What Small Things Did You Do Today to Save Money?

[catsareme]

Jan 15, 2020 14:08:41 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Paid off our boiler today, two months early before the zero interest offer was to go away. 

Woohoo!!  Good for you!!

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, catsareme!! 

[dogmom]

Excellent job Iggy!

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, dogmom!

Next:  To take the money from those payments and snowball them to the next debt. 

[catsareme]

I'm tracking all the dribs and drabs of savings from using coupons and senior/military discounts and putting them toward a spring gardening project.  I keep a spreadsheet showing the amount needed and get a small thrill each time the total changes.  

[Deleted]

So far have stayed indoors. The best way to avoid spending is to stay out of the stores. Of course, that assumes that we also stay out of the online stores. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Called XM just now. So glad I did! They are giving me the premier package free for 3 months. After April, I'll start paying for a reduced package (who knew-I'd been paying for premier as that's what came with my new truck) since I don't listen to sports or news.

Current price; $20.63
New price: $13.34 (having certain music stations is a must)

Annual savings $87.48

Added to the prior page Verizon and liability insurance reductions = $435.48 annual savings thus far.

[Blonde Granny]

I canceled my Amazon Prime membership. It was costing me $14.26/mo and as I was going through the cancel process, it told me I had saved $12.88 in 2019.

Let me see: Save $12.88 or cancel and save $171.00/year. Even I can figure this out.

[dogmom]

Good job Iggy.  DH got a new to him truck a couple of months ago (paid cash..but still an ouch).  It came with a trial of Sirius XM.  We received an offer to extend the "free trial" for three months for $2.99.  So, sure, I did it.  So in a month, I'll talk to them about extending it, but not at the knee breaking $39.99/mo.  (UM NOOOOO)  We'll see how that works.  I keep getting offers for XM at $5/month for my car.  (Had the service, honestly don't use it enough for my vehicle to even bother.  So, I guess I'm saving $5./month.    I look at it like the game we play with cable and internet.  I'm about due for that game again. 

[ners]

Ate breakfast at home instead of going out to breakfast like I really wanted.

[Iggy aka IG]

Didn't stop by the doughnut shop, instead ate cheese, almonds, and a mini beef stick here at the office.  I did stop by Starbucks, however.    $3.51

[Deleted]

I didn't spend $50 on a small cupboard for the kitchen that was on sale because I only wanted it, didn't need it. And went to Walmart for kitty litter, came out having only bought kitty litter. Yay me. I still want that little cupboard, though. Somebody should probably talk me down.

[Blonde Granny]

This is day 3 of staying home and not spending money.  Tomorrow will be back to normal with me driving for church.

Without a doubt, leaving the car in the garage saves me a lot of money.

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2020 13:48:34 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I canceled my Amazon Prime membership. It was costing me $14.26/mo and as I was going through the cancel process, it told me I had saved $12.88 in 2019.

Let me see: Save $12.88 or cancel and save $171.00/year. Even I can figure this out.

I use Amazon Prime a lot so it is worth it to me.  Whenever possible, I opt for slower shipping to accumulate book/music/video credits.  I get a First Read Kindle book a month.  I got rid of Directv and mostly use Prime video.   And with 9 grandkids, it is an easy way to shop for them.

But it really does depend on how you use it.  If you aren't using the Kindle or Prime video features, it probably IS a waste for shipping only.

[countrygirl2]

Yesterday I did not buy the air fryer I thought about, not the $59 one nor the $159 one either.


Today I bought a coke and gas when I went to town, nothing more.

[catsareme]

Building up my Ibotta account a dime at a time.  Drip....drip......

[Iggy aka IG]

catsareme, do you use the ap?  If so, can you actually get it to work properly?  Per a client's suggestion last year, I downloaded it (mostly because I knew he would receive points for me doing so) and successfully earned about $2.  The next 3 attempts resulted in the system offering $XX for a product I hadn't purchased.

[Deleted]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. That is, I didn't go anywhere to spend money. I stayed in the comfort of my home and gave the tree service lotsa money to take down a whole buncha trees. There's $84.42 left in my checking account so if I need anything between now and February's RCM Day (Rocking Chair Money = Social Security), I'll have to take it from savings.

I only spend money on stuff I need. I might need chocolate between now and RCM Day.

[Blonde Granny]

like Granny Rigby, this Granny only bought the groceries that were on my iphone list.

Its been cold and rainy today, and tomorrow doesn't look any better.  However, I work tomorrow then have mammogram appointment, so no spending likely tomorrow either.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2020 18:06:51 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

like Granny Rigby, this Granny only bought the groceries that were on my iphone list.

Its been cold and rainy today, and tomorrow doesn't look any better.  However, I work tomorrow then have mammogram appointment, so no spending likely tomorrow either.

