[Brittanyrbnsn]

So, we all save a ton of money with our qs, but none of us would even care about couponning if it weren't for our core desire to save. How do you save money in other ways? Just thought this would be fun and beneficial to everyone.

1. I water down my kids apple juice half and half
2. I save zip-lock bags
3. I clean my mirrors and windows w/ newspaper

[tnmommy]

Things I don't get coupons for I often buy at Costco.

I am careful about where I buy gas. I use the Kroger or Schnucks card to get the discount on gas or buy it at Costco.

I am resisting the urge to replace my 10 year old van

[CarrieM]

gardening
raise chickens, pigs and cows, (hardly ever have to buy meat or eggs) plus we do all of our own butchering at home.
we also try to cook from scratch instead of eating processed foods (which cost more in the long run)

[olivas.sandra]

The ways I cut cost other than Qs are

1. I turn off all lights and unplug anything not in use...

2. When gas got up to over 4.00 a gallon I learned to plan trips... So that I went in a circle and not from one end of town to the other and back again..

3. I barter... From everything to vet visits to doctor visits... Those glucose monitors come in handy for that... Vet visits... If I get free cat food, cleaning supplies and newspapers go to my vet.. He then puts a credit in my dogs folder for the next visit... I have also used extra food to get furniture redone..

[lobbanisgod]

Thanks for all your tiips!!!

[tnmommy]

Wow Sandra! What a great idea.

[xmaspickle]

I use half the tab or 1 T of powder for my dishwasher..it was a tightwad gazette tip to keep using less until you noticed a difference in your dish cleanliness..1 T got the job done..and if I can't find the soap nearly free..I make my own with half baking soda half borax...

never make a car payment..but a good used car..keep it in tip top condition..sell same car for same or more than you paid..all the while saving like you're making a car payment each month..buy better used car, repeat as needed...made the mistake of buying one new car when we were married..never again..have multiple 20 year old cars that are running perfectly....better to take a mechanics class and learn how to do the work yourself and teach your kids than spend the rest of your life paying someone else

ditto for learning how to cut hair/own clippers for basic haircuts (savings over a lifetime)/use kitchen towels/rags/cotton napkins in lieu of disposable..again savings for a lifetime....replace/mend your own clothes...many ways to think long term..

[katieculpepper]

I stay home. If I don't have to go out, I don't! Trips out lead to things like unplanned purchases, things that the kids ask for, snacks, meals out... STAY HOME! If you do go out, Go ALONE!!!

[Weatie]

I learned to clip my shih tzu watching youtube videos.
Saves me 60 bucks plus tip every 6 weeks.

I had surge protecters on most rooms in the house so all I had to do was flip them off and all power would be cut off to each room. I was the only one that would do it and it was more a pain trying to get everyone to do it too or to do it myself so I took them out. Didnt really see much difference anyway.

I like designer clothing. I shop Ebay for them. Most of my Harley clothing is off Ebay unless my BF buys it. Where else can a girl get a harley purse for only 20 bucks? I have always thrift store shopped too.

Im lucky to have a BF and a son who are both mechanics. Got a flat one night last week. Called my son he came and put my spare on. The next day my BF got me tires wholesale ($75.00 for 2 new ones) and put them on that night. Well.... saving money isnt the reason I have my BF and son but it helps.

[CandyDays]

I used firewood this winter instead of turning on the heater our electric bill was coming out to $300 every month and I dont live in a huge house. I unplug everything! I yard sale for my kids clothes since they grow so fast and find great name brand clothes in nearly new condition for super cheap. I now do my own mani's and Pedi's. And sell items I don't use on Craigslist instead of having them take up space in the garage.

[tnmommy]

I do haircuts, too. I pay to have dd and dog's hair done. I have not had luck with that, but I do cut ds and dh hair.

[qrazy]

For several years we were lucky enough to be given great castoff clothes from my mom's neighbor. We don't have that anymore so I have been buying clothes for my girls. We shop the clearance racks, using coupons and sales and Kohls cash to stretch it even further. My daughter had seen a skirt at JCPenney several months ago that she wanted. I told her to wait and see if it went on clearance. The other night we were there and it was on clearance. The only one left, and it was her size, and only $3. Found a cute little shirt and she was stylin.

