Things I don't pay for

[Great to be Debt Free]

What a beautiful picture BCHGRL!

And that's awesome about saving on the gym membership! They can be really pricey!

[The Budget Man]

I've been working each afternoon with son (11) on his science project. What a job! The good thing was that wew were able to call on a friend for help with the electronics and wiring. Now if we'd had to pay for the knowledge and experience of our friend the project simply couldn't have been done.

With help, the project is finished and my son now has a much better idea of electronics and is able to solder the wires himself.


Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man
www.PersonalityBudgeting.com
budgeting can be easy

[Ima saver]

You know, those little green onions grow in my yard, wild. I wonder if I should pick them and use them??

[cklballs]

Movies from the library
Free deodarant from different companies from the internet
Condoms free from www.trojan.com
Outdoor concerts in the park in our city
Teacher resources (see internet)
Buy one get one free (I buy fundraiser coupon books and we eat out or purchase items from stores/restaurants listed inside them.
Gift cards- I got one today by taking my daughter's prescription to a new grocery store. I got $25 gift card just for letting them fill my prescription. Also, if you sign up for blockbuster.com, you'll get free $50 gift card from www.yourfreegift.com
Toiletries- We believe that we pay good money for a hotel room and they keep supplying us with items such as toilet paper, tissue boxes, shampoo, shower caps, etc. Since my DH travels, we collect all that we can. I've not had to buy soap or shower caps in a long time.
Trips- If your spouse goes on trips, tag along if you can.

[happyslob]

I don't pay for specialty cleaners - bath/tile cleaners, etc.
I use (surprise, surprise!): shampoo or bubble bath - it works great! Just put some on a scrubby sponge or a regular cloth and wipe down the shower everytime you're in there!

Christina

[The Budget Man]

Spent a couple of days in beautiful Sydney Australia this week. I bought a "Daytripper" ticket each morning to allow me to catch the train to where I was giving the seminar.

The "Daytripper Ticket" gave me all day access to the as many train, bus and ferry rides as I wanted. Since the cost of the ticket was the same as the cost of the tickets I would have needed to get to and from the seminar venue I had free travel for the rest of the day.

I went across the harbour and to the surf beach at Manly for tea. Where else in the workd can you be in the midddle of a city then just half an hour ferry ride away be sitting on a surf beach? Especially when it costs you nothing!

Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man

www.PersonalityBudgeting.com
when budgets need to work

[T_I_N_A20]

YOU guys got the wrong idea and I gave you wrong idea. Let's restart this. I got 5$ for my good attendance all year long and 20$ because I was selected as best student two times by two teachers. The 80% AND UP, they draw the names to give the 20$. With the 80% and higher, we get a certificat. So I got 25$ in card certificat for these two things and no, the school is not paying us for good grades, they're rewarding us with a certificat of congratulation.

I did not get good grade to get paid you know... I know very well that I come to school to learn.

[cklballs]

Originally Posted by happyslob

I don't pay for specialty cleaners - bath/tile cleaners, etc.
I use (surprise, surprise!): shampoo or bubble bath - it works great! Just put some on a scrubby sponge or a regular cloth and wipe down the shower everytime you're in there!

Christina

Thanks for a great idea!!

[Amorphous02]

Hello all,
I was hoping that you can check out the follwing links
www.grocerycouponguide.com
http://flash.savingadvice.com/2006/0...4067/#comments
these two sites are chock-full of examples of how one can get groceries and prescription medicines for next to NOTHING!! Flash thinks that her writings do not have an impact. they do. Please visit the links and add your comments.
Thank you for your time.

[cklballs]

Thanks so much. I will try it

[LateBloomer]

I keep my eyes and ears open for everything that may be free and it never hurts to ask. This brings to mind when I was at Wendy's the other day and waited for my penny in change. The other people in line laughingly told me that they pick pennies up off the sidewalks, parking lots, etc. I'm not the only cheapo out there so I realize that we are a cohesive group. (Oh yes, I had complimentary water and I purchased my 22 y/o daughter a salad and chili for $2.14.) I also save the unused napkins and water cups in my glove box and they really come in handy. So even though you ultimately pay for those things, still...

[piggybank4]

compost (I make my own)
software (I find freeware for every kind of program I need)
ice
high electric bills (I conserve)
cell phone (I cancelled mine -- and I get by FINE without it!)

[budgetmom]

Every now and again I will take all the extra condiments from fast food places that have built up in my fridge and put them into sqeezable containers. Sounds crazy, I know, but I do it. They always give you so many, even if you tell them you only need one or two! I rarely ever buy fast food, but I have friends and family that do, they give me all their packets. I know can get those condiments pretty cheap from the store, sometimes free if I use a rebate or coupon. But I figure they are just gonna end up in the trash if I don't use them. I hate to see things go to waste.
We get a lot of office furniture and supplies from my FIL's work. But they let him take that stuff home. Whenever they upgrade on furniture or computer systems they take all of the outdated stuff and put it into a storage room in their building. They let their employees take home whatever they want out of it.
I never buy napkins, hot pads, or trivets. I use scrap fabric (often leftovers from my MIL's quilts) to make the napkins and hot pads and use cork from wine bottles (collected from friends and family-no, I'm not a wino, LOL) and hot glue them together to make trivets with.

[BCHGRL]

I don't pay for handyman services. My dad is the ultimate handyman!

[Kewells]

I don't pay for Swiffer refills, I just use used dryer sheets. I don't pay for dust cloths, I cut up my husband's stained t-shirts. I go as far as using the soy sauce packets from take-out Chinese at home. They give you so many, I would never just toss them.

[lgslgs]

Originally Posted by Kewells

I don't pay for Swiffer refills, I just use used dryer sheets.

I don't buy those either. I use and re-use microfiber clothes (8 for $4 from Walmart - in the automotive aisle). The fit nicely on the Swiffer and I think they work a lot better than Swiffer refills.

Lynda

[mom-from-missouri]

i use washclothes for my swifter. I keep one soaking in bleach/soap water, and one I use. About halfway through the kitchen floor, I switch them out. I just throw them in with the next load of whites.
For my hardwood floors, I keep my washclothes soaking in a pine oil solution inbetween uses. When they get dirty, they get washed with dirty overalls or rags (here on the farm, I wash rags about every 3-4 weeks)

[tener]

I don't pay for calenders, magazines it depends... but how do you get matches for free?

[budgetmom]

We have boatloads. DH is a smoker and every time he picks up a pack from the convinience store they give him a book (or mini box, depending on what they have behind the counter at the time). I guess he went in there too many times without a lighter and asked for some cuz' now they just give them to him even if he doesn't ask.

[bandelove]

I dont pay for:
- HS internet, HD television with DVR, (working for a cable company has its perks!)
- magazines
- razors
- pens
- car maintainance (only pay for parts)
- condoms
- deoderant