We are not frugal people, but neither are we spendthrifts. At least I don't think we are. My husband's pickup truck is more than 10 years old, and I'm finishing up a six-year car loan. We haven't taken a family vacation since 2001, and I own fewer than a dozen pairs of shoes.

But we do not want and, in fact, we live well and eat well, and why not? We work darn hard for our money and deserve a certain degree of comfort, right? Consequently, like many Americans, we haven't been good savers, and over the years we've also managed to fritter away any windfalls from home sales, tax refunds and minor inheritances. And now that we're nearing the end of our daughter's first year in college, it's getting a little sticky.

I've adapted well to the home-lunch plan and instituted a 50 percent cutback in pedicures. Formerly an avid recreational shopper, I avoid Costco, Ross, Macy's and the mall. My husband quit his golf club and I dropped out of the gym, settling for brisk morning dog walks.

A once active dining-out and entertainment agenda has been replaced with family game nights and an occasional bargain matinee. I'm down to a single magazine subscription.

Some things are harder to sacrifice, like a longtime hairstylist who can knock 10 years off your face with the wave of her magic coloring wand. Few relationships are as precious as the bond between a woman and her hairdresser, and once you find a good one, you don't let go. Mine works at a pricey salon, and each visit sets me back well over $100. I've rationed my appointments but am not quite ready to give in to gray, so the belt-tightening will have to come from somewhere else.

The cable TV bill is an embarrassing $150 a month, a third of which pays for Internet access. I'm ready to try dial-up to save a few bucks, since my son is the main computer user at home, and anything that would get him to spend less time online is a good thing.

So we can live with dial-up, but can we live with basic cable? That would mean canceling digital cable service, HBO, HBO On-Demand, Starz and Encore. Starz is only $7 per month with HBO, and Encore only $4. I lose that much in loose change in my car each month, and since we hardly go out anymore, it doesn't seem an unreasonable cost.

Still, $150 a month for TV and Internet access? But just when we're ready to get out of the cable racket, they pull us back in by launching the final run of "The Sopranos."

Drop HBO to save money for our daughter's college education?

Fuggedaboutit.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.