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How Eagle Rockers Are Cutting Back on Personal Spending

From food and gas to entertainment, the cuts are sweeping.

With gas prices near a record high and the economy still insecure, a lot of people are cutting back on their personal spending. Here, based on random interviews conducted yesterday, is what some Eagle Rock residents say they are doing to try to stay within their budgets without drastically compromising their lifestyles:

 

BARBARA KREMINS
Nurse, Chickasaw Avenue

I’ve been cutting way back on food. I just bought some baked goods [from the ] but they're for a friend. I'm also cutting back on transportation. I try to go for fun where it’s not going to cost anything. I’m a member of Descanso Gardens, where I get in free all year—to me, that’s a bargain. I’m careful about gas. If I’m going to do errands, I try to do them in one trip.

 

ARMEN SOUDJIAN
Video Film editor, Vincent Avenue

Driving is a big expense for me. In the past month I’ve been mostly working from home. I’m also cutting back on eating out and mostly eat at home.

 

MIKE PERRY
Student preparing for a career in medical billing and coding, Eagle Rock Boulevard

I’m not eating that much fast food anymore. I go grocery shopping once a month and limit what I buy and stretch it out for the whole month. I try not to make any extra trips to save on gas—I go where I need to go, instead of where I want to go. I used to go to the movies all the time—now I watch a movie in the theater once every two months.

 

ABIGAIL S.
Unemployed, Colorado Boulevard

It’s gotten to the bone—I can’t cut back no more. It’s hard to stay healthy and strong and working. I’ve been cutting back on entertainment—I never have any fun. I would like to go to the beach because I have no air conditioning at home but to get there costs gas. It’s not easy.

 

EDWARD SHAKHGULYAN
Manager, , Eagle Rock Boulevard

You could say I’m cutting back on everything. But the truth is I have no choice to save on anything. Most of my money goes to pay the rent—20 years ago I paid $525, now I pay $1,500. Fortunately, I am able to pay for food and clothing, which is not a big deal.

 

IAN ANGELES
Chef and owner of restaurant, York Boulevard

I’m cutting back on a lot of things. Instead of paying $5 for coffee, I buy a Red Bull energy drink for half the price. I’m not at the beach today because going out is expensive. I still go out for leisure but don’t go snowboarding anymore. I don’t buy DVDs. But I still eat out.

