Hints for Economizing

[24thchance]

1.Put electronic items on a power strip and turn off at night w/1 button.
2.Those cell phone,and most chargers take juice 24/7 Feel it,is it warm ?,thats the feel of your $$$ going out the electric socket.
3.Fact:in most houses the clock on the microwave oven takes more current than the microwave itself on a 24 hour basis.Useless info there.
4.If you really want something-wait 3 days.If you still fell the same then,get it.
5.insulate your hot water pipes,and certainly your ceiling.
6.If you are really cheap you can re-use your motor oil-ask me for details
7.Wash out baggies ,aluminum foil.etc
8.Quit smoking to save tons of $$$
9.Drink kool aid or water instead of pop,don,t forget to brown bag lunch instead of buying out.
10.Inflation is over for now,your house is worth less now,but the insurance value of your house is probably still way up there.Talk to your agent and lower it.
11.When you run the water to get it hot,use the water for cooking or plants.
12.Low flow shower head
13.Use electric blanket at night,and lower heat to 62 degrees
14.Look up do it yourself sites on the computer,you will be surprised how much U can do and save big.
15.Oil dry($4.00 for 25 lb bag) instead of expensive kitty litter,use baking soda for odor control.
16.Rent movies ?,use red box for $1.00 a night.
17.Men,take out the weight (tools)and junk out of your car,and inflate those tires.How would Jesus drive? Nice and slow.Make mileage a game-how much can you get? keep records.
18.Hang up your clothes while they are still in your hands,throwing them in a pile creates dry cleaning/washing bills.
19.Clean out refrigerator coils, keep freezer filled to save $$,even if it,s only bags of ice.vacuum furnace filters every month,I don,t buy new ones.
20.Get an attic fan to suck out the hot attic air so your air conditioner works less hard.
21.Buy used stuff,so what if someone else had it b4 you.Once it,s washed it,s clean.Salvation army thrift stores are really incredible places.
22.Not using it ?? turn it off.hard habit to get used to.
23.Get a device called kill-a watt.Once plugged in between the wall and your appliance it will reveal to you how much that thing is costing you in electric dollars every day or month.
24.Use fans with air conditioning,Also so what if you wear a sweater in your living room in the winter,you will save big $$.
25.Remember the 1940,s slogan "use it up,wear it out,make do or do without(yea,i,m that old)

[Abiding Joy]

For me a major money saver was starting a pantry and cooking for myself. I live alone and work long hours so I often found myself grabbing takeout or going to the store hungry to pick up something to get me by. Last year I started a pantry in my basement. I would shop the local grocery flyer, combine coupons and rebates, and end up walking away with $100 in groceries for about $40. Having the pantry meant I could buy and store more when sales were good. It also allowed me to eat through the winter when the weather was bad and the heating bills were high.

I also have a small garden, I only grow a few things, but I can trade with friends and family for what I need. My hot pepper jelly can get me just about anything

[jackson64]

okay...I'm a major cheapskate..oops, I mean that I am very frugal and conservative

so here go a few and I'm sure that a few are repeats:

-- combine trips; if you need a prescription refilled then do it on grocery shopping day, a trip to the post office on the way, schedule a doctor's appointment with other errands...

-- buy larger packs and ziplock baggies; a 5 lb package of ground beef makes 5 meals for the cost of 3 ( tacos, burgers, hamburger helper etc) and don't forget to re-ues and wash those baggies, they're not cheap

-- I grow my own veggies, melons, tomatos etc..save the seeds from the plants by drying them on a paper towel in a window sill. The next March or April you can re-use those little 6 pack plastic flower things and start your veggies early in the season by starting them in a bay window or in sunshine in the house..the crops will produce earlier and longer....

-- a Vaccuum Sealer !! I have fresh beans, carrots, peppers, tomatos even corn cut off the cob. Zuccini and squash even store well if you just blanch it very little before sealing up. You should never have to buy produce again except specialty items that don't grow well in your area or things that don't store like lettuce or cukes..

-- Fish stores much longer in ziplocks if you fill the bag with water--it won't freezer burn...

--I keep my old tennis shoes for gardening, fishing, lawn cutting etc..and one nicer pair for casual dress...

-- a BIG ONE. If you and your spouse or kids have cell phones, why would you have a house phone also? My wife and I both have cells yet I had my house phone at $60 a month still on for a year

-- Change car insurance. The field is so competetive that almost everyone will offer you a cheaper rate--shop around.

-- Brew your own coffee. I have a "single cup brewer". I simply heat a cup of water in the microwave then pour it through a little plastic strainer with a filter..TADA !! Even better, if I want a second cup I only need to add a little more grounds on top and the second cup is just as strong with almost no more grounds !! If you do drink coffee out, carry a mug in your car. Most places who sell coffee for $1.29 for a 16 ounce cup will sell for 50c or 75c if you bring your own mug...

-- if it's on sale and you use it, buy multiples !! It's okay to get 5 bottles of ketchup, mustard or mayo when they are half price--you'll use it eventually and they store for a long long time unopened. Tuna on sale for 50c a can? Get 20-30 of them !! Chunky soup for $1.50 a can?--get 10 or more--heck, a $1.50 for a filling meal is not a bad deal today...

