LogFAQs > #930190906

Sariana21 posted...

Why is your cell phone so expensive? Can you cut there, maybe a lower data plan or something?

The cable/internet thing is a total racket. We've looked into cutting cable and run into the same issue--it would cost more to have only Internet because of the bundling. And we don't have any other options in our area.

Now is a good time to look for a seasonal job, just to get some money in your pocket. And maybe some references/connections. I would stay away from Uber.

You need to eat. That's the thing you need to get sorted out right away. Soup can be good food, but it needs to have some substance to it. Beans and rice are (relatively) cheap and are very filling. Buy in bulk and cook big batches from scratch (if you have the refrigerator/freezer space to store it.) Pay attention to sales and stock up when you can.

Make sure you're driving in a way that maximizes fuel efficiency. No "jackrabbit" starts; no accelerating to a stoplight, only to hit the brakes at the last second.

Can you handle keeping your house a bit colder (warmer in the summer) to save on natural gas? What about making sure you're using energy-efficient light bulbs and turning off things that aren't in use? Do you take long showers? Can you cut back (you didn't mention a water bill, but heating the water costs money too)?

Because cell phones kinda are? The plan itself is about $80 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data, then there's the taxes, fees, and phone payment (I'm on a 24 month DPP). If nobody notices, I might keep my discount phone plan from my last job so it'll be cheaper than any other plan with my provider.

I applied for a few basic seasonal positions. Turned down each time. This late into November and stores have basically bulked up their staff to the point they need before the big day. But I can keep trying, of course.

That beans and rice thing... Um, well, my cooking isn't the greatest so I'm not even sure what I'd do with it all. Also, my boyfriend really chaps my ass if I make the same thing day after day. I'll make ramen twice in a week and he throws a little fit about how there's no "variety" and how it's "bad for morale" if we don't have something different each day. It's too bad because I have, like, 12 bags of this ready made chili stuff you just need to add beans or rice or meat to and, of course, cook on the stove. If I had a big cheap bag of beans and rice, I could make filling chili for basically a few months without having to buy anything else. But like I said, he'd really his lose his marbles over that, so...

Trust me, I don't drive like a fucking lunatic. I've always had clunkers so it was always imperative that I treat them with care since I'd be SOL if my tin can fell apart from me making it work beyond its limits.

I love keeping it colder!! About 55-60 is my ideal, but, again, the ol' bf jumps down my throat and won't go below about 67. AND I take cool showers AND only about three times a week, meanwhile HE takes BOILING showers EVERY DAMN DAY!! Like, if he's so cold he can use a damn blanket and Febreeze it up instead of hogging the shower. He still lives like when he lived with his parents is some of the problem I think. He doesn't always grasp the dire situation we're in and how much we can save by not being liberal and luxurious with our resources. The water bill is about $50 a month, so...
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