What frugal thing did you do today?

[biff]

Everyday, after work, I park my car at home and ride my bike to the gym! saves gas, and wear and tear over time! Plus by the time I get there, I am warmed up and ready to go!

[fairy74]

got DH a relatively inexpensive anniversary present. Doubler card for TracFone (which he really wanted and will double all his prepaid minutes), a bag of mini Reese on sale (which he loves) and two lottery tickets for fun. I did it all for under $50.00 (including the card and bag). I tend to go overboard on gifts, so this was very restrained for me and I know DH will love it!

[My English Castle]

I'm trying very hard to remember to bring grocery bags with me while I shop.
Our local markets refund a whooping 5 cents a bag, but it makes me environmentally frugal as well. I have a couple reusable bags that I try to keep in the car.

[Aleta]

I did all of my errands in a circular driving direction. I had to go to the government center and take care of an errand, then to a Tire company. I thought that because of age and how the car was riding that I needed new tires. The company was a well-known company that didn't bother to look at my tires and agreed with me that I probably neede new tires because of the age. I was given a quote, then went to a grocery store within the same block and picked up 3 different products that had buy one get one free. Then, I was off to B.J.'s Club Warehouse where I had bought the tires originally. The manager put my car up, checked the tires and balanced them again, put air in the tire, and told me nothing was wrong with my tires that they were in good condition. He told me that I might need shocks. So, I figure that I saved myself $356.00 and it wouldn't have fixed the problem. I also saved going to the government center about $3. and no postage stamps since I had to be there anyways, plus all of the buy one get one free deals that I had. Ended up being a pretty frugal day for me.

[Aleta]

My frugal thing yesterday was that I went to my usual dealer to check on the shocks after going to another company that said that I needed front struts for my car. My dealer gave me a price of 227.00 per strut, while the othe company ended up doing it for $350. a pair. While I was checking out the car I asked if they knew of any coupons and I was told to go to the parent companies website and I could download a coupon. The service person told me that he had never had anyone use a coupon. Well, when I went to do the work yesterday, I had my downloaded coupon for $20. and that also lowered even my sales tax.

[snafu]

I had my annual free furnace check having made an appoitment the Natural Gas Company who fears any bad publicity about gas leaks. they also checked my hot water heat and the natural gas heater in the garage that is only used in extreme cold to keep pipes from freezing. I fear I will need a new furnace as this is the original [1976] and way past it;s life expectancy.

I was thrilled when the specialist said he had the same brand and that since we keep it clean by changing out the filters when needed, there was no reason to be concerned.

2nd frugality, was staying out of the stores sine the begining of Sept. Have bought only milk and fruit at the farmer's market.

Best frugal tip: write a simple menu plan and buy only what is needed using pantry supplies as the base.

[Aleta]

While, I was grocery shopping, my fish department manager saw me looking at the prepared sushi packages at the counter. She told me that she was marking them down to .50 each if I wanted them. They normally are $4.99 each, and of course I bought 4 at that price. It totally changed my dinner menu. I also saw in a basket things marked down and saw my husband's favorite football team flag for the car and got it marked down to $3.99 from $15.00. Also, they had some DIP IT stain remover for .50 and I bought it. What a great product to clean out stainless steel coffee carafes. I also had some buy one get one free items plus coupons. You have to look for these things but you also need the time to do it and also to know where their mark down carts are.

[minnie1928]

Yesterday my neighbor invited me to go to Sam's Club with her. While there I found 5lbs of low fat beef for about $2/lb less than what my normal grocery store charges. I bought the 5lbs and browned it this afternoon. Once it cooled I seperated it into (5) 1 lb freezer bags. Saved about $10 on the cost of the beef. Saved something on the cost of browning by doing it all at once rather than heating up the pan on five seperate occassions. Also saved myself time by having browned the meat in advance of actually needing it!

