"Freeze your credit cards in water in your freezer, then you have to wait for them to thaw before you make that impulse purchase"
"The best tip I have come up with so far is to know what you have and what you need and put the wants last on the list. I can get great buys on produce at the produce market or two for one on the deodorant aisle but if I let the bananas go bad (and I threw out some yesterday) or the deodorant gets hidden behind other stuff and is never used, I waste money in my own cabinets."
"We do a couple things to save money (that I'm sure many others do). These tactics have really worked for us:
1. Gather a couple of friends/neighbors and buy tons of fresh produce from Produce Junction, then split it up evenly. This saves money b/c the produce is just as good but less expensive than the typical grocery store...and we save gas by taking one car!
2. My husband and I ALWAYS go to the grocery / local butcher with a list and only get what's on that list. We rarely deviate and always have a specific amount to spend. I tally the total as we go which also helps me keep my math skills sharp. It's kind of nerdy, but I think of it as a game...how much can we get for $xx."
"Sunday paper coupons as always and of course there are sites like coupons.com, where you can get great saving coupons. never shop while you are hungry. always have a list of what you need. you buy junk when you don't have a list.
always pay with cash. but generic brands. it's the same thing for less money.
"
"Get your keys, purse, and coat- casually as you exit the door tell your DH bye and thanks for watching the kids!
I spend more money taking the kids shopping- Leave them home and take your time going through those shoppin' aisles"
"We all know the holiday season is a money pit. Between the many gifts, the food and supplies for dinners and guests, the energy bill from our overzelous attempts to decorate and convey the holiday spirit... you name it, way too many opportunities to spend way more money than we can afford in the space of 2 weeks.
So here's what I do:
- I start buying presents early. I'm subscribed to a buncg of store newsletters, so I get lots of special offers. Cool wooden toys on sale in September? let me get some. Clinique gift package with 25-dollar purchase? I'll take two. Come Christmas, I have little gift shopping left to do and got most gifts at great prices!
- About 3 months before the Holidays I start checking out the offers at the places where I do my grocery shopping. If they have a good offer that I might use for any of the Holiday dinners/parties. I take it. Anything that can be frozen (meat, fish, produce) or is in jars/bottles (like preserves, dips, salsa, gourmet oils, wine) goes in. Then I design menus utilizing my supplies and only have a few things to add fresh, like breads, cruditees.
Believe me, it adds up."
"I shop the clearance racks for toys to use for birthday gifts throughout the year. I have a tote that I keep them in and we "shop" from that when an invitation arrives."
"My tip is buy when on sale- but only buy if you are going to use, waste is not saving money. When you see cereal on sale for 1.00 off- stock up. If they have special bundle packs of shampoo, or bonus packs of soap, stock up when you see, becuase you go back and its gone. Watch the end caps, more bang for your buck, and most stuff like shampoo, and soaps last a long time. TP and extras also last forever so stock up while on sale. Buy only things you are gonna need though and wants do go to the bottom. Also stock up on school and buy so it lasts thru the next summer for coloring fun, etc. That will save alot right there."
"Prethink right now- holiday projects, school projects, personal home needs and school needs. School stuff is basically free to cheap right now and make a box of extras like spiral notebooks, paper, glue , colored pencils, crayons (you can also give to angel tree and family for stocking stuffers). Think and stock up, becuase what is now a 10 cent spiral notebook is 1.50 come January when the next school session starts, and glue sticks and crayons are the same way.Stock up, stuff like paper can be used for crafts and fun over the summer and really never goes bad so no worries if there is extra laying around. Better to have extra items than to spend a bunch becuase you also waste alot of gas running for more paper, crayons here and there becuase we all know a trip to the store for a notebook or extra paper turns into a basketfull of other extras."
"Shop the slae racks for clothes and buy summer shorts on sale now for next year- you can get some great end of season deals, just buy up and you can get shirts and items that are out of season that really are year round that are just not new season for cheap."
"They restock the shelves late at night and mark down dairy, meat and deli-as well as bakery and put it out early am so make a trip to the store when all in house are asleep before breakfast, the trip is faster, the store is empty- less crowded and you can find marked down items in meat and such that you can stock up and freeze. Also your other items are fresher like produce and you get fresh - not manhandled food. Also by leaving the family at home you save alot of headache and save alot of money from honey lets get this, it looks good, or Mom I want this or that. I see time saved and shaved by at least an hour without husband in the store because he likes to look and meander, I like torun through get what I need and bargain shop and get out. I also save a ton because I get what we actually need, not just snacks and what looks good to him."
"The fastest way to shop is do the outside of the store, also saves money and calories, all the healthy food is basically in a circle at the store....Stay in the outer rim, deli, dairy, meat, produce- all on the outer circle of most stores."
"I have a separate Christmas account that I add a little $$ each month. In November, I pull i all out and budget my holiday spending so that it doesn't go over what I have put back.
I also use the envelope system and try and pay cash for everything."
"For online shopping, before I check out, I always google the store + coupon. So for example "llbean coupon". I can usually always find at least free shipping, if not 5% - 20% off. Sometimes you can even combine and get free shipping AND a percentage off.
I also only buy recycled content/soy ink wrapping paper/cards etc so I buy them and real ribbons whenever they are 75% off or more and save them for when I need it.
