OT: Let's talk about ways to save money in this weak economy of ours

[BuddyBear]

These are tough times for almost everyone with the skyrocketing gas prices and I am no exception. Let's see if we can't share some tips on how to save money. The most obvious tip would be to stop gambling but that is unlikely among this crowd. Nevertheless, there are several ways to save money and if done routinely can save a substantial amounts of money over the course of a year.

I'll start with a few tips of my own that I use frequently.

1) Use the public library! I've been checking out movies, books, and CDs for the past 3 or 4 years from the public library. It's easy for me b/c I live right across it but even if I did not I would make sure to go there. I estimate that I've saved probably saved $600-$800 in movie costs alone the past 3 or 4 years. Even though Netflix seems like a great deal where you pay like $15 a month...why should you pay almost $200 a year to watch movies when you can get them for free from your local public library. Not to mention you can check out more movies at once and the fact that your taxes go to support and finance the public library. And the days of renting a movie for $4+ should be obsolete for everyone by now.

2) I try to take advantage of coupons. I get a lot of coupons in the mail and in booklets. You'd be surprised how much you save over the course of a year if you make a conscious effort to use coupons. I even bought one of those big coupon books last year and even though it cost $35 it has saved me at least 4 times that amount so far. Many of the coupons feature "buy 1 get 1 free deals" on food which is great. Almost everywhere I eat out fetures some sort of coupon or deal. For example, I am going out to eat later today at this local restaurant where all dinner entrees are 50% between 3-5 pm this summer. Not a bad deal....

3) I use a credit card with a rewards plan. Even though it adds up slowly you might as well invest in a CC where you get something back for doing literally nothing. For example, Discover gives you 1% back on every purchase you make and this summer they will be offering 5% on gas and select restaurants. A pretty good deal if you ask me....


Based on these 3 recommendations, I estimate that I save approximatley $1000 a year which is substantial savings for me.

Anyone else have some tips they want to share with others on how to save money?

[Willie Bee]

Good stuff, Buddy, especially the bit about people not taking advantage of their local library.

The Mrs. is the coupon queen and has been for years. She knocks our grocery/over the counter drug bills down by an average of $15-$20 per week doing it. She and her sisters also carpool and shop together at the Sam's (or whatever the hell it's called) to buy stuff like paper towels, light bulbs, etc., even some food items in bulk.

Several months ago I started driving the wife's Toyota into work once a week or so. Each day I drive it instead of my pickup, that's a gallon saved (wife has a 10-foot commute from our kitchen to her office in the back bedroom).

I buy most of the meats at a good butcher shop in town. There stuff is cheaper to begin with than the local chain grocery...for example, their shrimp runs about $1 less per pound. I generally don't go into the place with any list, and just look first at what's on special, and then we plan the menu around whatever I bought. This is probably a $10 savings per week.

And we grow a lot of our own veggies about 10 months a year, either that or just steal 'em from the brother-in-law's farm next door

[RageWizard]

And we grow a lot of our own veggies about 10 months a year, either that or just steal 'em from the brother-in-law's farm next door

Good point, my wife is a reformed menonite, so you know we grow all of our fruits and veggies. The other day I was in the store and noticed that grapes where 2.99 a freakin pound. Glad I have a fully developed grape arbor.

[PuckOff]

Some decent and legal tips here. My wife uses coupons at the grocery store all the time and I know we are saving money from doing so.

More tips I would like to add for those who may be feeling the pinch. I don't necessarily practise ALL of these but here goes:

Save your recyclables an cash them in. I.E. milk jugs, pop bottles/cans, beer bottles, cans.

Ease up on the hot water while showering or doing dishes. Turn your hot water tank down to around 120 degrees. If you live in a cold state or province, then turn your thermostat down a degree or 2 and wear a warm sweater next winter.

Slow down when driving. It still amazes me when I see people driving full speed knowing they are facing a red or amber light. I am paying $1.37/litre for gas here in Canada ($5.20/gallon). Also make sure you are not needlessly carrying extra weight in the trunk of your car and make sure yoru tires are properly inflated.

