After more than a few requests, we’re back to share a few more cheapo tips for keeping money in your wallet. We dished out a bunch of moolah saving tips here a while back, and also posted about paring down and keeping things simple (which also helps beef up the ol’ bank balance). And since we still can’t help but cling to our pennies (and cross our fingers before we open our Target bill), we thought sharing a few more of the things that save us the most loot might help you guys too. Here we go…
Cheapola Tip #1- Dollar Dinners. We eat at home almost every night of the week, but there’s always room for improvement when it comes to the grocery store checkout counter. Inspiration struck when I was reminiscing about how cheaply I lived back in my NYC dorm days (surviving mainly on microwave soft pretzels and the ever popular fifty cent bag of Ramen Noodles). I certainly didn’t wanna go back to that, but I could take inspiration from my one dollar dinners or yore and devote one night to eating a super simple dish that literally costs around a buck. Now at least once a week we enjoy spaghetti night. What’s on the menu? Angel hair & pasta sauce. That’s it. No side salad, no shrimp, no vodka sauce, no meatballs. Since it’s just one day a week it hardly seems like a punishment (and we’re sure to get our veggies at lunch). In fact it’s kinda fun. And now our bag of shrimp stretches a little further and we purchase less chopped meat than we used to. For extra credit we just might add vegetables with brown rice to the weekly agenda (a frozen bag of veggies + some rice= a whole lotta savings over time).
Cheapola Tip #2- Post Your Goals. I actually read about this super inspirational idea in this month’s Women’s Health: keep your credit cards in an envelope and write your financial goals on the outside. My adaptation of it was to stick a post-it note in my wallet on top of the slots that hold my credit cards so I’m forced to read it before I whip out my cards. Penning things like “pay off the house in ten years” and “save up for an organic mattress” really keeps purchases in perspective- and nips any unnecessary spending in the bud.
Cheapola Tip #3- Go For Four. Four days a week (usually Monday-Thursday) John and I make a conscious effort not to spend a cent. We actually heard Suze Orman encouraging people to go one day a week without spending a penny (no morning paper, no Starbucks coffee, no nothing) but for two seasoned cheapskates like us, we thought we could try for four. The majority of our errand running is done on the weekend, so it’s really not that hard. John takes the two-minute-longer-toll-free route to work, we read the news online instead of buying a paper, and we both eat homemade breakfasts, lunches (John brown bags his) and dinners. We also limit our trips on those days so we’re not tempted to break the rules and we also occasionally pick up something on the weekend to keep us motivated (like a $2 box of chai tea that we can make at home all week to keep the Starbucks withdrawl at bay).
Cheapola Tip #4- DIY One Thing. Anything from the aforementioned homemade chai to doing your own nails counts. As long as you’re taking on one thing you used to pay someone to do for ya, you’re officially DIYing your way to some serious savings. Other ideas: wash your own car, make your own face mask with kitchen ingredients, get books and movies for free at the library, or even whip up your own cleaning products.
Cheapola Tip #5- Save The Date. They say the best things in life are free, and I think that’s especially true when it comes to date night. Commit to one free date with your man once a week. Not only will it keep you busy (and keep cash in your wallet) it will genuinely make you both feel great. We love to go for long walks, hikes, and bike rides or tour a free landmark, museum or gallery. Other ideas: hit up garage sales or open houses just to browse, spend an afternoon reading at Barnes & Noble, listen to music and play your favorite board game or spend the night in your guest room- it’s like a vacation at home.
Cheapola Tip #6- Break Out The Magnifying Glass. Take a good look at everything that you spend money on and think twice about it. There are certainly lots of bills that will pass inspection, but you just might realize that you’re hardly getting your money out of Netflix these days (movies go unwatched for weeks) or that you no longer need your landline (now that you have your cell). And while you’re at it, you just might find that consolidating your cell phones to a family plan or sweet talking the cable company will really end up saving you a bundle.
Cheapola Tip #7– Grow Your Own. Save some dough this planting season by starting herbs, veggies and flowers from seeds. You’ll get a garden full of basil for the price of one serving at the supermarket. And a gorgeous floral cutting garden for less than the cost of one bouquet. Click here for a simple seed starting tutorial.
