How Do You Save Money?

[Big Horn]

I bring a lunch everyday for work. A salad with veggies from our garden when in season, sandwich, apple slices, yogurt, or whatever we had the night before.
My co-workers eat fast food everyday. Usually something fried or cheesy. What is the cost of that in the long run to your health? I think to myself I've had cancer she hasn't so don't judge. But the thread subject is saving money and I'm sure I do. Unless you eat the dollar menu everyday that gets expensive.
Otherwise I will never be as thrifty or frugal as my husband so I always feel like a big spendthrift if I don't save a slightly used baggie or reuse the coffee grounds for one more cup.
I do love thrift stores especially one in particular because I like quality clothes but not the prices and I can often find what I want there. The malls are filled with trendy stuff that aren't for me even with a sale and coupon.
Someday I'd like to try some of the detergent recipes etc.For now both my husband and I are pretty brand loyal and buy the same deodorant, soap, etc. It's a plus if it's on sale.
Big Horn, as for Irish Spring, I like it too.

I'm brand loyal as well. I did, however, change from Edge aerosol shaving foam to Pacific caffeinated shaving cream after a brief fling with Cremo. I get a better shave than I've ever had before, probably less expensive as well although I buy Personna Med Prep blades. I also changed from disposable razors to a Gillette NEW made between 1930 and about 1940. I bought an extra to use while the first was being replated which took about two months: gold plating to be sure, just as it was originally.

I must mention that I just bought a hundred razor blades for $15.36 on eBay; they were more than twice as much on Amazon.

I must also mention that I do not save used coffee grounds.

One last thing: the local Dairy Queen as well as an independent fast food place offer a $5 lunch special for students. They're both a short walk to the high school. My high school charged 50 cents for a truly vile lunch; that would be about $5 today with inflation. A half pint of milk was 7 cents at the time. I brought a yummy sandwich that my mother made and bought the milk.

 

[Ruthanne]

Another way I save money is by having a prepaid Tracfone. I don't make that many calls and I have my home computer for paid internet. For me that's enough of a monthly bill, but I understand that other people rely on their Smartphones, etc. for daily internet use, streaming and communication.

I have a tracfone, too, but rarely use it. I asked my isp how much just internet would cost and they said $85.00!! I pay less with the bundle. I'm thinking of switching bundle companies. Every time I call a new provider though they try to see me a big expensive bundle and get mad when I ask them for the cheapest one. So, forget that for now.

 

[Ruthanne]

I'm brand loyal as well. I did, however change from Edge aerosol shaving foam to Pacific caffeinated shaving cream after a brief fling with Cremo. I get a better shave than I've ever had before, probably less expensive as well although I buy Personna Med Prep blades. I also changed from disposable razors to a Gillette NEW made between 1930 and about 1940. I bought an extra to use while the first was being replated which took about two months: gold plating to be sure, just as it was originally.

I must mention that I just bought a hundred razor blades for $15.36 on eBay; they were more than twice as much on Amazon.

I must also mention that I do not save used coffee grounds.

One last thing: the local Dairy Queen as well as an independent fast food place offers a $5 lunch special for students. They're both a short walk to the high school. My high school charged 50 cents for a truly vile lunch; that would be about $5 today with inflation. A half pint of milk was 7 cents at the time. I brought a yummy sandwich that my mother made and bought the milk.

I have been using Ebay more than Amazon lately. Good deal on those blades!

 

[Ruthanne]

I bring a lunch everyday for work. A salad with veggies from our garden when in season, sandwich, apple slices, yogurt, or whatever we had the night before.
My co-workers eat fast food everyday. Usually something fried or cheesy. What is the cost of that in the long run to your health? I think to myself I've had cancer she hasn't so don't judge. But the thread subject is saving money and I'm sure I do. Unless you eat the dollar menu everyday that gets expensive.
Otherwise I will never be as thrifty or frugal as my husband so I always feel like a big spendthrift if I don't save a slightly used baggie or reuse the coffee grounds for one more cup.
I do love thrift stores especially one in particular because I like quality clothes but not the prices and I can often find what I want there. The malls are filled with trendy stuff that aren't for me even with a sale and coupon.
Someday I'd like to try some of the detergent recipes etc.For now both my husband and I are pretty brand loyal and buy the same deodorant, soap, etc. It's a plus if it's on sale.
Big Horn, as for Irish Spring, I like it too.

