Saving money tricks?

[blondimom]

I have finally decided to break down and start rolling up all the loose change that I have in water bottles in the house. So far, I've rolled up $245 just in dimes alone!! What are your little "saving money" tricks?

 

[disneydreamer98]

We do the same thing...save all our change and when it get's closer to our trips we save all our dollar bills. We also put all bottle refunds (we have 10 cent refundable deposits on all our cans and bottles in Michigan) and any rebate checks we get into our Disney fund. I also found that having a garage sale and getting rid of some things brings a nice little profit!

 

[brack]

At church we give (tithe) 10% of everything we earn each week.

We also give (tithe) to ourselves 10% for our Disney vacations. This is on top of any rewards we earn on our credit cards which are also used for Disney vacations.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I have money taken directly from my paycheck before I see it to save for college, taxes and other stuff. I'm a great saver but it's a no-brainer when you don't see it.

 

[patelaine1953]

I only save quarters. If my bill comes to $9.37, I give the cashier $.12 so that I get back 3 quarters. For all bottle returns, I ask to get the money in quarters as well. I have saved over $200 in quarters just since the middle of April. This will be our spending money for our trip in December. I booked and paid for our airline tickets back in February or March. The hotel room is through the Vacation Club. The only other expense we will have will be our car rental. That will be booked and paid for sometime in September or October. I will also have my rewards from my Disney Visa. Any leftover money will be used for last minute Xmas shopping.

 

[justus3]

I made an envelope that says "Disney Fund" and gave it to my DD9. He is a great saver. Everyday now since March he hits us up for money for the fund. So far he has saved close to $300.00. I think I have a future banker on my hands. When he ask when are we going I say when the fund is full. He does not know I already have ressies at POFQ for the end of Sept.

 

[Clancycat]

I don't spend any change-- if I buy something that costs $1.05, I pay w/ $2 then pocket the change. Later if I buy something that costs .50c, I pay w/ $1 rather than use my change. You'd be surprised at how quickly the change adds up. I also roll it as I go now and deposit it monthly, much easier than doing the marathin rolling sessions. LOL.

Some other ideas-- if you use grocery coupons, keep track of the amoint you save each time you shop & deposit it into savings. Also, if you decide to skip buying something (eating out, a cup of coffee, a movie, a new outfit, etc) put what you would have spent into savings.

 

[crisrn2003]

Hi! What I have started doing is a combination of things. I have been secret shopping and ALL the that money goes into an ING savings account. I have to spend some money on the shops when I'm doing fast food but I get reimbursed as well as being paid a fee for performing the job.
I save all rebate checks and put those into the savings account.
I try to save my change but during the school year, that gets to be a challenge as we need 50 cents here and 30 cents there.
I've been saving my dollar bills and only use the bigger bills to pay for things.
I've been doing surveys--I've gotten some money from them and some of them give you points you can redeem for money.
I've been shopping and surfing through mypoints.com. I have been saving the points which I will use at the end of the year for xmas presents. I will deposit the same amount of money into my savings as that's what I would have been spending on gifts.
I have money directly deposited each paycheck into my ING savings too. Its just an automatic withdrawal I know will be coming out each check so it's a given. The ING also has the benefit of taking a few days to get your money so you can't just nickle and dime your account for junk.
In addition, when I think of purchasing something, I think of an Oprah show I saw once. She spoke of assets and stated "if its on your a---, it's not an ASSET." I try to ask myself do I really need it? Have we been living fine without it? Is there something already at home that I could use in its place? Sometimes just putting it back and thinking about it for a few minutes/hours/days aids me in not purchasing something I really don't need.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I have been watching my nephews 2 days this week and get paid cash, when I go to WalMart I get $10-$20 in quarters and put it directely in my change container. If I put aside a bill I will spend it, seems strange but works for me. Some weeks if I am at the mall I pick up Disney Dollars

 

[BARBARAAPPLE]

I ALWAYS ROUND CHECKS THAT I HAVE WRITTEN UP IN MY CHECK BOOK
ex: WRITE A CHECK FOR $12.50 WRITE DOWN $13.00

 

[mannasn]

I, too, have been doing mystery shopping, surveys and rebates. Any money that I get back on those goes directly into my coffee can "Disney fund." Sold a few things on Ebay, hoping to list more. Signed myself and all my family up for ING savings accounts and pocketed the referral bonuses. Planning on a garage sale, but I don't have anything big and they don't tend to be too profitable around here - but every little bit helps! Saving change too - just rolled up $6 worth of pennies... . again, not much, but all the little bits will add up in time. Still trying to get the hang of the rewards programs. Trying not to eat out so much.

I'm a student, so when I get my student aid refund check, a big chunk of that (at least $1000, I'm hoping) will get deposited into savings.

I'm also a Wal-mart addict - doesn't help that they built the new supercenter about 1 mile from my house! I always use my debit card and get $20 cash back and stick it in the Disney jar at the house when we get home.

Really wish I could find a part-time job, though! Small towns stink!