I am curious what people are doing to save money these days. For example I am eliminating my cell service with TMobile including their internet and going with straighttalk to get my cell bill lower. I have been working double shifts at work to drive to and from work less often. I try to pack lunches for work, avoid eating out, and cook more rather than using prepared foods. I do not have cable TV. Instead I just stream on the net, use netflix, and OTA tv. If I use redbox I always use a free code I have also been picking up extra shifts at work when available. Oh also I put sod in the backyard and got it for pennies on the dollar by finding people on online classifieds that had over ordered and were either giving away the extra sod or selling it for pennies on the dollar. Does anyone have other ideas about how to save money?
One other thing I have tried to tame is my appetite for electronics. It could become a never ending addiction. IE You buy an iphone, then you have to get the iphone 3g to stay "cool", then the iphone 3gs comes out and you are no longer cool unless you have it. Not to mention you need an expensive plan including text, net, etc. to go with it. Get a piece of tech knowing it will be outdated soon, but be happy with it until it breaks.
I had a thread earlier that wasn't recieved well regarding my next money savings. All I buy is salvage title cars. My car payment is $150.00 per month. Pretty cheap for a 2005 bought in 2007. I plan to drive it til the wheels fall off. It also gets 30+ mpg hwy. I have put 40k miles on it w/o problems and you cannot tell it has been wrecked before because it was rebuilt well. I looked around and didn't find the answers I have been looking for. If this is a repost please tell me where to find the original thread so I can delete this one.
Message edited by: ryryfree on 2009-06-13 19:38:52 CDT
Here is an idea. Buy Moissanite insteadof diamonds. Moissanite looks better than a diamond, stronger, and WAY WAY cheaper. Buying diamonds just shows you gave into marketing ploys and over paid.
CNN Article Tightwads are not just cheap, but also don't like being cheap -- they feel pain when spending and end up not spending as much as they'd like, said Scott Rick, post-doctoral fellow and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.[/L]
Message edited by: alpinewhite on 2009-06-27 10:28:29 CDT
Yeah, eating out is a big one - especially @lunch.
I have a coworker who constantly complains about money but I see him come in each day with a $10 IHOP breakfast and get pizza or McDonalds for lunch each day. People don't realize how quick that adds up.
As far as cell phone there's no way I could do with out web and email, it saves me so much time, I can even take credit card payments with a program on my phone. I think it would cost me more money than it would save eliminating it, something to think about. Infact I just replied to this post from my phone
Message edited by: blok on 2009-06-13 12:56:12 CDT
Straighttalk has 30mb of net included on their VERY BASIC phones, but I found that the net ate up my time and $. Plus TMOBILE is not 3G where I am. The main reason is saving $ though. I am going from over $100 (after 15% corp. discount) to roughly $60. As things improve I am sure I will get net again.
With going out to eat. If I do go out I always get water, not soda $ and health reasons. I also try to use the dollar menu. $ reasons, but definitely not health reasons.
Moving closer to work and sharing an apartment instead of renting a single. Reduced rent by a couple hundred, plus being only 3 miles from work saves gas and makes the option of biking to work more attractive. Stopped visiting Hot Deals.
Plus, my roommate is frugal to the point of being borderline neurotic.
Message edited by: BiomedGeek on 2009-06-13 12:51:13 CDT
Thanks srenna. Too bad it is archived. I am hoping as money has gotten tighter people have become even more resourceful. It has great advice from what I have seen so far.
Buddy went boost mobile instead of paying on his plan. Cut his price in half now just pays at the beginning of the month rather than the end. 100 bux to 50 bux. Unlimited everything.
ryryfree said:One other thing I have tried to tame is my appetite for electronics. It could become a never ending addiction. IE You buy an iphone, then you have to get the iphone 3g to stay "cool", then the iphone 3gs comes out and you are no longer cool unless you have it. Not to mention you need an expensive plan including text, net, etc. to go with it. Get a piece of tech knowing it will be outdated soon, but be happy with it until it breaks.
I used to have this as well. I realized that learning tech stuff is more cool
I use by 3 year old windows mobile based phone (paid well back then for it) to do cool things but slowly though. I have hacked it enough which is fun for my free time. I use sprint sero and can use it as a modem when I am on the road. It is built like a brick and could be used when the sky falls and zombies prowl the roads . Reasonable speed for regular use (which I did when I was a student) but broadband is better
Old modded xbox which I got for 50 bucks and can do some weird shit. I havent utilized its full potential yet
Somewhat old PC's running Linux
Getting "what a nerd" looks from wife - priceless. She likes it though when I am ecstatic that I am able to play movies from my computer or from youtube on the big screen TV, which was scored thru FW at a price I can't get it even now
Well, H&B used to pretty much hijack my paychecks. Now that I've switched to inflatables and snort Tylenol pills, I've saved up a whole lot. Suriously, life's not quite the same since then.
NewToFatWalletUser said:Yeah, eating out is a big one - especially @lunch.