Stop smoking and eating out at fast food places. (both killers). Eat an apple or 2 instead of eating at the fast food for lunch break. Much better for you and shoudl hold you over until dinner.

Make your own tea or coffee instead of buying it from a coffee joint.

Mow your lawn less often. Saves on gas/electricity if you have a gas/electric motor. Also less watering if you pay for water.

Instead of oil changes every 5,000 KM stretch it out to 8,000 - 10,000 KM because if you slow down when driving you are taking it easy on your engine; therefore your oil should be in good shape to last more KM before it gets dirty.

Walk to the grocery store if possible. Saves on gas and wear and tear on your car.

That's it for now.

[daggerkobe]

You can watch movies (current releases) online for free at http://tvshack.net/movies/

Bookmark Fatwallet.com..... some amazing deals posted there. I've posted a few myself including a Dell XPS laptop for $329. Plus check out the finance forum with dozens of $100 offers available, some as easy as opening free bank accounts.

[Willie Bee]

Good point, my wife is a reformed menonite, so you know we grow all of our fruits and veggies. The other day I was in the store and noticed that grapes where 2.99 a freakin pound. Glad I have a fully developed grape arbor.

We've got tomatoes coming out our ears already. In addition to what we've eaten, wife has already put about 8-10 quarts of homemade eye-talian gravy up. Wish we had more space to grow even more stuff, but then we'd be poorer because I'd never go to work and just stay at home playing in the dirt all day.

Have you converted any of those grapes into wine, RW?

Which reminds me of another thing a couple of my bro-in-laws and I do, make our own beer. Buy the recipe kits for either Newcastle Brown or Boddingtons on-line from a shop in Austin, they ship it to us for about $30. Usually works out to a little more than five gallons, so roughly 55¢ per 12 oz. bottle. A 4-pack of 16-oz cans of Boddingtons runs about $6.99 at the liquor store up the road.

[The HG]

ok here's some very basic stuff from me:

1) don't go to Starbuck's or any other gourmet coffee place

2) find and bookmark free porn sites. i guarantee that for every fetish you are into, there is at least one site offering stuff as good as (or better than) what you are paying for, for free. and for the more common fetishes, there will be hundreds of such sites.

3) reuse condoms. after you've used one once, take it to the sink and fill it with water. is it leaking? if so, toss it, if not, put it in a little sealed bag and use it next time.

4) use bongs, don't roll Js! yeah it's cool to feel like Bob Marley with a huge spliff that could double as a smoke machine, but that's all smoke you paid for that you aren't getting. pack a bong or a one-hitter, pull the whole thing, and you'll find your nugs will last you twice as long. This is especially crucial if you're burning the primo indoor hydroponic chronic.

[BrentCrude]

The obvious stuff like driving or buying nothing bigger than a 4 cylinder vehicle.If you have an older car that's paid for,just keep bare bones liability on it for a little over $20 a month. Shop at a chain of mini supermarkets called ALDI,very good selection and great prices.The same size corn flakes compared to Kellog's is about 1/3 to 1/4th the price. Don't play any ripoff lotteries.If the Mega Jackpot or Powerball gets up to 100 mill,then start buying them.I see poor people buying ripoff scratch off lottery tickets and pulltabs in bars and I cringe. If you smoke,you can get generic filter 100's for about $13.50 a carton with shipping included from www.indiansmokesonline.com If you don't use the internet that often and are paying alot for DSL or satellite internet,switch to the many dial up providers that have accelerators that are sort of fast and who give free trial offers.I haven't paid for dialup internet for years now with all the free internet offers floating around out there. $9-$10 Wal Mart tenners look like expensive tenners and feel ok.It's crazy to buy even $50 tenners where they get beat up and have to be replaced just as often as the cheap ones. Buy bread and bakery at the bakery outlet stores or on the rolling back rack that every Wal Mart puts out.I go to the Sarah Lee outlet and they give me 15 loaves of bread or jumbo bagels,burger buns etc.for $2.They call it animal feed.It's usually the real good stuff too like honey whole grain nut.It's usually as fresh as the day it was put on the shelf.I do feed my critter friends at my cabin the stuff but do eat it myself too.