I just started shopping the thrift store again. Got some good bargains for sure!

 

[Ruthanne]

I got rid of my cell phone last week as I realized the only thing I use it for is so my husband and I can find each other when we get lost in Wal-Mart. Now we can get more exercise looking for each other. nthego: If the kids want to get in touch with us while we are out and about they can call their dad's cell phone.

I hang cloths on a cloths line, it's good for the cloths too and saves on the electric bill. Of course a lot of places won't allow a cloths line up.

There is a clothes line in the basement here. I may use it as the dryer cost adds up. I didn't pay my smart phone bill to save money. I can still use it for internet and email and apps because I have WiFi.

 

[RadishRose]

I'm brand loyal as well. I did, however change from Edge aerosol shaving foam to Pacific caffeinated shaving cream after a brief fling with Cremo. I get a better shave than I've ever had before, probably less expensive as well although I buy Personna Med Prep blades. I also changed from disposable razors to a Gillette NEW made between 1930 and about 1940. I bought an extra to use while the first was being replated which took about two months: gold plating to be sure, just as it was originally.

I must mention that I just bought a hundred razor blades for $15.36 on eBay; they were more than twice as much on Amazon.

I must also mention that I do not save used coffee grounds.

One last thing: the local Dairy Queen as well as an independent fast food place offers a $5 lunch special for students. They're both a short walk to the high school. My high school charged 50 cents for a truly vile lunch; that would be about $5 today with inflation. A half pint of milk was 7 cents at the time. I brought a yummy sandwich that my mother made and bought the milk.

Big, my adult grandson recently shaved off his neat and trimmed full beard and moustach, but although he went from age 23 to age 12, he wants to be clean shaven for awhile. His problem is Razor Burn!

I got him Cremo, which is supposed to be the best and he said it did give him a better shave. He follows with cold towels and a slick aloe based after shave lotion by Neutrogena, yet he moans!

What's up with "caffeinated shaving cream"? Do you think "caffeinated" helps anything as I can't imagine.

Another member said that alternating electric shaves with blades can help. But GS doesn't have an electric razor (yet).
Can you use the double edged blades more than once?

Can you post a pic of the shaver you put the blades in? LOL, all I can think of is my father's.

 

[RadishRose]

Hospital cafeterias used to be dirt cheap. Not so much now, but still reasonable.

 

[Big Horn]

Big, my adult grandson recently shaved off his neat and trimmed full beard and moustach, but although he went from age 23 to age 12, he wants to be clean shaven for awhile. His problem is Razor Burn!

I got him Cremo, which is supposed to be the best and he said it did give him a better shave. He follows with cold towels and a slick aloe based after shave lotion by Neutrogena, yet he moans!

What's up with "caffeinated shaving cream"? Do you think "caffeinated" helps anything as I can't imagine.

Another member said that alternating electric shaves with blades can help. But GS doesn't have an electric razor (yet).

Can you post a pic of the shaver you put the blades in? LOL, all I can think of is my father's. Can you use the double edged blades more than once?

It depends on the blade and how long since the last shave. I get two pleasant shaves with the Personna Med Prep. The third pulls too much. This varies with the individual.

I can't get a decent shave with an electric razor.

Caffeinated shaving cream seems to help a great deal with razor burns and red face as well as provide a great shave. I learned about in in a blog which later became a podcast. That's where I've learned a great deal about shaving and shaving implements along with supplies. You'll find it on eBay and Amazon.

You'll find a link to his material. It's fascinating to me. Rick has become a shaving fanatic who, among other topics, interviews manufacturers, some of whom are quite small. He talks about his shaving experiences along with his collecting of razors of all sorts. I can't recommend it too highly. Read the blog from the beginning, then listen to to the podcast. It becomes better and better.

https://brushnsoapnblade.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/lets-get-started/

Your memories of what the razor looks like are correct. This Facebook page has all sorts of information on the Gillette NEW. Additionally, if you search "shaving" and "forum," you will get a plethora of items. If you search for "safety razor" or "razor blades" on eBay, you will be overwhelmed.

