How to Save Money

[ILG]

For grocery shopping, I shop at four different places. I make sure I am heading that way anyway for some of the places to save on gas. Otherwise it can be a catch 22. But every week I get out the flyers and see who has the best deals. I then get the best deals and stock up. I try to buy things on sale and with a coupon to boot, if possible. I've lived this way for so long, I have to think about this as I write it. I saw on the net a woman who was supposed to spend only $400.00 a month for groceries and she called it a tiny budget. I used to keep track of what I spend but haven't for a while so for August I decided to save my reciepts. I have $316.17 spent for the month (family of four) and I see a pair of jeans and some school supplies in there. This also includes paper goods. Some months will be a little more and some months less. Our shelves are brimming with food. I try to buy healthy too even though sometimes it costs a little more. I have to not stock up so much because I have too much on my shelves and in my freezer. I clip coupons regularly but I only use the ones that really save me money (sometimes that can be a catch 22 too) or ones that are for healthier foods or things I simply think look good. It's always been a satisfying game to me to see how little I can spend. It's like a tax-free raise. For a while, I worked more hours (I work 20 now) but for what I make it is better for me to shave off that other 10 and save and make money the way I want to.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by ILG

For grocery shopping, I shop at four different places. I make sure I am heading that way anyway for some of the places to save on gas. Otherwise it can be a catch 22. But every week I get out the flyers and see who has the best deals. I then get the best deals and stock up. I try to buy things on sale and with a coupon to boot, if possible. I've lived this way for so long, I have to think about this as I write it. I saw on the net a woman who was supposed to spend only $400.00 a month for groceries and she called it a tiny budget. I used to keep track of what I spend but haven't for a while so for August I decided to save my reciepts. I have $316.17 spent for the month (family of four) and I see a pair of jeans and some school supplies in there. This also includes paper goods. Some months will be a little more and some months less. Our shelves are brimming with food. I try to buy healthy too even though sometimes it costs a little more. I have to not stock up so much because I have too much on my shelves and in my freezer. I clip coupons regularly but I only use the ones that really save me money (sometimes that can be a catch 22 too) or ones that are for healthier foods or things I simply think look good. It's always been a satisfying game to me to see how little I can spend. It's like a tax-free raise. For a while, I worked more hours (I work 20 now) but for what I make it is better for me to shave off that other 10 and save and make money the way I want to.

Back when I lived at home (bookoo moons ago) my mom did coupons. Every time she came home from the grocery store we had to all see how much she paid for everything. Being a teenager I wasn't too interested... but looking back... wise woman.

She would often get paid for taking certain items out of the store. The overall all bill was seldom over 50% of the original price.

[Blubayou]

You are challenging me to shop more wisely at the grocery store. I am going to try keeping track of what I spend at the grocery store for a couple of months and see if I can cut the cost. I shop at the local farmer's market every weekend. I love the fresh veggies and like helping the local farmers. I find the cost of fresh veggies are a lot less at the local market.

[Blubayou]

I go to Sams Club once a month to buy stuff in bulk. I purchase my meat, toilet paper, washing powder, paper towels, printer ink, some canned goods, shampoo, soap... you get the idea at Sams. I think I am getting a good price, but I have not tracked it. So this will be my project for the next couple of months.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by My Own Eyes

A few years back I stopped buying Disposable anything. No Paper plates, paper towels, or baggies. I use cloth napkins, I use white rags (18 for $3 at Walmart) in the place of paper towels, and I use containers instead of pastic bags.

Also, most of your cleaning supplies can be replaced with Vinegar and Baking Soda.

One of my favorite uses of Vinegar? It can be used in the Dishwasher in place of the blue rinse aid that costs a fortune.

Check of your local library rather than buying books, and even renting movies (many libraries have extensive DVD collections).

Check out your local freecycle ( www.freecycle.com ), a great way to recycle unneeded items, and to get items you can use for free.

The best thing about these ideas, are not only are they frugal, but they are also good for the environment.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

(Just remember that you can go TOO far. Like my neighbor who sneaks around at 3 in the morning and digs through people's garbage. That's just creepy. )

Good suggestions! I like this thread.

[iceniez]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I thought that was flat!

only on the bottom.........

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

You are challenging me to shop more wisely at the grocery store. I am going to try keeping track of what I spend at the grocery store for a couple of months and see if I can cut the cost. I shop at the local farmer's market every weekend. I love the fresh veggies and like helping the local farmers. I find the cost of fresh veggies are a lot less at the local market.

I did shop at the farmer's market here but this year they went up 50%!! (They were charging $2.00 for most items and this year it was $3.00.) So, I scaled back on that, but farmer's markets are very nice!

[ILG]

Today I went garage saling and to K-Mart. I didn't find too much at garage sales today but it is getting colder and there aren't too many. I got a nice tall shoe rack for $2.00 and a brand new, unopened package of paper plates for .25 (They wanted .50 and they had the paper plate holders with it but I just wanted the plates so I asked if they would take a quarter and they did.)

At K-Mart, I did my usual stop in, don't look at anything but clearance racks and bought a few things and left. Clearance racks are easy to spot. They are usually in the backs so you have to walk past the other stuff to get to them but DO NOT EVEN LOOK at the other stuff!! Walk through every department and look at the clearance racks only. I got a nice comforter bed-in-a-bag (sheets, shams and bed skirt included) for $30.00. Granted, I have been looking for this deal for about 2 years. I knew I would find it sooner or later. There are so many ugly comforters now-a-days, it should be a crime. But, I am way too cheap to pay for something at top dollar when I know that if I just wait I will be fine. My old comforter has been fine, just getting a little old looking. I start looking before it gets bad so I will have another. I got three shirts for my son for next summer at $2.99 a piece and no, they will not make him look like a dork. (He is not real fussy too which is nice for me.) And 4 undergarments of various types. Total: $47.43. This is just a normal day for me and it can be normal for anybody who wants it to be.

[ILG]

Tear dryer sheets into halves or thirds. You don't need a whole one.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Mystery shop gas stations.

cybershoppersonline.com handles Chevron shops.

You buy minimum $5 worth of gas and $1 inside and keep up with certain things. You fill out a form online and you get $12.

I buy $10 worth of gas and the inside purchase and write it off as free gas.

The first cycle takes a month before you get your pay but you just use that money to buy the next round of shops and it is a continuous flow of free gas depending on the number of shops available in your area.

Any BP or Cenex shops?