What's next? My blood?

[Nurian]

Due to me having been fired, my wife and I had to make a few cuts to survive and pay rent.

Specifically: The Xbox 360 and our 360 games.

I'm thoroughly crushed. I feel as though there's nothing else that life can take from me that will surprise me anymore. I have reached the point (again) where I seriously wonder if it's really worth fighting.

[Lindsey]

That sucks, Nurian. :( You'll get through it.. keep fighting! Someday you'll have those games back and everything else too.

[Evil Queen]

Selling the system and games already? Isn't that a little drastic?

I'd clean out the closets and attic first; it's getting to be spring and this is the season for yard sales. Maybe thin out the DVDs, anything you haven't watched in the last 30 days. Does your computer play DVDs? Sell the DVD player; hell the Xbox plays DVDs. You're not "unemployed" you're "thinning out your junk" so you can move, get extra money for "vacation" or "planning on upgrading soon".

[draggar]

I've always looked at selling things like that as a very short term fix. How much didyou get for the system and games (did you mean you had 360 (number) games or games for the 360?).

You need to look for month-to-month savings - cable TV, internet, phones, shopping for insruance, cars, cutting back on food (buying store brands etc..).

Even if you get $500 for the games and system that won't last long but if you both have a cell phone and coverage at home - why keep the home phone? Look around for other internet alternatives. Even if you can shave off $50 a month in savings, that's long term (plus you can continue with the savings when the financial situation gets better).

[AnaKhouri]

We're champions at saving money since Husband was brought up in a very thrifty household and I was brought up poor. Yard sale or Craigslist is a great idea, you'd be surprised how much you can make on those. Coupons are your friend as are grocery store circulars. Do you have two cars? Do you need two cars? Stop driving one for a while to save on gas and maintenence. Cable/satellite? Netflix? Don't need it. Draggar is right about not needing a landline. You can get rid of your Internet too, libraries have free access and many places offer WiFi if you have a laptop. Any collector-type stuff you could sell online? Recycling that could earn you a little money? Mow lawns around the neighborhood? I've done all this stuff to get by, it sucks but it works. It's also surprising just how much you can save by taking short showers and turning off the lights when you're not in the room or not using the air conditioning!