Money saving tips!

[lelalittlelegs]

If you could offer up one money saving tip that works for you/your family - what would it be?

Mine is to grow your own veggies/fruit/salad (if you are able to) and I'm interested to see what other people/families do to save money? Just a tip, like "eat leftovers for lunch" or "ride a bicycle", not so much big mortgage/savings accounts type money saving tips...

 

[disneyhousewife]

I wish I could grow my own veggies! Darn apartment life. My tip would be to go grocery shopping once a week and to only buy enough food for that week. That way you might not end up throwing out a lot of expired food.

 

[QVCshopper]

Just off the top of my head:

-Hang laundry out to dry
-Keep house colder is winter, warmer in summer (60/78); turn off air and heat in spring and fall
-Look at what you have before you buy
-Buy used as much as possible
-Use the Target cartwheel app, stalk Target clearances (I often get k-cups for 11-13 cents each)
-Stockpile on great deals
-Walk instead of drive--I have tons of shops and eateries within walking distance
-Do gas deals at the grocery store if it offers them (I've gotten two free fill ups of gas that would have cost $80+ this month alone at Giant in PA)
-Space out your showers and flushes; conserve water
-So no to your kids sometimes; if they are like mine, they already have so much
-Limit Christmas and birthday presents
-Don't buy tons of clothes for kids
-Shop CVS and Walgreens for their free stuff
-Buy family memberships and use them for fun
-Go to advanced movie screenings when possible

You name it, I've probably done it. I try to keep our household running as cheaply as possible. Really has paid off over the years.

 

[ski_mom]

Great ideas so far!

I think my biggest money saver is having quick easy things on hand to eat that anyone can prepare.

We have ball games, tennis matches, etc all the time it seems. Lots of families drive through McDonalds or other fast food on their way to or from the game for a quick meal.

I try to keep lots of corn dogs, fish sticks, cans of Chef Boyardee, etc on hand that the kids can make for a quick meal before we head to the park.

Not a super nutritious meal, but as good as fast food and much cheaper and quicker in the long run.

 

[SKTiger]

Making my own cleaning supplies! Using vinegar and other basic ingredients you can make so many things with fewer harmful chemicals in them!

 

[PrincessKait]

Because I'm only 18 and not head of my household yet, I like to take the classic route and make a change jar. Before when I used shop or go anywhere that has a tip jar I threw the spare change in there to get rid of the coins in my purse. Now I'm saving all of my coins and putting them in the jar! I've already saved $100 over 4 months! Not a ton of money, but enough for a delicious meal in DW!

 

[melissakrichards]

~ meal planning based on sales
~ make as much from scratch as possible, food, cleaning products, even hair masks
~ stock up on sales
~ have the electric company come out for a FREE energy audit
~ we use power strips and unplug what we're not using

 

[barkley]

pay your car insurance on a twice yearly basis vs. monthly-most insurance companies tack on about $5.00 per month for monthly payment plans (savings=$60 per year).

bundle homeowners/renters, auto and life with the same carrier to take advantage of multi policy discounts. call each individual company for a quote-this can save hundreds and hundreds per year.

if you have a garden or access to bargain priced produce-learn to can. after the initial investment in supplies it's a tremendous savings.

 

[havaneselover]

Buy pet meds at Costco. I save $40/year buying Heartgard there (2 dogs) and $60/year on Clavomox (filled every 2 months).

Also, for Frontline Plus (dog flea medicine) I buy the largest dose and measure out the right amount. That saves me about $100 / year.

 

[abmitch01]

can you get Frontline over the counter? or something similar?

I have a soda stream and I use it every day to stop buying $2 drive through diet cokes. I'm on meds that make my mouth dry and I'm sick of water. Soda Stream, compared to 2liter bottles may break even but it's so convenient not to have to lug the soda home and deal with recycling. I have a bagel sandwich for lunch problem but I'm going on Slimfast so that should take care of that expense.

I am a bookworm but I stopped buying books years ago, I never re-read and I was accumulating way too many. I use my library for everything. Book, books on CD, ebooks, movies. You can request new releases ahead of time so I get things pretty quick. I used it for the kids programs and now my DD has done her volunteering there.

I use my Discover Card for everything. I spend the cash back I earn on LandsEnd gift cards, you get 25% more than if you took cash. I buy off the sale section of Landsend and end up getting my work clothes for free.

 

[havaneselover]

can you get Frontline over the counter? or something similar? I have a soda stream and I use it every day to stop buying $2 drive through diet cokes. I'm on meds that make my mouth dry and I'm sick of water. Soda Stream, compared to 2liter bottles may break even but it's so convenient not to have to lug the soda home and deal with recycling. I have a bagel sandwich for lunch problem but I'm going on Slimfast so that should take care of that expense. I am a bookworm but I stopped buying books years ago, I never re-read and I was accumulating way too many. I use my library for everything. Book, books on CD, ebooks, movies. You can request new releases ahead of time so I get things pretty quick. I used it for the kids programs and now my DD has done her volunteering there. I use my Discover Card for everything. I spend the cash back I earn on LandsEnd gift cards, you get 25% more than if you took cash. I buy off the sale section of Landsend and end up getting my work clothes for free.

Yes frontline plus does not require an rx. I can get 6 xl doses for $70. That is 16 months for both my dogs (lasts about 2 years since I don't to it every month in the winter).

 

[Mouse3Dad]

I wish I could grow my own veggies! Darn apartment life. My tip would be to go grocery shopping once a week and to only buy enough food for that week. That way you might not end up throwing out a lot of expired food.

Some communities in my area offer a "Community Garden". This way people that may not have the room in their yard or live in an apartment have an opportunity to grow some fresh vegetables.

One of the items I do on nearly a 6 month basis is change cable companies to whoever is offering the largest deal. I have see my rate go from $160 a month for Cable/Phone/Internet to $120 and still had the same channels. It may seem minor, but $40 a month adds up.