OT:Saving Tip of the Day

[Foofoogal]

I had an idea. What do y'all think about a saving tip of the day. We could put how we saved money each day. Don't laugh. I am on a mission to save. I think this is vintage thinking.
Here are mine and how we saved money today.

1. Was at the store and saw if I bought 24 unwrapped pieces of cheese I could get it for same price as 16 wrapped. So I bought the 24 and seperated into 2 baggies of 12. Me and honey are the only ones in our household so not too worried about opening fifteen times like when one has children at home.
2. Our hot water heater broke down so instead of going out to buy a new one not made as well probably as old one, honey replaced the elements in it for $40.00 and thermostat for about $20.00.

so what did you do to save today.

 

[pgoat]

I read these tips from time to time - can't always stick to 'em all but every lil bit helps.

My wife and I wash and reuse zip loc bags. I usually get about 4-5 uses outta them for food (bringing a sandwich to work), then I use them for other stuff, like carrying a spare tube for my bicycle.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Check your grocery store receipts!

Mine didn't seem right last week...and I found out I was overcharged $15!

So, I now double check all my items.

 

[Miss 1929]

Suddenly, I am frugal...

as suddenly, I am unemployed... so while no money is coming in I am loathe for it to go out!

I am also washing and reusing the plastic bags, and I am not missing having nice perfect new ones at all.

We also started buying our meat in gigantic pieces, and cutting it up ourselves, that makes it about half the price per pound.

And I am about to put in the basic veggies (later than I wanted) which will save a bit on weekly stuff like lettuce, tomatoes, green beans - we have a long growing season here. We also are on the hunt for a cheap freezer for the basement so we can garden larger scale and freeze for later use.

And mostly, we have stopped eating out so much! if friends want us to come out for dinner, we demur and ask them to stop in for drinks on the way back, or we meet them for dessert only, that keeps the damage to a minimum.

 

[Foofoogal]

We also are on the hunt for a cheap freezer for the basement

I am a freezerholic and always buy my meat in bulk on sale and seperate.
After my bed and washing machine and dryer the freezer is the 4th. most important piece of furniture in our home.

 

[DrSpeed]

Quit smoking!

 

[BeBopBaby]

This is going to sound super cheap, but I cut dryer sheets in half. Still works just as good and you get twice as much use from a box.

I rarely use ziploc bags anymore. Instead I use a reseable plastic container and re-use it. I've pretty much eliminated anything disposable from the lunch I take to work. All utensils, packaging, etc. is brought home and washed and reused.

I've been on a misson to eliminate disposable things from my life. I reuse newspapers to clean mirrors and windows with (the rest of the papers are recycled). Or I use a rags for cleaning that I wash and use again instead of paper towels.

 

[Caroline]

To save money today, I made my own yogurt yesterday. It's fairly easy to be honest. I got one of those little yogurt makers off of amazon for $9 and it's pretty much a low heating unit. You just need starter yogurt, milk, and a little powdered milk for insurance. Ideally you could keep making new batches from the original yogurt but that rarely works for me. Saves a ton of money though, less sugar, fewer yogurt cups mucking up the planet. All good.

 

[BeBopBaby]

I also try to empty my purse of loose change as much as possible. I put it all in a bank on my dresser and when the bank is full, I cash it in. You'd be amazed at how fast the change adds up if you do this every night or every couple of days. Because it's loose change, I really don't miss it from my purse that much. I usually end up with $40-$60 bucks each time I cash in the change.

 

[pgoat]

Quit smoking!

Bless you.

No offense to any tobacco farmers here, but that's one industry I wouldn't mind seeing go belly-up.

 

[pgoat]

as suddenly, I am unemployed... so while no money is coming in I am loathe for it to go out!

I am also washing and reusing the plastic bags, and I am not missing having nice perfect new ones at all.

Me neither...though it definitely helps to buy the decent bags with zip or press-lock tops....it still comes out cheaper in the end.

 

[pgoat]

I also try to empty my purse of loose change as much as possible. I put it all in a bank on my dresser and when the bank is full, I cash it in. You'd be amazed at how fast the change adds up if you do this every night or every couple of days. Because it's loose change, I really don't miss it from my purse that much. I usually end up with $40-$60 bucks each time I cash in the change.

we do this too - it amounts to $50-100 in only a few months. Pays for our laundry, emergency prescription co-pay or an occasional pizza delivery.

 

[pgoat]

This is going to sound super cheap, but I cut dryer sheets in half. Still works just as good and you get twice as much use from a box.
.

That's a great idea - I'm gonna do this - thanks!

 

[Story]

Live Green-er

Make a shopping list of the odds-and-ends you need for various household jobs.

Share it with your friends, take theirs in exchange.

Get outside and get some fresh air on trash night (you'd be amazed at the usable items people throw away) or, if you're shy, consult your local Craigslist "Free" section.

http://www.amazon.com/Science-Dumpster-Diving-John-Hoffman/dp/1559500883

 

[Naama]

To save money today, I made my own yogurt yesterday. It's fairly easy to be honest. I got one of those little yogurt makers off of amazon for $9 and it's pretty much a low heating unit. You just need starter yogurt, milk, and a little powdered milk for insurance. Ideally you could keep making new batches from the original yogurt but that rarely works for me. Saves a ton of money though, less sugar, fewer yogurt cups mucking up the planet. All good.

You can also make yogurt with kefir! (or can you produce more kefir with kefir and milk not sure....)
My mother had a funny story with kefir. When she went to india in the 70's, she left some kefir in the refrigerator, while she was away, some relatives stayed at her place, they where pretty broke at that time, when she came back (I'm not sure how long she stayed, but quite a while) she saw that they where still using her kefir and produced so much yogurt that all the time, they where even making soup out of it lol



Naama

 

[Joie DeVive]

This is going to sound super cheap, but I cut dryer sheets in half. Still works just as good and you get twice as much use from a box.

Or if you're feeling really daring, you could go without fabric softener at all. Not long after I was married, I forgot to put it in one week, and didn't really notice a difference. [huh] We've been going without it ever since.

Alternatively, has anyone tried those plastic spiked drier balls that are supposed to do the same thing, but last for a long time?? I was wondering how well those work. I may not need fabric softener, but when I have a baby, wee ones have more tender skin, so I was wondering....

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've mentioned elsewhere that a month ago I decided to stop using the automatic washer that was in the basement of my house when I started renting it -- and switched back to my old wringer washer. Today the electric bill came: net savings, $10. Not too bad at all!

Another tip: don't ever go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Eat something first -- a sandwich, a doughnut, a handful of soda crackers, anything to keep the hungries at bay. You'll be able to shop with your head and not with your stomach.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Barter, barter, barter

Barter, barter, barter
Trade, trade, trade

Everyone has a special skill that can be bartered or traded to another.

If you are already trading babysitting duties or carpooling with someone, that is exactly what I mean.

Here's a few things that I have bartered or traded over the years to save money:

Reduction in my auto repair
Groceries - Got two years of groceries for free. Yes, you read that right.
Carpooling to class - I was driven one hour each way to a class twice a week, free, for two years.
Books
Antiques
Clothing
Cutting my weeds
Moving furniture
Custom Business Items
Consulting
and more.

 

[KeyGrip]

I save boxes and collect recycling. A good weekend gets about $40. I've also become anal about the water and electricity in our apartment; if it doesn't have to be on, it's off!

 

[Foofoogal]

I also try to empty my purse of loose change as much as possible.

http://www.blifaloo.com/info/rare_coins.php

Look for dimes made before 1964 as they have silver in them and also look for wheat pennies and more.
Look on net for more info about silver.