i will be saving money starting now……………no more money to the OBAMA CAMPAIGN! yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh MR. PRESIDENT! rosie

I’ve already given up eating out in restaurants. We used to do it about once per week, nothing too expensive, but always more expensive than cooking at home. Now it will be reserved for special occasions only. Also, Christmas is going to be very humble. Since “Santa” comes for the 6 yr old, his Christmas will come first, the rest of us will go with necessities as gifts and enjoying our time together… both of which are more than enough. The thing we can’t give up would be car repairs and since both my husband and myself drive cars with mileage over 100,000 repair needs can be counted upon.

My four leggers.

Ah, my dahlings, Mommy abhors cliches like “2 Americas,” but REALLY, dears, asking women who meet on a yacht discussing their bond portfolios what they will cut back is very likely to be a quite different answer than that of the unwashed masses, isn’t it? http://www.fool.com/investing/mutual-funds/2008/08/20/the-women-of-wowow…

A lot of you have mentioned giving up highlighting. My poor colorist is really suffering from a huge fall-off in her business - those who haven’t given it up wait much longer before they come back in. This is one of the things I can’t give up, and now I tip her 40% to make up for her lost business. I want to cut back but I want to help out too. I have given up restaurants, alcohol, the health club (I’m walking every day), taxis (walking again), driving (walking), and shopping unless it’s on eBay.

I quit smoking almost 2 weeks ago to save. I miss it, too. I found smoking to be a pleasure……my reward. But, I gave it up. The patches, the gum and the pills to stop smoking, cost more than the carton of ciggy’s, so there’s not a lot of help for a person to quit when they can’t afford the stop-smoking aids. But, when you can longer afford to buy the cigarettes, cold turkey cessation, is your only option. So, I’ve quit. Cold Turkey. Do I miss my pack of regular,Virginia Slims, in a box? Yes, I do. I miss the visits to my shaded patio. My spouse does not smoke and I did not smoke in my home or in my car. I was very selective about where I chose to smoke and who I smoked in front of. Sitting at my wrought iron bistro table on my small patio, in the evening, was my favorite time and place to reward myself. It is situated under a large Live Oak tree. I can hear the surf pounding the beach from my patio. My large oak catches the sea breeze and filters it down to my patio and cools me. I used to enjoy the solitude and the intimate setting with myself. Then, something changed. I now notice the green, vertigree paint flaking off the table top and the seats of the chairs. I’m changing. I still have 1 cigarette remaining in my box of Virginia Slims. To quit smoking because you have none left is one thing, but to choose NOT to smoke your last cigarette, is quite another. Is that last cigarette tempting? You bet it is. But I am stronger by refusing it. Have I been sniffing that near-empty pack? You can safely bet that I have. Now, on to the one thing that I will NOT do with out? That would be the half-n-half in my coffee. Y’all have a great day. Here’s a little Bill Wither’s tune from YouTube, so turn your speakers up. Have a “Lovely Day”: http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/bill_withers#/track/lovely_day

To save money, I plan to give up self-doubt, and the even more decadent occasions when I indulge in self-pity and run out to buy some material good to embellish the exterior. I won’t give up my dog.

i’m letting my hair grow, i stopped manicures and pedicures, go to the farmers market on Sunday’s (much healthier,all organic),the cleaning lady has been “retired” cut down on going out to dinner, and downsized subscription to SF opera (only 3 this year and no orchestra tickets!!) stopped buying clothes since i don;t go anywhere it seems. Not complaining, i wish i could make it simpler still.

I have given up restaurants,movie theaters.I will not give up buying my daughter’s birthday gift,she’ll be Four on this Saturday.

Manicures and pedicures, but not my cellphone.

I’ve also given up manicures and pedicures….at least postponed them. I no longer go every week. So much that I used to do, now when I look at it critically, seems like ridiculous selfish indulgence. I’ll still visit the stylist for cut and color…and I’ll continue to work on my vanity issues. I’ve given up eating out so much, and take away for myself and my sons..we do NOT need the excess fat and calories anyway. I used to belong to two exercise facilities, one for classes, one for other things…and have cut that back to the place where the family can spend time together. As a librarian, I’ve got an absolute addiction to print materials….so lots of subscriptions had to go…and no more buying books on a whim….I’ll visit my local library more. What won’t/can’t I give up? College tuition for my two oldest kids, and medical expenses for my two physically handicapped kids…..2 out of my 3 are disabled. We just have to find more ways to be creative, I guess!

I will not give up getting a pedicure once a month. Since my hair is long, I already only get it trimmed, etc. about every 6 mos., and won’t give that up. There isn’t much else I could cut back on. I just got the details of my health plan for next year and everything will cost more. My medications are through the roof right now. My SSDI is below the poverty level, and my food stamps are based on my income. I don’t get full allotment because I make too much money. I know that doesn’t make any sense to me either. I could lose them with whatever the SS increase will be in 2009. I am so fortunate to still have my mom to live with. I don’t know what I would do without her. I am glad that she is financially independent. Now all she needs is a male companion who is also financially independent so I don’t have to be her date ALL the time. CA

I gave up cable TV, and I’ve turned down the thermostat. I have my hair trimmed every six weeks at a $10 salon, and I buy used books. I buy gifts at estate sales or give something I’ve made. I email long distance friends, instead of calling them. I donate smaller amounts to charities. What I can’t give up: internet service, health insurance and driving to see my daughter and her family who live three hours away.