Three Expenses I Thought I Couldn’t Live Without

The following is a guest post from MyBankTracker.

“I would die without the internet,” My future-roommate exclaimed when I told her my Internet had been out for three weeks. It is a pretty strong statement, I mean, would she really die without the Internet? Probably not, but I couldn’t judge her because I thought the same when I found out my landlord was getting rid of our wireless.

I was using my Internet as my main source of entertainment, information and a way to wind down at the end of the day. Since I was moving out in six weeks, I decided to run a little experiment to see how long I could go without using the Internet when I wasn’t at work. It took a few weeks to get used to but then I realized how much my life improved with out it. I began to wonder what else I was paying for that I didn’t really need.

1. Internet, Cable and Phone Package

When my Internet went out two weeks into my stay at a month-to-month rental I debated on whether or not I should have someone come install it for the remaining time I would live there. I decided to wait on getting a full cable, Internet and phone package until I found a more permanent apartment – a process that took three months. After a while I got used to not having all those amenities and found that my life actually became more enriched.

How my life improved: After a month of adjustment I realized it wasn’t really necessary. I learned I love reading. In just two months I have read a total of six books. Six! I have had more time to go exploring in my neighborhood. If I need to do something with the Internet I write out a list and go to a local café or library, which is also a nice change of scenery. As the weeks fly by I realized I even cut down the number of trips I take to hook up to wireless Internet.

Savings: Installation $20 and monthly cost (Internet, Cable and Phone) $111.95. Savings $1,363.4.

2. iPhone

When I moved to New York I was told I needed an iPhone. Not only did it have Apps to call a cab or give directions when lost, it had guides to the best restaurants, bars and cafes among a plethora of other features. I would be lying if I said I didn’t yearn for an iPhone most of the time, but when I calculated the cost* I realized sticking with my simple phone that was free with the plan was a lot more economical.

How my life improved: I have discovered so many tiny cafés, bookstores and farmers markets from embracing my inner explorer. Not having a destination is a surprisingly relaxing change of pace from the hustle and bustle of everyday. I learned to relax and let my life fall into the hands of spontaneity.

Savings: Average iPhone Monthly Cost: $130. My monthly costs $60. Savings of $840 a year.

3. Transportation

Saying good-bye to my beloved car, Harry the Honda was tough. I immediately bought a monthly transit pass upon arrival costing me $89. After a few weeks I started walking to work, and after three I started walking everywhere else. I got tired of waiting on buses, missing trains so I started leaving an hour earlier. I decided instead of buying a month pass out of convenience; Iwould just track my Metro use and plan from there.

How my life improved: I got more exercise and fresh air. When I walk or bike it is more of an accomplishment, I literally put in the work to get to where I am going.  Not to mention the health benefits of burning a few extra calories during the week.

Savings: Monthly Pass $89, I found I could just spend $45. Savings of $528 a year.

Just by cutting out these three costs I could save up to$2,732 in one year while also improving my life. I do miss the convenience of the Internet and I have always been a little bit of a couch potato. I have also been known to browse through some fancy phones in the store, and when winter rolls around I may not be such a fan of languid strolls to my destination. For now, I am perfectly content being disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the technological world when I am off of work.

How about you? Can you cut out cable and Internet after work hours for a week or even just a weekend? Or what about not relying on your car to get around? Try getting rid of one of these three for a week or the weekend. Can you do it? Let me know!

Comments

[Doug @ CheapScholar.org]

Unfortunately, I think our whole family has become tethered to the luxuries of premium channels, internet access, and yes of course cell phones. It is hard to fathom that they are not "Must Haves" and are merely wants but at the end of the day we could probably live prosperous lives without them.

We did get rid of our land line last month... Does that count as a baby step toward filtering out necessities? ;)

[JeffinwesternWa]

I got an antenna (one time installed, et., about $125) for 24 channels FREE, so no cable, I bike/walk/bus often so I drive less than 6K miles a year,saves a lot but, I'm semi rural w/no bus service and a bit in the country so need a car(Jeep actually:), I have "low cost internet" since it connects me w/ the world for entertainment, more TV, radio, etc., but, it's just $40 (CRICKET Wireless), gave up the landline phone many years ago and have just a limited cell plan that is no roaming in US w/ texting, cost is $37 w/ all taxes. PLUS: try turning (down in winter/up in summer) the thermostat a couple degrees when awake and 5-10' degrees when sleeping (more when gone for several hours) in addition to lowering hot water temp by 5'F. That saves a lot too...

[Dee]

I'm going to be that person and pop in to say that your iPhone costs are exaggerated.

-$30 required data plan

That leaves $100 for minutes and texting. Really? Even if you get unlimited texting ($20) that still leaves $80 for minutes which is a heck of a lot of minutes and hardly an "average" cost, especially when AT&T allows you to keep rollover minutes.

