(The Andreas Hotel and Spa in Palm Springs, pictures by Me)
What are you doing to save money right now? Leave me a comment below with your best money saving tip and you could win a two nights stay at The Andreas Hotel and Spa in swinging Palm Springs.
The lucky winner will be picked at random (think me drawing out of a hat) on Monday, so you have all weekend to think of something good.
My thought is this would be a good way to help each other out during these tight times, and since I know someone in the hotel business–The Andreas is owned and managed by my husband’s company, Broughton Hospitality–this contest seemed like a natural choice.
So let’s hear your best money saving schemes.
✹✹✹✹✹✹✹ Here is one thing I’ve been doing to save money ✹✹✹✹✹✹✹✹
This is a thing I (tragically) call “shopping in my closet.” Which sounds clever (to me), but really isn’t nearly as much fun as shopping-shopping, and there is zero chance of grabbing a frappuccino and a lemon scone at anytime while digging around your closet, but there is something satisfying about having your husband point an accusatory finger at an item of clothes you are wearing and say, “That new?” and you can reply with pride, “Shopping in my closet, again.”
BAM! Happy husband!
Buying new clothes is not penciled in to our tight budget right now. So when we went to a graduation party this last weekend I went (let’s say it together) ”shopping in my closet” and found this skirt I bought at Anthropologie three years ago for a Christmas party.
I have rediscovered a lot of clothes that I forgot I even had by using this method. I mean I bought the clothes, so at some point in my life I must have thought they were cute, so there has to be something in there for me to wear–at least that’s the theory.
Isn’t it beautiful?
✶✶✶ Official Stuff ✶✶✶
Win a 2-nights stay at The Andreas Hotel, blackout dates and restrictions apply.
Must use within one year of issuance. Total value, 350 buck-a-roos.
You have to leave a comment here at this blog–not on Twitter, or my personal blog Alive in Wonderland, or my Facebook fan page. That way everyone sees your idea!
Would you like to be featured here and on 
I love that skirt. I’ve been running a lot, which is free.
I’ve also been going through our garage and selling off some of Angry Toddler’s old things on Craig’s List and e-bay.
PLUS, I know, I know…you are going to laugh…I’ve given up my $5 a day, Monster habit. I’ve been clean of Monsters for 2 WEEKS!
I would love a mini vacay in Palm Springs!
I do my own mani/pedi’s now. And it is waaay easier than I thought it would be. Plus, I look for sale stuff at the grocery store. I am actually loving this new sense of frugality and how good I feel when I save money. I really used to just fritter it away. Those days are done now, and I hope I don’t ever go back to that way of living. Banal. That being said, I need to go there. NEED TO. I am going to put this on my blog now;)
Home pedicures saves me a good 40-60 bucks a month. I bite my fingernails but sure do love a pedi. And i do a pretty good job at it too.
Can we enter more than once cause I am the queen of saving money. Ask asyone!
I mean ask anyone…hehehe.
I refuse to be loyal to one grocery store. That’s my money saving tip. Due to sales and coupons, sometimes I save way more money by hopping around then to always shop at one particular store. And since they’re all super close, I’m not driving all over the world to save. Two of my grocery stores are right across the street from each other. For instance, I often can save more by shopping at Henry’s as opposed to a store that people tend to think of as being always cheap…Stater Brothers. You just have to pay attention to the sales.
My other tip is, don’t throw stuff at me when I say this but, I shop at Wal Mart for a lot of non-perishable items. Since I lived in the south for so long and lived in a place where it was either the Piggly Wiggly or Wal Mart for groceries, we shopped at Wal Mart for groceries. Granted, here they do not stock the same things they do in other parts of the country (produce, full selection of brands, etc). However, for paper products, toilet paper, tissue, dishwasher soap (you get the picture) they’re significantly cheaper and around the corner from the grocery stores.
Perfect example? Dishwasher soap at Wal Mart was $2.10 cheaper then at Stater Brothers. 2.10 cheaper? That’s insane. And I’m cheap. So I buy non-perishables at Wal Mart.
I have been making larger batches of dinner(spaghetti sauce, beef stroganoff and chile) . When ground turkey/beef goes on sale I purchase double the regular amount and make larger portions and freeze the other half. Not only does it save me money but it will save me time when I am running behind and still need something for dinner. And the 99cent store is awesome to find storage and freezer bags!!!
I clip coupons and shop sales, so I have no favorite stores. Then I get my pedi/manis done without feeling the guilt.
A money saving tip - hmmmmm
Besides shopping in my own closet which is an awesome idea!
Shop on line when you can - not seeing things you want saves you money.
I shop at one little boutique vs. Nordstroms - again if I don’t see all the goodies I want I won’t buy them.
or shop in our closets - again great idea.
Cash in your cans and plastic bottles = gas money
Cook at home
Get pedicures once a month or every other month
At the market look for 2 for 1 sales and such - can save a boat load doing this
I would LOVE a free trip - Pick me Pick me Pick me
i have a HUGE LIST of free (or close to it) stuff to do every summer. if you check out your local community paper you’re bound to find something to fill just about every day of the week with something.
some of my favories are free concerts in long beach http://www.LBParks.com, and free museum entry at the Getty http://www.getty.edu or Tuesdays at LACMA and the Tar Pits http://www.lacma.org http://www.hhm.org
KidsGuide Calendar for Summer 2009 is a great resource for fun stuff to do (for kids AND adults). contact info@kidsguidemagazine.com to find out where to pick up this FREE publication
Tip 1: Enter contests to win things instead of buying them…sorry, had to include that one!
