What have you done this year that has saved the most money?

[2moretrees]

I was thinking about what I had done this year that has saved the most money. It probably was calling my cable company on the advice of one of the posts here and asking for a better rate. I got my my bill reduced by $25 a month for the exact same service I was getting. I did that in April which means $200 in savings this year. I'm trying to think of ways to top that.

What have you done to save the most this year and do you have any thoughts on how to save more before the year ends?

How did you get them to reduce it? What did you say to them? I'd like to get mine reduced badly, as it's the highest utility bill I pay right now.

[PrincessPerky]

Canceled the bug people, and DH did it, not quite as good but mostly ok. Saved 200.

[Bruce Wayne]

Switching web hosts saved a tidy sum plus changing my bank earnt me a few hundred pound a more extra in interest.

[2moretrees]

It was the easiest thing ever. There were satelite TV offers in my area and I chose the cheapest one I could find. I called up my cable company and said I received an offer from XX and there price is XX. Can you give me a better price on my cable? I never itended to leave - if they had said "no, we can't" I would have just said, "thank you and hung up" They gave me a quote that was $25 less (not quite as good as the satelite offer) for three months. I call back every three months and get the same price.

[kashi]

I moved. That's saving me $102 a month!

[Fern]

Good question. I've examined nearly every aspect of my budget but there must be more room for savings.

I guess the only thing that comes to mind....just had my vision check last week and decided to shop around for the expensive glass frames. Surprisngly, LensCrafter and Pearl Vision were NOT cheaper than getting them from my optometrist, so I saved $100.

I've saved probably a few thousand this year by getting the help of my signfiicant other to make varoius home repairs. Not the reason we're together, of course, but I am very appreciative and aware of how helpful he has been.

I continue to limit my food shopping at Stop N Shop and Expect Discounts rather than Big Y, which is closer, but seems noticeably pricier. You know, they run those buy 1 whole chicken, get the 2nd free deals, except they've marked up the price per pound, so really not a bargain.

Thanks to location of my new(er) job, I walk to work when the weather's decent. Tho I'm just a 1/2 mile away, doesn't mean much in the way of gas, but it's something.

[34saving]

Lowered cable/phone/cable internet services -- save $40 a month. (They decided to raise their rates, we decided to lower our service.)

Added to sister's cell phone plan. ($10 to add vs. $30 for our own) -- save $20 a month

Send an e-mail to complain when not happy. (I also send "I'm happy" e-mails, but they aren't nearly as profitable.) -- About $175 this year.

[DivaJen]

Started contributing again to a retirement plan - DH puts aside 5% (I think) of his paycheck, and the company matches 3%, IIRC. This has been our biggest money saving step this year.

Smaller things that come to mind include downgrading our Netflix subscription so that we're paying about $11 instead of $19, and using the dryer MUCH less.

[mjrube94]

Great question! Three things saved me a bundle this year:

1) Paying my property taxes/insurance directly rather than through mortgage escrow. Saves me $50/month that they were holding, as well as gave me a refund for $1700 or so that was in my escrow account.
2) Consolidated my homeowners and auto insurance with the same company (saved $550/year), and got a 10% discount through my alumni association.
3) Bought a new car using GoldStar directory, though I'm sure most corporate buying programs/internet quotes would do just as well. Saved $1500 more than Edmunds' target price, which I would probably have trouble getting on my own.

[pennywise]

Cars are paid for, dropped the insurance to PLPD - minimum coverage - save >500 year.

Dropped cell minutes on contract, flagged calendar to drop at end of contract, use free email to communicate instead

Ride bicycle to pick up dtr. from summer camp instead of drive

[mom-from-missouri]

kept the A/C off unless it was above 90 (plus, I put in new windows on the northside last fall-helped a ton!), cut by dishnet work down to local channels only-which is $5.99 a month, instead of the $49 a month we were paying, reduced my cell to the $9.99 plan, only use cold water for washing clothes, and I line dry clothes. I also have a garden, and barter out some of my childcare in exchange for piano lessons. I also teach at the community center-a class 1 night a month, in exchange for my family getting free swiming year around and the pools (both indoor and outdoor), and free use of the exercise rooms. I also walk to work at least 2 days a week (5 blocks-but a lot when you consider I drive a SUV)

switched cell carriers, save $60 a month (yes, that much!) and get more minutes! Got my interest rate lowered on my credit card, use that credit card for gas to get 5% back plus the 1% from Upromise... dropped HBO on my cable, saving $20.95 a month (totally not worth that much $$$) but now I see everyone else can haggle w.the cable company, I am too!

[miclason]

switched cell phone companies...I was paying a minimum of $35/month...now I'm paying about $7/month (it's a pre-pay cell phone!) That alone has saved me about ~$165 for the Jan- Jul period!

[marjorie]

Paid off all credit card debts. Priceless! Don't know exactly how much I'm saving in interest, but it's keeping me sleeping better at night...

[Snoopy2645]

We put all savings down on the house to pay it off that will save us a ton otherwise our mortgage wouldnt have been paid off until 2029 it saved us like 100,000 over the life of the loan. The other thing is I shut off satelite & AOL & got a deal with cable tv & internet so that saved us a bunch. And we cut off long distance & only use free calling cards so that probaby saved us over $100 for the year

[Russell]

Shut down an old web server from my webhosting startup days. Saved $1500/yr. Something I should've done 6 yrs ago

Sold some old car parts etc that I never thought would sell, $120.

Window tint on one of my cars started going bad. It had a lifetime warranty, however, when I tried to get it fixed under warranty the shop gave me a bazillion excuses. I wasted over 40 mins arguing with them but I held my ground. Finally they redid it - saved $200.

Now, pls don't ask me how much money I spent this year

Originally Posted by 2moretrees

It was the easiest thing ever. There were satelite TV offers in my area and I chose the cheapest one I could find. I called up my cable company and said I received an offer from XX and there price is XX. Can you give me a better price on my cable?

You're so lucky! A month or 2 ago we talked to a cable company representative in an online chat and mentioned how much cheaper satellite was, and they just said "it's not our business to compete with cable". The bad thing is... we're in an apartment and the landlord won't allow us to get satellite so we actually have to keep cable.

Originally Posted by kashi

I moved. That's saving me $102 a month!

haha, i'm moving too... my rent will go down by almost $240 a month!

[Bluezy]

Stayed a renter, paid all outstanding credit card debts, cancelled Stamps.com and nail salon appointments, and did all vehicle repairs myself.