[daggerkobe]

I am a coupon junkie. Whenever I went to the market, I'd save 50-60%. But now I order groceries from Amazon and others so I always take advantage of online coupons.

I don't drink alcohol or coffee, don't smoke or do drugs so I'm sure I'm saving a ton of money there.

[Willie Bee]

I don't drink alcohol or coffee, don't smoke or do drugs so I'm sure I'm saving a ton of money there.

Not really. Since you're not partaking in those vices, you are very likely going to live longer and, therefore, will be paying for those industrial sized boxes of knockoff Post Toasties long after you would if you drank and smoked.

In the words of the late, great Redd Foxx, "I don't want to be laying in that hospital bed dying of nothin'."

[guitarjosh]

1) Use synthetic oil. This can add 1-2 mpg
2) Get a cold air intake for your car. This can also add 1-2 mpg.
3) Drive slower
4) Don't accelerate too quickly
5) Don't idle when it's not necessary.
6) Get better exhaust with a cat-back system.

The above changes can add 10-15 mpg to your car.

[RageWizard]

Have you converted any of those grapes into wine, RW?

.

We haven't tried the wine thing yet, it really wouldn't pan out for us because we go through so much of it. Luckily there are 9 winerys close by that will sell at a good discount if we bring back the bottles. Kind of like the old days with returnable soda bottles. PA winerys are starting to become more numerous and known for their Chamborcin style of swill.

[BuddyBear]

Another tip would be to consider getting used items. I know sometimes you can get burned by this so you have to be careful but all in all, I've saved a lot of money over the years by buying used books, CDs, cars, and even clothes.

One thing that I can never understand is when people go to Borders and Barnes and Nobles to buy a novel or book for $18.95??? How can people continue to do this? I can almost guarantee that it will be cheaper online somewhere if they look hard enough (amazon.com), but if they buy it used they could be saving upwards of 70% or so...maybe not that much on a book just recently out but any sort of book a few years old there is no way you won't save money.

As for buying clothes from goodwill stores, the days where only low income people shopped at the local goodwill store are just about done. It's not uncommon to find middle class people at the goodwill store shopping for everything from apparel to furtniture to books. To be honest, there are some very nice fashions there.... I can't believe people go to The Gap and spend $39.99 on a polo shirt or $59.99 on a pair of jeans when they can get the same for considerably cheaper elsewhere, that just shocks me. The American public has become so brainwashed by corporate America that they are willing to pay an exorbant amount of money for "fashionable" items. Those same "fashionable" items will be on the clearence rack a few months later if you have the patience.

[donjuan]

The most obvious tip would be to stop gambling

Huh?

[compaqDikk]

pass on the library. only netflix lets me order showgirls with elizabeth berkley, etc

[Francis Sollozzo]

hire illegals to replace citizens , save 45%

[treece]

instead of renting dvd's just buy them. best buy and circuit city have some good movies for sale at 3.99 or 4.99 each. just look in the circular.

[Willie Bee]

As for buying clothes from goodwill stores, the days where only low income people shopped at the local goodwill store are just about done. It's not uncommon to find middle class people at the goodwill store shopping for everything from apparel to furtniture to books. To be honest, there are some very nice fashions there.... I can't believe people go to The Gap and spend $39.99 on a polo shirt or $59.99 on a pair of jeans when they can get the same for considerably cheaper elsewhere, that just shocks me.

Oh man, that reminds me of something my brother-in-law did a while back. His wife took a load of his old jeans and shirts to the local thrift store. Two weeks later he's in there looking for a couple of cheap computer monitors to hook up for his security cameras, and he sees a few shirts that he likes on the rack and buys them. They were his

[The HG]

Another tip from me would be stop watching movies in general.