Tip 2 (the real tip): Going out to eat is a huge expense, but there are always days when you just don’t feel like cooking from scratch, so anticipate those days by compromising - have things around for those no-time-to-cook days that will keep you from wasting money going out.
Here’s my new favorite - I recently discovered Lavash bread at Trader Joe’s - it’s basically large, thin flatbreads (9″x12″ approx). I got the whole wheat kind, which has 6 breads for $1.99. Take whatever is around, put it on the flatbread, cook it on the oven rack at 350 for 10 minutes, and cut with a pizza cutter. I used tomato sauce, thawed frozen spinach, frozen corn, a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, spices (crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, etc), and it looked & tasted seriously gourmet considering I spent 5 minutes prepping and 10 minutes cooking. If you go light on the cheese, it’s pretty healthy since the bread is so thin, unlike regular pizza. Plus it’s an easy way to use up leftover veggies and meat without having to throw them away, which saves even more money.
Tip 3: Cook 2x recipes of dinners that can be easily made into hot or cold lunches the next day. Pasta with veggies tonight = pasta salad tomorrow.
Tip 4: The library! Added bonus: no guilt if I never get around to reading the books (which happens a lot)
Ya know … that’s the lovely thing about living in the desert. A “Christmas” weight skirt and still be worn in summer. Here in the drenching-humidity-box known as “the south” I could no more pull a skirt out from winter and wear it than I can say “y’all” with a straight face.
Here’s my (stupid) money saving tip. I look at the food circulars that come out on Wed … and see what specials they have on meat. Then on the following TUESDAY … I go and scoop up stuff they’ve discounted even further because it’s at the end of the special. It hasn’t been sitting out all week long - it’s been in the back freezer - they just miscalculated quantities. I bought $38 worth of leg of lamb for $12.50 the other week. Almost 2 lbs. Now THAT’S a bargain.
And count me in for spending time where the humidity is under 15%!
Over from MentalPMama’s to say I would love to dip my tootsie’s in that pool .. and if I win, I will be bringing MPM with me .. if that’s not enough to get you to throw the contest in my favor .. well then tell me what it would take .. LOL … nice to meet you!
And I dont read well … my idea .. okay … we’re not putting the AC in the window til we really really need it .. I cant think of a better way to save electricity in the summer .. use a fan .. open a window .. get out and take a walk .. cool down by chilling at home with your man!
Finding new ways to save money is always on my radar! As a single parent, it’s a necessity.
- We subscribe to magazines through one of the many magazine discount sites online as opposed to buying individual monthly issues at a store.
- I purchase store brands of just about every food and household item I buy, but then give it a little oomph by adding spices instead of spending extra for name brands that may advertise a special seasoning ingredient, etc. I also shop from the day old breads section of the grocery store and then freeze the breads to keep them from spoiling.
- I do my own manicures and pedicures. So what if I mess up! I just break out with the nail polish remover and touch up the oops’s!
- As far as wardrobe goes, I buy solid colors as opposed to prints on most everything for myself and my kids. That way pieces look less outdated and we can get sometimes years of wear out of an item instead of buying trendy pieces that generally cost more anyway.
- We craft a lot instead of spending outrageous amounts of money on theme parks and places that advertise ‘family fun.’ We have just as much fun by staying home and making things.
A dad chiming in…
tip #1: Stop buying paper towels! This puts money in your pocket and it helps the environment. Buy a bulk of rags at http://www.allrags.com/ .
tip#2: Make your own pizza at home. We buy the wheat pizza dough at F&E and get all our topings there too. Fresh, healthy home made pizza for less thatn $3 each pizza!
tip#3: Cut your dryer sheets in half. You won’t lose any of the benefits by doing this, but the box will certainly last you longer.
tip#4: Stop with the sodas already! I know lots of moms here depend on Dite Coke, but sodas are expensive. Plus, they’re not too healthy. We make our own ice tea using our coffee brewer.
tip#5: Install CFL bulbs.
tip#6: Insulate your attic.
tip#7 Make your own beer: http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-brew-your-own-beer-in-7-simple-steps
Most blogger giveaways I’ve seen use random.org to choose the random winner…just an idea…
I need to go so I can take Mental Mama with me. She needs a vacation, but I need it more.
After my husband died suddenly three years ago, everything changed. He was the bread winner and I was a stay at home mom caring for our newborn child. I had no other option, but to go back to work. I started my own business working from home to save on child care fees (I couldn’t afford to send her anyway). It made me insane – never getting a break from the baby, but I had to look at the bigger picture. Three years later, my three year old child goes to school a few days a week for a few hours. I started using coupons that came in the mail for the first time in years. I found restaurants, like Claim Jumper that offered ‘happy hour’ prices on great meals and ate there while my growing child would get a free plate for her to eat also. This always felt like such a treat. Three years ago it was such a struggle, I couldn’t think of spending money to buy the Sunday paper. Now I am a paper subscriber for Sunday only – just to receive all the great coupons.
1) home business – saves on child care, plus tax benefits
2) use coupons
3) everything I buy is on sale
4) pick restaurants with happy hour specials on food…for example: Claim Jumper, Yardhouse, Mexican restaurants that offer Taco Tuesday.
Claim jumper offers a toddler plate for free. I think Lucilles does too.
I have been shopping for my daughter’s summer clothes (once I don’t mind getting dirty/stained/ripped) at Goodwill, and have even found some great things for me, too!
I have increased the amount of money from my paycheck that goes automatically into my savings account (so I never have the chance of spending it).
I am also trying to cut back on eating out, and when I want to eat out and make the hard decision not to, I put what I would have spent into my savings account.
