AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

When I cook a whole chicken - I keep the bones to make chicken broth for recipes in the future.  I freeze the bones and then make my broth in my Insta pot.  I use different size freezer containers, so I have many different amounts - anywhere from a cup to a quart.  I also give my dog the broth as a treat.  I can't remember the last time I had to buy broth.  I make broth out of pork & turkey bones, too.

I like to eat healthy just as much as I like to save money. I save seeds and dry seeds from my favorite foods and grow them each spring, summer and fall. I also plant perennials that bear fruit and herbs that make pretty flowers and fresh herbs that I can use now of dry and use over the winter. I love watching videos and learning new techniques. I also enjoy attending community seed, plant and seedling exchanges to expand my collection at free or no cost. I know these are life sustaining activities that save money and health. No wonder our ancestors did these things too! 

 I like to read several newspapers and magazines but cant afford the yearly subscriptions for them all.  Instead of subscribing I am able to read them free online through my public library while at home. Just ask your local librarian how.

 I LOVE saving money!  I always coupon, wait for clearance deals at end of each season, buy "new" decor, furniture, etc at thrift shops or an auction site that sells anything you could want for 50-90% off retail....... And finally, I use three apps (if you want to earn more, find more apps) to scan my receipts to earn giftcards.  Fetch, Ibotta, and CoinOut are the ones I use consistently.  Getting an amazing bargain always makes me feel like a good steward with my money.  Especially today with prices always increasing. 

   i live in an apartment building and we have a senior committee where we all try to meet once a month. during one of our meetings someone suggested that each of us try to clip as many coupons as we can find and bring them each month to our meeting.  we then place all of them on a table and people pick out the ones they can use.  i have to admit we all have managed to save quite a bit of money because of this sharing coupons idea.  some were just from local newspapers, some downloaded from the internet and some even came directly from the manufactures!  one of the gals started writing to companies asking if they could mail her some coupons of her favorite items etc and explained about our senior coupon get togethers.    some companies if you mention that you are a senior and if they can even donate some items via mail some have actually sent us a few free products.  just wanted to share this as its been working for our group and hopefully it will work for you and yours. 

I have had a rough few years, and during this time, I was forced to examine my spending patterns and triggers - things that make me want to spend money !  Both of my parents fell ill, in a short span of time, and I quit my job to be a full-time Caregiver.  I lost them both and inherited the condominium that our dog and I now live in.  I have not resumed working yet; I am grieving and trying to regain the strenghth needed to work, as a Senior.  I am living off my small savings, but have a Mortgage to pay.  I am forced to spend very little - only essential like electric and insurance and mortgage/hoa.  Pet care and food are also in the budget, but I am really being meager with my spending.  It has been a great lesson, because I notice how spending money can sometimes be a comfort.  We order from Amazon because we want to get a package; we buy more food because we are hungry for something deeper.  Examining our spending habits help us save money, because we can learn to substitute consumption with more meaningful FREE activities.  I walk my dog, clean the house, read, play online AARP games, listen to music.  Sometimes I will browse Amazon and put things in my cart, but don't press the order button.  Finding new ways to handle cravings to spend money is a great tool and is helping me in my current situation !

Wells Fargo has various deals to get cash back for using different vendors which I have used for restaurants,  gas stations, and others  which I have earned cash back.  I sign up for the ones I already use and the cash back is directly applied to my debit or credit card I used for these purchases.

JanelBJ

My money saving tip is buy a block of parmesan cheese and hand grate it and then put portions into pint canning jars (glass). I then put them in the freezer and use as needed. The cheese is fresh and delicious.

Just joining AARP and you get a lot  of member's benefits. The membership fee pays for itself.

For years, we had tried to lower our electricity bill by putting a timer on the hot water heater, changing to LED lightbulbs, etc, but the BIGGEST money saver was when we installed a heat pump water heater.  Was pleasantly surprised by the significant savings.