I guess my lifestyle is simple. The only thing at this time I would not want to give up is my computer and every 4 months a professional straightens up the hair clipping I do monthly. Clothes for my present lifestyle - I need nothing. I am in the process of downscaling and building a home 1/2 half the size I live in now. Going back to my small town. Have tried city living near children for 2 years.
Want to be closer to nature. Hopefully my present home will sell in a time I can handle

We have done a number of things over the last few years to economize. I have bought very little in the way of needlework supplies relying on my stash for that. I have always referred to this 'hobby' as my therapy so getting rid of it entirely is out of the question. But I am finding ways to incorporate items that would have gone into the trash before. We choose our fresh vegetables and fruits in season and buy enough to freeze. We are expanding our container gardens on our patio to provide much of our summer foods. Our meats we buy on sale and only buy basic cuts, nothing fancy. We waste almost nothing because all left overs are recycled into other dishes. We eat out very rarely anymore. Almost everything we eat is made from scratch. We don't have to dress up so our wardrobes are more than sufficient and to replace any of our basics we will go first to the Goodwill shop nearby. (I have also found that they have sheets for $2 each if I need fabric for a project.) We cut out the phone land line about five years ago so cell phones are a necessity. So is the internet though there we can go back to the cheaper dial-up if necessary. But some form of internet is necessary--it is one of the major connections with friends and family. If either of our cars goes our we may not replace it.

I love these economy posts. I save in many ways. First, I buy 90% of my clothes, including boots & coats at Value Village. I find excellent brand name stuff in fine condition there. You just have to be patient and look on quiet days. We never waste food, say we eat a chicken, I make a crock pot soup immediately & get 6 containers. Delicious. I go to stores like Habitat Re-Store, which sells Home Depot leftover good condition things for cheap! Even carpets. We drive paid for cars & keep them in good condition by going to the right mechanic. I get hair cut at a place that charges $19.00, rather than the $45 with tip I used to pay. I'm creative in taking one object and using it for another purpose. I'm taking a perma culture home sufficiency program, & take the bus with senior ticket at least 2x/week. I make my own mint tea and drink coffee at home, or buy it at McDonalds where the coffee is good. I laughed when I saw winter boots priced at $300 plus & even now they are $100. Too much. I can afford it, but won't pay the price. I will shop and wait for sales until those boots are under $50.I call my smart miser shopping "sticking it to the man." I could give tours on where the good stores are in Montreal. It's a hobby. Come to Montreal and I'll show you around, then we'll eat poutine and laugh.

Born dirt poor, lived modestly most of my life despite marrying up and becoming rich by number of digits in pay stub, still live modestly...meaning wearing clothes til they wear out or don't fit, shoes ditto, buying new only at terrific sales and discounts (it's a hobby of mine to know where to go), stay busy with intellectual pursuits that are mostly free to totally free via the local university and the libraries, groceries are very economical since I eat mostly meatless. Would not like to give up my internet connection or computer, my sewing machine, my haircuts every 6 weeks or hair color every 3 months because the way I look affects the way I feel about myself more than it should. Since I never got used to living rich, I can now live poor and not even feel it.

Something happened to the long thoughtful comment I made...I guess a webmonkey ate it up. It was far too long to repeat, but I did try. Enjoyed the post.

I looked at the complete list that they used for the survey and there were only five things on it that play any part in my life these days: the Internet, vacations,organic food, charitable contributions and magazine subs. The first three, I definitely would not want to give up. Though vacations can always be simplified if necessary by staying closer to home, camping etc. And we grow some of our own food anyway and save seeds, so we are unlikely to starve. Charitable contributions, I would simply cut down;I'd be unlikely to cut them out altogether unless things got really dire. Magazine subs are expendable and I've already gotten rid of several. And I've switched to online versions where possible, to save trees.

I read the commmentary as well as comments with interest.

I only had cable for a few months in the mid 90's and it was basic. No package deal so I found only a few shows I liked. When I look at a tv grid I see little I would want to see on cable but cannot afford it and have almost given up tv watching.

Internet is the communicator and it is dial-up. Sigh - but that is what is affordable.

Going out to eat - a thing of the past...not even for a slice of pizza.

Cutback visiting the bookstores for browsing and a coffee/tea. If we do it, it is now once a month and often without purchase of a beverage.

Cutback on groceries - no desserts and I started drinking tea/coffee without milk. Has brought milk to half-gallon a week. I live in an apt. complex otherwise I would garden to save on veggies - so have to work with sales. Purchase very little meat and only that which I can stretch when I do.

Clothing is from consignment or thrift shops. Fortunately, I have enough - no jeans though and I can do without.

I am careful with lights and appliances. Unplug that which is not used such as the CD player - kitchen radio. Listen to my CD's when I am on line with the computer CD.

I do not use the a/c except in the over 100 degree days. I have a handfan which rests on my monitor to use as needed. Fans are only for very hot days.

Still with all of this - it is more than tight with expenses that went up.

And must push paperbackswap.com again for book swapping -- it's been great for me and have gotten many books I otherwise wouldn't have gotten or perhaps even been able to find -- lots of out of print books available there. Unfortunately starting to be ruined a bit by the fussy collectors, but most people are still pretty great to deal with and not overly picky about book condition, etc. But the books have all been in really good shape for the most part. It's a fun social thing, too.

No one has mentioned oatmeal. We eat oatmeal for lunch several times a week. Nice and cheap ...