-- I buy and sell on ebay, those padded, bubble mailers?..I open the end evenly with scissors, peal off the label and just saved a buck and a quarter for packaging/mailing supplies. If the label is too stuck to remove, simply write the address on a piece of paper and tape it over the old label. ( saves on labels too!)

-- not everyone can do this but we get free bottled water. My wife works as a dialysis nurse and they have a water purifying system and big tanks in the back. She takes empty gallon jugs to work and refills them for free with purified water. We also use re-usable smaller water bottles which we fill from the gallon jugs, no need to buy bottles of water by the case or at the stor in singles ( and no storage space needed)

-- a thermos !! Saves money on coffee, hot meals anywhere..leftovers make for cheap lunches and can save $40-50 a week as opposed to eating lunch out ( probably a lot healthier too)

--check the flue on your fireplace..keep it closed unless you're burning a fire..

-- extra insulation pays for itself in the attic. Ideally you want modern fiberglass insulation but in the old days they knew that ( just like with clothes outdoors on cold days) the thicker and more layers the better--they even used old cloths and newspapers ! ( of course this also makes nice homes for mice and critters who climb in the attic)

-- we call it the "whole house fan" but it may be what others are calling an attic fan. It is in the upstairs hall ceiling, when we turn it on it sucks all of the heat out of the house and blows it out through the attic. Drops the indoor temp from 90's + to 80's and low humidity in 15 minutes...

-- cool shower before bed and leave your hair wet/damp

--more reading and family time.!! If you have a TV on in one room, a stereo in another, another family member on the computer..that's three people who could be using one entertainment media instead of 3 different..

-- if grilling, cook not just that dinner's food but 1 or 2 other meals also that can be re-heated for lunches or the next night's meal. Saves time and charcoal/propane cost..

Hope someone can use at least one or two of these

[PurpleRobe]

We have a vacuum sealer and our church garden has a bumper crop of squash and zucchini. Thanks for the blanching tip.
I also consolidate my trips.
I go to the Goodwill in the wealthiest suburb. I find clothes with the tags still on them all the time. And a lot of the clothes are designer. Half price day I got two huge bags of very nice clothes for hubby and I for 30 bucks.
Saving money makes me feel clever!

[notdecieved]

Here is a money saver that I have used for years and it works great.

Homemade Window Cleaner

In an old window cleaner bottle put
2 - 3 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol
2 - 3 Tbsp. vinegar
2 - 3 Tbsp. ammonia
a couple of drops of liquid detergent
and a couple of drops of blue food coloring
Fill the rest of the bottle with water

This cleaner can also be used to clean walls, stoves, counters etc. You may want to double or triple the strength though, it depends on the heavy duty job you have.

[fan4sure]

I just wanted to say I love all these ideas and tips everyone has shared. Some of them bring back memories of the late 1950's when my father died and my mother found herself raising 5 kids alone. She sure could make a dollar stretch! We had chickens for eggs, a cow for milk and I learned how to make butter, buttermilk, etc. My mom would take me along when she would buy chicken feed in the purty print sacks and let me pick one out and then she would make me a dress/skirt out of it. She had an old foot-pedal Singer sewing machine and could sew very well.

I suggest finding a set of the old FoxFire books by Eliot Wigginton that are old folklore and how to live off the land (back in the olden days.) These books are full of wonderful how-to ideas. You can find them on ebay too. They are a treasure.

[BevS]

to save water - in Iowa- we had a very hot weather and no rain- I used the water left over from the pets water bowl to water the flowers- instead of throwing it out. the plants don't car if Willis and Vanna drank from it.

[XSLaura]

I periodically reread this thread for inspiration to help cutting costs. Like most people we are finding the paycheck is smaller than it used to be and the cost of living keeps going up. I really don't know how people without the hope of Christ make it in today's world. I would be one big stressed out mess were it not for the fact I know He is here for me.

Over the last several years I have been taking a hard look at the STUFF I accumulate and have been getting rid of the things I no longer love or are no longer useful. I am finding that it is helping my home look better, be more peaceful and it also is helping the budget.

[EarsToHear]

Nobody has mentioned these...

Paper towel packages are now smaller and lighter, and product thickness is reduced. Tear off only small sections of paper towel as needed instead of wasting one whole perforated piece. Air dry the larger wet, used, but still clean, pieces and reuse them on a dirtier job next time.

Tear off plastic wrap only enough to securely wrap around container edges. Keep reusing on other containers until the piece gets wet or soiled.

Cut open toothpaste tubes (at the bottom, then press shut after use) and plastic containers of hand, face and body creams (cut in half, then transfer the remaining cream). You can get 1-2 week's worth of product out of containers opened this way.

In bathrooms, use nightlights with a switch. Get in the habit of turning on the 4-watt nightlight instead of the overhead bulbs when only minimal light is needed.

Keep a thin rubber spatula on hand for scraping all of the contents out of slender plastic containers such as salad dressings.