I also shop almost exclusively at www.etsy.com for gifts. I am a jewelry designer, so I make a lot of my gifts, but when I don’t, etsy is the place for me. The prices are crazy good, you are supporting artists and SAHMs and the variety and selection is shockingly good. Disclaimer: I also have a shop on etsy. You are of course welcome to shop there (http://www.karenskitsch.etsy.com) but I am talking about the site in general. I particularly like a shop called babypop, for children’s birthdays. A personalized, handmade superhero cape for $13 and $3.25 S&H. The best gift at the party for under $20.
I also try to always bring my own bags to the grocery store, but when I forget, I ask for paper. I cut the bags and use them for wrapping paper. I watch for crazy good real ribbon sales and collect them. Brown with lime green ribbon or fucha is super mod looking. Also, the kids can decorate the paper themselves for friends and you don’t have to get a card (which is more $ and might get lost) plus it is super personal. This has always been a great crowd pleaser.
Another way I saved money and the environment this year was by doing something a little different for the goody bags for my son’s birthday parties. Generally, I hate goodie bags. I have to go through them and throw out the candy and then watch all those junky toys like a hawk for breakages (like 1 or 2 days max) and then throw those away too. Plus it costs like $5 - $10 a pop (for the cheap junky ones) to buy the bags, the candy and the plastic toys. So instead, I bought 64 count boxes of crayola crayons ($2.89 each @ Target) for my 5 year old’s friends and 8 count crayola washable markers ($3.49 each @ Target) for my 3 year old’s friends. I wrapped them in paper I had purchased at 80% off (less than 1 roll for all) and made stickers (Avery 8233) on my computer with each child’s name, thanking them for coming. Yes it took a little time to design the stickers, but I think it was a gift that was actually appreciated, and I didn’t feel like I was spending too much or selling out by buying all that plastic junk.
Anyway, I totally got carried away here. Apparently I had a few more tips than I had anticipated. Thanks Classy Mommy for the inspiration! I think I am going to blog this on my site with pictures! I’ll come back and post a link when I am done for anyone who is interested."
"I search and research items that I need . Like for school our youngest needed a magic eraser of some sort. Well I coould not find it. I finally checked sams club and got the two I needed with no shipping fees. What a deal. I buy items at the end of the season so next season I will not need to spend full prices. I always look for sales and coupons.
"
"some people turn their noses up at second hand shops but you would be amazed at what you can find there. I have bought brand new name brand clothes with the price tag still attached. I've bought toys that looked new. I have used stores like goodwill, the salvation army, and other local second hand stores to stretch my clothing dollar. don't forget that money you spend in goodwill and the salvation army go to companies that actually put that money into helping others so it's a win win situation"
"I hate it when I try a new beauty product, but don't like it. It's such a waste. Have a swap with friends once a month or so! Everyone brings the items they don't want, and you swap them out. This works with hair products, moisturizers, face wash, etc. No makeup, though. Ewww... If you don't like what you get at one, just bring it back to the next swap!"
"Shop online outlet stores and sales! I have created a site which links the savvy shopper directly to bargains found online. From women's clothing to home decor to computers.
You can definitely save a lot of money this way. I once bought a huge fall wreath, easily over $100, for $8!"
"There are so may great money saving tips. Use grocery bags for trash bags in the bathroom. Buy food at Aldi's and save a ton of money there. You can also buy store brand products which can also save you cash.I bought so many nice brand name clothes for my daughter for school at yard sales. Some of the clothes don't even look worn. Also shop at your local farmers market to get your produce. Fill out for free samples from the walmart site. You get them for free and get a chance to try the products before you buy them.
"
"sign up for some of the wonderful thrifty blogs out there! they send you the best deals to go along with your sunday coupns and tell you which stores to go to!
they also have water conservation kits at letsgogreen.biz that can help you family save water, and save your money!"
"if you can't pay your credit cards off each month, tear them up so you don't get yourself further in debt."
"I don't make my weekly grocery list until I receive the grocery store cirulars. I plan my weekly meals around what's one sale at the grocery store. It's a bonus to have a coupon for wha is on sale foe even bigger savings.
With a family of five, this new way of menu planning has saved me hundreds of dollars."
"All of the change I get goes directly into a money jar. I save up the money, and then at the end of every month, I donate it to the Make-A-Wish foundation. it's easy to do, and it's always a good size amount of money!
"
"I only shop at grocery stores like kroger that give you points (rewards) that you can use for gas like .10 -.20 cents off a gallon. So i want to be rewarded for choosing them and save some money.
Plus i always take my bags they give you .05 cent for every bag you bring of your own.
"
"Soak dried beans overnight and cook them in your slow cooker the next day. It is so much cheaper than buying canned beans. Season them with a piece of ham hock or a couple of slices of bacon. You can also make chili out of the leftover beans."
"Not only do I use coupons, but I use them on double coupons days. I also look for end of the season sales and stock up for the following season."
"Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. What a great prize! My best money savings tip is to always use the store circular when making out your shopping order. List what you need and what's on sale, then go through all your coupons and match up whatever items that you can. In addition, we have found that not only do we save time, but also a tremendous amount of money, by going food shopping every other week. We do pick up milk and bread weekly, but that is all. We have found that we basically do double the amount of shopping and we're saving lots more than going each week. It also helps to have a large freezer where you can buy meats, breads, etc, when they are on sale and freeze.
