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 What is your best money-saving tip? (Page 2)
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| Author | Topic: What is your best money-saving tip? |
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Chameleon Housemate |
posted 04-23-2002 09:46 AM
   
Did anyone mention carpooling to work whenever possible? Save gas money, make friends, and be nice to the environment. IP: Logged |
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nerdlife Housemate |
posted 04-23-2002 06:26 PM
quote: GASP what cheapskate website are you referring to?? Please, link us! IP: Logged |
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LJBrad7 Housemate |
posted 04-24-2002 07:05 AM
I thought of some more tips that I use. I never buy CDs, books, or movies for retail anymore. I go to half.com. It's a e-bay type site that sells stuff at a fraction of the cost. The good part is you can read what people have said about the sellers, so you know if they are good people to buy from. I was always skeptical about this kind of stuff, but I've bought a ton of stuff from there and everything has been in the exact condition it was listed and I've had no problems. Carpooling is a great call. I try to do that too. Also, with gas prices so high, there are ways to drive to use less gas. I realized this when I was 40 miles from home, almost out of gas, and I had forgetten my wallet. I assumed I wouldn't make it, but by driving 55mph (a tip I had heard in passing), accelerating slow from a stopped position, and paying attention to the lights (as in don't continue to accelerate when you have to stop up ahead), I was able to make it home and I still had a little gas left. I was such a speed freak before, but I save so much money on gas now that I go slower. I thought it would take me so much longer to get everywhere too, but the time distance is actually very little-and worth it. Plus, I take away my risk of getting pulled over-which we all know can cost a lot. You also might want to make sure you have the correct tire pressure, because it can effect your gas usage. IP: Logged |
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naynay45 Housemate |
posted 04-24-2002 11:13 AM
I take the bus to and from work on my $25 monthly unlimited ride pass which I can purchase pre-tax through work. I think I buy gas every 2 weeks or so, but that's only bc my silly boyfriend lives almost 20 miles away! I will have to try that 55mph thing LJBrad7, but I'm not sure if that's even possible on the Beltway. I may get pulled over for going too slow! hee hee. Another work perk I've grown to love is health insurance. Dr visit for $15; prescriptions for $7. Insurance makes me happy  Also, I LOVE half.com and ebay. I found great apartment stuff on ebay when I was moving and got 95% of the 32 novels for a summer school class on half.com for less than $1 a book! I love this thread bc I'm soooo poor. It's not even funny. Luckily, in July, I'll be moving to a cheaper apartment though and hopefully getting a raise as well (they seem to like me here)
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TrendyMatt Housemate |
posted 04-24-2002 12:58 PM
quote: Even better, I have found two great music stores within walking distance of my apartment that sell used CDs in excellent condition. I probably spend an average of $5 for a CD, and most of them are what they're selling as new releases at the front of the store. Things will get even cheaper once I can appropriate the funds for a CD burner. IP: Logged |
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giamaria Housemate |
posted 04-24-2002 01:28 PM
my tip for the day: watch your receipts! I have been noticing that I keep getting overcharged. For example, at a store like the one Matt mentioned above, I was charged full price for a used cd that looked brand new. Going back today to complain! IP: Logged |
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LParker Housemate |
posted 04-25-2002 12:13 PM
PREPAID CALLING CARDS and my friends and I get together for pot luck type dinners, it's tons of fun, you eat well, and you're only responsible for one dish! IP: Logged |
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ChaosDaisy Housemate |
posted 05-06-2002 09:28 PM
If you're a media junkie like me, (Books, CD's, video games ect.) great deals are to be had at pawn shops. I often get full length CD's for about 3.00 each. Video games are a gimmie too. Chain renters like Hollywood video or Blockbuster often sell off their extras for almost nothing. Prieviously viewed videos for 4 dollars each, and games for a mere six. Unlike pawn shops their electronics also come with a guarntee. For books i'd say either rely on sales at B&N or Hastings or scout your town for a wonderful used book shop. Sometimes libraries have them inside. (And many of those shops also carry bestsellers for a fraction of the price.) And never forget the power of a garage sale. Two weekends ago I got 5 new CD's for just about 5.10 total. Good stuff! IP: Logged |
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starrylkj Housemate |
posted 08-10-2002 08:59 PM
*bump* IP: Logged |
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amandafaith Housemate |
posted 08-11-2002 05:19 AM
For magazine junkies like me who loathe having to RETURN the magazine when done- my local library has annual clean-out sales where they sell all their older magazines. They're like five cents an issue, so I can afford to buy things I normally wouldn't, like Psychology Today or Golf Digest (for Chach!). IP: Logged |