Now it’s your turn! We’d love to hear your penny pinching tips and tricks. Share and share alike.
For another great money saving strategy check out the envelope system here and here on Imperfect
Anne says
Great post! there are definitely easy ways to save money in this post. I’m a firm believer in packing a lunch every day. It’s cheaper and healthier!
Lindsay says
Thanks for the new ideas! I’m looking forward to the seed lesson! I have always wanted to have my own herb garden, but I think the word “garden” scares me!! :-)
I just ate a left-overs lunch that looked a lot like that picture of spaghetti! Budget, budget, budget… we just started doing this in the fall when we took a Dave Ramsey class. So, before the paychecks come in, every dollar is told where to go before we get the money… X amount to mortgage, X to home decor, X to savings, X to food, etc. So, we decide ahead of time how to spend money and have stopped using credit cards. It helps avoid buying things we do not need, and encourages us to plan and save for items to want.
erin taylor says
seriously- I wrapped my credit cards in post-its for the longest time. literally having to unwrap my card before I swiped every time made me think twice about my purchases…
Emily says
To avoid owning two cars, I bike to work or take public transportation. My husband can’t take public transport to work (plus, he does daycare dropoff and pick up). This saves us tons of money. It’s a pain, many mornings, to bear the freezing cold walk to the subway (it’s about a 20 min walk each way) but I try to remind myself of the good I’m doing for wallet and earth. When the time changes and the weather warms up a bit I hop on my bike, accomplishing both my work out (it’s a bit over 7 miles each way) and my commute in one swoop. I’m the mom of a toddler so it’s even better since my time in the mornings and evenings really doesn’t hold space for a work out. Luckily, there are showers at my work so I bathe and get dressed when I arrive.
In 2009, I resolved not to purchase a stitch of clothing outside of socks and undergarments. While it’s looking as if I may have to purchase one new pair of sneakers, so far, I’ve kept to it. I do have some saved up gift certificates that I am allowing myself to use. This weekend I went to Anthropologie with the idea of buying one small thing. Nothing seemed worthy of spending my gc’s on so I abstained.
Natalie says
Wow! What a great list! I love that you listed some fresh new ideas in addition to the old stand-bys. Personally, we also brown-bag it to work and eat dinner at home. Menu-planning each week and shopping sales with coupons at the grocery store saves big money on the food budget. My husband drives an older, paid-for car to eliminate a car payment and lower insurance costs.
I think the biggest thing is adopting the attitude that saving money and being frugal is not a bad thing or going “without”, its working towards your goals (i.e. what you really want!).
christel says
How about taking the plunge and saying to myself “do I really need to mortgage a new lamp?” And remember “If you can’t pay cash, you have no business buying it.” ********Credit Card Free, 14 months and counting!!
christel says
I am a mega penny pincher. I will list some of daily dutes and hopefully save someone a dollar or two!
– No paper towels or any paper goods for that matter. I use dishtowels and throw them straight into the washer when needed. And this means I get to have cute cloth napkins!
-Go to a discount store 1st. They might have the perfect storage bin for 1/2 the cost.
-Don’t buy anything without a coupon! This can be hard but once you start doing it you will feel guilty when you purchase something for the whole price. Go to a stores website to check out discounts before you head out shopping!
Lowes has a %10 off coupon online always.
HobbyLobby has a %40 off coupon online at all times as well.
JR says
I have a shopping bug, where sometimes I just crave something new. I decided to “shop” in my closet, and for the past 2 weeks I have been wearing things that I haven’t worn in months or years! It is so fun!
Also, when the bug is irresistible, I find that going to the nearby thrift store with $10-$20 is just as satisfying (if not more), and I can come home with a bundle of goodies!
Emily says
I’m convinced that a well stocked spice cabinet (and a fairly adventurous palate) is the key to cheap yummy cooking. We no longer buy any spice packets or jars of tomato sauce. It’s easy enough to find a recipe for homemade taco sauce and you can use up a bunch of celery in a homemade marinara sauce or stock. I am usually too lazy for homemade stock, but it’s basically made from scraps (bones, shrimp shells, leftover veggies, ends of asparagus, etc) and water, and freezes well. I’ve heard you can even make it in a crock pot.
