Your best ever money saving tips
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!
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!
0
Replies
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only wash my hair once a week with baking soda & vinegar
make own deodorant
shop at the cheapest grocery store for me that is No Frills
only buy fruit/veg that is on sale or is always cheap
frozen fruit/veg
lists , lists , lists
cleaning with vinegar/baking soda
shop for clothes and other stuff at value village or other thrift stores
watch for dollar dazzzzzzzzeeeeeee at grocery stores and then stock up0 -
I love ideas like this. Read a book called "The Millionaire Next Door"
My best tip is to pay off all debt first before worrying about savings. The interest rate is a killer for building wealth.
Make a budget and stick to it.
Pay in cash so you can see what you are really spending.
Ignore friends who are into status. Be into the status of being debt free and building savings.0 -
only wash my hair once a week with baking soda & vinegar
make own deodorant
How does your hair smell? I might like to try this but I like pretty smelling hair! And how do you make your own deoderant?
My tips would be to turn down heaters and turn off anything electric or gas unless absolutely necessary for it to be on, never leave things on standby.
Also, cook from scratch and learn to use leftovers.0 -
Never let your kids go to the grocery store with you
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Always steal ketchup packets from restaurants
Don't use lipstick, use the juice of berries
Don't bathe, you don't really need to remove your "protective layer"0 -
two words: automatic transfer.
set up a separate account and have a portion automatically deposited into it each paycheck.
I tend to spend what is in my account. if there is $50 (or whatever) less then i still spent what's in my account, but I have saved $50. It is so much easier (for me) when you set it aside at the beginning.0 -
pretend you don't have a car when you shop. walk, bike (in my case longboard) or take public transport instead. you'll buy less if you have to carry it all in your arms (or on your back) all the way home. and you'll be exercising. :bigsmile:0
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Amen to this!!!Never let your kids go to the grocery store with you0 -
I love ideas like this. Read a book called "The Millionaire Next Door"
My best tip is to pay off all debt first before worrying about savings. The interest rate is a killer for building wealth.
Make a budget and stick to it.
Pay in cash so you can see what you are really spending.
Ignore friends who are into status. Be into the status of being debt free and building savings.
Best advice ever!!!0 -
only wash my hair once a week with baking soda & vinegar
make own deodorant
How does your hair smell? I might like to try this but I like pretty smelling hair! And how do you make your own deoderant?
My tips would be to turn down heaters and turn off anything electric or gas unless absolutely necessary for it to be on, never leave things on standby.
Also, cook from scratch and learn to use leftovers.
deodorant is made of melted down coconut oil, with baking soda, cornstarch & tea tree oil mixed in
my hair smells like hair and is never ever dirty/greasy its pretty amazing that I only wash it once a week honestly
you could add some kind of essence to the mix if you wanted like lavender or something0 -
I set up an external savings account (separate from my regular checking/savings bank), and transfer money every pay period into separate savings funds ("emergency fund", "newer car fund", etc.), and it automatically withdraws every paycheck.
I LOVE it, because financial self control is a work in progress for me, and this way it takes the money out and puts it in savings before I even see it in my checking account, it's fantastic.0 -
SHUT YOUR SPEND HOLE!!
Yup, works just like food.0 -
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?!0 -
I set up an external savings account (separate from my regular checking/savings bank), and transfer money every pay period into separate savings funds ("emergency fund", "newer car fund", etc.), and it automatically withdraws every paycheck.
I LOVE it, because financial self control is a work in progress for me, and this way it takes the money out and puts it in savings before I even see it in my checking account, it's fantastic.
YOU TOOK MY ANSWER!
congratulations, though. I find it fantastic, too :-)0 -
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?!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
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?!
if you are doing 5, 7, and 9 you probably aren't going to be able to do 80 -
1. Borrow movies from Walmart.
actually, our local library has a lot of the recent movies on DVD and Audio books to check out, for free of course.0 -
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?!
if you are doing 5, 7, and 9 you probably aren't going to be able to do 8
good catch0 -
Mine are:
Don't spend money you don't need to.
Don't charge anything you can't pay off in a month unless it's an emergency.
PAY your savings/retirement/IRA account monthly like you would a bill.
Turn down your thermostat and switch your lights to LED if possible.
Buy from local farms if you can.
Don't spend money on BS diet programs.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
The rest of the list is good, but that last one is absurd1. 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?! 0 -
Plan meals and stick to a list when grocery shopping. I shop at Aldi for a lot of my basics.
Buy clothing & housewares secondhand when you can.