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kena Housesitter |
posted 08-11-2002 02:58 PM
My general guideline is to splurge on things that really make me happy, and to save on the rest. For instance, I can save a lot of money by bringing a muffin to work for my mid-morning snack instead of buying a chocolate bar. And with the money I save in a week, I can buy a bar of my favorite imported chocolate and still save some cash. Similarly, I'd rather dine out only once a month, but go to a nice restaurant than to have fast-food two times a week. IP: Logged |
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LJBrad7 Housemate |
posted 08-12-2002 07:42 AM
Check with your local movie theatre. Many have discounts for students. I'm not a student anymore, but I still have my student ID and they don't know the difference. The chain "Regal" has this discount by me and you can go anytime (as in, it's not one of those - if you go at 2am you get the discount). IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 08-12-2002 07:47 AM
I only go to twilight movies (between 4-6) and none of my friends mind, cuz they're all broke too. Then we can hang out afterwards (get some coffee, go play board games at someone's house, etc) rather than paying for dinner, and then an expensive movie. IP: Logged |
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bali Housemate |
posted 08-12-2002 09:29 AM
I just learned that there is a massage school here in my new town, and the students give 1 hour massages for $20! As far as a splurge on a budget goes, that works for me. IP: Logged |
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mitsuyan Housemate |
posted 08-12-2002 12:23 PM
I read a book once that said that you should clearly define the things you want to save up for, rather than simply admonishing yourself to save. Her rationale was that if you are standing in the checkout line debating whether or not to buy a 4 dollar magazine, it's easier to convince yourself to be good if you think, "I would rather put that money toward my trip to Jamaica/getting out from under my credit card debt so I can stop thinking about it, etc." than if you simply think "Oh, I shouldn't buy this, it's a waste of money". It is supposed to empower you, because rather than feeling like you're a slave to your budget, you can get excited about putting money away for things you actually want. I set up a direct deposit from my checking account to my Vanguard account so that there's not extra money in checking sitting around that could be earning interest and I don't have to remember to transfer anything. It also makes sure that I save as much per month as I mean to since the money is automatically moved for me before I can get my hands on it. I have also learned that the more space I have, the more stuff I buy to fill it. Having an apartment that's just big enough makes me want to stop spending money because the more I buy, the more cramped the boy and I will feel! *edited for lousy grammar* [This message has been edited by mitsuyan (edited 08-12-2002).] IP: Logged |
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tree Housemate |
posted 08-19-2002 09:52 PM
drinking water bringing my lunch to work everyday eating at home unless it's a special occasion eating the portion sizes (there's more left over if you eat the portion size) I try not to carry cash with me or I might be tempted. Clip and carry coupons. IP: Logged |
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BionicGirl Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 07:46 AM
Our big thing is food... we eat out a lot and I'm prone to making really elaborate meals when I do cook. I don't want to stop doing that (making the meals) so I've been working on ways to streamline our expenses in that regard. So far this has been pretty successful: I plan our nightly meals for about a 2-week period. There are usually a few days of padding in there in case we go out on a weekend (which is okay, it's the week night eating out that has got to stop), eat leftovers, or just do a quikie meal from pantry staples (like spaghetti, beans & rice). Anyhow, planning the meals makes me look forward to them and I'm less likely to suggest going out. I buy the ingredients I need for the next 2 weeks (except for a few fresh items which may be purchased closer to the time when I make them), so if I've already got the stuff at home then I feel guilty for wasting food and won't go out. When I plan each individual meal, I choose things that will use similar ingredients... for example if 1 recipe calls for a couple of tablespoons of fresh cilantro but you can only buy cilantro in big batches (and I don't have enough light to grow it), that'd be a waste. So instead of choosing another recipe that calls for a small amount of another fresh herb or something, I choose others with a bit of cilantro. It's cheaper to buy the larger quantity sometimes, but that's no good if it just goes to waste. Also, I try to include one or two meals into the 2-week rotation that freeze well. I make extra of those things then put them in single serving size containers and freeze them for my lunches at work. I usually have a variety to choose from that way and don't get sick of eating the same thing over and over. Whew, that was long-winded. [This message has been edited by BionicGirl (edited 08-20-2002).] IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 08:07 AM