[mom-from-missouri]

I darned some socks and worked on several items in the mending basket--rather than tossing & replacing. I made a connection to go and pick up a free dresser for my daughter later today. Located some free lessons on the heart & lungs for my daughter on the internet (for homeschooling) and downloaded them (had to teach myself power point to do so). Picked okra from the garden that will be part of supper tonight. Had the girls gleen the corn field for feed for the chickens and cows, hung out laundry, no AC-but windows are open and 2 ceiling fans are on, washed all the light shades-globes (allows more light to come in, so you don't have to have as many lights on), baked 2 loaves of bread.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by moneymatters

Darnit! I'm a naughty girl, again (spank, spank!). I spent almost $5 today on fast food and snacks from a vending machine where I work, so today was so not a frugal day for me. Didn't have time to pack a lunch this morning since I woke up late. What a bummer!

I guess I'll have to try again next time.

I broke myself of that when I was working by doing 2 simple things. I kept some snacks (microwave popcorn, presweetened koolaid mix, pretzels and some cans of soup) in my desk at work. If I got the munchies or forgot my snacks and lunch from home, I had my stash.

I also packed my lunch of an evening before I went to bed. I kept my lunchbox on top my purse, so I wouldn't forget it. All I had to do was grab the refrigerated part out of the fridge, drop it in the box and go.

[Caoineag]

Use the bus for transportation. We don't own a car, my employer pays for my pass so my transportation costs are the $54 monthly pass for my husband and the occasional (read once every couple of months) car rental for $30 per weekend. This is probably the only time I will ever look frugal since I have some pretty expensive bad habits...

[leggzz66]

Originally Posted by Caoineag

Use the bus for transportation. We don't own a car, my employer pays for my pass so my transportation costs are the $54 monthly pass for my husband and the occasional (read once every couple of months) car rental for $30 per weekend. This is probably the only time I will ever look frugal since I have some pretty expensive bad habits...

share with us, i bet with all ur friends here, we cant take those bad habits and find ways to cut cost for you in half im betting!

[Caoineag]

Originally Posted by leggzz66

share with us, i bet with all ur friends here, we cant take those bad habits and find ways to cut cost for you in half im betting!

Actually, I have cut my food budget to less than half of what it was before. I am just one of those people who tends to never spend money (except on food) most of the time but then makes BIG purchases.

Example, I nearly bought a 1080p 32" gaming lcd tv for ~$1300. Instead, I realized I didn't need to go that extreme and got the Vizio 32" 1080i LCD TV for ~$600. Believe it or not, I was quite proud of myself for practicing restraint. Normally I would just buy the all out one!! If I did this with all my big purchases, we wouldn't have ran up the debt in the first place...

And you have already helped, I have lurked here for a couple of months before signing up

[leggzz66]

now this may sound a lil gross, but i cant overspend, dont have it to do it.lol so instead of the 3 dollar hamb help, i used a 25 cent generic mac n cheese, a generic can of tom soup(39 cents), 2/3 lb of beef(about a dollar) and a can of peas(35 cents), mixed together for my own hamb help and it was awesome!!!! all including beef under 2 buxx.

another goody, and sounds gross im sure, side dish, spagettio rice. use white rice, velvetta chunk, a can of cr of mush and 2 cans of tom soups. its gr8! if you like taste of spagettios.


and 2 cans of cr of mush with a lb of burger and some bread, classic sos dinner, mmmmmmmm. cheap and cheerful.

[Ima saver]

i saved a dollar on the sprite I bought today and I am eating my leftovers for lunch from last night!

[BartJellema]

Didn't go anywhere, didn't spend a cent today
(besides wear and tear on my laptop and my clothes)

[Aleta]

Stayed at home and moved money from accounts that have recently lowered therir rates. Trying to act proactive to the situation.

[marvholly]

Thur: had my car oil changed-about 3500 miles but digital info showed 35% oil life left.
This is for the WHOLE weekend:
Dinner out Fri-Dad paid as my bday & I took him to 2 Dr. appts
Sat meals-
Breakfast at Wendy's-free breakfast sandwich w/ ANY purchase ($1 mneu)
Lunch-Burger King w/ BOGO coupon-dump 1 bun
Dinner-DD's taking me out for Bday
Sun meals
Brunch-prob make at home
Dinner-friend taking me out for bday, will use a BOGO coupon

I did spend a BUNCH of time online this am checking assorted CD rates as I have one that matures today. Am VERY prepared to move!!!

Planed my today grocery/house shopping/meals for the week and routed myself to save time/gas.

[Aleta]

A belated happy birthday maryholly!

[Ima saver]

I never turned on the air all day, not even upstairs today.