Comments on: Small Savings Add Up and Here’s The Proof http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:55:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Colleen http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-437489 Colleen Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:13:18 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-437489 The other day I got $235 worth of groceries (all food we normally use) for $93. I used a combination of store sales, store coupons and coupons from the Sunday paper. I saved $140 – just a hair under 60%! It took 1 hour to cut out the coupons and 1 1/2 hour to shop. Part of the trick is that I shop for my pantry - not my plate. This way I am able to "shop" for my daily needs from the pantry (a converted coat closet) and when I shop for the pantry ONLY sale items go in! That means everything that goes into my daily food prep has been bought at rock bottom prices. For 2 1/2 hours of time I earned $140 – that’s $56.00 an hour! How often can you shop like that though? Honestly, I usually get more like 20 to 30% just using coupons from the Sunday paper. More if I combine them with store sales. But I only have to buy sale items that appeal to me – so I am a step ahead. I am putting up a series of articles on my site to help walk everyone through this. It is a process – but a rewarding one! The other day I got $235 worth of groceries (all food we normally use) for $93. I used a combination of store sales, store coupons and coupons from the Sunday paper. I saved $140 – just a hair under 60%! It took 1 hour to cut out the coupons and 1 1/2 hour to shop.

Part of the trick is that I shop for my pantry - not my plate. This way I am able to “shop” for my daily needs from the pantry (a converted coat closet) and when I shop for the pantry ONLY sale items go in! That means everything that goes into my daily food prep has been bought at rock bottom prices.

For 2 1/2 hours of time I earned $140 – that’s $56.00 an hour! How often can you shop like that though? Honestly, I usually get more like 20 to 30% just using coupons from the Sunday paper. More if I combine them with store sales. But I only have to buy sale items that appeal to me – so I am a step ahead.

I am putting up a series of articles on my site to help walk everyone through this. It is a process – but a rewarding one!

]]> By: Her year of small savings equals 3 house payments - Smart Spending http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-221252 Her year of small savings equals 3 house payments - Smart Spending Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:31:11 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-221252 [...] in a bowl add up? Jennifer Derrick at SavingAdvice.com kept track for all of 2007 and found she had accumulated an impressive $2,330. "To some people, $2,330 might not seem like a lot of money," Jennifer writes. "But to me, it's [...] [...] in a bowl add up? Jennifer Derrick at SavingAdvice.com kept track for all of 2007 and found she had accumulated an impressive $2,330. “To some people, $2,330 might not seem like a lot of money,” Jennifer writes. “But to me, it’s [...]

]]> By: Carnival of Debt Reduction #123 - One Two Threes of Debt Reduction! — The Baglady http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-219788 Carnival of Debt Reduction #123 - One Two Threes of Debt Reduction! — The Baglady Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:31:37 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-219788 [...] Small Savings Add Up and Here’s The Proof posted at Saving Advice Blog. [...] [...] Small Savings Add Up and Here’s The Proof posted at Saving Advice Blog. [...]

]]> By: Aleta http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-217288 Aleta Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:10:59 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-217288 I am impressed with your total yearly savings. That is about $194.00 a month. I remember when the IRA's contribution was $2,000. and most of the model scenarios used and some still due the $2,000 figure. I think there is a difference in which big ticket items some here have commented on. A big ticket item that is paid monthly such as health, car, and life insurance by shopping around should be the first items that you try to save on. Sometimes by increasing deductibles alone can save one a lot of money. If you buy a TV for $2.000 and you won't buy another one for 10 years or so and you're saving $50; it isn't worth your time to run all over town. You can price shop on the internet. What really stuck with me was an article that talked about the consumption items such as you were listing that you spend on everyday as a real source of spending. I try to save at least 20% on items that I purchase and more if it has a coupon. I enjoyed your atticle and all of the facts that you gave us. The question is: How much would you have to earn in order to bring that much home. I apoproximate around $3,000 in a 15% bracket and social secutity; not counting transportation costs, lunches, clothing, dry-cleaning, child care expenses, gifts at the office, and etc. There are many costs involved when one earns money. I am impressed with your total yearly savings. That is about $194.00 a month. I remember when the IRA’s contribution was $2,000. and most of the model scenarios used and some still due the $2,000 figure.

