Being Useful...

It occurs to me that maybe I should post something useful, rather than rambling on and on about my personal opinions. So, here's my take on getting through the current economic downtown as a modern moderate.

1) Ditch cable. Just because I think my cable company is evil doesn't necessarily mean they all are, but regardless, I thought I was paying too much. So, I've gone internet-only. If you hunt around, you can find some great high-speed internet deals. For streaming video, I'm told that 3.0 Mbps is a good speed, but I managed to get 6.0 Mbps at a great price. My personal tact is hooking up my laptop to the TV via an S-video cable. Next step is an audio cable, or a good set of speakers; I haven't decided which yet.

2) Seek out insurance discounts. Little did I know, my auto insurance company had partnered with my bank to offer their customers discounts! My rates decreased by almost $8 per month, which isn't much I guess, but every dollar counts.

3) Babysitting. Yes, I've reverted to babysitting, even though the big 3-0 birthday is getting a little too close for comfort. There are several websites specifically for babysitters, and most give parents the ability to run a background check, which I think is excellent. Rates certainly vary, but if you've babysat before, you can definitely get between $8 and $10 per hour sitting for one child and between $10 and $12 per hour sitting for two or three children at a time.

4) Sell stuff. This seems obvious, but not only can selling your old stuff yield extra cash, it can also help you get organized. Having finished grad school, I find there are many textbooks - and non-textbook books that were used in classes - that I no longer need. And then there's clothing. Now that I'm not in college any more, how many formal dresses do I really need? And honestly, do they even still fit?

5) Take another look at your cell phone plan. When I went internet-only, I actually decided to upgrade my plan, which is contrary to the whole point of this post... but that may not be right for everyone. A lot of providers have come up with various unlimited plans that are a decent deal (well, as decent as cell providers get). Carefully examine your usage and decide if you're getting the biggest bang for your buck.

6) Double-check your subscriptions. Are you paying $22 a month for movie rentals or $30 a month for an online diet plan without really thinking about them? Are you not really reading all the magazines you get? Then get rid of them! These things can really add up, especially if you've had them on autopay in sort of an "out of sight, out of mind" mode.

Those are all my trim-around-the-edges suggestions for now. There are, of course, more drastic things you can do, such as - if you live in an apartment - move to a cheaper place. But I'll leave you with these to chew on for the moment.