We scrimp and save, but what is something that you just couldn't give up

[anonymuse]

We all have a tight budget--especially those in Ch 13 repayment, but all of us have something(s) that we just can't give up.

For me:

1) Caller ID (I choose who I talk to)
2) Long distance ($20 max per month--much cheaper than therapy!)
3) DirecTV (no reception except NBC without it)
4) DSL (could never go back to dial up!)

[WhenThePawn]

I agree with you on #3 and #4 (#1 and #2 aren't issues for me since I have Vonage phone service...sometimes quirky, but cheap!).

I figured that if I'm going to be stuck without many recreational activities until Oct. 2007, I might as well give myself the luxury of decent tv programming and the opportunity to browse the Internet as I please.

[DisneyGirl]

My annual pass to Disneyland. I can live without a lot of things, that is not one of them!!!!

Followed by:
Cell phone
cable
DSL

[jane taylor]

Gotta have my cell phone to keep up with the kids! Also, REAL diet Cokes, not store brand--ugh!!

I have dial up Internet which is annoying at times, but not too bad.

jane

[danas15146]

My daughter's dance lessons ($46 per month) and my son's karate lessons ($100 per month). I will sacrifice more from myself before making my kids suffer for my screw up!

[Anj]

hmmm

DirecTv
Netflix
Pogo
Coffee @ Starbucks

The thing is - we didn't live extravagantly b4 all this mess - so we didn't have much to give up...

My work pays for my cell & my high speed, but i put them in the plan so shhhhhh

[SinkingFast]

Cell phone. That would be the thing I could not live without.

Before the cell phone, I racked up $100 to $150/mo in long distance charges. We don't live near any family. In order to keep up, we talk a lot on the phone. We tried IM'ing and Chats for a while but you can't get things done while you type on the computer. You can fold laundry, wash dishes, all kinds of things, and talk on the phone at the same time.

Now I do all my long distance calling on the cell phone. After all, it's included!

[anonymuse]

I'm making that cell phone decision right now for myself. I'm fortunate to have a landline phone plan where you pay 5 cents a minute up to a maximum of $20. But I so dread giving up my cell phone. I like to call my sister or dad during lunch and chat and to take care of odds and ends without really having to think about minutes. But the only real "need" is for emergencies. I've been looking into the prepaid phones to have "just in case" and only give out my number to a few people and use as secondary number for job contacts, but it's hard to give up that "sanity expense".

[lrprn]

- Cell phones (required for my work)
- DSL (required when I work remotely from home - need to send big mega-MB files back and forth with clients)
- Cable TV (Love Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, etc...it's our only entertainment these days)
- Real Diet Coke (I'm with you, Jane - cola store brands = yuck!)

We let go of everything else over a year ago trying not to file Ch 13. Makes we wish we'd left a little "fluff" in our plan for the trustee to go after rather than just the few things we really hope to keep...sigh...

[Bobby'sGirl]

Cell phone, without a doubt!

Gave up cable and am healthier without as many Starbucks creations; my landline would go if it wasn't the only connection at home to the internet. I'm figuring on an eventual move to an apartment or condo complex with high speed connections available in each unit. But I have many of my friends and most of my relatives on Verizon cells now, so coast to coast and on the road around town I'm always "connected."

[Credit Hater]

Pretty simple, my broadband and my beer...sometimes 2 a day, on a stressful day, 4....and on days off after running errands, 6-8 sometimes a little more. When I'm active in the gym I give it up, but lately I've been lazy

[nervousSC]

Diet Cherry Coke
Soccer for my Child
Cable Internet Access (have to have this to do my WAH job)

[lbrown]

Essence mag
Complete Choice on phone line (hate telemarketers!)
Diet Dr Pepper!

[krobin02]

Without a doubt it would be my soda!

[anonymuse]

Looks like more people are opting for soda than their beer! LOL