best saving money tips

mandysmear

life or wedding related, what are some awesome ways you save money?  whether it's 30 bucks or 30 cents i wanna hear about it. 

crfische

Don't spend money.

Night_Sprite

The farmer's market, if you do it right, can yield great, fresh, produce inexpensively.

Bring lunches to work.

Library Books instead of buying them.

Making Christmas presents.  For instance, I'm making crocheted snowflakes for H's family for Christmas.

laurenclaire1386

I got a raise recently, and when I told my mom she said "Clearly, you've been getting along just fine on your old salary, so you should put the difference in your old salary and new salary into savings." Best piece of advice ever. It's been working really well for me.

When I was a bartender and took home cash every night, I put all of my one dollar bills into savings. A week's worht of one dollar bills adds up pretty easily.

I also get a roundabout figure of how much of my paycheck will need to go to bills, and how much I can save. I do the saving first, then pay bills. I've found that if I save first, then pay bills, rather than the other way around, I'm much more apt to save money.

laurenclaire1386

I think I misinterpreted the question

FutureMrsTR

Save as in spend less for things or save as in put that money somewhere?  I have a set amount automatically transferred out of my checking account every pay day so that I never see it.  It goes straight into savings and I make it a habit NOT to touch my savings account.  ETA:  Without using actual numbers, I put about 20% of my salary into savings.  Sure, I'd love to use it to shop, but I keep the bigger picture in mind...moving somewhere new with FI after the wedding

I'm not a good bargain shopper (other than going to the gas pump on Thursday when you save $0.05 a gallon) so I need to just get the money into savings immediately.  I don't waste the spending money I have, but I'm definitely willing to pay for convenience.  Hence the lack of DIY in my wedding...

cengle

Eating dinner at home v. going out all the time.
Leaving H at home when I do the grocery shopping; I always end up buying way more (usually very unnecessary stuff) when he's with me. He's like shopping with a little kid, I swear.
Instead of going to bars with friends, buy cheap bottles of wine (yay Sam's Club) and have friends over.

MattsPenguin

Definitely have an automatic deposit from your checking into savings.  Or right from your paycheck into savings (or your 401k).  You won't even miss it.

When we're at the grocery store, I encourage us to buy the generic brand of items (except for certain things).  It adds up!

Such as I buy Stop 'n Shop shredded wheat bites and pancake mixes.  No difference whatsoever.

FutureMrsTR

haha LC that's the way I took it too.

opalsky007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:1247ba04-263d-4077-a0ce-e8ca7cf7a8b5">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>The farmer's market, if you do it right, can yield great, fresh, produce inexpensively.</strong> Bring lunches to work. Library Books instead of buying them. Making Christmas presents.  For instance, I'm making crocheted snowflakes for H's family for Christmas.
Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]

Yeah, this. We joined a CSA this year. We get enough to feed us for most of the week, and don't buy a ton at the grocery store. We're eating healthier, and while it was a big upfront investment, it's cut our grocery bill dramatically overall.

Julz629

I pack lunches, snacks, etc. for FI and I at night.  When we ran out of time in the morning, we would run out to lunch and/or the vending machine.  I cut up vegetable and fruit and put them in ziploc containers, and even put out snacks like crackers, granola bars, etc.  That way we can grab and go in the morning.  Saves money AND is much healthier.

We both drive my car as much as possible -- his is an SUV and gets half the gas mileage that mine does.  He drives his car to work, but that's about it.  My car is used for most everything else.

Also, we went on a Verizon family plan with my sister and her DH -- saved us all a good chunk of money!

mandysmear

No no!  I like all your tips.  Whether it's saving money, or money saving.  Heh.