When we want to socialize, we have friends over for dinner. We make something relatively easy and ask friends to bring a bottle of wine. Much less expensive than going out and often more fun.
Thanks for these goal guidelines. Really helpful!
Kristy says
Great tips. I wanted to mention http://www.redbox.com This is a movie rental vending machine. Not sure you have this in your area, but we have it in the St Petersburg/Tampa FL area and it’s great. 99 cents a night for a current movie. It’s great. Somehow paying only 99 cents to watch a movie turns into a movie date night on the seriously cheap. I pop a batch of homemade popcorn and make some homemade iced coffee’s and we are living it up for very cheap. We usually pile a ton of pillows on the living room floor, move the coffee table out of the way and get super comfy. The movies rent for 99 cents a night so if you don’t take it back..it can add up…but because I’m all about getting a bargain I always return the movie within 24 hours to avoid another 99 cent charge.
I’ve also started to trade books, movies, dvd’s, musical CD’s with all of my friends. We meet up on Sunday afternoon to do a massive swap. This way if someone does buy an item we all get to benefit from it. IE: My CD purchase benefits 5 other familys. A DVD..the same. Paying for one book and reading 5…that’s a win/win situation. Also…we often meet up on Sunday afternoon and share drinks at someone’s house. It’s a great excuse to have a cocktail at home.
sugarlens says
My husband and I are extremely frugal as well, so we do nearly, if not all, all the tips you listed.
I am in charge of grocery shopping and I cut costs by buying fresh ingredients (fresh veggies, fruits). They are so much cheaper than packaged TV dinners and other instant meals. Not to mention that they are a lot healthier. I buy meat and fish in bulk.
I always use coupons. I can get boxes of cereal for as low as $.50 each by using coupons. Sometimes I get stuff for free with coupons.
Good post Sherry! I really like learning about how people save money!
Kristy says
Ohhh one last thing. My co-workers and I swap out magazines. So I buy one magazine and get to read 8. We simply place all the magazines in a bin on someone’s desk and we all rummage through and read all the great magazines for the month. It feels good to share.
Jennifer says
Thanks for the great ideas! They’ll definitely be put into action at our little casa as well.
I’m a vegetarian, and my hubby rarely eats meat either. Not only is a vegetarian diet cheaper, but it’s healthy and better for the planet considering all of the resources and fossil fuels that go into making your cheeseburger or steak. Even if you can’t go all-out-veg, cutting down on meat and dairy products saves money.
I also keep a one-cup coffee maker on my desk at work (about $20 at Target.com). So when my coworkers go for an obligatory afternoon Starbucks run, I can opt-out without sacrificing a fresh cup of coffee.
JB says
Thanks so much for this post! It is nice to see another couple in their 20’s promoting being cheapskates. :) You can live richly without spending alot of money. I started clipping coupons recently and combine them w/ store sales. Out of this world savings! I also make my own household cleaners. Cheap to do and great for the environment and your family’s health.
Molly says
My hubby started making his coffee at home the night before instead of driving to Starbucks in the morning. It also encouraged him to start his half caf half decaf drink to cut back on his caffeine intake. Anyways, it’s saved us lots per week. And, it’s more fun for him when he does happen to swing in and grab a coffee drink at Starbucks (birthdays, end of long week, etc) since he’s not having them daily.
AND, I’ve started making muffins by the dozens (especially when ingredients or boxes are on sale) and freezing them. 30 seconds in the microwave and they are ready to go in hand when he heads out the door. That’s more of a time saver than a penny saver, but it kind of goes along with the coffee thing.
Cindy says
Oh how funny. I did a budget post as well this morning. Strangely, with a lot of the same things.
A couple other things we implemented just this month were not to buy unnecessary groceries until we cleaned out the pantry/fridge/freezer. We’ve had some interesting and delicious new dinners.
This past weekend we cleaned out our closet, trying on every single item. We found stuff we had forgotten about, found new ways to wear things and in fact, got rid of a lot – we also started a clothes swap with some friends.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny Cindy! We really enjoyed your post- thanks for the link! We must all have budget on the brain these days. Great minds think alike- and love to save their pennies!
xo,
Sherry
ashley morgan says
Loving this post and all the helpful comments! We do the veggies and brown rice thing once a week, too. I also use coupons, we grow some veggies and herbs, and we just started composting which in the future will save money on soil, since we garden a lot.
