spin off to are you doing anything different thread

It sounds as if alot of you would be able to give me some pointers on how to save money.
I have never been one to waste money but I find it hard to save -like an idiot we both have two HUGE trucks that we are dying from but they are leases so we are both stuck for two more years. I have started shopping more at places that I actually see are less (Target sells milk cheaper than Stop and shop as wellas waffles) I stopped my Dunkin Donuts fix, but between after care for the kids and life I don';t know where else to cut corners?

Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!!!

And thanks

Mara

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

here are a few of things I started doing in the last year


1- changed all the light bulbs in my house to the compact flousent ones- HUGE savings

2- buy 90% of my food and other household items at wal-mart

3-buy all my pet products at wal-mart- cat food and I use wal-mart brand kitty litter- it's $3 for 25lbs- they are just crapping on it- so why was I spending $12 for 15lbs- silly

4- never pay full price for anything- I only really shop at outlets and off price stores now- I am not sure if I am spending less- but I am getting more for my money

I am sure I can think of a few other things- I will add when they come to me

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Start cutting Coupons like crazy.
Stop and shop doubles them up to 99 cents.
We also use the $5 or $10 off King Kullen coupon at Stop and Shop (yes they still take it!)
Last year- between using our S&S card, coupons. etc- our total savings for the year was over $1200!!!

Also- Store brands- trust me- they are the same on most things. (Exceptions are soda, ice cream, ketchup, etc)


ETA_ I also do my own nails now too!

Message edited 5/27/2008 4:50:46 PM.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

We are in the "we always lived below our means" category, but I still find myself trying to cut more and more expenses so that we can continue our international travels.... my tips:

-Library books. With as much as DH and I read I cant imagine buying books.

-Restaurant.com coupons

-Becoming very aware of prices. What's best to buy at the grocery store vs. Walmart vs. BJs vs Trader Joes is VERY important.

-Driving instead of flying to Long Island for visits (thank you Southwest airlines!)

-Cutting out spring clothes/shoes/purse purchase this year.

-Buying a deep freezer to stock up on meat sales

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

- stock up when non-pershibale and drug store items are on sale (TP, paper towels, detergent, etc)
- use the King Kullen coupons at S&S - they take them there.
- slow down when driving on the highway. every mile above 60 MPH cuts into your gas mileage

eta: join Cosco or BJ's. the $ you will save on meat & chicken alone is totally worth it! and then freeze individual portions. for example, I buy 5 or 6 lbs of ground beef at a time. I divide them into 1 lb portions and freeze them in Ziploc freezer bags.

Message edited 5/27/2008 6:52:25 PM.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

We also go to Sam's Club. Milk there is about $3 cheaper. Plus buying things in bulk helps. We also always lived below our means. It's hard to cut back on much else. We really just buy necessities now. For toiletries, I have switched to a cheaper shampoo and hair spray. We buy a lot of store brand stuff. I have cut down drinking coffee and try to bag lunches when possible. We also buy a lot of meats and split it up or filet it and freeze it...makes our meats last longer. I have my DH do my car repairs instead of bringing it to the shop (not everyone is as fortunate to have a mechanic as a husband though). I have also found walgreens cheaper than Target for some things, so I have started buying things there instead.

As far as clothing...I am only buying items that need to be replaced.

Basically, before you buy anything, figure out if you really need it. Also, make sure that you pay yourself before you pay anyone else...even if it's a little bit.

HTH

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

saving around the house:

-inspect and/or add insulation... cuts cooling and heating costs

-change your lightbulbs

-do you need all your cable boxes?

-insulate your hot water heater

-lower temp on hot water heater

-line dry everything, if you can ... or at least some

-use fans instead of a/c if you can

-if kids are growing out of their pants (length-wise) turn them into shorts/capris for the summer

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

you guys are amazing! First off i thought they stopped taking theking kullen coupon at stop and shop! kullen is a rip off!
these tips are great-
please kee p them coming-I actually feel a little more in control than recently

Thanks again

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Here is something you can do without drastically changing your lifestyle.

Document everything!

Make a budget and document everything. Use one of those online tools like Quicken or Microsoft Money to make a list of everything that you spend and where your money is going. If you take $50 out of the atm, document where that $50 went.

