What did you do today to save money?

[DiznEeyore]

I stayed home today, but still spent money ... but it was planned and budgeted for. I ordered ds' Park Hopper for our planned May trip (dh and I have APs) and since I bought it from Undercover Tourist, I saved $25 over the Disney Store price! That pays for a counter service meal for us on the trip!

And I have to give props to my hubby -- he picked up two more classes to teach at the college for this semester (a night class and a Saturday class). So that will not only be more money in our household (yay!) but also more hours that count towards his pension (BIG yay!!).

 

[Chickysmom]

Sunday DD13 convinced me to take her to the mall and Target....they are 30 miles away. It was late afternoon I and I told her that we would not be getting food out, we are fixing things at home. We packed fruit, crackers and water and did NOT get any snacks either! We fixed dinner when we got home.

She received quite a bit of money for birthday and Christmas gifts (her b-day is on Christmas day) so she wanted to get some new clothes. I of course fight the mall prices but she found the BEST sale!

Aeroostle was having a 70% off the lowest price sale and she got 3 t-shirts for 2.99 each anda hoodie sweatshirt for 8.99. Hoodie alone was originally 35+

She has also had her eye on a pair of shoes at Gottschalks for 39.99. She found something quite similar with the same look, just not th brand name on them, at Payles Shoes at the mall for 19.99. So for 40.00, I think she did really great!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Oh man - I did eat breakfast & lunch in the office so I saved money there. We did go to Mickey D's for dinner. DD has been cooped up since Friday when the ice moved in so we took her to let her play - she had a blast even if I had to get onto some kids for being rambunctios - I'm all for the big kids(I'm talking 9-12 year olds) playing too but not when they are running over the little ones and acting like they owned the place (I still haven't figured out where the parents were)....oh and to top it off after we left DD told me that they told her she was "too little" to slide. I was hot! I'm really glad I didn't know that before we left. And then I gave in and stopped at Urgent Care because I have had a cough and felt awful since Christmas (I have already went through one round of antibiotics and NOTHING still) and with the bad weather I haven't been able to get to MY doctor and it didn't look like I would be able to the rest of this week - so after the $20 copay and I'm guessing at least $50 in prescription copays my getting out of the house cost me BIG!! But if I'm well by next Tuesday when I leave for Disney it will have been worth it.

 

[**eeyore**]

Oh no! This thread is slowing down! We need to keep it going - it is my motivator!

I'll add one...

Today I brought a new Lean Cuisine meal with me for my lunch at work. When I took it out of the micro, it smelled terrible! Seriously, everyone thought someone got sick in the kitchen! I was soooo close to going out and getting a new lunch.

No... I didn't eat the disgusting meal!

But... I did scavange through the office to see what kind of healthy snacks everyone had. They all know I am trying to save money and lose weight, so they all offered to help!

I ended up with a fruit cup, a pudding cup and a cup full of pretzel "nibs". No, it wasn't a gourmet meal, nor would I feed it to my children as a meal, but I wasn't hungry anymore and I didn't spend any more money.

And to top it off - we ate all the leftovers in the fridge tonight - so no additional costs!

I'm patting myself on the back right now!

Let's keep this thead alive and motivate each other!

 

[smiller]

I went to the big grocery store and ONLY bought the three things on my list that were on sale.

Took public transportation so no car costs. Hmm, I don't even have a car, but sometimes I borrow one and then pay gas money so I suppose it was a savings!

Started the auto-deposit into my savings account.

Worked several hours longer today than originally planned. More money earned, more money to save!

 

[smiller]

And I checked out a book from the library. It's nice to know it's free; I quit renewing all my magazines this year.

 

[neatokimmo]

I've also discovered I save all kinds of money by taking my lunch!

I usually spend $60 a week on breakfast, lunch and drinks at work. Today I spent ZERO yay! I took my breakfast and lunch and I drank water and yucko coffee from the breakroom instead of from the cafe.

If I can keep this up even just 4 days a week (we always do taco thurday, it's our bonding thing at work!) that is $48....in as little as 14 weeks I will have paid for my next vacation! That's enough for a 7 day cruise and I'm just blowing it, crazy me!

 

[Chickysmom]

I cancelled a renewal that was coming up on a magazine. I haven't even read the ones I have so thought I would catch up on those first and watch for some specials!

 

[ntburns22]

I paid my DD"s competiton fees early so I would get the cheaper rate. Cheerleading is expensive so when the coach offers us early entry fees I jump right on it. So today I saved $20 between 2 competitions.

 

[jwann]

Love this thread! It's really motivating me!