[Jakejake]

Almost my full wardrobe is thriftshopped
I cut my own hair and have never had a mani/pedi
Bake my own bread/make my own yogurt
Keep a veggie garden/small fruit orchard
Learned to can and make jelly
We do buy new cars, but we keep them at least ten years. Our truck is 16 now.
We do our own car repairs when we can. Sometimes I have my husband talk me through them instead of doing it for me so I can learn. I replaced my own brakes on my car.
Make my own laundry detergent
Make my own bailey's
Except for long road trips, I haven't had fast food or a takeout/delivery pizza in years.
No soda, didn't raise my kid with soda as part of her diet.

[shelleyf]

Everyone has great ideas keep them coming
I also do my errands in a circle and it does save money and lots of time. We bathe our dogs and don't have to clip them since they are all short-haired. When my minature schnauzer was alive my husband had to clip her but it saved tons of money and he did a great job. I have a friend that makes her own cigarettes. Saves her tons of money and tastes better and looks like the commercial cigarettes. I think she pays $40 a month instead of almost $300! I use less meat than the recipe calls for if I think it will taste good still. I take leftovers a create a new meal that doesn't look like it was alot of the same stuff, LOL I make sure to buy milk every time I go to the store because since gas is so high I refuse to go to the store for just "1 thing" anymore. If we don't have it and I don't need to go anywhere we go without. I shop thrift stores also and never pay full price for anything, well at least most of the time. Money is so tight I am trying to squeeze those pennies.

[stacyfout]

Freecycle!! Got BOXES of clothes for my 3 month old boy this way. We also got books and a futon.
I do canning regularly in the summer when produce at Sprouts is cheap. I got 15 bags of pears when they had a special for $1 each 2 lb bags. I made lots of jars of cinnamon pears. Even when produce prices increased over winter season, we had these to use. We also make all our own jellies. Family love these jellies as Christmas gifts, especially the candy apple and jalapeño jelly.
Speaking of Christmas or birthday gifts, I'm always looking through the year for those clearance deals. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm usually done shopping and I haven't paid full price for anything. We also reuse all gift bags.
We both have IPhones. Since we have 3G, we use an app called textnow that is totally free and we stopped paying AT&T for the texting plans. Saves us $10 month per plan.

[RoxykinsIII]

I put organic vinegar in my pets water. 1 tablespoon per gallon. It works systematically to repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, mites, etc. Vinegar also works to boost their immune system and acts as a natural deodorizer. It's an old farmer's trick - they used it for chickens, but it works for all animals (people too ). No more buying expensive flea medications. It was costing me over $500 a year.

I don't buy alot of clothes, but JC Penney is my best friend when I do. The children get (sometimes new with tags) hand me downs from their cousins. My oldest doesn't have older cousins so I buy all his school clothes from JCPenney during their Oct. Columbus day sale which is his birthday gift too. Grandma & Grandpa get him the fun stuff.

I hang laundry outside during the warm weather and in our family room where we have the pellet stove during the cold months. Adding a half cup of white vinegar to your wash keeps fabric (especially towels)from getting that stiff feeling from line drying.

We have cell phones, but we are on my sister's plan so we only pay $50 a month for two phones with unlimited everything and insurance - I am accident prone.

We buy Christmas gifts throughout the year when we find great prices - Soon all the winter stuff will be on clearance - great time to get some gifts. My supermarket does the 10 cents off per gallon for ever $50 you spend and sells gift cards (they give you 20 cents off per $50 spent) so that's where I buy gift cards for the people who are impossible to shop for. If we are planning on eating out anywhere we can buy gift cards there for most restaurant chains - it helps ALOT on gas.

I have a shark steam mop (free) so I don't have to buy floor cleaner, and it does a fantastic job on windows and mirrors too!

I use either a water/vinegar/thieves oil mix or baking soda to clean just about everything. Baking soda on a damp rag works just like a mr clean magic eraser - does a great job taking crayon off the walls without taking the paint with it like mr clean does. I have been getting practically free dw soap but before that I used borax and baking soda. Same thing with washing clothes. There are recipes online for these things.

