Would you be interested in writing a guest article that follows on from my original post, eg; a Part 2 of the 20 things you can live without?

1. Pay TV – don’t have it. Won’t ever get it. It’s too easy for me to get fat and lazy watching all those shows. Plus, it’s a waste of money.

2. Junk Food – don’t buy it. Since Maccas stopped cooking their fries in beef tallow, they taste like cardboard. And if I want a burger, I’ll make it at home where it will taste much better.

3. Shop Bought Coffee And Tea – this one I do. I budget for a Starbucks coffee 5 days a week. I commute into the city, buy a coffee and walk the 1.5kms to the city fringes where I work. That way, I get the exercise I need (but usually loathe) along with a yummy, leisurely cup of coffee that actually stays hot. This is actually cost effective because the $25 or so I spend every week is cheaper than gym fees.

4. CD and DVD purchases – I do this as well, but I only buy once a month and limit myself to maximum $50. I count it as part of my entertainment expenses because I rarely go out.

5. Bought lunch at work – doesn’t happen, I brown bag every day.

6. Alcohol – rarely drink it. I like alcohol, but not enough to pay the outrageous prices the booze companies charge.

7. Cigarettes and tobacco – never smoked in my life, not about to start.

8. Designer shampoos and conditioners – never buy them. What’s on sale at the supermarket works just as well.

9. Large mobile phone bills – I have prepaid and I rarely top it up anyway.

10. Hiring DVDs – I do this as part of my entertainment budget. I only spend $14.95 a month with Bigpond. Worth every cent.

11. Eating takeway – don’t do it (see point 2)

12. Gym memberships – don’t do it (see point 3)

13. Expensive dog food – don’t do it, I don’t have any pets and I’m not interested in getting any.

14. Going over broadband allowance – don’t have internet at home. I’m connected at work all the time. When I’m home, I like to withdraw from the world.

15. Credit cards – have two ($5K and $3K). They were necessities due to major life changes that I wasn’t prepared for. Paying them off at $50 a week each, plus minimum balance every month. So they are fast becoming history. After that, no more credit cards.

16. A Car – don’t have one, won’t be getting one.

17. Expensive cars (see above)

18. Lights during the day – never happens. I’m usually at work and on the weekends, I open the blinds and it’s enough.

19. Heating during the day – doesn’t happen. I live in Brisbane.

20. Soft drinks and juice – I occasionally buy Pepsi Max, but that’s maybe once every few months. I buy a 1.25L bottle and when I’m finished, I’m done for a long time.