What did you do today to save money?

[mom23boys]

DH is away till tommorow and I really wanted to take the kids to McD. But I started WW last week and wanted to save money.

So I did the grown up thing and made chicken with rice and vegables. Saved about $20 and we eat healthier.

I also had already paid our bills with our last paycheck so this paycheck will be for savings. It feels good to not see our balance go down everyday.

 

[disneymom3]

well that will suck. I guess I'd better check into it because frankly the kid would rather eat at Red Robin. I used my persuasive skill to head him toward Chili's.

Let us know what you find out in case they do the same promotion again next year, okay?

As for the thread, I like it as it is too.

 

[crazelion]

What I did today to save money was combine all my job interviews and errands for the same day so I can save on gas.

I came home and had breakfast instead of stopping for fast food.

 

[vhoffman]

When I paid the water bill I signed up for direct withdrawl from our checking account. The water bill never seems to get to us on time--oftentimes the shut off notice arrives, then we get the bill!

I also had them take off the last 2 month's late charges, since I argued its not our fault, we never seem to get the bill on time to pay it. As proof, I took the last bill and shutoff notice and envelopes so they could see the postmarks bore out my story. From now on, the water bill gets paid direct from our checking account, no wondering where ther bill is! The late fees were about $10 a month!!!

 

[katerkat]

I made my own breadcrumbs tonight - we never eat the butts of the bread, so I leave the pieces out until they get stale, then whirl them in the mini-chopper real quick. Voila, about a cup of breadcrumbs! I haven't bought any breadcrumbs in the two years I've been doing this.

I also made a cleaner with vinegar and water. Let's see if this stops the evil cat from peeing in the same spot in the basement. (Who said they were saving money by not getting a kitten? Add resealing the floor of the basement to the money you saved. This cat is lucky the toddler LOVES him.)

 

[juliegirl]

I did not use the AC Moore one day 50% coupon, because frankly, I have enough craft supplies right now to keep me busy for a long long time.


And obviously (well not now, I fixed it - I did NOT pay for typing lessons! LOL)

 

[lori1043]

subscribing to this and the getting out of debt thread! Loving this!

 

[Cindy B]

I love the idea of a weekly thread and a link to this original larger thread--whoever suggested that was thinking the same thing I was!

As for saving money yesterday, I continued to work out at the campus. If I keep this up, I'll be the most fit old lady on the campus!

I did purchase 2 weekly reminder books for me and my DH. I tried making one of my own on the computer and it didn't work as well for me-- too big and not sturdy.

The bookstore is going out of business, so I got them for only $3. That is cheaper than anywhere else that I looked casually.

 

[annsteere]

I vote for a weekly thread. This is already 31 pages long. A link sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[ducklite]

Day TEN of the IPCEO!!! I'm still not wavering! Although I think I'm having junkfood withdrawl!

I'm going to stay at work late tonight, so I'll eat the Heathy Choice meal I brought for dinner Monday night tonight.

Anne

 

[lillygator]

I cancelled Netflix....

 

[KristinU]

My .02 on the thread: I like the idea of a weekly thread with a link back.

We're invited to have dinner with some friends at their house tonight and I offered to bring dessert...instead of last-minute stopping somewhere on the way I baked some yummy little devils food sour cream mini bundt cakes last night

I also changed the setting on my dishwasher to not heat dry and just let them air dry (I picked this tip up from the daily Idealbite earlier this week - it is a daily e-mail subscription with "green" tips and ideas: www.idealbite.com - I heard about it from another DIS post...so while not expressly for saving $$$, it should help a little with the electric bill)

 

[maggiew]

I went to a new dry cleaners today. Their prices are so much cheaper than the place I was going to. My old place charge $4.50 for men's trousers. This place charges $1.99. It is cheaper for men's shirts too. Also, women's shirts aren't considered "special" and charged extra, like at my old place. I cut my dry cleaning bill by more than half!!

