sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
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Re: I am sure this has been done before-Tips on Saving Money during economic hardship
We are super-frugal & have been for years so none of this is new to me & it doesn't feel like cutting back because its just the way we live. This is a topic that is near & dear to my heart
Start to cut grocery coupons & organize them by category-then every week use your favorite store circular, (i'm not a fan of shopping multiple stores because I don't have enough time) your coupons & a cookbook or two to plan your weekly meals.
DH & I bring coffee, breakfast, lunch, beverage & snacks from home everyday.
We use only reusable containers instead of single serving bottled water or whatever.
I will stock up on paper products or personal care items at walgreens or CVS when they are on sale at a steep discount.
Don't be tricked into buying everything in bulk at a wholesale club, not everything is less expensive. I have a very specific list that I buy at BJs & I stick to it. Most times I will not even go down the middle section near the front of the store-that's all stuff you don't need.
I don't shop for sport only for necessity.
I actually tracked my spending in a specific way and determined that over two months the only thing I paid full price for was gasoline and a few organic grocery items. If its not on sale or I don't have a coupon I will not buy it.
Try to stay out of stores like target, if you do go, just head to the department that you need stuff from & don't browse. They have some of the most effective "impluse marketing" around.
I needed to seriously update my business wardrobe recently and I bought everything in the outlets, with coupons, most of the stuff I bought was on clearance & I try to buy classic styles & colors that will last for years.
I just got really good tanger coupons in the mail so I'll go back today to see if I can find some spring stuff on sale to add to what I have. I generally will not buy clothes, shoes or accessories unless I'm getting for 60% off or more.
Stores like Kohls will often lower the clearance price even more if you ask.
I recently got a quality piece of luggage that was supposed to be priced $279 for $69 by asking them to give me the best deal in customer service. It had a little dirt on the fabric on the outside.
I grow a large organic garden to feed my family, I raise chickens for fresh organic eggs (one of the best foods on the planet) I compost scraps & manure to create fertile soil for my garden.
We do not use any toxic products in our home. I make some cleaning supplies instead of buying them.
We care for our own yard-no lawn service. I use a mulching, non-powered mower-no gas or emissions.
I use a clothes line. We line dry beach towels & try to reuse them before washing. I don't do much dry cleaning, I handwash lots of things & press them myself.
I try not to use a lot of paper towels & ziplocks & things like that.
We love free activities like hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing.
I sell or donate everything we don't use. If I know we need new clothes I take everything we don't wear to the consignment shop before I buy anything new.
We have purchased & even gotten things for free from Craigslist for home improvement projects. We bought our dining room set on craigslist. Its exactly 3 times the price in the furniture store. We bought it from a woman a few blocks away that was changing her style after only a couple of years.
My greenhouse, chicken coop, pond, fire pit, fence & a few other things all were built from things that were being thrown away or given away.
We don't use CAC or really any AC at all.
We open blinds & curtains on sunny winter days & close them on hot summer days. We use programmable thermostats & keep the heat low when we aren't home.
We installed a pellet stove this winter-such a great thing.
We use well water. Our irrigation system has rain sensors & we water MUCH less than most people.
We buy energy star appliances. We always try to improve the R-value of our home buy improving insulation, new windows, chalking & preventing drafts.
Everything in my house is on a surge protector, no phantoms left on.
All of our outside lights are on sensors or timers. Closet lights go on when the door opens.
We don't give big gifts, I make things for people. We don't exchange with many adults for any occasion-we focus on getting together.
We don't have DVR, Satellite Radio, Netflix or any other monthly thing like that. We have a very low end cable package.
I love our library, I rarely buy books but I read about 2 or 3 a week. Our library has great kid classes & services, adult craft, cooking & other classes. I try to take advantage of as much as i can.
My old car was 8 yrs old, we only buy-never lease.
We buy what we like & can afford regardless of trend or style-my new car has cloth seats, instead of leather. we have formica countertops & white appliances, instead of granite & SS We don't get wrapped up in trying to have all of the bells & whistles in life.
I'm sure I'll think of more, but I just want to say that I have never felt like I was "cutting back". I feel rewarded for doing my part to use less & live a more sustainable lifestyle.
So many great ideas on this thread, Keep it going!
ETA-by being a wise-shopper & knowing prices we have actually made a few large purchases lately to help support the economy & take advantage of awesome deals! We have been going out to eat, to support local businesses but we have been using Restaurant.com GCs.
Message edited 3/18/2009 7:47:34 AM.
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am sure this has been done before-Tips on Saving Money during economic hardship
Mich, I thought of another thing..
Don't buy those 100 calorie packs - you can easily make your own for less money! Every Sunday, I pack a little tupperware container with my snacks for each day of the week:
-Carrots (whole carrots that I cut up - they are much sweeter and better than baby carrots!)
-5 small rice cakes
-2 cookies
-16 pretzels...
etc. KWIM? You can make your own - and you'll save money and it's better for the environment if you don't use plastic baggies.. just use a reusable container --- same for your water!
Oh and this was in Women's Health.. I'll try to type out the important parts
"The best things in life are free"
1) For your health: try free trials from gyms before deciding if they are ones you'd want to join (or when trying different classes)
2) For your taste buds: epicurious.com/video has tutorials and demos. myopenbar.com lists hotspots where you can get a round on the house
3) for your next trip: you can help someone transport their vehicle with autodriveaway.com - the key and first tank of fas are free (but you haev to find your own food, lodging, way back home); shampoo - stockign up on mini bottles or samples of shampoo with work for small trips; directory assistance: dial 1-800-GOOG-411 for free directory info... or test GOOGL with name, city & state.
4) For your amusement: free games at ziggygames.com; pets.com gives training tips online; tvtickets.com has free passes to show tapings
5) For your next date: skymaps.com can help you find constellations - cuddle up with a blanket & bottle of wine
6) For your business: gizmocall.com lets you dial through your computer; free.avg.com has an antivirus program; vistaprint.com can get you 250 free business cards (but you'll pay $5 shipping and have company's logo on back)
7) For your entertainment: for classic literature go to gutenberg.org; bbc.co.uk/languages has interactive tutorials in Italian, German, Greek, Chinese...
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