Tried and true…COUPONS!!!! In 3 months I have only spent 738$ on 1700$ worth of groceries, cleaning supllies and typical sundries (shampoo, toothpaste, etc). The trick is clipping coupons from the paper, the internet and directly online at manufacturers sites. Then I wait for the sale… I literally get at least 50$ in free or almost free (like .25 cents) by being patient. You also need to be willing to brand switch..sometimes its Jiff peanur butter, sometimes it’s Skippy.
Also, I try and donate at least half of my free items to a local food back or womans center to give back. I’m so thankful to be making it through this rough patch economically, I think it’s the least I can do to pass it along to those needier.
Plus, restaurants all have websites that allow you to sign up and get a coupon for your meal. This way I can still dine out on the nights I don’t want to cook but save 10% (Rubys) or but one entree get one free (Boston Market) plus many more. It might seem awkward at first but really whats embarrassing about saving real cash?
Love the idea of shopping in my closet. I actually found a couple of cute outfits last week doing that. By the way love your skirt.
I’ve cut down my grocery shopping/personal expenses by going to coupon sites- like hotcouponworld.com- It lists all the deals for the week at your favorite stores- like CVS- for example- they have Extra care bucks where you can actually pick up things for free. I’ve been doing this for a while and have a closet full of shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste etc… that I picked up for free.
Also when we eat out- we always use a coupon. We bought the That’s Entertainment coupon book which has pages full of buy one get one free coupons for restaurants in the OC. If we don’t have a coupon we usually won’t eat out. It’s been a great way to discover new restaurants and save $$$$/
We also try to plan our date nights and outingsaround free events. Every little bit helps!!
I need a getaway!! Hope I win.
I have to buy scrip at my child’s school. If I don’t generate enough “profit” I have to pay the difference. This year I made it a point to make the scrip/gift cards work in my favor. Every gift for Mother’s day, Father’s day & graduation was a gift card or bought using a gift card. Lots of Xmas gifts too.
I never go over the gift card amount either, in California, if your balance is less than $10 the merchants have to give the balance in cash if you ask. So sometimes, I make my “profit” om the card and I still get cash back.
I only purchase fast food if I have a scrip gift card or gift certificate, otherwise, we go home for snacks or lunch etc…Now my family knows we only get fast food if we have a gift card or scrip.
I don’t buy an enormous amount, just enough so that I make my goal and then I limit my purchases.
Well, we always got out to eat with a buy one, get the other meal free. I cut coupons. Shop at Walmart and B.J.’s to save money.
if I win, i will have to give it away because I cannot afford to fly to Palm Springs. So, don’t pick me.
I’ve been telling the Chauffeur to use unleaded.
Peter and I shop for ALL of our produce and meat at Sprouts. It’s an extra trip to the store, but it is conveniently located across the street so we don’t spend more in gas (I mean literally within walking distance). For example, last week we saw tomatoes for $2.99/pound at Ralphs versus $0.99/pound at Sprouts. It does add up to quite a bit of savings plus most of the produce is fairly local.
I have also given up my treat of buying iced coffees when it is hot out. I make my own instead by soaking coffee grinds in cold water overnight in a french press and then adding more cold water in the morning. It takes the acid taste out of the coffee and it’s a yummy treat on a hot afternoon.
What a fun post! I love reading the other comments.
Going from a 2 income family to 1 has certainly called for some re-adjusting! Even though it was a choice, it’s now become fun to see where we can cut back (junk) so we don’t have to cut back on what we enjoy most. (wine, entertainment) Top 4 are:
1. Calling on bills that come. Yes - I really do it. With our home owners, car and RV insurance all due at once I was able to save us over $200 in renewals this month without compromising on our coverages. I have also called on cell phone, TV bills and more. I call on most bills.
2. On sale dinners. We used to do more deciding at home what we were going to have for dinner, but are more often deciding at the store now. Some stores (such as Fresh & Easy) even have “super sale” sections where you can get incredible deals on protein that needs to be cooked within a day. I have made more high quality meals by being more flexible. We rarely eat out, but when we do I try to find a deal, special or coupon to help. Adding on to this we like pizza – but often the “specials” they offer aren’t what we want. We often have bought the 2 toppings, and added one or two at home for just pennies.
3. I bookmark blogs and sites with lots of other new ideas and reminders of what works. Here is my favorite local OC favorite: http://morewithlesstoday.com/
4. Buying (some) clothes differently. There are so many great resale boutiques to choose from! My favorite is Working Wardrobes, with multiple locations. I used to hate the smell and disorganization (not to mention junk) in most thrift stores, but I have found that the boutiques do a great job of having things by size, making sure they are good quality etc. This is an especially great tip if you’ve gained a few extra pounds and don’t want to stay the size you are! I have received many compliments on my “new” clothes.
So many great ideas out there, hard to pick just a few. Happy saving!
Cook at home. Make a meal of eggs and a hearty salad. I think shopping for fruits and veggies often helps reduce waste. Only buy what is in season, it is always cheaper.
For entertaining the kids, I like taking a local hike. Packing a lunch and hitting a trail is fun, gets everyone a good workout, and the kids are pooped when we return.
Shopping for things like cereal and snacks the kids like my rule is it has to be on sale, no matter what.
When it comes to buying meat I stick to chicken thighs, they are the best part, and are always the cheapest. I use everything I can out what I buy, I will make chicken salad out of leftovers, chicken stock out of the bones, and then a great soup. For red meats, I use roasts, I will use my crock-pot to cook them, or braise and cook for a long time in the oven, makes a cheaper cut of meat taste fantastic.
I also incorporate a lot of polenta and beans in our weekley menus, serving a salad on the side.
