How did you save money lately?

[wishesuponastar]

Friday was DD's junior prom and her sister did her hair probably saving us $50 to $75.

I made a big batch of fried rice with leftover Easter ham so will eat it on Saturday for lunch instead of getting take out.

 

[Narnia_girl]

The major thing I've done lately is stop 'leisure' shopping. It seems simple, but it has worked. If I don't need it, I don't go shopping. I used to shop with my sisters as a fun activity, when I was bored, or while waiting for my daughter to finish dance (her studio is in a shopping center). I'm not an extravagant shopper, but $20-30 here and there for stuff I really don't need adds up.

It goes along with my 'destash' goals of the year to not buy any new books or craft supplies. Yesterday I decided I wanted a new Disney-themed centerpiece and found one I liked on Pinterest. In the past I would have gone to the craft store to get exactly what I need. Now I 'shop' my own stash and make due with what I have.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Joining the no buy thread for the first time has really helped. I agree with Narnia girl, SO much useless spending. I will go on my lunch hour to get apples for my daughters lunch and leave with $30 of stuff from the store that we don't need. Now I have to think once, twice, three times before entering the store in the first place. It is curbing on line shopping for me too. I put the thing in the basket and walk away from the computer. I am utilizing the library more than ever. I have almost made my way through Once Upon a Time season two, and while I will buy season 3 when I can get it used, I put a hold on it at the library so I don't throw down $40 on the new version.

Another thing I am doing this year is to shave down my income as much as I can with automatic withdrawals. Squeeze the paycheck until it hurts! Then I can only spend what is left after bills. I have money going into the retirement account, 529 for college, dependent care account, vacation account, and emergency fund before I even get my hands on the cash. I keep upping the amount going into retirement and seeing if we can live on the rest. It's a game, but one where future me will win!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

lucked out today! DD broke her glasses last night (trying to adjust the bridge part herself!). We went in to get a new pair - the old frames had been discontinued (knew this previously) so we knew we had to pick out and pay for a whole new set (frames plus lenses). Got in there and one pair of the old frames (which she loves) had turned up in storage somewhere and just been put out in the clearance area! Got the 'new' old frames for $20 - they took out the old lenses and put them into the new frames! SCORE!

 

[kymom99]

I have been trying to stop falling for the "Buy 10 save $5" thing at Kroger. Sure, it's nice if you need all the things you buy to make the 10 items, but I sometimes found myself looking around for things we didn't need. Things like convenience items. Now, if they have pasta and other shelf stable things we use, then fine, but snack crackers, etc. that aren't necessary just hurt the budget.

 

[MillauFr]

I have been saving more since I got a new job. It paid 30% more than my old job. I am trying to save most of the difference.

 

[edk35]

I buy Disney gift cards at Target using my Target red debit card. I try and buy 2-4 a month and I get 2.50 off each 50 buck card. It is a easy way to save for a trip. I used to get Target cards on RAISE and then buy the Disney cards online and would get the red card discount too but they just stopped doing that.

 

[verleniahall]

we planted a garden - it was an investment of about $120.00, but we will not have to buy fresh produce all summer. My parewnts are growing tomatoes and cucumbers, so we will trade with them, plus give some to my grandma. The leftovers will be sold at our local market.

We recently got a walmart, so we will save money on gas to get our other groceries.

We have also started paying things in cash. We have applied the "envelope system" to our grocery and entertainment budget. I keep a "change baggie" in the car. When we spend cash, the change goes into the baggie and when we get home, it goes into a jug that we have apoxied the cap to. the ONLY way to get into it is to physically cut the jug.

We purchased year long memberships to our local zoo and botanical gardens - this will save us money overall during the year, becuase we will not have ot pay the $14.00 each everytime we go to the zoo or the $10.00 each ever time we go to the gardens. 2 times to the gardents and that is paid and 3 trips to the zoo and that membership has paid for itself

 

[pjlla]

Like Narnia-girl mentioned, I too have been staying OUT of the stores since the first of this year. It is AMAZING how much I've saved just by avoiding the stores for "recreational" shopping. I'm not a BIG spender.... Target clearance and thrift stores are my favorite, but it seemed like I was always buying a little here and a little there! I think I've been in a Target probably 3 times since January 1 and that was probably with DD, buying necessities (new jeans, HBA, and Easter gifts), once or twice in a CVS, and maybe 3 times in a thrift store (and spend nothing or very little each time). I've been stashing away all of the "extra" cash in my envelope system!

I also got three estimates (paid for one, one was free) for the repairs that my car needed before I pulled the trigger (and saved about $300 by doing that!). Wasn't sure I wanted to put $1,000 into a 10 year old car with 235K miles, but decided to go for it rather than buy a new car.

