Top 10 thrifty things you do!!

[Juliet25]

I don't think I have ten, but here's a few

1.) Use Netflix and a Roku box instead of cable. $7.99 a month

2.) Besides using the library for books, all my kids' activities are through the library. I'm a SAHM with a preschooler, and we make the rounds to various libraries in our area and take advantage of all the free programs offered for his age group. My older DDs participate in less at the moment. We're taking a break from scouting, dance, etc. and will start again in the Spring (maybe). Just being able to get away from the fundraisers is a money saver.

3.) I can't afford to participate in school fundraisers, so instead I volunteer my time. I worked DS's preschool bookfair last week, and next week I'll work the one at DDs' school.

4.) Lots of shopping at thrift stores. I've found if I'm patient, I can find what I'm looking for. DS grew out of his sneakers recently. The other day I ran into a Goodwill and found a pair of New Balance that looked like new.

 

[Deffenm]

Most of mine have been mentioned so here are a few that have not.

1.) Make my own tea instead of buying starbucks
2.) cut dryer sheets in half - can't tell the difference
3.) save dryer lint and toliet paper/paper towel rolls to make fire starters - we have a seasonal camp site and use them there
4.) timed showers we have a timer in the bathroom and once it goes off kids know they need to be done taking their shower. If I didn't do this they would take 30-45 min showers!
5.) make homemade granola bars for the kids to pack in their lunches. They will not eat the boxed kind anymore and their friends asked if they could pay me to make them some.
6.) plant a garden - Butter lettuce, tomatoes, green bell peppers, squash. I have 2 square foot garden boxes that I use.
7.) My DD is the queen of finding lose change on the ground. We keep a change jar on the counter and anytime someone finds change they put it in the jar. At the end of the year we cash it in and do something fun with it.
8.) with the holidays approaching I cash in all of my points earned from certain sites/bank for gift cards and use those to purchase gifts.
9.) Freeze bananas that are about to go bad to use in smoothies and/or bread
10.) Use Holiday cards that I have received from years past to make gift tags. We always get some really pretty cards that make great gift tags and I don't have to buy any.

 

[MomToOne]

My biggest thing is to embrace the word "No":

No, I can't go to lunch with you today.

No, DD14, you can't have a smart phone, or a new pair of jeans, or a car when you are sixteen

No, I don't want to help you win some sort of contest or go on some trip thanks to me buying something overpriced.

No, self, you don't need that bag of cookies!

 

[andieb0602]

Here are mine:

1) Buy good-quality, older-model cars and drive them until the wheels fall off. We haven't had a car payment since 2005. DH's car (that he bought in 2000) finally bit the dust last year and we purchased a 2001 Nissan Altima with just over 100,000 miles on it for $2,500. I drive a 2003 Ford minivan that we purchased for around $6,000. We save up our money and, when a car finally gets on its last legs, we start searching for a replacement. We certainly aren't turning heads but it's so nice to not have a car payment.

2) Stay in the same house. We bought our house in 2001 thinking we would sell it 4-5 years later. Then I was in nursing school. Then we had kids. At this point we're just making it work. Our dining room, which we never used, became an office. We have a desk in the living room for DD to do her homework at. While I'd love to have more space it's also nice that our house payment isn't much more than what we were paying for a 2 bedroom apartment in 2000. Also, our neighborhood has 2 pools which keeps the kids entertained during the summer.

3) Send the kids to school with metal bottles with milk and water in them. I save a TON of money not buying juice boxes and this way the kids can take organic milk.

4) Buy quality when I need to. My kids have to wear uniforms to school. Rather than buying their uniform clothes at Target I buy Lands End for their uniform tops. I spent $380 on tops with embroidered logos this summer during their free logo sale. This included 4 short sleeve and long sleeves shirts for both kids plus the required uniform jacket/sweater to wear during class if they're cold. It's a lot of money up front but, considering the kids will wear them for 2 school years, it comes out to just under $50 a season for their shirts AND they're a better quality and I can get the stains out easier.