Such a good plan BG! I feel totally out of control on planning anything right now. I pine for the days I would cook big and freeze. You've inspired me though and maybe that will translate to action! We cook so much better than most of the food we can get out anyway. IP: Logged |
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BionicGirl Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 08:11 AM
quote: It seems like it would be hard to plan meals far in advance during your first trimester, since you (the general you) are prone to icky-tummy and cravings then! IP: Logged |
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kellyrae Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 12:19 PM
Keep these tips coming, guys. I am DESPERATELY trying a) stop using my credit cards and pay off their debt - about $1500, not too much, but still crappy, and b) save money for my ROAD TRIP in January! So. I made up a STRICT budget to which I am trying my darndest to stick to. This means: *No eating lunch out at work unless its on the company's tab. And now for a confession: I just clicked on my first digs banner ad - the one for pinecone research. Get paid $5 for online surveys? That sounds like such a good deal! Has anyone ever done this? IP: Logged |
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Dewgirl Housesitter |
posted 08-20-2002 01:20 PM
I clicked too! I signed up for it, and did get a $5 check in the mail yesterday! I think I'm going to cash them rather than deposit them, though... something feels off about it yet, so I don't want them to have anything to do with my checking account. As she wonders...so does this make me paranoid? IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 01:44 PM
Ah-ha!! For $12.00 I got three brand new shirts. Wanna know how? I bought a pakcage of tees in the men's department ($8) and then some RIT dye ($4) and now I have a pink shirt, a purple shirt and a green shirt, all new for school! Hooray me! IP: Logged |
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coralshine Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 01:53 PM
Clipping coupons. (It really is fun like kellyrae said. I used to do it all the time with my mother...they come in the sunday paper in case anyone doesn't know. Some of the advertisements are funny and it's a great way to find out about new, interesting products.) Shopping at discount beauty places. Being very careful with nylons. Liking pnut butter and buying it in bulk. Liking rice. Learning to sew. IP: Logged |
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kellyrae Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 02:40 PM
quote: I don't subscribe so I go the grocery store for my newspapers, and I get the early Sunday edition with coupons which comes out on Saturdays. IP: Logged |
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animal Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 08:24 PM
I am seconding the learning to sew bit. I made myself a peasant-type shirt for 13$ and am planning on making myself an inverted pleat skirt for about 10$ this week. Better than over 30$ at the store... and it made for an interesting 4 days of work (yes, 4 days, I am a beginner seamstress and I had to call my mom several times for help)! IP: Logged |
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emmalou Housemate |
posted 08-20-2002 08:50 PM
Since my dude got a job that's fabulous but not so hot in the money department, we're all over the saving tips! Today I had to go into the drug store for some toiletries and noticed a sign touting their reduced prices on EVERYTHING. So I checked out their canned/snack foods area and there were a couple of bargains like tuna and canned soup to keep on hand. Most notably, there was this breakfast mix deal-- I think it's made by Chex. It's cereal, dried fruits and nuts, and they're individually wrapped like six to a box. Each box was $1.99. When I figure that buying ONE energy bar at the liquor store by my office costs me $1.65, I'm saving a buttload of money on snacks and/or breakfast. Yay! Next stop: Big Lots and The 99 Cent Store! IP: Logged |
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val3ntine Housemate |
posted 08-21-2002 10:28 PM
On the surveys: I've done gozing.com. They say it's like 7weeks until you get paid (it goes right into a Paypal account) but this way I take the survey, forget about it, and then unexpectedly get notified that I've got money and then I can save it up. IP: Logged |
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ferociousdinosr Housemate |
posted 08-23-2002 08:50 AM
I spent a year and London and seeing as how I was working for peanuts I was pretty broke. So to make my beer money I used to sign up for experiments at the psychology department at Birbeck College. It generally involved pushing buttons, attaching some electrodes to my head, and chatting with the cheery researchers. They paid me well and gave me all the coffee that I could drink. Definitely something I'll be able to tell my grandkids. IP: Logged |
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LJBrad7 Housemate |
posted 08-23-2002 11:19 AM
I guess I should be saving $$ by not going on vacation, but I am going anyway. I'm saving money in a couple of ways. We aren't going on a fancy cruise or trip, just to the Jersey shore. We are also waiting till the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and staying through the following week. The water parks and boardwalk rides do close up the Sun Sunday of Ldweekend, but the good thing, is that come Monday, they cut the room price by more than half. So we still get 2 days of the rides and Water Park and then get to relax at the beach (at Wildwood where the beach is free) for the rest of the week at a fraction of the cost. We are also got the smallest room they have that comes with a kitchen (their smallest efficiency). While it does cost more money for the room, we can buy cheap groceries and save even more money on eating out. This way we save money and get a bigger room. IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 08-23-2002 12:28 PM