Thanks so much for offering this wonderful and generous giveaway."
"Check the sales circulars for many stores or sign up for them to be emailed to you. Find the best deals, use coupons for the items you need. If you don't have coupons and you can wait until you do that will save you more money. Also always check the clearance aisles at stores for stocking up on stuff at a great price."
"Make a list before going to the store and stick to that list. This will limit impulse buying and say money!! Great giveaway - Thanks!"
"We have switched to a lot of Publix's generic brands and they really are as good as the name brand in almost every instance.
"
"When they have all the crayons and school supplies on sale for super cheap, I buy a bunch... glue , and crayons for a penny, markers for a quarter. they make great stocking stuffers , great for easter baskets, or add a couple coloring books and you have a great present for a classmates bday party you child forgot to give you the invitation to until the night before."
"For me it is stay out of the mall!! I cant help tp spend money when I go there"
"roll all your change, buy in bulk, never waste!"
"I ALWAYS shut off the AC after everyone else goes to bed ( that way they don't complain ) I never had a bill over $100 all summer. Also definetly use the ads to price match. That way you can save trips to the store, which you should not be going to more than every 10 days."
"I buy birthday and Christmas gifts year around, whenever I find something good on clearance."
"Every month have a certain amount of money transferred from your checking into your savings automatic. you will be surprised how fast it adds up.
What I did also. I had several different credit cards with smaller credit limits. I paid all these off and called those companies and had them close these accounts. You do want to close these accounts even if you never use these cards again, because like most of mine they had a yearly fee. I only kept the credit card with the highest limit and I do not take it to the store with me.
When I called and cancelled the cards, I had to be strong because they don't like to cancel your cards. They try and get you to keep them open, one of them said they would drop the yearly fee. I almost said ok then, but I didn't.
I stayed strong."
"I make all of my own cleaning supplies. They are all made from very inexpensive things and they work just as good as the store bought kind. I use vinegar, baking soda, salt, borax, and a few other ones. Recipes are all over the web. I spend about an hour a month making cleaning products that cost about $0.15 for a bottle. "
"My best savings tips. 1. shop for Holiday presents year round so it isn't a huge money splurge. 2. Buy coupon lots for items you use all the time off eBay. You can get 20 or more of the same big saving coupon for 1 or 2 dollars and then hit a sale and really stock up. 3. I save the most shopping online. I can browse and comparison shop from the comfort of home when I have time and energy and I can ALWAYS find a great deal. Why waste gas money driving around when you can get it delivered for less?"
"Basically everyone has the same kind of tips. I work at a grocery store and the best advice I have to save money is to leave your husband and children at home and make a list. If you stick to your list and don't have anyone saying "I want this" and putting things in your cart not on your list you will come out ahead."
"Make a list before you go shopping to avoid impulse buying."
"My tip is to ALWAYS............Always
shop with cash only. And of course use coupons!"
"If you have a garden project. The end of summer is a great time to look for sales. Landscaping plants and tools go on sale towards fall. You can save quite a bit of money."
"We get all of our books, cd's and DVD's from our local library and it's free!!"
"I had a teacher in the past who told us about this money saving tip. His idea was to take the little envelopes you get from the bank, or any envelopes i suppose, write on the outside what it is for...so gas, groceries, etc...and put it the amount you would need for the week. That way you aren't going to use that money for anything else and not have enough for gas or something...and it helps you balance your money a little easier.
"
"Only buy when things are on sale and with a coupon. Done right, you can get groceries for free or next to nothing."
"Thank you for having this. The best tip I can offer is to use coupons and match to sales. I have gotten many free groceris and hba items this way. If not then buy in bulk at Sams or another club. thank you!
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"I combine coupons with sales to get the rock bottom prices on groceries and health and beauty products! Also, keep your empty butter wrappers in a baggie in the fridge. They are great to "grease" pans for baking."
"Carpool to work! It's saving me a lot."
"Start "renting" movies from you local library system. Many libraries can buy whatever book, movie, or music you would love them to have.
I've stopped spending money on movies all together...it takes a little waiting, but free is free!
"
"I shop clearance racks first then I find all I need there
I recycle aluminum cans for the past 18 years and have bought several appliances with my money but it is slow money but sure money.All good things take time to get."
"Open a savings account and deposit 50-100 dollars every pay check and you'll eventually have a large savings amount!
"
"I don't buy processed food, plus I'm a vegan and try to buy local produce. As a result, my food prices haven't gone up as dramatically as other people's prices."
"Use the library instead of buying books...or borrow then from friends. Take things you aren't using and sell them to a used bookstore or have a yard sale (not a saving money tip, but it gives you some money to ADD to savings).
"
"Make a grocery list before you go to the store. If you find out you REALLY need something else, get it, but chances are...if it wasn't on the list...you don't really really need it. Also, it allows you to only focus on what you need at the store and will hopefully help you regulate your money better. It's harder to do that if you're at the store already and trying to figure everything out!
"
"Eating vegetarian is great for your budget, your health, and the planet. You don't have to take the plunge all at once; try one new meat-free recipe every week and soon you'll have a great repertoire. And learn to barter; I exchange yoga classes and pet-sitting for massage, wood for the woodstove, carpentry, you name it. (If you live in a cold climate, get a woodstove, or better still, a pellet stove.)"
