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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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

[crosses]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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]

Re: What I did to save money today

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.