Opt for huge tubs of plain Greek yogurt and add your own bit of fruit, nuts, honey, sweetener, whatever you like. I find that this saves me big time because I used to buy the individual portions with fruit on the bottom and now a 3 dollar tub of Fage lasts for 2 weeks.
For full-priced additions to your wardrobe (suits, coats, running shoes) think long and hard about what you want and must have in the item and shop online and browse around before buying to get the best deal.
If you're going out with friends, skip the appetizer and dessert and drink water. Go out for lunch instead of dinner when you can.
Check out books (including e-books or audio books) and movies from the library.
If you receive a gift card, try to find a way to use it for something practical. For example, gas if it's a big box store card...underwear or necessities if it's a department store card.
Balance your indulgences with cheaper versions of other products you use. For example, I've got Suave shampoo next to Lush soaps and elf mascara next to Stila eye shadow.
I know this WILL NOT work for most people....but cut/color your own hair, do your own mani/pedi, etc. Again I know most of you are saying "WTF no way" but my husband and I both get compliments on our hair and I get them on my nails, etc, and we are strictly DIY in this area, always!
If you drink (alcoholic beverages) buy it and drink at home, entertain at home instead of buying drinks in a bar/club.
Use cloth napkins, kitchen towels, and rags. You will need to wash towels anyway and these can be thrown in. I save a considerable sum on paper towels and napkins even though it seems like such a tiny expense.
Don't grab a quick coffee, tea, or soda out in diners, convenience stores, etc. The savings will add up.
Cut out cable/satellite. Stream content online.
Don't have a smartphone - or if you do, use your home wifi and internet in other places rather than a pricey data plan.0 -
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?0 -
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?!
I got rid of my cellphone nine or so months ago it was a brilliant decision actually0 -
Just because you have enough money for something, doesn't mean you can afford it.0
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Use leftovers in a new dish. IE: leftover chicken, sirloin, whatever... cut it up and use it in a stir fry.
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap. That stuff is AMAZING... and you can use it for ANYTHING. You super dilute it with water... it can be used as a cleaner, hand soap, body wash... whatever. They have about 5 different scents or you can get unscented and add your own essential oils... best of all... its all natural without all the crappy chemicals they put in other body washes, etc.
It's about $12 at target for a big bottle..... diluting only 50/50 a bottle will last me (for cleaning, hand soap and body wash) at least 6 months. Its super soapy.... so you could really dilute 25/75 to stretch it longer.0 -
Plan your new purchases ahead, if you know what you want you can get the older model for as low as 25% of what the new model will be, works great with electronics.
The automatic to saving thing is great, mine even includes an extra dollar to saving every time I use my card. you will be surprised how fast it builds up.0 -
please pick up the book "i will teach you to be rich" by Ramit Sethi.
a lot of these ideas are great to save a few nickles and dimes, but if you really want to save money and make your money work for you, i recommend this book.0 -
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?
Netflix and torrents.0 -
Be realistic about the car you drive. Choose the smallest car that meets 90% of your needs and is several years old. Now drive it as little as possible. Group trips together - if you are pulling out of your driveway more than once a day, you're driving too much (I am so, so guilty of this).
Buy a bike for shortish trips where you aren't carrying much stuff. Bonus - you'll get fitter.
Don't buy too much house (again, I am guilty of this, because I was an idiot). They cost more to heat, maintain, insure and tax. Plus they are too much damn work. Buy the smallest house that reasonably suits your family's needs.
Monitor mortgage rates, and remortgage when they are in your favor. Get the shortest term mortgage you can reasonably afford.
Credit cards are for emergencies, and discretionary spending should halt until that emergency is paid off.
Deduct your savings directly from your paycheck, and put them into a different bank than your checking account. That way you never see the money, and transfers are less convenient. Best choice is a brokerage account and keep it in a moderate growth mutual fund.
Make sure you are taking full advantage of your 'package' (ooo-er) at work. If they have a 401k match and/or ESPP plan, and you aren't contributing, you are literally declining a portion of your wages.
For retirement, unless you are somehow 100% certain what your tax situation will be, diversify across pre- and post- tax savings.
Avoid advertising like the plague - it's designed to make you think you need stuff you really don't. It won't make you happier, just poorer. Do stuff, don't buy stuff.0 -
Mine are:
Don't spend money you don't need to.
Don't charge anything you can't pay off in a month unless it's an emergency.
PAY your savings/retirement/IRA account monthly like you would a bill.
Turn down your thermostat and switch your lights to LED if possible.
Buy from local farms if you can.
Don't spend money on BS diet programs.
These are great tips, especially the first one. Needs vs Wants0
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