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"
"Go to Peapod dot com or some other home delivery grocery store. I found when I shopped online instead of in the store, I only bought what was on my list instead of impulse buys while walking down the aisle. Probably because I have so little time on the computer as it is."
"There are a few different things that we do to save. First of all, I go to ShopLocal (or any of the other numerous sites) as they keep track of the stores I shop in and let me know what's on sale for the week.
Second, I match these sales to the coupons I have. I realize this isn't a new tip, but I've managed to cut a $400 grocery bill down to $120! I'll also figure out if I have any other coupons for places that I go to--such as McDonalds, KFC, Pearle Vision, etc. If you're going there as well, why not save some money?
Next, my family lives close to me so we can get some items in bigger sizes and share. This works great for items such as a 10-pound bag of potatoes and the like. If you buy the bigger items and they expire before you use them, you're definitely not saving money. We also share food items that we've made and the meals go twice as far.
Finally, if we need larger ticket items, such as a TV, etc., I will research it on the web at places like eBay and Overstock.com. When you check out these stores online, you can usually find some pretty good deals. Just read the item description to make sure you're getting what you want and need. While you're checking these out, there are some sites on the web that will give you a rebate just for shopping! One that I've found is MrRebates.com. When you go through their list of stores, you will find such names as eBay, JC Penney, Wal-Mart, etc. and click on the store link through here. You will receive a percentage of your purchase price back and request a check or PayPal credit when you reach a minimum rebate total--such as $20.
It takes some work to save money. If you don't have the time and energy to do it all, get together with your friends and family and trade off tasks so that each person can do what they're good at and have time for. This way coupons won't expire before you're ready to use them and the celery you bought last week--or was it two weeks ago?--won't go bad before you're ready to use it!
"
"my best thing is to conserve energy! wash clothes with cold water, hang out instead of dry, turn your dry settings off on the dishwasher.. this stuff saves you money on your energy bill and helps the environment"
"I wait for the holidays to get good deals at craft stores
"
"My best tip to save is to always leave kids and husband home. If it is grocery shopping or to the mall I always spend less without them, thanks. "
"Stop being obsessed with new. I check my largest local thrift store about every two weeks. Especially for kids clothes which are astonishingly high end and not close to worn out. The kids like the fancy labels and I like the prices."
"I have a local scratch and dent store that I've found. If you don'tmind that the boxes have crushed corners or the cans dented you can save hundreds. I currently pay $1.49 for a box of cereal and 3/$1 for canned foods."
"I use Amazon and check out their grocery deals. Some aren't that great but I recently got Kashi cereal for about $2 a box and they paid the shipping.
Also got Keebler items for $1.25 a box."
"Buy things such as groceries when they are on sale whether you need them right then or not, because it's better to get it while it's cheap than to wait till you need it and pay a premium price for it."
"Okay, this may seem gross, but... do less laundry, and shower less. Most people wash their jeans after they've worn them once or twice, whether or not they need to. And they wash their sheets every 7 days, when waiting 10 days wouldn't hurt. And almost everyone showers every day, even though this is bad for most people's skin! American is pretty much the only place where people shower daily! So skip a shower here and there, and wait to wash those jeans, and your water bill should drop. "
"We save the most money by always trying to make grocery products from whole foods purchased in bulk. Instead of purchasing breakfast cereal, I make granola and instant oatmeal. Instead of eating out while at work, we bring frozen meals cooked at home from scratch. I spend about $200 on groceries for two every 6-8 weeks by doing more of the work at home."
"Look for a local gleaners group. We belong to one that cost $45.00 monthly and we can "shop" in there warehouse once a week. The savings are amazing. I know longer have to buy milk, paper towels, coffee creamer and numerous other grocery items."
"The thing that has saved us the most money is getting a freezer. We used the tiny one on top of the fridge forever, but it holds like nothing. Now we have the freezer and whenever meat and stuff is at a great price, we stock up and throw it in there. It's great, too, because we're never "out of food.""
"One great tip is to buy in bulk (especially when those items are for sale) and divide it up into freezer bags to put in your freezer. Thanks!"
"The only real tip to save money is to have a limit on the money you will spend on a weekly or monthly basis. Once that is spent, then that is it, no more buying anything. First see how much you already spend weekly, then the following weeks set your limit 10% below that for starters. You will quickly decide whether you really need something or not. Stick to it. Don't spend more then the set limit. If you can't stick to it, then you won't save money."
"It's going to sound gross to a lot of folk. "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down." We have city water into the house, septic going out. Not only does it make us more conscious of wasting toilet paper, but we don't have to pump the tank - - yet ! We don't advise doing this when there's company visiting, lol !"
"I list my bills from smallest to largest and pay them off one by one. I learned this tip from Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover."
"We live in a small town and our selection of stores is either WalMart or a local grocery store that no longer accepts printed from home coupons. I keep my eye's trained on the sales and we menu plan. We go to the store every 2 weeks and before we go I make sure I know what we are having for dinner for those next two weeks, not to mention lunches and snacks. If I can find a good buy, we stock up.
We've also cut eating out. It's so expensive and instead, use that money for our Summer Fund. It's adding up quickly!"
"I use coupons on sale items"
"My husband switched from canned shaving cream to shaving soap. It lasts a really long time, and you can get it at CVS! It is also better for the environment!"
"One of the best things I did this year was have a clothing swap with 30 of my girlfriends!