Sarah says
Great post! My husband and I are also proud penny-pinchers, and we love to hear new ideas. One of the areas we have trouble with is eating out. We like to cook, but we also work hard at our jobs and a couple times a week we like to let others do the work for us. Some of the ways we’ve made it easier on our wallets are:
– Join the email list for restaurants in the area. They alert us to new deals and coupons.
– Learn the local happy hours. Many restaurants have 1/2 priced appetizers during certain hours.
– Split meals. Although this cuts back on one of my favorite things about restaurant food (leftovers!), cutting $10-$15 off the bill makes it worth it!
Happy thrifting!
Julie says
A great money saving meal is rice and beans. Make your rice, heat up a can of black beans, add some salsa and a little sour cream, and viola, yumminess!
Rachel says
I have a large garden so I prep freeze frozen veggie mixes, sauces and herbs throughout the year. We eat 100% organic so it really helps cut down on a large grocery budget. The rest of our food is bought in bulk. We eat almost no processed food so that helps as well.
Our cheap go-to meals are veggies over brown rice, black bean burgers (so easy to make at home), lentil stews and veggie pastas. Meal planning also goes a long way. I menu plan and shop on Sundays and Wednesdays. All the meal possibilities go on the fridge and we choose what we’ll be having that evening. We call it the fridge menu. Having choices makes it much more fun! I think our overall biggest dollar saver is being vegetarian. It allows us to eat organic and local while still being able to pay the bills, lol. I’m also cooking a lot more vegan food this year.
Oh, and if you drink a lot of wine, find something you like and buy it by the case! The local organic table wine we like is so much cheaper when we buy it in bulk.
Brittany says
For those who enjoy new media try swapacd.com and paperbackswap.com. I traded books I’ve already read for ones I’d like to read and have some new cds to put on my iPod.
Claudia says
I really enjoyed this post. We certainly strive to save as much as we can! We do one date day a month and try to keep it around $40. We get to do so many things on $40 because we go to museums, or botanical gardens, lake, or window shopping.
We also recently started organizing for others and have managed to save money with that side job. My goal is to grow this little business–I really enjoy to organize and love to see the look in people’s faces when they see their new and impoved closet!
RIC to DC says
These are all wonderful! Two suggestions:
When the mood to eat out DOES strike, we use Restaurant.com. Pop in your zip code, and they list all the restaurants in your area for which you can purchase discounted gift certificates. Last week, I went to Restaurant.com and spent $5 for a $25 GC. Sometimes, $10 GC’s are as cheap as $0.60! Be sure to read the fine print (whether the GC includes alcohol, prohibited days of use, etc.). Regardless, they are always well worth the purchase and save us lots of dough when we’re out and about
Secondly, I always always always Google for online coupons before I make an Internet purchase. I snagged a Coupon Cabin discount code for that Restaurant.com gift cert I bought — the original price for the $25 GC (to Cous Cous in Richmond…yum!) was $10. With a 50% off code, it dropped the price to $5. Not bad!
YoungHouseLove says
You guys are seriously blowing us away with your money saving tips! Thanks so much for chiming in and keep it coming!
xo,
Sherry
Amy says
The garden really does save a ton of money if you are a big produce-eater. Last summer I had a vegetable garden for the first time and did not buy a single bell pepper, cucumber (two things I eat raw more or less every day) or tomato (staple in my summer meal plans) between June and August. I also grew enough basil to make several batches of pesto, which can be expensive to make when you have to buy everything. Plus it all tastes DELICIOUS.
Jen says
We try to be pretty frugal, and we’re lucky because I’m a nanny and the family loves when we stay for dinner (I cook, so it saves me from going home and making another meal). So 5 nights out of the week, we get to eat for free! It really saves on our grocery bill. I also shower and run on the treadmill at their house while the boy I take care of is at school, saving us money on our water bill and saving me from joining a gym!
I also use Restaurant.com (which someone already mentioned) and if you look for codes, you can usually get a $25 for much less than the $10 listed (I recently got some for $3 apiece!!).
