How do you save money!

[Jacie]

In my youth, I drank, smoked, did any drug offered me, and ran up credit cards in effort to drink, smoke, and do any drug offered me. Basically, I was always broke because I was an idiot. Not the best of money-saving strategies!

Now that I am a responsible sort, and make a pretty decent living, I do not deny myself the things I want. Of course, the essence of those things has drastically changed.

I suppose I save money by no longer drinking (well, now in moderation), smoking, and doing drugs. I also save money by not having a partner to lavish with tokens and gifts of admiration!

Being single is a pretty effective money-saving plan!

[homoe]

For sure being single saves a person some bucks

[Gayandgray]

I'm thinking about getting a small chest freezer to fill with meat when it goes on sale. I saw a small one at Lowes for under $200. But I don't know if it would fit in my small house? It would help save money though, when the sales are real good.

[grenade]

I'm an impulse shopper and I truly get a high from it. I guess I can say that I save money in other areas.

I quit getting my nails done and pedi's at the salon after I had a fungus dream and did some research. I went monthly at a minimum of 75 bucks.

Eating vegan saves quite a bit of money. Less options to eat out.

I don't smoke at all or drink very rarely. $1213563213466 savings.

Yeah...that's all I got.

[boioboi]

I rarely go out to eat, canceled our internet at home, volunteer at a local store to get 35% off our food, use eBates (it's an awesome site -- get money back for your purchases online -- see referal link below), and shop the sales. Oh, and buy clothes second hand.

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrer...%3D&eeid=28585

[Gayandgray]

Ok, so I'm seriously giving some thought to saving money so I can afford to cut back my hours at my fulltime job. Basically, work 4 days a week instead of 5. I'm going to get that chest freezer here soon, since I found a great new butcher shop that is very reasonably priced. That way I can stock up on meat much cheaper than grocery store meat, and better quality. I will still buy whole chickens at Redner's when they go on sale. We don't really go out to eat a whole lot, and I'm not into shopping for clothes and stuff like that. Comcast is expensive but there really aren't too many cheaper alternatives around here. If I could find a Summer job cleaning rental condos at the beach this Summer, I would use the extra cash to pay down my pet credit card. We had to run it up pretty high due to all four dogs having different ailments, surgeries, etc.

[Glenn]

How I cut back? I shop online for my fur-kids food at Chewy.com. Free delivery over 50.00 and the same price as the store. I buy for the month. It also saves on wear and tear on the car, since the pet food store with all the deals is far away. Always buy in bulk. Sometimes Sal army or Goodwill has good stuff you may need. I go to the Dollar Store for cheap soaps and other cleaning stuff. I SAVE ALMOST 100.00 PAYING CAR INSURANCE EVERY 6 MONTHS INSTEAD OF EVERY MONTH. I insulate every window and door top to bottom when it gets cold. Even the light switches! Food bill is only forty per week because I am single, but two can eat for almost the same amount. I get oatmeal and eggs in bulk for breakfast. Butter is almost never on sale though, as well as the real good breads. I don't buy loaves for over 1.50. Lunch is soup or sandwich. Progresso soup is ok when cans are on sale for 1.00. Buy them in bulk at that price! Grilled cheese sandwiches are a great money saver, also when fruits or veggies are on sale. I never buy when they are not. Also, I took the bus, until my butch bud sold me a great old Toyota cheap. I cut out internet and tv entirely. I do watch old movies on vcr. I buy them at the thrift store for 25 cents. I have free radio, and a Bearcat scanner. I visit this planet from my local library every week. I don't pay rent, because my job is to manage a B&B property. I really lucked out. I do pay for heat and phone. I am currently trying to cut the heat bill by trying to rig up a rocket stove via a pipe out a window There's a lot more I do to save money, but I can't think of them all right now.

[Glenn]

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

Ok, so I'm seriously giving some thought to saving money so I can afford to cut back my hours at my fulltime job. Basically, work 4 days a week instead of 5. I'm going to get that chest freezer here soon, since I found a great new butcher shop that is very reasonably priced. That way I can stock up on meat much cheaper than grocery store meat, and better quality. I will still buy whole chickens at Redner's when they go on sale. We don't really go out to eat a whole lot, and I'm not into shopping for clothes and stuff like that. Comcast is expensive but there really aren't too many cheaper alternatives around here. If I could find a Summer job cleaning rental condos at the beach this Summer, I would use the extra cash to pay down my pet credit card. We had to run it up pretty high due to all four dogs having different ailments, surgeries, etc.

