Am I really this cheap??? LOL

[secretpantssam]

It's my birthday today and I'm so cheap, I'm not going to let my DH and kids take me to a nice restaurant, instead, we are going to Costco for dinner and dessert at their food court! Hahahahahaha!

and if they're giving out samples...even better!! We always joke that we're going to Costco for lunch since they give out all those samples....you leave full!!

 

[lisabarr]

I am so cheap, I am waking up tommorrow at 6:00am to get my Airtran seats for Sundays flight so I don't have to pay $12 for me and my son!

 

[seals]

but not because being frugal is an end in itself. I like to splurge sometimes -- as in drive places, stay in reasonably inexpensive but clean hotels, sight see, have a meal where the entree costs about $10 , go to a couple of attractions. And occasionally even go to WDW. In order to do this, I save money by cutting out or cutting down on other things. No juice boxes at home is one. Tupperware for my take to work lunch items. Cell phone that doesn't take pictures. Basic economy cable tv and no TIVO, etc. Books, movies from the library for free. There are places where I draw the line (moldy bread gets tossed, although we rarely have moldy bread). I like reading these types of posts with these ideas, however, not to judge or to say my frugalness is better than others' frugalness, but to get more ideas of things I can do to save money that aren't going to diminish my overall satisfaction with life.

 

[Virgderon]

The time alone to do all that is worth more than a dollar. At least my time is.

If you think about it, many of the things mentioned here are not worth doing if taken individually. Ripping the paper out is probably one of the many things the poster does to save money , and it does add up.

For example, last month I spent $209 on groceries, but saved $242. Any of the individual coupons I used for 50 cents or so probably were not worth it, but the collective effort was.

 

[bumbershoot]

Watering down juice, that is gross. Buy 2% milk, instead of whole milk for less sugar and buy the store brand.

I don't water down juice now, but I certainly did when DS was little. We didn't start with juice until he was around 3 (there was just no reason to...he ate fruit, no purpose for juice), and it was going to be more sugar than he'd really ever had before. No point to get him started on that much sugar!

2% vs whole has to do with fat...how is the milk sugar content being changed?

I forgot where I read this but a plumber said to use 1/2 the recommended amount of laundry detergent, let clothes sit overnight then wash.

I don't understand the sitting overnight part, but yes, the manufacturer recommendations of detergent is much more than you actually need.

I do my best to keep spending minimal... However. DH grew up really poor. He and his brothers often went without food let alone the extra things they wanted. His mom is/was the MASTER at making things stretch. BUT my dh wont have it. If he catches me using any "tricks" he totally freaks out.My sister in law says his brother is the same way. I guess having gone without so much it makes them feel "rich" to have the things they didnt as a kid for our girls.

He doesnt even usually eat them.. he just wants to have them onhand.

Both DH and I grew up poor, though my family was poor longer than his (his dad got a degree in nuclear engineering which meant a MUCH higher level of job and pay, so by the time DH was 10 his family was close to being wealthy and owned a home unlike my family that rented from before I was born through when I was 17).

But DH held onto the "I grew up poor" stuff much more strongly than I did.

And his issues like the ones you describe...those aren't healthy for DH. So we've worked on helping him through these issues, to help him (and our pocketbook) be more healthy.

He's happy we've worked through most of those kneejerk, nonsensical feelings!




Where did the snowcone recipes come from? We never get to have them b/c of colors and corn syrup and sweeteners (HFCS), but if I could look at the recipes, it would be nice! See if they could be safe for my family.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

It's my birthday today and I'm so cheap, I'm not going to let my DH and kids take me to a nice restaurant, instead, we are going to Costco for dinner and dessert at their food court! Hahahahahaha!

Happy Birthday!! Good for you choosing where you want to go! MY family would be laughing at me but I wouldn't care I would be saving more $$$ for Disney

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I save all mail including envelopes and use as scratch paper and when the paper is used up then I shred it and put in the garden for mulch or save for fire starting when camping.

I also save the foam board that comes with fruit and wash it and use it to serve food on for DH and me.

If I ever get foam board, I'm going to use it that way too! I keep the chinese take out plastic containers for DH lunch!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Quote from bumpershoot: I don't understand the sitting overnight part, but yes, the manufacturer recommendations of detergent is much more than you actually need.