DH is trying to give up Diet Coke (again) and I'm SURE that is saving us a few $$ a week. I stopped buying it for the house MANY years ago (I refuse to be an accomplice to that terrible habit), but he was still stopping every chance for a fountain drink (probably at least once a day 4-5 days a week).... so I'm sure that has saved us $15 at least this month.

Trying to use up all of the "this and that" in my pantry (you know.... that pouch of spicy marinade that sounded so good, or that can of soup that was on sale but is a flavor you don't really like or that last handful of egg noodles that isn't really enough for a meal or .... well... you get the idea!). It started in January when I was trying to get through the end of the month (and the end of the MONEY) without going to the market. I got MIGHTY creative and used up a bunch of stuff and even managed to create a new recipe or two that was a winner!

I've been staying off the FB Yard sale groups I belong to.... I just don't need anything! I think since the first of the year I've sold about $100, but only spent $2 !!

That's all I can think of for now!...................P

 

[Judique]

Like Narnia-girl mentioned, I too have been staying OUT of the stores since the first of this year. It is AMAZING how much I've saved just by avoiding the stores for "recreational" shopping. I'm not a BIG spender.... Target clearance and thrift stores are my favorite, but it seemed like I was always buying a little here and a little there! I think I've been in a Target probably 3 times since January 1 and that was probably with DD, buying necessities (new jeans, HBA, and Easter gifts), once or twice in a CVS, and maybe 3 times in a thrift store (and spend nothing or very little each time). I've been stashing away all of the "extra" cash in my envelope system!

I also got three estimates (paid for one, one was free) for the repairs that my car needed before I pulled the trigger (and saved about $300 by doing that!). Wasn't sure I wanted to put $1,000 into a 10 year old car with 235K miles, but decided to go for it rather than buy a new car.

DH is trying to give up Diet Coke (again) and I'm SURE that is saving us a few $$ a week. I stopped buying it for the house MANY years ago (I refuse to be an accomplice to that terrible habit), but he was still stopping every chance for a fountain drink (probably at least once a day 4-5 days a week).... so I'm sure that has saved us $15 at least this month.

Trying to use up all of the "this and that" in my pantry (you know.... that pouch of spicy marinade that sounded so good, or that can of soup that was on sale but is a flavor you don't really like or that last handful of egg noodles that isn't really enough for a meal or .... well... you get the idea!). It started in January when I was trying to get through the end of the month (and the end of the MONEY) without going to the market. I got MIGHTY creative and used up a bunch of stuff and even managed to create a new recipe or two that was a winner!

I've been staying off the FB Yard sale groups I belong to.... I just don't need anything! I think since the first of the year I've sold about $100, but only spent $2 !!

That's all I can think of for now!...................P

Staying out of the stores is the biggie for me.

 

[maux]

Like others, I've been staying out if stores. I decided I don't need any more "things" as I simply don't have any more room. Also, I decided if I was going to spend money, it will be for travel as that is what I love to do. So I'm saving for my Oct trip to WDW and my Jan trip to DL.

 

[DizMe]

I like to knit, and I gave someone a purse as a gift. She loved it and asked if I had any to sell as she had several people ask about it. I started taking a few orders and wow, I sold quite a few! I get $50 each for them. I'm going to my mom's and I have repeat customers over there asking for them. I'm on purse #6 now so that's $300, but of course I have to buy the materials. It does take a lot of time but I enjoy doing it. Not going to make me rich, but it's a nice bonus.

I had to stop reading zulily emails and like many PPs, I had to stop going into stores. Ross was my weakness because it seemed like such a bargain and I'd go on Tuesdays when they had the 10% for over 55 deal. Kind of addictive, though.

 

[tina.tina]

Staying out of stores is really important. I've gone to Marshall's a couple of times lately and couldn't resist things that were a really great deal for DS9.

I bought outdoor patio cushions on sale that were clearance items from last year. I save a little over $100.

We don't use credit cards but DH signed up for one over the weekend and got 35% off a new suit he had to have.

 

[barkley]

we've been working on cutting down on our grocery expenses by eating through all the stuff we've already got on-hand. yesterday I looked through our freezer and updated the running list of everything in there along with a list of all the dry/canned/jarred goods in the pantry. listed it in categories so I can do some serious meal planning around the stuff we've already got on hand. going through everything gives me a good handle on what items I really need to get at the store for the pantry (not much really-some mayo and a large bottle of vegetable oil), and how I don't need to get anything for the freezer for the foreseeable future. I'm thinking we can get by purchasing just milk, eggs and a small amount of produce for a few months (my freezer and pantry are REALY stocked).

 

[Soulsearching]

I save the biggest on food shopping. Only buying what I need for the week and watching for sales. Too many times I have bought from big box stores, only to see it rot or not get eaten for months. What a waste. I now buy only what I need. Reinventing dinner with leftovers and not wasting food at all. It's amazing what you can do.

