Your best ever money saving tips

124»

Replies

  • 50racinggirl
    50racinggirl Posts: 96 Member
    So I've had to start budgeting recently which is not something I'm accustomed to if I'm honest, but my supervillain lair won't build itself so I'm looking for your best money saving tips. They can be as weird and wonderful as you like!

    This is what I already do-

    •buy seasonal fruit and veg
    •search prices for big purchases online
    • use cheap alternatives to cleaning products (vinegar, bicarbonate soda etc)

    Suggest away!

    I use the Dave Ramsey Envelop System. It's AWESOME! I've saved $25,000 in two years. I stopped for a while, but I am returning to it as we speak! It was the smartest thing I ever did. I created a budget and then allocated cash for EVERYTHING....utilities, house payments, groceries......literally everything. If my electric bill budget was $50 and I had allocated $100.....I put the extra $50 into a separate place marked electric and just kept building up my stash. It was GREAT!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    So I've had to start budgeting recently which is not something I'm accustomed to if I'm honest, but my supervillain lair won't build itself so I'm looking for your best money saving tips. They can be as weird and wonderful as you like!

    This is what I already do-

    •buy seasonal fruit and veg
    •search prices for big purchases online
    • use cheap alternatives to cleaning products (vinegar, bicarbonate soda etc)

    Suggest away!

    I use the Dave Ramsey Envelop System. It's AWESOME! I've saved $25,000 in two years. I stopped for a while, but I am returning to it as we speak! It was the smartest thing I ever did. I created a budget and then allocated cash for EVERYTHING....utilities, house payments, groceries......literally everything. If my electric bill budget was $50 and I had allocated $100.....I put the extra $50 into a separate place marked electric and just kept building up my stash. It was GREAT!

    I've heard burglars scout on facebook to see who's doing the Dave Ramsey Envelope System...so they can break into their homes and get that cash. Just sayin.
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member


    Buy bottle water by the case!!

    Is there some reason your free tap water isn't good enough?
    .

    You can still buy bottle water, just recycle the bottles at home. A 24 pack of water lasts me over a month because we refill the same bottle from the tap, over and over.
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
    Mint.com is an awesome website for setting up budgets and saving goals. It is 100% free and secure. I discovered it in November and used it to help with Christmas and I have set new goals now that the holidays are over.

    I just found Mint a week or so ago. I love it so far. It really helps you keep track of exactly what and where you are spending.
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    as soon as i can get all the live sports through another avenue other than satellite, then i will get rid of it.

    it accounts for more than 50% of my viewing.
    I am very much a sports fan...WatchESPN using an older relative's login works great I've heard. Same with BTN2GO, HBOGO, etc.
  • 50racinggirl
    50racinggirl Posts: 96 Member
    So I've had to start budgeting recently which is not something I'm accustomed to if I'm honest, but my supervillain lair won't build itself so I'm looking for your best money saving tips. They can be as weird and wonderful as you like!

    This is what I already do-

    •buy seasonal fruit and veg
    •search prices for big purchases online
    • use cheap alternatives to cleaning products (vinegar, bicarbonate soda etc)

    Suggest away!

    I use the Dave Ramsey Envelop System. It's AWESOME! I've saved $25,000 in two years. I stopped for a while, but I am returning to it as we speak! It was the smartest thing I ever did. I created a budget and then allocated cash for EVERYTHING....utilities, house payments, groceries......literally everything. If my electric bill budget was $50 and I had allocated $100.....I put the extra $50 into a separate place marked electric and just kept building up my stash. It was GREAT!

    I've heard burglars scout on facebook to see who's doing the Dave Ramsey Envelope System...so they can break into their homes and get that cash. Just sayin.

    Interesting...good thing I am not on facebook:bigsmile:
  • Blamber21
    Blamber21 Posts: 29 Member
    Anyone try Mint.com? Loving it.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Dont get an Iphone.
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    Start buying small amounts of silver/gold bullion.

    If the economy crashes (and lets face it, it's going to happen at some point soon) you'll be a rich woman.

    Good luck!
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    Anyone cut the cord from cable? I have looked into that, just going to antennae and internet. I spend about $110 per month for freaking TV and I barely watch it anymore.

    What would be the best alternatives?

    Internet and Netflix is what I have. There's plenty of other free TV online as well.

    ETA: You can also haggle with your cable company. Went from $120/mo to $90/mo with more channels because we were "thinking about switching to Fios because of the faster internet". Don't talk to a sales person, talk to account cancellations, they have more 'power'.
  • HawkeyeTy
    HawkeyeTy Posts: 681 Member
    Take Dave Ramey's Financial Peace University
  • HawkeyeTy
    HawkeyeTy Posts: 681 Member
    Anyone cut the cord from cable? I have looked into that, just going to antennae and internet. I spend about $110 per month for freaking TV and I barely watch it anymore.

