Tips for Saving Money, Cutting Expenses, etc.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Jen

I always try and get gas at night. The gas prices here drop about 5 cents a litre at night.

The best times to get gas are in the early morning or late evening, when it isn't as hot (obviously, this works better during the summer). The gas doesn't evaporate as quickly so you're not paying for fumes.

I took a good, hard look at my family's medical history, and started to seriously cut back on foods that are empty calories or tend to lead to one disease or another. I may love sweet tea, but it's now a treat, not an everyday drink. I can't remember how long it's been since I've willingly bought Coke (of any sort), or even drank it - the "experts" are saying that even diet pop causes problems. Using a teabag squeezer (mine's from Tupperware) allows you to get several cups of tea out of one bag, without the mess. Remember how one packet of sugar was 1 teaspoon? Read the packet - it's now just under a teaspoon. If you can do without the full teaspoon at a restaurant, you can do without it at home.

Our local big grocery store offers fuel perks; you save $.10 a gallon for every $50 increment you spend - and they don't run out at the end of the month. I drove to Nashville on $13.20 worth of gas! They also sell gift cards, so if we're going to a restaurant or to a certain store, we get the gift cards first. My mother bought a stove and got an $.80 discount per gallon on gas!

My credit cards all have either miles or points to purchase gift cards - and none of them have fees. The boy always writes out a check for each time he uses his, so it doesn't get out of control.

Most skin care items are as effective in generic as in the high priced ones, although you need to check the ingredients if you have allergies. A dab of white toothpaste from a dollar store actually works better for the occasional zit than the expense creams. I also try not to buy scented liquid soap, so I can mix those litte bits that won't pump out. Okay, one scent isn't bad!

Do some serious bank shopping! My bank was just sold, so while my funds are at the new bank, I'm checking out which can give me more bang for my buck. I also empty my wallet of change every day for one special fund.

Good to see other frugalites!

PS: Who are these experts, anyhow?

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Most skin care items are as effective in generic as in the high priced ones, although you need to check the ingredients if you have allergies.

I've started buying generic shampoo and it's actually just as good (the one my hairdresser told me to use was expensive).

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I've started buying generic shampoo and it's actually just as good (the one my hairdresser told me to use was expensive).

I started buying my shampoo and conditioners at walmart, rather than the salon or at Ulta/Sephora. That cut my shampoo/conditioner costs in half.

[33girl]

Be careful if you're buying salon brands of hair products at discount or drug stores though - they might be expired which means the ingredients won't work as they should, and not only that, sometimes the prices are actually HIGHER than at Ulta or your hair salon.

I won't comment on the "deals" at Walmart as I feel the ultimate price to the community is not worth the $1.17 you save on a bottle of ibuprofen.

[texas*princess]

If you regularly take vitamins, check out your local Walgreens. Often times they have a Buy One Get one Free deal on their store-branded vitamins which have the same exact stuff as the other branded ones

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

I started buying my shampoo and conditioners at walmart, rather than the salon or at Ulta/Sephora. That cut my shampoo/conditioner costs in half.

I started doing that, too. My shampoo/conditioner was about $5 cheaper there, but the generics are even cheaper than that. I get the feeling that the conditioner is a little watered down (the consistency is more runny) but it still works just the same so I guess I don't mind.

[KSUViolet06]

Here's a tip: Cook.

I know people who eat dinner out at least 3 nights per week and always complain about money. It's as if they don't know what that big thing in the kitchen with the 4 hot thingies on top is supposed to be used for.

They also think that just because you're dining in, it has to be boring or not taste as good. Not so. There are plenty of "budget gormet" cookbooks out there. You save money buying groceries and cooking, and you can even lose weight.

Also, PACK YOUR LUNCH for work.

Going to Fridays, Outback, etc. every now and then with co-workers is cool. But going every single day is going to cost. You'd be surprised how many people complain about money, yet spend at least $50-100 a week eating lunch. Pack it!

It doesn't have to be ham and cheese. Heck, you can buy a bunch of different things (yogurt, chips, pretels, ham and brie, etc). You'll probably save your waistline too.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Be careful if you're buying salon brands of hair products at discount or drug stores though - they might be expired which means the ingredients won't work as they should, and not only that, sometimes the prices are actually HIGHER than at Ulta or your hair salon.

I won't comment on the "deals" at Walmart as I feel the ultimate price to the community is not worth the $1.17 you save on a bottle of ibuprofen.

I would beware of "clearance" items at walmart. Often times they are not a clearance price. For example, earlier this week my husband and I were there buying stuff, and we saw a sonicare toothbrush/system marked clearance. Knowing this is around $130 bucks I decided to see what they were selling it for....original price" $136.95, sale price, $136....I'm sorry but 95 cents off is NOT clearance...

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I took a good, hard look at my family's medical history, and started to seriously cut back on foods that are empty calories or tend to lead to one disease or another. I may love sweet tea, but it's now a treat, not an everyday drink. I can't remember how long it's been since I've willingly bought Coke (of any sort), or even drank it - the "experts" are saying that even diet pop causes problems. Using a teabag squeezer (mine's from Tupperware) allows you to get several cups of tea out of one bag, without the mess. Remember how one packet of sugar was 1 teaspoon? Read the packet - it's now just under a teaspoon. If you can do without the full teaspoon at a restaurant, you can do without it at home.

I recently changed my diet for health issues and in the process it has saved me money. I went became a mostly vegan vegetarian in July. Not only have I lost 12 pounds, but my cholesterol has gone way down (saving me money from having to be placed on an expensive medication), my thyroid numbers are going up and becoming more stable, saving me money from thyroid medication, AND the diet changes have also boosted my overall mental health to where I am proud to say I am off both anti-depressants and off the Ambien to sleep. My migraines are much less frequent and severe too (saving money there from other medications). I cut out caffiene and soft drinks, in addition to coffee so my daily starbucks habit is no more. We no longer buy fruit juice here. We got out the ole Juiceman Juicer and now make our own juices, fresh with no added sugar or preservatives.


Here recently with the weather being so nice, we've turned off the a/c and opened windows.