5) Sell the kids' and my old clothes. I buy Gymboree with coupons and off-season and then turn around and sell them at a local church consignment sale for almost the same amount as what I paid for them. I take my and DH's old clothes to local consignment stores that pay cash on the spot for what they'll take.

6) We eat out once a month. That's it.

7) Meal plan from paycheck to paycheck. Meals are written on the calendar so I know what I'm cooking that day. We also eat very few processed foods. (I love to cook.)

8) Use my dryer sparingly. Our neighborhood doesn't allow clotheslines and DH has severe allergies and can't deal with the pollen so I only dry clothes for about 10 minutes and then hang them on hangers to finish drying in our bathroom which has a ceiling fan. This also means that we still have the dryer that was given to us as a wedding present 14 years ago.

9) Never buy anything online without searching for a coupon code. I always search for a coupon before buying anything. It doesn't always work out but there has been times I've saved a ton of money doing this.

10) Fix before buying a new one. I've fixed my dryer and dishwasher using YouTube and Amazon. DD's (cheap laminate) bedroom furniture was looking worn and I repainted it with a $2.50 quart of oops paint from Lowes and some materials we had on hand. I'm getting ready to refinish the bedroom suite I've had since I was a teenager and I'll be painting a vanity for DD that was given to us with yet another can of $2.50 oops paint. (Can you tell I love oops paint?)

 

[artemis4]

I'm getting ready to refinish the bedroom suite I've had since I was a teenager and I'll be painting a vanity for DD that was given to us with yet another can of $2.50 oops paint. (Can you tell I love oops paint?)

Oh, we loooove oops paint! We've been using it since '02 for every single painting project in our house. If I don't like the color, I just mix a few together and have something I do like for the room. It's the best. I could never pay full price for paint once discovering oops paint.

 

[ellochka]

1. Buy lightly used cars for cash. I don't mind interest as much as overpaying for the cars, and paying cash keeps you focused on the right things.
2. No dry cleaning. Ever. I wash wool jackets and silk dresses in the washer.
3. Cook at home.
4. Buy fewer things. Most Americans have their homes filled with too much stuff. Think twice before buying anything no matter the price.
5. No monthly money suckers: gym/club memberships, timeshares, subscriptions to things you don't need, storage units, etc.
6. Sell things in good condition on eBay or Craig's list.
7. Buy things in good condition on eBay, Craig's list or thrift stores (children clothing in particular)
8. Mend, tailor, and know a cobbler.
9. Get low maintenance landscaping with perennials.
10. Not be a SAHM. That's the biggie. My income is much higher than the daycare costs.

 

[ellochka]

Here are mine:

1) Buy good-quality, older-model cars and drive them until the wheels fall off. We haven't had a car payment since 2005. DH's car (that he bought in 2000) finally bit the dust last year and we purchased a 2001 Nissan Altima with just over 100,000 miles on it for $2,500. I drive a 2003 Ford minivan that we purchased for around $6,000. We save up our money and, when a car finally gets on its last legs, we start searching for a replacement. We certainly aren't turning heads but it's so nice to not have a car payment.

2) Stay in the same house. We bought our house in 2001 thinking we would sell it 4-5 years later. Then I was in nursing school. Then we had kids. At this point we're just making it work. Our dining room, which we never used, became an office. We have a desk in the living room for DD to do her homework at. While I'd love to have more space it's also nice that our house payment isn't much more than what we were paying for a 2 bedroom apartment in 2000. Also, our neighborhood has 2 pools which keeps the kids entertained during the summer.

You are spilling all the good secrets today, aren't you!