Here's a tip you can give your grandson: he shouldn't need to press down with the razor. The right combination of shaving cream or soap, razor, and blade will do the job without pressure. This does require some experimentation.

I believe that skin becomes a bit tougher as we shave more times. I sliced myself up plenty as a teenager, but today I rarely nick myself.

https://www.facebook.com/Gillette-NEW-Double-Edge-Razor-228060233932344/

 

[Smiling Jane]

I don't wash small batches of laundry, Ruthanne. As a single person, it's easy enough to amass laundry for 2-3 weeks until I have enough to make it worthwhile. I installed a retractable laundry line that runs the length of the bathtub and I also have a folding dryer. Most things I dry in the dryer but a few things get hung up to dry, especially things that take a beating in the dryer. I figure drying a load of laundry every 2-3 weeks is a luxury I can afford. I haven't touched an iron in over 10 years because all of my clothes, sheets and everything else is cotton. Linen shirts in the summer, cotton other than that. I take it out as soon as it's dry and no wrinkles. No dry cleaning bills either.

 

[Kaya]

I now go to the thrift shop. I got 5 pairs of slacks for less than 18.00. last week. They are regular and dress slacks. I will have to hem 2 of them but the rest are fine as they are.

I also shop at Aldi's all the time. Everything cost a lot less.

What are your ways to save money?

I buy and sell. I go to thrift shops, find treasures, resell them for profit. I also buy everything I myself need at thrift shops and yard sales. Why spend 65 bucks on a blouse when someone else paid that, wore it a few times, then donated it and I can get it for 3 bucks? I don't do Walmart, but sometimes I go there just to get something NEW for myself although I know it will fall apart sooner rather than later.

 

[Kaya]

I have a tracfone, too, but rarely use it. I asked my isp how much just internet would cost and they said $85.00!! I pay less with the bundle. I'm thinking of switching bundle companies. Every time I call a new provider though they try to see me a big expensive bundle and get mad when I ask them for the cheapest one. So, forget that for now.

I bought a 300 buck andriod and got it free when I signed up with MetroPCS. I pay 30 bucks a month for the phone, and I have internet access as well with it.

 

[Butterfly]

I bought a T-Mobile LG smartphone and I have a prepaid plan -- which is really no plan at all -- you buy minutes, add them to your phone and then when you use them up you buy more minutes. I pay $0 monthly for it. I don't think I've ever spent more than $50 in a year for minutes, as I am not a big phone talker at all, and I don't have any reason for having internet on the phone, so I turned that off because it uses up my minutes.

 

[RadishRose]

It depends on the blade and how long since the last shave. I get two pleasant shaves with the Personna Med Prep. The third pulls too much. This varies with the individual.

I can't get a decent shave with an electric razor.

Caffeinated shaving cream seems to help a great deal with razor burns and red face as well as provide a great shave. I learned about in in a blog which later became a podcast. That's where I've learned a great deal about shaving and shaving implements along with supplies. You'll find it on eBay and Amazon.

You'll find a link to his material. It's fascinating to me. Rick has become a shaving fanatic who, among other topics, interviews manufacturers, some of whom are quite small. He talks about his shaving experiences along with his collecting of razors of all sorts. I can't recommend it too highly. Read the blog from the beginning, then listen to to the podcast. It becomes better and better.

https://brushnsoapnblade.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/lets-get-started/

Your memories of what the razor looks like are correct. This Facebook page has all sorts of information on the Gillette NEW. Additionally, if you search "shaving" and "forum," you will get a plethora of items. If you search for "safety razor" or "razor blades" on eBay, you will be overwhelmed.

Here's a tip you can give your grandson: he shouldn't need to press down with the razor. The right combination of shaving cream or soap, razor, and blade will do the job without pressure. This does require some experimentation.