Oh I am so homesick reading that! Wildwood is the playground of my youth. Almost all my people still live around there, Cape May, Avalon... The fries, the salt water taffy, oh oh. Hey ride the giant swing for me! IP: Logged |
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ralphyr Housemate |
posted 08-29-2002 08:03 PM
(edited to say I just looked through the tread and didn't want to repeat what someone else said) August has been great. Also my boyfriend is in this too so the savings are doubled. In a few months we'll be asking ourselves how we could afford our old lifestyle. Branded Soft drinks are really expensive so buying them in bulk from supermarket instead of in the convenience store/vending machine can mean savings of nearly 50% for a can (ie brand names coke, pepsi). [This message has been edited by ralphyr (edited 08-29-2002).] IP: Logged |
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coralshine Housemate |
posted 08-30-2002 06:42 AM
hey ralphyr... what do you mean by the "latte" factor? IP: Logged |
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blanketbat Housemate |
posted 08-30-2002 10:16 AM
About the $5 Pinecone surveys, they are great! I have been doing surveys with them for well over a year. They always pay, the checks have never been a problem, their customer service is great, and sometimes they pay you to try out new products. I can't say enough good things about them. I actually have more than one account through them (shh, don't tell on me). I kept track of the money they sent me, and it works out to about $30 a month. Totally worth it. I really really like them a lot. Give it a try! IP: Logged |
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kellyrae Housemate |
posted 08-30-2002 10:55 AM
quote: I got my first check in the mail last week, I was very excited. I gave them my yahoo addy which I rarely check, but now I'm checking it compulsively to see if I can fill out surveys, hahaha. I was actually considering starting another account at my parent's home addres... hmmm... IP: Logged |
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ralphyr Housemate |
posted 09-11-2002 10:09 PM
coralshine, I had read it here. quote: I feel a bit guilty actually, this morning I got a muffin as I was still hungary after my big-breaky and went to the kiosk that I get my muffin. The lady said that she hadn't seen me in so long. But it felt good too as I really have been saving that money. When you guys do the online surveys do you answer truthfully? Ps. I don't know if this is a savings really but toothbrushes can be really cheap (AU$1) in our bargain shops. I usually have a few of them on hand for unexpected guest's. They really appreciate being able to brush their teeth. They then get used for the kitchen or cleaning a bicycle chain. IP: Logged |
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kellyrae Housemate |
posted 09-12-2002 04:41 PM
quote: I do, for karma reasons. IP: Logged |
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daisy Housemate |
posted 09-12-2002 05:00 PM
Saving change is such a fruitful endeavour in Canada because we don't have one or two dollar bills...we only have coins. I saved $900.00 last year in change just from emptying my change into a jar every time I got home. IP: Logged |
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MissMel Housemate |
posted 09-12-2002 09:10 PM
BG's idea for planning ahead for food is a great one. I've been doing it for about a year now, and have gotten the grocery bill down to about $40 a week for 5 meals for 2 people (leftovers for lunch.) We're eating alot healthier too, because vegetables are cheaper than most meats. That, and buying store brand is sooooo much cheaper. And still tasty. I got my first Pinecone check the other day. I've been doing Harris Polls/ Focus Groups for about 2 years, but it's so much nicer to get paid for it, even if it is only $5 a pop. I answer truthfully, why not? IP: Logged |
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Sophie Housemate |
posted 09-12-2002 10:59 PM
I've been packing my lunch most days for the last month, and cannot believe how much money this saves. I checked my balance at the cashpoint yesterday, and I think it was the first time I've surprised myself having more money in my daily account than I thought I did. Quitting smoking is another biggie - a pack of fags is HK$32 (ummm, just over US$4), and one of those a day certainly hurts your bank account (not to mention your lungs, of course). IP: Logged |
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Ruth4 Housemate |
posted 10-08-2002 07:22 PM
I live with 2 roommates and I save a bit of money on staples by taking it in turn to buy milk, bread etc. I can't get through a whole carton or loaf by myself before it goes off. It seems to work well. I am also practising what I seem to recall as one of the Rich Dad Poor Dad techniques of not dipping into savings no matter the debt. I am going to pay off my credit card in instalments rather than dip into my savings. Hopefully this will work out in the long run. IP: Logged |
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