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Getting Past “ID BE NICE”

© Kari Lomanno

In my family, it seems to get harder and harder to break even financially. But just when we think we can't cut back any more, we always find something else to eliminate from our monthly expenditures.

Last month, for example, we finally got rid of every one of our home telephone's calling features. My husband and I both have cell phones with free caller ID and voice mail, so we realized that having those same features on our home phone was an extra expense we just didn't need. We have made sure all of our family members can reach us if they need to, and everyone else can simply call back.

How do we decide what we can give up and what we really need? I always use the "ID BE NICE" test. If you can start a sentence by saying, "It'd be nice if we could see who was calling us before we answered the phone," then you know that's not really a necessity. But if you honestly must say, "We HAVE to know who is calling because we are in the Witness Protection Program," then you know it's an expense you have to bear.

We know, for example, that we MUST have cell phones because I am out alone a lot with the kids, and cell phones are essential for the safety of our family. We also know we MUST have Internet service so that we can do business online in order to make money. On the other hand, we realize that ID BE NICE to be able to get online without having to wait for our dial-up service, but a cable modem or DSL just isn't necessary for our daily routine. It's an expense we can do without.

Try the ID BE NICE test in your own household to see what you can eliminate from your daily expenses. Be honest with yourself - sometimes something you take for granted as a necessity is really an ID BE NICE in disguise. I paid high phone bills for years, thinking voice mail was completely necessary, until my husband pointed out that we were paying for voice mail on two different phones. DUH! Calling features are definitely an ID BE NICE.

Along those same lines, here is a money-saving hint I discovered this past Earth Day: Take advantage of all those energy-conservation tips offered by the environmental organizations. They not only help save the Earth - they save money, too! For instance, I was given a free "shower timer" during last week's Earth Day celebration. It's a little sand timer that sticks to the shower wall to help you take a 5-minute shower. This could save something like 1,000 gallons a month. Imagine what that could do to your water bill as well!