Also not eating out saves me a ton (well, I only eat out once a week lol). Not only does it save me money, but it also saves me calories, fat, and sodium. Now that's a big savings! ;-)

 

[wishesuponastar]

Like others, I learned a lomg time ago to stay out of stores that saves a lot. And when I do go in a store I don't browse, just get in and out.

I am also going to use up our pantry and freezer items. Especially soup before it gets to hot outside to want to eat it.

I'm also going to start saving the dollar bills I get as change. with the savings I will use it for Summer spending at the beach.

I'M loving all your ideas everyone.

 

[lvillotta1]

Things are very tight right now. I am a nurse and work 2 12 hr shifts a week. I have some minor medical problems at this point to where I can not be on my feet more than that. We are getting by. I have quit shopping for everything except food. We only shop at Aldi's unless our local Kroger has some good deals. I am trying to trim my food budget to $350/mos. I am cooking at home every day and we are able to eat leftovers for the 2nd night so that is helpful. I am able to pay our mortgage and all of our bills. The one big thing that has happened this year is medical care. I had been avoiding some symptoms for a long time since I did not want to rack up medical debt,but no longer could put it off. So I now have a lot of medical bills to pay off which has been really difficult. There are some weeks that I do work an extra shift at the hospital which helps,but the extra money is never guaranteed. I am sure at some point I will be back to working more than part time,but we really have everything we need.

 

[irishdancemomma]

We are trying to cut back wherever we can. We are saving and changing things up to work toward our goal of traveling around the country in an rv. So far since Jan we have:

Sold stuff we weren't using. Earning us $250 so far.

Switched phone companies to save $66 a month.

Canceled Netflix to save $8 a month. Switched to borrowing movies from the library instead. We have never had cable.

Changed to a high deductible health insurance plan to save $40 a month.

Purchased a used reel mower ($25) to mow our own lawn instead of paying $40-$80 a month to have it mowed.

Resisted the urge to turn on the AC despite having a few 90 degree days and several 80+ degree days already. I hope to keep it off until June and even then keep it turned up to 78.

Borrowed a plumbing auger and fixed our own clogged sink.

Crawled under the house and fixed our own clogged bath tub.

Bunched all errands into one day a week to avoid driving more than nessecary.

Switched all grocery shopping to aldi and worked on finding more meat free meals. This has shaved our grocery budget from $350-$400 a month to $250-$300 a month.

Started giving ourselves an allowance of $50 each per week to cover eating out, coffee out, and fun purchases (including clothes). Groupons have made this stretch pretty far and we haven't felt deprived much at all. I realize $100 a week in fun money is still a lot, but it is a huge step down for us and I am weaning us off of it slowly.

Next we will:

Switch to a fee free bank

Check on cheaper Internet options

Check on cheaper car insurance options

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I youtubed how to layer hair and cut my own. Saved time and money.

 

[barkley]

We are trying to cut back wherever we can. We are saving and changing things up to work toward our goal of traveling around the country in an rv. So far since Jan we have:

Sold stuff we weren't using. Earning us $250 so far.

Switched phone companies to save $66 a month.

Canceled Netflix to save $8 a month. Switched to borrowing movies from the library instead. We have never had cable.

Changed to a high deductible health insurance plan to save $40 a month.

Purchased a used reel mower ($25) to mow our own lawn instead of paying $40-$80 a month to have it mowed.

Resisted the urge to turn on the AC despite having a few 90 degree days and several 80+ degree days already. I hope to keep it off until June and even then keep it turned up to 78.

Borrowed a plumbing auger and fixed our own clogged sink.

Crawled under the house and fixed our own clogged bath tub.

Bunched all errands into one day a week to avoid driving more than nessecary.

Switched all grocery shopping to aldi and worked on finding more meat free meals. This has shaved our grocery budget from $350-$400 a month to $250-$300 a month.

Started giving ourselves an allowance of $50 each per week to cover eating out, coffee out, and fun purchases (including clothes). Groupons have made this stretch pretty far and we haven't felt deprived much at all. I realize $100 a week in fun money is still a lot, but it is a huge step down for us and I am weaning us off of it slowly.

Next we will:

Switch to a fee free bank

Check on cheaper Internet options

Check on cheaper car insurance options

when you start shopping insurance options consider asking for quotes if you bundle with a company-I cut our rates significantly by keeping homeowners/dd's rental/auto with one company (our prior company charged less in a bundling for auto-but nowhere near the savings on our homeowners and dd's rental).

on internet-whatever the cheapest you can find, call your current provider and see if they will beat it. we did this (when we had the option of multiple providers where we lived) and shaved over 50% off our fees which our (then) provider locked in for 3 years with no minimum contract.