What I did to save money today

[2moretrees]

I try to save money each and every day. Most of the time it isn't something big, but I've found that if I do something everyday, the savings start to add up. If you did something to save, place it here and share it with me as I'm always looking for new ideas.

I've needed to wash and clean my car for awhile now and received a coupon for an full cleaning for $25 inside and out. It sounded tempting, but I decided to take out my hose, soap and quick vac and did it myself instead...a saving of at least $20 even after you deduct the cost of the materials used

[Tree0164]

That's great

Hubby and I were going back and forth after seeing so many of our neighbors using the landscape service to clean their yards. I questioned the landscaper that was doing our neighbor's yard and he quoted $300. Way too much... heck a little bit of extra working out will do me good.

[2moretrees]

I'm looking for new forms of entertainment...after looking at my current spending habits I realized that I was spending way too much in this area. Usually on a Saturday night I would go to a movie or out to dinner with friends. I decided instead to take an evening stroll to the park and feed the birds. I should do things like that more often.

[Tree0164]

That is great!

I have three boys 5 and under so we spend a lot of time in the park. And we were getting in the habit of getting a special treat afterwards-like Dunkin Donuts if still in the morning or going out to McDonalds. So I have doing a pinic suprise instead. Getting some snacks from home or doing lunch in the park and it is working out just as well.

Any one else?

[2moretrees]

I figured out that I was paying about $2.50 a day to purchase prepackaged drinks - coke, fruit drinks, etc. That works out to $75.00 a month. I am now brewing my own flavored tea at night and filling up plastic bottles to drink instead - it works out to savings of over $50 a month even when I splurge for flavored teas.

[Tree0164]

I very rarely buy soda. I don't work out of the house but buy Cyrstal Light or the store brand diet ice tea. The kids get some times kool-aid (watered down) and lots of water. I drink a lot of water. Now hubby likes his juice and root beer so he does splurge on that.

[crosses]

I have taken up knitting. This gives me a cheap form of entertainment plus I will be making my gifts this year instead of buying them.

[Tree0164]

Crosses that is great! I have no patience for stuff like that. I have tried it.

[crosses]

tree0164 - Thank you. This fits me very well and I have found I can do two things at once. Knitting and watching tv work out fine which means I can be productive even when I'm being lazy.

And to keep on subject here, I came across a huge box of brand new yarn at a garage sale today. Even though some of the colors are not what I will use, there is plenty that I will and at 80% off retail even after discounting the colors I won't use.

[jseffer]

I made some money, does that count? Sometimes it almost seems easier making money than saving it but i'm learning to make them both work together.

[crosses]

I was given boxes of clothes by neighbor. They were just going to throw everything away, so I had them give it to me. There were only a few things that I needed and I took the rest to my local church. The church will make sure the rest will go to someone who needs them instead of the dump.

[crosses]

Today is going to be a wonderfully inexpensive day. It's beautiful outside so I will spend as much time after church outdoors enjoying the weather. I've decided to make a picnic lunch, take an old loaf of bread and feed the ducks and swans at the local park. Very relaxing without hardly a cost.

[DivaJen]

After DD and I went to the library (love the library!!) I skipped the Starbucks that's right down the street and went home instead. That saved about $5.

[Jo Bo]

I didn't go out! I needed a few bits of grocery shopping but I made do and didn't go shopping. There are two aspects to this saving - 1. There are aways 'temptations' in town! (As Oscar Wilde once said 'I can resist anything but temptation'!). Although I have a list I always manage to add something to it when I'm in the store. 2. Although I may need things I try to defer the purchase. With a 'line of credit' type mortgage the longer I can keep the money in my account the less interest I pay. Its calculated daily so even a couple of days makes some difference. I furthur defer depleting my account by using my credit card for all purchases - but pay it off in full each month of course to avoid interest charges.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by Jo Bo

I didn't go out! I needed a few bits of grocery shopping but I made do and didn't go shopping. There are two aspects to this saving - 1. There are aways 'temptations' in town! (As Oscar Wilde once said 'I can resist anything but temptation'!). Although I have a list I always manage to add something to it when I'm in the store. 2. Although I may need things I try to defer the purchase.

I have been trying this approach too. A day without spending any money is, well, a day where we kept all of our money. The temptations are out there, and I'm not at the point yet (YET!) where I can always walk on by.

[crosses]

I stayed after a small get toghter party of a friend to help clean up. She was going to throw out all the leftover food so I took it instead. An hour worth of work and I have my meals for the next three days plus plenty of snacks (which may not be a good thing).

[2moretrees]

I went shopping at the local grocery right before closing. Since it isn't a 24 hour store, the food that will not be fresh is marked down 50%. It's a great wat to save in my area.

[crosses]

I made all my meals at home this past week. I almost always go out for at least one meal and usually more. I'm trying to cut down on the meals I eat outside.

[terry1156]

I have been frequenting the library the past few weeks. They have great resources well beyond books. They also had a book sale this past weekend (donated books which they already have multiple copies of, etc) and I was able to pick up a nice assortment for a few dollars.

[Tree0164]

We have our library booksale this week. It a pretty big fundraiser for the library as they have a yardsale with it. A lot of people donate stuff to it. We have gotten some great toys for the kids at it a quarter or 50 cents.

Our library has a great summer program for kids. They have different science programs, chalk drawing contests, summertime crafts and of course a reading club.