I use a mix of baking soda/honey/water to wash my hair. I use a apple cider vinegar/water mix rinse after. My hair is so much healthier now. I don't get as many split ends.

My MIL cuts hair - FREE - she would be quite offended if we didn't let her

I make my own baby wipes - recipes online

We have a garden. Saved us a TON on produce. I save tp and paper towel rolls for starting seeds - they work just as well as those plastic trays but since they are bio degradable you can just put them right in the ground with the seedlings. We have a compost pile - we use 1/2 the garbage bags we used to and it's great fertilizer.

I have silicone non stick baking liners so I don't have to use baking spray - when I do need spray I have a spray bottle of olive oil.

I water down juice for the kids - they really don't need all that sugar to begin with.

I cook and bake most things from scratch - but we all have lazy days or super busy days. I buy cheap cuts of meat on sale and use the crock pot.

I've never had a new car (sniffle) - I buy my mom's cars when she is getting rid of them - about 4 years old with low mileage. My Dad won't give up his Subaru - it'll be a cold day in h*ll. Doesn't hurt that I have a hand in helping Mom pick her new cars

In the future we want to move out of town onto MIL & FIL's property where we can have chickens. There is a farmer's market where we can sell the extra eggs which will cover chicken feed with a little extra. It will also save us about $3000. a year on property taxes - we pay almost $5000 a year now.

We will also be purchasing solar panels and and a wind mill with they money we have left over from selling our current house to cut the cost of electricity. Its expensive to start, but you get about 1/2 of the money back from the federal government. We will also be using firewood to heat the house - which is in abundance on the 45 acres - lots of work but it's FREE.

OOPS!!! I think I went a touch over 3 - hope I helped!

[batmansblonde]

Originally Posted by olivas.sandra

The ways I cut cost other than Qs are

1. I turn off all lights and unplug anything not in use...

2. When gas got up to over 4.00 a gallon I learned to plan trips... So that I went in a circle and not from one end of town to the other and back again..

3. I barter... From everything to vet visits to doctor visits... Those glucose monitors come in handy for that... Vet visits... If I get free cat food, cleaning supplies and newspapers go to my vet.. He then puts a credit in my dogs folder for the next visit... I have also used extra food to get furniture redone..

May I ask? How do you barter for doctors visits?

[batmansblonde]

Originally Posted by katieculpepper

I stay home. If I don't have to go out, I don't! Trips out lead to things like unplanned purchases, things that the kids ask for, snacks, meals out... STAY HOME! If you do go out, Go ALONE!!!

No kidding! The guys are killing my Rite Aid savings with their, but you have store dollars!

[batmansblonde]

Originally Posted by qrazy

For several years we were lucky enough to be given great castoff clothes from my mom's neighbor. We don't have that anymore so I have been buying clothes for my girls. We shop the clearance racks, using coupons and sales and Kohls cash to stretch it even further. My daughter had seen a skirt at JCPenney several months ago that she wanted. I told her to wait and see if it went on clearance. The other night we were there and it was on clearance. The only one left, and it was her size, and only $3. Found a cute little shirt and she was stylin.

The other thing I like about your post, is that it wasnt an impulse purchase. I try not to buy things the first time I see them and want them. I wait, and if I still want it later, I will make a special trip for it. If it isn't worth a special trip, I really didn't want it. I can't think of one special trip that I've made so apparently it's working.

But like what you and your daughter did, when you went back it was on clearance, perfect time to and reason to buy it. It wasn't an impulse purchase and it was as cheap as you could possibly pay for it.

Great job! And kudos to her for her patience!

[shchmo]

I have shared my savings with others. When i get stuff free i have given it to others. This comes full circle for me. There is a older person I often give items to, and one day he came to my house with cases of vegetables for free. Truly was an awesome gesture from him and his family. They had paid
.25 each for those and he shared with me. Another lady will pick up things for
me and I try to give her stuff. This saves me gas, cash and time.

[batmansblonde]

Originally Posted by RoxykinsIII

We buy Christmas gifts throughout the year when we find great prices - Soon all the winter stuff will be on clearance - great time to get some gifts. My supermarket does the 10 cents off per gallon for ever $50 you spend and sells gift cards (they give you 20 cents off per $50 spent) so that's where I buy gift cards for the people who are impossible to shop for. If we are planning on eating out anywhere we can buy gift cards there for most restaurant chains - it helps ALOT on gas.

