topic money saving tip in Budget & Savings

money saving tip

pt21427831 — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 18:48:18 GMT

When I go to local dollar store,which is over 25 miles away, i purchase the scratch pads with the sponge included, so save on buying them seperate, then when i get home, i cut them in half, so that they will go last longer. And it means less trips to the store as well, so saving on gas also. I keep a spray bottle of peroxide under kitchen cabinet, so once a day, i spray them, to clean, so they are germ free for next use. This is one of the many tips I've found helpful over the years.

Re: money saving tip

retiredtraveler — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 13:49:18 GMT

I don't see hydrogen peroxide as saving money. It is several times more expensive than vinegar. One can purchase cleaning vinegar, which is 6% acidity, for about $3.25 a gallon.

Re: money saving tip

Epster — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:58:46 GMT

@retiredtraveler wrote:
I don't see hydrogen peroxide as saving money. It is several times more expensive than vinegar. One can purchase cleaning vinegar, which is 6% acidity, for about $3.25 a gallon.

@retiredtraveler and @pt21427831 I use peroxide to help keep my hair white. Without occasional peroxide rinses, it tends to yellow on the ends.

Can't speak for prices in your area --prices are sometimes regional-- however I purchase peroxide from Walmart for .79 per quart, which makes it less expensive than their white vinegar which sellsl fro $3.30. That said, I'd rather use vinegar on a sponge and in the kitchen, because it kills 99% of all pathogens on contact, and because it is actually a food item. But that's me. Peroxide poisoning does happen, though I understand it requires ingesting a fairly large amount.

Re: money saving tip

WebWiseWoman — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 17:00:55 GMT

Yikes; came into this topic thinking "nice; great topic", then found the issue to be pretty nasty (well, it does evolve into cleaning, so there you go)...

I have been self-supporting for 20+ years; I did become homeless for a while (within the last 5 years), but recovered.

The only money saving tip I have is BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET, and within that budget give yourself the "me" money (e.g. $10/month for drive thru or CiCi's).

I seriously appreciate the $10 I give to me...

Re: money saving tip

Epster — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:00:42 GMT

@WebWiseWoman wrote:

The only money saving tip I have is BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET, and within that budget give yourself the "me" money (e.g. $10/month for drive thru or CiCi's).

I seriously appreciate the $10 I give to me...

@WebWiseWoman Hey, happy Friday. 🙂

Good tip about giving yourself some fun money each month.

We don't do that, exactly, but we do head off to Dairy Queen for a small dipped cone once in a while --perhaps 8 times a year. The ingredients are pretty sane (read: real food) so it's a treat we feel good about. 😉 Also the local Dairy Queen usually sells small dipped cones for a buck on Wednedays in the summer, so we try to go then. 🙂

Re: money saving tip

p550363w — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 05:44:26 GMT

The stock markets currently have a great deal deal of emotional up swings for Investors. Yes, the second half of 2016 wasn't as productive as Q1 & Q2, however, GDP was up 3% and unemployment down under 5% close to full employment. Currently, the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ are setting records. What goes up can come down too. I'm see silver a better investment than gold and high yields are paying great dividends of return for risk takers. Treasury bills are fairing well. I'm not big on the bonds.

Google new partnership with INTEL on driveless vehicles by 2026 their estimated revenue is $96 billion dollars. UCLA is going to have an injection drug from their cancer research department soon. So, please be awre to take your emotions out of your asset allocation portfolio and do your own diligence before buying or selling stocks in your portfolio.

Re: money saving tip

wilful — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 17:22:40 GMT

Hey Epster - Next time you go to DQ - jump outside your comfort zone and get a Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard® Treat. And - Smile with every bite!! It will do you good!! 🙂

Don't think about it - Just Do it. Noooo thoughts of "But - afterwards, I will...."

Re: money saving tip

Epster — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 17:35:27 GMT

@wilful wrote:
Hey Epster - Next time you go to DQ - jump outside your comfort zone and get a Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard® Treat. And - Smile with every bite!! It will do you good!! 🙂

Don't think about it - Just Do it. Noooo thoughts of "But - afterwards, I will...."

@wilful Nothin' doin'! Here's one reason: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/02/caramel-color-and-your-health/index.htm . Another reason is that they don't offer the discount on anything but the small dipped cone. Yet another reason is that I don't want to consume that many empty calories. 🙂

We usually go to the drive through in a vehicle with the top down. The wind in our hair does us good. 🙂 Add that to the happiness of getting treat for a great price, well you have emotional gold. 🙂

Re: money saving tip

dj146 — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 11:59:45 GMT

Or you can save money & time by just putting them in the microwave oven for 10-15 sec.