I just can't imagine spending big $ on a bag! That's the last thing I'd waste my hard earned money on. You can get very cool bags for under $20 and keep them a long time.

I have seen "inflation" in the price of groceries for past two years,clothing went up in Jan-Feb 2009....And gasoline is $.50 a Gal. cheaper in Oregon just 20 miles away....So I make that trip....No sales tax there either. Can't always afford to "support" my local businesses.

I never cared about any of the listed expendable items before, so they make no difference to my budget. Show me a product and if the designer or mfg name is on it, I won't buy it. I'm not going to be a walking advertisement for them and if it's a status thing to other people, then I'm sorry to hear that.

Have been frugal most of my life, sometimes from necessity, other times because that way of life is comfortably reasonable. There's always been something I could enjoy having a little extra moola to plan for spending, or saving for myself or others. I was primed all my life to know there were "rainy days" and I've wanted to be ready for the unexpected. I hadn't anticipated it would be the economy we have, but thought in recent years it could be.

Have often used coupons, more extensively some times than others, but only for products I normally buy; have always eaten left overs and avoided wasting food; am content with clothes I have with little need for more presently.

When I had what I consider a better figure I could be extravagant purchasing more expensive quality-made clothes and shoes, but continue now to be practical in selections -- quality but fewer items -- comfort is and has been for years a major criteria for selection. I may have fewer pairs of shoes, but well made is still especially important as my feet are a very important body part subjected to daily wear and tear and deserve the best.

I continue to indulge having my hair shampooed, styled and blow dried weekly with a haircut as needed -- a treat I promised myself when I finished school and resumed working years ago. I'll skimp in other areas to do this.

My special senior reduced rate at selected times available at our communities new movie theaters and for refreshments allow me to attend those few latest movies I would want to see.

I do still eat out selectively, but mostly now when friends or family are along.

Owning books is one of my weaknesses, but I've accumulated so many I've not yet read during this one of several excesses in which I engaged after my husband died, that I will likely not buy more now. Same was true for CDs. I'm soon going to begin whittling down the number of unread books with a special plan.

I've not renewed magazine subscriptions despite receiving a reduced professional rate which will save money, plus I realize I don't find time to read most of them. I still subscribe to our local bi-weekly newspaper, the L.A. Times and one other local area paper -- the latter partially to help it keep going. I don't think it will last though.

I also am partial to some independent businesses other than chains in an effort to provide support. What little I spend may not make much difference, and I probably could buy what I'm getting elsewhere for less money, but I really hate to think of these stores going under.

Fortunately, I don't have that many prescriptions, so I can resist efforts to get me to transfer from my independent pharmacy. My husband determined it best he subscribe to his companies mail order plan for drugs. My original long term independent pharmacy suddenly closed several years ago, so they are an endangered species.

I've changed ISPs and have our areas new fiberoptic connection. I wouldn't want to give up my Internet connection. My land line with the same company allows me free local toll and long distance calls and a better rate since getting a different package deal. My cell phone luckily through a family member's work plan is probably more inexpensive than I could get on my own. A friend wants me to download Skype which I'm considering as had it once before, but not that many people with whom I'd use it.

I plan to attend some concerts throughout the coming year since I consider that worthwhile to scrimp for as need be, just as will be some possible trips.

The used car I purchased before my husband's death was expected to last at least as long as I lived based on the annual mileage I accumulate according to his figures. This model reportedly can last over 200K miles, so I'm not even half way there and have only put about 10K miles on it the past 3 years. Will be interesting to see if I outlast the car.

We made structural changes when times were good so that we'd better endure the tough times. So, we're relatively immune from the effects of the recession. I am 53 and wife is 50.

We consolidated to a single car 7 years ago. Our current car we bought used, so no monthly auto payment. We both walk or take mass transit to work. (We live in a city.) So, for the last 7 years we use the car only for pleasure trips. If we need a second car when family visit, we use Zipcar.

I don't shop for clothes much anyway, so this is no change for me whether the economy is up or down. I buy clothes only when they wear out.

We are both employed so we go out to eat MORE often now. To me, it's important to support the local businesses in our neighborhood, which are struggling. And, I still contribute the max to my 401-k.

Regarding TV entertainment, about 5 years ago we downgraded to basic cable ($9 monthly) and supplement that with NetFlix ($15 monthly) which combined is still far cheaper than Comcast's next available plan ($54 monthly).

Internet access is a necessity (DSL) since I write a blog. And, the landline is also a safety decision, even though my wife and I both have cell phones. (Remember, the current cellular network is built to ~35% capacity. During an emergency most cell calls won't go thru, hence we keep a traditional landline. During a power blackout, only traditional landlines will still work; not cable phones and probably not your cell phone.)

Regarding food, we have always avoided processed foods and shop at the edges of the supermarket (e.g., fresh fruits, veggies, organic foods, meats, etc.). So, that is not changing at all given the slumping economy.

Our mortgage is paid off. So, like I wrote above, we haven't changed any of our spending given this slumping economy. We are planning a 10-day vacation to an all-inclusive resort in Aruba for September. With the above decisions, we have already saved up money for this trip and will take it regardless of the state of the economy. Earlier this year, we vacationed in Key Largo.

My monthly expense for Tai Chi classes is a necessity. Maintaining good health is a priority. I try to walk whenever I can, which helps maintain good health and avoids using our car.

Like I wrote above, we made structural changes when times were good so that we'd better endure the tough times. I wish that our government did the same.