Looking for tips: How can we live well without spending a lot?

[rkdtlb]

During this day and age, we all could learn a thing or two from one another on how to reduce our spending and still live pretty good.  What tip can you give here to help someone else with this.

My tip:
Eating Out: Use your resources wisely and be flexible.  There are usually coupon books and receipt surveys that will allow you to save money on your meal.  Make it a point to only eat out if you have a coupon.  
For e.g., I have now begun calling the number on the back of my receipt to get a free sandwich (two to choose from) with the purchase of any size fry and drink.  I buy the value sized drink and fry and therefore get a meal everyday for $2 (2.14 with tax).  This restaurant is only two minutes from my job and I can choose how I'd like my sandwich.  Eating out for less than $11 per week is much better than $25+ dollars per week.

What's your tip?

[lisad717]

Cut cost down by saving electricity.. Good for the enviorment while saving money =D

[Aughiskie]

here are some tips that my family and I follow to save money.

1.) conserve energy. 
A: Don't drive anywhere unless you have to, and if you have to, try to do multiple stops in one outing.
B: Turn off, and unplug, lights and appliances that you currently are not using.  Shut off your PC instead of putting it into sleep mode.

2.) Repairs
A: Try to repair what you can, yourself.  A lot of little home, car and PC repairs can be done quite easily with a little research, and you'll save loads with out paying labor costs.
B: Ask friends to help or do it for you, if you can't.  A lot of people are good at carpentry, electric work, PC repair etc.  And I find friends are willing to help for free or for cost.

3.) shopping
A: For the most part, buy what you need and not what you want 
B: Do your research before you make any large purchases. For example, you may need a new computer and that $1,200 model is looking mighty nice... but do you really need all the power and graphics and other things you don't understand? especially when there are sub $200 models that will handle what most users need them for...
C: Don't go food shopping when you are hungry.  In my case, I usually end up buying a lot more than I intended and going well over my budget.


I know it seems like common sense, but those are just a few things that a lot of people just don't think that can save you some money day-to-day

[StevenRichman]

Well, I found out that a little money can go a long way! I found out a crowbar only costs about 5$ compared to a new car you can get using one.  Kidding but here are a few:

Energy saving bulbs can save money in the long run
ALWAYS get store brand
Coupons, they add up quickly
You usually save money purchasing in bulk
Avoid eating out at ALL COSTS!! No matter it be a fancy restraunt, or dollar menu, you can still make the same items for ALOT less at home. Dollar menu items are usually skimpy. Think like this.

4 nuggets at fastfood can cost a dollar or more

hundreds of bulk nuggets can only cost you a few cents for 4

I'll keep thinking for more but I hope that helped

[sweetsexylicous]

Only use ur money for what u need and not for what u want cuz right now the way things are we need 2 save money

[jusu]

Since I'm divorced now I really have to watch my spending. Try to save on electric bills by turning off and unplugging what I don't use. Burn candles at night. Changed all of my light bulbs, clean my furnace filter, back of the fridge and have sealed my windows already for the winter. I never let the water just run.
Coupons. Buy one-get one free if I know I'll need it. One trip to the store in a week instead of one everyday, saves me from getting stuff on impulse and gas. I tend to buy more food that I can get different meals from. Basics like Milk, cheese, eggs, butter, potatoes, I buy in bulk...I can make a # of different things. I don't buy name brand and I shop at stores like Aldi and Save-alot.

[cdanunzio]

the old Depression motto- if you don't have it($), don't spend it.

[sweetsexylicous]

U can live with spending alot of money but u need to watch what u spendin ur money on cuz dat money u spendin on sumthin u don't need dat money can go to sumthin u need

[vlsm23]

My tip?  Cut out the fast food and restaurants all together.  I am so freakin tired of how lazy Americans have become.      Pasta $1, pasta sauce $3, Bread $2 = $6 almost over-estimation for 3-4 people.  Honestly, sit down and work out a budget.  My husband and I spend about $50 each week on groceries for all our meals.  Our issue is budgeting for alcohol, we drink a lot of wine and beer.

However, the recipe idea is a good one, but its usually not too rewarding (sorry free fries isnt going to get me to buy anything extra).  Personally, I have been either calling or going online to comment on products and I have gotten a lot of coupons for either free or discounted food.  For example, I just bought some Smartfood popcorn and one of the bags wasnt sealed properly, so I went online and filed out a complaint and they sent me a $1 coupon and a $0.55 coupon.  I did another complaint to Pillsbury and they sent me 2 coupons for free products up to $3.50.  Coupons are a great way to save money to, I generally save 30% between clipped coupons and store savings. 

[tsubasa731]

let ur food reach room temperature before cooking it, it'll save more power than u expect~

[MsMithra]

Do large loads of laundry when baskets get full instead of small loads every day.

Turn off your monitor when you're walking away for 10+ minutes. You'd be amazed how much power those things use.

[Graeth]

Live in a place that's enjoyable. You don't need to use the AC. You don't need to use the things inside your abode because it's so nice outside!

[selerson]

my tip-COUPONS!!

I regularly go to the grocery store and get $300 worth of groceries, filling up the shopping cart until there is stuff falling out of it (I have four growing kids and three are teen/preteen!! lol) and I average paying $100-120 for them just because of matching coupons to sales. I have gotten *really* good at this and we have not been hungry since I started doing this!!

I also have enough "free after coupon" hygiene stuff to last a year-shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, no excuse for anyone to be "stinky" in my house lol

[oldbuddy]

I'll be honest, I have had my fill of cutting corners because we were broke. Now I am in a race to see if I can spend everything I can earn before I die. I go on trips 3 or 4 times a year, go out to eat every time we feel like it, and buy whatever I want so the kids have to get me peanuts when they need a gift to give me. There are two ends to the pipeline that constitutes a family budget, so you can reduce your spending or increase your income and I like the last option best. Fusioncash is just ONE way to do that.

[selerson]

I'll be honest, I have had my fill of cutting corners because we were broke. Now I am in a race to see if I can spend everything I can earn before I die. I go on trips 3 or 4 times a year, go out to eat every time we feel like it, and buy whatever I want so the kids have to get me peanuts when they need a gift to give me. There are two ends to the pipeline that constitutes a family budget, so you can reduce your spending or increase your income and I like the last option best. Fusioncash is just ONE way to do that.

You are an inspiration, I wish I could do that! I hate being broke. I hate cooking! I would eat out every meal if I could.

I dont think I'm smart enough to figure out how to make that much money though or know enough people