Step right up ... I need serious money saving tips...

[lowcarbkel]

I need some serious money savers to convince my DH that we can afford for me to stay home while I go to school at least until a job opens up that I am waiting for. I have no clue how long it will be before a position will open up. I need to know every corner that can be cut. Any frugality experts on the board? Please help!

Kel

[angelstitcher]

We saved a ton of money last fall when my DH was locked out of his job just by my cooking. We never used to go out all that much, but without his income, I made sure I cooked every night. I couldn't believe the difference.

[Kellees24]

DF and I were going through SO MUCH MONEY every month. I finally found that by listing everything we spend money on daily and cutting out the "unnecessary" items we do better. Also learning to do one large outing to grocery shop and buy what we need once works so much better than stopping at the store 3 or 4 times per week. Oooh, and learning to appreciate staying at home instead of going out.

Make lists when you grocery shop and allow yourself only 2 or 3 things not on the list. That has really helped me.

[lkim]

Cancel cable. We lived for years with no cable and only 5 channels

Cancel your cell phone --yes it is possible to live without. If you must have it, ask about their rock bottom rate and then don't use it.

Get the minimum phone service. Here it is $11. Our phone bill has never been over $30. Cancel long distance and use a 10-10

If you're going to go to a university, ask around about free internet. My university allows students to dial into the network and then access the internet through them. No DSL or ISP fees. Or just use the computer at the library and cancel yours

Clip coupons and only buy what's on the list. Always buy the store brand.

Buy money saving brands that last longer, like Scott TP.

Don't eat out. Ever. And actually finish what is in your freezer/pantry. I swear some people could live for a month on what is already in their cupboards and freezer. Make your own coffee, don't go to Starbucks.

Shop around your car insurance. Or sell the car and take the bus, walk or bike. Also, if you're not working, your commute may be less and if you tell your insurance co, your rate may lower. Mine did by not commuting

Shop at the dollar store. Great prices on toiletries

Don't buy anything that needs to be drycleaned.

Any other expenses that can be cut? Beepers, gardeners, etc.

I am a cheapskate, I coudl go on and on.

[AZLowcarber]

Do you have specific areas you're looking to improve upon or ???

Do you have daycare expenses? that would save a bundle.

Difference in your tax bill

No going out, or rarely. You/dh are now the chefs.

Grocery savings..I save tons by buying meat markdowns that are available in the mornings..would be gone after work. I am talking major money here.

Take a look at any outside vendors you use for services that you could take over yourself with the time you'll have available.

Will your household income be lowered enough to possibly qualify for reduced utilities, etc.?

How much have you spent on work attire, gas, cut your insurance back to part time driver, lunches out, etc.

[saucylady]

First, it helps to know your after-tax-and-expenses income. Figure your income, deduct taxes and expenses that you pay as a result of working. For example, childcare, clothes for work, pantyhose, shoes, lunches out, contributions for gifts for co-workers, anything like that. Then, basically, you have the deficit that you are creating by not working. Don't forget to figure out if you will be in a lower tax bracket by not working, thus lowering the taxes on DH's income as well!

Most people are surprised to find out how little they actually bring home after all the work-related expenses are deducted. Then figure out ways to make up the difference. Cooking food at home rather than take-out or restaraunts is a good idea. Shopping at thrift stores. Taking advantage of sales and coupons is another. Go to your library and check out a book called "The Tightwad Gazette". The author is very good at pointing out ways, large and small, to save money. Some ideas are kind of extreme, but some might be just right for you.

[AmaZonGirl]

Hi-

over a yr ago, i bought the complete tightwad gazette by amy dacyzyn.

this woman has soo many ideas, its a pretty thick book!! i bought it for about $20- i can send it to you, you can use it, when you are done, you can send it back if you want to- but im not worried about it!

one of those things i havent used in over a year! DECLUTTER!

let me know!(BTW this thing is like 3 " thick!!)

[Jager]

Wow - what great tips! Didn't know about the morning meat mark down.

I disagree with one item though - Scott toilet paper will never wipe my tender butt. I'm a toilet paper snob.

