks, cleaning and laundry supplies, we have a BJ's warehouse membership, they have in-store coupons plus you can use manufacturers coupons. We went on Saturday with our list, and between the in-store coupons and my manufacturers coupons I saved another 35.00 dollars.
We have a new lawn guy, not giving up lawn mowing service just not happening, but we did find someone who is less, and offer's more service's, mowing, edging, weeding, and basic trimming of the bushes. He is dependable and does a great job, and is 20.00 a month less than our previous guy who only would mow and weeding around the edge of the house.
I clean my own house. If you have kids they can help out, this is something that they will need to know how to do.
Services- Hair salon, I had been going to the same salon for a while and did enjoy going there and was happy with the service provide... But here's the thing the girl that did the cut, service went from 45 to 75 dollars, in a matter of 18 to 24 months, same basic style, then they started charging extra for blow drying... so what started out as a 45 + tip, became 75 for the cut, 15 to 25 for the blow dry( depending on hair length), plus tip, so 120.00 bucks for a hair cut... Then for color it was the same went up, plus then they started charging for blow drying... Then the students or apprentice stylist would wash or blow dry or even comb out...and you were expected to tip everyone. So I did change salons now I get everything for just a bit more than what my last hair cut cost me. Cut, color, wash, blow dry and style for one price. I love the new place and my new stylist. Nails salon same thing, check out different places, see what service come with the basics and work from there.
Pet supplies/ dog grooming shop around for cost.. Our friends use a mobile dog grooming service, you would think it would cost more, nope she saves around 200.00 per dog a year going with the mobile groomer, plus she doesn't have to drag the dogs out to have them get clean.
Groupon, for like car washing, oil change and tire rotations, meal deals, activities for the whole family.
Take your lunch to work, you can save so much money doing this... I took my lunch 4 days a week, which included snacks and drinks and would save over 240.00 dollars a month.
Cut out eating out and fast food, if your kids play sports or have alot of after school activities, have a cooler with drinks and healthy snack or sandwiches ready to go when they get in the car.
Cut out buying books, $300-$400 per month, cut magazine subscriptions approx $200/year, cut newspaper subscription $800/year, eat at home other one meal a month (hard to gauge savings on that one), clean my own house, even though I have a high status job, drive my car till it can't be driven any longer...
