CHANGES- What have you done?

[mom-from-missouri]

I cold water wash, hang clothes to dry
pack my childrens school lunches
kept the heat set at 69 in the winter downstairs, and 67 upstairs
grocery shop at aldi's
bulk buy my stuff at walgreens or dollar general when its on sale and combine that with manufactur coupons
cook from scratch
got my daughters activelly involved in their savings accounts
wash my own vehicle (weather permitting)
rarely use the blow dryer

[34saving]

I've noticed several of you have turned down your heat. Me too However, it also really helps to have a programmable thermostat. They're fairly cheap ($15-$30), easy to install, and allow you to drop the temp way down when the house is empty (vacation, everybody at work) and at night. The bonus is that you can set them to bring the temperature back up before you get home or wake up.

[jodi]

It's a little late to add to this post, but I just came upon this wonderful site and want to add my two cents worth.
Here is what I do:
Max out my Roth IRA contributions
I really enjoy eating out, so it's one of the very few luxuries I budget for (and even then I don't do it often) - but I always drink water and order wisely (i.e. off value menus, or if in a restaurant, something large that I will have enough left over for the next day) - no dessert or drinks
Always buy used - thrift store, garage sale, or E-Bay - I will often search for weeks (sometimes months!) just to find what I am looking for - it's a game to see how much I can save
Use my cell phone for long distance calls (which are free)
Buy generic on all but a few items
Cook homemade meals
Garden and freeze (haven't learned to can yet - on my list)
Join a library - can't even imagine how much this has saved me. The only books I ever buy are reference books that I know I will use over and over (2 books in the last year and I buy them used as well)
The biggest thing I have done: distinguishing between wants and needs. I cannot believe all of the things I thought I had to have. Now we share a house with relatives and have limited space - most of our things are in storage and I have not missed them in two years.

[mom-from-missouri]

You just stated the key--People need to learn the difference between their wants and needs. I'm surprised at how many people do not know the difference between the two.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

You just stated the key--People need to learn the difference between their wants and needs. I'm surprised at how many people do not know the difference between the two.

I agree. This is something I know there is room for me to work on.

[gesavings]

We don't use the drive thru anywhere. It's usually faster to park and go inside to order. Think of all the wasted fuel and the pollution caused by people idling at drive up windows. I'd hate to think that someones son or daughter is fighting in Iraq for access to oil only to waste it like that.

When our water heater went bad we bought the most efficient one. It didn't cost much more. I wish we'd thought about it more though. We use very little hot water. We all take quick showers turning the water off while washing. We would have been better off choosing an instant hot water heater that are popular in Europe. With these you don't have to pay to keep 50 gallons of hot water sitting around all the time.

When we replaced our windows we opted for low-e argon insulated windows on the north side of the house. On the south side of the house we used regular double pane windows so the sun's heat could come in during the winter. We have 16" roof soffets that shade the south windows during the summer when the sun is high.

We installed high efficiency florescent lighting in our most used rooms.

I slowed down my driving to a more relaxed pace. It saves fuel and it's just more relaxed. Things are so cutthroat on the roads these days it's really tough on young drivers.

[mom-from-missouri]

I had 4 windows replaced last summer-3 were on the north side. They were also the low e argon ones, and I could sure tell the difference this winter. makes me wonder what the rest of the windows being replaced would do.

[zakity]

Making homemade pizza ($5 for two large ones instead of $25 from the pizza place).
I buy in bulk.
We except any and all handmedowns.
I cook from scratch.
Using what I have in the freezer and pantry instead of going grocery shopping.
Take water bottles with us so we don't need to buy drinks.
Taking peanut butter and jelly so we don't need to buy lunch.
I plan on making my own jam this summer from the berries growing on my property.
I want to attempt to make my own syrup from the berries.
I shop the sales and loss leaders.
I started shopping the cheap store once a month or so.
I started combining errands.
I started running errands when Ken drives the motorcycle so I can use the Nissan instead of the Suburban.

[Susapalooza]

I

• shop at Aldi's once a month
• Scan the highest and lowest grocery store shelves for cheaper foods
• Scour dollar $tores
• Scour thrift $hops
• Drive the speed limit
• Buy produce in season
• Maintain a price book for food, toiletries, and over-the-counter drugs
• Shop clearance and other sales throughout the year for Christmas
• Give knitted gifts
• Don't eat at restaurants
• Maintain a budget
• Exercise and try to eat healthy

[mom-from-missouri]

Explain the pricebook. I tried one once, but must not have had it right, as it was not very helpful to me.

[mjrube94]

I started a price book last summer and have found it pretty helpful. Mine is just a small, loose-leaf binder (better than a notebook because you can add pages as needed). After each trip to the store, I write down the date, product, store, price (and a note if I used coupons), and unit price. Then, as I'm making my grocery list, I can see the best store to go to for something, or I can tell if a price listed in the circular is really the best price. To be honest, for most things that I buy every week (milk, bread, yogurt, etc.) I know the prices inside-out and don't really need the book. But for things I buy less frequently, and for fresh produce, where prices are all over the map depending on store and season, it's been a real money-saver. And, although it sounds like a pain in the neck to track, I usually do it at night while I'm watching tv.

My next thing to do with the price book is to start documenting how many of each item I buy, so I can get a better feel for how long things last. That way, I'll be able to track the sales better. Good luck!

[Ima saver]

Well I have used trend detergent (99cent) and doing cold water washing for the past 30 years or so. I hve had no problems at all.

[contrary1]

I don't have a price book, nor am I the one doing the shopping here usually......... But, when I think about it, on some of the things we use regularly and are fairly big....I date the package when I open it the first time. That lets me know how long it took for us to use it up. Helpful info when sales do come up. If I know it takes me a year to use the big container of something, there is no way we need another right away.

[Ima saver]

That is a good idea. I have started buying the large containers of garbage bags instead of the small ones. I need to know how long they last.

[frugalfarmwife]

We don't buy garbage bags, use feed bags for garbage, funny we've offered them to friends/family but they don't want to look that cheap, lol! Even best friend who farms won't use her feed bags for garbage, they go buy garbage bags to avoid the neighbors looks, lol!

Cold water only wash
grocery 1x a month with a LIST!
turn things off all the time (following hubby around)
do as many outside/barn chores as possible during daylight hours.
hang laundry when ever possible/cold wash only

kj

[Ima saver]

Wouldn't our garbage man be surprised if he saw feed bags out at the curb? I would use them. Our guy can only picked up things that are bagged. I use to take my to the dumpster myself for 12 years, but I am thrilled to have garbage service now. I am short and had a hard time throwing the bags up in the dumpster, plus it cost me a fortune for pet food for all the starving animals.

[seaar2000]

Keep heat at 62 and at night 59. Yes it can be cold at times and will turn up heat to warm up the house, but my heat has not doubled like some of my friends have. I can't afford to have my heating bill to double.

[Ima saver]

I keep my heat at 60 downstairs and 52 upstairs. I have purchased 400 gallons of propane so far this year, and I think I can get by all winter on that;