What are some ways you save money or cut corners?

Question

My husband and I are always looking for ways to cut spending and to put that much-needed cash into our savings.

What do you do to save money?! What do you cut corners on? What money saving tips do you have?

Answer 1

I cut corners by brewing my own coffee at work in the morning or in the afternoon when I need a cup. Avoid buying bottled water in the store, but bring my own as much as I can. Make dinner at home and bring lunch to work. I have a motorcycle, so sometimes I commute on my motorcycle to work, and to friend's gatherings, and run some errands. I either go see matinees or use coupons to rent movies. I never done this because I like to have lunch by myself (nice and quiet) so never try this tip that I read somewhere before. That is buddy up with couple people at work and rotate to bring lunch. It is like family cooking at home, more peopl eat together actually save money. I think this is a good idea because if you have family that kind of save some of your time preparing lunch (since you guys rotate to bring lunch to work). If you like more tip, I think there is a website something Frugal.com...google it.

Answer 2

Keep the want list and the need list on opposite sides of the room and make sure you both use the same lists. You don't want savings or investments to slip off of the need list. Keep thinking the way you are and don't be afraid to grab some extra cash doing a short spare time job you don't like. If all you do is help someone pack for moving on a weekend you will have cash that isn't in the budget. There goes something off the want list.

Answer 3

First find the right shops to buy food from and what times items get reduced. We have a whole freezer full of reduced food, which was originally expensive.

Second Take your own snacks and bottled water out with you instead of buying it.

Third Buy Christmas presants in the sale for friends and family etc so you will have more money for the kids gifts. Also take advantage of sales for clothes and anything else you might need in the future.

Fourth if you have any big event planned like a holiday or a big day out save alittle each month just to take some of the pressure of the big price!

Answer 4

Take a list with you when grocery shopping. Stick to it.

Turn off lights as you leave the room every time. Use florescent or lower wattage light bulbs. Don't run the water while shaving or brushing teeth.

Do all of your errands in one trip to save gas. Running to the market everyday can be wasteful.

Use credit cards for emergencies only. Pay more than the minimum, pay early.

Visit websites that offer freebies and free samples. They can cut down on your shopping and often come with coupons.

Answer 5

Plug your TV & computer into extension cords with switches you can switch off, saving "instant on" energy.

If you have an electric hot water heater, set it on a timer so it isn't heating water at night. Set the heat setting so it isn't any hotter than it needs to be. Turn it off when you go away on vacatiion. Wash clothes in cold water.

Buy the bone from Heavenly Ham or HoneyBaked Ham, take off the ham, and boil the bone with 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon for a long time for soup broth.

Eat less meat - expensive and not that great for you. Buy canned goods from dented can stores. Make tomato soup using a can of tomato paste, milk, grated onions, salt, and other favorite seasonings.

Save all vegie cooking water and leftovers in the freezer for soup stock. Great with ramen noodles.

If you have an old car, drop the collision coverage on your car insurance.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Here are a few more:

Be a comparison shopper. Compare the difference between the nationally-known brand and the store brand/generic brand. Many times the same items are made by the same company.

Use coupons - the ones you receive in the mail, in your local newspaper and the ones on-line.

For a change of pace, do some of your comparison-shopping and shopping at dollar stores and at thrift shops.

Go food shopping after eating.

When you make your shopping list, stick to it!

Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed taking the time to answer it!

VTY,
Ron Berue
Yes, that is my real last name!

Answer 7

Don't own a car.
Brownbag lunches - and snacks.
Make my own coffee at home and bring it in a travel cup.
Cook and eat more at home than out.
Have an automatic withdrawel from your paycheck that goes to a savings account - if you never 'see' the money, you don't miss it.

Answer 8

Take my lunch instead of buying it. Use cheap gas in my car. Organize my errands so that I travel the shortest distance. Turn off lights and electrical appliances, I'm not using.

Answer 9

Just left a shopping spree at the Goodwill Store and didn't buy a thing. Everytime you spend a dollar, ask yourself, WHY.

Answer 10

Well if you want to know im pretty cheap when it comes to shopping :)

Ok here goes...

I always dent everything i get so it looks like its been thrown around and such, sometimes i get it for half the price but most times its about a third off the price.

Plus i always shop where i work (20% discount)

:o)