Soo soory to hear about your poor furkids GG. There's no getting around the vet rip-off furkid's bills. I thought so much about that, and how unfair it is. I would go in debt also with cards for them. I would buy anything if they really needed care.

[Ascot]

I will readily admit that I am fairly lousy when it comes to saving money on my own. I've tried different things over the years without much success, so I finally bit the bullet and opened a Roth into which I funnel $500 a month. As things stand now, the maximum contribution allowed annually is $5000, so for two months I don't do that and put that money into what I have labeled my fun fund. I have taken to viewing my Roth as a lock box to which I don't have a key.

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by Ascot

I will readily admit that I am fairly lousy when it comes to saving money on my own. I've tried different things over the years without much success, so I finally bit the bullet and opened a Roth into which I funnel $500 a month. As things stand now, the maximum contribution allowed annually is $5000, so for two months I don't do that and put that money into what I have labeled my fun fund. I have taken to viewing my Roth as a lock box to which I don't have a key.

Hey Ascot, sounds like you're doing great. In 2015 it got bumped to $5500 and if you're over 50 (I have no idea how old you are) that goes to $6500. Viewing it as a lock box is smart.

My weak spot was in not taking advantage of opening an HSA/health savings account earlier. I'm starting this year, it maxes out at $3500 per year unless you are over 55 (which I will be this year), then it goes to $4500 so that I can "catch up" Oy!

[Orema]

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

Oh cool! Let me know how it turns out!!!! I just may have to try it out.

It came out well. I got the ingredients from Home Depot, Walmart, and Amazon.com. Here's the recipe ...

==========Directions from kind Jesse======

Liquid Laundry Soap

• ¾ cup Castile Soap (You can use the peppermint, lavender, and citrus varieties even though in this case, the smell does not linger in your clothes)
• ½ cup Super Washing Soda
• ½ cup 20 Mule Team Borax OR substitute with Baking Soda (See below)
• ¼ cup of fine sea salt
• ½ cup of citric acid

Instructions
1. Take your two-gallon bucket and pour hot water in the bottom of it, about an inch high of water.
2. Add the dry powders (baking soda, super washing soda, borax (if using borax)
3. Add a little more water if necessary to cover the powders then take your hand mixer or immersion blender and blend the powders for a few minutes, or until it is fully blended and there are no clumps.
4. Fill your two-gallon bucket up almost all the way with unheated water.
5. Add the castile soap (this helps it not to bubble up), and stir with a long-handled spoon.
6. Using the funnel, pour into your containers.
7. Use 1/3 cup for regular to large loads, and a little extra for extra-large loads.

You can use baking soda in place of Borax because Borax can cause skin irritation & organ problems, and it is hard on clothing. I left it on there, so you can decide for yourself, which you prefer to use. Some people generally double this and make it in a 5-gallon bucket, so that you only have to make it every few months. The salt serves as a water softener, you can leave it out if you do not have hard water. Castile soap is available in a bar as well as liquid either is fine to use. Some prefer the bar because it is cheaper, even though it does require grating prior to making this recipe. This soap will look somewhat watery after sitting for a while. You can keep a ladle in or near the bucket for stirring it before use. It really is not as difficult to make as it may seem when reading these directions, and it does clean as well if not better than store bought top brands and for much less.

For softening, you can add ½ cup of plain white vinegar to the final rinse cycle instead of using dryer sheets, which have been linked to all sorts of fun illnesses.

For stain removal, peroxide and baking soda worked into a paste and rubbed into the fabric works pretty well.

=====Notes======

It was really easy and I'm glad I made it.

I used Baking Soda and kosher salt.

There aren't instructions on when to add the citric acid. I added all the powders at once—including the citric acid (last ingredient). The acid started bubbling. The soap hardened after it stopped bubbling and I just used the emulsion blender to break it up and it worked well. Next time I'll add the citric acid after blending the other powders, I think.

I also used pure liquid Castille soap (Dr. Bonnners). I don't want to spend time grating soap.

I made two gallons and it's plenty for me. I put it in two containers and I gently shake the container before using.

Next time I'll get a scent-free liquid Castille soap so that I can add my own essential oils.

I know how to make bar soap. Next I want to learn how to make liquid soap for the body and hair.

Good luck, Gayandgray. It's cheaper than store bought and it's easy to make.

And thanks, Jesse!