Penny-pinchers unite: Post your money-saving tips here

[prolesunited]

I used to be *very* poor and even though I'm a little better off now, I LOVE saving money. It's like a game and a challenge for me. So, what are some ways you save money?

After all, the more money we save, the more we have to donate. :-)

[Blue-Jay]

1. Steal ketchup packets from Zell's.

Hold up a liquor store.
Pee in the back yard to conserve water.
Siphon gas out of your neighbor's car.
Mix cocaine with Drano® before you sell it.
Cook breakfast over a trash fire.
Dine and dash!
Pigeons. The other white meat.

[prolesunited]

3. Wow, sweetie

I never realized how frugal you are. We're gonna be like the millionaires next door. :silly:

[Blue-Jay]

4. I am a man of many talents!

Most of which are totally useless.

[tedoll78]

2. Hehe..

Food:
Ramen noodles - generic!
As a special treat: 88-cent Banquet TV dinners.
Drink water.

Entertainment:
$25/mo Dish Network 50 channel package.
$10/mo dial-up internet.
play and re-play old video games before getting new ones. Be creative in challenging oneself (example: play Zelda 1 without getting a sword.. try it!)

Utilities:
no long-distance carrier.
leave thermostat at ~80 degrees during summer.
leave thermostat at ~60 degrees during winter.
get the smaller city-supplied garbage can (saves ~$4/mo here in Austin).

Transportation:
bike.
bus.
walk.
don't take unnecessary trips.

finance:
pay-off credit cards.


There's my ideas. I'm using most of them while I work to get through school. (sigh..)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. I think you need a hug...

:hug:
:scared: God, after reading that I realize I have it soooo good. I know some great recipes with ramen noodles and Chunky Soup, though, if you're interested.
Duckie

[eleny]

5. Cook meals at home

Bake your own roasts for cold cuts instead of buying at the deli. Way cheaper and taste better.

You can always save in the kitchen. Invite a friend, eat better and still eat for cheaper than restaurants.

[2Design]

6. a few tips of my own

buy busch garden season tickets the summer/fall before that extend through the next year. Only buy ticket every other year that way. You miss out on the spring/early summer every other year.

Get sugar packets from local fast food places. I don't use much so this works.

Go to matinees

Go to dollar movies.

Get free movie tickets when they come out.

Camp

Use coupons of buy one get one free meals and refrigerate the other for a meal the next day.

Use people pc for dial up at 10.95 instead of higher price ones.

Use library books
Read books at barnes and noble instead of buying. Spend rainy days there.

Use antenna instead of cable. You have less channels but save 30-50 dollars a month.

[happynewyear]

13. buy things you need online

I buy stuff via this link www.ebates.com . They send you a check every few months. :D

Today I got a paper shredder, a 4-pack of zip drive disks, a 15 pack of CDRs, a 6-pack of magic tape, 4 reams of paper.

All will be delivered where I live for a grand total of $85.00.

Plus, I get cashback from ebates and they gave me a $20.00 off coupon online a "new customer" to the office supply company I bought the items from. These were all items I need. I never buy things I do not need.

Also, look for deals if buying online - do a search on the words coupon and the name of the store. I've found lots of Barnes & Noble coupons this way in particular.

I saved almost $100.00 this way when I bought my new computer and was charged no delivery fees or tax either! :D

I have plenty of money saving tips ... discount ISPs can be ok, but I'd prefer to pay the $20 and not get kicked offline all the time (gets old fast and no FTP space either :( ). DSL is costly and worth avoiding if you can. ?

I know of a really cheap long distance phone company too. Last months bill was $5.65. Not bad! :D

Compare prices at the stores and go to more than one if its worth it. Try to combine trips and do as much as you can to make it one trip in order to save on gasoline.

Collect coupons to buy items that you normally buy. Shop at places like Costco. Its worth the membership fee if you use it.

It all adds up, every little bit of it.