 

[TravelMommy]

My top 10 Thriftiest
1. Keep our cars until they die (had my last one for 16 years!)
2. No landline (good bye and good riddance)
3. no cable (well we have basic, basic for $5.00/month--local stations)
4. NETFLIX (love, love , love Netflix)
5. Straighttalk for cell phones (can't beat it!)
6. If we must eat out, I do take out at lunch--cheaper
7. Christmas--parred way down to celebrate the meaning of the holiday
8. Shop all year for Christmas presents
9. Shop at Aldi (excellent savings especially for our organics!)
10. For WDW/Orlando trips--prebuy tickets one by one way before the trip at Undercover Tourist to spread the cost over time and by the time the trip comes around they are all paid for! Prepay for dining by buying WDW gift cards and that way dining is all paid for before the trip!Yay

 

[Dashzap]

I do a lot of the things already mentioned (pay cash for cars, don't eat out, don't buy things, don't use paper towels, etc.) plus:

- We use a TV antenna instead of cable or subscription service (ie. Netflix) We get 3 PBS stations, the major networks, and more....for free.

- We take refillable water bottles everywhere. Buying drinks out is a huge money drain. Even when traveling we’ll take empty bottles through TSA and fill on the other side.

- We don’t use dryer sheets or fabric softeners. Clothes don't have to be scented to be clean.

- I make my coffee at home, using a coffee press so no buying filters. I grind the beans, because I can use inexpensive beans (Aldi’s) and it tastes better than buying expensive ground coffee. I add vanilla extract or ground coriander if I am in the mood for fancy coffee.

- I mend/alter/repurpose clothes.

- I haven't used a hose to water outside in many years. The potted plants get the grey water from washing fruits and vegetables in the kitchen.



I strongly agree we all buy too many things. My midlife crisis is taking the form of wanting to own as little as possible.

 

[Sandy61]

I use rain barrels that we got free for watering plants

I have lots of perennials that I divide and plant or trade with DSis

I have a veg garden that I mulch each fall and don't buy fertilizer nor insect repellant

I work part time from home so I haven't ever had child care

I coupon and use a few great websites for info. I haven't paid anything for shampoo, deodorant, floss etc for a long time

I plan a menu a week in advance and grocery shop only once a week

I have a pantry and only need to buy groceries when they are on sale and hopefully have a coupon. I buy a lot on sale to restock the pantry. My grocery stores price match other stores.

Our basement looks like we are packrats so we have been gathering stuff we no longer want and selling it at retro stores. We also sell to a store that repurposes furniture, art and lighting.

Our church has a community garage sale that we sell old stuff at

I love my Goodwill store. I have found some of my favorite clothes there

 

[ellochka]

I strongly agree we all buy too many things. My midlife crisis is taking the form of wanting to own as little as possible.

Our secret to owning little is living in a townhouse with no basement, no attic, and a small garage with no storage area It's painful, but it works (and we have too many kid toys, anyway).

 

[niffer5150]

1. we don't eat out or go out for coffee
2. we don't buy every gadget that comes out. if it works, it works.
3. we have a very thin budget we follow, much thinner than needs be. it's uncomfortable at times but we've kinda learned to like delayed gratification.
4. plan ahead, for meals or shopping. i start buying for christmas in may. it eases the pain my budget feels because i have the luxury of waiting for deals and picking things up over time. planning also gives you time. time to find the free samples or deals.
5. we have very few subscription services
6.we buy used stuff ALL the time when it doesn't matter if it's been used.
7. we are choosy about the "wants" we buy.
8. buy in bulk for things we will use, buy in smaller amounts for stuff we might not. it's not a deal if it goes to waste.
9. i do research. is there a coupon or code for that? can i get it cheaper through amazon prime or ebay (most of the time, it is)? is it on sale somewhere else? i have a folder of deal websites i use for shopping.
10. keeping up with the joneses is not our thing. we don't buy stuff to impress people we don't like with money we don't have.

 

[tomthebarncat]