I quit shopping for clothes for myself and only buy for the kids when they really need something, this has saved me on a huge laundry pile too!
I think I should get two entries into the raffle since my name is Andrea!
Similiar to shopping in your closet - the movie theater on your computer: (this works better if you have kids, but this is the mom blog) my husband and I started looking up the old movies and tv shows that we loved as kids, but that aren’t that popular anymore on places like Hulu or Netflix and introducing our daughter to them instead of going out to the movies. They are new to her and it’s great fun to share a favorite comedy you might have forgotten about with someone new. It’s like a cinematic treasure hunt.
Also, I check the Fast Food Maven and OC Deals blog on here daily for specials. Otherwise I never would have known we could go to Discovery Science Center for FREE, or other awesome deals.
Another thing we’ve done is put together a family budget, and every Friday I take out our budget for the weekend in cash. When the money is gone we’re done for the weekend. Time to bust out the leftovers and board games.
Also, find resturants you love that serve huge portions and split an entree (good for your wallet and your waistline), or even an appetizer. 1 “serving” of spaghetti and meatballs at Peppino’s in Lake Forest is more than enough to feed our whole family. We’ve also been known to make dinner out of the nacho appetizer from Chili’s.
The best thing to do these days, though, seems to be just to keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. Alot of businesses are hurting these days and there are some major deals to be had around Orange County.
I don’t plan a menu for meals. I know, that’s like the opposite of what most people do to save money, but that works for me. I buy the cheapest produce and meat each week, and then I make what I can with that. No buying extra ingredients just because.
Also if we want to buy something unnecessary, we have to “save up for it.” That means the money does not come out of our income, but from turning in the recycling, selling something on craigslist, etc. Most of the time we forget what it was we wanted before we have enough money for it anyway.
We take all of our “fun” money out in cash at the beginning of the month. When it’s gone, it’s gone. That keeps us from over spending on silly things. We don’t use the check card for anything but necessities (groceries and gas.)
Such good suggestions already listed.
One thing I’ve done in the past and plan to do again is to organize a “toy swap”.
The idea is that you clean out the toys that your kids no longer play with, but are still in good condition, books, videos, whatever and swap them with your friends.
We’ve done this at play group and let the kids pick the toys they want. After everyone has picked what they want, the rest will be donated to charity.
For the younger kids, it keeps things new and exciting without the expense of purchasing new toys. Plus, you have the added bonus of a clean toy box and the charity will benefit in the end.
I heard through the grapevine that this saturday June 20th Old Navy is selling tank tops for $2.00 for women and girls. Stock up for the summer. 50 styles to choose from. Get there early though.
become their fan on Facebook and you’ll get notified of alot of special sales..
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=1160970550770&ref=nf
carpool to camps or bike wherever possible!!
We are also having recession-free family nights…re-discovering our own backyard. Think backyard campouts, patio potlucks and grown-up game nights for the parents..all alfresco.
Free hotel? Did someone say free hotel? Well there’s a money saver for ya! I am all about spending time outside with my kids in a non-theme park related place as much as possible. Its healthier, its MUCH cheaper and it fun.
I frequent lots of different blog sites. I have a list if you want it….
OK, here is what we have been doing, and Suzanne, you have yet to attend!!
We have been having “Happy Hour” in the park! Instead of going out for dinner and drinks, we each contribute whatever we feel like, and all have a really nice evening in the park with our families and friends!
This week, we are having a Japanese chef come to prepare us dinner in honor of Father’s Day, (still very cheap, $20-$30) per adult…this includes a full elegant meal! ( ie, $20 for the chicken dinner,salad, shrimp appetizer, veggies,and fried rice…all prepared “Hibatchi” style!
I have the number if anyone is interested!!
But, this beats the $250-$500 nights for dinner ,drinks, and sitters!!
Well, hope this helps!!
Love your Blog and the postings!!
PS, can I come shopping in your closet? That is what my friends used to do in DC, they’d have clothing swaps to save money!!
xoxo
There’s a few things I am doing. I actually pay attention to what I purchase at the grocery store! I don’t make a list anymore. I shop based on what is for sale and only get a few of my *favorites* if they are not on sale. No more grocery lists! I also will bypass “Ralphs” and go a little further distance to “Albertson’s” as they have more things I like on sale.
I am also using Ebay for things I no longer have use for. My 12 year old nephew will list things for me if I don’t have time and I give him a small commission(better than his allowance! Rocks!) to sell them for me. He recently programmed a very old iPhone for me and he got as much as I purchased it for because it was “unlocked!” Kid is a whiz at technology.
Win cool stuff from blog giveaways!
Tip 1) I still love going out to eat but now I only go during happy hour specials, if I have a coupon, or I eat only half my entree, and box up the rest for lunch the next day.
Tip 2) I still like going out on dates but I try and find cheap things to do. I like sneaking over to the beach around sunset with two glasses and a bottle of cheap red wine. We’ve also done many picnics in the park. Our friends will get together and hold potluck gatherngs.
I think knowing your saving money adds to the joy.
I am the coupon queen. I shop where tripple coupons are offered and I even use my Costco coupons. I just love it when the men in line behind me groan when they see me pull out all of my coupons! Althought the look when they see how much my actual total is after my coupon spree, they just shake their heads. Women for some reason, understand when they are behind me in line. LOL
Since I must commute 40 miles each way to work (I used to work 9 miles from home, but I got laid off from there and the company shut down), I ditched the Suburban and bought a motorcycle for the commute. From 11mpg to 45mpg!!
Now THAT’s a monthly savings in gas alone of about $300!! Only downside is whwen it rains.