Re: money saving tip

rockaria — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 16:40:04 GMT

My advice: Don't let down-on-their-luck relaties "temporarily" move in with you. She's still here, over a year later, and I can no longer afford my rent & utilities. We're going to both be homeless soon!

Re: money saving tip

RonMesnard — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 17:41:05 GMT

Hopefully you are more savvy than you sound. Low interest CDs and bonds may not be a good investment if their rate is less than inflation. The only 'safe place' for your money is in the market. Note the quotes. The market is not very safe right now. Unless the market has been your hobby for the last few decades you are best having a broker making all your decisions. Your decision is finding the best broker or better portfolio manager you can. To do that, you need to know your stuff. I listen to talk radio investment shows weekly. After a few decades it sinks in.

The best investor companies use programs to analyse how the stock market is changing. They can predict about when a crash is likely. As long as they beat the crash by a day they have done their job. Right now we are in the biggest bubble since 1930. If you don't have an ace stearing your ship maybe now is a good time to bail. The problem is in a bubble you can make more in a month than you normally do in a year. That is why having the best will allow you to make a maximum profit. Another option is to purchase a defensive stock like ATT. Its value is detrumined by a combination between the DOW and interest rates. If the DOW crashes these will be the least effected and that is why they are defensive. These high dividend stocks produce dividends up to 5%. They have better yeilds than bonds in these low interest times. The higher the yeild the more it follows the interest rates and the less it follows the DOW.

Anyone over 50 ought to spend some serious time educating yourself to finances weekly. Last year I did between double and quaddruple what my friends did. If you do that from 50 to 80 you will have a pleasent retirement. Too many of my friends will be in terrible finances. It is common to be in sub-poverty after you retire. I don't want to live like that so I have made time protect my investments. Then you don't need to worry about saving a dollar.

Re: money saving tip

njbjrb — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 21:54:01 GMT

Hello.. good idea, but my way is free!!! Yes free, at the end or beginning of each day I microwave my sponges, this kills all unwanted germs .Just make sure they are a little damp before microwaving. I put mine in for one minute. Wait to take out or be careful as they are hot for a few.

Re: money saving tip

billham68 — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 21:58:07 GMT

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the wide availability of senior discounts--a great way to save money. I always ask at the customer service desk if a senior discount is available. Oftentimes I'm pleasantly pleased when they say yes. A new barber shop opened up nearby that offers senior discounts for haircuts every day of the week, plus with a little effort I can find coupons that beat the senior discount. Instead of spending $18 + tip I now pay as little as $9.95 + tip (I'm not a cheapskate so I base my tip on the regular senior price). Discounts at my automobile service center, local movie theater, and several nearby restaurants have also saved me a fair amount. Saving money when shopping is possible almost on every outing just by asking--with a smile of course.

Re: money saving tip

k306947w — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 05:02:36 GMT

Instead of doing laundry every week do it every 10 days. 3 more shirts socks and underwear won't significantly increase the size of your loads. Set reminders for the 1st, 11th & 21st. So at least 12 washings a year less. That's lots of water, gas/electric to heat the water and a reduction in energy use to power the washer and dryer. Also hang dry as much as you can. The dryer is the wrorst energy waster in the home. You'll save time and cut down your carbon foot print significantly

Re: money saving tip

amcoffiebean — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 12:02:21 GMT

Where to start? We have reaquainted ourselves with our library because we can order a book online and pick it up within a day or two and read for free. We are fortunate our local branch is just a couple of miles away and on a route we drive often.

I coupon and sign up for rewards programs when it's a place I frequent. I detest these things, but if you don't use them you are missing out on reduced prices. But I also buy store brands that are quality and less expensive, many beat a coupon price. I love Aldi's and Dollar Tree for certain items we like. Aldi's is trial and error for us. Good on lots of things, not so great on others. And we have a little room to stock, so I buy multiples on good sale items. Big ticket items we do our best to research well and wait for sales.

We like to cook, thankfully. We can usually do better than most restaurants taste-wise. We leave restaurants for a treat. And if you get familiar with your local VFW, Legion, Eagles etc a lot offer great food, with special weekend breakfasts and other meals at great prices. Our Legion has wings every other Tues, and none better anywhere and quite a value. Most are open to the public for meals and most memberships at these Veterans clubs are literally dieing out. They could use public support to survive.

We grow a few vegetables, the easy ones like peppers and tomatoes and we are expanding the list. I'm not sure it's cheaper sometimes, but the quality hands-down beats anything in the stores and even some farmer's markets (which we also frequent)

We are movie addicts so we pay for Netflix and stay home with popcorn.

