Looks like a good topic to update. We're still stateside, preparing for a Feb. 2009 departure to the UK, but here goes:
1) Planning and combining errands so as to drive as little as possible (no public transport here in the suburbs and nothing much in walking distance. Can't wait for corner shops!)
2) Grocery shopping once a month and buying in bulk with coupons and taking advantage of loss-leaders and "manager's specials". Cuts out the impulse buying and forces sensible meal-planning.
3) Cut down on the dry cleaning and using the washer/dryer on off-peak hours. Drastically curtailed dining out from 3 times weekly to 3 times monthly at most. (Wasn't nearly as difficult as we thought it'd be.
4) Cancelled the Blockbuster/Netflix services and rent movies, CDs and books on tape from the library. What a treasure trove! Plus there's so much on TIVO (think Sky+) that we rarely get to watch anyway. Also we cut out cinemas entirely.
5) Redid our satellite tele subscription eliminating channels we never watch anyway.
6) Grilling lots of dinners in the back garden instead of using the cooktop and ovens. (Heats of the kitchen and makes the A/C work harder.) Plus we eat healthier this way for some reason...hmmm.
7) Using the dishwasher only once or twice a week instead of every other day. And jamming it full the the gills.
Doing my own mani-pedis (only until we move) which cuts out about $60 every 2-3 weeks.
9) Raised the insurance deductible on both vehicles and saved about $84 a month.
10) Raised the deductible on the medical insurance and request only generic drugs.
11) Trade off pot-luck dinner with friends (do they have that in the UK? Everybody bring a dish thingee? Cuts down on cooking/food bills. Plus it's fun.)
12) DH does the car oil changes and tyre rotation. We wash both cars at home no more than twice a month now, instead of the once weekly professional car washes at $16 a pop.
13) Cancelled the fitness membership at $100 a month and use the public recreation centers at $70 a year!
14) Turned off the gas pilot for the fireplace and won't be using it in winter either.
15) Turned the programmable thermostats up to 82F in Summer (Used to run it at 76F) and down to 68F in winter (used to run it at about 78F) and dress in layers, even at home.
16) No new cars, as both will be sold soon when we leave (normally would have already purchased two new ones a year ago.)
17) Just saying to "no" to time-consuming, money-robbing "would you pleases" (Girlscout cookies, arts fundraisers, political fundraisers, send-your-neighbor's-kid-to-camp, baby showers for people I never even heard of before I got the invitation and registry in the mail, etc.
18) No vacation/holidays this entire year at all. (Don't miss it really as this move is thrilling enough. Plus my mother-in-law has taken a mood with me now that I'm taking her "baby" away to the old country forever.)
19) Redid the T-Mobile cell phones from total 3200 minutes to 750 with mobile-to-mobile between me and DH free. (That's what we use most of the minutes for anyway.) Saved about $70 a month.
20) Rediscovering my knitting and sewing skills. I do all the clothing repairs now instead of forking over money to the dry cleaners for it.
21) Used 0% balance transfer offers to pay off higher interest cards and put the difference into savings. By the time the rate resets we'll be in London Town where upon, I'll use the exchange rate advantage to attack that last balance like it stole something!
