Cutting back vs. splurging

I noticed an interesting post on one of my favorite websites MilwaukeeMoms.com. It’s on the "Money Savers" board in the discussion groups section. People are discussing where they are cutting back and where they are splurging. I know we’ve got economic stimulus checks coming soon, but gas and food prices keep skyrocketing… so cuts have to be made.
I decided to make a list of my own. I would love to see what other people are doing.

Cutting back/ways to save:
- Reduce impulse purchases. (I’m horrible about this.)
- Read the books I already have, borrow from friends or the library.
- No more spending on craft supplies until I use what I have or complete a project.
- Combine trips/errands
- Clip and use coupons
- Make the most of the food we have on hand before heading to the grocery store.
- Plan meals ahead of time
- Eat out less as lunch (me)
- I’ve stopped buying expensive coffee drinks (Starbucks, Stone Creek, etc.). I never bought them that often, but it was a place to save $$. I buy the instant mixes at the grocery store… each one usually lasts me two weeks. So I’m getting two week’s worth of cappuccino for the price of one tall Starbucks.

Splurges:
- We’re still redoing the bathroom and putting in a new kitchen floor. These are investments in the house, not really splurges.
- We’d like to do a family vacation, but it will likely be in Wisconsin. Any other trips we take will be to visit our family scattered across the Midwest.
- Wine.
- Still getting my hair highlighted. Sorry.
- Brewers games when we can. Go Brewers!