When I travel for work, I eat on the cheap, like Wendy’s dollar menu cheap, and then I spend the rest of my per diem and buy gift cards to restaurants. Works for my employer, and gives free me entertainment money for the future.That way, I can afford to take my wife out to a nice dinner at Ruth’s Chris or some similar restaurant.
aww man, do I even get to win???
well, I’ll answer anyway: I’ve been shopping at farmer’s markets more, which is much cheaper than french fries at fast food joints (AND less calories!). and I’ve also been obsessed with Etsy, and am convinced I can come up with some grand handmade idea that will make me some money so that I won’t have to spend less!
Use Netflix instead of going out to movies.
Cook in bulk, freeze extra in portion sizes, so that people can choose what they want to eat. When you don’t have time to cook, you can pull something out of the freezer rather than going out or to fast food.
Go to concerts in the park during the summer for free entertainment.
Shop on ebay, craigslist, amazon rather than the mall.
I try to make a list for every store and stick to it. I avoid Costco because I always just seem to spend more than I save. I also try to do grocery shopping without kids because I can actually concentrate.
BTW Cute Skirt!
Paint your own toes
Brew your own coffee
Cook your own meals
Entertain your kids yourself
Entertain your husband yourself
Do your own hair
Sew your own clothes… kidding!
Shop second hand.. cool stuff to be had
Go to the beach
“Entertain your husband yourself”
LOL at that! lucky husband…
My husband and I like to entertain, but that can be pricey for everyone involved. So we have started having cheap wine parties. No bottles over $10 — you’d be surprised at how many good ones there are for around $3. But it is also fun to get a really bad one. Everyone has a lot of fun and we end up saving money.
We’ve also started going on cheap dates. We went to Taco Bell last Friday and it was actually pretty fun! The one on Barranca and Van Karman is really nice inside and we hadn’t eaten there in all the time we’ve lived here. We’ve also gone to Nikki’s Indian Food and several Thai Restaurants. We still get the may-we-help-you atmosphere with great food without the boutique restaurant pricing we used to pay. We find we are saving a lot of money and having fun coming up with cheap, new places to try. The little restaurants in the strip malls are the best.
What I haven’t done is a much smaller list. After I had my boys I became a stay-at-home mom, so saving $$$ was very important. Here are my top 5 ( in no pArticular order).
1- Coupons! Gotta love em and know how to use them
2- started a garden. We dug up a 6×10 portion of our back yard and grow enough vegetables to last us through the winter. My mom also tought me how to can.
3- I bike everywhere! As long as it is above 70 the kids are in the trailer and we are off. Last year I only has to fill up my car twice.
4-when we have to drive somewhere and my hub is home we take his car. it get about average 50 mpg (it’s a diesel golf)
5-CLOTH DIAPERS! Learn to love them! They will save you so much $$$
I also vote for Netflix. Very cheap entertainment for adults and the kids. Also free On Demand movies/shows.
Play outdoors! Most parks are free and if you go to new ones all the time the kids become mini-explorers and the whole family has fun. Even if you have to pay, it’s usually a small amount and goes to a good cause.
Get gourmet at home. TJ’s makes it really easy. I recently made a bagel with a tomato slice, topped with a slice of fresh mozzarella, and drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. My husband was soooo impressed.
Carefully choose one or two attractions to buy season passes to every year. Usually only makes sense if you go three or four times - and it’s good if you rotate so things stay fresh.
In addition to borrowing books from the library - buy them at the Friends of the Library bookstores.
We have a $20/week each cash budget for extra fun stuff. We’re really good at making it stretch. In ‘N Out is a great treat for few bucks.
Become a barista at home. Buy syrups at Cost Plus. And get good coffee at Costco or TJ’s.
Thanks to everyone for their great ideas!
I love this thread. I’m learning so much. We are also determined to cut costs this year!
I have started dying my own hair instead of paying $180 a month to have it done for me and you know what? Nobody has even noticed! I do my own pedicures too, but my toes don’t have pretty flowers on them anymore. A small price to pay to save $35 a month.
I have started cutting coupons and matching them to store sales. I actually saved $71 off of $182 order at Ralph’s last weekend! I was so proud of myself. When eating out, always check and see where kids can eat free.
By far, the BIGGEST thing we are doing to cut back on excess expenses is going down to one car for the remainder of the year. We traded in my husband’s car for a very efficient, four-door VW GTI. We fit perfectly well in there and it’s fun to drive too. So if you know anyone who wants to buy my beautiful blue Audi A6, let me know. I may cry a little when they drive it away but I know we’ll be happier with less money going towards car payments and insurance.
Shop around on car insurance, or even better, threaten to cancel your coverage with your current company and see if they can do you better. We saved $300 that way.
Like another commenter above, I also recommend random.org as a good way to pick the winner, Suzanne.
I don’t really have any new saving tips, other than the fact that I’m very aware of how much I’m spending since I’ve taken on other responsibilities!
I do the little things, eat out less (WAY LESS), drive much slower to try and keep my MPG above 26 (yes, it sounds easy enough, but I like to DRIVE).
I have cut back on the things I like to do like everyone else…getting my nails done, going to Bingo (oh wait, not everyone goes to Bingo?) and I send my love letters to my favorite bloggers via email - saves on postage! (<–thanks for that tip SUZ!)
My big saver is that when I get my paycheck, I put a HUGE chunk into savings…so that I can’t just spend it. This way, I’m limited to the few dollars I have left in my account…it works pretty well…as long as you leave the other credit cards at home too!
Okay, first off…Samantha…is cheating!