Maggie

 

[ducklite]

I also changed the setting on my dishwasher to not heat dry and just let them air dry (I picked this tip up from the daily Idealbite earlier this week - it is a daily e-mail subscription with "green" tips and ideas: www.idealbite.com - I heard about it from another DIS post...so while not expressly for saving $$$, it should help a little with the electric bill)

I've been air drying for as long as I can remember. The added benefit is that you can put plastic stuff on teh bottom rack without it metling or warping.

Depending on your water you might find that you need to add some Jet Dry or something along those lines or the dishes will be spotty. A large bottle of Jet Dry lasts me a year or so, a lot less than spending the money on heated dry!

Anne

 

[MickeyP]

I vote for a weekly thread. This is already 31 pages long. A link sounds like a good idea to me.

Yep. I suggested this the first couple of days.

 

[minnie1928]

Well, sounds like a weekly thread with a link to the prior week is the way to go.

Today I'm washing laundry in cold and hanging it up to dry (or most of it anyway). I'm hoping to do 3 loads and only run the dryer for 1.

I also stopped at CVS on the way home. I got 16 rolls of Bounty, 2 bottles of Dawn, 2 boxes of Rice Krispies. I paid $10, should have been $5 but the clerk apparently didn't use all my CVS bucks I gave her. Now I'll have to call and find out how to get that fixed...

We'll be having leftovers for dinner. I love leftovers... cheap and couldn't be easier!

A previous poster mentioned the daily email from idealbite. I love those! They also maintain a tip library on the website so you can see previous tips.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've been air drying for as long as I can remember. The added benefit is that you can put plastic stuff on teh bottom rack without it metling or warping.

Depending on your water you might find that you need to add some Jet Dry or something along those lines or the dishes will be spotty. A large bottle of Jet Dry lasts me a year or so, a lot less than spending the money on heated dry!

Anne

Putting some vinegar in where you would normally put the jet dry will do the same thing, too.

Today I went to the commissary, which really wasn't planned, but I've had two extra kids home sick for the past week who normally would eat lunch at school so I only had lunch food for 2 kids instead of 4, so I had to get some more lunch and dinner food, plus milk. My good deal of the day was taco seasoning packets. They're .39 each and I had a coupon for a dollar off 2 so I made .22 buying those.

I probably spent a little more than I would have because I also had to take those extra 2 kids to the store with me Fortunately I think they'll all be back to school tomorrow, except maybe the kindergartner that goes half day, he still has a fever.

I made a list and planned what I needed using what was already in my cupboards before I left. And it actually balanced out, when I got home a person I had filed a NPB on ebay paid me, plus two items I had ordered online and returned posted to my account today so overall I got $106 back and I had spent $95 at the store.

I resisted buying the kids and I candy bars, I usually get everyone a treat when I go to the store (okay, it's a bribe for them to be good, I admit it), but I told the kids that since this wasn't my regular shopping trip no candy, but that I was still very pleased with their behavior and they were still happy.

 

[ElizaB39]

Well, I gave up soda a week ago and so far so good. This saves me about $6 a week in soda costs.

I also brought my lunch to work today, returned two items I wanted but did not need and received $21 back in cash which is now my spending moneyfor the weekend.

 

[rkwells]

I am up to p17...trying to read this thread from the beginning

I just received my Wed. grocery store sale flyers in the mail and am sitting down to do some meal planning for the next couple of weeks...
We are also compulsive eater outers Thanks all for your great ideas!

 

[Cindy B]

I've been air drying for as long as I can remember. The added benefit is that you can put plastic stuff on teh bottom rack without it metling or warping.

Depending on your water you might find that you need to add some Jet Dry or something along those lines or the dishes will be spotty. A large bottle of Jet Dry lasts me a year or so, a lot less than spending the money on heated dry!

Anne

You realize you can add vinegar to dishwasher instead of Jet Dry! It has the same properties and works the same way.

I was on my local NBC affiliate many years ago as the Money Maven. I gave a few segments as money saving tips/ways to reduce energy and waste. This vinegar/Jet Dry was one of the examples I used on the air.