What did you do today to save money?

[Chickysmom]

I just put Jet Dry on my shopping list for the next trip! I'll be passing on that now and getting a big just of vinegar! Vinegar was already on my list to start making some of my own cleaners anyway.....one item, many uses, and soooo cheap! Thank you 2 posters that suggested this!

 

[Carrie772]

Saturday night instead of ordering a pizza for the kids and their babysitter, I had bought some Chef Boyardee ravioli for them. Cut up some apples and made Crystal Light lemonade for drinks. Saved perhaps $10!!!

 

[ticktock]

Saturday night instead of ordering a pizza for the kids and their babysitter, I had bought some Chef Boyardee ravioli for them. Cut up some apples and made Crystal Light lemonade for drinks. Saved perhaps $10!!!

Uhm, not to be snarky or anything but did you know from experiance this was OK with your sitter? If I was starving on a desert island I would probably contemplate eating one of my own feet before Chef Boyardee. JMHO. If dinner is part of your sitters payment I would make sure they were willing to eat this. If you pay her well than she can order her own pizza, but if pizza has always been part of the deal, I would be P.O'ed if I was your sitter and you would go to the bottom of my"I'm available list". Just a thought, you know your situation, I don't. I just don't want to see you blacklisted by all the babysitters in your town.

 

[UTgirl]

Today I changed all my light bulbs in my lamps to more energy efficient ones and this weekend DH is installing dimmer switches to our pot lights - boy those boogers can burn some electricity!

 

[Carrie772]

I avoided going to the grocery store (this is where I spend the most) and instead of calling Dominos I made myself cook.

I always stock up on Tombstone pizzas. Usually 2 for $5 here and so when babysitters come or the kids get crabby, I put one in the oven for 17 minutes and then it's ready!!

 

[Chickysmom]

Today I changed all my light bulbs in my lamps to more energy efficient ones and this weekend DH is installing dimmer switches to our pot lights - boy those boogers can burn some electricity!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but using dimmers does not reduce the amount of electricity your light will use. I think it uses the same, just puts out less light......

I'll check on that with DH...electrical engineer and all knowing man of the house....

 

[Carrie772]

Uhm, not to be snarky or anything but did you know from experiance this was OK with your sitter? If I was starving on a desert island I would probably contemplate eating one of my own feet before Chef Boyardee. JMHO. If dinner is part of your sitters payment I would make sure they were willing to eat this. If you pay her well than she can order her own pizza, but if pizza has always been part of the deal, I would be P.O'ed if I was your sitter and you would go to the bottom of my"I'm available list". Just a thought, you know your situation, I don't. I just don't want to see you blacklisted by all the babysitters in your town.

I'm sorry you don't like The Chef, and I do pay her well. see post 525.

 

[plgrn]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but using dimmers does not reduce the amount of electricity your light will use. I think it uses the same, just puts out less light......

I'll check on that with DH...electrical engineer and all knowing man of the house....

Let us know when you find out. I know the dimmer makers CLAIM they save energy of course. I was just in Home Depot the other day and they had a dimmer display with a big sign that said "dimmers pay for themselves!"

 

[minnie1928]

I wondered about dimmers too...I have 2 in my house and whenever I have those lights on, the switch gets very warm. Is that a sign of wasted energy?

 

[plgrn]

I'm sorry you don't like The Chef, and I do pay her well. see post 525.

Carrie! Another Hunstvillian in da house!


Have you been swiping all the Lime Green Mickey Heads from HD in Madison? Someone has.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

I have been staying away from all stores, except grocery stores, since the first of the year. I went in to Target today to get something for DD's bday and I only got what I went in there for and only spent $19.40. Yeah Me I have a big weakness for Target, who knew not spending money could be so much fun

 

[ldb1030]

I just put Jet Dry on my shopping list for the next trip! I'll be passing on that now and getting a big just of vinegar! Vinegar was already on my list to start making some of my own cleaners anyway.....one item, many uses, and soooo cheap! Thank you 2 posters that suggested this!

tell me what can I do w/ vinegar??

 

[feedindy]

About those dimmers-we were told at Home Depot that they use the same electricity. The dimmer uses electricity to hold the wattage of the bulbs down so it doesn't save anything. OTOH, CFL bulbs save a ton! We replaced every bulb in the house (except the two fixtures on dimmer switches) and our electricity bill dropped drastically this month! Of course, our dryer died so it's possible the new one contributed to that saviings too, but I know it helped.

Today I sent DH to the grocery store for milk on the way home. Not only did I have him stop at one that was literally on his way, but it was on sale so savings there! The real savings isn't even that I didn't make a separate trip in the lower mileage vehicle-it's that I didn't go to the store where I would have bought way more than milk!

 

[ldb1030]

About those dimmers-we were told at Home Depot that they use the same electricity. The dimmer uses electricity to hold the wattage of the bulbs down so it doesn't save anything. OTOH, CFL bulbs save a ton! We replaced every bulb in the house (except the two fixtures on dimmer switches) and our electricity bill dropped drastically this month! Of course, our dryer died so it's possible the new one contributed to that saviings too, but I know it helped.

Today I sent DH to the grocery store for milk on the way home. Not only did I have him stop at one that was literally on his way, but it was on sale so savings there! The real savings isn't even that I didn't make a separate trip in the lower mileage vehicle-it's that I didn't go to the store where I would have bought way more than milk!

What are CFL bulbs?

 

[Cindy B]

tell me what can I do w/ vinegar??

You can put it in a spray bottle with water to clean the tub/counter. You can use it to clean your coffee maker (run it through the maker and then go through a few cycles of water), you can use it for jet dry, you can make easter egg dye with it instead of buying the PAAS tablets .. etc.

 

[Chickysmom]

you can make homemade window cleaner and floor cleaner from vinegar too....

there are many types of homemade cleaners that are much cheaper to make and better for the environment. google the terms and you'll find tons, many for each type of cleaner you want.

 

[KristinU]

tell me what can I do w/ vinegar??

I use it in the downey ball in place of downey! And, no, our clothes don't smell like vinegar, just clean.

What are CFL bulbs?

Compact fluorescent bulbs. DH recently went on a rampage in our house and we only have one fixture left of standard bulbs in our whole house (track lighting in the basement - CFLs are crazy expensive and special order for the size and shape we need...so we decided to just take out every other spot light for now - we hardly use the basement anyway.) For those of you near a BJ's - they have a great deal on a multi pack right now.

 

[ducklite]

If you have an IKEA near you, they have a great price on the CFL's and they last forever! They also have more warmth and less bluish tint than many of the other CFL's.

Anne

 

[C.Ann]

I saved quite a bit of money today - although in a very unconventional way.. I cancelled my trip to Disney for next week; cancelled my visit with my sister in Florida (was supposed to stay until March 7th); cancelled my airline reservations; and cancelled my hair appt. for tomorrow (cut and highlights).. Now that I'm not going to Florida next week, the hair appt. can wait..

 

[rkwells]

I saved quite a bit of money today - although in a very unconventional way.. I cancelled my trip to Disney for next week; /QUOTE]

GASP!! Now this cost saving thing has gone too far