What do you do to save money?

midnight_starr · #1 June 29th, 2009, 06:31 AM

I made a budget for DH and I so we can start building our savings again (It was almost drained once we bought our house) I was just wondering what are some of the little things you do to save a few dollars?

*Mrs.J.2011* · #2 June 29th, 2009, 06:36 AM

I'm big on coupons and shopping sales.. my best trip was $100 worth of stuff for $8.. yup I saved $92!

bittersweet · #3 June 29th, 2009, 06:38 AM

We drive slower. You be amazed how much gas you save if you go 55-60 on the highway instead of 70-80.

We also always pack lunches to take to work.

ANGWife · #4 June 29th, 2009, 06:43 AM

Coupons and sales flyers. Purchase store brand items when you can.

Eat more at home. Use fresh items to cook instead of prepared things. Pack a lunch!

Save gas by running all your errands on the same days.

Save electricity by unplugging items that aren't turned on. Don't leave your computer on all day. Wash with cold water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaleigh

I'm big on coupons and shopping sales.. my best trip was $100 worth of stuff for $8.. yup I saved $92!

Doesn't it feel awesome!

I save $40 on groceries yesterday and it put me in a good mood for the rest of the day!

*Mrs.J.2011* · #5 June 29th, 2009, 06:54 AM

its amazing! Chris wanted nothing to do with it because I take 15 extra mins in the store, but now that he sees how much money we save, he doesnt buy anything unless its on sale or we have a coupon. He also used to be all about the brand names, but now we buy the store brand whenever we can!

I forgot about packing a lunch and washing with cold water. We do that too!

Also with the unplugging of things, it saves soo much electricity! We have a large flat screen and we've started unplugging it whenever its not in use and especially when we go away. Just last month alone by unplugging it every night before bed, we have cut our electric bill almost in half!

ANGWife · #6 June 29th, 2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaleigh

its amazing! Chris wanted nothing to do with it because I take 15 extra mins in the store, but now that he sees how much money we save, he doesnt buy anything unless its on sale or we have a coupon. He also used to be all about the brand names, but now we buy the store brand whenever we can!

I forgot about packing a lunch and washing with cold water. We do that too!

Also with the unplugging of things, it saves soo much electricity! We have a large flat screen and we've started unplugging it whenever its not in use and especially when we go away. Just last month alone by unplugging it every night before bed, we have cut our electric bill almost in half!

I never thought of unplugging the tv! We usually just make sure the computer, kitchen appliances, chargers, lamps are all unplugged.

Oh also we keep our AC off when we can. But since it's crazy hot right now, we just keep it on 75ish. And I don't even take Ed along haha. I save alot more when I can concentrate

I JUST joined the frugal mommies board. Hoping to learn some more tips!

midnight_starr · #7 June 29th, 2009, 07:13 AM

Keep the tips coming ladies these are some great things!!

I do clip coupons I just usually forget to bring them with me and actually use them, I have to get better at this!!

DH packs a lunch everday!!

I never once thought about unplugging all of those things!!! I will have to start doing this!!

When we do leave I turn the AC off but other than that it just has to stay on its too hot here.. I usually have it set to 74/75..

ANGWife · #8 June 29th, 2009, 07:21 AM

Don't forget to sign up for online coupons as well! Or sign up for their saving groups and get coupons in the mail. I also search for free samples.

Resi · #9 June 29th, 2009, 07:54 AM

We got rid of our cable. That saved about $50 per month. I'm about to down grade our home phone to just be on for internet. That will save another $20 per month.

#10 June 29th, 2009, 08:23 AM

I use coupons- especially for diapers and formula. I have an envelope especially for coupons that I keep in my wallet at all times.

I only get gas at Costco- its always a good $.05 cheaper than everywhere else

Keep all the lights turned off when we leave (this is hard for me, but I've been good about it!)

We turn the computer off at night and when we aren't home.

Just cancelled Netflix because we weren't using it enough to justify it.

I re-sell stuff when I don't use it anymore: Purses, nice jeans, housewares, baby items, everything!

I give myself a budget of $3 for lunch and try to pack DH a lunch as often as I can.