I hardly ever buy anything without a coupon, I use retailmenot.com to find coupon codes for every site. Plus, I use ebates to get cash back on the purchases I’m making anyways!
I also use paperbackswap.com – since I love to read it saves me from buying a lot of books, and I can get rid of ones I no longer want so they aren’t cluttering up my home!
Great post. :)
erin says
I am so glad you mentioned the Netflix thing. We are downgrading our Netflix because DH is the only one who has been religiously watching his movies lately. I also requested an energy “audit” from our gas company after our gas bill went up despite our efforts to bundle up more and use the heater less.
I also use coupons religiously at the grocery store and don’t ever buy things when they are on sale. I keep a running tally in my head at the store as well, more mental exercise that I’d prefer but it helps me to be conscious of what I am buying. If this roast is going to push my total from $55 to $65, do I really need it or can it wait until next week? I also then make “whole dollar” purchases, rounding up my total and never spending the change. The change goes into a jar at home and that gets to be the “fun” money for a pedicure (necessary now that I am too pregnant to reach my toes and do it myself!), a movie out, or inexpensive take-out.
Tarah says
We frequently make our own pasta, which turns a $1 kind of boring spaghetti night into something special and fun to do together. It takes less than 5 minutes to mix it up in a food processor, then roll it out with a pasta roller.
Tina says
My kids love breakfast for dinner! We now have it every Thursday. I would be very happy with just scrambled eggs and toast, but hubby wants bacon. So if he wants it he has to go get it and make it. Ha. We also have spaghetti about once a week. Being italian, it’s not really a sacrifice, it’s a necessity.
Rachel says
I limit my dinner item purchases to ten items per week. Not only is grocery shopping much quicker, less food gets wasted.
Last year we canceled our cable, stopped renting a DVR from the cable company, and bought a Tivo instead.
Each week we both get a cash allowance to spend as we choose. This has really cut on all those misc. credit card purchases that can really start to add up.
These changes, along with several others, enabled us to start depositing my paychecks in a separate savings account, and living off my husband’s paycheck. All the little savings have added up to some awesome and indulgent vacations and bigger purchases.
Amy A. says
One tip from an ex-911 dispatcher…make sure if you get rid of your land line…keep a phone plugged in even if you don’t pay for service (and do a 911 test call to verify with the police dept. that your correct address pops up on their screen). This is important for reverse 911 too.
Rebecca says
Ever heard of the step-down method for purchases? For example,if you normally go to the newest movie theater to watch the latest blockbuster, then try the theater that’s a little older (maybe not as nice) and generally costs less. If you normally go to the older theater, try going to the dollar theater. If you normally go to the dollar theater, try renting it on dvd. If you normally rent dvds, try waiting until it’s on tv. It makes it easier for me to do it this way than to try to make a giant leap from “newest movie theater” to “watching it on tv.” I give another example on my blog about pizza friday.
YoungHouseLove says
And the good ideas keep on coming! Thanks so much for the fabulously smart and simple suggestions. Here’s to saving even more pennies!
xo,
Sherry
Tiffany says
I just recently found swaptree.com. It only takes seconds to register and you are able to start trading books, dvds, games, movies and music with other users for free. All you have to pay for is shipping. I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet but it seems like a pretty sweet deal… just list what you’re willing to trade and what you are looking for, and they’ll find someone for you to make the swap with!
Jeff says
If people really want to get serious about saving money then they should add Bathroom Bidet Sprayers to all their bathrooms. Available at http://www.bathroomsprayers.com with these you won’t even need toilet paper any more, just a towel to dry off! It’s cheap and can be installed without a plumber; and runs off the same water line to your toilet. You’ll probably pay for it in a few months of toilet paper savings. And after using one of these you won’t know how you lasted all those years with wadded up handfuls of toilet paper. Now we’re talking green and helping the environment without any pain.
Samantha says
If I really need to save money, I leave my husband at home when I do the shopping. He just cannot resist all the so called special offers in the super market, and we end up with things in the basket that where not on the list!