[lkim]

About morning meat markdown--my market does it Sunday mornings. Specials run Wednesday-Tuesday. So Tuesday mornings are another good time to shop. The sale items need to go, so they mark down the meat close to expiration date. I am a rabid Sunday morning shopper. THis week I got a huge pork shoulder, a huge London Broil, and a ham steak. All for less than $10. The pork alone will feed my family for many many meals and with coupons and markdowns cost about $4.

[KamAZ]

These are really great tips. - I think I'll go get a copy of that book too - maybe at the library to save some bucks.


but I also want to add that you should make sure you get every tax break possible if you are going to school. I know that there are special tax credits now, and if you are eligible for that, make sure you grab it come tax time. Maybe ask in your school's financial aid office or ask an accountant if you know any.

good luck

[AZLowcarber]

Our market has their meat markdowns daily it is incredible. Lol...I recently purchased 40 center cut porkchops for 6 dollars total (several packages) I rarely pay more than 50 cents a pound for bacon. I just take it out of the package, quick freeze into portion sizes, then put in freezer bags. Take out what I need each time for my meal/recipe and it is perfect! I buy Ball park or Hebrew National hotdogs for 99 cents for 3 packages..it is almost funny sometimes. Oh, and ground turkey burgers by Jenny-o, with the discounts and coupons I typically get them for free. The checker just stands there in awe. lol...

[KY_LOSER]

Originally posted by JAGER
Wow - what great tips! Didn't know about the morning meat mark down.

I disagree with one item though - Scott toilet paper will never wipe my tender butt. I'm a toilet paper snob.

I T - totally agree!!!!

that scott stuff can scar you for life!!!!

Charmin all the way baby!!!!!!!!!!

[lkim]

Ack--I have more.

Shop at Costco and Sam's club--but with a friend. A neighbor and I share a Costco card. So we split the cost of membership. Hey, it saves us each $17. We often buy things in bulk that are too large for either of us to use or store, so we split it. We buy our paper towels that way, then she gets half and I take half. I do this often with my mom.

Don't buy books or magazines, rent videos, etc. Use the public library. They are awesome.

God help me, I put decent ziploc baggies in the dishwasher.

I have a vegetable garden, I didn't buy a single tomato for about 4 months. The rest were pureed and frozen. Same with pesto.

Our water company will give you new low flush toilets and showerheads for free if you have older ones. You trade them in. New fixtures and your water bill will go down.

I work full time and I always take my lunch. I only eat out when I have to be social. I also take my own coffee and tea.

I'll stop now!

K

[RoseWaddles]

Yep, all these are great idea's and I use most of them.
I never thought we'd be able to live without cable. Well, we're doing just fine. In fact we have more family time together and have scheduled two nights a week as "family night" where we play games, read together..whatever.

We kept our cell and we have a cheap plan.

We went to the basic phone plan and only use the cell for long distance when it's free.

I got rid of the DSL and went to dial up which is included in our monthly telephone bill and it's never over 30.00 for both.

I too, get the marked down meats once a week (ours is 50% off).

We no longer do our grocery shopping in our little town where it's so much more expensive. We do once a week grocery shopping at the cheapest place and once a month at Sam's Club.

I take a lot of meds, so I got my Doc to write the scripts for 100 days (the max) instead of 30 days so I save A LOT on co-pays.

We don't eat fast food but once in a great while. You wouldn't believe how much money it saves.

I shop according to sales. I rarely buy stuff that's not on sale.

I shop for some toiletries, cleaning products, cling wrap, foil, candles, wrapping paper, bows, cards, etc. at the dollar tree store.

We set our heat at 65 during the night and use our fireplace (free wood) during the day and early evening. We use more covers and warmer pajama's.

We stopped renting video's. We go to our local theatre during the day (only once in a while) where it's VERY cheap and we get the x-large popcorn and x-large drink and get free refills.

We use our towels twice instead of once and it saves on laundry soap & electricity.

I only run the dishwasher once a day. I used to run it twice. I hand wash the bigger things now.

My DH now rideshares to work, so we don't use as much gas and it's less wear & tear on the car.

DH takes a lunch to work instead of eating out every day like he used to.

I quit getting my hair done every 5-6 weeks and now stretch it out to 7-8 weeks and chose a cheaper hairstylist and now color my own hair.

I no longer get pedicures or acrylic nails. I do my own pedicures now.

I buy diapers in bulk ( I have my grandkids).


That's all I can think of for now.

It can be done!!