:dem:

[NMDemDist2]

7. i love thrift stores

find the best ones in your city (in upscale neighborhoods) and buy great clothes there

when my niece moved down here, I set up her whole kitchen with great funky stuff for $32. colorful eclectic dishes, glasses and coffee mugs, serviceable pots and pans and a complete silverware setting for 6

hubby decided to save money and go back to his pipe rather than ciggies

we shopped for a pipe rack and tobacco canister. the cheapest we could find were over $40---we got his whole set up for $2.20

went to the thrift store found 2 great plexiglass canisters that vacuum seal and that he can open with one hand ($0.50 each) and a "grab bag" for $1 that had a pipe rack and other treasures (a sign that says "I'm not Superwife -- Adjust" LOL)

last year we re arranged the bedroom and needed to add a "hi boy" dresser. Found one at the thrift store in great shape, $35

[no_hypocrisy]

8. It's been years since I bought any new item of clothing. Thrift stores

rule. After all, any piece of clothing is new until you wear it and wash it. Then it's "pre-owned".

[prolesunited]

9. I wear petite sizes

and they're hard enough to find in regular stores. However, I NEVER pay full price for clothes. I always shop end of season clearance sales.

This one higher end store that has a decent petites selection will have 70% off sale prices. You do have to hunt around, though and the selection is more limited. The other day I picked up a $280 pinstriped pantsuit for $54. I was please with that. :-)

[Red State Rebel]

35. I love my Thrift Store furniture!

I love to change my decor ever other year so what I did was buy a couch and loveseat at our local Thrift Store for $150.00 and I buy slipcovers to change the look to what I want. I also found some ugly orange vinyl stack chairs like they would have at a banquet room and they were selling them for $2.00 each. I bought about 8 of them and made chair covers for them. They are very easy to make and I can change the look of my dining room in 5 minutes.

[bikebloke]

10. Roll your change as it collects

Don't wait until you have the jar full. When it looks like you have fifty pennies roll them. The same with the other coins. Every six months I have an extra fifty dollars to bank.

At work, some eejit says he'd rather throw away the change than waste his time rolling it. Arrogant rich kid.

[LastKnight]

11. tell him youll take it off his hands...

you can make a trip to the bank every 3 months rather than 6... if hes gonna be stupid about it why not help him with his extra change.

-LK

[YellowRubberDuckie]

27. Two years in a row, we saved change and took a vaca.

We went to Dallas and stayed two nights in the sharaton not too far from downtown. We had a ball.
Duckie

[amazona]

39. DON'T roll it, bag it

It is a serious inconvenience for my bank tellers to accept rolled coins since they have to then break open the rolls to put them in the Jet Sort. Just put them in bags -- pennies in one bag, dimes in another, like that. It saves you time, it saves them time. Coin counters don't work for rolled coins. My bank just takes the bags with my account number written on them and then mails me back a deposit ticket when they have a chance to weigh them and get them properly counted.

If you live in a casino area, you can actually throw nickels, quarters, and 50 centers in one bag or bucket and they can put them through the Jet Sort and in minutes hand you the money. They don't do dimes or pennies though. :-(


The most coins I ever accumulated was over $700 -- yikes! I couldn't even carry all these coins at once time. The security guard at the casino had to look in my box to make sure those were really quarters...he could tell I was carrying in something real heavy because of the strain in my muscles. :-)

[The empressof all]

12. Don't be afraid of discount stores

I'm a big believer in buying quality clothing and will not buy stuff just because it's cheap but I took my daughter into Nordstrom's Rack last week and we picked up two beautiful suede coats for $20.00 each. I thought it was a real find. They were not something I would usually buy but I couldn't pass them up. They will be well worn.

[Speck Tater]

14. Learn the difference between "need" and "want".

And then you'll need less and be content without having to fill so many wants.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. - Lao Tse

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. -- Early American saying.

[Obamarama]

15. Okay, I have never done this, but.....

I think this qualifies for this thread. I just read about this in the most recent issue of Frommer's Budget Travel, where budget travelers write in and give their tips for frugal traveling.

This guy makes cheese sandwiches, butters the outside of the bread, and wraps it in aluminum foil. When he gets to his hotel room at the end of the day, he heats up the iron and puts the foiled sandwich on the ironing board. He then sets the hot iron on the foil-wrapped sandwich, flips it after 5 minutes, then does the other side.
Voila, a grilled cheese.