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Cardie Molina April 2, 2011 at 12:04 pm
cutting back on fast food is a good trend as it will cut back on your medical health care costs but cutting back on food? make healthy food a priority, if you don't grow your own...try buying a CSA box of fresh vegetables for $15 instead of overpriced trucked in produce from one of the majors. www.localharvest.org is one place you can find out where. i watch the gas always and the thermometer AC setting at home..
Chip April 2, 2011 at 09:53 pm
Top 5 Ways Eagle Rockers Can Save Money:
1. When you go to the local massage parlor, instead of a Happy Ending, request the less expensive Ambivalent Ending. 2. When re-stocking your medical marijuana at your local collective get a bag of shake instead of the Purple Kush Ganja Supreme. 3. Cancel your cable subscription and instead of watching "Glenn Beck" or "Jersey Shore", attend the monthly Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Meeting for a mash-up of both. 4. Instead of booking that trip to Southeast Asia, head over to Seafood Village in the Westfield Mall, stand in the center of the fsh department, close your eyes and let the Tagalog conversations help you imagine you are on a beach in Manila. 5. Instead of a Double Chili Cheeseburger at Tommy's, just eat the mystery ingredient in one of the tupperware containers at the back your fridge. You'll get the same runs at a fraction of the cost.
Philipp Sander April 3, 2011 at 02:40 am
Chip - at times, your comments are pure satirical genius! Although you are stepping on about half of the human populace's feet, you do find a humorous take on our ER issues. Keep it up! (And tone down on the argumentative posts ;) )
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
marr June 17, 2013 at 01:36 pm
Have seen some posters on telephone poles...looks like they're starting June 30. I think it was alsoRead More in an email from Huizar's office.
Andy June 19, 2013 at 08:05 am
I am A sponsor in the concerts as far as I know it will be taking place...
Ruben Navarro June 19, 2013 at 05:20 pm
Thank you Marr and Andy. I Did see a flyer at the library about the Fourth of July concerts in theRead More park, but does that mean that the other acts, like "Susie Hansen" and others will also be performing on subsequent Sundays? Ruben
Greg June 7, 2013 at 07:12 am
Eagle Rock Patch is probably not where you want to post this. I don't think anybody is interested inRead More seeing more hillside homes.
Hulga June 7, 2013 at 01:11 pm
No one wants more fugly McMansions in beautiful Eagle Rock.
Lydia S.C. June 13, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Appreciate the input, and well received. Thank you.
Ajay Singh (Editor) June 6, 2013 at 12:44 am
Mj: Any witnesses to this incident will probably be key to your attempts to prove your son is notRead More lying. You might want to consider speaking to the parents of the student witnesses to try to ensure that the students will come forward and testify if necessary. If the parents can write—or sign—letters supporting your son's version of events, all the better. Get the letters notarized and send them to the concerned authorities, including at LAUSD and LAPD.
nonoise June 11, 2013 at 07:43 am
Hope you have phone insurance for stolen phones. If not you can file for a claim with LAUSD.
Christina Mc Donald June 16, 2013 at 09:11 am
that is awful when you can't even trust a teacher. I hope somehow she will be held responsible. IRead More feel your frustration. my 7th grade daughter had her i pod stolen off her desk by another student in March, she only had it 2 1/2 months. $300 gone
Elijah H June 3, 2013 at 08:43 pm
Looks as though other Patch editors have removed this from their local Patch listings. Looks like aRead More good precedent to follow:
Elijah H June 3, 2013 at 08:44 pm
Jessica E. Davis moderated article E-course for Weight Loss in E-course for Weight Loss June 3, 2013Read More at 05:35 pm Nicole Mooradian moderated article E-course for Weight Loss in E-course for Weight Loss June 3, 2013 at 05:07 pm David Gurliacci moderated article E-course for Weight Loss in E-course for Weight Loss May 31, 2013 at 04:10 pm Henry Powderly moderated article Free e-course for weight loss in Free e-course for weight loss May 1, 2013 at 10:37 am Geoffrey Walter moderated article Free e-course for weight loss in Free e-course for weight loss April 30, 2013 at 09:16 pm Brendan J. O'Reilly moderated article Free e-course for weight loss in Free e-course for weight loss April 30, 2013 at 08:57 pm
EagleRockMom June 2, 2013 at 07:26 am
I have some questions about this camp: 1. What are the ages kids need to be in order toRead More participate? 2. What are the planned camp themes and activities? 3. How much does this camp cost? 4. Are the camp counsel ours CPR and First Aid certified? 5. Are the camp counselors trained in appropriately managing children? 6. Do the camp counselors have stringent background FBI checks and drug tests?
Scott Martin-Rowe June 4, 2013 at 08:18 pm
Maybe they're moving to the space next door to the Comic Book shop. I'd say that there is a 50/50Read More chance that place becomes a massage parlor. Now that the bike lanes are decided, we need to come together to get these "rub and tug" joints closed.
Scott KS June 7, 2013 at 08:25 am
By the posting I'm assuming that this was known to be a "bad place." I see a lot ofRead More massage "parlors" in the Eagle Rock and Glassell Park area but not a lot of real professional CMT's, which is discouraging since that's my cert and trade.
Elijah H June 7, 2013 at 10:58 am
I'm thinking that this may have something to do with it - from the "Grand Theft Auto"Read More story posted today: "In addition, the vice unit of the LAPD Northeast Community Station arrested four women for alleged prostitution during recent investigations of 10 massage parlors in Eagle Rock, Preciado said. Two others were arrested for running massage parlors without a state massage therapy license, Preciado said, adding that the vice unit has not released the addresses where the 10 massage parlors are located. "
Otto SANTA ANA May 30, 2013 at 10:52 am
We in Eagle Rock are very lucky to have a journalist of your caliber keeping us informed!
Hart Fisher June 4, 2013 at 12:31 am
Ajay's a paid political flack. Journalist? Hardly. Paid political blogger. He's nothing more thanRead More Jose Huizar's paid flunky. Hey Ajay... How much you get paid for political work on the campaign? How much you gettin' paid for your biased vehicle removal coverage? We're curious... You paying taxes on that? "You don't get to vote. Your vote doesn't count." Jose Huizar. to the citizens of Eagle Rock. http://1201beyond.com/archives/hart-attack/hart-attack-004.mp3
Scott Martin-Rowe June 4, 2013 at 08:30 pm
Mr. Fisher, don't you need to work on your 65,000 member podcast blog? Why waste your time trollingRead More The Patch when you obviously question its credibility?