[Jebber]

GREAT tips! Especially the ones to have you calculate the actual COST of you working...yep....it costs money to work.

Some I didn't see here yet:

Check your insurance policies...auto, home or renters, health. Call your agent to find out what the diff in premiums would be if you raised your deductable. This will save you tons! Also...if you need multiple policies...see if you can get a reduced rate by having them with the same company.

Dryer softner sheets: I buy the biggest box (usually on sale or with a coupon) and then cut them into 3rds. Even in the dead of winter, I don't need a full sheet of fabric softner. Same goes with facial cloths....cut them in half at least.

Become a light cop! I go around at night turning out every light we don't need. I have kids and a dh, so I have to do this often...it is easier than training them.

Ok...that is all I have for now...until I think of more.

[Mair]

these are some great tips.

Put a timer on your water heater so that it is not running all the time. This saved a noticable amount on our bill.

Wash clothes in cold water if possible.

[Cinnabar]

Get receipts for EVERYTHING for 3 months, then you can have a pretty accurate estimate on what your average monthly expenses are.

While you are going thru receipts break them out into catagories. Eat out? it has it's own catagory. Ditto if you are a coffee shop fiend (like me & DH).

Entertainment like buying books, games, movies, rentals ect.

Get a budget going ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you have hard lists of "we're spending an average of $ a month eating out/on entertainment/whatever" then you can start trimming.

Just your "average" eat out for 2 people (not at a steak restaurant) is about $25.00 with tip. If you eat out twice a week, or 8 times a month, that's $200.00. The same meal at home could cost you under $5.00. Those bucks add up, money you could apply to bills or other expenses.

Ditch the cable, use the same money (average $50 a month) to buy discount movies. In a year you will have a pretty good movie library & never have to buy them again!

Check your staples. Would $3 a bag coffee be just as satisfying as the $12 a bag you've gotten used to? save the fancy stuff for guests.

Keep your eye on the ball. Are the monthly small purchases of knicknacks & home furnishings eating up your money?

Thrift shops!

PS, one of my biggies was water, those $1.09 bottles of water can be replaced for pennies by bottling your own at home.

[Island Blue]

Get the Tightwad book. It's worth every penny, it'll save you thousands of dollars. (I'm published in it!)

[Galatea]

These are great tips. I was able to stay home as a single parent with no child support, by being ruthless about what is and what isn't necessary. It's also why I was able to save later.

1. Never eat out. Make it at home, shop the adds and sales and have a once a week run. I did baked goods at a Hostess/Wonder outlet, meat at one store, veggies at another, and staples somewhere else. I used double coupons and got tons of stuff free when my kids were home because of it. Buy bulk and make smaller packages. Have a meal plan for the week so that you don't get into impulse food shopping. Until I had savings - no sodas - no matter how cheap, just water. I also mixed store milk with 1/2 powdered to stretch it. The kids didn't notice. 100% powdered is too sucky. Now I drink soda. I will not pay more than 89 cents a liter for it or more than .25 a can. When the brand I want is at that price, I buy like crazy. I do not use public curb pick up recycling. We bring it in ourselves. More money.

2. I cut my kids hair. A basic kids layered cut is easy. Scissors and shears were cheap.

3. I colored my own hair. I used coupons, shopped the adds and loaded up on my brand when it was on sale.

4. I Had my hair cut at Supercuts or similar place only with a coupon (which covered the cost of the tip in essence). I read up at Barnes and Noble (sitting on their floor) what styles were what and asked for specific things like angles and types of cutting techniques) to make the style work. After I started working outside the home, I got my hair cut my hair every 8 weeks (also used a card to get free cuts after a certain number). When I was working at home and going to school, I just grew long hair and cut the ends myself.

5. Have a friend or neighbor come over once a week for home beauty spa. We did our nails on each other. Manicures and pedicures and facials and eyebrow plucking/waxing - this way we felt like we were being pampered. We watched a chick flick while this was going on every Sunday night - that was our treat. I had a plastic tub with all the supplies we would need and fluffy cheap towels from the beauty supply (also used those as our home towels - cheap!!!)

6. I washed my own car and used the dust buster as the car vaccum

7. I washed everythig except boys socks and certain whites in cold water.

8. I put a timer on the waterheater and wrapped it in a fiber glass blanket (that alone saved 30 bucks a month). I also dropped the maximum temp on the water heater.