I thought it sounded sort of whacked at first, but I'm going on the road for business on Wednesday and just for shits and giggles, I'm going to try this one out!

[prolesunited]

16. Well, I certainly would be interested

in hearing the results of your experiment.

No need for that on my part. When I travel on business, we have a $100 daily meal allotment. :wow:

I have had some of the most fabulous meals in my life at upscale restaurants I would probably never even stepped foot in. Unfortunately, the budget is so tight right now, I won't be doing that anytime soon. :-(

[curse10]

17. man, I want a $100 daily meal allotment!

But I'd probably get real fat, real fast :-)

[WillyBrandt]

18. Use "The Keeper"

http://www.keeper.com/

[prolesunited]

19. Interesting tip from a man

I have heard of this, but one of the drawbacks is the insertion and removal (especially) can be quite messy. It certainly would save money. I buy store brands, but tampons and pads are quite expensive.

[WillyBrandt]

21. I was just kidding. My sister has a be-cheap book, and always makes fun

of The Keeper as overkill

[daisygirl]

33. Yeah

I've heard of it before and from a savings and environmental standpoint it sounds good, but then I thought about the logistical problems it could involve and decided not to try it.

[LoZoccolo]

20. There's some "cheapskate" sites on the web.

There's http://www.dealsea.com and some other one I saw that I can't think of, basically it's a portal to good deals on computer stuff. You can find free CDRs after rebate a lot of times.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

22. I always check the website of my school's bookstore before buying books...

They're usually ten dollars cheaper, and they have to honor the lowest price if it has their name on it.
Duckie

[UrbScotty]

24. Turn off every appliance, faucet, and light you are not using.

When you type something on the computer, turn the monitor off while you type. Then turn it back on and check what you have typed.

When you print something, turn the monitor off unless you are using the computer for some other function.

Save money and Save the Earth.

[UTUSN]

25. Eating Out, Drink Order "Water w/Lemon"

Add a packet of sugar substitute, and presto, takes $1.50 or more off each diner's bill.

[DemoTex]

37. Except for Sunday nights at Kathleen's Art Cafe in Dallas (1/2 price nite)

To get the second entree at half-price, you must each buy a drink (wine, beer, or ice tea, etc.). It was one of the best deals in town and we were regulars at Kathleen's on Sunday nights.

We also used restaurant coupons (we got the "Passport" in the mail) whenever we could, often with savings up to 50%. Remember to tip on the menu prices out of courtesy to the wait-staff.

Some restaurants offer "early-bird" dinners (mainly for the seniors). Usually smaller portions (that's good!) at big savings.

[IronLionZion]

26. self-control is good

don't buy stuff you don't need.
ebay/online is your friend. so are thrift stores.
don't buy coffee, ever. make it yourself
cook your own food. ramen with vegetables and chicken bits is a great dinner.
Costco is your friend. buy in bulk
Cut up your credit cards and keep just one or two. pay your bills on time
Banks are your friend. keep your money there. you can invest some of it too if you want
own your living space so you don't pay rent and can sell it later if need be



oh and don't mind me. I'm still in school and don't what I'm talking about.

[cmkramer]

30. More food tips

Develop a taste for other protein sources like legumes. One of my favorite dinners is lentils or beans with ramen noodles or rice. You can add vegetables and/or spices if legumes and rice is a little too bland for your taste. I sometimes put spaghetti sauce or ketchup on mine. And, of course, eggs are also a good source of protein. Also, peanut butter and cheese. Obviously, you can use other starch sources like barley, noodles or couscous too. You don't need to give up meat altogether but try saving it for weekends and/or special occasions. And use up your leftovers. Leftover hot cereal like oatmeal can be formed into patties and fried up the next day -- you can use oil/nonfat cooking spray or butter/margarine. You can do the same thing with legumes and rice although you will need some sort of binder like maybe an egg. Add your favorite condiments and/or cheese if you like. Another thing you can do is add some ketchup to taste to water, add your leftover vegetables, beans,lentils, rice, noodles, etc. in any combination and you have a great "mock tomato soup".