But also, be careful about buying second-hand clothes and furniture. If you get bedbugs in your house, you could wind up hemmorrhhagging cash trying to get rid of them worse than by gambling.

[The HG]

Huh?

donjuan believe it or not, you're not the only one who loses money gambling. There are a lot of others on here who do as well, more than you might imagine. Don't be surprised by that kind of sentiment.

[betplom]

Pick more winners, you'll be able to save even more.

[tacomax]

* When reading a book try tearing out the pages as you read them. This saves the expense of buying a bookmark, and the pages can later be used for shopping lists.

* Old telephone directories make ideal personal address books.
Simply cross out the names and address of people you don't know.

* Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

* Discarded pallets make ideal 'designer futons'.

* Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

* Always fart into the rings on top of your gas cooker. This will turn back the gas meter, and save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill.

* Stop bread from drying out by keeping it in a bucket of water.

* Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.

* Get half a pint for free. Order a pint, drink half and then convince bar staff that your pint is off by sticking your finger up your arse before holding the glass close to their nose.

[RageWizard]

* When reading a book try tearing out the pages as you read them. This saves the expense of buying a bookmark, and the pages can later be used for shopping lists.

* Old telephone directories make ideal personal address books.
Simply cross out the names and address of people you don't know.

* Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

* Discarded pallets make ideal 'designer futons'.

* Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

* Always fart into the rings on top of your gas cooker. This will turn back the gas meter, and save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill.

* Stop bread from drying out by keeping it in a bucket of water.

* Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.

* Get half a pint for free. Order a pint, drink half and then convince bar staff that your pint is off by sticking your finger up your arse before holding the glass close to their nose.

All of these advice points seem like the best plausable solution that I was looking for.

[Bet Shooter]

* When reading a book try tearing out the pages as you read them. This saves the expense of buying a bookmark, and the pages can later be used for shopping lists.

* Old telephone directories make ideal personal address books.
Simply cross out the names and address of people you don't know.

* Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

* Discarded pallets make ideal 'designer futons'.

* Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

* Always fart into the rings on top of your gas cooker. This will turn back the gas meter, and save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill.

* Stop bread from drying out by keeping it in a bucket of water.

* Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.

* Get half a pint for free. Order a pint, drink half and then convince bar staff that your pint is off by sticking your finger up your arse before holding the glass close to their nose.

Brilliant....peas and all!

[seaborneq]

* When reading a book try tearing out the pages as you read them. This saves the expense of buying a bookmark, and the pages can later be used for shopping lists.

* Old telephone directories make ideal personal address books.
Simply cross out the names and address of people you don't know.

* Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

* Discarded pallets make ideal 'designer futons'.

* Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

* Always fart into the rings on top of your gas cooker. This will turn back the gas meter, and save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill.

* Stop bread from drying out by keeping it in a bucket of water.

* Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.

* Get half a pint for free. Order a pint, drink half and then convince bar staff that your pint is off by sticking your finger up your arse before holding the glass close to their nose.

funniest shit I have read in a long time. may or may not be beneficial, but damn sure funny as I laugh my ass off at 3 in the morning.

[JoshW]

I like the library one. I used to be a big "donater" to Amazon.com. Now days I do my browsing at the library.

[JBC77]

Put as many energy saving bulbs as you can in your house. I also figured out, when washing / drying closes. I dry them on hot, but set the dial for half the time. Comes out bone dry and the dryer runs for half the time. In my opinion, there is no need for a 15 minute cool down period on my clothes.

[seaborneq]

Invest in luxurious items or real estate. You have to do the opposite of what the economy is doing. I can't talk my wife out of a gas guzzling luxury SUV, so I told her to wait until near Labor Day when gas prices peak, and someone will give her one. Buy your Rolex, buy stocks that have gone down the tubes, and buy land. As someone once told me, "they are not making anymore land".

