Well, knowing most of us do not have money falling out of our ears, I thought that this would be a great way to share money saving tips. I thought that a “never ending” would be a good idea due to people come up with new ideas and new products come along.
So, let’s here them, how do you save money?
When compassion exceeds logic for too long, chaos will ensue. - Unknown
Eat a diet that has substantially less meat in it than the average american diet.
Refrain from eating out.
Throw all loose change into a "change jar'. Cash it in when it is full. You; be surprised how much you can save.
Dude, I'm cheesing so hard right now.
no cable or satellite tv - its not worth the extra moola per month
cheap, reliable car that is paid-off
I'm sorry. Is my bias showing?
Set up an automatic savings and/or investment account. Have the $$$ taken right out of your paycheck - don't even let it touch your checking account!
All these years the people said he’s actin’ like a kid.
He did not know he could not fly, so he did.
- - Guy Clark, "The Cape"
Ditto - and don't hook an ATM card to that account.Originally posted by SGB
Go out with friends for breakfast, or coffee and pie - but not lunch or dinner - too expensive to eat out.
And this doesn't apply to Michaelskis - yet - but Toys R Us diapers are just as good as huggies or pampers! :-P
Never water your lawn.
Make sure your home is well insulated, and has shade trees to cut down on cooling bills in the summer.
Would-be parents, be sure your home is in a good school district so you don't end up shelling out for 6 years of private school, like I have.
Use the library instead of buying.
- Stay single
- Don't have kids
- Get someone else to buy lunch
A word to the wise ain't necessary. It's the stupid ones that need the advice.
--Bill Cosby
...I know it sounds crazy but I buy stuff that I may not be in immediate need of but is priced so low that it defies logic not to buy it.
This works well for clothes and housewares - I've got some of the best deals on things when I wasn't really in the market to buy. Classic example: end-of-season clothing close-outs, etc.
Obviously, the test is to ask will you need it eventually and when and if your budget can tolerate it.
Or, as the old saying goes..."Living cheaply is the best revenge."
I wait three months beween haircuts instead of two. That way, I only go four times a year instead of six. This saves me about $25.
More
1. Buy Microwave lunches, such as Lean Cuisine, whenever they are on sale. (Usually $1 each)
2. Try and keep the thermostate below 65 in winter (though my wife keeps putting it back up to 68)
3. Sneak pop into theaters (but only the big chains).
4. Have a credit card that gives rebates. Since 1994, I have recieved over $700 in rebates in free gas! (Which is the same as cash, because you have to buy gas). Of course, I pay my balances in full every month too.
5. Ditto. The last change jar (nickes, dimes and quarters only) had over $600 in it. (Took about three years to fill up). We rolled the money ourselves rather than pay that 10% commission at places like Coinstar. For pennies, I just go to coinstar because the 10% is worth it. Had over $60 (after commissions) in my last penny jar.Throw all loose change into a "change jar'. Cash it in when it is full. You; be surprised how much you can save.
6. On vacation - stay at cheap motels only. Or better yet, camp. Places such as Motel 6 often have better amenities and service than some of the high priced hotels. For example, you get free HBO and a huge breakfast selection at Super 8, which take Entertainment Cards, thus bringing in even more savings. Try doing that at an Adam's Mark or Westin. Plus you're less likely too have to deal with snobs who are so high maintenance they can only stay at posh hotels.
7. Drive a compact car. I still have my '93 Ford Escort which gets 29MPG in the city and up to 40 on the highway.
8. Cut back on dining out, and never buy alcohol at restaurants. You can get a whole six pack of your favorite beer for what you'll pay for one bottle at most eating establishments.
Last edited by NHPlanner; 02 Jun 2004 at 1:07 PM.
I'm probably one of the last people to give advise on how to save money. Granted, I'm a good money manager and am never really broke, but man do I often spend it needlessly. I know that I would save a wad of money if I didn't eat out for lunch every day, but cooking for one doesn't often leave enough left overs for the next day and one can eat only so many turkey sandwiches. It's an unnecessary expence but going out for food and drinks is one of my favorite things to do.
Still there are some things I do to help save money, like...
-- Direct deposit into savings account at employee credit union. They have much better rates than the banks.
-- Buy clothes only when they're on sale and even then try to buy them at the end of the season. Do you know how cheaply you can buy a winter coat in April (northern hemispher only).
-- Save your change
-- Drive a reliable and fuel efficient car. God bless Honda!
I have done some pretty wierd things in the name of 'saving money'. All of my fun do-it-yourself activities have been justified in this manner. I once ground my own grain for flour to make real homemade bread (Duke, if you're reading this, I'm sure you've got a grain mill - you ever done this?). Routinely brew my own beer. I got a line on some raw milk and rennet once and made my own cheese (it was runny). Actually grew my own fibrous plants which were used to make jute (rope). Made my own candles.
The $20,000 question: did these activities save me any money? Maybe, but that's not why one should do them.
People will miss that it once meant something to be Southern or Midwestern. It doesn't mean much now, except for the climate. The question, “Where are you from?” doesn't lead to anything odd or interesting. They live somewhere near a Gap store, and what else do you need to know? - Garrison Keillor
Shop at Wal-Mart. B-)
Us too! Exxon Mobil Master Card rebates you 3% on their gas, and 1% on all other purchases. We use our card for basically groceries and gas and home depot and get at least $20 in free gas each month.