What a great idea! Our store does the same thing and I never thought of doing this! I'm going to try it this year!

[batmansblonde]

I like to go out to eat, so I buy dining certificates here:

Yesterday I bought $25 dinner certificates for $3, today they are $2 PLUS free flowers so a great way for me to be able to go out to eat and be thrifty!

Best Deals and Discounts on the Best Local Restaurants – Save Money on Food with Restaurant.com

[5kidsmama]

I use washclothes in the kitchen instead of paper towels. This is a huge savings for us. The paper towels I do use, i like the ones that have smaller pieces, and I keep them cut for the little ones, who think nothing of ripping off 3 pieces at a time.

I make conscious decisions to turn down the heat and put on a sweater, just 2 degrees will save you,.

I added curtains to the windows, sealed my door with weatherstripping, and make sure the garage door is closed. This has really knocked out the gas by about 10- 15% this year

[crissy148]

1. Dad cuts ds hair- it grows fast so saves me close to $20/month (and he's getting better at it!!)
2. Shop for gifts throughout the year- my friend's daughter turns 3 in September, but I already have a ton of disney princess stuff I got on clearance from Target set aside for her.
3. Use the grocery store philosophy when shopping for other stuff: combine sale & coupon. I get lots of the kid's clothes at the Carter's stores: clearance stuff +20% off whole store sale + my coupon for 20%/$40. I refuse to pay more than $5 for kid stuff same thing for home stuff. I really needed 2 frying pans: Kohls sale 20% off, + 30% Q + Free Shipping + $10 kohl's cash back.
4. Save on the big stuff: I pay car insurance only 1x/year. Saves me about $100-$200/year since they give a discount for paying in full. I check my homeowner's insurance every year when it renews: they anticipate the value of your home increases every year but especially in this economy, that is not necessarily true. Last year I cut my Homeowner's almost in half!
5. No car payments!!! I save my tax refund every year to pay for our cars. 2 years worth of refunds +$1000 for sales tax,etc =new car for hubby. Once I get my new car, I plan to use our refund to start remodeling our kitchen....
6. No credit card debt. Ours gets paid off every month. and we use it for everything! that way, once a year, we get a reward credit off the balance of our bill. Averages $75.
7. Shop online. No impulse spending, you can compare prices without driving all over town, and double check for coupon codes.

[joshmamabear]

1. open accounts in local banks that give high interest rates with interest compounded monthly. The interest takes care of a chunk of our utility bills.

2. get our FICO scores free from our insurance agent when he sends invite to open a CC with their company as sponsor. If your score is in the 800s, you can negotiate for lower rates anytime, that's guaranteed. When you're buying something that needs a credit check, you'll know your scores works for you when they tell you, "Get the most expensive you want, no interest for 72 months (!), take it home now and test drive/use it/taste it

3. submit more beer rebates for food items we're buying. my goal is to find more rebates for different beer companies for items I buy frequently.

4. I shop vicariously through others so I save on gas when I don't drive and chase deals. In connection to this, I prefer to ad match at WM for my one stop shopping. The other store I'd go to is the one that ad matches and double up to .60 unlimited at this time.

5. if I can't pay full balance on something I plan to buy with CC, I defer buying it. I do not EVER carry a balance on CC.

6. I remember to check with MrRebates or ebates whichever gives the higher cash back before I shop online.

7. check convinience stores for tearpads each time we stop at gas stations when we're on road trips. different states have interesting tearpads. in connection with road trips, we use the Discover Open road card for 5% cash back on non Murphy stations. For Murphy stations, we use the WM gas card for .03 off. If a Murphy IP is available, I print that for add'l savings.

8. installed a DIY solar panel to keep our power bills manageable. DH is a MacGyver type of guy who comes up with different 'inventions'.

9. invested in a dependable generator in case of power failure during hailstorms, ice storms and other natural calamities. bought the generator in an estate sale, and we have already gotten what we paid for in terms of food we saved in our freezers from a power failure.