Money Saving Tips! What are yours?

[GardeningGal]

In this economy when things are not looking so great, what are you doing to save money or cut costs?

Switching from a landline home phone to cellphone only.

Changing from unlimited calling and all the bells and whistles to just basic home phone.

Raising your insurance deductible.

Getting coupons off a website.

Would love to hear what people are doing. Maybe we can give eachother some ideas.

 

[DoWhat]

In this economy when things are not looking so great, what are you doing to save money or cut costs?

Switching from a landline home phone to cellphone only.

Changing from unlimited calling and all the bells and whistles to just basic home phone.

Raising your insurance deductible.

Getting coupons off a website.

Would love to hear what people are doing. Maybe we can give eachother some ideas.

I pee outside, saves water.

 

[bresamil]

We cancelled satellite tv and watch programs via the internet.

Killed the landline and went to cell phone with unlimited for 50 a month.

Buy in bulk when cost effective - know the math because its not always the bargain they claim.

Combine all trips out when possible to save gas.

Thermostat at 65 in winter and 80 in summer.

Unplug anything that isn't being used and train the household to turn off lights.

Learn to sew. Learn to can. Learn to cut hair.

Coupons!!

Making restaurants a rare treat and not a routine.

Cut the entertainment budget.

Just some things we've been doing over here.

 

[Wenchy]

I shop sales and stock up on meat and canned items when on sale.

Pee? I don't flush to save on water. Poo? Gotta flush. You're either running your well dry or paying for each flush.

If a man asks me out, I'm going to go. Free food.

Train your kids to turn off the water when they brush their teeth. Waste!

 

[GardeningGal]

Bresamil: Thank you. Some good tips. I do a good number of those, but it's best if I stay away from cutting hair and I don't know if I could deal with setting the thermostat at 65 in winter and 80 in summer. hmmm.

How do you feel about only having a cellphone and no landline? Was that hard to get used to? A worry I have about that is when cellphone service is down. Power outages.

 

[ProfMoneyWise]

In this economy when things are not looking so great, what are you doing to save money or cut costs?

Switching from a landline home phone to cellphone only.

Changing from unlimited calling and all the bells and whistles to just basic home phone.

Raising your insurance deductible.

Getting coupons off a website.

Would love to hear what people are doing. Maybe we can give eachother some ideas.

Make sure you have that cash for the deductible available if you do.

Evaluate the difference in price on this one prior. Sometimes the amount of risk transferred back to you in the form of the increased deductible is not worth the savings.

Example. If you raise a deductible from $500 to $1000 and the savings is $10 per month you need to go 50 months without needing your insurance to break even.

 

[ProfMoneyWise]

Stop paying more for things than is being asked in the form of interest.

Ask for deals by using cash.

Get on a budget and give every dollar a name before you send it out the door to do a job.

Anything not producing revenue for you is fair game. Make a list down the left side of the page starting with shelter, food, utilities, basic transportation and then prioritize from there all expenses you have.

Down the right side of the page assign dollar values to each.

Start to evaluate from the bottom of the list up as to what needs to be cut.

Wants and Needs have never been more in play than they are right now.

We are making less of it. The Government wants more of it. We need more of it. Makes no sense to waste any of it. Never has.

 

[libby]

In this economy when things are not looking so great, what are you doing to save money or cut costs?

Switching from a landline home phone to cellphone only.

Changing from unlimited calling and all the bells and whistles to just basic home phone.

Raising your insurance deductible.

Getting coupons off a website.

Would love to hear what people are doing. Maybe we can give eachother some ideas.

Great thread idea! I'm putting laundry out, towels always, and clothes as much as possible. We are a large family and we've switched to ammonia to clean bathrooms instead of the pricier Lysol, Pine Sol, etc.
Menu items have changed. No more Panera bagels for breakfast...ever! Store brand oatmeal at the commissary is $1.50, and our family eats breakfast for a week. (not to say I make them eat that every day). I've also learned to bake potatoes the night before, and open them up in the morning for fried potatoes for b-fast. Onions, peppers and cheese make them tasty.
Thermostat as close to 62-64 as possible. We are bundled up, but this has been our effort all winter and we do seem to be getting used to it.

