What did you do today to save money?

[#1hockeymom]

Congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself!

I was just discussing this with mom, she was a smoker for 40 years and quit 4years ago. She said what she should have done after she quit was taken the money she would have spent on cigarettes and put it into a savings account. She'd have a nice little nest egg by now!

Again, congrats and good luck!

Thank you and thanks to TKDisneylover for your well wishes. DH quit two years ago, now I'm working on me! He now spends his money on the "gum". I am trying not to do that route and actually put the money away for my next Disney trip!

Today I saved money by making breakfast for us, rather than being lazy and going out for breakfast. I also deleted four different emails for websites involving sales. If I dont know what is on sale, I won't buy it! I am planning on going to Target later to buy more cheese! We used three bags in a few days due to the amount of Mexican dinners I made this week.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I just started following this thread! Wow! You guys came up with some great ways to save.

I pride myself on being frugal all the time but, with our trip just around the corner, we are trying to tighten the belt just a little more. We will only eat one meal out between now and our vacation.

I shopped at superwalmart for my groceries this morning. I meal plan etc. For our family of 5, groceries for the week were $64. (that only includes one package of chicken as we buy beef and pork in bulk) Today was the first time I've done my weekly grocery shopping at walmart. If I calculated correctly, it saved me about $24. Which more than makes up for the extra 8 miles I drove to get there.

We also dropped our thermostat to 69 degrees. We have a wood stove in our unfinished basement. I hate the mess and it's a hassle but it sure does save on the number of times my heat kicks on so I've been keeping it going since it turned cold.

I even suggested suspending our satellite service for the month and just skipping TV all together but the remainder of my family vetoed that. I have to maintain internet service for work. Ditto that for our cell phones.

Any other suggestions?

 

[minnie1928]

I saved $67 bucks this morning by attending a new car car class being held by the dealership where I recently purchased my hybrid Camry. If you attended the class you get a free oil change ($35 value) then they also handed out 4 rebate forms worth about $8 each towards future oil changes. All it cost me was about an hour and a half of time.

 

[ducklite]

We had tacos for dinner last night, and only used half a medium sized tomato. So for "brunch" I diced up the other half, and added it to half a container of leftover Egg Beaters along with the rest of the diced onion leftover from last night, and a tablespoon of Baco's. So it was pretty much all leftovers, total cost was pretty much free because I was at a "use it or lose it" point with the Egg Beaters. Total calories was under 200--I use a nonstick pan with no added butter or oil.

Sure beats my usual Saturday morning, a large coffee extra light with cream and two donuts--total cost, about $3.50, total calories, probably 600, total nutritional value, negative 1000.

Anne

 

[Chickysmom]

Yesterday hang dried a second load of sheets...

Today wahsed blankets and towels in cold and hung to dry...

Turned thermostat down 2 degrees to 68.......it cylces to 70 on weekends for when we are home but it's only me here today so I put on a sweatshirt!

 

[maggiew]

DH wanted to go out for lunch today, but I said No, I will make something. So I whipped up a chicken pot pie. It was yummy!

I laid out a pork tenderloin to make for dinner. I'm trying to think ahead so we don't end up going out.

Maggie

 

[Cindy B]

My DH did some electrical work within the house.. he got a quote for $1600--but he followed a book/guide and asked another friend for an opinion.

He bought supplies for $23 and did it himself (with my son) for just the cost of supplies.

Of course, he knew what he was doing--and had a guide book. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but it worked for him.

The job was a loose wire in three junction boxes in our basement which had some outlets go out in a few different roooms. He found the loose wire (had to fish through the walls!) and reconnected the junction boxes!

 

[Cindy B]

I also shopped at goodwill!

I bought my daughter 3 Aeropostale, 2 Limited too, and about four different justice shirts, a mini skirt, a pair of boots a Limited too zip up sweatshirt... and my son three aeropostale and one Abercrombie (yes Abercrombie Tshirt--99 cents!) and four books all for $28

I got great prices and then used my college ID on top of the total and got another $5.25 off!

 

[crazelion]

Used my free movie ticket today to see Stomping the Yard. Then went to Sticky Fingers get my free meal today. Total spent today 0.

