quote:

---

Originally posted by Tigress:
Hey - how do you get signed up with Pinecone? I found the website but you have to hit one of their banner ads. Where are the banners??? I would love an extra $5-$10 a month!

---

For example, washing & reusing plastic bags, walking to work or carpooling, etc. Some are more extreme than others, but it all helps, right?

quote:

---

Originally posted by JenMKat:
If I absolutely have to go to Starbucks, I order 3 shots over ice in a paper venti cup. Then have them add a little soy milk. I add half a splenda packet and stir. It's really good and only costs $2-something, tastes just like a fancy fourbucks drink.

---

She's now selling it for $200 on the same site, and using --get this--- verbatim parts of my original ad! Something about this really pisses me off. I mean, good for her if she's smart enough to get 200 for it, and i was a fool for selling it so cheaply, but it's just in such bad TASTE. And she's lying; it wasn't HER cousin's, it was mine! Ugh.

quote:

---

Originally posted by quarkiegirl:
this one time, at band camp...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by quarkiegirl:
this one time, at band camp...

Jezabel, can you post another listing on freecycle alerting others as to what she's doing? that's wicked scummy.

---

There's been a lot of stink about similar things happening on Cr@ig's and Freecycle here in Chicago. I have seen people post things on Craigs with quotes of the original person's listing and then their personal commment. (like when some knows that it's an Ikea $20 table they are asking $80 for, to protect the naive readers). That kind of thing. I don't see the posts getting deleted that are speaking the truth about the item. I think it's worth a try. Just use "Re:___(original listing title" so you get the attention of the same people.

People can be so conniving. ARGH

You might also alert the moderator on Freecycle.

[This message has been edited by giamaria (edited 09-03-2004).]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BionicGirl:
Direct depositing into savings was always my best bet on saving money. Otherwise I was too tempted to spend it on something.

---

Me too...I didn't have a savings account until recently, when I got some profit sharing back from my old job - I spent some on my car, bought myself a bike and a bathingsuit (2 things I most needed/wanted, besides, um, brakes and a brakelight and other much-needed car work I'd been putting off for months) and put the rest right into savings, where I've been having a little $$ a week transferred straight in from my checking. I always try and delude myself if I have any significant amount of $$ in my checking that I can hold onto it in there, but I so can't. I'll just allow myself to spend just a liiiittle bit extra at the grocery store or a liiiiittle bit extra at the T@rget...and then it's gone. So much better for it to just go into my ING. I don't notice the little bit going out each week, and I can get it out if I need it, but it's a hassle - not like my checking, which is attached to my debit card, which I can pay with, like, EVERYWHERE.

Also, I would like a pat on the back and a "good girl" for putting some extra $$ that boy recently paid me back straight into my savings as well, before I had a chance to think about it too much and go blow it on crap I'm going to have to put in storage in 2 months anyway.

Don't spend it.

That said, it helps to shop often. What a stupid paradox. On my way home from teaching I very often stop at the CVS to see their deals. I really needed some picture frames, so I've been stocking up when CVS has their 2-for-1 sales. I know I just said I have too much stuff, but when Z's hair gel went on sale for 99 cents, I bought three containers of it. Perhaps a better solution to this problem would be to get the circulars and see the deals, which will allow you to see if there's a spectacular sale you can't afford to miss, without actually putting you in the store, vulnerable to buying a bunch of crap you don't need.

So buy in bulk conservatively, and only if it won't go bad, and only if you have the storage space, and ONLY if you are positive you need it now or will need it in the immediate future.

My other big tip? Any time you are less than satisfied, complain! You are the almighty customer and you are spending your hard earned money, and if you are not happy, you deserve a coupon, a little bonus, or even a refund. When I worked in retail, we had a VERY lax return policy, so people could bring in things they had already washed, or if they had lost the box, or even if the item was months old, they could still return/exchange. It never hurts to ask. Just keep in mind that your time is money too, and if you are going to have to call eleven different customer service numbers and wait on hold for 2 hours, it's probably not worth it for a 50-cent coupon.

- budget each week in Excel (as I get paid monthly)
- pay extra off my car loan
- take lunch to work
- make my own muesli and *eat* it
- eat $4 curry for dinner if I have to eat out (which I do very regularly, sadly)
- shop when I need to cook, as I go 10 days at a time without eating at home
- get a housemate in (even if I want to bump said HM off right now)
- drive more carefully in city traffic
- put all coinage in a box and bank it when full
- make my own soap, lotions, scrubs and stuff and

- give my time or handmade goodies as gifts.

ACK. I meant month. $400/month. Yikes.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sophie:
I think I read in the Herald recently that one of the Aussie chains was going to make it against the rules to bring your own food.

I always have a bottle of water in my bag anyway, so I only buy popcorn. It really is extortionate to charge so much for soft drinks.

---

You're not allowed to bring your own food to the movies here (Canada), but I do anyway. They don't search your bags or anything.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ralphyr:
Does anyone bring their own refreshments to the movies? last time we went it was nearly $25 for the tickets and $25 for the popcorn, lollies & water.
Next time we'll be going to the $7 and buy the sweets in the supermarket.

---

It is a rare, rare thing for me to buy drinks/snacks from the theater. You're not supposed to take them in here either (since that's where thr theaters make their money, the tickets sales go to the movie folks until after a certain amount of time has passed... can't remember how much), but the prices are ridiculous and always have been. My parents refused to buy us movie treats, and my mom taught us all the tricks of sneaking food in (just through example). I have taken entire meals for 2 into the theater on numerous occasions. It helps that I really don't like movie popcorn either I guess (too much crap on them, I like popcorn plain or lightly salted an buttered).