Betty819 says
Hats off to you Samantha! I have a DH that insist on going to grocery store with me..that is because he goes for sweets and he knows he is not allowed them as a diabetic..I keep threaten to not allow him to go but he has some serious health issues and I don’t need depression to be added to it so I try to take him out every other day if it is even to a light lunch, Drs. appt. or grocery store. He has to use the electric carts in the grocery store and I try to show him the grocery list so he can pick some of the items in his basket and I’ll go for other items, cuts down on time spent in there but he runs up the grocery bill. He likes to eat too high off the hog too..I keep threatening to remove any sweet item over one but don’t want to make a spectacle of myself or cause him to start calling me names. I do all the driving now so we are together almost all the time. I am giving up bowling because the season is too long and I feel guilty leaving him those 4 hrs. once a week..but it’s my own therapy..We have a cleaning lady that comes in every other Monday and that is a big help to me, and she is excellent.
Danielle says
Being a single mom, penny pinching is a way to ensure we still have what we need, some of what we want, and eventually a house paid off and college tuition for three. Here are my tips:
1. Pay half of your monthly mortgage every two weeks rather than once per month. You want to check with your lender to make sure it is allowable (some banks will penalize you for doing so) but over the course of a year, you will likely pay off more on the principal than by paying it off each month (which for the first 10 years or so is mostly interest payments.) If you cannot pay biweekly, then save an additional $5 a week and add it to your payment… the extra funds come right off of the principal balance.
2. If you’re looking for a house and you live in a rural area, look into the USDA’s Rural Development direct loan program. It does have income limits, but they tend to be pretty average for a given area. The best part? A mortgage with a 1% to a maximum of 5% interest rate, which will save you thousands over the course of the loan.
3. Prep day. I go to the grocery store every other Saturday, and spend the next day chopping vegetables for the freezer and prepping recipes for the week. I usually cook at least one dinner and keep it in the fridge so that when I get home, all I have to do is reheat it and serve. We don’t eat out more than twice a month, and that is almost always take-out chinese, since I cannot seem to make it (I always order extra rice since it is pathetically inexpensive and it freezes SO well and I can throw it with some chicken and veggies and call it dinner.)
4. Ebay. I buy nearly all of my clothes on Ebay. I wear the same brand of jeans, so I know exactly how they fit, and look for the NWT listings on Ebay (new with tags). My local thrift store gets brand new out of season clothing from designer labels (I once got a Juicy tracksuit with tags for $5, and a Burberry trench for $10), and other designers so I also check up on them when I know they have gotten a shipment. I purchase a lot of neutrals since I wear a suit most of the time, and splurge a couple (that’s two) times a year on a quality accessory. As far as my kids go, they mostly wear hand-me-downs that my sister-in-law sends over, since her daughter basically wears a new outfit every day (so they’re in brand new condition.) Find someone with kids and doesn’t plan on more… they’ll usually be thrilled to free up the storage space from getting rid of outgrown clothes.
5. Entertain smart. Nearly every museum has “free” time… a few hours during a week or a month or a year where you and yours can get in free. Find out when these are. Plan a day. Pack a lunch. Sometimes, for the cost of one day’s admission for your brood, you can buy a membership and go all year long (such is the case with my local zoo.) I budget an iTunes gift card once a month ($15) which allows for either a movie purchase, a couple of movie rentals, or some music for my ipod to jog to.
6. Preventative care. This not only goes for your regular doctor’s visits, but your dental cleanings (get them), car maintenance, and house maintenance. Repairs are a lot less expensive to deal with when you catch them early (which goes for oil changes and cavities alike.)
Kathleen T says
A lot of credit unions are offering high-yield checking accounts. I recently signed up for this and am now getting 4% interest just on my checking! I charge everything to a rewards card and pay it off at the end of the month – so my money sits in checking as long as possible to gain interest and then I get free stuff from my credit card and avoid paying interest on that by paying in full every month!
Julie says
I recently started using http://www.mint.com, a great personal finance website that helps you create a realistic budget based on your spending habits. I tried Quicken for a while and found it to be cumbersome and difficult to use. Mint.com is very user-friendly and has made budgeting more of a fun game for me.