I think there is a difference in which big ticket items some here have commented on. A big ticket item that is paid monthly such as health, car, and life insurance by shopping around should be the first items that you try to save on. Sometimes by increasing deductibles
alone can save one a lot of money.

If you buy a TV for $2.000 and you won’t buy another one for 10 years or so and you’re saving $50; it isn’t worth your time to run all over town. You can price shop on the internet.

What really stuck with me was an article that talked about the consumption items such as you were listing that you spend on everyday as a real source of spending. I try to save at least 20% on items that I purchase and more if it has a coupon.

I enjoyed your atticle and all of the facts that you gave us.

The question is: How much would you have to earn in order to bring that much home. I apoproximate around $3,000 in a 15% bracket and social secutity; not counting transportation costs, lunches, clothing, dry-cleaning, child care expenses, gifts at the office, and etc. There are many costs involved when one earns money.

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214254 Minimum Wage Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:59:02 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214254 A small savings here, a small savings there, it all adds up to a lot of savingses. A small savings here, a small savings there, it all adds up to a lot of savingses.

]]> By: Debbie M http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214099 Debbie M Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:07:52 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214099 Wow! I love seeing these hard numbers. Thanks for gathering all this data and sharing. I'm not so good with coupons because I don't buy much that comes with coupons, but I have taken to pouring over the coupon book at my grocery coop and sales fliers for my favorite places and local drug stores, signing up for e-mails from my favorite places, and searching online for coupons when I'm planning to buy a bigger-money item. Hilary, even if you discount the spare change, her total is still over $2,000. I did once keep track of change I found on the ground, but it didn't add up to much at all. Most of my best savings come from just not buying stuff. It's hard to calculate that figure! Wow! I love seeing these hard numbers. Thanks for gathering all this data and sharing.

I’m not so good with coupons because I don’t buy much that comes with coupons, but I have taken to pouring over the coupon book at my grocery coop and sales fliers for my favorite places and local drug stores, signing up for e-mails from my favorite places, and searching online for coupons when I’m planning to buy a bigger-money item.

Hilary, even if you discount the spare change, her total is still over $2,000. I did once keep track of change I found on the ground, but it didn’t add up to much at all.

Most of my best savings come from just not buying stuff. It’s hard to calculate that figure!

]]> By: Hilary http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214052 Hilary Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:05:08 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-214052 I feel like the "Spare Change" way of saving is different from the others, because unlike the first four categories (which literally let you spend less money), the "Spare Change" category just rearranges your resources(unless you are a person who usually throws change away). I have a nice change purse and I try to pay in exact change whenever I can. So, I have no spare change savings, but I have more money in my bank account because I am not breaking 20s all the time. Maybe I am misinterpreting this, though... I feel like the “Spare Change” way of saving is different from the others, because unlike the first four categories (which literally let you spend less money), the “Spare Change” category just rearranges your resources(unless you are a person who usually throws change away). I have a nice change purse and I try to pay in exact change whenever I can. So, I have no spare change savings, but I have more money in my bank account because I am not breaking 20s all the time.

Maybe I am misinterpreting this, though…

]]> By: viola http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213982 viola Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:40:21 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213982 I use my coupons whenever I can, but I nere go out of my way. I have saved HUNDREDS....and also the spare change, sometimes I have £300 a months and that doesn't even include pennies. :-) I use my coupons whenever I can, but I nere go out of my way. I have saved HUNDREDS….and also the spare change, sometimes I have £300 a months and that doesn’t even include pennies. :-)

]]> By: Data Babble http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213950 Data Babble Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:59:35 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213950 Very encouraging. I will start keeping track as well. Very encouraging. I will start keeping track as well.

]]> By: Ivan Cadena http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213568 Ivan Cadena Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:21:45 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/01/14/102000_small-savings-add-up-and-heres-the-proof.html#comment-213568 Something that might turn out to be useful and easy: keep track of the savings in an Excel file or the like. Nice post, yeah! Something that might turn out to be useful and easy: keep track of the savings in an Excel file or the like.

Nice post, yeah!

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