I think the reason for soaking the clothes overnight with 1/2 the amount of detergent is so the detergent will have a chance to really soak in and clean the clothes I haven't tried it yet but I will also try just using 1/2 the amount without soaking overnight and will report back.

 

[puddleduck]

I don't buy juice boxes, I rarely buy juice. I do use water bottles, but we reuse them all the time, plus I do have the regular water bottles that you purchase and wash.
I have never bought a happy meal in my life, I refuse to do it. They get water bottles in their lunch for school, and I also refuse to buy lunchables.
I don't go out to dinner, not even with a coupon, I can save more by not going at all. There are alot of things here on the Dis boards that I see people buying that I won't. I am really almost too cheap. I have my father in me. I will go without, even if I really need it. Except for my Disney trips, those will happen no matter what. I have to draw the line somewhere.

I also refuse to buy lunchables, I make my own. I buy American cheese on sale, luncheon meat and crackers. I cut everything and put it in a tupperware container. For nachos, I buy tortilla chips and a jar of cheese dip. I can make my kids lunchables for a week for what it would cost to buy them pre-packaged for one day.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The time alone to do all that is worth more than a dollar. At least my time is.

I have to agree, as well as the gas money. Now, I have done something similar, but it was much more of a cost savings. I had to buy a new washer a few weeks ago, well the next day it was on sale $30 less, so I took my receipt back to Best Buy and got my $30 back, but I was still going out to run other errands or I would have waited until I was in the area.

But, some of the things poeple do go to the extreme. I mean if you really don't have the money, I guess I can see it, but to me it is ridiculous and in the end really doesn't save money at all.

I don't have children, so I guess I don't understand some of the things you do, but can't imagine doing them if I did have children. My mom was a single parent, we lived with my grandmother, and even though I thought some of the things she did were odd, they weren't to the extreme I have read about here.

I wish I could do better with my groceries, but we just don't get the coupons here that I read about on the Dis. We got stacks of coupons when I could shop at the Commissary, but my DH is no longer in the service, so I don't have access to that savings.

Sorry about the remark about the Milk, I don't know about the sugar content, I just by 2% cause it is supposed to be better for us, but there is no way I would water down juice, but then again I only drink OJ.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Quote from bumpershoot: I don't understand the sitting overnight part, but yes, the manufacturer recommendations of detergent is much more than you actually need.

I think the reason for soaking the clothes overnight with 1/2 the amount of detergent is so the detergent will have a chance to really soak in and clean the clothes I haven't tried it yet but I will also try just using 1/2 the amount without soaking overnight and will report back.

I don't get that either, it is the agitation is what gets the clothes clean anyway.

I just bought a new HE front load washer and now have to buy the HE detergent, I sure have cut down on the amout I use. But now I have to buy fabric softener that I didn't need with the top load washer.

Suzanne

 

[badblackpug]

Dealt with major water conservation in CA growing up with lots of drought issues. There was an old saying...if it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down.

Nothing shameful in it IMO.

Okay, some things are smart, some things are too time consuming for me, and some things are over the top, but this is just gross!

 

[Virgderon]

I have to agree, as well as the gas money. Now, I have done something similar, but it was much more of a cost savings. I had to buy a new washer a few weeks ago, well the next day it was on sale $30 less, so I took my receipt back to Best Buy and got my $30 back, but I was still going out to run other errands or I would have waited until I was in the area.

But, some of the things poeple do go to the extreme. I mean if you really don't have the money, I guess I can see it, but to me it is ridiculous and in the end really doesn't save money at all.


Suzanne

Well, I was going to the store anyway. I did not make a special trip. I think you can assume that any serious couponer or person who wants to save money would plan things out so they were not wasting gas.

I don't know how much it has to do with having the money or not. It's all about how you want to spend it. To me it is ridiculous to pay full price for toiletries, cleaning supplies and groceries when it is easy to get them for free, or almost free. All you have to do is check in with sites like www.southernsavers.com, and they will tell you what is on sale at each store and what coupons are available. I have not paid for toilet paper or laundry detergent, as well as many other items, in a couple months. How could that be a bad thing?