We all brought our old clothes to one place and divided them into piles according to size (XS, S, M, L, XL and beyond, and Maternity)
I took 2 laundry baskets of old clothes, expecting just to get rid of them, but I came away with just as much stuff as I donated!
I got great, fashionable stuff in my size, and great brands like J.Crew, Gap, Old Navy, and even a pair of Lucky Brand jeans!
I even got 2 pairs of shoes!
All of the ladies had SOOO much fun! We brought snacks and had a great time trying on clothes and finding new treasures!"
"I find it very helpful to keep a "price journal" of the grocery items that I buy most frequently, so that I can compare costs at different stores.
Some items might be cheaper at another place! Plan accordingly!"
"I used to be a FreeCycle member. Freecycle is a yahoo group that has local chapters all across the USA. You list stuff that you want to get rid of, and someone emails you to claim it. People get rid of all kinds of stuff, from furniture, to toys, to a pack of diapers their baby is already too big for!
I got some shelves, brand new Bath and Body Works lotion, a rug with roads on it (for kids to play cars on), a desk, and a book to study for the GRE.
I did finally unsubscribe because it generates SOOO many emails in one day. But it would be a good idea to subscribe if you were trying to furnish your home extremely cheaply!"
"Sometimes we are tempted to spend money that we normally wouldn't when we are invited to go out to eat with friends.
Many times we will eat at home before we go out, and just order an appetizer or dessert at the restaurant; something small and not as pricey as 2 entrees!
That way we get a nice treat and fun with friends without feeling guilty about dropping $50 for one meal!"
"We use Evite.com to invite our friends to parties, showers, and events. It saves postage, the cost of paper invitation, and time! It is also great for the environment!"
"You can get almost anything for cheap (or free) if you are willing to wait.
The key is predicting what you need/want in advance and having a strategy, and also put the word out.
You know that your child will be invited to birthday parties, so buy nice gifts when they are on sale, like after Christmas. This year at Target I got a SmartArt Easel 75% off- only $10. It was an amazing birthday gift for my son's friend, and it looked like WAY more than $10! I got an art table on that same trip also for $10.
Always be on the look out for deals!
My friends and I have an extensive email list to "put the word out" on things. It helped me sell some baby stuff and bunk beds to someone who was looking to buy those same items! Later, someone else might say, "I have a bag full of 3T boys clothes I need to get rid of!". Viola! Providence!"
"There is no need to let leftover food go to waste.
Ugly bananas can be made into banana bread or muffins, or one mashed banana can replace an egg in baking recipes like cakes.
Cooked oatmeal, yogurt, shredded carrots, fruit: all of these things can be turned into tasty muffins.
Small bits of veggies left over, like a handful of green beans, can be baked into a quiche.
A medley of veggies can be turned into a soup with some veggie broth or bullion, and some leftover grain like rice or small pastas.
Use your creativity with leftovers and it won't seem so much like punishment to eat them!"
"Line dry most clothes. This makes them last longer, and you also save money on energy costs running the dryer.
Even if you don't have a huge yard, you can dry clothes inside your house with a drying rack. There are lots of foldable, compact options these days."
"I'm a vegetarian, and for a long time I thought cooking dried beans was way too much trouble. It actually isn't that big of a deal if you cook them well in advance. Just soak them overnight, then put them on the stove in a big pot over a low flame after dinner while you are cleaning up, giving the kids baths, playing online, etc. 3 hours goes by quick that way.
After the beans are cooked, freeze them in ziplock bags in 2 cup portions. 2 cups is the amount inside of a can of beans, so if you have 2 cup portions you can substitute them for canned beans in recipes.
I got a half pound bag of dried soybeans for 50 cents, and it made 6 cups of cooked beans!"
"I like to cook, but if you have cookbooks that call for a lot of specialty ingredients, cooking can be just as pricey as going out to eat!
I found 2 simple cookbooks that I use regularly that don't use a lot of prepackaged foods (flour instead of canned biscuits, shows you how to make your own "white sauce" to substitute for a can of cream of mushroom soup, etc.)
This definitely makes my life easier. My favorites are "More with Less", "Extending the Table", and a few good recipes from "The Complete Tightwad Gazette"."
"Generic isn't always the cheapest. Check the grocery store shelves for the unit price (price per ounce, for example). That is how to really tell what is the best value."
"I am teaching my children the joy of saving money by giving them a small budget to spend at yard sales ($5 goes a long way at a yard sale)!
It really hits home for them to see that they can get a box of 15 action figures at a yard sale for the same price as just ONE action figure new in the store.
It helps them not to whine in the stores too, because they understand why it is best to say "no" to some purchases!"
"I love vinegar. Vinegar is to me what Windex is to the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Vinegar is SO cheap and it has such a variety of uses. I make surface cleaner/all purpose cleaner out of vinegar, water, and essential oil (lavender is my favorite, but we have Tea Tree Oil too). It is so cheap and I don't mind letting my preschooler help me clean with my spray bottle of vinegar because I know it is non toxic and he can't hurt himself with it.
I feel really good about keeping my home free of strange, possibly cancer causing chemicals."
"Set financial goals by sitting down and figuring out what is most important to you.
I love to travel, so if I need to put every spare penny toward my next destination, it makes it easier for me to deny myself other small luxuries like a visit to Starbucks. I keep my eyes on the prize!!!"