LC I am doing that with my raise too! 

wadingmoose

Eat breakfast at home. 
Pack lunch
Read at lunch rather than going shopping (impulse buying = bad)

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:5c582ba5-85a2-4303-882e-a681fb65a7e4">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]Eating dinner at home v. going out all the time. Leaving H at home when I do the grocery shopping; I always end up buying way more (usually very unnecessary stuff) when he's with me. He's like shopping with a little kid, I swear.
Posted by cengle[/QUOTE]

This is quite true.  My fiance will throw all sorts of things in the cart because he thinks it sounds good.  I always look at him and go "will you eat in a week?  No?  We'll buy it next week."  Then he doesn't remember it and never misses it.

We also pack lunches and I have money transferred from my checking into my savings.  I never ever touch my savings.

I also budget like a fiend.  I take my montly paycheck, remove savings and billls from the number, then see the number I have left.  I walk around with that number in my head all month and know I can't go over it.

Stackeye210

Plan meals, coupons

Pack lunches

Budgets and allowances

Automatic check deductions into savings

AmoroAgain

I tried making lunches for H, or buying frozen meals so he didn't have to spend money at lunch, but he never remembered to take them with him, so it was a waste. 

I only go to the grocery store 2x's a month.  I'll make a run for milk once a week, but when I do that, I'll only have enough money with me to buy what I need.  When I do go to the store for the "big shop" I buy staples of things- chicken, burger, steaks- for freezing.  Also, because H won't eat veggies, I buy frozen or canned so I don't have to throw a bunch of stuff away.

LesPaul

Cook on the weekends and pre-package individual serving sizes so taking a lunch to work is easier - grab and go.  Cherry-pick the grocery store sale items (sometimes everything I buy is on sale).  Use reward cards (like getting a discount on gas for shopping at a certain grocery store).  Coupons are a PITA and take time to manage, but can be worth it.

laurenclaire1386

Oh, my brother changes my oil. It costs only what the oil and filters cost, which for me, is way cheaper than taking it somewhere. I know that won't work for everyone, because not everyone's brother is mechanically inclined, but it saves me money.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Make as many meals at home as possible. Don't go shopping when you're hungry. Make a list and stick to it. buy pantry staples and bulk items on sale.

Use CFL bulbs, turn out lights when possible, don't run the AC if you don't need it (or run it at a higher temp than necessary), and unplug devices you don't need to use.

mwhitson14

I bring my lunch and breakfast (I've figured out how to make iced coffee, SCORE!)

I use coupons like crazy. Kroger doubles coupone 50 cents and less, so I print them off the internet and load them on my Kroger card via the internet. I also request free samples or visit a manufacturer's website before I buy, because they either have a coupon on their website or send one with the free sample.

carrieoz_76

Decide on a certain amount each month that will go into savings, and automate it.

I have an automatic withdrawl that comes out from each paycheck and goes straight into savings.  Since I bank with a CU that's affiliated with my employer, they can pull it directly from my paycheck, but you could have it go from your checking to savings acct.  It's easiest if the amount I'm putting into savings doesn't sit in my checking acct, because if it does I start to consider it disposable income.

ETA:  To avoid eating out, and because I'm not a good everyday lunch-packer, I just buy groceries at the local store and keep them here at work.  I have english muffins in the freezer and pb and j in the fridge (breakfast), frozen lunches in the freezer, and microwave popcorn and energy bars in by drawers, plus fruit.  It also keeps me eating healthier.

Night_Sprite

My cousin budgets everything and puts money into separate envelopes and keeps them in a planner.  It seems complicated to me, but may be Dave Ramsey derived?

squirrly

I really want to get into coupons for the grocery, but that means getting the paper, which I don't do.   

mwhitson14

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:72d5d0b0-6bad-43b7-9b57-25754bf3e137">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: best saving money tips : This is quite true.  My fiance will throw all sorts of things in the cart because he thinks it sounds good.  <strong>I always look at him and go "will you eat in a week?  No?  We'll buy it next week."  Then he doesn't remember it and never misses it.</strong> We also pack lunches and I have money transferred from my checking into my savings.  I never ever touch my savings. I also budget like a fiend.  I take my montly paycheck, remove savings and billls from the number, then see the number I have left.  I walk around with that number in my head all month and know I can't go over it.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

I don't let Shane go either! Last time he went he pitched a fit about some Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, so I went ahead and got them. Two weeks later? They're still in the freezer.

