How did you save money lately?

[pjlla]

Okay.... this may be TMI, but I spent about an hour at the sewing machine yesterday "rehabbing" my aging VS bras! Tightened up the straps and such....hoping I can get them to fit better for the little life that is remaining in them. Also finished the repairs in my sewing pile (fixed a few more holey sox and patched a pair of DS jeans)..............P

 

[minnie45]

Since dining out creates a real budget problem for me, I've moved to the envelope method for dining. A limited amount of money goes in each payday and when it's gone ....it's gone until next pay day. It even motivates me to cook a bit more. I got my kids in on it, and we have been very successful with this so far...

 

[sunflowerfields]

Recently I changed the way I shop for groceries. I give myself $350 a month (in cash) to spend on groceries. Whatever I don't spend of that I put in the Disney fund bank. Tonight my husband and I agreed to quit eating out all the time. We prob. eat out at least 4 times a week if not more and we absolutely cannot afford to.

 

[annsteere]

Boneless skinless chicken breasts were on sale for $1.79 per pound. I bought 20 pounds. This morning I trimmed and then froze them in packages of one double breast per bag. The small chicken bits got poached and will be enough for two casseroles or lunches of chicken salad. The discardable trimmings combined with two dead celery stalks to create three free cups of stock that I will freeze for later use

 

[karatemomky]

Since dining out creates a real budget problem for me, I've moved to the envelope method for dining. A limited amount of money goes in each payday and when it's gone ....it's gone until next pay day. It even motivates me to cook a bit more. I got my kids in on it, and we have been very successful with this so far...

I love the envelope method! I've been doing it for years with my entire budget and it really helps. If I have cash, I'm much more conservative. If I use debit or credit cards, I'm all over the place. It keeps me in line on spending.

 

[worm761]

I work from home for our fun money/vacation money. I have been putting my entire paycheck in savings as soon as it is deposited. Unfortunately both projects I was working on ended. But the company I work for had another company ask for someone to work a rush job earlier this week. I was who she recommended. I spent 7 hours working on Tuesday and made $140! Sent straight to my Disney fund.

 

[NewRVLady]

WE live in the South and bar_B Q most weekends.
Just DH & I -retired

We bar b Q a chicken-eat the dark meat-then use one breast for Chicken Fahitas one night and maybe chicken salad with other half
Or we Bar B Q Pork Country ribs...each eat one or 2-then chop up the rest of the meat and make bar B Q sandwiches or serve meat on pasta

 

[minnie45]

I love the envelope method! I've been doing it for years with my entire budget and it really helps. If I have cash, I'm much more conservative. If I use debit or credit cards, I'm all over the place. It keeps me in line on spending.

Yes, I think I'm going to completely give up credit cards and do the envelopes. I opened a credit card recently because it gives me "cash back rewards," but I find that I spend a little more now. You don't realize how little things adds up when you don't see it in cash. It isn't worth the reward money to me...Don't get me wrong...I've met several people on this board that get a lot of "free money" and "reward points" by working their credit cards. In fact, I completely envy them for being able to juggle that. I just don't seem to have the "skill" or time or what ever to make it work for me.

 

[Girlfriday17]

Eating at home and packing DH's lunch. Plus I switched vehicles with DH because my car, a VW Golf Wagen which I use to transport the dogs to the dog park, is a diesel and very fuel efficient. I will walk the dogs around where we live for a while. Saves about $100 a month. My herb garden goes in next month and I've been using up store rewards. Just ordered 7 days WDW tickets on my Airmiles (it's a Canadian thing), just by going to select grocery stores when they have bonus miles.

 

[JBe11]

I use Groupon a lot and I'm a big believer in saving up airline miles. I earn miles/points on everything I purchase, plus I can get extra points if I'm buying something online - for example, at macys. Once I have my points, I can either apply them towards paying off my credit card bill, future travel plans, etc.

I've also become a big DIYer. I made bedroom curtains out of shower curtains (at $15/window!), added new handles to my dresser, and I'm currently painting/remodeling a free desk I got from a neighbor.

 

[Eastern]

When we go out to eat, we've been doing lunch more than dinner. It's usually a lot cheaper and you can skip dinner cause you probably won't be hungry.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

Lowered my car insurance bill by 300 every 6 months.

 

[Narnia_girl]

My washing machine agitator broke (the fins at the bottom broke right off!) and instead of calling a repairman, I googled it, ordered a $40 part online and fixed it myself - I was so proud of myself!!

Seems like I do a LOT of laundry and laundry detergent really adds up - I had seen a post about "homemade laundry detergent." Intrigued, I purchased the 3 ingredients, made a batch and I like it better than the commercial brands! Ends up costing less than $1 a GALLON and cleans really well!

Also trying to stay out of the stores as other posters have suggested - too easy to stop for one or two things and come out $50 later!

Planted a huge vegetable garden this week - did that last year when I was out of work and I still have some veggies frozen and canned that we're enjoying (have a small 5 cf freezer and got a food saver for Christmas (vacuum seals bags for freezing) that will be great for this year's harvest). Going strawberry picking this weekend and will make jam to enjoy this year and give as gifts.

Every little bit helps!

Can you share your "recipe" for homemade laundry detergent. I know I can Google recipes, but I'd love to have one that someone has tried and approves of. I just bought detergent at Sams for $15. Yours sounds much cheaper.