Mod-LadyCoconut · #11 June 29th, 2009, 09:26 AM

We keep the heat/air on 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer.
We also unplug things.
We have never had a home phone, just used our cell phones. Although for Christmas we got a magicjack and a phone... so if you want a home phone line do that for $20 a *year*
Buy mostly store brand stuff.
Bring my own candy into the theater if we go see a movie

I don't know its hard to think of things like this off the top of your head, ya know?

soImarriedAnerd · #12 June 29th, 2009, 11:04 AM

I don't buy things unless I NEED them NOW. Sounds simple but you would be surprised the crap we just had in closets and things when we moved.

freesiangel · #13 June 29th, 2009, 11:09 AM

When you do your grocery shopping always have a list! Plan our your meals for a week at a time and make the shopping list accordingly. You'd be amazed how much stuff you don't really need gets thrown in the cart when you don't have one! If your DH is the type to just throw stuff in the car "because," don't let him go to the store with you.

I really had to get on my DH about that. Otherwise, what others said - buy store brands, don't eat out, pack lunches, etc. etc. etc.

Oh, and a big one for us - treat savings as you would any other bill. Automatically have a set amount put into savings every single paycheck. Don't ever do it manually! If it's automatic, then it's in there and you don't have it in your checking account to spend. This made a HUGE difference with how much we were able to save! We stopped buying stuff we didn't need.

*krista* · #14 June 29th, 2009, 11:33 AM

Check out Coupons, Grocery Coupons - The Grocery Game if you haven't already.

Adriana's Mommy · #15 June 29th, 2009, 01:01 PM

I like to shop at thrift stores to buy toys for Adriana.. So much cheaper then buying brand new.. I just bought this great doll house castle in perfect condition for $10 and it's probably worth $100 or more..

Set up a couple savings accounts and just put money in there and just pretend you never have that money.

Get energy efficient appliances.. Especially if that new energy bill passes in the Senate this week.. Be prepared for your electric bill and gas bill to double in price.. Which is going to suck especially for those who don't have that much money.. Having energy efficient items will help lower your bill..

Pay off bills.. It sucks at first, but it pays in the long run..

This is what we do to help save money..

Oh, if you don't know about the Energy Bill.. Check out this link.. This is the only show that's talking about it.. It's better to be prepared, then to be caught off guard..

YouTube - 6/25/2009 Peter Schiff On The Glenn Beck Show: National Energy Tax Bill (Update: Passed By House)

Mod-LadyCoconut · #16 June 29th, 2009, 01:37 PM

Yeah we have it set up where when we'er paid X amount goes directly into savings... out of sight, out of mind

We also don't buy things with credit cards... seems like common sense - if you don't have the cash for it then you can't afford it. I have a credit card that I use like once a month for gas or something and then that night I go and pay it off just to help build some credit history and have the card maintained for deposits on things like our cruise, etc. but I've never not paid the entire balance monthly. DH doesn't have a credit card at all -- he's bad about paying things on time.

soImarriedAnerd · #17 June 29th, 2009, 01:58 PM

Now see I use Credit card for EVERYTHING (while in the states) even like $5 items---ALWAYS paid in FULL. But I like to do that because of the cash back I get (nope I don't have a yearly fee). But this ONLY works if you pay in full!

SandKmommy · #18 June 29th, 2009, 03:35 PM

We don't have cable TV
We dont go to the movies, or rent movies unless its from Red Box
Untill last week(when we screwed over our bank account) we didn't buy magazine subscriptions
I breastfeed to save money(and for the benefits)
I find coupons and freebies all the time online
We budget out our checks, but that doesnt' mean we dont screw up like we just did.

ShannonMVT · #19 June 29th, 2009, 04:18 PM

We don't have cable TV, we use internet for entertainment.

We don't really rent movies either or go to the movie theater.
We don't eat out anymore but that's cause it's harder with Matthew along, really.
I used to do coupons and cook most nights but don't anymore because Matthew keeps me so busy. Dh isn't as good with saving money on groceries but I know eventually I will take that back up when Matthew gets bigger.
Dh actually went around to all our appliaces with a little tester that read how many watts it was using just to have it plugged in and we unplugged a lot of stuff.
Pay off credit cards in full each month.
I used to sell formula checks on ebay, I need to start that up again. It made a few dollars here and there. I've also got sample cans of formula I could sell on craigslist I bet.
I bought most of Matthew's clothes at garage sales. Lots of cute stuff for very little money.

IamMom · #20 June 29th, 2009, 05:00 PM

We use our credit card for as much as we can....we get college savings money like at 1% for every dollar we charge on it. It has no annual fee either...it's a U-Promise card from Bank of America - definitely worth looking into if you have kids and want to help them with college.

Also - we also have the automatic draft into our savings accounts (and life insurance and 529 plans for the kids) each month - that way you don't have to even think about it - you never even see the money.