Tips for Saving Money, Cutting Expenses, etc.

[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.

[AGDee]

I take leftovers from dinner for lunch almost every day. Since there are 3 in my family and most things come in packages of 4, there is always one leftover for my lunch the next day.

[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...