What did you do today to save money?

[4Tink]

1) Packed lunches for everyone with stuff bought on sale. Didn't even buy an iced tea at work.
2) Turned down the thermostat 1 degree (to 69).
3) Went to Walgreen's for 2 sale items we had to have anyway. Didn't get anything else.
4) Returned 1 cable box and discontinued HBO. $17 savings a month.
5) Cooked dinner with leftovers and groceries bought on sale.
6) Made a long distance call on cell phone (free) instead of the house phone.
7) Didn't have an adult beverage even though I really wanted one. They are a waste of money!
8) Drank tap water instead of bottled.

Thanks for all the pointers friends. Keep up the good work!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Resisted buying a restaurant meal after taking my son to the doctor.



I am really enjoying reading all of the posts here. Please keep it up!

 

[roadtripper]

1)
7) Didn't have an adult beverage even though I really wanted one. They are a waste of money!

OK folks, I'm all for frugality, but I won't give up the grown-up drinks. There is only so much my mental health can take!
On the plus side I NEVER buy soda.

Today I made a pretty tasty dinner from leftovers-- and no one knew they were leftovers but me.

 

[sk!mom]

7) Didn't have an adult beverage even though I really wanted one. They are a waste of money!
QUOTE]


Repeat that over and over and maybe you'll start believing it

Seriously, we rarely (special occasions only) order alcoholic beverages when we are out for a meal. One thing that keeps us happy to eat at home is planning really good meals with great wine. Eating at home is cheaper even with wine.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

we had Mexican food tonight -- some of what I bought at Target right after Christmas that was so cheap with those $1 coupons!! It was yummy! There's enough left for us to have it again tomorrow night. So dinner is made and I won't have to cook.

 

[xoMinnieox]

Today we had sloppy joe's and fries for dinner, and had grilled cheese w/ tomato soup for lunch!

 

[4Tink]

To each his own! I only have a small amount of money in my budget for extras. I would rather get my nails done every other week than spend it on adult beverages.

 

[TyNicJen]

This is a great thread. Very inspiring. I think my best money saver is when I put at least 2 items back at the grocery counter. You can almost always put SOMETHING back. The cookies, cake, soda. This saves alot over time and the junk stays at the store.
Also sent my husband for milk tonight and all he came back with is milk. I just can't do that
Shopped at Old Navy clearance and got great deals!!!
Always pack my kids lunch.
Leftovers tonight.
Trying to save for our next vacation so any ideas are good ones!

 

[Kimmumum]

I took my son to the doctor. While I was there I asked if they had any samples of my son's ADHD meds. He gave me about 5 1/2-6 months free. FREE!!! FREE!!! I pay $80/month or $160/3months if I order by mail. I figure I got $320-$480 FREE!!! Can you see me doing the happy dance?????? I'm going to call in 6 months and see if they have more free samples

 

[OceanAnnie]

I stopped buying ziplock brand baggies. I buy freezer zip(quart) bags at the dollar store 25 to a box for a buck. They work just as well and for much less!

I buy Ocean Spray juice, 64 oz at the Dollar store. If I remember correctly, it has the same or less sugar content than what I was buying (Juicy Juice). And it has 100% of daily Vitamin C. I know I was paying almost 3xs as much for the same amount of juice at the grocery store. We go through a lot of juice at our house! I was so glad to find the Ocean Spray!

 

[ohiominnie]

I took my son to the doctor. While I was there I asked if they had any samples of my son's ADHD meds. He gave me about 5 1/2-6 months free. FREE!!! FREE!!! I pay $80/month or $160/3months if I order by mail. I figure I got $320-$480 FREE!!! Can you see me doing the happy dance?????? I'm going to call in 6 months and see if they have more free samples

What's he on? I know most of them are controlled substances and you cannot get them from the doc....but there are a couple that are not controlled.

 

[ohiominnie]

I buy Ocean Spray juice, 64 oz at the Dollar store. If I remember correctly, it has the same or less sugar content than what I was buying (Juicy Juice). And it has 100% of daily Vitamin C. I know I was paying almost 3xs as much for the same amount of juice at the grocery store. We go through a lot of juice at our house! I was so glad to find the Ocean Spray!

