best advice to save money?

[Ima saver]

I was trying to be silly, but it is a good idea with your spouse. Whenever we run the jetted tub, we both get in it.

[elcheapo]

only shop with a list and never just shop to shop

[Ima saver]

When it is on sale, buy it in bulk if not perishable!! I stocked up on toilet paper and I don't have to buy anymore this year!!

[Thrifty Ray]

Im sure this was mentioned many times...DONT EAT OUT. I am amazed at how quickly saving grew when we cut this one expense.

Use it till it dies...in this convenience driven, disposable society, this goes against the grain....Disposable costs money....convenience costs money...find ways to do it yourself and/or reuse....both will save you money!
example: paper plates: $2.79 for 45....my dishes...FREE, granma was tired of them when I got married and passed them to me....soap to was...less than a penny.

and finally, PAY YOURSELF FIRST....start small and build if you have to, but keep a little of everything you earn.

[tgavin71]

1.Use a menu when you eat at home. In our house we have an 8 day cycle.
Day 1 red meat, day 2 no meat, day 3 leftovers, day 4 white meat and then it repeats. I have an exercise book where I paste or write down recipes. For each recipe I make if the majority (3 out 4) like it then it stays in the book if not then it goes. It is a bit expensive to start off with but soon the costs come down a lot.

2. Write down everything you spend. I round up to the nearest dollar. For example if I buy a few items that come to 4.15 I write down that I spent 5.00. On payday I write down how much we got paid and then minus the spending from that. At any given time I can look at my book and know how much money I have.
At the end of the pay period if I have money left over half is brought fwd to the next pay day and half goes to our holiday fund. Makes it a bit easier to go without luxuries during the year when you are relaxing on the beach on an island in the south pacific on a fully paid for holiday.

3 Only spend cash not coins. Put the coins in a jar. I give my kids $2 a week to spend at the school canteen. We don't buy lollies or other crap so it saves me a lot of money

4 If possible install an instantaneous gas hot water service. It is off all the time except for when you turn on the hot water taps.

5. Electrictiy is nearly 3 times dearer than gas.

6. Move to the smallest house you can. Every household bill is cheaper in a smaller house.

7. Live in an area that is close to what you need and not what you want. School, public transport, shops etc.

8.Organise to have payment come automatically out of your bank account or ideally thru the pay office. Automatic payments we have are for holidays, managed fund, furniture replacement and debt payments including car payment and house payments. Remember to write them down in the spending log.

9.Use internet banking. Saves heaps of money on bank fees.

[Ima saver]

I live 100 miles from the nearest Mall and 25 miles from Walmart. If i don't go there, I hardly ever spend money except for necessities.

[lynclarke]

Make sure you take advantage of all pre-tax plans available through work. My husband's company, US Post Office, offers, flexible spending for health care, dependant care, and commuter benefits. We sign up for the flexible spending every year. I add up our normal DR visits, dental vists, vision checks, medicine co-pays, plus a few OTCs on the official list, and a small amount for in case of- Every year I schedule Dr, optometrist, and dental visits in Dec so i can say specifically, " do you see any problems coming up?" One year the dentist said, "yup, looks like a root canal will be needed- another time we discussed lasik surgery for my husband. I have to start the plan in December for the following. You can spend it all in January if you have to- the money is there. It will be deducted out of your paycheck throughout the whole year. Commuter benefits- my husband rides the metro. The metro fees are deducted from his paycheck the the pass is mailed to us in plenty of time for the next month. A painless money saver. lynclarke

[story3girl]

Most of the tips I've learned over the past year come down to Use it up, Use less, Make do, or Do without. Then I combine these strategies for household savings.

For example:

Laundry:

1. Do less laundry - Wear things more than once, wash full loads (biggest saver)
2. Use half as much laundry detergent per load - still works!
3. Make sure to use every drop of detergent by storing bottle upside down at the end, and rinsing with water for one last load when it seems empty.
4. Use less expensive laundry detergent and always buy on sale.

One 200-oz bottle of detergent that I got free with a coupon has lasted us since October this way!

Laundry detergent is, of course, a small expense in the grand scheme, but similar techniques have helped me with hand and dish soap, shampoo, coffee, and other food and household items. After a while, it certainly adds up.

[Ima saver]

I use trend detergent. It only cost 99 cents a box and works as well as any.

[mwcknaypauer]

Many people advocate not using credit cards. I believe if used the "right way" credit cards can help you save money. We have one credit card that earns us 5% on gas and groceries. These are items we have to buy anyway. Why give up 5%? This assumes you have no oustanding interest bearing balance and commit to pay off the card each month.

My wife and I also try to take advantage of 0% credit card deals when we do big house projects. For example we just put in landscaping which cost over $10k. We had the money saved up to pay for it in cash. Instead we found a credit card offer for 1 year 0% with a $100 bonus reward for signing up. This card earned 1% on purchases too. We got $200 in rewards for this and then have the $10k earning 4% each month in Savings. That creates another $400 in interest earned. That right there is $600 or $50 per month to do what we already planned to do.

You do have to be careful when doing this that you make minimum payments and are disciplined. I keep spreadsheets and work dilingently to manage cash flow. If you use credit cards and savings accounts the right way you can create thousands of extra dollars annually without making big sacrifices.

[funnyvalentine]

I can't say enough about Freecycle (or sites like it). I am picking up dumbells tomorrow, and someone else is taking some spare pots and pans from me. For me, part of being frugal is having what I need but not having a lot of stuff I don't.....

[Ima saver]

Buy what you need, want what you have!!

[djaco]

I have internet service through my cable company, and now it serves a dual purpose because I use internet telephone service. My phone is through Packet8, and I pay only $24.07 per month for unlimited local and long distance calling (this is the total after all taxes, e-911 fees, etc). In addition, I have voicemail, 3 way conference calling, caller ID, etc.... all for free because it's included. I had my regular Southern Bell service disconnected, which was costing me about $35 a month just for a dial tone - long distance of course was a big extra monthly charge. Using internet phone saves me over $500 per year, and I love it. Most of my friends are so amazed and impressed with the service that they use the broadband phone now too!

[Ima saver]

I use lightyear for my long distance calls. My bill is ususally $4 or less.

[Fern]

One more thing about hot water heaters.

Rather than having to remember to turn it on, turn it off, just go to Home Depot and buy a programmable hot water heater timer. I've had one and it does exactly what Ima does, except you set it and forget it.

Have you ever wanted the last bit of cereal but it has that powdery stuff in the bottom? All you have to do is get a spaghetti strainer and pour the cereal in it and the powder will fall through with a light shake. It has saved me money and I hope I can help someone do the same!

[getforfree]

I usually pour the whole thing into my bowl. The powder is good too. Why waste it?

Well it is a personal thing. I was just giving advice to those who don't like it.

[getforfree]

Sorry, I didn't think somebody might not like this. I like almost everything, as long as it's not too spicy.

Ok and....