To save money - I made a food/ingredient inventory from the pantry, cabinets, freezer, frige and then went on allrecipes.com and did ingredient searches for meal ideas. With the addition of a few misc. purchases at the grocery, I have meals planned out for the rest of the month!

 

[Dobie]

Skipped lunch

 

[Chickysmom]

Love this thread! It's really motivating me!

To save money - I made a food/ingredient inventory from the pantry, cabinets, freezer, frige and then went on allrecipes.com and did ingredient searches for meal ideas. With the addition of a few misc. purchases at the grocery, I have meals planned out for the rest of the month!

WOW! What a great idea! This would certainly cut down on spending on all those duplicates and help with planning!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I just got back from Michael's and they have 90 % off Christmas.

I got candles in tins, tablets, note cards, Mary Englebreit card packs, etc for 10 cents.

They all had a xmas or winter snowman theme to them. But if you need secret santa gifts for next year or stocking stuffers............it's worth your time to go.

I also got scrapbooking ribbon (holiday) for 9 cents.

Ok - so this didn't save me money TODAY but come next Christmas, I have my stocking stuffers FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY all bought for under $4. Saving money for next Christmas.

 

[T1130]

I went out in the feezing cold today to return my libary books on time!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

today after school I'm taking DD and DD friend to the library. FREE.

We did this a few weeks ago and they had a blast. They read to me in the car on the way home. They check out the same books and have their own "book club."

Way cheaper than taking them to the movie.......and they just like to be together. DD's friend's mom works so she's glad we can go and we don't have to rush since we have a few hours before her mom gets off work.

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

My husband and I will be doing many things to save for our Disney trip next year.

What we have come up with so far:
* No more eating out!
* Put all of my survey money into our vacation account.
* Use coupons when we shop and what we save will go into the account.
* Have yard sales throughout the year.
* Put my cleaning money into the account.
* Only buy what is on our list. No more impulse purchases!

We opened our vacation account yesterday!

 

[maggiew]

This morning I returned a pair of slippers that I had bought DH for Christmas. They were too tight for him. So, instead of exchanging them for a different size, I just returned them and got the credit.

I also returned hats/gloves/scarves that the neighbor purchased for my girls. It was very thoughtful of them, but the girls already have this stuff. I would normally keep them as "spares" but the colors didn't match the girls coats. So, I returned them. But I had to get a store gift card from Old Navy since I only had the gift receipt. But now I have a gift card for old Navy for around $29!

I also went to Walgreens this morning to get 10 FREE boxes of Kleenex (after Walgreens Rebate).
10 packs of Kleenex 10 x $2.19 = 21.90
Use coupon from front page of Walgreens advertisement 2/$1.99
So 10 packs cost me $9.95 (plus tax).
In Walgreens Monthy Easy Saver Catalog they have a $10 Walgreens gift card when you buy $20 in Kimberly Clark products.
There are coupons out for Kleenex, but I didn't have any with me.
You may not be allowed to purchase 10 boxes of Kleenex at once if you have a grumpy cashier. I drive by 3 Walgreens on my way to work, so I just stopped at all 3 to spread it out a little!

Maggie

 

[ducklite]

Today is day three of the Obsessive Eater-Outers Intervention Program, and I'm still doing great! Tonight I've got to shoot Rock Star SuperNova at Hard Rock Live, so I brought my dinner too, and will eat before I leave the office (I don't go home first as it's out of the way.)

When I get to City Walk I'll use my Starbucks Gift Card to get a cup of tea, and I'll have to buy a bottle of water during the night at Hard Rock Live, too long to go without, but that's pretty much unavoidable unless I can manage to get a freebie from backstage. For this show I doubt it.

Anne

 

[Chickysmom]

another snow day for DD13 so will be pulling frozen home-made soup out for lunch/dinner.....maybe take some frozen yeast rolls out too. Since my car is down at the neighbor's yard/driveway (icy and snowy here yesterday, you can imagine how it got there) we will not be eating out.

 

[HenDuck]

After spending $8 on a truly disappointing lunch yesterday , I have brought leftovers for lunch today, with a soda. Also brought my own coffee to work.

I've also decided to cut my weekly lunches with my girlfriend (hence the $8 lunch) to twice a month, instead of every Tuesday.

I'll also be going to the bread outlet at lunch time to get us a sandwich loaf and a bag of hamburger buns for dinner tonite.

I'm also contemplating just cutting my bangs at the salon this time around, instead of getting the full cut. It's usually only my bangs that need a cut every 6 weeks. I'll save my full hair cut and style for next time. I figure that saves around $20 this month.

Thanks for keeping me going!

Good luck everyone!