Second, arrange a sister swap! Get all your girlfriends together, clean out your closets of clothes, shoes or jewlery (that are in good condition) and bring them to a pot luck party where you take turns holding up each item and tell why you bought it and why someone else needs it… then the first friend to grab it , gets it! This is a fun way to get together, cuts down on shopping and you get some new stuff to wear while enjoying some good food! SO fun!
It’s shopping in someone elses closet!
I found this great second hand store in Costa Mesa called Crossroads Trading, have you ever been there Suzanne? (19th and Harbor) I find great deals on recycled brand name clothing. Got a pair of Rock and Republic jeans for $20! …and only I know that they are recycled!! You can also take your gently used clothing and they will buy it from you. Even in this economy, I still like to look fashionable!
couple of more things (you can exclude this entry from the drawing):
-Budget! Create one. I’m work with number so I have a fancy spreadsheet tracking every cent we spend and comparing it to the budget WE create at the beginning of the month. We also use Quicken to track and download all of our bank/401k transactions. You can find free software to help you budget online. Try mint.com or wesabe.com (both very good programs)
-Get your husband (or the main bread winner) a term life insurance. Shop around online, they are very inexpensive policies. NO whole life, please! They are ripoffs.
good thread…Thanks to Suzanne for the giveaway!
Love Love Love the skirt-its always the best finding old things and making them new…..
Love your articles!!
My husband and I are pretty tight-fisted with our money. Here’s what we do to save.
1. We do most of our own home improvement, and I’m not just talking the little stuff. We remodeled a kitchen and bathroom each in both our current house and last house. The stuff we can’t do ourselves we contract out (drywall, flooring, moving a gas line, etc), but do most everything on our own and never using a contractor to plan out the project and arrange everything for us. That has saved us thousands of dollars.
2. We try to bring our lunches to work.
3. Take a bucket into the shower with us and allow it to fill while we are waiting for the water to warm up. That water (and any other water that makes it in there while we are showering ) goes on our plants outside.
4. Try to eliminate going to the grocery store buy shopping at Costco and Target whenever possible. The deals are so much better.
5. Most of the wood furniture in our home is from yard sales, estate sales, and antique auctions. We love antiques and it’s all made better than the new stuff.
We save all of our bottles and cans for a long time. Then we head to the recycling center. Not only are we helping the environment, we usually get a free date night out of it!
I mow my own lawns and all the other gardening stuff myself. No more paying a gardener.
I shop the sales. Most clothes go on sale during the season. If not, I wait until the end of season sales and get real bargains. Since I’m not growing (up anyway) anymore I can still wear them next season.
I am the queen of recycling. We have our whole church saving aluminum to help pay for a new building. We grow our own veggies. We pay the credit card off each month. Pack lunches for work and school. Our car gets 35 miles to the gallon( yes it is little)- we take staycations and like them! We live near a river! We buy nothing unless it is on sale - other than milk and bread. We just installed a geothermal heating and air system and save about a hundred dollars a month on our electric bill. ( see my blog - going green) - We do alot of online shopping to save time and wear and tear on the car. Of course there has to be free shipping!
Buy items on special at grocery store
Less Starbucks and Coffee Bean more Lipton Tea and top ramen
Say no to my son begging for another pair of shoes that he does not need
More beach, bike rides and tennis - wonderful free entertainment
I buy all my produce at Sprouts and I really just buy what is on sale. I just bought a watermelon and a pineapple for $1.50 each.
Rent movies at RebBox at Albertson’s for $1.
I only buy things I need and if they are on sale! Like everyone else, I cut back on eating out. Never get a latte anymore and never get my nails done!
Also have your kids do the summer reading program at the library! You get free kids meals gift certificates, a free book and little prizes. It’s free to join, they read, you read and you can borrow DVD’s from there too.
What a great post Suzanne! Thanks for the new link
1) Plan a menu each week and make a list before you grocery shop. Stick to it.
2) We rarley eat out, but when we do we try to have a coupon. The money mailer these days is offering good restaurants for Buy one get one meal free. We just at at PIck up Stix Wednesday and fed 4 adults and 3 kids for $33!
3) The library is a great place not only for books but movies. And it’s free!
4) Concourse bowl is offering free bowling for kids this summer M-F if you go to their website and sign up. You can also sign up for a pass for the parents for $23 so you can bowl with your kids all summer.
5) I buy my cereal at Target for $2-$2.50 a box verses $5
6) Really look at your bills and see where you can cut. Do you need HBO? Can you combine your internet/phone and cable into one?
7) The internet is a great resource. Before I go somewhere I will google the place I am going and see if there is a discount or promotion going on. I just did this for universal studios and I got $18 off coupons.
Thanks for the forum Suz, I am really enjoying everyones tips
We do many of the suggestions listed by everyone.
1) Coupons–for groceries, for eating out (and always look for the free kids meals)
2) Any time we have done remodel work on our house, we always integrate an energy saving solution when possible (dual-glazed windows, tankless water heater, etc.) This is more of a long-term savings.
3) We own our cars–no leasing (this doesn’t work for all, but has saved us thousands)
4) Like many have said, we just look at purchases differently now. Do we REALLY need it? I’ve saved a ton of money in 2009 alone just by asking myself that question before buying.
-Plan menus around weekly specials at your local grocery store.
-Pack your lunch!
-Do your pedicures at home….they last longer!
-Stay home, and invite people over for potluck. You will be surrounded by friends, and won’t have to pay for all of the food.
-Carpool whenever possible.
-Research all of the free activities available in your town….you’ll be surprised!
One of the best ways to save money, is to try and figure out new ways to MAKE money to stretch the budget and pay the bills.
