Greetings from Wisconsin. I would like to say “thank you” to this board and of course the original msn money board.
I have always been frugal but with going on unemployment in mid 2009 …… my frugalness was tested even further. A lot of the ideas and suggests, recipes and comments I followed have came from this board.
I thought I would comment on a few of the things that helped me the most.
Aldi’s. I visited this store year’s back and I suppose because it did not offer some of the amenities my regular store offered I kind of scoffed at it. But my girlfriend encouraged me to try it again and I must say that the basics that they have, were priced way below the store brands at my regular store.
I dropped my “dish” and purchased an amplified indoor antenna. The antenna cost me 40 dollars thru amazon but hey…this was the price I was paying per month for my dish. Of course I don’t get the many channels. But I only watched maybe a half a dozen of the ones that I got. Do I miss it? No
I switched to a pay as you go phone. I was almost paying $50 on a month to month plan. I just did not need it…neither the minutes nor the high monthly price.
Learning to distinguish between wants and needs is important.
And making sure when you find a “great” deal to buy in quantity, so that you don’t have to pay “regular” price. So many times I have kicked myself for not doing this.
And I was prepared for the unemployment. When 2008 came along and the layoffs started coming
I paid off my car ASAP….also had an
emergency fund established.
I am hoping to take these “lessons learned” and continue them. I have a goal of
paying off my mortgage in the next three years. Keep up the good work!
Sharon