Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I these times of recession and economic stimulus as all we are hearing on the news and worrying about, does anyone have any tips to share as to how they save a lot of money with the budget so tight?

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I started shopping at Aldi about a year and a half ago. It cut my groceries in half. The sell primarily their own products vs. national brands, but I was no stranger to generic brands. I find Aldi's products to be the same as national brands. One example of savings is a gallon of any type of milk was $1.99 over the past year. It just went up to $2.20 for any gallon.

I also have done some of the common tips you hear now for years before they became more popular:

Eat out less (maybe once a week with friends and watch what I pick). Take my breakfast/lunch to work and cook at home.

Drive less. I've always lumped errands together and done them all at once and driven in a "circle" rather than run out constantly to do stuff.

Keep the heat/air conditioning at thriftier settings. Heat at 67/68 and air at 76. I know folks that will do heat 65 and air 78 or so. But, with cats, I've kept it a little more comfortable than I might without cats (and put on thicker clothes, etc.)

I wait until it breaks to replace (several year old TVs and my computer was 10 years old before it died).

I haven't replaced my car in years (almost 13 years old). But, it gets 33-35 miles to the gallon of gas (I have a 50 mile round trip daily work commute and little in-town driving).

I buy many of my clothes at a consignment store (especially work skirts for $5-8 vice $30-35).

Drink tap water not bottled.

Get my books/videos at the library vice paying $25 for a new book/video or video rental fees. About quarterly, Blockbuster will send out a rent one get one free coupon or rent one for a dollar and I'll do that.

Turn off lights in rooms I am not in (and have replaced many of my bulb with the longer lasting squiggly type). But I don't use the new bulbs in a room I need immediate in and out light in (like a closet or hallway) because they take up to a minute to get fully bright.

I have basic cable, dial up computer, cheap AOL internet ($14 a month) I negotiated several years ago, and a $20 a month unlimited phone local/long distance calling plan (after all the taxes and regulatory fees, it comes to $30 a month for unlimited calling).

If I am restless and have a hankering to just get out and shop, I'll walk around a Dollar Tree/Dollar General/Family Dollar Store. Aldi, Dollar Tree, and WalMart are my top shopping stops. I only go to a department store or mall if I REALLY need something only they have (electronics, etc.) I make it to my mall once or twice a year.

I max out my retirement savings (401K and IRA) first and put a set amount into savings every month (for emergencies) before I ever spend it on anything aside from the bare essentials (food/mortgage).

I'll have my condo paid off next year, NLT 10 years. I put all my thriftiness into paying it off. A car payment that I've avoided goes to it, tax returns, etc...

I am curious to see what others do to save $. It has become fun for me thru the years to see how little I can spend (within reason) and focus on future goals. My parents are really thrifty and I learned it at an early age. Free gov't cheese, generic foods, wondering if the light bill is paid, and hand-me-downs shaped me and made me cautious. I may be more passionate than others and understand that, but I have one goal -- to retire between 56 and 62 and have spent years working towards that goal. I may have to work part time, but it would be something I love or at least like.

I am curious to see what tips others have to save.
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Instead of going to the salon evey few months, I've been coloring my hair at home. Works just as well as the salon for much less. I get my hair trimmed and styled at Famous Hair for around $12.

I use drugstore make up and cleansers instead of the pricey brands. My favorites are St. Ives for cleanser and moisturizer and Physician's Formula for mineral makeup.

I rent books and videos from the library. Doesn't cost a thing and they have a good variety of videos and cd's to choose from.

Our car is 12 years old, and we plan on hanging on to it as long as possible. We recently had to have some mantenance done on it, but it's cheaper than buying another one. Besides, this car is already paid off.

I buy most of my clothes at JC Penney. They always have sales going on, and I receive coupons from them in the mail. Am finding bargains there all the time.

We don't eat out much and haven't gone to the movies in a long time, which helps save money. These are just a few of the things we do to budget.

Ellen

I use drugstore make up and cleansers instead of the pricey brands.

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That reminds me. I stumbled upon a great find recently. Good Housekeeping had an article in it about lotions. They blind tested and laboratory tested many brands to find the very best at moisturizing longevity. Guess what came in #2? Suave. A specific brand of Suave, but one that was right up there with $8 a bottle Lubriderm and Curel... They tested the 24 hour formulas and the #2 most popular pick in blind trials and with lab tests was:

Suave Skin Therapy Advanced Therapy for $2 a bottle.

And it works well. 12 hours later my skin is not dry and I have VERY dry skin. It works just as well as the expensive brands. Something to try if you have dry skin.
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

I do most of the above buy store/generic brands, do most of my purchases at Walmart or Meijer, cut coupons, Keep the house at 65, shop at Aldi's, don't go to movies, eat out rarely and when I do it is usually fast food or buffet type food, do errands either on the way to work or on the way home, I don't color my hair, it doesn't need it and no salon for me as I have very long straight thick hair a friend trims it when needed. Lights off in rooms I am not actually in. I don't have credit cards, if I can't afford it, I don't get it. Have 20 or so year old TV's and don't even have a DVD player, still have VCR's. They still work so they still get to live.
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Tessa Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, ShyRaven, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo,Salem, Wicca, Marmalade, Amelia, Rocket and Turbo (we iz NOT fosters) and the 5 porch kits, Mocha, Tigger, Cali, Torti and Smudge also Riley da goggie and Buddha da baby hamster too
Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers