HELP! Cutting costs...your ways?

[TigerCheer2009]

I'm new to this whole world of budgeting stuff. I need to know the ways other DISers cut costs. I'll take any and every tip given for a test run.

Please...it would be appreciated! TIA!

 

[disneymom3]

Eat at home! That is probably the biggest money saver there is. I am always stunned when we do go out how much it costs. And when you do go out consider splitting items. Last Sunday we went out to breakfast and DH and I split an omelet. It came with pancakes and hashbrowns. I was stuffed by the time I was done and I didn't even finish my half!

Also, in meals that you do eat at home, go meatless once in awhile. A main dish of brown rice, kidney beans and tomatoes is very filling and tastes good.

Buy your kids clothes at garage sales and also shop off season. This last Feb, I got Land's End jeans for DS for $5.58 at Sears. Bought his current size as well as the one he will be wearing next.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Thanks disneymom3! I appreciate it! I will try all of those!

Anybody else?

 

[mist_e_rose2002]

I'm new to this whole world of budgeting stuff. I need to know the ways other DISers cut costs. I'll take any and every tip given for a test run.

Please...it would be appreciated! TIA!

I use pringles cans to bring snacks into the park. They hold everything and are lightweight.

We are also bringing a suitcase full of food. I may consider renting a fridge for $10 a day, and having food in the hotel.

also, if you are a Pizza Hut VIP member, your VIP coupons will work in Orlando.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Thanks! I'll try the pringles can thing!

 

[jlb]

I always double think about the money I spend... like if something is not on special at the store with coupon, does not come home. Target I call it re-evalaluating the cart and it works. I play do we really need it at check out. I eat what is cheap and in season during the summer. Just think of little ways to cut and they add up.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Thanks...my family is good at spending money on things we don't need...like 5 bottles of ketchup because it has the cute little sayings on it when one will do. Do We Really Need It? sounds like a good game to play. Maybe I should try it!

 

[Amii]

What helps me the most is to think of things I want to buy in terms of how much I will have to work in order to buy it. If the item is worth what it takes me one hour to make I will ask myself if it is worth working an hour for. When I look at it that way I often don't buy the item. Hope that makes sense> I am very tired.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Amii, I totally understand. Thank you for submitting...I should try that.

 

[LoveWDW]

What helps me the most is to think of things I want to buy in terms of how much I will have to work in order to buy it. If the item is worth what it takes me one hour to make I will ask myself if it is worth working an hour for. When I look at it that way I often don't buy the item. Hope that makes sense> I am very tired.

I hadn't thought of this before. Thanks for posting it.

My husband doesn't buy something the first time, he gives it a day or week. Then if he still wants it he'll buy it.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

See? Everyone can benefit. I'm glad this is helping somebody else!~

 

[PattiPB]

That is what I tell myself every time I save (or don't spend!) a few bucks. One time I saved $10 on a rental car coupon, and somebody at work asked if it was really worth "all the trouble". I replied: That is 4 Mickey bars!!!!! Okay, so a non-DISer wouldn't get it.

But, darn it, every Mickey bar counts in my family!!!!!

BTW---on the cruise ship we order TONS of Mickey bars from room service! After all, they are "free"!!!!!

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Everything counts! I like to think of it as refillable mugs.

We did the Change Jar and we got $78.92 out of that and still going! We can buy nearly 7 mugs!!!

Thanks Patty...and non-DISers wouldn't get it, but we do!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Once I went to college and realized how quickly the money disappears I became SUCH a bargain shopper. I can't remember the last time I paid full price for clothes. I shop the sale racks and stores like Gabriel Bros. Used to hate that store, didn't have the patience. . .until it was my money I was spending. I still don't have the patience to search every rack, but I can usually eyeball a rack and tell which fabrics jump out at me and make me pull the item out to look at it and see if it's something I actually like, or is just decieving, haha. It's hit and miss, but the hits are usually VERY worth it. Not too long ago (mid-May) I found a $150 pair of Seven jeans for $8.99!! Of course Gabe's is regional but I'm sure there are similar stores all over the place.

Sales at outlets are great too. We went to Italy the past two years to visit family and did major damage at the new outlet mall outside of Rome. Last year I bought a cute, classic looking, $300 pair of Bruno Magli shoes marked down and clearanced to $35 (approx - estimating exchange rate) This year I got a cute pair of Pumas for $40 that I recently saw as a 'new hot item' here for over $100! Unfortunately the sales I've run into in outlets here haven't been THAT good, LOL!

I just cannot bring myself to pay full price for anything. If there's something that I REALLY like, I just make a conscious effort to regularly stop into that store when I'm in the area to see if it's marked down yet.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

That is what I tell myself every time I save (or don't spend!) a few bucks. One time I saved $10 on a rental car coupon, and somebody at work asked if it was really worth "all the trouble". I replied: That is 4 Mickey bars!!!!! Okay, so a non-DISer wouldn't get it.

But, darn it, every Mickey bar counts in my family!!!!!

Yum, I like this idea!

I do a lot of little things to save money. I cut my dryer sheets in half, sign up with company's websites that I like (like Huggies, cigarette brands for DH, Gerber) so they send me coupons, Dh eats lunch at home, we cook from scratch whenever possible. We also try to find alot of cheap and free activities to do like hiking, parks and playgrounds, free movie days, and my favorite, the library. We're trying really hard to cut down on drinking pop by drinking iced tea and water instead (DH and I, the kids don't drink pop at all).

I called to cut my cable service down, we have digital cable and I think it's a waste of money ( my family disagrees, but did agree we'd try to do without for the summer), but when I called they said I was under a promotion so my bill would be more expensive if I did that! He said to call back in Sept. when the promotion ends.

 

[grlpwrd]

There are past threads that pretty much covered many frugality/budgeting/etc ideas. You might want to do a search....

I just want to add some helpful websites and forums that are helpful, too:

www.stretcher.com
www.cindysporch.com
www.couponmom.com
www.mycoupons.com

 

[Alicnwondrln]

That is what I tell myself every time I save (or don't spend!) a few bucks. One time I saved $10 on a rental car coupon, and somebody at work asked if it was really worth "all the trouble". I replied: That is 4 Mickey bars!!!!! Okay, so a non-DISer wouldn't get it.

But, darn it, every Mickey bar counts in my family!!!!!

BTW---on the cruise ship we order TONS of Mickey bars from room service! After all, they are "free"!!!!!

 

[pearlieq]

DH and I have gotten into the habit at the grocery store, Target, etc. of doing a "cart purge". Once you've gotten everything and are ready to check out, pull the cart over and put at least one thing back. Make this a rule. We usually find more than one thing that can go, but at least you're "saving" the money for the one thing you didn't get.

 

[CDoobee]

That is what I tell myself every time I save (or don't spend!) a few bucks. One time I saved $10 on a rental car coupon, and somebody at work asked if it was really worth "all the trouble". I replied: That is 4 Mickey bars!!!!! Okay, so a non-DISer wouldn't get it.

But, darn it, every Mickey bar counts in my family!!!!!

BTW---on the cruise ship we order TONS of Mickey bars from room service! After all, they are "free"!!!!!

I do this with my change jar! I don't spend ANY change. It all goes in the jar (along with $1 bills sometimes, too). Everytime I put some in, I think in terms of Mickey bars....that's one Mickey bar, or 1/2 a Mickey bar, or maybe just Mickey's ears!

 

[Kramer]

I'm new to this whole world of budgeting stuff. I need to know the ways other DISers cut costs. I'll take any and every tip given for a test run.

Please...it would be appreciated! TIA!

Don't buy CD's... download music illegally off the internet. It will save you a lot of money.