best advice to save money?

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: best advice to save money?

ok this isn't a saver but in a way it is.... if we have extra $ @ one point I'll pay extra on my utility bills, so if I over pay it reduces my next bill & if dh's pay is less I've got a smaller bill to pay than if I didn't over pay. There are alot of weeks where my dh gets laid off for a week & if we weren't ahead on our bills we'd be up a creek w/o a paddle some weeks.

[Ima saver]

Re: best advice to save money?

We go to the same restaurant a lot, but this has worked at other restarurants too. We like to have cocktails with our dinner, so we brown bag it. No restaurant offers diet sprite, so we bring our own, so we never pay anything for drinks cause they are from home. I am buying canned sprite on sale for about 20 cents a can. (we are both trying to cut sugar out of our diets, and my dh has lost 35 pounds.)

[seaar2000]

Re: best advice to save money?

If you are working go to human resource and have them automatically deduct so much out of your paycheck. I went yesterday and had them deduct $40 more out of my paycheck. I put it in a credit union I very seldom go to this way I am not tempted to touch this money.

[CJsoccerchic]

Re: best advice to save money?

I gotta say something about the water heater thing..
I hate wasting money and a water heater running all day is a big money waster. Putting some additional insulation around your water heater is not a bad idea and turning it off all day except 20minutes before a shower is a GREAT idea. My power bill went from $200 to $125 Not a bad deal is I do say so myself.

[Ima saver]

Re: best advice to save money?

CJ, my husband taught me the trick of turning off the water heater all day and turning it on only when you need it, about 30 years ago. I use to go to the garage and turn it off at the circuit breaker. Now, every house he builds, he puts a switch in the kitchen, so all I have to do is flip the switch. You get so used to doing it, you just do it. I turn it on 20 minutes before he comes home and turn it off as soon as he is thru with his shower.
The only other thing I need it for besides showers is to run the dishwasher. I do that about every other day cause we eat out a lot.

[seaar2000]

Re: best advice to save money?

I looked at my circuit breaker and I don't see anywhere where I can turn off the water.

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: best advice to save money?

are all of them marked? the water heater should have its own, or is it a gas one?

[seaar2000]

Re: best advice to save money?

All of them are marked. I do have a gas water heater.

[Ima saver]

Re: best advice to save money?

I am not familar with gas water heaters. Does anyone know how to turn them off and on?

[Firefly]

Re: best advice to save money?

I don't know. I have a gas water heater too so it would be helpful to know how to turn it on and off.

Re: best advice to save money?

my guess is that it would be more convenient to leave the gas on and instead find somewhere that sells gas/propane cheaper. My dad always gets great deals from competing gas companies in the area. Sometimes they make you sign a contract---always get that in writing!

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: best advice to save money?

i believe theirs a red handle on the water heater, but im not sure about it, i would call the gas provider for your area and ask to be sure, you dont want an explosion cause gas is running and theres no flame. im pretty sure tho there is a handle, and if its only for temp, you could always turn it down. that also depends on your convienence to do so. mine would not be convienent to change, it has its own room off my closet. gotta get my sons clothing out of the way and use a drill driver to get the screws out to open the wall. mines electric tho so turning it off is easy. maybe you can even ask your provider about a switch for convienence. they are suppost to help with energy conservation. i use propane for my stove and mfa is really helpfull. hope this helps. i would always, when its about gas, ask your provider first, and even a second opinion if it sounds flighty.

[Ima saver]

Re: best advice to save money?

I amsorry, I meant to ask my husband about gas water heaters and how to turn them off, if possible.

[funnyvalentine]

Re: best advice to save money?

I have to say that NOT buying impulse food is a huge money saver. I buy a giant jar of peanuts and pack them in little Tupperwares so I always have something to snack on instead of hitting the vending machines.

[getforfree]

Re: best advice to save money?

My car is always full of all kinds of snacks. I also refill a bottle of clean water to take with me in case i would get thitsty. Wherever I go, my car goes with me, so can get a snack from my car instead of paying triple for something that I can get really cheap with coupon at the supermarket.