How do you stretch your money?

[alexis]

to streth my budget. i don't buy small amount of food for the whole week. instead of eating to fast food. i'd rather cook my own food and if i am going out or everyday in the office, instead of buying foods I see to it that i have sandwich on my bag . I do the same with my kids.

[DRILLINDK]

Bought some hair clippers and my brother cuts my hair.

[alexis]

Originally Posted by DRILLINDK

Bought some hair clippers and my brother cuts my hair.

and is that fine with you?

[DRILLINDK]

Originally Posted by alexis

and is that fine with you?

LOL, at first it wasn't. There was little learning curve.

Another way to save some $$$ is to rent movies from your local library. Mine has a great selection of "newer" movies and classics.

[LuxLiving]

I decrease the size of my WANT list.

Putting them on a real list actually helps - if you put it there and walk away - being prepared to go back and check the list after a set period of time. After a while, you look back at the list and it's full of things you don't remember wanting at all and seem silly to you now.

Over time you realize a lot of what you want is just more flotsam to have to take care of or dispose of later - often at a cost of either time or money or both and you start reducing your spending on mere Wants, and rev up the real Desires list, but only after checking that all the Needs are taken care of first.

[Ima saver]

Well said, Lux!

[momto8kiddos]

*Make my own laundry detergent.
*Follow hotcouponworld so that I know what will be on sale and which coupons to use when.
*Purchase coupons from a coupon clipping service so I can get lots of stuff when it’s really cheap.
*For non-food items, always check online to see where I can get it cheapest.
*Cut out cereal for breakfast. Eat things like baked potatoes, rice, polenta, baked oatmeal.

Laurie

[GinerD]

I use baking soda and vinegar to clean everything.
I use the free wifi in public places around town rather than have internet service at home.
I buy much of my clothing at thrift stores.
I also buy books in good condition at thrift stores and sell them to the local bookstore that has a "buyback" service.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Started stockpiling diapers and wipes. I think I got a ton of diapers for dirt cheap.

[LuxLiving]

Add oatmeal to hamburger to stretch it to feed my crowd.

If I find a deal on something in the shelf-stable genre I generally buy at least two, and often times many, many more. Cooking from a well-stocked pantry has saved me MANY last minute trips to the store where assuredly I would've spent more $$ on things besides just the one thing I went after. Today was an example - I was intending to make rice, and searched high and low and couldn't find any There is LOTS of it here ?somewhere? (maybe the basement and it's too cold to go down there today), so I just used some of the plentiforous store of pasta that is here as well. Meal was just as tasty. After lunch I found the rice - hiding in the back of the cupboard. But most folks who don't have full pantries might have made a grocery store run or even given up the idea of cooking and headed out for a take-out meal.

[tracie00]

I have learned to avoid eating out ..that really saves a lot.I have learned to maintain a good financial control unaffected by marketing appeals.

[rob62521]

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

If I find a deal on something in the shelf-stable genre I generally buy at least two, and often times many, many more. Cooking from a well-stocked pantry has saved me MANY last minute trips to the store where assuredly I would've spent more $$ on things besides just the one thing I went after. .

Amen, Lux! I scored 5 pounds of flour yesterday for 84 cents because the corner had ripped and been taped. And when I buy a specialized item for a recipe, I try to find other recipes that can use it as well so it doesn't go to waste. I can't imagine not having something in the pantry unless one is too poor and that's another story.