 

[MMDad]

Great thread idea! I'm putting laundry out, towels always, and clothes as much as possible. We are a large family and we've switched to ammonia to clean bathrooms instead of the pricier Lysol, Pine Sol, etc.
Menu items have changed. No more Panera bagels for breakfast...ever! Store brand oatmeal at the commissary is $1.50, and our family eats breakfast for a week. (not to say I make them eat that every day). I've also learned to bake potatoes the night before, and open them up in the morning for fried potatoes for b-fast. Onions, peppers and cheese make them tasty.
Thermostat as close to 62-64 as possible. We are bundled up, but this has been our effort all winter and we do seem to be getting used to it.

Not to mention that your hubby isn't allowed to go to Red Robin any more.

 

[dave1959]

I pee outside, saves water.

Too cold...I just dont flush.

 

[lovinmaryland]

increasing your deductible DOES NOT save you that much money in the long run (a couple dollars a month)...especially if you were to have a claim you'd need to come up w/ that bigger deductible amount.

 

[lovinmaryland]

We dont eat out often (birthdays or special occassions) but if we do we try to join the restaurants "club" Red Robin gives you a free burger on your birthday. Same thing w/ Ruby Tuesday.

 

[slotpuppy]

I dont allow my wife to go into any store that sells shoes. Saves a lot of money.

 

[mAlice]

Stop spending.

 

[GardeningGal]

Great Ideas and feedback everyone! My ideas in starting the thread were just to open the door. That makes alot of sense about the deductible.

I now "chase" the grocery store adds and stock up on the things we always use.
I have a foodsaver and buy in bulk when meats are on sale and seal and freeze everything.

I also buy most of my meats at Nicks in Prince Frederick when they are on sale...or Giant, sometimes Walmart.

Another idea is to check with your bank to make sure your not paying a service fee for your checking/savings acct. many ways to avoid that.

 

[GardeningGal]

Stop paying more for things than is being asked in the form of interest.

Ask for deals by using cash.

Get on a budget and give every dollar a name before you send it out the door to do a job.

Anything not producing revenue for you is fair game. Make a list down the left side of the page starting with shelter, food, utilities, basic transportation and then prioritize from there all expenses you have.

Down the right side of the page assign dollar values to each.

Start to evaluate from the bottom of the list up as to what needs to be cut.

Wants and Needs have never been more in play than they are right now.

We are making less of it. The Government wants more of it. We need more of it. Makes no sense to waste any of it. Never has.

Excellent Tips. Love the list idea.

 

[bresamil]

Bresamil: Thank you. Some good tips. I do a good number of those, but it's best if I stay away from cutting hair and I don't know if I could deal with setting the thermostat at 65 in winter and 80 in summer. hmmm.

How do you feel about only having a cellphone and no landline? Was that hard to get used to? A worry I have about that is when cellphone service is down. Power outages.

For the temps - I own sweatshirts and sweaters so winter isn't too bad. I grew up without A/C so 80 isn't bad for me.

Phone was the easiest change. I keep it charged and its on Verizon which is the best for my neighborhood. I also have a car charger in case power is out for an extended period of time.

 

[getbent]

For the temps - I own sweatshirts and sweaters so winter isn't too bad. I grew up without A/C so 80 isn't bad for me.

Phone was the easiest change. I keep it charged and its on Verizon which is the best for my neighborhood. I also have a car charger in case power is out for an extended period of time.

I actually like the house a little cooler in the winter. I like throwing on my fav sweatshirt and cuddling up under a blanket. I do not like to be cold in the summer though. I can deal with it a little warm inside.

 

[aps45819]

I reuse Q-tips until I can convert them to candles

 

[somdfunguy]

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