" My husband is freak-good at math. He helps me see, mathematically, if something is REALLY a good deal or not.
For example, I wanted to join the Barnes and Noble book club. It costs $25 to join but you get %10 off every purchase for one year. My husband explained to me that I would have to spend $250 in one year to "save" the $25 it cost me to join the club! That isn't what I need!"
"Downsize your trash can. We went with the recommended size and realized recently that with all we recycle or throw in the yard waste bin it was only at most half full. We called the trash company to downsize, purchased our own trashcan for $14, and should see savings of $120 a year."
"Before I buy something I want (not a necessity), I stop & think about it & put it off for a couple of weeks. If I still think I need it & I can afford it, I will buy it then. This really cuts down on impulse buys & buyer's remorse. It also cuts down on things I never use. "
"Another tip would be to look at and find as many coupons as you possibly can. Perhaps even switch out one brand of something for another if that is cheaper or has more coupons."
"I save lots of money using men's shaving cream and a sponge to spot clean my carpets."
"I check the website babycheapskate.com for diaper deals each week. The blog lists where diapers, formula and other baby essentials are cheapest each week. The site also talks about online and store sales and baby coupons"
"We put all our expenses on our credit cards (and pay them off each month.) The catch is that the credit card gives us gas as a "reward". Instead of earning airline miles or hotel stays, we actually get something we'll use...GAS. We earn about $400/year in free gas just by using our credit card."
"My best money saving tip is comparison shopping. A lot of stores will match prices from any local ad! Also, I save money by saving all my big purchases for the after thanksgiving sales!"
"Slickdeals.net baby! My hubby gets us some great deals on there."
"Online coupons are everywhere! I never buy anything online w/o checking for a coupon first and usually I find one. retailmenot.com and slickdeals.net are my favorites. I also watch grocery store ads and use Walmart's price matching and stock up when stuff is on sale."
"My biggest tip is coupons!! I get three or four sets of inserts a week, i only buy one and my dh gets everyone at work to give him theirs!"
"OMG! That camera is amazing...
Anyways, The number 1, and most obvious answer would have to be coupons. Plain & Simple. In a month with coupons, I have saved almost 250$."
"I've signed up for a lot of local restaurant email 'club memberships'. When you sign up, they usually give you a coupon for a free entree, and then they send you free coupons on your bday. Highly recommended to make going out more wallet friendly (and you should definitely treat yourself out every now and then!) "
"Walmart has frequent free samples to sign up for, and some are actually ones you want! Like cereal, tampons, etc."
"Use amazon's 'gold box' deals of the day OR lightening deals. You have to have the time to check daily for what is on sale, but you can get great price breaks on big ticket items if you are patient and watching."
"Is this too obvious?? Clip coupons and actually use them! I used to carry coupons around with me, and not use them before they expire. Dont waste time if you're not good about using them."
"Get a credit card with reward points!! Buy everything you can on the CC (groceries, baby items, books, everything!) and pay it off monthly. You can earn travel points, or points to be redeemed as gift certificates to some of your favorite stores. We have a navy federal credit union CC and love it!
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"Mystery car (or bike) trips!
We find unique local places to visit for free and then go on a "mystery car or bike trip" to the place. For instance, we have a school nearby that trains guide dogs for the blind and they have free puppy petting for all ages. We hopped in the car without telling the kids were we were headed and packed a picnic lunch and went to pet puppies and have lunch at the park there. The kids were super excited about the mystery and the entire outing was very affordable for the whole family, and it was quite educational too. Far cheaper than eating out with the family at a restaurant or going to a movie or theme park, and they all can't wait for the next mystery outing!"
"I can't really sew, but I can still cut up old button up shirts and other light cotton clothing to use as cloth napkins.
I started using cloth napkins with my son last year because he would rip up paper napkins! But I found that I like cloth better, it isn't that much more laundry, and it saves money and is more eco friendly!"
"I find that most of my friends with children don't mind doing a "pot luck" style get together, rather than going out to a restaurant.
It is easier to pick a house and let the kids play while the adults enjoy some "grown up time" together.
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"I was so inspired by our Lady's Clothing Swap that I suggested we do the same thing with Children's toys, and clothes too!
Old toys are just as fun when they are "new to you"!
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"Before I started using cloth baby wipes, I used tissues. I made my own "wipe solution" in a spray bottle from baby shampoo (2 TBSP), baby oil (2 TBPS) and the rest water. I would squirt it on my baby's bottom and then wipe it off with tissues.
Those store bought wipes are expensive!
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"Use Deals or the Dollar Store for everyday items...that way you can pay a dollar or so for something that might have cost a few dollars more.
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"If you go to one store all the time, check and see if they have cards (like this grocery store krogers) that takes off a bit of money on all your orders if you use it.
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"Don't throw something out just because it might have a rip or something...try and find a friend that can fix it for you and save you money on buying a whole new shirt or pair of jeans or something!
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"I save money by asking myself "Where will I put it?" or "Will I really use this once I get it home?"
If I can't give myself a concrete answer, I don't buy it."
"If you have kids, try buying one kid's favorite snack one week..and keep alternating. That way you are cutting costs buying the junk food, giving every kid a chance to have what they want (especially if you have a lot) and again, saving money by not buying all of them something they really like.