I have more, but it would be too long a read.

Re: money saving tip

rockaria — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:57:00 GMT

I enjoyed reading your post. If you have more to add, don't worry about it being too long. I would love to read it.

Re: money saving tip

amcoffiebean — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 20:59:07 GMT

Thank you rockaria. Certainly will share some tips I've trained myself to use! And some take a little training until spending the time becomes 2nd nature.......and it will. I also happen to get a buzz out of saving money, that helps. My family thinks I'm a bit nuts sometimes.

If you have a smart phone, I downloaded the Ibotta and Checkout51 apps. Though there are just a few products we would normally buy to receive rebates, there are enough that I've pocketed about $60 between both of them in about 8 months, and honestly I'm not too diligent, I forget I have those apps! At first it's a bit time consuming until you get in the swing, now I figure I spend about 10 minutes a week with each app to pocket some cash. There are other rewards apps too, but these worked the best for our shopping habits. Ibotta also rebates some restaurants and retail stores. Checkout51 not yet.

I also love Walmart Savings Catcher app because Walmart price matches their competition and scanning the QR code at the bottom of your Walmart receipt with your smart phone automatically searches other local stores for the lowest price and then matches it in the form of a rebate. Almost all the big name retail stores will price match now. When there is a really great sale at one store, I pretty well know now who price matches and I head to that competitor instead. That way I avoid mad crowds and also low or depleted inventory in the advertising store. I also watch my favorite store ads the following weeks because some, like Target (for 14 days) will honor their own new lower sale price after you make a purchase. You dont even have to return the item, just take in your receipt within 14 days. Just go to your favorite store websites and search for their price match policy and also search for their price adjustment policy.

You will really appreciate remembering the price matching around Christmas when a good sale fills a store parking lot the minute a sale flyer comes out. Just leisurely cruise down the street to the competiton who offers price matching.

Of course I frequent my favorite retail stores on Sr. Citizens Day for anywhere from 10-20% discount on your purchases. We are in FL so almost every store and restaurant has a Sr. Citizens days. And of course we always ask if AARP membership offers discounts anywhere we go, too.

And after having 1, and the only, charge card for 30 years, I broke down and researched the rewards/rebate charge cards paying the best (not necessarily the highest) cash rebates and use it everywhere, even for groceries. We obtained a card that is not restricted to just rebates on gas and groceries or travel, but on everything......just because it suits our lifestyle the best. The rebates on those cards accumulate fast but you must be disciplined and pay your card bill off monthly to make it work for you.

I happen to fly a regular route on the same discount airline, Allegiant, about every 60 days and found out quite by accident that you can save considerable money if you can buy tickets for your next flight at the ticket counter as you are departing, instead of online from home. When you purchase tickets online there are all kinds of state and interstate taxes that are levied onto your plane tickets. When you purchase the tickets at the airport airline ticket counter, those fees disappear. I've saved anywhere from $25 to $50 on each round trip tickets doing this. I've only tried this with Allegiant, so I cannot speak for other airlines, you'd just have to ask, and it may vary state to state. But I've been doing this for 3 years and saved tons of money on tickets over those years. And be kind to fellow travelers: I have my flight dates and my seat selection all selected so it goes fast. The ticket agent can quickly take all your information they need off the computer while it is up for your departing and current flight. I takes about 5-10 minutes to buy a ticket at the counter.

Hope some of you can add to my list!!

Re: money saving tip

amcoffiebean — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 14:39:09 GMT

To add: Walmart Savings Catcher doesn't require using a smart phone, it's just easier and saves time scanning a receipt.

And a caveat about rewards charge cards that even the fine print leaves out: Most charge card companies won't recognize the warehouse clubs gas pumps as "gas stations". If you fill up at Sams, BJs etc you may not be getting your rewards points/rebates. They also will not recognize the warehouse clubs as office suppy stores or even Walmart as a grocery store. Since most fine print calls the rewards "qualifying purchases" without listing those, you often have to contact the bank/card company and ask those specific questions directly to find out.

Re: money saving tip

Dar52 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:40:26 GMT

I save quite a bit over a year's time by switching to single-ply bath tissue. I think we all tend to pull off the same amount whether it's more than we need, or not. I've found that the same amount of single ply does the job just as well as the double and a roll lasts me twice as long.

Re: money saving tip

wilful — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 18:09:21 GMT

I'm afraid that this is one thing I won't skimp on. I gotta have that 2 ply TP.

Each to their own.