9. No A/C in the summer - it is 110 here sometimes - so this was brutal. I used fans, and opened up all windows at night, and got up at 6 am and shut up the house, and drew all the drapes to keep cool in. In the afternoon, I took the kids (mine and my daycare ones) to the apartment complex pool, or the free day at one of 5 different museum and kid friendly places, or went to the mall and walked it with strollers, or the library, or Barnes and Noble - they have air conditioning.

10. Heat automatically goes to 50 degrees after 7 PM and from 5:30 AM until 4 PM - it is at 65 otherwise. It takes a long time for the temp to drop to the 50 degrees. I had electric blankets on my kids bed and mine and they were on autotimers. We wore sweaters in the house and crawled into warm beds.

11. We had no camera, so no developing fees or film fees

12. Library - can't say enough good things about it. They have A/C and they have heat. They also have free books and all the mags and a daily newspaper. I only subscribed to Sunday's (for adds and coupons) and I got my neighbors paper after she was done on Wednesday's (to map out food ads)

13. Don't rent movies, don't go out to movies. If you do, buy a big purse and pop your own popcorn. You can put popcorn in a regar paper bag and make your own in the microwave. I bought bulk cheap popcorn and that is what we used for "chips" and crunchy snacks at my house.

14. Don't buy jewelry. The pieces you do wear should be classic and interchangeable (pearl studs are elegant and casual all at the same time - even fake ones)

15. Figure out a seperates plan for clothing that allows lots of mix and matching and go out specifically to get those pieces. I bought cheap shoes - especially tennis shoes (I am hard on them anyway) got leather ked knockoffs at Payless on sale - they wash beautifully.

16. Have $9.95 internet or the free plans that give you 40 hours a month for free.

17. No cable

18. I made great wrapping paper from bulk brown shipping paper and cut out sponges in designs and dipped them in gold paint. I could use it for any present. Or now, I would go to dollar store and buy gift bags and recycle them. Also a great place for greeting cards.

19. I can't say enough good things about thrift stores. You have to know what to look for, or it all looks like crap. I have trunks of GORGEOUS perfect white linens - damask, cut work, french hemmed etc. I got them white (easy to do) and pressed them out and wrapped them by design and table size in ribbons for my trunks. I also have gorgeous monogramed highend silver plate place settings for 16 and another 2 sets non monogrammed for another 16 and all serving peioces and dishes in sterling and plate. They looked like crap when I got them. Silver polish fixed them all. I had the coolest parties with this stuff. I also have tea cups and saucers and dessert plates etc. (all Martha Stewart looking) for teas and girl parties - all from pateintly picking stuff up at thrift stores - they even have dsicout days - so thatis when you shop. They also have days off for senior citizens. I made a senior friend and took her to shop and then got the discounts applied to all our stuff.

20. I have basic phone service and I buy 2.5 cent per minute phone card at Costco. I add time to the card for long distance. There are no connection fees, AND no taxes. After you use the intial amount on the card, there is no sales tax either. I pre program the calling number into my phone. A second button does the pin#. If you call close friends and family that have unlimited long distance calling, have them call you back. I have one friend and one family member I do this with all the time

21. Shop the internet for gifts. I only use places where it is cheaper, has no sales tax, and has free or 1-2 dollar delivery. I also enter those sites through an auto rebate company on the internet to get even more money back. This saves HUGE amounts on shopping time, money, and wear and tear on the car. You can also have things delivered DIRECTLY to the gift recipient and if the shipping was free, have them gift wrap it before they ship.

22. I have an attached to the faucet PUR and we do not do bottled water. I got the cartridges in bulk and on sale.

23. Drive cars forever. Never buy them new. Get them about 2 years old on a lease return. The sales tax and reguistration is low and the registration is lower every single year. My cars have 200,000 plus on both of them. It's time to get a new used one after 13 and 11 years. It is cheaper to make a few major repairs than to buy new and keep paying the sales tac and added insurance and registration costs. Also, if you deduct mileage for work, deduct it for your worst car. IRS gives the same costper mile, no matter what the car. In some years I have had mileage that exceeded the value of the car - all as an off the top business deduction.

[merilisa]

When I clicked this I knew Galatea had something to say about this...I'd see a post on this before and she proved herself to be a thrift queen!