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"If you want to buy something fun (like new clothes, a book, c.d., etc.) wait a month and see if you still want it as much at the end...if you do, then try and save up...and if not, you'll be happy you didn't waste your money!
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"I have another fantastic money saving tip. I did this, this year when Christmas was over.
I went online to Toys R Us. It was amazing the clearance prices on alot of their toys and such. I ordered toys that are normally like $30.00 or more, on sale for like half off and less. I went through their whole clearance section and bought probably close to $400.00 dollars worth of Christmas things for this year for our 5 grandkids for probably about $200.00. When the price of gas and the running around when the holidays are here, the shipping cost for me is well worth it. And also during the year when I'am out and I see something on sale for the kids for Christmas, I get it then. At this time I would say I'am 90% done with Christmas for our grandkids. We do have one grandson that is harder to buy for because he already has so much for an 8 year old."
"We make shopping lists for long periods. Instead of shopping for a week, we shop for 10 days, or even 2 weeks. You can make great economies that way. You make better plans. What goes for 2 days, could cover 3. You see?"
"Life-saving tip: Don't fall for items on clearance that you would never buy on regular price. That tip I only learned today, and I realized how wild I can go on sale items sometimes...
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"1. I try to find things that we want and buy them when they are on sale. Especially when they are buy 1 get 1 free. I save coupons for such an occassion and use them during this sale so that I am getting them for almost nothing.
2. I sell my children's clothing at consignment stores and then use the money to buy them things in department store off of the clearance rack. Some store will send you coupons for an additional 15-30% off. This is a huge savings off of clearance. You can find some really nice things for almost nothing.
3. I buy my meats when they are on sale. I will buy a whole pork loin and have the butcher cut it into chops then I will use my food sealer and freeze it.
4. We almost always go to the dollar movie or rent the movie instead of wasting money when movie is just released.
5. When we do eat out, I always have coupons. My husband will get aggrevated at me because I will say we can't eat there this week because we don't have a coupon.
6. I also trade coupons with friends in the neighborhood. If I have something I am not going to use but they will, I will trade it for something of theirs that I can use.
7. I also do alot of my Christmas shopping in the days after Christmas. Talk about bargains!!"
"if you go out to eat with a friend, just pay for yourself...no need to offer to pay unless it's a special occasion, like a birthday.
it might sound mean, but sometimes you have to focus on yourself! if you don't have the money..it's fine. the friend will understand.
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"Try and split meals if you are out with the family...no need to pay for a whole meal for every person. just mix things up and share it around the table..and you should all have enough!
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"Don't refuse hand-me-downs. Friends, family members, etc. Take whatever and if you can't use it..pass it on...but you never know! it's better to save some things for future use and save you from spending money you didn't have too.
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"Make handmade cards for special occasions. Just take some paper, use markers, and anything else lying around that you can use to make the card pretty. No need to spend 3.99+ for a card when making one will probably be more special to the person anyway!
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"I know going to a gym might be a good way for people to exercise, but instead of paying money every month..why not try and get a friend or family member to work out at home with you? walk in the neighborhood...come up with ways to excercise other body parts in your house.
Go to the park and walk as well!
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"I use coupons, do price comparison via internet, price match and combine trips so I use less gas."
"We always check out the resale shops. Can get some very beautiful clothes for a fraction of the price. Thank you."
"Shop Dollar Tree for basics. Walk whenever possible. Cook and bake in bulk - make sure you donate some food to local non-profits, they can use the money saving vibe more than you."
"Did you know that there are websites online that offer discount magazine subscription rates?
I got I deal a few years ago where I subscribed to THREE magazines (Family Fun, Parents, and CHILD) for only $10 for the year! $10 for all three!
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"Trying to be eco minded helps me to consume less. A byproduct of that is I usually save money in the process!
I got a Water Conservation Kit from LetsGoGreen.biz . It helps reduce the amount of water that comes out of my kitchen sink, bathroom sink, showerhead, and toilet. I didn't lose any water pressure but that simple step cut my water usage by 40%! Great for the utility bill!
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"Don't buy coffee for $5 a cup!
My husband is a coffee drinker, and he bought a very nice stainless steel French Press coffee maker so that he can make his own gourmet tasting coffee at home every morning.
He also takes it out and about with him in a reusable insulated mug!"
"Pay attention to the "little" purchases. $1 for a soda x 30 days = $30. Do you get more than one a day? YIKES!"
"Instead of buying drinks, like pop or water for over $1 each, buy a case and keep it refrigerated. Grab one when you go out the door and you won't have to buy them individually anymore."
"Plan meals around current sales, especially meat and fresh fish."
"Before you make an impulse buy of some nonessential item, do a little mental scenario. Imagine someone holding that item in front of you and saying "if you work for me for xx hours, I'll give you this."
The xx hours should be how many times your hourly pay it would take to equal the price of the item. i.e. , if you make $15 an hour and the sweater/whatever you want to buy is $45, imagine the person is asking if you'll work 3 hours to get the sweater.
You'll find a lot of times, you think "no, I wouldn't.""
"We have found you can save money on gas by biking to your local places instead of driving."
"I tried something new just yesterday: I have always been afraid to cut my own family's hair...I just have 2 boys and my husband and I. Well, I finally took the plunge. I had given my husband a "buzz" cut several times before, but my 4-year-old son has long, curly blond chin-length hair that was getting kind of mulletish in the back. I trimmed of the mullet with no problem! I even cut my own hair, which is very short, but also wavy and full--- very forgiving if you make a mistake. ;)
I can't stand to pay a lot of money for a hair cut!!
