Comments on: What Tricks Help You to Keep from Spending Money? http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:47:49 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Osadg http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-389456 Osadg Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:36:00 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-389456 One of our family's spending tricks is to only use gift card purchases of daily "extras." My husband pre-loads a Starbucks card each month and every time he does, they give him 1 free coffee. He know how much is on that card, and so it keeps him buying just the amount he wants throughout the month, instead of blindly going through each day! One of our family’s spending tricks is to only use gift card purchases of daily “extras.” My husband pre-loads a Starbucks card each month and every time he does, they give him 1 free coffee. He know how much is on that card, and so it keeps him buying just the amount he wants throughout the month, instead of blindly going through each day!

]]> By: Gail http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-379761 Gail Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:07:58 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-379761 With the calculation method of 10 hours at $10 a hour, it is really more in line with 13 hours for $100 because of the taxes, etc. that you have to pay when making that $100. One of the nice reasons to find as many ways as possible to NOT have to spend $100 or 13 hours of work. I'm always thrilled to find what I call passive savings. Savings that after a few minutes worth of work save me a set amount on a yearly basis. I did this with signing up for on line maintenance of mine and hubbie's IRA. We save $25 a year each for the life of the account (20-30 years). I've had other experiences like this and I love them. Signing up for automatic payments of my Medicare co-insurance saves me about $25 a year between the $2 a month savings and no stamps to buy. As I do this for both part C&D that is a bit over $50 a year of passive savings. Never have to work for that savings again, but it keeps on working! With the calculation method of 10 hours at $10 a hour, it is really more in line with 13 hours for $100 because of the taxes, etc. that you have to pay when making that $100. One of the nice reasons to find as many ways as possible to NOT have to spend $100 or 13 hours of work.

I’m always thrilled to find what I call passive savings. Savings that after a few minutes worth of work save me a set amount on a yearly basis. I did this with signing up for on line maintenance of mine and hubbie’s IRA. We save $25 a year each for the life of the account (20-30 years). I’ve had other experiences like this and I love them. Signing up for automatic payments of my Medicare co-insurance saves me about $25 a year between the $2 a month savings and no stamps to buy. As I do this for both part C&D that is a bit over $50 a year of passive savings. Never have to work for that savings again, but it keeps on working!

]]> By: lmlh http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-379133 lmlh Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:27:47 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-379133 I figure out how many hours I would have to work to buy the item, and THEN decide if it's worth it. Here's a vastly over-simplifed example: let's say you make $10 an hour, and you are considering buying an item that cost $100. $100 divided by 10 = 10 hours you would have to work to buy that item. Still want it? I figure out how many hours I would have to work to buy the item, and THEN decide if it’s worth it. Here’s a vastly over-simplifed example: let’s say you make $10 an hour, and you are considering buying an item that cost $100. $100 divided by 10 = 10 hours you would have to work to buy that item. Still want it?

]]> By: Susan http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-378114 Susan Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:01:24 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-378114 I couldn't help but laugh at the deathbed reference, because chances are that I will not even think about the things that I own if I am given the opportunity to tell my loved ones goodbye. I will be too busy hugging them. I couldn’t help but laugh at the deathbed reference, because chances are that I will not even think about the things that I own if I am given the opportunity to tell my loved ones goodbye. I will be too busy hugging them.

]]> By: Destiny http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-373651 Destiny Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:52:59 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-373651 I really just keep in mind that I am practically always on a tight budget as a single mom. That huge responsibility makes it easy to not over spend. I really just keep in mind that I am practically always on a tight budget as a single mom. That huge responsibility makes it easy to not over spend.

]]> By: Chris http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-373189 Chris Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:22:59 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-373189 I have two tips: 1. Don't shop when you are hungry. You will end up buying what you stomache wants you to buy. 2. Don't carry cash. It might be a mental thing, but if I have a 20 in my wallet, it is gone quickly. I feel less guilty spending cash that I do when I use my debit card. I have two tips:

1. Don’t shop when you are hungry. You will end up buying what you stomache wants you to buy.

2. Don’t carry cash. It might be a mental thing, but if I have a 20 in my wallet, it is gone quickly. I feel less guilty spending cash that I do when I use my debit card.

]]> By: Lori http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-372347 Lori Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:48:54 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-372347 A trick I picked up on this site that has helped: I wrote HOUSE on the credit cards in marker to remind myself of our current goal. Even without bringing it out now, HOUSE flashes through my mind when I'm considering buying something. It has stopped me a lot lately! A trick I picked up on this site that has helped: I wrote HOUSE on the credit cards in marker to remind myself of our current goal. Even without bringing it out now, HOUSE flashes through my mind when I’m considering buying something. It has stopped me a lot lately!

]]> By: Texas Girl http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-371929 Texas Girl Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:28:02 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-371929 With 'things' such as kids' toys, clothes, shoes.....my new rule is that for every new thing that comes into my house, something like it has to be donated. It makes me stop and think...which pair of my shoes do I want to give away to get these new ones? Usually I just put the new ones back on the shelf and walk away. Plus like SaveForHouse I'm also trying to get on track to be a millionaire and financially free to give to people in need. With ‘things’ such as kids’ toys, clothes, shoes…..my new rule is that for every new thing that comes into my house, something like it has to be donated. It makes me stop and think…which pair of my shoes do I want to give away to get these new ones? Usually I just put the new ones back on the shelf and walk away.
Plus like SaveForHouse I’m also trying to get on track to be a millionaire and financially free to give to people in need.

]]> By: baselle http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-371442 baselle Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:31:39 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-371442 I go for the classic wait-24-hours-before purchase. During that time I really think about what situations I'll use the item, see myself use and get pleasure from the item. If I can easily visualize it after 24 hours and I still want it, it still might be a want, but I know that I will use it. I go for the classic wait-24-hours-before purchase. During that time I really think about what situations I’ll use the item, see myself use and get pleasure from the item. If I can easily visualize it after 24 hours and I still want it, it still might be a want, but I know that I will use it.

]]> By: Chris http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html/comment-page-1#comment-371139 Chris Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:18:17 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/07/23/102216_spending-tricks.html#comment-371139 The best trick that keeps me from overspending is to use cash. I maintain a strict budget and when I need to buy something, I bring cash. With cash, I can also negotiate a lower price with the merchant. I recently saved 25% on sunglasses because I used cash and had to gumption to ask. The best trick that keeps me from overspending is to use cash. I maintain a strict budget and when I need to buy something, I bring cash. With cash, I can also negotiate a lower price with the merchant. I recently saved 25% on sunglasses because I used cash and had to gumption to ask.

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