What did you do today to save money?

[TyNicJen]

You can take the 9.99% and oll it over to a lower card too.

 

[TyNicJen]

I have 3 CC. I paid one off and transferred the balance of another to this card because it had a lower APR. I then spoke with the other companies and asked if they could lower my APR. THEY DID! I lowered one from 10% to 3.99. One from 14% to 9.99% and the other was a promotional 2.99% until the balance is paid in full! YIPPEEE. Every little bit helps.

I love reading these threads - I've been LOOKING for ways to save money now and really beginning to get proactive about our finances!!

You can take the 9.99% and oll it over to a lower card too.

How do you get the quote in your reply?

 

[TyNicJen]

Oh! Think I got it!

 

[staceyfe]

This isn't really saving money, just being aware -- I wrote down last night what I have left in our groceries, gas, dining out, entertainment, clothing and household supplies budget for the month so I can see what we have left for these last few days of January. That will keep me from going over in any one area. We started the month writing down every penny we spend and so far we've kept that up. It definitely helps with unnecessary spending and it helps me keep track of where our money is going. This thread is helping me do things to stretch that budget a bit further!

I keep a chart like this on a memo in my PDA. At any given time while out and about I can look at the list and see how much money is left for any given category.

 

[MKCP5]

transferred balances to a 0% card--should be paid off by fall, returned some xmas that has been sitting there staring at me since the 26th, fought HARD on the ohone for a credit on an item that never shipped in time for xmas, kept my heat at 61 even though it is almost zero tonite, we'll all be in bed soon! shut off my printer when we were done using it, etc etc lots of little things that I hope will add up as time goes by. I feel like I'm the gestapo sometimes, but the $$ will add up!!

 

[vhoffman]

transferred balances to a 0% card--should be paid off by fall, returned some xmas that has been sitting there staring at me since the 26th, fought HARD on the ohone for a credit on an item that never shipped in time for xmas, kept my heat at 61 even though it is almost zero tonite, we'll all be in bed soon! shut off my printer when we were done using it, etc etc lots of little things that I hope will add up as time goes by. I feel like I'm the gestapo sometimes, but the $$ will add up!!

I feel like the gestapo sometimes, too, but I'm on the warpath against high utility bills. It it turns on, it costs, so turn it off if you're not using it! I go around the house turning off lights, tv's, etc. Actually, I make the culprit (if I can identify him/her) to come back and turn off the TV, lights, etc. Yesterday dd ran next door to play, leaving the light on in her room and tv running. I called and made her come home to turn them off! She's getting the point!

My war on high utilities is working! Last month's water bill was the lowest since we've lived here--$65, usually $90-$120! Last month's electric bill--$103! The month before was $165. Haven't seen the gas bill yet and I'm afraid it will be higher than I like, but it won't be as high as it could be. There's just no need to waste so much money by being careless with the utilities--use them, and TURN THEM OFF when not in use!

 

[sewer]

I hate utility bills also, and having a programmable thermostat helps a lot, but the water bill is another story. I was thinking about getting one of the new front loading clothes washers. They use a LOT less water, and saves on the electric because you don't have to run the dryer as long.

 

[ohiominnie]

Took ds to rehearsal and stayed with him instead of running to Panera Bread to use their wi-fi (and also to buy a latte)

Also, made him suffer as he "died of thirst" until we got home from rehearsal. Didn't want to stop and buy a drink when we have lots of drinks at home.

 

[ekball]

1. We built a fire in the woodstove because it's FREEZING here tonight!!!!
2. I went grocery shopping online from Peapod...I hate that I pay an $8 delivery charge for this, BUT, I find that I spend about 1/2 of what I'd spend if I go to the store myself. I make my list and stick to it online because I'm not wandering through the aisles "browsing".

