Comments on: Need to Go Super Frugal – Ideas? http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:31:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Update on Our Savings Goal for Maternity/Parental Leave http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-2599 Update on Our Savings Goal for Maternity/Parental Leave Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:51:00 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-2599 [...] 11th, 2008 · No Comments I felt it was time I updated you all on my previous posts about saving for our maternity and parental leaves in the spring.  We are currently only missing just over [...] [...] 11th, 2008 · No Comments I felt it was time I updated you all on my previous posts about saving for our maternity and parental leaves in the spring.  We are currently only missing just over [...]

]]> By: Doing the “Impossible” http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1694 Doing the “Impossible” Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:09:04 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1694 [...] way under budget and we are two thirds done. If this continues I should be able to make up my $50/month short fall to finish off my saving fund to take off 8 weeks after the baby is born. Then a left hook took out [...] [...] way under budget and we are two thirds done. If this continues I should be able to make up my $50/month short fall to finish off my saving fund to take off 8 weeks after the baby is born. Then a left hook took out [...]

]]> By: Canadian Dream http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1423 Canadian Dream Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:27:48 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1423 I'm sorry folks. I read my post this morning and realized the wording could be a bit misleading. I want to save $4000 in six months total, I'm not running $4000 short right now. So some of my huge savings amount will be going towards this goal. So I was thinking about all your ideas and I think I can reduce a few bills here and there to help me just get the money together. The break down is roughly going to be: $1000 from my tax refund $1500 from regular savings $800 from extra saving from maxing out CPP and EI $200 from reduced spending at Christmas $200 from excess funds in my heating slush fund Then the rest I'll have to make up by cutting back by around $50/month, which is doable. It will take a bit of creative planning, but it is a somewhat realistic goal. Thanks for the ideas! Tim I’m sorry folks. I read my post this morning and realized the wording could be a bit misleading. I want to save $4000 in six months total, I’m not running $4000 short right now. So some of my huge savings amount will be going towards this goal.

So I was thinking about all your ideas and I think I can reduce a few bills here and there to help me just get the money together.

The break down is roughly going to be:

$1000 from my tax refund
$1500 from regular savings
$800 from extra saving from maxing out CPP and EI
$200 from reduced spending at Christmas
$200 from excess funds in my heating slush fund

Then the rest I’ll have to make up by cutting back by around $50/month, which is doable. It will take a bit of creative planning, but it is a somewhat realistic goal.

Thanks for the ideas!
Tim

]]> By: ThickenMyWallet http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 ThickenMyWallet Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:48:15 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1412 I am going to ask a dumb question- is it even possible to save that much more money without actually providing the bare necessities of life? I echo the other commentators; your savings rate is astonishing already; you should concentrate on the revenue side since you have clearly mastered the expense side- have you had a garage sale? Be a local handyman? I am going to ask a dumb question- is it even possible to save that much more money without actually providing the bare necessities of life?

I echo the other commentators; your savings rate is astonishing already; you should concentrate on the revenue side since you have clearly mastered the expense side- have you had a garage sale? Be a local handyman?

]]> By: nobleea http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 nobleea Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:56:11 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1411 certainly cancel cable, newspaper, magazines. can you put home internet access on hiatus and do your blogging from work after work hours? if you have a cell phone, can you put the service on hold for a few months? don't put up christmas lights. no long distance phone calls. stop using the clothes dryer and hang dry instead. shorter, cooler showers, clothes washing with cold water and full loads. consider applying for one of those 0% balance transfer cards and put the money in a high interest savings account - i was given 25K rather easily (I'm also an engineer in my late twenties). walk anywhere you can instead of driving. make really large batches of food and freeze them for future meals - it sucks to eat the same thing over and over again, but there are volume discounts for food! I think you'll be hardpressed to add an additional $4k to your savings over 6 months. $2K should be doable though if you tighten down. certainly cancel cable, newspaper, magazines. can you put home internet access on hiatus and do your blogging from work after work hours? if you have a cell phone, can you put the service on hold for a few months? don’t put up christmas lights. no long distance phone calls.

stop using the clothes dryer and hang dry instead. shorter, cooler showers, clothes washing with cold water and full loads.

consider applying for one of those 0% balance transfer cards and put the money in a high interest savings account – i was given 25K rather easily (I’m also an engineer in my late twenties).

walk anywhere you can instead of driving. make really large batches of food and freeze them for future meals – it sucks to eat the same thing over and over again, but there are volume discounts for food!

I think you’ll be hardpressed to add an additional $4k to your savings over 6 months. $2K should be doable though if you tighten down.

]]> By: FourPillars http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1410 FourPillars Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:45:36 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1410 Do you not have any money in a non-reg account? This would be perfect time to use it. Mike Do you not have any money in a non-reg account? This would be perfect time to use it.

Mike

]]> By: Traciatim http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1409 Traciatim Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:38:43 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1409 I'm with MCM on the cable. It's a huge waste of cash. Get some Rabbit Ears st the Source (they had the cheapest ones i could find). How about opening a promotional rate savings account at any bank that will take you on. I know Canadian Tire Financial is having a promotion of 5.5% until December 31st, when your walking a fine line, every dollar will count. Ever think of hitting up family for a little gifting to help out through the rough patch during the time off? I usually don't advocate borrowing with close friends and family because of friction, but sometimes circumstances just point to this as the best option. You could also just apply for a big fat credit card ;) . . . if you can find a 0% for a period of time then don't laugh too hard at this option. I’m with MCM on the cable. It’s a huge waste of cash. Get some Rabbit Ears st the Source (they had the cheapest ones i could find).

How about opening a promotional rate savings account at any bank that will take you on. I know Canadian Tire Financial is having a promotion of 5.5% until December 31st, when your walking a fine line, every dollar will count.

Ever think of hitting up family for a little gifting to help out through the rough patch during the time off? I usually don’t advocate borrowing with close friends and family because of friction, but sometimes circumstances just point to this as the best option.

You could also just apply for a big fat credit card ;) . . . if you can find a 0% for a period of time then don’t laugh too hard at this option.

]]> By: MillionDollarJourney http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1408 MillionDollarJourney Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:38:23 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1408 CD, as MCM stated, you are pretty darn good at cutting your expenses already. So instead of cutting more expenses, how about looking for ways to make more money? CD, as MCM stated, you are pretty darn good at cutting your expenses already. So instead of cutting more expenses, how about looking for ways to make more money?

]]> By: Middle Class Millionaire http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2007/11/08/need-to-go-super-frugal-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-1406 Middle Class Millionaire Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:57:00 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=271#comment-1406 Hi CD, I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and was already impressed with your savings habits. Not to be a downer but I think it’s going to be hard for you to save an additional $4000 in 6months (just because you’re so good at it already). But here are some suggestions (most of them painful) that you could try. -Cancel cable -Cancel Christmas for yourself and your wife (still buy for the kid of course) -If possible work some overtime or get a second job Cheers, MCM Hi CD,

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and was already impressed with your savings habits. Not to be a downer but I think it’s going to be hard for you to save an additional $4000 in 6months (just because you’re so good at it already). But here are some suggestions (most of them painful) that you could try.

-Cancel cable
-Cancel Christmas for yourself and your wife (still buy for the kid of course)
-If possible work some overtime or get a second job

Cheers,
MCM

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