Things I'm going to be cutting back on

OK I accept it-Canada, North America, the world is in a recession.  So I guess I need to do my part and cut back on a few things.  So I am going to start with things that I think are way over-priced at any time, let alone a recession:

• Real estate agents.  How in the name of all that is holy can someone who passes a 6 week course on Financial and Property Management  101 justify charging me over $20,000 after they have spent perhaps 20 hours to sell a $600,000 house?  Come to think of it, no one is buying or selling houses these days so many of these bottom feeders  may go back to doing what they are qualified for -whatever that is. 
• Lawyers.  The last one I hired charged me $300 an hour to tell me something I already knew from the internet.  Mark Twain had it right.
• Veterinarians. Who else but a vet will charge you $200 to tell you that your 14 year old pet may have cancer, $600 to confirm that it has cancer, $2,000 to treat the cancer, $200 to euthanize it 2 months later, another $200 to dispose of its carcass and then 2 months later, send you a lab bill for $200 telling you that your pet died from cancer. Then you receive a reminder 2 months later that your demised pet is due for it's semi-annual check up and flea shots.
• Organic food.  1st of all I don't really believe  any label that claims its product to be organic.  Secondly, organic foods have only been around for a few years and I've already lived over 60 years. If I'm  going to die soon, it's not because I ate something that isn't organic.
• Special coffees.  Actually, I won't sacrifice these, but in future, I'll make my own lattes on my old espresso maker as opposed to putting up with standing in line in a coffee shop that charges $4 for a watered down latte and a bad attitude.
• Any wine priced over $20.  I've had a lot of excellent wines under $20.  If I didn't live in Canada where we pay a ridiculous tax on alcohol, I could lower this price to $10.
• Any tradesman that charges over $40 per hour.  You want $65 an hour?  Forget it pal.  We're in a recession.  Haven't you heard?

I'm sure there are a lot of other things I'll cut back on but these are a start.

Comments

[Mark]

Evidently it's more common to cut back on health insurance than on cigarettes and liquor! See here...

http://www.crackinsurance.com/2008/11/20/when-it-comes-to-saving-money-many-are-willing-to-say-goodbye-to-health-insurance/