I believe that skin becomes a bit tougher as we shave more times. I sliced myself up plenty as a teenager, but today I rarely nick myself.

https://www.facebook.com/Gillette-NEW-Double-Edge-Razor-228060233932344/

Thanks so much for all this great info! My grandson ill certainly appreciate it.

Hope you're having a great Thanksgiving!

 

[StarSong]

My budget helpers:

I try to invest my savings efforts in places where the potential is the greatest. I make more foods from scratch ingredients than ever before, including pizza, popcorn from kernels (detest the microwave stuff), soups, and so forth. That's partly because I have the time to do so, and partly because there are just two of us living here now. Two palates to please.

Like others, I use dried (or Aldi's canned) beans, fresh or frozen vegetables and seasonal fruit, buying many items in bulk. For health and save-the-planet reasons, we've moved to a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet so no meat or fish and just a little dairy. An unexpected bonus is that food lasts a lot longer. Clean up is a breeze when there are no worries about contamination from animal products to adjacent foods that won't be cooked to sterilizing temperatures. I grocery shop primarily at Costco, 99 cent store, Aldi's, Smart & Final and Trader Joe's.

Clothing lasts forever, it seems. When I was young I'd laugh at people who said that they had sweaters older than me. Now I get what they meant.

I've got no interest in making my own shampoo or cleaners. Having worked in the cosmetics industry, I am well aware of their extensive testing to ensure that these products not only leave the factories in sterile condition, but they can remain germ-free even when they slip from the user's hands into a filled bath. Does that mean preservatives and other chemicals live in my shampoo and conditioner? Yup, but I'm at peace with that. In any event, personal hygiene products aren't terribly expensive unless you're buying very upscale items, in which case you're unlikely to change to baking soda and vinegar type concoctions anyway. I buy about $40 in shampoo and conditioner a year. Not a lot of savings to be gained there.

With soaps, I halve the amount of laundry soap recommended and rarely run my dishwasher. I probably buy $20 of Dawn dish soap per year. Again - not a lot of savings to be had here. I use almost no cleaning products. Warm water is my go-to cleaner.

Vitamins and supplements are another area altogether. We buy Vitamin D supplements and B complex at Costco but I started making my own turmeric capsules. It's far less expensive than purchasing them as vitamins, even figuring the initial expense of the gizmo needed to fill the pills. Happy side note: I feel rather like Walter White (Breaking Bad) while doing so. What can I say? Life is filled with small thrills.

We try to minimize running heat and AC, relying on sweaters and fans when possible.

Lastly, I try to keep in mind how long I'm going to use something before donating it to the Salvation Army. Instant Pots intrigue me, but since I know it would soon be just another corpse in my small appliance graveyard, I resist the siren song.

 

[Ruthanne]

I don't wash small batches of laundry, Ruthanne. As a single person, it's easy enough to amass laundry for 2-3 weeks until I have enough to make it worthwhile. I installed a retractable laundry line that runs the length of the bathtub and I also have a folding dryer. Most things I dry in the dryer but a few things get hung up to dry, especially things that take a beating in the dryer. I figure drying a load of laundry every 2-3 weeks is a luxury I can afford. I haven't touched an iron in over 10 years because all of my clothes, sheets and everything else is cotton. Linen shirts in the summer, cotton other than that. I take it out as soon as it's dry and no wrinkles. No dry cleaning bills either.

I do the same. I wash a lot of laundry at a time. I think that's a good idea with the retractable line in the bathroom! I may do that. It's warmer in there than in the laundry room here. Some of my clothes need ironing but I so dislike ironing and I take it you do too. I have cotton clothes that get wrinkled but I wear them anyway because "that's the fashion" I tell myself. Hahaha. Oh you take the cotton clothes out right away..I do too but mine still get wrinkled, maybe mine are not all cotton. I need to do some laundry again soon come to think of it.

I buy and sell. I go to thrift shops, find treasures, resell them for profit. I also buy everything I myself need at thrift shops and yard sales. Why spend 65 bucks on a blouse when someone else paid that, wore it a few times, then donated it and I can get it for 3 bucks? I don't do Walmart, but sometimes I go there just to get something NEW for myself although I know it will fall apart sooner rather than later.