But I like your overall point of evaluating expenses. Even if you get a metro pass for the winter to avoid walking in the cold, you still come out ahead over the year.

[Matt]

Interesting.

Very impractical in my position and point in my life.

I would prefer to fall of the grid but between work, wife and other reasons the electronic teather , interent access and transportation is a fact that can not change. No getting away from it.

[KH]

I'm actually trying to ramp up my use of electronic devices in order to improve my life and increase my free time.

I tend to be a (very) late adopter. Very very very and ridiculously late, like embarrassing. I can afford pretty much anything, but frankly I have better things to do than figure out how to buy and use the latest fancy e-thing.

But it's come to the point where keeping better track of my kids and work email & schedule is worth it to me. So I got a smart phone for me, and text phones for my kids, & I'm trying to figure out how to use them.

High speed internet at home is a lifesaver--it allows me to "appear" to be at work even when, due to my kids and the typical family disasters etc, I'm not. Also the internet is such a time saver for buying stuff and paying bills--yay, no more time-consuming trips to the mall or bank! I love being able to get the kids' school clothes/snow boots/winter coats/snow pants/ etc etc etc shopping done online in a few minutes.

Hooray for technology, I say! I just wish it was more transparent to figure out how to use all the the upgrades.

Next on my list: trade in my awful 5 yo work laptop for something newer and faster. I just hate having to get adjusted to a new touchpad, though.

[MBTN]

Giving up cars altogether may be tough depending upon where you live. However, I do think that it is possible for two car families to give up one car under certain circumstances. Growing up, we only had one car for quite awhile. My mom was a stay-at-home mom and my dad worked. He would take the car during the day to commute to work, and my mom stayed home without one. We either walked or took the bus. Finally got a second car when my mom went back to work.

Also growing up, we never had cable TV either. We had an antenna on the top of our house. My parents did splurge for a VCR so we could at least rent videotapes. When I moved out of the house and got my own apt, I also didn't get cable just because I was used to not having it. I finally ended up with it when I moved in with roommates who had it. After getting married, I continued to get cable mainly because my wife insisted but partially because I was "hooked" after having it with the roommates.

I have toyed with the idea of going cable-less mainly because with Netflix and Internet Video, you can pretty much get whatever programming you want. The main thing that is keeping me with it is the live sports. That is one thing that is hard to get over the net.

[Linda Wright]

If you have kids, internet is a must. Around here, in middle school and up, they don't buy enough textbooks. You are expected to read it online. Yes, you could do it - after schoool or at the library, but that is not always practical.

[Squirrelers]

Interesting post. For me, getting rid of the smartphone could work, and getting rid of cable could work (though my oldest child wouldn't be too fond of that, I imagine). I got rid of the home phone a while ago.

Internet and car? Where I'm at in life these days, I need both.

I commend you for being able to get rid of all. The fewer expenses, the better. Save, save, and save some more.

[BD]

I have no iPhone, no TV, and no car, but I NEED internet, since I use it for my freelance business. Honestly, I don't see how people can live without the internet. It's a source of money (there are so many internet sites to sell things on, and to offer services). If it didn't exist, I'd be on welfare, since I'd have no job, and I wouldn't have any ways of making extra money, other than perhaps digging through trash cans to find cans to recycle?

[Portland, Oregon]

Interesting - I couldn't give up any of those 'luxuries'.

A. I work online. My business is digital. And my costs are much less than yours - DSL, $35/month.

B. iPhone. Again with the digital - I have have a smart phone to be checking on clients digital assets, etc. But data costs again are much much cheaper than yours. I pay 10$ a month of an unlimited data plan, because I've been a long time customer of Tmobile. Thanks Tmobile for being a great service! Total a month: 80$

C. My main form of fun is hiking and biking and snowboarding. I am an outdoors gal. Must have a car to get to all the wonderful outdoor pursuits I enjoy! And no, I'm not pestering friends for rides on the weekend - I'm not in college anymore. Car is owned outright. Insurance: 70$/month.

Sometimes maybe you just need to shop around, rather than give up on 'luxuries'. But I do wish I read more books, and am working on spending time at the library more often.

[crazyliblady]

My husband have lived without cable or satellite tv since 2001. At first, it was out of necessity since we were in severe financial trouble and had to find a way to cut some expenses. We also cut our landline phone, saving us around $40 (I think) a month since then. He uses a cell phone with the least expensive plan we could get and it costs $48 a month. I use a prepaid ordinary cell phone, because I don't use a phone much and could justify a family plan. It has helped me to stay in touch with my hubby when I go on trips for work a few times a year. We do still have internet with a fairly fast connection for about $50 a month and Netflix for $22 a month. If I were not married, I could easily do without internet and use the internet at the library. I could also easily do without Netflix and check out dvds from the library, but I have made some concessions for my husband.