101 Painless Saving Ideas

[jeffrey]

I was explaining my <a href="http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6253">Painless Savings</a> philosophy to a friend and while he liked it, he immediately said, "the problem with painless savings is that there aren't that many painless saving opportunities. I bet you can't come up with a dozen..." Coming up with a dozen wasn't a problem and I listed them right then and there:

1. compare car insurance
2. compare life insurance
3. compare home-owner's insurance
4. refinance mortgage
5. call and ask for lower price for cable TV
6. call and ask for lower price Internet Service
7. call and ask for lower price telephone service
8. use discount stamps
9. buy second hand gift cards at discounts
10. refinance education loans
11. call credit card companies to lower interest rate
12. transfer balance to a lower rate credit card card

to which he said, "okay, can you come up with 100?" I said I'd do better - I'd come up with at least 101 painless saving ideas by next week. To accomplish this, I'm going to ask for your help with any ideas that you have.

As a reminder, a "Painless Saving" idea is one where you get the exact same product or service that you are currently getting and paying for, but at a less expensive price and without significantly changing your current habits. I know with your help I can present a list of ideas well over 100 come next week!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Discounts from senior cards, membership cards, trade discounts or just asking for a discount. I got, over 55, managers discount, multi policy discounts all off the same house & contents insurance plus a discount by paying for year total 35% off. ($665 down to $430) The same deal with my car insurance, I am only paying $40.00 more per year than my old car, value between cars was $1200 v's $12000.

Many people don't know that some membership cards, just by showing these cards will gives you discounts in others areas also!

[sweeps]

Put all your purchases on a rewards credit card for 1% - 5% off.
Share some expenses (newspaper/magazine subscription, food, etc) with a neighbor.

[Lori63]

Learn to barter-hubby is a cartoonist/artist, traded work for free mulch
Train yourself to realize the true difference between want and need

[Haku]

Brain not working very well, but I'll contribute whenever I can.

Carpooling comes to mind.
Buying clothes from thrift stores.
Skipping on the morning latte.
Oh yeah, and I'm bad about this, but only having water for a drink when you're out in a restraunt.
Smart bulk shopping through club warehouses.

[sakigt]

Make enough dinner to use for lunch the next day
When dining out get a meal that heats up easily and only eat half (this is my new favorite...I havent bought anything for lunch in 2 weeks)
Check your tire pressure to get better mpg, and therefore gas
Get the cheapest Netflix subscription which is cheaper (and easier) than picking up 3 movies each month from Blockbuster

[sweeps]

Take advantage of a matching contribution on your 401k/403b/457 before contributing to other savings.
Switch from a lower-yielding savings account (your local bank, ING) to a higher yielding savings account (GMAC, ED, HSBC).
Pay bills with online bill pay to save on checks, stamps, and envelopes and to also keep your money in savings until closer to the due date.

[shelbylovesmelby]

*If you have a vehicle that you don't drive alot or daily (like me I'm a sahm & I don't have much running to do usually) you can call your insurance agent & they can reduce your vehicle insurance by a few $
*cancel all the extras on your regular phone
*if you don't use your cell much buy a pre paid phone. $20 lasts me the 90 days, wich is cheaper than most contracts that would be $120-150 for a 90 day period
*reuse as much as you can around the house
*borrow things you only use once in awhile instead of buying, reduces clutter too (we borrow our neighbors tiller once a year to do our garden & that's the only time we use it)
*NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANYTHING!
*brown bag lunches for work or school
*try using half the recommended amount for some items like dryer sheets, softner, detergent ect

[Trillian]

Painless savings method: Try using HALF as much. (or even a LITTLE less)
Half as much shampoo. Half as much conditioner. Half as much dish soap. Etc.

I know I tend to be overzealous on these and others. But simply using a little less can make it last longer. Does it add up fast? Maybe not. But, it helps. Every penny counts!

And hey, freebies can help with this too. If you travel and buy a travel sized bottle of shampoo, you will pay average of a dollar. Get one free, save a buck.