I scour garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores (there are some GREAT ones in Palm Springs) not only for things to buy on the cheap…but treasures to sell. I do this with my sister (together and apart) and we share in the spoils.
Recently she called me from a garage sale in Los Angeles where she came across a signed print by Man Ray for $250. I sold it at an art auction a week later for $2,500! I found a mask at the Ventura Swap meet for $100 that was worth $5,000! A gold coin necklace at a jewelry store priced at $125 turned out to be 400 years old and worth $2,000.
These lucky finds help me pay the bills since my regular income tanked —I also thrft and flea market shop for myself not only saving bucks, but recycling..which is great for the environment. (Last time i went to Palm Springs, I found a $5 Gottex bathing suit at Angel View Thrift Shop in Palm Springs, a great town to buy bathing suits)
We buy used video games and movies and they seem as good as new.
I love to read, so whenever I hear about an interesting book I put it on my list. Then I go through my list once a month or so and order the books I want online from my library. If my local branch doesn’t have them, they can be delivered from any of the O.C. branch libraries. The library emails me when the book is in, and I pay 25 cents when I get it.
Well, shopping in my own closet is kinda out right now because…erm… not everything in there is fitting me so great right now.
We are foregoing our big beach vacation this year to save money. Instead, we mooched off of my one awesome aunt at the same beach, staying in the house she rented and wouldn’t have dreamed of having us help pay for. Then in July, we are staying in my other awesome aunt’s mountain retreat home, a short drive from here. Again, I would positively insult them if I offered money.
Lastly, I always strive for “override” territory at the grocery store. That’s when the manager has to come over and override the cashier’s total to allow the transaction because I saved more than $75 in BOGO deals and coupons on my order.
I love reading everyone’s tips!
And, I love your skirt.
AND, Curt and I could maybe win some airfare and come visit you and Larry!!
Shopping other people’s closets/houses at local consignment stores. I got a great buffet for my kitchen- lots of storage and style!
Packing lunches and frequenting the local library like everyone else.
I’m a stay-at-home mom, so we had to cut our spending waaayy down a while back when I quit working. Here are some of the things we started at that point:
I look at all the grocery ads when they come in and make a list of items on sale at the various stores. I only buy meat on sale, and buy almost exclusively on-sale produce. I stock up on non-perishable when I find a great deal. Also, I shop at Superior Warehouse a lot, which always has produce at a great price.
I dropped my Netflix subscription and only rent movies for $1 each through Red Box. Not only is it way cheaper, but since I have to actually drive to the store to rent a movie, I don’t end up watching that many movies.
We play board games at home instead of going out and spending money.
We watch Craigslist ads when we need to make a big purchase, like furniture, instead of buying new.
We don’t go overboard on gifts for holidays, but instead buy (or make) smaller gifts and try to show our appreciation of the person in other ways as well.
If we go out to eat, we either split an entree, use a coupon, or go when the restaurant is offering a promotion. We rarely buy drinks and never buy appetizers (yeah, I’m sure restaurants hate us, but at least we still leave a good tip!).
- I pack my lunches for work which saves me at least $25/week.
- I clip coupons from the weekend paper, print coupons from online sites, and use them with the sales flyer to get the best prices and stock up on basics.
- I use http://www.currentcodes.com to find coupon codes for any online shopping.
- I track my spending in an excel sheet so I can see where I’ve messed up and need to trim my spending.
I have been making double and even triple batches of food to freeze when I cook so I can save on electricity later.
I also make our own bread.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat and buy produce when it’s repacked for markdown.
Coupons, coupons coupons… and ECBs and baby points from Winn Dixie. Gotta love the baby points.
We have also cut out all eating out. That alone saves $400 a month! I still can’t believe we used to spend all that money on eating out. Expensive, but clean up was a breeze!
I also stick to a budget. If the money for that category is gone, we make do with what we have on hand. I also keep a spreadsheet of my total spending and savings each week. It really puts things into perspective.
This is a great idea!!
We’ve always been coupon-cutters and use ebay and craigslist religiously when it comes to big ticket items or even outtings.
More importantly, we have had a mind-shift in the way we spend since this recession started. I use to shop because I was bored. That “happy” feeling of buying something new quickly subsided. We’ve realized that giving to others and helping others in need (whether it be used toys and clothes, food, or just a helping hand) gave us a bigger and longer lasting rush of joy!
With the price of one lemon over $1, my remedy for price gouging at the grocery store was to buy my own lemon tree….and orange, avocado, and plum. Very satisfying to grow your own.
Meg from Soup if not a Finger Food sent me over for this wonderful drawing.
I pick 1 or 2 days each week where I cannot and do not spend any money. At all. It takes careful planning (i.e. make sure you don’t need gas), but it really isn’t that difficult.
Also, I have weaned myself off Wal-Mutant. Sure, I’ll save a dollar or two on Eight o’Clock Coffee and cat food is cheaper, but I’m not saving anything if I walk out with $150 worth of stuff I never needed in the first place.
That’s the same reason I quit Sam’s Club. I would go in for food but come out with T-shirts and radios and more Tylenol than I could possibly ever use in a lifetime. Plus, the crowds!
Using the Clairol Root Touch up hair dye — extends my salon coloring visits by 3-4 weeks which saves me more than $150 monthly.
CLOTHES SWAPS!! Or what I like to call “shopping your friends’ closets.”