I should go to the resell. I have a lot of clothes that don't fit me because I've gained some weight. I can't see paying a lot for clothes any more either. There are some really nice clothes at the thrift stores. I haven't been to a yard sale since the summer but then that's when they are...lol

 

[Ruthanne]

I bought a 300 buck andriod and got it free when I signed up with MetroPCS. I pay 30 bucks a month for the phone, and I have internet access as well with it.

Good deal. I have an android too but quit paying the bill because my debit card got an unauthorized charge and I had to cancel it. So when I got the new card I decided not to keep the smart phone deal going. I can still use my email and facebook on it because of my wifi. That's a better deal than I had for the phone.

I bought a T-Mobile LG smartphone and I have a prepaid plan -- which is really no plan at all -- you buy minutes, add them to your phone and then when you use them up you buy more minutes. I pay $0 monthly for it. I don't think I've ever spent more than $50 in a year for minutes, as I am not a big phone talker at all, and I don't have any reason for having internet on the phone, so I turned that off because it uses up my minutes.

That's a great deal. I may look into that. I never heard of getting minutes that way before.

My budget helpers:

I try to invest my savings efforts in places where the potential is the greatest. I make more foods from scratch ingredients than ever before, including pizza, popcorn from kernels (detest the microwave stuff), soups, and so forth. That's partly because I have the time to do so, and partly because there are just two of us living here now. Two palates to please.

Like others, I use dried (or Aldi's canned) beans, fresh or frozen vegetables and seasonal fruit, buying many items in bulk. For health and save-the-planet reasons, we've moved to a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet so no meat or fish and just a little dairy. An unexpected bonus is that food lasts a lot longer. Clean up is a breeze when there are no worries about contamination from animal products to adjacent foods that won't be cooked to sterilizing temperatures. I grocery shop primarily at Costco, 99 cent store, Aldi's, Smart & Final and Trader Joe's.

Clothing lasts forever, it seems. When I was young I'd laugh at people who said that they had sweaters older than me. Now I get what they meant.

I've got no interest in making my own shampoo or cleaners. Having worked in the cosmetics industry, I am well aware of their extensive testing to ensure that these products not only leave the factories in sterile condition, but they can remain germ-free even when they slip from the user's hands into a filled bath. Does that mean preservatives and other chemicals live in my shampoo and conditioner? Yup, but I'm at peace with that. In any event, personal hygiene products aren't terribly expensive unless you're buying very upscale items, in which case you're unlikely to change to baking soda and vinegar type concoctions anyway. I buy about $40 in shampoo and conditioner a year. Not a lot of savings to be gained there.

With soaps, I halve the amount of laundry soap recommended and rarely run my dishwasher. I probably buy $20 of Dawn dish soap per year. Again - not a lot of savings to be had here. I use almost no cleaning products. Warm water is my go-to cleaner.

Vitamins and supplements are another area altogether. We buy Vitamin D supplements and B complex at Costco but I started making my own turmeric capsules. It's far less expensive than purchasing them as vitamins, even figuring the initial expense of the gizmo needed to fill the pills. Happy side note: I feel rather like Walter White (Breaking Bad) while doing so. What can I say? Life is filled with small thrills.

We try to minimize running heat and AC, relying on sweaters and fans when possible.

Lastly, I try to keep in mind how long I'm going to use something before donating it to the Salvation Army. Instant Pots intrigue me, but since I know it would soon be just another corpse in my small appliance graveyard, I resist the siren song.

You know how to save! I wish I could go without any animal products. I guess I could and should because of having liver disease and it's not good for the liver. I'll consider it. I was vegetarian for 10 years in the past. I use Dawn, too, and buy the family size and save on that. I don't know where the Costco is here but know they are in my state somewhere. I have cut down on the heat and my bill this month was $39.00 which isn't bad. Thanks for all your ideas.

Thank you everyone for all of your ideas!:sentimental:

 

[Gary O']

Noticed a lot of discussion on razor blades;

 

[Big Horn]

Bloomsbury Publishing is offering 30-45% off on their academic titles, but only until December 10. The good stuff is at 30%.