    What would be the best alternatives?

    Internet and Netflix is what I have. There's plenty of other free TV online as well.

    ETA: You can also haggle with your cable company. Went from $120/mo to $90/mo with more channels because we were "thinking about switching to Fios because of the faster internet". Don't talk to a sales person, talk to account cancellations, they have more 'power'.

    You're still spending almost $1200/year on......TV
  • Andy_83
    Andy_83 Posts: 270
    1. Borrow movies from Walmart.
    2. Hunt your own food.
    3. Borrow your neighbors car when they're not looking.
    4. Watch cable Tv when your neighbors leave their blinds open.
    5. Don't get hair cuts or shave.
    6. Don't pay your bills, mortgage or rent.
    7. Use the same water in bathtub for the whole family. Then wash your dishes in it.
    8. Have sex more often.
    9. Never move out of your parents house.
    10. Get rid of your cellphone. What?!

    Points for 2. Loving the terminology on 1, feel 5 and 8 might clash and if they don't 8 and 9 definitely do :)
  • icyeyes317
    icyeyes317 Posts: 226 Member
    I use the Dave Ramsey Envelop System. It's AWESOME! I've saved $25,000 in two years. I stopped for a while, but I am returning to it as we speak! It was the smartest thing I ever did. I created a budget and then allocated cash for EVERYTHING....utilities, house payments, groceries......literally everything. If my electric bill budget was $50 and I had allocated $100.....I put the extra $50 into a separate place marked electric and just kept building up my stash. It was GREAT!

    This has been around a lot longer than some guy named Dave Ramsey. My great-grandmother (passed in 2011 at age 98), was doing that since the great depression. It works, incredibly well, if you are disciplined.
  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    Something I used to do (and really should start doing again):

    Figure out how much money you need for a week, withdraw that amount every monday and ONLY spend money from that stash (except for real emergencies, of course). When you've burned through it, live on what you have until the next monday.

    Sort of like a mini-budget. Forces you to stay frugal short-term. I somehow managed to live on 40$/week as a student this way...
  • AusAshMommy
    AusAshMommy Posts: 845 Member
    1. Get a Brita Pitcher and a re-usable water bottle/cup use this to drink water vs. buying water bottles each week - saves on trash & money - filters are something like $8/ea and I always get a coupon from Target whenever I buy one for my next one, saves me $1 - $2 each time.

    2. Cut the cable - we did this some 6+yrs ago and enrolled in Hulu Plus and watch all of our TV that way - hubby has found alternate means to watch the Skins games via Redskins.com on Redskins radio or through NFL.com; We also can watch most network stuff through the network websites streaming; though our DVD collection has ballooned to nearly 500+ DVD's (most bought from the $5 bin at Wal-Mart of through Amazon.com for like $0.99/ea)

    3. Shop thrift stores for clothes - we have several in our area for women & kids and I buy nearly all of mine and the kids' stuff there - I never pay full price for clothes. If someone ever opens one for men I'll buy hubby's stuff there too!

    4. Do your budget weekly, then account for how much you actually spend, after 6-mos or so average everything out across the board and make adjustments as needed.

    5. We do the weekly cash withdrawal system for our weekly expenditures - Gas, Groceries, My hubby's bus fare, Cat/Dog/Bearded Dragon Food/Weekly Pizza Dinner and whatever is left is used for Misc. spending during the week should a need arise - like forgotten groceries, our kids' ADHD prescriptions, etc. - and on Thursday's the balance is put into a piggy bank and saved for larger purchases - like bday party items for the kids, we used some last year to buy my daughter a new bike - or it's deposited into our Mutual Fund account when it reaches a certain dollar amount.

    6. I agree with those who have said to take a lunch and brew your own coffee - we do both and have saved $$ in the long run - I only eat out for lunch if it's absolutely necessary (which is hardly ever is) or my company pays for lunch out!

    7. When making larger purchases - like furniture, TV's, appliances, etc. - shop around and find the best quality and deal you can, often times you'll find that you can get the best quality and price when you do this.

    These are just a few we use...we live paycheck-to-paycheck and neither of us have the 401K option so we're still figuring that part out.
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    Something I used to do (and really should start doing again):

    Figure out how much money you need for a week, withdraw that amount every monday and ONLY spend money from that stash (except for real emergencies, of course). When you've burned through it, live on what you have until the next monday.

    Sort of like a mini-budget. Forces you to stay frugal short-term. I somehow managed to live on 40$/week as a student this way...

    I put myself on a $10 daily expense budget. I took out $150 in tens from the bank and only took that one $10 bill with me each morning. It was useful
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Never let your kids go to the grocery store with you ;)

    Better still don't have kids. LOL

    all of the YES

Categories