How Do You Save Money

With Eileen's post about going to credit councelors of America, I wanted to open the floor for those of you who have been there done that in hopes that we can offer each other valuable tips on how to cut down on our spending and even save money.  

Right now, one important issue is to manage money as if it is someone else's money.  And, even if you can only save one dollar out of each pay check, make the effort. Below is a list of those things that, during the time DH was not working, I found kept us from losing everything. 

 1) we don't need to ever eat out.  go a coffee shop.  Or get food from a vending machine--look at the price you pay for one diet coke in comparison to a six pack.  

2) I don't need nearly as many cosmetics as I thought I needed.  I make all of my bath salts, facial scrubs, and facial toners.   I also make a hot oil treatment for my hair and conditioner for my feet.  

3) I can cut way down on our food bill by buying cheaper cuts of meat, chicken in bulk, and avoiding processed meat.

4) beans can provide just as much protein as steak. and after you cook a pot of beans, you can divide it into four or five other meals and freeze it.  

5) we don't need to get 500 TV channels. The cable was our first thing to give up after the maid and lawn boy.   

6) I buy seasonal fruits and vegetables and if I get a good price on like strawberries, I freeze them  I buy vegetables when they are cheaper and freeze them: bell peppers, carrots, peas, beans, tomatoes..

7) I buy chicken legs and thighs and wings.  (you can make a million meals out of parts) And when I boil chicken, I freeze the broth. I never buy broth chicken  or vegetable and I even make my own cream of soups.

8) Buy large quantities of meat once or twice a month but only buy those meats that you know you are going to make a meal out of (plan your meals two weeks at a time.  Divide the meat into one meal only portions.

No snack food that is proceesed.  Only buy foods that you have to cook.  Not only will it cut down on your snacking, but it also cheaper.

10) Do not make a trip to the store for one thing.  You are wasting gas and more than likely will go off of your food budget.

11) Do not buy milk for drinking--buy milk in the can to cook with.

12) buy frozen vegetables first, then fresh, then canned.  Frozen greens are so cheap when you realize how much fresh you would have to buy to get the same amount.

13)WEar your clothes (outer clothes) three times between washing.   Trust me, it can be done.  

Anyone else have any useful tips to pass alone to any of us who want to make our dollar stretch.  

 

 

Great advice!! Most of these things we already do,,and you are right,,it works!!~

Thanks for posting!!

Betsy

 Great ideas.  I do a lot of them.

Some I'll add.

1. I clip coupons and use many of them.  I only use coupons for items I'll use or need.  I send my daughter the ones I won't use, or for foods I know I don't use.  It's like sending her money.

2. I read the grocery ads and only buy meats on sale.  I buy large amounts and freeze the rest.  I have a small freezer in the basement.  When I am broke, like now, I know I won't starve.

3. When I need milk, or one ingredient for a recipe, I go to the little store here in town, it's right around the corner, to save gas.  It also helps a small business,  

4. I keep all my change in a can.  I empty my purse and pockets at the end of the day.  When it is full, I take it to my bank, which has a free change machine.  Once, it added up to $150.  

5. I have a Pur water pitcher in the fridge.  When I go out, I fill a container with water, rather than buy a water bottle.  Better for the environment too.

6. I make iced tea from scratch.  I make a gallon at a time.  I buy Walmart brand Splenda by the bag, which is $1.00 cheaper than the brand.  I also buy the iced tea tea bage.  It's cheaper than soda, or juice.  I also use decaf tea bags.

7. I make my own soups, instead of canned, and freeze portions of them.  It taste better than Campbells, and cheaper.  

8.  When I work, I pack a meal from leftovers from supper and heat it in the microwave.  

I hope these help.

Hugs,
Trish

 I almost forgot.  My daughter has a friend who makes her own yogurt.  She puts splenda and vanilla in it, and gives it to my daughter in quart mason jars.  It's yummy.  And, I went online and learned how easy it is.  I plan on trying to make my own.  I could save a fortune doing that.  All it takes is milk, whatever size you want to make, a few tablespoons of yogurt with live cultures.  Once you make your own, you just save them for future yogurts.  You also need a meat thermometer, or candy thermometer, and a heating pad.  You just add your own fruit.  My favorites are strawberries and blueberries.

I looked it up online, and it's seems pretty simple.  My daughter's friend says it takes a little trial and error, till you get it the way you want.  A half gallon of milk is a whole lot cheaper than the little yogurt containers you buy, even on sale. 

Also, you can make Greek yogurt by straining your yogurt with cheesecloth, and letting it grow, then straining it again.  There's a website on making that too.

I'll let you know how my experiment goes.

Hugs,
Trish

Sorry.  I just remembered another huge way I save.  I am very forgetful these days.  I shop at the Salvation Army for clothes.  The one near me has Wednesday Half Price. Day.  When clothes come in, they put different color tags on them.  Each Wednesday, they put a sign by the door telling you what collor tags are half price, and which color is not.  I have gotten good quality brand clothes for myself and my grandchildren.  Sometimes with the tags still on them.  I have never paid more than $5.00 for anything.  I bought my grandson a pair of OshKosh Khaki pants, with tags on them, for $3.00 one day.  

I have purchased nice blazers, skirts and dresses for work and church there too.  Again, good quality, good condition, and never paid more than $5-6 dollars on half price day.  They also have a try-on room, and a rest room.