I just want to add that if the motivation for keeping Cable is movies, the Netflix is a good investment if you have a DVD player. We are talking $20 per month for an almost unlimited number of DVD's cycling in and out of your home in threes. It's good, cheap entertainment and can really expand the realm of movies you watch too. It's cheaper than cable, which I do not have.

Otherwise, remember that thrift is not about suffering. A few people said they wouldn't use Scott tissue paper. I fully agree. I am a TP snob myself. That is an area where I choose to spend a little more. For other people, it doesn't matter so much what TP they use, but they would be aghast at the house-brand canned corn I cook with. To each one's own. You don't need to suffer to be thrifty. You just need to see what your preferences are, likes and dislikes, and what you care about, and don't spend money in an area you don't care about. That way you can be thrifty and stay sane. Of course, if you are scrimping to afford basic necessities, you won't care about TP or canned corn, but if you have the luxury of a little leeway, you don't have to suffer.

[saucylady]

Originally posted by Island Blue
Get the Tightwad book. It's worth every penny, it'll save you thousands of dollars. (I'm published in it!)

Well, spill, Island Blue, what was your tip that got you published???

[VAbornGApeach]

I love threads like this, I love to save money.

Some things I do.....

plan out my meals for the week using the grocery store sale papers. In my area they come in the Sunday paper. If it's not on sale, you can bet we won't be having it that week.

cook from scratch. simple and much better for you and your family

buy in bulk.....if it's on sale and you have a coupon, all the better.

try store brands, in most cases you will never know the difference.

side note........I LIKE Scott tp

[bekini bound]

I buy meat in bulk, like the family size, & repackage it into smaller sizes then freeze it.

Shop at discount stores for groceries. We have a store called Save A lot. They sell very few name brand items unless they get a shipment from stores thay are over stocked, then they will have the item for as long as the supply lasts for a cheaper price.

Taking your lunch to work is SO much less expensive (& keeps you on plan)

Don't throw food away. If you have just one serving left, freeze it w/ a label & use it for your lunch one day when you don't have time to put something together because you got up late. Also have a left over night one day a week to clean out the fridge.

Wear your jeans more than once if they aren't dirty. This saves on water, laundry soap & wear on the pants. I do the same thing w/ sweaters.

Try off brand cleaning products. The Dollar General Store has products that I like better than name brand in most cases.

Don't buy soda from the machine or in 20 oz bottles. I buy 2 liters (usually cheaper than 1 20 oz). If you need portability, say for work, buying cans or even 20 oz soda in bulk is usually cheaper.


I reuse the containers that you buy stuff like sour cream in. I never need to buy those disposable containers from saving these & if I forget & leave it at work I havent lost my good tupperware. This also saves on zip lock bags.

I could go on & on.

DH calles me Frugal McDugal

[lowcarbkel]

You guys really are good at this! The one thing I see that I have thought about is canceling the cable. I have Road Runner and would really love to keep it but if it comes down to it I could go back to dial up. We do a lot of the things you guys have mentioned. We MIGHT eat out once or twice a month and I'm talking BK,MD's etc. There are a few things listed here that I will have to look into. I am amazed about the hot water comments. Ours is in the utility room which is not heated yeah I know don't ask. It is off the back of the house with its own door. Thing is I don't make much money when I do work because of my lack of education and even when I do work there is never enough money. I think I just dread having to talk to DH about wanting to stay home, one of his down falls is that he wants me to work.
I thank you all, I am printing this out. If I get the job I am waiting for I will be happy to go to work because it would be a dream come true but it will be hard to manage the house, three kids, going to school, a hubby and a job again. I know it can be done, I've done it!

Thanks so much guys!!

Kel

[ginger57]

Boy you guys are impressive, it's apparent I waste far too much money

[Ishtar]

In the long run, going to school and improving your job prospects is the most cost-effective thing you can do. It's far better to scrimp for a year or two and look forward to a better income in the future than to scrimp forever because you just can't get a better job.

[Galatea]

Originally posted by Ishtar
In the long run, going to school and improving your job prospects is the most cost-effective thing you can do. It's far better to scrimp for a year or two and look forward to a better income in the future than to scrimp forever because you just can't get a better job.

I think it is okay to scrimp in order to get educated (especially), b