What are your money-saving secrets? One Consumer Reports staffer recommends cutting open tubes of toothpaste to get at the last bit. I’ve heard that one before, but another new one was to “step on your toilet paper rolls.” That way it doesn’t dispense as fast thanks to its ovular shape and you save on sheets. I think you guys can top that and so does Consumer Reports, so submit your money-saving secrets in the comments or to tips@consumerist.com, subject line: “shhmoney.” Besides getting featured here, the best ones might end up in a future Consumer Reports magazine article! “No idea is too small, wacko, or miserly,” says the Consumer Reports editor-in-chief.
(Photo: ToastyKen)
I have to thank consumerist.com for pointing out most measuring detergent cups hold more than three times the recommended dosage for a load. Thanks for reminding me of this!
Notice how a lot of these tips require quite a bit of time and effort? If you’re living in a two income household, consider one income quitting or reducing their hours. It seems counter-intuitive, but how many times have you come home from work and spent $30 on takeout because you were just too tired to go to the store after work?
Mr. Lala and I are now happily living on a much reduced income after I reduced my hours to very part-time. Since I’m home so much more, I have the time to make sure the household runs smoothly, shopping sales, etc. We’ve cut our food expenditures by 2/3′s and our stress levels by at least that much. Now in the evenings we have time to make a nice dinner together and chill out, rather than worrying about how we’re going to get the dang laundry done before bed so we have clean socks in the morning.
We’re also still managing to put a big dent in our debt payments each month. It’s not for everyone, but if one partner hates their job, it may pay off to have their new job be saving the household money. Fake housewifery FTW!
I use a form of birth control that limits me to 4 periods a year and reduces the length and severity of those which I do have. Since I naturally have very rough periods, it’s been great for my energy level and productivity. It saves me a good deal of money on sanitary supplies and over-the-counter medication for pain relief and upset stomach. I can maintain a smaller wardrobe because I don’t have to use my “bloaty clothes” very often. And let’s be frank – it stabilizes my mood and prevents a lot of emotional eating, impulse buying, and other costly, unhealthy habits.
YMMV – I know some people are uncomfortable with the very idea and I respect that, but it’s been a real improvement to my quality of life and it keeps me from sabotaging my own goals every 28 days. If I were not reducing the frequency of my periods, I would at least speak to my doctor about how to reduce the symptoms.
Toilet paper rolls? Just use newspaper.
Ask for water whenever you eat out. Sodas cost you about $1.50, but only cost the store like 5 cents in soda and paper cups. That’s why they make the cashiers ask “Do you want something to drink” every food place you go too, especially fast food.
Water from the tap is free, and studies have shown that bottled water is essentially tap water replaced in a plastic bottle.
When your friends think you’re being cheap, say that I drink water, cuz it’s good for you, cuz it is. Sodas are harmful with their HFCS, rotting your teeth, and essentially making you more thirsty than before.
Go “NotShopping”. Whenever my boy and I get wistful about books, or movies, or tech gear, etc. and we can’t afford any, we make it a date and go to one of our favorite stores with the express intention of just window-shopping. If we see anything we really want, we have to come back another time and get it — NotShopping is strictly for browsing.
If you’re an impulse-buyer (we’re not) you may want to leave your money at home when you do this, but either way it’s a nice way to get some of the pleasure of shopping (walking around oogling things you like) without spending the dough! (And it’s not terrible for stores either — sometimes we DO see something we like, go home, and come back later when we can afford it. And it’s not like they’re not paying to keep the building open anyway.)
Change your light switches.
Seriously. I have automatic dimmers in my house for most of my lights. I set the intensity to about 70-80% and with one push I am always at the lower usage setting. If I need brighter lights, just tap the switch two times.
Here’s the really best part. By using a dimmer the light bulbs last WAY longer. This is beceuas they don’t experience the sudden jolt of being turned on. Bulbs on dimmers in my house have not been changed AT ALL in over 4 years, while other bulbs have been changed 3, maybe 4 times at least.
1. Have a meal-share deal with a friends. I’m single. I have a lot of single friends. We take turns hosting dinners at our places. It keeps us from going out and spending money, plus I get 2 homecooked meals for every meal I make. I also like it because I have issues with cooking too much food, so I don’t waste as much.
2. Buy from bulk food stores. I’m single, so I often have to buy stuff in much larger quantities than I can use. Now I shop at my local bulk store and can buy the quantities I need. I save a ton on herbs and spices in particular. Instead of having to buy a whole bottle of some spice I’ll use once before it expires, I can buy the couple of teaspoons I need and pocket the extra money I would have spent.
3. Start a compost heap. Not only do you get free fertilizer and it’s good for the environment, but you’ll probably save money when you see how much crap you throw out and adjust your buying patterns.