 

[MrsNick]

Well, this isn't saving money today, but in the future. Saw that JetBlue dropped the airfare on our next trip down to Disney. It was $30 per ticket less than we paid, so I called JetBlue, and they gave me a $60 credit towards a future flight

 

[3dog2kidmom]

I met a friend for lunch and we shared an entree and I drank water. We went to Chevy's and had fajitas. They brought us each a packet of tortillas and with the chips I was more than full. My total bill = $6.00 including tip.

DH stopped at Dairy Queen and got one Blizzard for us to share rather than each getting our own.

I applied for a part-time job last week to help save for our next trip or DVC. They called tonight and I have an interview!!!

 

[mommyof3grlz]

My girls took bottled water from home to gymnastics class tonight. This saved $2.00 that they would have needed for the drink machine there. Also I used a couple of double coupons at Kroger today. I got Ragu pasta sauce for $.50 and totinos pizza rolls for $.20 . It took a little time to clip and organize my coupons but when I get deals like this it is worth it.

 

[Chickysmom]

I met a friend for lunch and we shared an entree and I drank water. We went to Chevy's and had fajitas. They brought us each a packet of tortillas and with the chips I was more than full. My total bill = $6.00 including tip.

DH stopped at Dairy Queen and got one Blizzard for us to share rather than each getting our own.

I applied for a part-time job last week to help save for our next trip or DVC. They called tonight and I have an interview!!!

You can sign up online at the Dairy Queen site and they send you emails...often including a BOGO coupon!

 

[Chickysmom]

Had to buy cat litter and litter box bags tonight while at Walmart.

Litter box bags = 2.97/8

so...I went and bought garbage can bags instead (black ones for outside style cans) = 2.38/20

AND......I did not cave to my DD that was starving and wanted to stop and get something....

 

[OceanAnnie]

I've drastically cut down on eating out since I've come across this thread. Thank you!

I used to get a sausage biscuit and sweet tea from McD's a few mornings a week. I've stopped doing that. Used to get fast food lunch a few times a week. I've gotten lunches about once a week now and have looked for low cost healthy choices.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

You can sign up online at the Dairy Queen site and they send you emails...often including a BOGO coupon!

Yep, the kids ate the other one!

 

[lori1043]

I am a homeschooler and what I did today and have done in the past is go to a thrift store or Goodwill and buy our books. They have tons of scholastic books and I racked up on about 18 books and it cost $6 total! I also find lots of reference books that kids read once for a report or something and pass on! My DD9 like Magic Treehouse books, AG books and Cam Jansen too and I find these pretty regularly! MY DD7 likes anything horse related.

 

[DreaGirl]

I am a homeschooler and what I did today and have done in the past is go to a thrift store or Goodwill and buy our books. They have tons of scholastic books and I racked up on about 18 books and it cost $6 total! I also find lots of reference books that kids read once for a report or something and pass on! My DD9 like Magic Treehouse books, AG books and Cam Jansen too and I find these pretty regularly! MY DD7 likes anything horse related.

If you call Scholastic books and tell them you are a homeschool parent, they will send you their catalogs. They have really cheap books and there is always a 99 cent book.

 

[samanthacatangel]

So, yesterday when I went to the supermarket, the cashier forgot to scan two of my coupons after the order was rung up.

I took them over to customer service, and received my $2. It took about 5 minutes, so I guess that would work out to making $24 an hour, lol.

Seriously, I used coupons and shopped the sales, spent $105, and saved $78 for my weekly shopping (family of 3 + 2 cats, in expensive NYC.) So, not too bad.

Samantha

 

[ducklite]

Day TWELVE of the IPCEO! I am still going strong! I've only bought two bottles of water (not allowed to bring my own to a concert) and used my Starbucks gift card for a cip of tea. I figure I've saved over $150!

I'm going to make a list based on Target and Publix's sales and stick to the list for shopping this weekend. I've got so many half used things in the house, I'm going to plan my meals around using up some things to clear some clutter from my pantry. Hoping to keep my grocery bill in the $50 range for the week, but if I see some good sales on "stock up"/BOGO items, I'll go to $75.

Anne