How do you save money!

[Nattih]

- Cooking at home. Anything I have a taste for, I try to learn how to make.

- Amazon fire stick and hulu for entertainment. They have plenty of free shows and movies that come with my Amazon prime membership as well.

- Grandfathered into a family plan on sprint that leaves my portion of the bill at $35 a month for everything. Never leaving

- I put half of my pay in another account. I still use the account but I find without looking at it each day when I check at my balance, I tend to leave it alone.

- I used to purchase home decor, clothing, and toiletries that I didn't open or use. now if I dont use it within a month, its listed.

- All body and hair care is done at home.

- Being a minimalist has saved me a lot of money. I have a personal challenge to always be able to fit the entirety of my belongings inside of the 5x8 Uhaul (haha) cargo trailer, furniture included. If I am getting too "cluttered" I downsize.

- Hand washing. I hand wash my "nice" clothing and dry them on a rack to keep them nice.

[Kätzchen]

I've learned to live on what I earn, by spending my earnings in modest ways. I keep all my living expenses to a minimum and paid in full, on a monthly basis, which is super tricky if the power bill escalates during intermittent cold spells, but it's entirely something I've learned to monitor closely.

When it comes to grocery shopping, I limit my purchases to a monthly total of $300.00 (cash), because I shop for items that are fresh, local, and stay with foods that are healthy for my overall physical health.

As far as having extra money on hand (the savings acct), I bank at a Credit Union, taking advantage of special offerings like getting small personal loans, which I never spend. I just sink the entire loan into my savings account, never touch it, make the monthly payments for a year, earn a great credit rating for timely payments, collect dividend interest on the money sitting in my account, then do it again each year, etc. I have a nice nest egg to tap in case I ever need to use it. I love my credit union!

[Gayandgray]

I quit smoking, I try to buy the store brand instead of name brand on some stuff, we eat at home a lot more. I'm actually trying to come up with new ideas to save right now, rather than take on a part time job.

[Jar]

I have an online savings account and money is transferred automatically every payday from my checking. It's like money I never see. For splurge money I have a change jar that all my change goes into ...... It adds up

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Jar

I have an online savings account and money is transferred automatically every payday from my checking.

Me too! In just a few years, I have managed to save quite a bit in my TFS (tax free savings account)! Best banking decision!

[cinnamongrrl]

I do some eco stuff that also equates to money saving.

I turn my heat down while I'm at work and when I go to bed. So really, there's only several hours that its turned up for

If I'm baking something in the oven I try to plan ahead of there's something I can cook ahead while the oven is hot. Like sweet potatoes. I won't turn on the oven just to bake one alone.
.I unplug any big plugs (cell phone, computer etc) when not in use. I also turn off the power strip that my TV is plugged into.

I shut off lights religiously. My gram had a lot to do with that
...it works. My electric bill before winter was always around $40.

My cell phone bill I cut from $50 to $40 by choosing a different plan. I could even go down to $30...but talk isn't unlimited.

I got rid of cable since its not only a money sucker but a time sucker. I'm reading a lot more now. But I do miss football

I used to always hang wash out, bit now that its winter I arrange a drying rack over a heating vent and my wash dries by morning. I figure what energy I do use should do double duty.

I got eco friendly bulbs in all my lamps and over heads. First thing I do when I move into a place actually....

I too filter my water. There's enough plastic in the world.

I always look for things on sale when I need them. Or free on Craigslist. Often just putting it into the universe yields you some good finds. That's how I got my composter.

I thrift shop for most things. Around here they support animal shelters and hospices. So my shopping dollars do good deeds too. And when I purge some stuff, they are the first ones I bring it to.

I'm thinking about asking my groomer to barter grooming for cleaning. Or making cookies for her clients. The four legged ones. Grooming costs a heap. My poodle needs it every few months...so. it would help. Bartering is a craigslist thing too. Never hurts to try.

[Jar]

Originally Posted by cinnamongrrl

I got rid of cable since its not only a money sucker but a time sucker. I'm reading a lot more now. But I do miss football

I got eco friendly bulbs in all my lamps and over heads

I too filter my water. There's enough plastic in the world.

I filter water too. Bottled water is a waste of money IMO. I have those Eco bulbs too and I'm looking into alternatives to cable. My mom has had me hooked on football the last couple years so I would miss that and the ID crime channel.

[Gayandgray]

Ya know, I been thinking about getting a clothes line! It would save a lot on using the darn dryer, especially in the summer.

[Orema]

I saved a lot of money last year by cooking and making almost all my own food. This year I've started making my own kale chips and have all the ingredients to make my first batch of laundry detergent. (Thanks to some tips from Jesse)

I also make my own bar soap sometimes.

I ditched cable years ago and just stream movies and tv shows with a media box.

I intentionally moved close to work to lower my carbon stamp and that saves money on transportation.