Laura at Emmy Lu says
I loved the list you made John and Sherry – I’m all about the saving money tips and doing things more creatively and thrifty. Especially tip #5! My husband and I always try to have a weekly date night that we do for free, and the planning process is all part of the fun! Trying to get creative in finding free things to do is a fun way to spend time together brainstorming. If anyone reading this is a Minnesota native, here’s a post about free museum passes in the Twin Cities that make great free date night ideas:
http://emmylu.com/blog/?p=116
Jaclyn says
I started making my own laundry soaps. They last forever, cost about 3 cents (!) per load and are perfume, dye free.
Liquid Soap
3 pt Water
1/3 bar grated Fels-Naptha soap (grate in food processor)
½ C Arm and Hammer super washing soda (not baking soda)
½ C 20 mule team Borax
2 Gallon bucket for mixing
1 qt hot water
Mix water and Fels-Naptha in a pot, warm. Mix in soda and borax. Remove from heat. Fill bucket, add 1 quart water and set aside for 24 hours. ½ C per normal load of laundry.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
1 C Fels-Naptha Soap grated
½ C Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ C 20 Mule Team Borax
2 T per normal load of laundry
Lauren says
I was laid off at the beginning of November. My husband and I are not frugal, we spend money on the things we love. We still do, so we cut back on the things that weren’t as important to us.
1. Split the cost of a Sam’s Club membership with another household (you get two cards for every membership).
2. I make one grocery run a week on Sunday – I get the big staple items that are cheaper at Sam’s, then the rest at the grocery store. For two, our grocery bill averages about $50 a week. This includes all non-food items (such as contact solution), pet food, and alcohol.
3. On Sunday, I prepare for the week. I make one big meal for all dinners – e.g. soup, homemade pasta sauce, stewed beef, etc. Then, on every night, it’s fast to make cheap items to go with the main course (rice, veggies, pasta, etc.). I also prepare lunches.
4. We used to go out with friends, now we host most weekend nights. The food and alcohol that we serve is part of our grocery expenses. For example, we hosted a game night, a movie night, and a lunch for three different groups of friends and family this past weekend. Note: we don’t have cable, but we have an amazing TV and surround sound for movie nights.
5. Emergency money – for months when an unexpected expense appears, our locality does not penalize for late utility bills (gas, water, trash, etc). It doesn’t affect credit and our locality allows the citizens to slowly make up a big bill when it hits.
6. And, of course, exchanging services! A friend of ours watched our pets when we were out of town, so I gave him a day of painting in his house. We have similar arrangements with other friends and family.
Emily says
Thanks for the great post (and the link!). I love to plant my own herbs – I plant every St. Patrick’s day indoors so that they’ll be ready to transplant outside at the end of May – our safe planting time in Colorado.
Marcy says
Great ideas!
I match coupons up with sales when buying groceries, household items and toiletries, and I stockpile when things are cheap!
I’m a stay at home mom, so I also try to stay home at least 2 days/week to save on gas and spending in general.
We also grow produce and herbs in pots on our patio each summer.
Have a great weekend!
MaryB in Richmond says
The Sam’s Club membership rules are that the cards are for two members of the same household. Giving a card to a friend or relative who is not a member of your household isn’t allowed. It’s no different, I think, than saying that you shoplift the first $20 (or $50) you buy from Sam’s each year — which certainly nobody is recommending as a cost cutting solution. :-)
Seriously, though, that’s taking money out of Sam’s bottom line, and whether it’s shoplifting or “sharing a membership” with another household the end result is the same.
Just my $.02 worth.
Susan says
I love how you mentioned eating at home could really save money! Obviously cooking was more thrifty than a nice sit down dinner in a resturant but you never think twice about the occasional trip through the drive thou because can you really cook a full meal for less at home?
Apparently you can;
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/12/does-cooking-at-home-really-beat-the-mcdonalds-1-double-cheeseburger/
Talk about an eye opener huh?
Elaine says
Do tell…now that you are 2+ years in the house…are you on progress to meet your goal of paying it off in ten years?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Elaine,
Yup, we’re doing very well with the mortgage. It takes discipline but we’re determined! Our recent refinancing really helped us get ahead as well so we’re super excited to someday live mortgage free…
xo,
s
Viv says
Have one of two high quality microwavable lunch storage containers available. At night when you dish up dinner, fill a container to take to work for lunch. This helps in two ways. First of all, you save on lunch (I made it all the way through last year without one purchased lunch!) and second, there are no second helpings available or leftovers to munch on while you are cleaning the kitchen.