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/academic/

 

[StarSong]

Bloomsbury Publishing is offering 30-45% off on their academic titles, but only until December 10. The good stuff is at 30%.

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/academic/

I almost never buy books anymore. Between the library and freebies on Amazon Prime, I'm usually good to go. About five years ago I pared my collection of books by about 2/3, tossing plenty and donating at least 150 of the to the library. Some they put into circulation, others they sold off during fundraisers by Friends of the Library. Either way, I'm delighted to no longer be shelving or dusting them.

 

[Smiling Jane]

I almost never buy books anymore. Between the library and freebies on Amazon Prime, I'm usually good to go. About five years ago I pared my collection of books by about 2/3, tossing plenty and donating at least 150 of the to the library. Some they put into circulation, others they sold off during fundraisers by Friends of the Library. Either way, I'm delighted to no longer be shelving or dusting them.

I culled my bookshelves a few years ago. Our local VA has a long-term rehab unit and a friend told me the guys there are bored out of their minds a lot of the time with TV and other entertainment but they love to read. So I boxed up everything they might enjoy (my escape reading is good mysteries and spy novels), and I took it all over there. A unit administrator called me later to tell me it was like Christmas when they opened the boxes.

 

[Ruthanne]

I culled my bookshelves a few years ago. Our local VA has a long-term rehab unit and a friend told me the guys there are bored out of their minds a lot of the time with TV and other entertainment but they love to read. So I boxed up everything they might enjoy (my escape reading is good mysteries and spy novels), and I took it all over there. A unit administrator called me later to tell me it was like Christmas when they opened the boxes.

Yes, lots of people read. That was good of you! Someone donated some books to us and left them by the mailboxes along with some other stuff the other day. They sat there for days and the books looked interesting so I brought them upstairs to read.

 

[Gary O']

I'm a big fan of washing soda, baking soda and vinegar for cleaning nearly everything. My detergent is basically washing soda and part of the reason it's so great (beyond only using a tablespoon for a washer load) is that it cleans all the way down to the fiber so I don't need stain removers or fabric softeners. I use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting.

I gotta remember to tell my Lady about this

She could swamp this thread with her ways of saving
I marvel at it all from time to time
Ours is a bit different since we are off grid and live in a cabin
But
Here’s some bits and pieces;
She uses an old fashioned scrub board to do the wash
And Zote soap
It’s a bar
Dries our clothes behind the wood stove on a rack I fashioned
Summer is the line, of course
Clothes never smelled so fresh

I pride myself in doing most the shopping for groceries
Hit three stores
Know their constant bargains
Coupons work sometimes, but are generally for saps
They are usually for things we never buy since we get basics and make it all at home, over a fire

Oatmeal
Fills
Sates
Stays with ya
Cleans ya out
And is cheap (over any box cereal)

Potatoes
Heh, I’m Irish, so know how to fix ‘em

My work out is chopping wood
Hauling water

Thrift stores
Rock
Movies, 5 for a dollar

There’s many more hints/tips but just wanted to contribute

(this thread rocks, btw…y’all got this, great tips, habits)

cheers

 

[Stormy]

I comparison shop to save on big ticket items and clip coupons when I can to save a dollar or two. I write down my monthly expenses and what I spend on things to get a better look at how my finances are and if I'm spending too much. I'd rather do without something than put myself in debt

 

[HiDesertHal]

When you deposit your extra income in an investment or savings account, you're saving, and that's the only way you really save.

When you buy something that's on a really great sale, you're still spending, which is not saving.

Shopping and purchasing is the opposite of saving.

If you don't actually save any money, then you will eventually be broke.

I save my pension and social security checks, spending less than their accrued value.

This way I can live comfortably without having to work.

I planned it this way 55 years ago, and it works! After retiring in 1998, I was able to pay off our 30-year retirement home mortgage in 12 years, thus having disposable cash for other things beside the essentials.

Yowsah!
Hal

 

[HipGnosis]

When you buy something that is on a really good sale, you are spending, but you are or will be saving if it's something you were going to buy or something buy regularly (and would continue to buy in the future).