At another thrift store near me, I have purchesed two tables for my plants, one is like a tea cart with two shelves, and one has a basket, where I store my yarn.  I paid around $10 for each.  

Also, when I no longer need clothes, because of weight loss, I make an itemized donationlist, with values, the date, and total, and my name, put them in a bag, take two copies of the list to the Salvation Army, get their receipt, and clip one copy of thier receipt to mine, and give them one, and file my copies for tax purposes.  Donations to them are tax deductible.  You'd be surprised how much that helps.  

Hugs,
Trish

Trish,

These are great ideas.  I have not thought about making my own yogurt but am going to check it out and try it.  My friend makes her own cheese and over the last year, she has gotten so good at it, that she is now buying unprocessed goat and cow's milk from a local farmer and she makes huge wheels of the cheese and is now selling them to our local healthfood store and at our farmer's market.  Last weekend, she made six hundred bucks selling her cheese.  She told me the 600 bucks was clear profit.  Yikes!   I will tell her about yogurt and see if she wants to add that to her business.  I will try the yogurt too.  

I buy off season.  At both Dillards and Penny's, at the end of a season, they sell their stuff dirt cheap.  Last fall, Dillards had a full suit with pants, jacket, and shirt for 300 bucks.  I kep****ching and waiting and last weekend, I ran over and yep, it was marked down and you will never guess how cheap I got the entire ensebmble--25 dollars.  I buy all of my grandkids off season.  All the long sleeve shirts were 3 bucks and the jeans were marked down to 6 dollars on some and 10 on others.  I even buy DH clothes off season and we put them bac****il the right season.  

I found that our local Sams has meat marked way down on Sundays.  I guess they put it out fresh on Friday and by Sunday, the drop it down to dirt cheap.  When DH lost his job, I took his last check and figured that I needed to buy enough meat to get us through until the end of August because I don't get paid over the summer.  So, I bought huge trays of meat and I ended up filling our freezer with the almost out of date meat.  I did the same thing with vegetables.   From May until August, I did not buy one item of food.  I had canned milk for cooking, bulk meat broken into small servings, and frozen and canned vegetables.  My sister kept me in fresh vegetables from her garden.  By the end of August, we were down to our last package of meat and let me tell you, I was so happy to have that little plastic bag with two thighs and two wings.  Like you, I make all of my own soups too.  The wings make really good broth for chicken noodle and they have the right amount of meat.   But, that day, we cooked the chicken in the oven and the next day, I got my check.  

My husband and I have decided that we are going to start putting more money in our savings.  We manage to save a lot of money for taking our grandkids on vacation by me mowing and cleaning my own house.  And, we try to put at least fifty dollars of his checks in the savings, and  I put a significant amount in our savings/retirement.  But, we want to buy some land, and we need a lot of money to buy the particular piece of land, so last night, we did a spread sheet with the money we spend on bills, groceries, entertainment, and ect and we decided that we are going to cut all entertainment out until vacation and that money will go into the bank.   I have movie friends and we go once a week to the cheap movie; however, I spend about ten bucks doing that and then DH and I go on date night, and we will eat out and catch a movie.  We have decided to eliminate all of that with the hopes that we can get the money saved up to pay cash for the land.  He also has said he is going to start doing a little on the side programming for one of the small businesses.  This is going to be the summer of austerity for our family. LOL.  The payoffs, though, are well worth going without.  

 Wow -- good luck with your finances.  It sounds like a strict diet that will get you the really important things that you both want.

Hi Jeannie......you have a great list !!

I save any way I can. I buy meat, seafood and poultry in larger amounts. It is so much cheaper that way. I divide things up and  freeze what I don't need. I make larger amounts of food and freeze that as well. Especially beans!!  I too freeze my chopped up peppers and onions. They are great to throw into anything. I always save the broths to make soups. I always stock up on paper products and cleaning supplies when I find good buys.

I also clip coupons. I don't buy anything unless it is on sale or clearance!!

I have a certain amount taken out of my check each month. It goes directly into savings.

I rarely eat out. I prefer my own cooking. Plus it is less fattening and I can control portions much better. I keep plenty on hand for quick salads etc..  I always have a wide verity
to choose from. I hate store bought frozen dinners...UGH!!

I also shop at thrift stores and garage sales. I always find the best deals!!! Somethings still have tags on them.

I can't wait for the seasonal fruit to start coming to farmers markets......I will definitely be freezing that!!

I like your idea about snack foods. If you have to make it you would think twice about it.

I am going to check out the making yogurt idea too!

We can save a lot if we really want too.

HUGS my friend......connie d

Connie, my goal is to have a 1000 bucks saved by the end of July.  Now, that's over and above what I save for the kids vacation.   I think I will try the yogurt too.  I love the farmer's market and have made friends with the local farmers.   Usually, they will sell me a bushel of various vegetables.  I either can or freeze them up for the winter.   I can my own rotel, tomato juice, and diced tomatoes.  I freeze everything else except the green beans, and I always can those because they taste much better canned.   I'm like you, I freeze all the berries and fruit that I get my hands on simply for the flavor and nutritional value.   But it does save me a bundle.  I have only recently started using coupons again and I only normal portions.  I don't hoard tons of toothpaste. LOL. 

I am getting some really good ideas from you guys' postings.