I know Juicy Juice is 100% juice without any added sugar, sweeteners or flavors. The Ocean Spray I know of is a "juice beverage" and is not 100% juice. I looked at the OS website and see they have a new 100% juice version. I'll have to check that out. If we do any juice around here it's 100% juice. History of diabetes in the family....100% juice is enough carbs, don't need to add any sugar to it.

 

[Kimmumum]

What's he on? I know most of them are controlled substances and you cannot get them from the doc....but there are a couple that are not controlled.

About a year ago I had him switched to Strattera because I didn't want him on a controlled substance. I like that fact that Strattera works with your own brain chemistry. I like it even better now that it is free!!!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I know Juicy Juice is 100% juice without any added sugar, sweeteners or flavors. The Ocean Spray I know of is a "juice beverage" and is not 100% juice. I looked at the OS website and see they have a new 100% juice version. I'll have to check that out. If we do any juice around here it's 100% juice. History of diabetes in the family....100% juice is enough carbs, don't need to add any sugar to it.

Yes, Juicy Juice is 100% juice. I had been buying it for years for that reason! It was always 100% juice for us too. I'm pretty big on reading the labels and the difference was negligible to me. One of my big concerns was the sugar so I zeroed in on that. I have also made it a habit long ago to dilute juice some with water.

 

[ohiominnie]

Yes, Juicy Juice is 100% juice. I had been buying it for years for that reason! It was always 100% juice for us too. I'm pretty big on reading the labels and the difference was negligible to me. One of my big concerns was the sugar so I zeroed in on that. I have also made it a habit long ago to dilute juice some with water.

sounds great. i'm going to have to check that out! thx!! dd is a huge milk drinker, but ds prefers juice if we have it.

 

[ohiominnie]

About a year ago I had him switched to Strattera because I didn't want him on a controlled substance. I like that fact that Strattera works with your own brain chemistry. I like it even better now that it is free!!!!!

good good points.

 

[Kimmumum]

This isn't something that I did today but I thought it might help someone else......

When my kids were little, everytime I went to the doctor I asked the doctor if he had free Tylenol, gas drops, formula, kids advil etc. Several times I went in with an empty (yes completely empty) diaper bag and walked out with 12 BIG bottles of concentrated formula. He told me I could have as much as I could carry.

My kids have only had 2 pediatricians (the second one....the one with all of the free Strattera...just left to go elsewhere so now I have to find another one) but both always told me to ask for samples if I needed them. Doctors get tons of free samples and if they don't give them out they will just expire. A simple question can save you a ton!!! Thought I'd pass this on

OT--I know people to who get their birth control free....just by asking.

 

[Hedy]

Turned out we saved $2 on Saturday-when we were at Target on MLK day Mom announced she wanted a silicone pastry brush, they didn't have any there. I mentioned I saw one at Ocean State Job Lot before. We got one at the Christmas Tree Shop for $1. Turns out the OSJL one is $2.99.

 

[UTgirl]

I called our Car insurance company today to change our deductible from $500 - %1000. That saved us $286/YR. I asked about any other additional discounts that we might eleigble for ----- There were quiet a few.

Home Owner Discount - $188/Yr
AAA Member Discount - $128/Yr
Defensive Driving Course
Discount - $214/yr

Total Discounts - $816/yr

If we pay our entire bill at one time we get another $150 discount!!!

That cut our car insurance by more than 50%!

It never hurts to ask for a discount!

 

[3dog2kidmom]

* I took my lunch to work, and ate it
* Resisted the temptation to turn up the thermostat when I was freezing downstairs
* Ordered printer ink through an offer on Sunshine Rewards. While I still spent $$, I will get credits back towards Disney and got free shipping since I ordered 3. Oh, and I stayed out of Sams Club where I usually buy them -- hence saving ~$100 on other stuff I'd have had to buy at the same time