[TruthinLight]

As there is an ecomonic famine in the land, many of us had to get by on less; please allow me to share a few thoughts.

First, all we have is God's-its ALL His and He has entrusted us to use wisely, (time, money, resources, etc) and we are called as Christians to be wise stewards. Pray for wisdom in these challenging times.

My Lord and Savior has not called me to live under a poverty mentallity or 'spirit of lack', but rather has given me the power of a sound mind; that He has come that we have life, and life more abundently; in my case, that is not prosperity gospel of gold chains and cadillacs.

If we understand a penny saved is a penny earned; then let us manage wisely.

Vechicles:
Tires are important and not cheap to purchase; keep inflated and front end aligned so as not to peel off the edges. I get tires from local auto salvage yard or purchase through craig's list and mount myself. If possible go 'narrow and tall' (less width and more sidewall if there is room in the wheel well). This will decrease th co-efficient of friction and rolling resistence, increase ground clearance and gear taller to decrease RPM to increase mileage. For instance, tire size of 215/60/16. First number of 215 is width, second number is an aspect ratio or percentage of the width, third number is the size of the rim in inches. I would see if I could find some good used cheap 205/65s or even 195/70s. If you see any aluminum rims cheap, replace the steelies because each pound of rolling weight equalls four pounds of dead weight.

Go easy on and off the throttle, coast up to stops and turns, etc. I upgraded air intake/exhaust to maximize economy; (shop and buy used if possible or go online for non-tax and free shipping). Replace conventional oil with synthetic in the gearboxes to extend life and reduce friction. I use coupons at the gas station (double on certain days), 'farm' reward programs HARD-purchase their gift card for points and pay with the gift card; 5% savings on credit card at gas stations. The other day I fueled up the truck- $68 bucks, saved $9 or 13% . I really like that dollar/gallon coupon after building a few points!

Credit cards: (mentioned above)
Here's the thing. A national financial guru on the radio sez absolutly no CC's, period, end of discussion. His reasoning is research shows people spend more if paying with plastic than the cold hard cash, and banking moguls are betting on you paying big fees and interest. Over the case of the last few years; I have paid ZERO interest and fees and it pays a percentage back, 1-5%. Playing Monopoly with my son, I showed him this example; say I borrow $100 from you and then I have to pay you $5 for using your money or $105 back. Imagine if I borrow $100 from you I pay back the $100 and you pay me $5 for doing it . . . Dad, can you do that? I put everything I can on the card, use their money for a month and write one cheq a month.

Groceries:
I always have a target price in mind for whatever it is; for instance: 17 cents a can on soda, cheese at $4/lb, 50 cents a roll on bathroom tissue or a dollar a pound on this or that, etc.; seems like I have had to revise the numbers upward as of late. High protien/low carb. Bacon has gone way up-found a bulk deal on 'ends and pieces' $10 for 5 lbs and bacon grease makes a good leather oil- careful because the dogs might like too. Nothing wrong with fresh roadkill. I miss getting milk out of the bulk tank.

Utilities:
Where possible, consider going off-peak power for heat/air conditioning; heat pump is 200-300% efficient with half-price electricity. Maybe find a heat pump out of a foreclosure property or a wood burner. In the northern climes, freeze a gallon of water outside and place in frig or freezer to reduce run time, (cooler concept), have two and swap every couple of days. Think big picture-dont run bath fan in winter to exhaust moisture outside and run a humidifier at the same time? Save water-If married, shower with a friend!

Other ideas:
Give up the gym membership and walk or bike- (aluminum cans are worth 2 cent apiece! . . . don't get me started on scrappen). Barter where possible, trade ya this for that, etc. Watch the tax position.

I am not telling anyone what to do, but rather sharing what works for me; I look forward to learning of other ideas, thanks.

Let money be not our idol but rather use it to further the Kingdom, for His Glory. I have found that if we use what we have to help others, He helps us. Be well and Come Lord Jesus!

[jjmundt]

Credit cards: (mentioned above)
Here's the thing. A national financial guru on the radio sez absolutly no CC's, period, end of discussion. His reasoning is research shows people spend more if paying with plastic than the cold hard cash, and banking moguls are betting on you paying big fees and interest. Over the case of the last few years; I have paid ZERO interest and fees and it pays a percentage back, 1-5%. Playing Monopoly with my son, I showed him this example; say I borrow $100 from you and then I have to pay you $5 for using your money or $105 back. Imagine if I borrow $100 from you I pay back the $100 and you pay me $5 for doing it . . . Dad, can you do that? I put everything I can on the card, use their money for a month and write one cheq a month.

The only things for which we might borrow money are: 1) Home purchase 2) Car purchase 3) Emergency house repair (assuming it costs more than our savings). We purchase nothing else...and I mean nothing...unless we have the cash in the bank.

We carry no CC debt (it took our first 3 married years to erase it all). Now we put almost all purchases on a rewards CC. We build up several hundred dollars in rewards cash, which we typically use to buy gifts.

Works great...a CC that truly pays us.