I first attended a clothes swap up in crunchy Berkeley, long before this recession. The basic idea: get a whole bunch of women together at someone’s house. Everyone brings all the clothes, shoes and accessories they don’t want any more (you’d be surprised how many items still had tags on them). Serve some wine and appetizers, play some music and try on some clothes! All items that don’t have takers at the end of the swap get donated to Goodwill or a women’s shelter. Win-win. I scored lots of good stuff at clothes swaps, items I still have years later and receive compliments on.
Hey, girl~
If I win, I’m taking Lauren at Mental Pause Mama’s.
And I love that shot with the skirt. Excellent work.
Shop at Dollar Tree for gift bags and party supplies. They have cute stuff!
There are a lot of little things I’ve been doing to save money, but the best change we’ve made is saving more. More than we were is not saying much. But I found out that my bank would wave my monthly fee and give me free checks (and other benefits) if we just saved a little bit every month.
It comes out of our checks and the amount is so small, we don’t even notice. In fact, I forgot about it and now my hubby and I have $ saved for a weekend getaway! Yeah!
Fun idea!! I’m changing my own oil even though it’s much more convenient to pay someone else and I’m buying and cooking in bulk.
The biggest money saving trick I have is that I’m making my children prove things in their hamper really are dirty– I’ve saved loads of washes by figuring out that kids don’t want to put clothes away so they stick them in the laundry!
If I win, MPM is going to be my travel buddy– she sent me
SCE A/C cycling plan: if you don’t have this, call them now (well that is if they’re your provider. I think SDG&E has it too). During the summer months, you can get up to $50/mo off your bill (it’s a formula based on your A/C size). They put a remote control box on your A/C unit outside, and it gives them the ability to turn off the A/C for specified amts of time, depending on the plan you choose, in the event of a power shortage. Details: http://www.sce.com/residential/rebates-savings/heating-cooling/sdp/details.htm
In the almost 10 yrs we’ve had it, it’s happened only once and we have the “enhanced” program that saves the most.
It can be surprising to find out how just much and or how quickly expenses add up. Most who had much less to spend in the past, wonder how they ended up spending as much as they do over years. However, expenses typically increase with income considering overheads.
A thing may make most sense in the short-term and others in the long-term especially, say “if” an increase or certain expenses in one area offsets or reduces cost and expenses in another.
There are some general areas….
*Managing food purchases, consumption; the inventory to minimize waste since they are highly perishable. *If I must replace or buy new quality clothing- TJmaxx and Ross clearance areas are highly competitive options. *Think of and treat credit cards just like cash where they are paid off monthly while accumulating free flying miles or something else, and without annual fees. *Use discounted tickets, and frequent flyer miles to fly when needed. *Going for a lightly used vehicle (e.g. Honda civic, a hybrid or any equivalent smaller locally manufactured) which will make most sense if the new or used car will cost just about same or less to maintain per year with savings on gas that also offsets other costs like loan interests, registration, and insurance within a reasonable time frame. If I can pay it off as soon as possible, I will do just that. *Streamline multiple trips into one, easy on the gas pedal; let the car glide, use AC only when very necessary and such. *This also applies to power savings – Realizing that neon lightning or bulbs (not necessarily colored or white with less illumination) can save more than 50% power; I may have to replace the bulb, fittings and deal with bulb fading issues over time.
* Adjusting and balancing the cost and use of cell phone and landlines- if the contract(s) has expired, to kill unneeded redundant lines. *Review and cancel unnecessary subscriptions, memberships, charges and fees. *Cutting down or eliminating expensive drinks, snacks, parties and such while, the local newspaper remain a good source of coupons.
In summary- One will be very astounded to find out just how much one do not know where a huge part of one’s money is really going. An effective trick to working on it may be to start with the obvious expenses, then importing and itemizing new incoming expenses and categorizing them accurately for the reports with a simple inexpensive software tool which helps to monitor progress being made and areas to keep working on.
It could take a couple months to begin seeing the initial cost cutting or savings measures being implemented…
My fam owns a house about 2 miles from the Andreas, so I’ll leave the giveaway for others. I’m glad you posted about Broughton Hospitality, though. I definitely have my eye on one of the Central Coast locations for a getaway sometime.
About saving money, I’m my own gardener and pool guy. Oh wait, that just leaves $100 more a month for Mama to spend at Target. Oh well, I’ll have to think of something else.
This contest is closed and Random.org has chosen a winner! I’m working on the post right now
Thanks everyone for making this an informative and fun contest.
Suz
I have so many money saving tips but the one that I would like to share right now is because the time is appropriate:
“Summer Fun”
My little one is out of school for the summer so I had her make a list of all of the things she would like to do this summer, surprisingly most things were free or close to it. Then I took the very long list and starting adding her fun ideas to our calendar. Sometimes I pair up a free thing with something that is inexpensive for instance two things that were on her list were “A bike ride with mommy” & “Going to Yogurtland” so I made combined the bike ride with Yogurtland and we will rode there, ate our yogurt and then rode home.
Another thing I like to do is keep my eyes out for free stuff for myself or friends that need something by looking in the free section of craigslist.
I have also learned how to make things at home like hummus. In the grocery store or specialty store it is quite expensive but to make it at home it is very inexpensive. Plus I get to make the flavors exactely how I like them (garlic, roasted pepper, pesto, etc…).
Best of luck to all, this was definitely a great idea! Even if it weren’t a contest I think that everyone would enjoy sharing money saving tips just for the joy of sharing and helping one another.
I stop myself every time I’m about to buy something small (i.e. something under about $5.00). Then, I quickly calculate in my head how much I’d spend in a year if I went ahead and bought the item — e.g. $5.00 per day for 365 days would be a whopping $1,825!!!!!! Those seemingly cheap, impulse purchases do add up! I usually put the item back and WALK AWAY.