Nicole says
Another great idea for starting seeds — save your eggshells from breakfast. Yep, don’t throw away the shells, but use them to start your garden. Fill the 1/2 shell about 2/3 of the way with a little potting soil (or soil from your compost!) and plant your seed right in. And you can use your now-empty egg carton to hold everything upright until planting. Once the seeds sprout and grow to the desired planting height, just crack the shell a bit (to speed up the break-down process) and plant the whole rig. The shell provides nutrients to the soil as well as housing your seedling. AND you don’t have to shell out for those fancy starter kits! Bonus!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip Nicole! Thanks for sharing.
xo,
s
Betty819 says
Nicole..reading your idea about using eggshells to start your seeds..Have you ever heard of Wintersowing? It is a great method to start your seeds for flowers or garden by using empty milk jugs or other plastic containers..It is a lot of fun and satisfaction. There is a website called Wintersowing.com or just google the word Wintersowing and many websites will show up.
Ange says
Hi there! We have definitely been trying out #6 and putting everything under the microscope. Having had our 3rd child last year, we are really trying to curb the spending & stretch our dollars further. More selfishly I am trying to stay an at home Mum as long as possible, so with our eldest starting school as well this year stretching dollars is important. We both have cell phones, hubs is paid for by work so even more reason to utilise it..we cancelled our land line. While we spent alot of time considering this before making it happen, the most unexpected fallout was our relatives complaining. No-one wants to call our cells. Even my sister who is with the same phone company as me (can call me for free) but it was all about inconvenience for her. We had to remove the emotions and remind ourselves what the bigger picture was all about, and left everyone to deal with their own issues. Phew! Stick to your guns penny pinchers you will reap the rewards.
KB says
Hi youngsters! I absolutely love your blog – and these “life tips” are my favorite kind of posts! Sherry, I know you’re from NJ, so you’re aware of how freakin’ expensive home ownership is here – between house prices (even in this economy!) and property taxes (close to $10K for a very modest abode!) – my husband and I are very nervous about taking the plunge. We share your frugal mentality, and try to live ultra cheaply – but when cost of living is so high, it’s hard to feel like we’re succeeding! Our ultimate goals are home ownership (within the year) and for me to stay at home once we have children, and I was wondering if you had any tips, given our locale. This could apply to anywhere that has a high cost of living. We’ve actually even thought of relocating (hubs is from VA), but when cost of living goes down, salary does too, and we’re not sure we’d be beating the odds. Sorry for this super long comment…I just really value your philosophy, and would appreciate any input you may have! Oh, and I think you’ve also mentioned having multiple kids and staying in your house long-term even though it’s your first house – any thoughts on your strategy for that would be welcome too. We’d love to have 3 or 4 children, but doing that in a 3-bedroom house (probably the only kind we can afford right now) seems impossible. We often ponder whether the “10 year plan” is a profitable one, or if we should try to buy our “family house” now – a daunting prospect! Thanks in advance!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey KB,
We’ve blogged our hearts out on this subject, so we hope that our How To page’s Money Category will be of help for ya. Just click the How To tab under our header and scroll down to find the money category and click all those links to hopefully find a few handy tips. Oh and don’t forget to read the comments from our frugal readers- they have so many amazing ideas for saving some loot! Good luck!
xo,
s
Betty819 says
It depends where in Virginia the cost of living is high and what kind of job your DH could get in Virginia..I have a niece that lives in Morris county and I was floored when she told me what her property taxes are per year. We have suggested she come back to Md. to live but she has her two grown children and 3 grandchildren there,so she is not about to leave them. She’s been living in NJ 40 years so it would be hard for her to make a change. She could live a lot cheaper here, and make a better salary and also be able to help her siblings with her aging Mother.
Rachel says
wow!! im just now going thru all your saving tips post (i started with the baby saving post) this is so encouraging. just last night i was feeling super overwhelmed about how people do it. i feel like if im saving somewhere im over spending somewhere else… these tips are great thank you guys!!