To each their own.

 

[ccgirl]

I also refuse to buy lunchables, I make my own. I buy American cheese on sale, luncheon meat and crackers. I cut everything and put it in a tupperware container. For nachos, I buy tortilla chips and a jar of cheese dip. I can make my kids lunchables for a week for what it would cost to buy them pre-packaged for one day.

Great idea! I am going to try this.

 

[ccgirl]

[/B]

If I ever get foam board, I'm going to use it that way too! I keep the chinese take out plastic containers for DH lunch!

I forgot the Chinese food containers! I do that too. They are the perfect size for take to work lunches and leftovers.

 

[curious3069]

Well, I was going to the store anyway. I did not make a special trip. I think you can assume that any serious couponer or person who wants to save money would plan things out so they were not wasting gas.

I don't know how much it has to do with having the money or not. It's all about how you want to spend it. To me it is ridiculous to pay full price for toiletries, cleaning supplies and groceries when it is easy to get them for free, or almost free. All you have to do is check in with sites like www.southernsavers.com, and they will tell you what is on sale at each store and what coupons are available. I have not paid for toilet paper or laundry detergent, as well as many other items, in a couple months. How could that be a bad thing?

To each their own.

www.southernsavers.com is my favorite! I used to think the people who stocked up and claimed they saved all this $$ with coupons were nuts because I never saw any coupons in the Sunday papers like I was reading about. Plus who would want all that stuff?

Oh how wrong I was...coupons are everywhere and there are all kinds of websites that will match up coupons, many that are printable, and sales. Makes it really easy to figure out before you go where you will get the best deals. And as strange as it sounds, there are sites to buy coupons. Thought that was crazy too until I bought a month's supply of cat food for the $1.50 the stack of coupons cost me.

It does take a time investment, however, and if you don't feel the time investment is saving you enough money, then of course it would be silly to spend your time looking for the best deals. I thought the same thing at one point and I was completely wrong.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Quote from bumpershoot: I don't understand the sitting overnight part, but yes, the manufacturer recommendations of detergent is much more than you actually need.

I think the reason for soaking the clothes overnight with 1/2 the amount of detergent is so the detergent will have a chance to really soak in and clean the clothes I haven't tried it yet but I will also try just using 1/2 the amount without soaking overnight and will report back.

I always use half or sometimes even as little as 1/3 of the recommended detergent and I don't soak and the clothes still come out clean. I do pre-treat really bad stains but otherwise it works fine.

I can't remember where I heard so much detergent is bad for your washer but I did hear that. I know too much can build up on your towels and make them not soak up water as well.

 

[Virgderon]

www.southernsavers.com is my favorite! I used to think the people who stocked up and claimed they saved all this $$ with coupons were nuts because I never saw any coupons in the Sunday papers like I was reading about. Plus who would want all that stuff?

Oh how wrong I was...coupons are everywhere and there are all kinds of websites that will match up coupons, many that are printable, and sales. Makes it really easy to figure out before you go where you will get the best deals. And as strange as it sounds, there are sites to buy coupons. Thought that was crazy too until I bought a month's supply of cat food for the $1.50 the stack of coupons cost me.

It does take a time investment, however, and if you don't feel the time investment is saving you enough money, then of course it would be silly to spend your time looking for the best deals. I thought the same thing at one point and I was completely wrong.

Exactly. I work from home , so I have the time to look for the best coupon matches, etc. But honestly, with how much I am saving, I would make time no matter what. With food like meat or fresh veggies its tougher, but I would never buy deodrant, shampoo, toilet paper laundry detergant, etc. unless it was free or almost free. You just don't have to.

 

[apnep]

LOVE the Costco "food court"!!! Ya can't beat a hot dog and drink for $1.50... (and they're good hot dogs!) and the pizza is like $1.99/slice, I believe? And very good!!!

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I know! How's that for savings? Dinner, drink and dessert for $3.50? I'm all over it.

I really love their combo slice. And tonight, I am treating myself to a dipped chocolate ice-cream bar covered in almonds. Delish!

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

 

[apnep]

and if they're giving out samples...even better!! We always joke that we're going to Costco for lunch since they give out all those samples....you leave full!!

Well, they offered! Why not!