 

[Plantlady]

I am resisting the urge to go out to eat, and dinning at home tonight.

 

[ducklite]

Today was day 6 of the Intervention Program for Cumpulsive Eater-Outers, and I'm still going strong. I just finished a plate full of stir-fry beef with green beans, total cost for two heaping servings was about $6.50. I would have spent $6.50 getting half the amount at the local Chinese place, and the beef wouldn't have been well-trimmed top round.

Anne

 

[bethbuchall]

We're making pizzas tonight instead of ordering out.

 

[Cindy B]

I ordered Pizza Hut but used a coupon for $8 off.

 

[tar heel]

I have a massive and yummy enchilada casserole baking. It cost less than $4 and would probably feed 10. It includes a pound and a half extra lean ground beef bought for half-price at my local grocery store, two 52-cent packages of Target cheese, several corn tortillas bought for like 34 cents for a huge package at Target during the Market Pantry Mexican coupon period and three cans of enchilada sauce and one can of green chilis that Target GAVE me during the same time. Total cost about $3.75.

I made chicken and dumplings for tomorrow so we're not tempted to go out after church.

I also grocery shopped today at Target and Harris Teeter and spent a total of $65 by using 21 coupons (all either $1 or doubled) and carefully planning around the weekly sales. I even spent $8 on strawberries for my DS's birthday fondue!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've been cooped up for a couple weeks, this past week with 4 sick kids (they're still sick, too ) so I had to get out today. I wanted to go to Target and Old Navy, but my van was acting funny so I stayed close and went to the PX. I didn't do as well as Cindy B did at Goodwill (I am so jealous!), but I got DS a pair of Asics for next year for $15, pj pants for my boys for $6 each and pj bottoms for me for $8 with an $8 top. Not too bad, but I'm not anxious to see how much the van will cost to fix Monday, I think it's the brakes.

DS 5 had a b-day party to go to today so instead of buying something new we gave him a play-doh set out of my stash (DS didn't end up staying at the party, he was scared because they were going to have a clown don't know where that came from).

 

[Cindy B]

I didn't do as well as Cindy B did at Goodwill (I am so jealous!), b

I have never done this well at goodwill either! I guess I was just lucky today. There were a ton of American Eagle (another big teen/preteen label around here) but I called my son about what it was and he wasn't interested. I put away two hoodies for my son as well because I think they were too big for him.

I was shocked that my total was less than $30 for all this stuff.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I talked the roofer/window installation guy into knocking a couple thousand off the bill as an "off season - cash discount."

 

[funnygarcia]

I used my expired wine tags, coupons and internet printables for a big shopping trip at our local Cub Foods (10 for $10 sale).
Bought $74 of groceries for $34.

Nicely stocked with tissues (70¢ after coupon) , 10 bottles of 24 ct Aleve (free after coupon), BC potatoes (I buy the hashbrown skillet ones, no sauce, rehydrate and use in recipes, no worries about storage of fresh potatoes) (70¢ after coupon), and lots of other stuff that will keep for a long time.

Walked right by the pop (trying to quit my Diet Coke habit), chips, pop tarts, frozen waffles (healthier and cheaper to eat the oodles of free cereal I have in the house), and bakery items.

Withheld from using my expired $1 turkey wine tags until they have a mark down on meat. Waiting until they have close dated ground turkey at 99¢ a package!

Bought kitty food as my swipe in and out for work (demo/Mass Connections), something I can use instead of candy!

Made sandwhiches instead of ordering pizza for DS and his friends.
Made a cup of coffee instead of going across the street to the convenience store for diet coke.

All of this saving money is going to help my waistline get back where it should be!

 

[Cindy B]

I talked the roofer/window installation guy into knocking a couple thousand off the bill as an "off season - cash discount."

Good idea--I'm glad the contractor went for it!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

DH took the kids to the library where they checked out books, DVDs and CDs: Total cost = $0.

I spent that time grocery shopping with coupons and only buying sales items in circulars. Saved $40+.

DH and DD made pizza for dinner, rather than us picking up a pizza. Cheese was the Target shredded on sale and with their coupon was 50 cents.