your $$$ saving secrets

[Kire]

What ways do you save money? I'm just curious.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

dont spend.

[Pagerron]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

Take money off the top of each check, planning to use only the amount of money remaining.

-have a couple of savings accounts at my bank (they don't have much in them, but I have enough money for several months rent). I hardly get anything back at all though, regarding interest.

-Also, my job contributes to a retirement fund.

[Sezjeuric]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I am a thrifter. I HATE spending money, so I find ways.

- I will wait for a sale before buying clothes.
- I sold my car and now take transit
- I buy no name brands of food (with a few exceptions)
- I don't go out and drink a lot (but being a chick means most of my drinks are paid for anyway)
- I take a loooong subway ride to a cheap theatre to watch movies instead of going to the Galaxy Cinema at the mall.
- I sneak food into movie theatres (Don't worry, I still support them by eating a whole Large Popcorn, by myself.)

and I think the biggest money maker is that I have packed a lunch for school/ work everyday since I was 5. I am not kidding you. It's the same thing everyday and I don't get sick of it (Popcorn, carrots, a cheesestring {the only "cheese" I can eat}, yogurt, 2 Fruit2Go, a granola bar, a fruit cup, diet ginger ale and pretzels).

This is what I carry it in to work.....





I have a back up one for when I feel like switching up the popcorn for tuna (I did this for Lent)




-Another money saving tip? I bought those at 2nd hand stores, the Magic School Bus one for 50 cents (in B.C), and the Mickey one for $5 here in Toronto.

There is a 3rd one, a Simpson's cast metal one but that was a gift and I used it in highschool (didn't want to scracth it up anymore)

[Hrafn]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

By being one cheap SOB. While Jews get all the publicity for being tightwads, it's us Scotsmen who are the unsung heroes of thriftiness. That's how Scotch tape got its name, after all.

As for specifics, generic brands for most items, shopping at places like Big Lots, saving heat for special occasions, things like that.

[Magus]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I starve and freeze.

[Smurf Taco]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

The best way to not spend money is to not have any. It's working great for me.

[Kirin]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I automatically divide my paycheck into thirds. One third goes into a savings account, another into a credit card bill (if I don't have one, then half of this portion goes into savings and the other I spend freely), and a third into my checking account, which I use to pay for food/medicine and spending money.

With the exception of Christmas/birthdays, I try not to buy anything on my credit card that I can't pay off within two paychecks.

I now make my own coffee and snacks at home. I started this when I realized I was spending more at the vending machine/coffee shops/fast food restaurants per paycheck than I was buying groceries. Splitting the cost of groceries with someone helps to cut down on expenses.

I absolutely, utterly, loathe clothes shopping-- I'll buy 3-4 new t-shirts or a pair of pants maybe once a year. Even though the pants I buy cost around $50 (which is expensive for me) from an online store, they last forever; most of the clothes I wear I've had since high school. I resort to buying new sneakers only when the rain starts to seep through them (every 3-4 years or so).

I live in an apartment where the monthly payment also covers the cost of utilities; if I overuse water/electricity I'll be re-billed, so it encourages me to be frugal with how I use them.

[truekid]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

i kinda make it a game... how long can i go without cashing my next paycheck.

i straight up cash one paycheck, then i try to use that cash to last as long as possible. while sometimes that just means waiting a few days past receiving the next one before cashing it, sometimes it means more... and it adds up, and i eventually end up fully catching up to a paycheck and depositing the entire thing into savings.

maybe it sounds weird, but making it a game in my head makes it easier.

[Crimson Knight]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

-Ebay.
-Make a list of ALL your intended expenses
-FOLLOW DA LIST.

Most people don't need to go ghetto, if they shopped smart.

[Duel]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

Hide your money.

[Toaster]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

sell you soul.

oh wait, kire, your soul is already condemned to the eternal hellfires of damnation. so never mind.

[The_Real_Crunk]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I work in a restaraunt. I get 1-2 free meals a day about 6 days a week. TONS of money saved there. I also dont own a car and bike/walk everywhere, which is better for you anyway. Unless is raining really hard, or im just feeling lazy and Ill catch the bus.

I also shop around at value village. Most of my clothes are from there. You can find some awsome stuff for super cheap. $8 pair of jeans in near perfect condition? Hells yeah.

I also dont have a girlfriend. Saves me money, but im oh so ronery.

[SkylureX]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I just have a job where I make more money than I spend.

[lil_das]

Re: your $$$ saving secrets

I find ways to make money...