FutureMrsTR

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:df7ae74c-2781-4b25-a39f-1443d3e661c8">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]My cousin budgets everything and puts money into separate envelopes and keeps them in a planner.  It seems complicated to me, but may be Dave Ramsey derived?
Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, it's Dave Ramsey.  My mom does the same thing and she loves it.  I'm too lazy to go to the ATM machine to get cash all the time, though.

mwhitson14

squirrly, I don't get the paper either! But there are so many online coupon places now!

www.coupons.com, www.southernsavers.com, and www.couponsurfer.com are the top 3 I use. Kroger posts their sale paper online, where you can print out coupons and load them onto your savings card.

You just need to be able to download the coupon printing software onto your computer, so I can't do it at work. I have a cheap a*ss printer I hooked up at home to print them.

laurenclaire1386

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:df7ae74c-2781-4b25-a39f-1443d3e661c8">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]My cousin budgets everything and puts money into separate envelopes and keeps them in a planner.  It seems complicated to me, but may be Dave Ramsey derived?
Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]
Yup, it's Dave Ramsey. The theory of it (budgeting) works ok for me without having to physically put the money in envelopes. The whole point of that is that you're spending cash (only what you have) all the time. And it's kind of a moot point if you only use your debit card anyway.

mandysmear

-make dinner.  freeze individual left overs.
-bring a package of english muffins and jar of peanut butter to work, that's breakfast every day.  a co-worker and i take turns buying the PB, lasts about a month and english muffins last a little over a week
-keep a couple yogurts in the fridge at work
-brita water
-go to the cheaper grocery stores (sometimes even walmart) and get what i can there before i go to my favorite, more expensive grocery store
-try to do the farmer's market first.  one in calgary is actually more expensive than the grocery stores, but another one is quite a bit cheaper
-got rid of our house phone.  saves $50 a month
-we run the AC once the house gets hot.  we find the house keeps cool quite well til about 2pm , sometimes 4
-get pantry items when they go onsale
-buy movies only when they're $10 or less
-stopped renting and only watch the free ondemand movies or ones we already own
-traded in airmiles for movie passes
-car-pool to work with my sister
-sister and i make coffee in the morning, no stopping on the way
-get tim's coffee instead of starbucks lattes ($3 difference)
-buy liquor at costco
-stick to the $15 and under wines rack

mandysmear

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:a5098bb4-97be-4e24-b793-4ac0bce2c38c">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: best saving money tips : Oh yeah, it's Dave Ramsey.  My mom does the same thing and she loves it.  I'm too lazy to go to the ATM machine to get cash all the time, though.
Posted by FutureMrsTR[/QUOTE]

yup, that'd be me.  H and i started a "okay,  here's $100 to blow on whatever you want without disclosing it to the other" policy.  we did it for the month of may.  it's been so hectic with the house and move that we haven't been buying stuff for ourselves so, i guess it doesn't really matter.  come fall, we'll be back on strict money saving mode, i hope.  i want to go to jamaica dammit.  if i have to do it for my 2 year anniversary, so fucking be it i guess!

LDYGTR13

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_saving-money-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:04c2b92e-49ad-42d9-ad5c-0f2dfce638b5Post:9346a14e-b4db-40d2-ab2b-cfb1a2b78532">Re: best saving money tips</a>:
[QUOTE]I bring my lunch and breakfast (I've figured out how to make iced coffee, SCORE!) I use coupons like crazy. Kroger doubles coupone 50 cents and less, so I print them off the internet and load them on my Kroger card via the internet. I also request free samples or visit a manufacturer's website before I buy, because they either have a coupon on their website or send one with the free sample.
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]


Woah!? you can load coupons on your Kroger card!? Details, please!

pumpkinpumpkin

Also, because H won't eat veggies, I buy frozen or canned so I don't have to throw a bunch of stuff away.

Amoro - my husband won't eat vegetables either!