Ways to save money

[bhiett]

I signed up for the Smart Hours program through my electric company, which goes from June - August.  During the peak hours of 2 pm until 7 pm I avoid running appliances and unnecessary lights.  This is supposed to reduce my electric bills for the summer months.

[sak4kat]

  I know it sounds funny, but I do holiday shopping all year  round.  When I see a good deal or sell on something I know someone in the family would like I get ir then.    I carry a piece of paper in my wallets that has everyone's sizes on it.  I have 2 big plastic bins in my closet that I put everything in, so I don't forget about it at holiday time.  I don't wrap until after Halloween, that way if  a birthday or something comes up I also check my stash.  I have about 99% of the things the kids will need when school starts, I buy them right after the school years begins........instead of paying 1 or 2 dollars for folders I get them for .06 each.  I get this stuff when it is on sale and keep it in the craft closet, so we are rarely caught by surprise at last minute projects.    A lot of this stuff I started doing when we lived in rural Colorado and it was 2 hours to get to the nearest  department store.  It was about 1 hour to a big grocery store, otherwise if you can imagine, anything you ran out of you had to pay convenience store  (gas station store) prices for.        But the ways I use to stock up still work in the city!  LOL                           e

That doesn't sound funny to me at all.  There was a time when I was shopping for a ton of people ...adults and kids.  It became a burden and seemed silly to be making so many purchases ... I would shop all year round too.  I had a designated closet (in the spare bedroom) that I would throw things up on.  Than when Christmas rolled around I just knocked out whatever was left.  It really gave me some creative ways to expand on some of the gift's.  IE: For a teen one year I found a glow in the dark candle...later that year I found a glow in the dark gel eye mask.  Since I was onto something with the glow in the dark and pampering thing I just created a private spa themed gift.  Your folder suggestion sounds so familiar as well.  My oldest is 15.  I don't think I've paid full price for folders or any school supply for any of my 3 kids since she was born.  One great tip on this is to save school supply lists.  IE: My youngest is going into 1st grade.  Many things we already have from kindergarten and her older siblings....what we didn't have I purchased last year when the school supplies were being discounted.  I'll do the same thing this year in preparation for 2nd grade.

[tanissmith]

Can you at least give us the name of the shopping company? 

[CHANEYLAKEGIRL]

Hand clothes & towels up instead of using the dryer. Use cloth napkins and towels instead of paper. I buy just about everything I need used, with a few exceptions. Turn down the heat and put on a sweater.  Stock up on things when they are on sale.

[cyncity831]

Try taking lunch to work as opposed to ordering out everyday.  Where I work lunch runs about $10.  I rather bring something from home.

[AZ80]

I start to ride my bike to work and take my lunch more offend.

[lutznellie]

How about one meatless meal a week?

[Forp]

I've gotten alot of savings from  scanning freebie sites daily...all those samples accumulating of much better brands of cosmetics than I could ever afford to purchase and the coupons for free or almost free food items are also valuable.  I think of Fusion as saving my small change or accumulating pennies in a jar too.

[LenoraMinogue]

My friends and I try to carpool when we're going to the same place anyway, and sometimes I take the bus. Also, a cash rewards credit card helps some.

[sdenimandlace1]

Thanks for all the great tips. some I will have to try. I make a list of all the thing we need and part on the way to work each day. Drive under 6o milles an hour gets met about 5 more miles to a gal of gas,

[jonhall37]

i save aluminum cans,and dont go out much....a night out to eat or to party is expansive these days...

[alice44]

Use coupons
Always shop with a shopping list and don't go up and down all the grocery isles
save quarters
eliminate premium cable channels
eat at home - restaurants only on special days (birthday, etc) - and find coupons for those times.

[oldbuddy]

Can you at least give us the name of the shopping company? 

I am guessing you mean the post jkhanson made, right? Why don't you just do a search on Google for her?

She obviously gets credit for referring others to do what she does, but since Fusioncash doesn't allow referral links on this forum it wouldn't make good sense to just post the name and let people sign up without giving credit to anyone. I have known Janet for many years and I can tell you she is one of the best Facebook friends I have.

[lutznellie]

I'm packing my lunch and not paying for vending machine foods.  I've also started making my own popcorn using a glass bowl and a plate then I use spray butter and popcorn seasoning.  It's healthier and has few calories so it fits in with my WW points. 

I have a small garden where I am growing tomatoes and cucumbers.  I'm growing my own catnip for the cats too.

[kilophkadamas]

Agree with most here with the public transit, i've saved thousands upon thousands and probably years of my life from the avoided stress of driving a car. Of course i'm single though so its a little more manageable, I understand if families cannot do this type of thing.