Answers to the question: What steps have you taken toward your savings goals for 2010?

 For those playing along at home:  We are having a contest and to enter, you must post your answer to this question:

What steps have you taken toward your savings goals for 2010?

Yvonne, says, "We shut off our home phone (only cells), shop in bulk, clip coupons (yay!), buy more generic items, eat out much less, and carpool as much as we can! We are currently pricing switching to satelite tv rather than cable, but not sure if it will be cheaper yet or not because of the Internet..."


Leilani says," I took a small paycut ($70/mo) to save 800 a month in child care. We buy canned fruits to avoid throwing fresh fruit away. Eric makes us both lunch (healthier too!). Correction, I turned down the position because I just found out they wanted to cut my pay by more than I'd save in child care!!!" 

PJ says, "I try to only buy items that are on sale or that I have a coupon for. I quit smoking. I go to the Target pharmacy to take advantage of their $4 prescriptions (they are $10 with my insurance anywhere else). No home phone, only cell. I try to buy only things I need. I trade my video games in when I want a new one. Upped my deductible to $500 from $100 to save on car insurance. Dye my hair at home. Buy books from used books stores. I only bring my lunch to work."

Brooke says, "I have found out at Verizon when I renewed my contract that the company I work for offers a discount. I had to show my paystub but scored an extra 10% off my bill each month. I of course coupon (whoop whoop). I also called Cox and negotiated $25 off my monthly bundle bill by taking advantage of television advertised specials or slightly cutting back on services like a little slower internet (we didn't notice the difference). Also, in an effort to declutter and cleanse for 2010 I place a small box in the living room out of the way and anytime I come across something I don't want, don't need or me or the kids have outgrown I toss it in the box. When it fills up I write "garage sale" and set it aside and start filling another. It's amazing how much junk you can live without and I'm planning a trip to the swapmeet in the spring to get rid of everything and use our earnings for extra fun at Disneyland."  

Keep your responses coming in!

I'm picking 2 winners next Friday, the 26th!  Post your responses either on my facebook or LJ (wherever you read the blog!).