1. I buy good quality shoes and handbags so I don't have to buy them again! I am referring to Tod's shoes and Armani Handbags, have had many pairs of shoes for 20 years and they still look brand new.
2. Turn everything upside down, laundry soap, shampoo, etc. I paid for it so I want to eat it or use it and had a friend who did this with her shampoo and she was surprised how much was still in the bottle that she was going to throw away.
3. Cloth napkins, I have to do laundry anyway!
4. I have a tube squeezer that I use for things in tubes such as toothpaste, eye cream etc. I am surprised at how much is still in the tube when I think it is empty.
5. Stock up when things that I use on a regular basis are on sale. I live in China so when Herbal Essence shampoo was on sale for 10 Yuan a bottle, I bought every bottle on the shelf. The cashier looked at me like I was crazy!! These bottle regularly cost 18 Yuan a bottle, so I got them for 1/2 price.
6. Eat what is in season, living in China I have become a vegetarian for food safety and sanitation reasons, they have none!! so I get my fruits and veggies from a local shop and she picks the best and freshest for me!!
7. I am a firm believer in turning off all utilities when not in use!! I grew up with a Dad that repeatedly said "Turn it off, I don't own stock in the utility company".
8. I have an old fashion cell phone, all it does is make calls, and it is a pay as you go, so every now and then I put 20 Yuan on it.
9. Store brands, in Germany my favorite toiletries where made by Loreal of Paris in France and run on the same production lines, just put into different packaging. I stocked up and brought a lot with me to China, I did this when I moved to Beijing, also. The customs man told me they sell these things in Beijing, and I replied " No, no you don't".
10. Laundry in cold water, my clothes don't get that dirty and I have yet to figure out to get my Chinese washing machine to wash in hot water! I am not even sure it does!
11. Living in China, saves me a lot of money as they ship the really cheap stuff to America so you can buy it at Wal-Mart but the really, really poor quality stays here. I look at things and shake my head at the quality and then walk away.
12. Only buy what I need not what I want!! Easy to do here in Jiamusi, as I do not have access to the quality of goods that I normally purchase.
13. I track my spending and expenses on an excel spreadsheet, and it helps to see where my money is going. I was spending too much on taxis, and have started taking the bus or walking, and have cut down on my coke zero's when out and about!
My Personal Motto: Buy good quality now so I don't have to buy it again any time soon!

 

[The Princess]

Love this thread!! Keep posting.....

 

[pjlla]

Love this thread!! Keep posting.....

ME TOO! I feel like I have found "my people"! .................P

 

[rnorwo1]

For those using cloth napkins, any advice for the cheapest place to buy them? Or did you make them? Material seems so expensive. Also, how many sets do you have? We are a family of 5, so that's 15 a day, minimum, and I don't do laundry every day. I definitely want to do this, though, I feel so guilty about paper napkin waste!

 

[Sandy61]

I forgot a big one...

my library also has movies and magazines to check out. The magazines can be read there the current month but then after that they can be checked out. The movies are mostly dvd but there are a few blu-ray. A lot of the movies are current ones just out.

 

[Disneefun]

For those using cloth napkins, any advice for the cheapest place to buy them? Or did you make them? Material seems so expensive. Also, how many sets do you have? We are a family of 5, so that's 15 a day, minimum, and I don't do laundry every day. I definitely want to do this, though, I feel so guilty about paper napkin waste!

We just use those washcloths you buy in packs of 10-15 at target or walmart for $5. They're not something I'd want to use in the shower, but as napkins they work great. We also just keep the same one throughout the day, unless someone really makes a mess on it or is sick. So that cuts down the numbers considerably. There are some meals where the things are hardly used so it makes no sense to get a clean one for every meal or snack.

 

[aprilchem]

For those using cloth napkins, any advice for the cheapest place to buy them? Or did you make them? Material seems so expensive. Also, how many sets do you have? We are a family of 5, so that's 15 a day, minimum, and I don't do laundry every day. I definitely want to do this, though, I feel so guilty about paper napkin waste!

Target puts cloth napkins on clearance a lot because not many people buy them. I think I got all of mine for 75% off there.

 

[emilyrush]

For those using cloth napkins, any advice for the cheapest place to buy them? Or did you make them? Material seems so expensive. Also, how many sets do you have? We are a family of 5, so that's 15 a day, minimum, and I don't do laundry every day. I definitely want to do this, though, I feel so guilty about paper napkin waste!

keep an eye out a thrift/ estate sales. i found a really nice set at an estate sale a year or so ago. Normal washing works for us; but if we had guests over, we might need to iron down the hems. we also use them until they are too dirty to use or it is laundry day. no need for a new one each meal.