If you must have meat, try ground turkey products. I find they are often cheaper than their beef counterparts. No, they won't make you forget a juicy hamburger with all the trimmings but they are very good once you get past the "ick, it doesn't taste like hamburger" phase. Turkey bacon and sausage is also good.

Also, buy the generic brands since they're usually cheaper than the name brand products. No, they aren't always as good, but they're generally close. That goes for nonfood products too.

The grocery store I go to has a shopping cart with "slashed price" items like dessert cakes, snack products, etc. I once got a package of cornmeal flour for $1 -- and no, it was not riddled with insects. I often get the slashed price snack products and dessert cakes although only if it's something I would buy anyway. Of course, the really smart thing would be to avoid them altogether!

[Tracer]

28. Buy a Pre-Paid Phone Card.

I used to spend $35.00 per month for my long distance carrier.

Then I wised up.

I bought a phone card that had 600 minutes for $24.00.

That was 2 years ago ... and I still have about 400 minutes left. I make very few and very short long-distance calls.

[AmandaRuth]

29. libraries for books, cds, movies

Also cable companies have to offer a basic basic service that they will not tell you about, about $14 a month for the networks and a few other stations, you have to ask for it, it will not be offered to you. That and a $19.99 netflix membership gives my family a better and more useful entertainment package.

Farm stands offer the best fruit and veggies at prices much less (usually) then the grocery stores. A costco membership is worth it.

Don't use surcharge cash machines, you can get cash back, with no surcharge, when using a debit card at places like the grocery store.

take advantage of no interest cc offers, for balance transfers, just be sure to read and read again the fine print.

I will post some others, I am always looking for ways to save a buck.

[daisygirl]

31. Amy Dacyzyn's Tightwad Gazette books

Some of what's in there is a little cracked IMO, but there's a lot of good suggestions. (I might have her last name spelled wrong, but the books are the Tightwad Gazette vols 1, 2 & 3).

[Misunderestimator]

32. Always... ALWAYS put aside a portion of money that is the same amount

every paycheck into a savings account or credit union that you never touch except in emergencies. Doesn't matter if it's $25 or $300... whatever you know you can afford to do without. If you do that, you will never get used to seeing the cash in your regular checking account and it will be there when/if you ever need it, and serve as a really nice nest egg if you don't.

[flamingyouth]

34. I have a business license

And I know a lot of sales reps in the clothing/accessories business. I don't think I've paid retail for one of my numerous purses in almost 10 years. (It's an addiction, it's sad, I know). :)

And sample parties! Oh, don't even get me started on those...

Most of all, I am a coupon queen. I have been working at it extra hard lately. :)

[baldguy]

36. No hair - no shampoo.

[prolesunited]

40. I think I'll pass on that one

if you don't mind. :-)

[DemoTex]

38. Grow a garden. Freeze vegetables. Move from high tax areas.

Freeze good left-overs and eat them. Organize your freezer so you can find things and have them labeled and dated. To that end, avoid chest-type freezers. After they are more than about 1/3 full, what ever is on the bottom is in never-never land.

I buy good meat in bulk. It is not the cheapest meat in town, but it is a huge savings relative to eating out. My eating out has dropped by 95% since moving to the mountains. I cook sensible portions from the freezer and eat the left-overs.

Dr. D and I eat out a night or two a month in Greenville. We eat home-cooked when she is in the mountains (2-3 nights a month). She eats on expense account the 20-25 nights a month that she is traveling (that's when I am alone, with the dogs, in the mountains). The savings on our Amex bill from our restaurant habit in Dallas more than pays for the mountain house mortgage and related expenses. The savings in property taxes over what we paid in Dallas more than pays for the Greenville condo. Our property taxes in Dallas were 4 times the combined property taxes of the mountain house and the Greenville condo.

[prolesunited]

41. Wow!

Taxes in Dallas must be outrageous. When I bought my house, I was paying very low property taxes, but they overhauled the tax code and switched the tax burden from business and industry to homeowners (They went from paying 42% to 18%.) and we got totally slammed.

Between paying back taxes, building up escrow, and paying current escrow, my monthly payment increased $400. :wow: It will go back down once I get caught up (And I'm thankful that my mortgage company is pretty much floating me for a year without charging me interest.) but this totally sucks.