[capitalist pig]

As someone once told me, "they are not making anymore land".

If you like land and have some time, look at this stock JOE, what I like about them is that they have completley dissolved themselves of any residential developing at this time, just commercial development.JMO.

Where ya at in LA? Im in LA too just the NW FL end of it.

later

[seaborneq]

If you like land and have some time, look at this stock JOE, what I like about them is that they have completley dissolved themselves of any residential developing at this time, just commercial development.JMO.

Where ya at in LA? Im in LA too just the NW FL end of it.

later

I am in Auburn, AL. I was in Destin, FL two weeks ago, and I could not believe the prices you could buy a condo for. Now is the time to buy, and yes I will check out JOE. Thanks for the tip.

[purecarnagge]

buy dvd's and just burn them or order them from netflix then burn your copy and return them.

[SlickFazzer]

ok here's some very basic stuff from me:

1) don't go to Starbuck's or any other gourmet coffee place

2) find and bookmark free porn sites. i guarantee that for every fetish you are into, there is at least one site offering stuff as good as (or better than) what you are paying for, for free. and for the more common fetishes, there will be hundreds of such sites.

3) reuse condoms. after you've used one once, take it to the sink and fill it with water. is it leaking? if so, toss it, if not, put it in a little sealed bag and use it next time.

4) use bongs, don't roll Js! yeah it's cool to feel like Bob Marley with a huge spliff that could double as a smoke machine, but that's all smoke you paid for that you aren't getting. pack a bong or a one-hitter, pull the whole thing, and you'll find your nugs will last you twice as long. This is especially crucial if you're burning the primo indoor hydroponic chronic.

#3 is the BOMB!

[tacomax]

As times get tougher, here's a few more:

* Sweetcorn fans. Save money on loo paper by simply pouring the stuff
straight down the pan.

* An empty aluminium cigar tube filled with angry wasps makes an
inexpensive vibrator.

* Pop a few coffee beans in your hot water tank and you can make a hot and fresh cup of coffee anytime by just turning on the tap.

* Make cheap but effective baby rattles by gluing a lollipop stick to an
empty matchbox, then filling it with a cockroach.

* A hedgehog trained to scuttle up and down the table from guest to
guest makes a cheap and unusual mobile cheese and pineapple cube nibble dispenser at cocktail parties.

* New York Yankee fans. Save money on expensive new kits by simply
strapping a large fake penis to your forehead. It is now clear to all,
as to your allegiance.

* Smokers. Save on matches and lighters, by simply lighting your next
fag from the butt of your last one.

[Dark Horse]

Keep your mind creatively focused on different projects, instead of needing entertainment to forget how bored you really are.

Don't buy into poverty consciousness, because it will act as a self-fulfilling prophecy. For instance, don't waste time on coupons. Instead, spend creative energy on making more money.

Focus on necessities. Netflix and certain coffee stocks have done very well during this recession. People will always watch movies, and they will always drink coffee. Instead of going to Starbucks, invest in an espresso machine (or a cheaper high pressure machine). Instead of going to the movies, stream them directly from Netflix.

If all else fails, rob a bank. At least it will take courage.

[Cloak & Dagger]

ok here's some very basic stuff from me:

1) don't go to Starbuck's or any other gourmet coffee place

2) find and bookmark free porn sites. i guarantee that for every fetish you are into, there is at least one site offering stuff as good as (or better than) what you are paying for, for free. and for the more common fetishes, there will be hundreds of such sites.

3) reuse condoms. after you've used one once, take it to the sink and fill it with water. is it leaking? if so, toss it, if not, put it in a little sealed bag and use it next time.

4) use bongs, don't roll Js! yeah it's cool to feel like Bob Marley with a huge spliff that could double as a smoke machine, but that's all smoke you paid for that you aren't getting. pack a bong or a one-hitter, pull the whole thing, and you'll find your nugs will last you twice as long. This is especially crucial if you're burning the primo indoor hydroponic chronic.