Sometimes I get lucky. If DD is going to Publix or Walmart, she'll ask if I need anything. If there's something on my list that I can't live without, she'll pick it up for me. Saves me the price of whatever it is and saves me the trouble of going out.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 25, 2020 20:59:24 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Jan 24, 2020 13:48:34 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I canceled my Amazon Prime membership. It was costing me $14.26/mo and as I was going through the cancel process, it told me I had saved $12.88 in 2019.

Let me see: Save $12.88 or cancel and save $171.00/year. Even I can figure this out.

I use Amazon Prime a lot so it is worth it to me.  Whenever possible, I opt for slower shipping to accumulate book/music/video credits.  I get a First Read Kindle book a month.  I got rid of Directv and mostly use Prime video.   And with 9 grandkids, it is an easy way to shop for them.

But it really does depend on how you use it.  If you aren't using the Kindle or Prime video features, it probably IS a waste for shipping only.

After I read what BG did, I checked mine.  I saved over $600 in shipping last year.  I buy all of my kleenex, toilet paper, cat litter, etc on Amazon.  I'm not getting rid of it.

I enjoy the free book but I've never used the video (as they tell me every time I get on the account).

I do not know how to stream and I'm not watching anything on a computer except for my basketball team's games.

[catsareme]

Jan 28, 2020 18:00:01 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

catsareme , do you use the ap?  If so, can you actually get it to work properly?  Per a client's suggestion last year, I downloaded it (mostly because I knew he would receive points for me doing so) and successfully earned about $2.  The next 3 attempts resulted in the system offering $XX for a product I hadn't purchased.

Yes, I use the app and with a couple of exceptions it works great for me.  I have had a couple of instances where I was credited for an item I hadn't purchased and several times did not receive the rebate for item(s) I had purchased.  Ibotta's help desk has been very responsive and taken care of the issues promptly.  At times their help desk is overwhelmed but they are very good about sending e-mails letting you know your concern/issue has not been forgotten.  

[wvugurl26]

I use Ibotta. It goes in spurts for me. Some months I do a lot, some months next to nothing.

I see a lot of people post rebates that match up with the big Kroger sales. Never seems to happen when I'm near one though!

My current savings is $650. I usually cash out to a gift card from Amazon or Walmart. Sometimes Target or DSW.

I usually get the most rebates at Walmart.

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, catsareme and wvugurl26.  I'll make an attempt to try it again this year.  

[Deleted]

I just read that spending $27.40/day on miscellaneous items costs $10K/year. "Miscellaneous" wasn't defined.

If I don't spend $27.40/day on anything, does that mean that at the end of the year I'll have $10K? 

One day way back in the way back, my two roomies and I went shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. One of the roomies was like me--she didn't do numbers. She bought a pair of very pricey shoes at a 50% discount. The sale price was $50. In 1958, $50 was lots and lots of money.

When we got home, we each added up our receipts and counted up our money. Shoe-buying roomie was horrified to find out that she lost $50 somewhere. Where? She figured that if she saved $50 on the shoes, she should have $50 more when counting up the money she had left.

Fortunately, she "married well."

[catsareme]

She reminds of the woman who was continually overdrawn on her checking account.  She thought as long as she still had checks in her checkbook she had money in her account. 

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2020 9:03:54 GMT -5 catsareme said:

She reminds of the woman who was continually overdrawn on her checking account.  She thought as long as she still had checks in her checkbook she had money in her account. 

Had a friend who'd call the bank and ask for her balance. She'd cross out whatever was the balance in the check register and write in the balance they gave her and couldn't understand why she was overdrawn.

[Iggy aka IG]

Used a $2 coupon for lunch today (was out on sales calls and didn't feel like packing have time to pack a lunch).

Avoided the doughnut shop yet again. 

Bought two much needed office items online taking advantage of their free delivery, since I won't be going to the big city for said items any time soon.

Bought two small adorable sequined stockings for the nieces next Christmas on clearance at the dollar store. $0.10 for the pair.

[Deleted]

I saved $10.98 because I only bought one 12-pack of dianthus instead of two. I saved another $2.98 x 3 whatever that comes to, because I only bought three snapdragons instead of six. And saved another $1.82 because I used up the balance on a Lowe's gift card. 

Also saved by buying three cans of Kroger's store brand condensed soups at $.85 each instead of Campbell's at $1.55 each. 

According to my creative math, the $2.10 saved at Kroger and the $1.82 on the gift card justified spending on the bedding plants. Right?

[Blonde Granny]

I stayed home today, so it was my standard non-spending day. Tomorrow is supposed to be a lot warmer so likely will drive my car to dealer to get washed. Will text the sales manager first to see if they are washing then. No sense driving 10-12 mi each way if I don't have too. Saturday and Sunday are also down days, so my check book will appreciate getting a rest.

The Walmart store (largest they ever built at 188K sf) has switched all but 2 lanes to self serve.  I don't do well with unloading then scanning & repacking, so think I will finally take advantage of online order and pickup.  Everyone tells me they save money by not walking through the store putting unnecessary things into the cart that way, so next week I'll give it a try.