I have a coworker who constantly complains about money but I see him come in each day with a $10 IHOP breakfast and get pizza or McDonalds for lunch each day. People don't realize how quick that adds up.That's nothing, just wait till the medical bills add up for unclogging the arteries...
ryryfree said:All I buy is salvage title cars. My car payment is $150.00 per month. Pretty cheap for a 2005 bought in 2007. I plan to drive it til the wheels fall off. It also gets 30+ mpg hwy. I have put 40k miles on it w/o problems and you cannot tell it has been wrecked before because it was rebuilt well.Pay cash for current model year cars with less than 15k miles at 40% discount at auctions, preferrably repo or rental, not salvage. Keep for 5 years or until it hits 60k miles, that's when the warranty expires. Repeat every 5 years.
You're probably looking for something like this? Google Tip Jar
Lots of (IMO) obvious tips though..For instance:
"Turn off the lights when you're not using them!" "Use CFL bulbs!" "Go to the library!"
Etc..
Anyway, I usually take the following steps when I think about buying something:
1) Do I really really need it, or is it just something that I want? Depending on how much it costs, I typically try and spend as much time as possible on this step. I either end up talking myself out of buying it (good for obvious reasons). Otherwise I convince myself that it's something that I need, or can justify purchasing.
2) I then try and find other alternatives, such as building an HTPC instead of buying a TiVo, or buying a Sandisk MP3 player instead of an iPod. I then determine exactly what I want to buy.
3) If I do end up purchasing a product or service, I do as much research as possible in terms of getting the best deal, including reading FW. This includes finding coupons, Cash Back, etc.. Every product/service will have different discounts available.
I try really hard to follow these steps, but sometimes my emotion gets the best of me, and I just end up doing impulse purchases, which can really add up. With that said, I'll add one of the most important points -- Do NOT browse Hot Deals, unless you're specifically looking for something that you know you want to buy, and just looking to see if there's a discount. I stopped looking at that category a few months ago, and my wallet is ironically much fatter. That was the best decision I've made all year for my finances.
You can save money everywhere, but there's a limit depending on the quality of life you're willing to live. (e.g., Some people eat out once a week/month/year to treat themselves. Other people never eat out.)
I have been doing "beer comoany rebates" for the past 10 years. They really haven't amounted to anything "except" for the past year. Almost $8,000 during the past year of rebates for mostly just buyng food. I have it posted in the "grocery forum".
ryryfree said:I am surious what people are doing to save money these days. For example I am eliminating my cell service with TMobile including their internet and going with straighttalk to get my cell bill lower. I have been working double shifts at work to drive to and from work less often. I try to pack lunches for work, avoid eating out, and cook more rather than using prepared foods. I do not have cable TV. Instead I just stream on the net, use netflix, and OTA tv. If I use redbox I always use a free code I have also been picking up extra shifts at work when available. Oh also I put sod in the backyard and got it for pennies on the dollar by finding people on online classifieds that had over ordered and were either giving away the extra sod or selling it for pennies on the dollar. Does anyone have other ideas about how to save money?
One other thing I have tried to tame is my appetite for electronics. It could become a never ending addiction. IE You buy an iphone, then you have to get the iphone 3g to stay "cool", then the iphone 3gs comes out and you are no longer cool unless you have it. Not to mention you need an expensive plan including text, net, etc. to go with it. Get a piece of tech knowing it will be outdated soon, but be happy with it until it breaks.
I had a thread earlier that wasn't recieved well regarding my next money savings. All I buy is salvage title cars. My car payment is $150.00 per month. Pretty cheap for a 2005 bought in 2007. I plan to drive it til the wheels fall off. It also gets 30+ mpg hwy. I have put 40k miles on it w/o problems and you cannot tell it has been wrecked before because it was rebuilt well. I looked around and didn't find the answers I have been looking for. If this is a repost please tell me where to find the original thread so I can delete this one.
Don't be so cheap... you only live once. Enjoy your life.
I'm frugal...and enjoy my life. I have a timer on my water heater, a programable thermostat, keep things unplugged that aren't in use, buy produce at the fresh market or Sav a Lot instead of Publix, my truck is a '94 (only 51K miles), I landscape with native plants that require less water and/or are drought tolerant (and as a bonus, many of them multiply), my cell phone is older but does meet my needs so I don't shop to be swayed by a new one, I love to read and trade books with friends and online, and generally economize via sales/coupons/rebates on stuff I consider boring and disposable. I watch sales (& FW Hot Deals) and shop for Christmas/birthdays all year so that I can get people what I want at prices I'm willing to pay, and likewise things I need. I participate in banking and other programs with bonuses, either money or gift cards.
I do little things like avoid shopping or unnecessary trips. I hate going to the mall because I'm tempted to buy things I don't really need. I eat at home more often and try to avoid energy drinks as well. I have been saving myself a nice chunk of change each month by doing little things like this.
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I have also been picking up extra shifts at work when available. Oh also I put sod in the backyard and got it for pennies on the dollar by finding people on online classifieds that had over ordered and were either giving away the extra sod or selling it for pennies on the dollar. Does anyone have other ideas about how to save money?