[boefixepa]

-Take over your escrow account on your home loan and earn the interest.
-Change over light bulds to the new energy efficant ones as they old ones burn out.
-Take the dog(s) out to the park to play each day instead of having a gym membership
-Go to trade schools for things like hair cuts and massages
-Pay all your bills on line just before they are due - someone already said this...but I really like it...I just set it up and I don't have to worry. I don't buy stamps any more.
-Use reward CC to pay for everything...not only will you earn the discount mentioned above, but you keep the $$ in your interest bearing account for another month and earn interest there too, plus you earn points for free things too...like gift certificates that make great gifts.
-Check out books from the library rather than buying them at the book store.
-Take up cooking as a hobby and get really good at it so you like your cooking better than going out!
-Mow your own lawn instead of paying someone to do it.
-If you don't have a budget...make one...track your spending, just knowing where all your money is going helps you to reconsider many purchases.
-Read a few books to motivate you to want to find ways to save.
-Reduce, reuse, recycle - This applies to sooooo many things
-Evaluate the real reason behind what you purchase --- many are emotional and really just expensive therepy.
-Buy generic instead of name brand.
-Buy bulk

[JoyJoy]

Going to the library and getting books is good like boefixepa mentioned. I also compare prices between online bookstores. Alibris sells books, cds, videos, and dvds (hard to find books and music are there too). Some books at Alibris sell for $2.95 plus shipping, but they have coupons that they send you on a regular basis to offset shipping and handling. Also Amazon.com is a good place to buy some discount books along with Ebay or Half.com.

Fragrances can be purchased online at Perfumania.com and Fragrance.net. Scents are genuine.

[Trillian]

You can also price check many book sites at once:
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/

[JoyJoy]

Originally Posted by Trillian

You can also price check many book sites at once:
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/

Thanks for this site Trillian! Makes searching that much easier for music and books!

[Haku]

Basically anything that avoids overcharge fees. Pre-pay phone cards are one example.

[Ima saver]

I use my Ingles advantage card and save a lot every week, that applies to bi-lo, cvs, etc.I keep my hot water heater off 23 hours a day. I budget $160 a month for electricity and save what I don't spend in my challenge money. I always take home half my food from a restaurant and use it for lunch the next day. I always order water when I have a meal out. I eat off of the $1 menu at Wendy's. I turn off the motor at the bank's drive in window to save on gas. I go in and order at fast food places.

[markio26]

http://www.activshopper.com/ compare prices http://deals2buy.com/

i would have to say, stick to a real budget, that reflects your take home pay after taxes
and other deductions, average out your regular monthly bills, so, your are paying more
each month.. add to your long term savings and crisis fund monthly.. and assign money to
each family member;
mom: groceries, lunch items, cleaning supplies, etc. give mom $50 allowance
dad: $100 for gas and other work supplies, and occasional eat out lunch... $50 allowance
kids: $15 each for allowance... apparel money and school supplies money $25 each

only buy at a discount and only if your price book tells you it is a good buy... ask for discounts on everything... declutter your home, and your body and your mind..
purchase make up at www.eyelipsface.com it is $1.. and you can save on shipping by purchasing 6 items.. shp is $2.95

[Ima saver]

Throw 2 large dry towels in with wet clothes, cuts my drying time down by 10 minutes.

[markio26]

if you shake your clothes, fresh out of the washer, before hanging or using the dryer they will dry quicker and have less wrinkles.
sometimes, i wash clothes and leave them in the washer overnite with the lid open, then dry them for ten minutes ..saves bunches of dryer time money...
large items like comforters, i air dry and then put in dryer for 10 minutes with a tennis shoe to fluff.

[Haku]

Oh yeah, turning down the water heater, sometimes even the AC or heat depending on weather. Just enough to save a little bit without sacrificing too much comfort.

Speaking of laundry, drying several loads back-to-back will save by maximizing the heat. Or, if you're like my mother, you'll just hang it outside on the back porch.

[markio26]

alter credit card behavior, pay cash if at all possible.
brown bag lunch for work, school, play and shopping.
call off peak hours using your cell phone.
clip coupons and match to sales.
bundle your insurance, auto, home.