What small things do you do to save money?

**John Doe** · 08-10-2015, 02:11 PM

Financially-optimal housing is free housing.
Financially-optimal transportation is no car at all.

For most Americans, housing, transportation, health care, and food comprise the majority of their expenses. So if you reach optimal levels in all those areas (say less than 5% or 10% of your income for all of those things combined), then you're mostly there.

Other things that can cost a lot are cell phone service, clothing, household items, travel, and entertainment.

Once you reach optimal levels in almost everything, then it's time to sit and wait. And wait. And wait. It's a marathon, not a sprint. And while you're waiting, you work on building your income (improving your career skills and earnings). And paying off debts. And once your debts are paid off, investing your money.

Eventually, you may reach a point where you can live off your investments and only work when you want to work, doing whatever kind of work you want. But that takes years or decades.

**FLA** · 08-10-2015, 05:18 PM

if you can't find a small thing to cut, could you up your 401k or IRA contributions by that small amount? It sure adds up over time

**bzbee** · 02-09-2016, 07:48 AM

Here are my thoughts for saving money:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh7OAUYhL6g

**bjl584** · 02-16-2016, 11:35 AM

I have completely stopped going out to lunch. I brown bag it everyday.

I also stopped buying coffee at fast food restaurants and gas stations. I have a thermal mug that I use in the mornings. I'll make a cup at home or at work.

**JoeP** · 02-21-2016, 08:04 AM

It's been said before, but whenever you order anything online, be sure to search google for "promo code" and the name of the store. I just placed an order for some blinds, and the merchant offered a 10% off promo code at checkout. But a quick search revealed a 20% off promo code. Since only one could be applied, I used the latter.

**FLA** · 02-21-2016, 12:23 PM

fully use library; books, CDs I burn to iTunes (questionable ethics here), DVDs, museum passes, sheet music when the kids were younger and needed certain pieces-(they could be checked out for a month and renewed as needed, no one else seemed to be doing this and it saved us a ton), take classes, free tax prep, and much more. I have not bought a fiction book in years except when I was going on vacation and wanted to take my Nook (our e-book selection is not so hot). Now they have tons of e-magazines that don't have waiting lists of 60 people like the popular e-books and once you download it, you don't have to e-return it.

I buy most of my clothes when clearance or sale is an extra 30% off from Lands End with Discover cash back. With you cash back, you can buy gift cards for less, i.e.: $40 for a $50 card. Then I shop through Discover Shop or ebates to get another 5% off, add in Sears Shop Your Way rewards and I feel like I am stealing from Lands End when I am done. I get clothes that last forever and were work appropriate. A good deal if you aren't a fashionista. Although, they have many other stores with discount gift cards, like Ann Taylor.

**Ima saver** · 02-23-2016, 12:45 PM

Ikeep my hot water heater turned off until I need to use hot water. (showers or dishwasher) I wash clothes in cold water.

**FLA** · 02-23-2016, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by Ima saver View Post

Ikeep my hot water heater turned off until I need to use hot water. (showers or dishwasher) I wash clothes in cold water.

I wash clothes in cold, too. But doesn't it take a long time to get hot water for a shower if it's off?

I, and no one else who has attempted, have been able to figure out the programmable thermostat that came with this house, so I have to manually adjust it. My folks were sleeping just under a sheet and had the heat at 72 at night. I started nudging it down, we're at 65 at night, 66 during the day if no one notices.

I took over the power bill and I want to find ways to keep getting it lower because it's high due to my mom's 24/7 oxygen machine. We have lots of CFLs I bought cheap at Ikea to use up, then I want to try LEDs. Also, we live in a development where everyone keeps on their outdoor garage lights, lights by the door and the light in the yard all night. I don't do that. So we will probably be the only ones who get robbed, lol.

**NormanR** · 03-05-2016, 03:46 PM

When I stopped eating out for lunch every day I seriously cut down on my spending! It just means being that bit more organized the night before

**FrankFacts** · 03-15-2016, 05:39 PM

End the gym membership! I bought some free weights, and between those, running, and free online workouts, I save a lot!

**snafu** · 03-17-2016, 06:14 PM

It's remarkably cheap and very satisfying to make your own bread. If you buy a nearly new, gently used breadmaker machine at a Thrift shop, you can load it in the evening and awaken to fresh baked bread. The downside is that you eat more bread and it adds inches to your waist.

It's cheap and efficient to make your own, excellent laundry and D/W detergent [see You Tube].

Buy used Landscaping equipment and regular tools having done a tiny bit of research on which brands are good which are junk or too difficult

**Koolmagicguy** · 03-18-2016, 04:52 PM

Bring bottles back
Turn down/off heat/AC when away

**7Figures** · 04-08-2016, 03:14 AM

I stopped saying "I want" and before buying something I'd ask myself, do "I need". As simple as it sounds it works amazingly well for me of course.

**moneytips101** · 04-18-2016, 08:41 AM

saving money

I simply don't buy things I don't need. A good tip I do is for items I want, I take the dollar amount and divide it by 10 and use that number as how many days I think over a purchase.

If an item cost $50---> 50/10=5

Thus, I spend 5 days thinking if I want the item or not. If I still want it after 5 days and believe I need it, I buy it. If not, I don't buy it.

What small things do you do to save money?