4. Organize your cupboards in a first-in-first-out order. Put the new stuff in the back so you use old stuff first and it doesn’t go to waste.
5. Stash a little cash in your car. I always see great prices for gas- if you pay cash. I used to miss out on the cheaper price for paying with cash at the gas station because I never carry cash with me. Now I keep cash in my car.
6. Swap magazines, books, DVDs, etc. with friends and family. My mom and her sister do this each month with magazines. Each one buys specific magazines then they get together and trade at the end of the month.
Many cars that require premium gasoline in the USA only really need 91 octane. Since all mid-grade gasolines are mixed at the pump from regular 87 and premium 93, feel free to create your own blend.
Two-thirds 93 + one-third 87 = 91 octane
We have a one person, one light rule; if you move from room to room, you have to turn off the lights as you go. There’s no reason you have to light up a room you’re not in and once you get into the habit, it’s easy to maintain.
sew your own reusable ladies sanitary items.
Seriously. You can download the patterns free online and it is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying that disposable crap every month!
Get a vacuum sealer (seal-a-meal). I bought the cheapest version $49 months ago & it had paid for itself…Makes freezer food last longer & pre-made meals are a snap to heat up. You can make stuff in bulk…They Rock!
* Store brands can be as good (or even better) than name brands. Kroger has great pasta sauce for $1.19; Ragu is usualy $2 or more. Even with a “double coupon” promo, the store brand is still cheaper.
* Even if you don’t like the taste of store brand food, certain items that consist of a single ingredient can be much cheaper and just as good. 500 count Member’s Mark Acepitophin (sp?) is under $5 at Sam’s Club – less than the cost of a 100 count bottle of Tylenol (same ingredient, same strength) at Wal-Mart. Ditto for bleach: A bottle of Clorox sells for around $2; I can get the exact same amount of chlorine in a bottle for half the price at 99 Cents Only or Dollar Tree. Salt, baking soda and milk are other examples.
* Skip the “organic” crap. The $2.49 gallon of store brand milk likely came out of the same cow as the $5.99 organic gallon.
* Pay attention to the quality and quantity of paper goods. Bounty towels may cost more than the store brand but – if it takes 4 cheaper towels to clean up the same mess as one Bounty – the $1.29 roll of Bounty equals the same number of uses as 4 79-cent rolls of cheap ones ($3.26). On toilet paper, look at the number of sheets per roll. A four roll pack of Scott extra soft has 3-4 times the # of sheets as standard single 4 roll packs of Charmin or store brand tissue.
* Rechargable batteries save money and the enviornment. A $20 charger with 4 “AA” batteries can be reused up to 500 times. If you must have disposable batteries (such as for a hurricane supply kit), ditch the Duracells and Energizers in favor of store brand alkaline batteries – same life, half the price.
* If you have credit cards you carry balances on, don’t be afriad to call the bank and negoiate a lower interest rate (especially if you are getting pre-approved offers from their competitors). Even a 1 or 2% drop in your interest rate will add up to big savings over time; I have friends who have been able to drop the rate even more — from 19.8% to 9.9%.
* Save on your PC costs. AVG offers a free anti-virus program for home use (www.avg.com/free) that’s as effective as a $70 copy of Norton. To speed up your PC, go to http://www.iobit.com and download a free copy of Advanced System Care to clean your registry and manage startup programs that slow your system down..
If your PC is under 5 years old and only has 256-512MB of memory, a $30-$40 memory upgrade is a quick fix for speed. If you’re a more advanced geek looking for free, safe and tested software, check out http://www.majorgeeks.com and http://www.zdnet.com.
* If you have an electric water heater, buy and install a timer to turn it on and off at preselected times (about $40 at a hardware or home improvement store). Three hours in the morning gives me enough hot water to shower and shave; three hours in the evening is enough for the dishwasher and laundry. Gas or electric, set your thermostat to low (about 120 degrees). It saves money and reduces the risk of scalding or burning from water that’s too hot.
The clear answer is BBQ! I buy lots of burger and chicken, sometimes steaks (at a real meat market they often have pricing on an item to get you into the store) and do a giant BBQ and freeze everything (give burgers time to cool or you’ll have hockey pucks).
I started doing it just to have healthy food instead of going to McDonalds for a burger but it’s a lot cheaper to have it all frozen along with fresh rolls from the bakery. It also saves a lot of dishwasher runs without having to cook that stuff up each night.
If you’re like me and spend a lot of money on shoes, then I know something that can help you save hundreds! I found this website called http://www.newheeltips.com – its sells replacement heeltips online for less than half of what the cobblers charge you!