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"We use coupons a lot. We use them at the grocery store and when we do go out to eat we usually pick places were we have a coupon or it's kids eat free night. We drink water when we go out and share dinners."
"Get a basket for your bills. As the mail arrives, immediately open the bills and put them in their return envelopes. Then label the envelopes in order of due date in the basket. This will prevent paying money for late fees."
"around me, we have a store krogers and they sell the generic pills (paxil, etc.) for only four dollars...so if you need it, it's a cheap way of getting medicine.
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"the best money saving tip my family has learned is, when going grocery shopping, do not go with a pre-determined list. Insted, go and ONLY buy items on sale. we went from spending 300$ a week to around 140$, and coming home with the same amount of food!"
"Instead of packing the kid's snacks for school in zippy bags that will just get thrown away, I personalize tuppaware for them to take. It's reusable and their snacks don't get smashed in their backpacks!"
"Eat less processed food, buy in bulk, reuse broken jewelry by recycling into something new. Oh and freecycle!"
"My friends and I try to help each other save money by teaching one another the different DIY things we know how to do (sewing, knitting, cooking). We're all pretty newly married and also pull in older women to teach us things that none of us know how to do. It's amazing how much you can save when you can do it yourself - or have someone show you how to do it yourself!"
"Garage sales, thrift stores, and dumpster diving."
"Best money saved is money NOT spent, so my money saving tip is to JUST NOT BUY IT!"
"only carry cash, you will spend less"
"I have found some neighbors that will split groceries from Costco with us to help us cut down on both spending and food waste."
"one way to save on electricity during summer, skip the air conditioner and install an attic fan and use ceiling fans to move the air
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"I think we save money by spending lesser. I use freecycle.org extensively. I always post offers and look for things that I need there. It just makes sense to reuse things that you are comfortable doing. I have received lamps, tables, some toys etc from there. "
"Don't put away 10%, put away 15% from every paycheck before you can spend it"
"Save all your change in a jar if you don't use it much...that way after awhile, you can turn that into cash and you'll have a lot of money just waiting for you!
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"buy a lot of something you always use when they are on sale (as long as it doesn't go bad...like toilet paper) b/c then you'll be set for awhile and you're saving in the long run by buying on sale now!
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"I save all my change then take it to a coin star and vouch for a gift card to amazon...this is like a mini savings because you can buy anything on amazon!!"
"take advantage of contests and giveaways..online or anywhere! it might seem like a longshot, but you never know and you could win some stuff that you now don't have to buy, whether stuff you needed or even a gift for someone!
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"Make a list of how much money you will have for "fun activities" each month and make sure you don't go over it! It's better to know exactly how much you have then to go wayyy overboard, thinking you have more.
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"use garage sales, library sales, yard sales, etc. to your advantage! don't over do it and get things you don't need...but you might find some good, cheap goods you could use!
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"walk. carpool. take the bus. mix it up so you aren't paying as much for gas, etc.
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"pack your lunch for work. if you have kids, pack their lunch more..eating out or eating at school might be more expensive in the long run then packing...but check! figure out and see."
"Mix up outfits, or buy clothes that can be mixed up so you're buying less...but have more ways to wear it aka more outfits!"
"don't go to the movies until it's in the cheap theaters...you pay less to see the movie if you really MUST see it in theaters.
also, buy snacks/drinks at the dollar store or something and save that way...i know i know, you aren't supposed to bring them to the theater! it's good for other occasions as well though, when snacks are key!"
"Whenever there is a look in askance when I ask for double plastic bags, I explain that, "Yes, I do recycle them, I use them daily to clean my kitty litter box." Have yet to hear anymore arguments after that :)"
"The best (and cheapest) birthday party I even threw for my son was at the local Fire Station. I arranged a tour for the kids and the fire men gave everyone free coloring books and plastic fire hats. The tour was free, the kids got to sit in the fire engine and watch a fireman put on his "gear". I gave a donation to the fire station as a thank you but since they are a public service, they can't charge for the tours. The firestation was next to a park so after the tour we had our b'day cake at the park, and the kids played on the playground. It was so much fun and very relaxing, not to mention cheap!
I gave the left over cake to the firemen. They were excited. :)"
"Don't be afraid to tell people what you need. I asked a friend if her 6-year-old had any outgrown 3T pants that we could have. It resulted in bags and bags of hand me downs; she gives us more clothes every year!
Woohoo!"
"I noticed that my kids have fun no matter if we pay $50 to have an evening out at Chuck E Cheese or if we have a cheap picnic in the park, or go to a free library event. So why not just have free and cheap fun instead of using a lot of money like that? Spending money is NOT fun for Mama!"
"I was the typical over eager mom who wanted to buy one of every type of toy for my little boy. Now I have 2 kids and I'm realizing how infrequently the toys actually get played with.
I'm in the process of downsizing our possessions so that we can have more room and spend less time cleaning up clutter. I learned my lesson about over consumption and it is making me much more critical when I go shopping now; I have realized I don't NEED so much STUFF!"
"This seems obvious enough, but we get books and DVD's from the library. If we find a book we REALLY like after we "test drive" it at the library, I will buy a few special ones to add to our home library"
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