Check your credit union - ours lets members use the Coinstar machine for free!
Also - if you have children, look into Upromise.com You can register your credit cards/grocery savings card to get a percentage of your purchases deposited into a 529 educational savings account for your kids which you can also set up online. Parents and Relatives can link their accounts to yours. We've saved over $100 for Jack's college, just by buying gas, cereal, and eating at our favorite restaurant. And my brother joined and linked to our account as well. Very cool.
When eating out only order water.
Gave up drinking beer and hard drinks 10 yrs ago - just think how much money I saved.
Never smoked or liked wine - even more money saved.
Paid a little extract each month when I could on student and car loan - paid off like 3 months early - improved credit rating.
Have Credit Cards that offer frequent flyer miles, bought Kellogg's cereal for AA miles coupons and have used them. http://www.kelloggs.com/promotions/a...nes/home.shtml
Have not bought a new tie for work in 10 yrs.
Have not bought a new bike in 15 yrs.
Dropped Collision on car insurance on a 10 yr old 122,000 mile car.
Oddball
Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?
Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?
Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
From Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Are you sure you're not hurt ?
No. Just some parts wake up faster than others.
Broke parts take a little longer, though.
From Electric Horseman (1979)
Yeah ours is 3%/1% too.
I used to have this Amoco card that paid 2% back on all other purchases. 2%!
It lasted about a year. I remember in 1996, when we were out west for a month, half of the vacation showed up on one statement and we got 2% back. But the balance of the trips expenses showed up on the next statement and by then Amoco had revised their contract to 1% like most everyone else.
But that 2% was sure fun while it lasted.
I go for live-in positions on college campuses... it helps when you have free housing, meals, gym, and access to the cultural attractions of a university. I don't have a car either.
My cell phone bill and health insurance are really my only regular expenses. The cell phone bill is much cheaper than what I'd do in long distance from a land line if I used that instead.
I love to eat out, so it's not something I'd ever refrain from doing unless I were in debt, which I'm not close to yet... It's all about priorities 'cause I can definitely go without a car and a TV. I have no desire for either of them, but it wouldn't be life if I couldn't eat takeout Chinese, burritos the size of my head, cheesesteaks, Hawaiian pizza... aw I just love food too much and love gathering at a restaurant to eat with friends. DVD collections and air conditioning will never amount to that.
Try to drive at the speed limit.
Stay sober enough to walk home from town instead of getting a taxi.
Return library books and DVDs on time.
Don't crash into other people's cars - it increases your premium.
Stay away from shoe shops
Buy multi-saver discount cards for pool/gym/movies/DVDs etc (and blocks of chocolate instead of bars.... hmm not sure that one works!)
Tell me about it.I've probably paid over $80 this past year in fines of overdue library books and movies as well as late fees paid at video stores.
Needless to say, I'll be voting againsts the next library levy. The real reason is that they have too much money (for flashy new buildings, bloated exec. salaries, and parking lots and demolition of houses) but at least my now conscience will be clear knowing that I've paid more than my fair share in GD fines.
I make buddies of the librarians. I have only been charged $.10 in fines in the last 8 years even though I am consistently late with the books.Tell me about it.
Needless to say, I'll be voting againsts the next library levy. The real reason is that they have too much money (for flashy new buildings, bloated exec. salaries, and parking lots and demolition of houses) but at least my now conscience will be clear knowing that I've paid more than my fair share in GD fines.
OT: A proposed doubling of the homestead exemption on property taxes here will wipe out our libraries.
WOW you are all cheap b*stards!
Best I can add is,
1) order the rail vodka instead of the Citron in your martini.
2) run the SUV on mid grade instead of premium every other tank.
3) get the employer to pay for everything you can. expense accounts rule.
Excuuuuse me, and cheap b**ches, too!
I have only one suggestion.
Don't date outside of your socio economic/style class, unless the other person is paying.
Like I really needed/wanted a pair of obscenely expensive designer jeans.
Too lazy to beat myself up for being to lazy to beat myself up for being too lazy to... well you get the point....
Thank-you, but you are not the first to call me that.
Oddball
Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?
Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?
Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
From Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Are you sure you're not hurt ?
No. Just some parts wake up faster than others.
Broke parts take a little longer, though.
From Electric Horseman (1979)
Hell, I'm so cheap I don't even wear pants. Er... forget that.
I have been trying to set aside $1500 each month into a savings account. Unfortunately, I then go out and do things like spend $3500 on two couches and a chair. Of course, if the Lazy Boy is comfortable enough I won't want to get out of it and then won't be spending money. Instead, I will be putting on weight. Maybe I should go out and buy a new bike. D'oh!
Anyone want to adopt a dog?
Amen to that! My current girlfriend is a total logo whore. If it doesn't have some mass market designer's stamp of approval just like the clothes worn by 80% of the other sheep, she doesn't want it.
As far as saving goes: RICE! It's hard to live on it alone, but it is unbelievible how cheap the stuff is. It works best as a base upon which to build a meal. It is filling and will cost you probably about $.15 per meal (if you by the big bags and not the premeasured gourmet seasoned rice meal kits) and save you a couple of dollars in other ingredients you would have consumed instead. A rice cooker was one of the best investments I made back when I was unemployed.
As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. - H.L. Mencken
Quote