You would be surprised how much money you can bleed away which can be easily stopped.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

waldbaums in commack also accepts the KK coupon again, since a few months ago.

also-stock up when you see something on sale. DONT be fooled by the "buy in bulk" illusion of the price clubs. I get things for a FRACTION of their prices, at the grocery stores, with coupons and sales.

Message edited 5/27/2008 10:01:17 PM.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

i could NEVER buy anything at walmart... I don't care how low their prices are...


I used to feel the same way until I went there

if you can't beat them- join them

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

the best way to save money on food is to get the Sunday paper & a coupon organizer. Every Sunday sit with your new coupons from the paper, the coupons you've accumilated in your organizer & the food store circular for a store you like that is close to your home.
I often use a cookbook or two as well or I log on to allrecipes.com & do an ingredient search.
Make a menu with the days of the week. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Plan out all of your meals based on items that are on sale & have good coupons. If chicken thighs are are on sale for 69 cents a pound & couscous is 2/4.00 & fresh broccoli is on sale that is a meal for one or two nights. Sometimes I'll make much bigger meals so we can take leftovers for lunch or have another dinner later in the week. Write down everything you need for each meal. Try new things, buy the yogurt that is on sale instead of your usual, try the new bread that is on sale & has a coupon. Once you become a dedicated coupon shopper you'll discover that manufacturers coupons & store sales often match up. Sometimes stores will have sales like 10 cans of soup for $10, you generally don't have to buy ten cans to get the sale price. Buy the family packs of meat when they are on sale & take them home, seperate into portions that suite you & freeze them. Any energy star chest freezer is a great way to save money long term on food. Save the coupons they give you with your receipt, those are often for items you just bought so you know you'll be able to use them. If a sale item isn't available, go to customer service & get a raincheck or ask them if they'll subsitute something else. Check your cleaning supplies & paper goods, see if any of the sales or coupons make it worth while to stock up. If you have a CVS or Walgreens near your food store or near your job they usually have the best prices on paper goods when they are on sale, watch for sales & stock up.

I usually save about $45-$65 a week, about 30%

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

I just re-read your post & I see you have kids.
Selling used kids clothes on ebay is easy & you'll make a little $$
Take stuff your kids don't fit into anymore & make "lots" of same size, same season outfits, lay them out on the bed & take a few pics. They will sell on ebay if you price them right.
Jackets, shoes & snowboots all sell too.

buying coffee at dunkin dounuts or starbucks is extremely foolish for people trying to save money or be more frugal.
Invest in good coffee cups, water bottles & lunch boxes for your entire family




Target has great stuff. Make each person in your family responsible for bringing their lunch box & drink containers back to the kitchen each evening.
Feeding your family three meals a day + drinks from home costs a FRACTION of buying food out, plus its much healthier.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

To be honest, while the little things DO add up, the only way to truly live beneath your means is to cut your largest expenses and big debts. This means living in a house with a very comfortable mortage payment (which is difficult on LI, I know), owning cars you can comfortably afford, eliminating credit card debt, and paying down / paying off student loans.

We don't live well beneath our means because we don't go to Starbucks and don't eat out on weekends. We live comfortably because we bought a house that was much less expensive than what we could afford, purchased cars that were less expensive than we could really afford and paid them off long before the end of the loan term, etc. These are the sorts of things that make it so that we don't have to worry about every last cent we spend at lunch, Dunkin Donuts, etc.

If you're unwilling to go that route, then the above advice is helpful -- cut out unnecessary expenses, budget well, and look for deals... however, I still think that the big time savings comes from having your main living expenses well below what you can comfortably afford. I realize that is difficult on Long Island, but it's not necessarily impossible.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread

Clip coupons from the Sunday paper and organize them, and have them with you at all times. I used to hate finding myself at the supermarket, and not having them with me. It actually deterred me from buying certain things.


If you are going out to dinner 3 or more nights a week/ordering take out, I find that to be ridiculous. Unless you are rolling in dough and going to nice upscale places, going to places like Applebees and the like are a complete waste of money. I would rather have one night a month at a really nice restaurant, then 5 nights a month at a chain restaurant.

Keep a change jar. I use one, and every day I empty my bag, pants, etc into it. It's not like it's earned money, but it adds up and you can use it towards something you want, instead of something you need.

Re: spin off to are you doing anything different thread