How do you guys save $ ? Any tips or tricks you do or know of to save some cash? I don't know about you all but even though I make good money what I actually bring home is just about enough to cover rent and bills with little extra! Booo!!

Anyways just a few little things I do :

In winter I don't use the heater much (summer is a different story the ac is on all the time) but winter I try and conserve plus I am always warm so it works for me.

I cut out buying coffee drinks before work (started to be bad again but gotta get back in control lol)

I stock up at Wallgreens when they have coupons on things like Paper Towels (2 for $1) Paper Plates and stuff like that.

Clip coupons for the grocery store

Don't use my cell phone much so I have a low usuage cheapie plan


How about YOU?

I save all of my loose change and put in into a huge crayon shaped bank that I have. Each year on my birthday I cash in my coins and buy myself something nice. I usually save about $300 over the course of a year.

I also clip coupons and watch the sales papers so I can stock up on things when they are on sale.

I have a small clear plastic bag in a dresser drawer that I put all my pay from my second job in each day I work. I also put extra in there if tips are good, but usually tips are my spending money. That adds up and pays for my trips to Houston to see my honey and doesn't hurt the old pocketbook too much!

I also keep all loose change in a jar on the dresser and wrap before every trip - this covers the tolls and visiting change.

Well I instead of buying those bathroom trash bags I use the Walmart bags and bags from Walgreens to use in the bathroom trash can they work really good!!!

I have baseboard heat in my apt so I normally leave it on LOW all day regardless in the winter time due to the fact if you turn it off it cost more to heat the apt back up. I normally only turn the one on in the living room and it keeps the whole apt pretty warm. But turning it off is a NO NO once its on its on for the winter!!!


We have 3 birds here and two cages - instead of buying bird litter all the time we have started using old printer paper that may have gotten messed up or what not and lining the bottom of their cages with that and using a plastic bag from Walmart under it so when you pull the pan out all you have to do is pull the handle on the bag the other way and its already in the bag and you can throw it away!!!


I have also taught my kid to save his change and anytime we find loose change somewhere - in a parking lot or what not he picks it up - we have a jar here and put all the pennies in one jar and all the other change in another jar and we then take the coins wrap them and split the money around Christmas time so we can buy people gifts with the loose change!! One penny is 99 away from being a dollar!!!! :)

HHHMMMM cant think of anymore right now I will later I am sure -


Kelly

When I get a check cashed I usually get atleast 1 $100 bill. I dont know why but I dont break those as often. I save $1 and change too.

GREAT THREAD CALI!

I opened a different account for my 2nd job. When I get the check cashed, I keep the "even" money and put the "odd" money in the account... for instance, if the check is $75.64, I deposit $5.64 and keep the $70 for gas & stuff. I get paid weekly at that job, so it adds up when you're not looking! LOL!

That is a great idea Texxie. I am going to open up another account this week! Thanks!


I opened a different account for my 2nd job. When I get the check cashed, I keep the "even" money and put the "odd" money in the account... for instance, if the check is $75.64, I deposit $5.64 and keep the $70 for gas & stuff. I get paid weekly at that job, so it adds up when you're not looking! LOL!

I used to buy bottled water, now I just refill with my good ole tap water and put it in the fridge and grab one on my way out the door... Really watch the ads for things you can get rebates on.. takes some time to get them all mailed in but it is amazing what you can get for free.. just the other day, bought two flashlights, some hair color, 8 packages of lightbulbs, after rebates - FREE..

Also, really watch the grocery store ads adn stock up on things that are on sale.. like the roasting chickens.. instead of buying the already roasted ones at the store, just roast them myself...

I use coupons and scour the sunday ads. I see who has what I need on sale and buy from that store. I make several stops to different stores, but they are not too far apart and I save money. Also I stock up the staples while they are on sale, like toliet paper, paper towels, etc. I use to belong to BJ wholesale club, but I didn't find it all that much savings for me. Also I love shopping at the dollar stores, find good deals in them!

I am definitley a dollar store shopper. I also clip coupons. I am a target fanatic . I put all my loose change in a big lion bank I have ...
And I just recently decided to pen an account and have 5 bucks put into it every week this way I won't really feel it but it will add up over time !

I put loose change every day in diff. jars too- really surprising how quickly it all adds up. I cut back on all the extras I had on my phone bill that I was paying for and not using because it was in a "Bundle" (like Call Forwarding, Call Return, 3Way Calling etc. As soon as I can I am going to get an inexpensive answering machine and cancel the Voice Mail). I am now going to downgrade my Internet from Hi-Speed Express to Hi-Speed Lite. I buy and freeze meat when it's on sale and I am using the Library a lot more instead of Amazon:D. I turn the heat down in the winter at around 8pm instead of later.

I just stripped down our home telephone service too...no more unlimited long distance. We all have cell phones, so I am foring everyone to use their cells to make long distance calls. I am saving $45 a month from the switch.

I don't have internet at home, so I cut the home phone off completely. My BF & I both have cell phones. We figured 2 people don't need 3 phones!

I started buying generic soda and taking it to work. I like Wal-marts rootbeer; is similar to A&W. 57 cents for a 2 liter bottle!

Coupons and Coupons and Coupons and Rebates they add up......

I'm actually going to be moving out of my parents house and living all by myself soon. so i've been looking around and found a lot of useful tips so i'll add em here :D
household things and food

Buy day old breads and bakery items. My husband hates it, but they taste brand new if you pop them in the microwave for a few seconds. I use really dried up bread for stuffings, croutons,
and breadings.
Buying a freezer is probably my best investment to date. It enables us to cook for months at a time, if needed, and to stock up when things go on sale. If you have the ability to get one or inherit one, go for it. The electricity it eats up will be saved in a couple months just from the savings you will see by buying ahead when things are cheap.
Growing a garden (http://www.gardenguides.com/) is, for some people, a good money saver. You have to have a green thumb and be willing to do the hard labor it involves. If you hire people out to do the work for you, it ain't worth it, honey. Even if gardening a large plot isn't for you, you can still save money. Try gardening a small herb garden just for spices. Spices are expensive these days! You could also try pot gardening tomatoes (very versatile) or other vegetables that grow up not out.
Have you ever looked into making your own cleaning agents. Go to the misc.consumers.frugal.living newsgroup and bring up the subject. There will be threads on this for weeks! Go to the library and check out those little books about this as well. I'm not really into concocting chemical cocktails myself. Too afraid I'll blow something up. Let me say this of my expertise in this area....NEVER mix ammonia and bleach unless you are planning to start a nuclear war. It's potent stuff!
My great grandmother used to always give all of us great grandkids gift certificates for Burger King and McDonalds and places like that. We could eat off those for month back in the old days. We can't make them last quite as long now, but what a great idea! Cheap, useful, and easy to ask for instead of that purple fuzzy thing you got last Christmas that is definitely a garment, you just aren't sure for what part of the body.
We have an appetizer night once or twice a month. We drag out all the leftovers and cut them up into bite size pieces or create new hors doerves out of them. We use huge basket platters (from an old xmas party veggie tray) and eat on the living room floor picnic style. Lots of fun, everyone can be involved, and way too easy if you have a microwave.
Do you only buy name brand items? Are you inclined only to get Kraft Macaroni and Cheese instead of the store brand? I always try the store and off brand name items and keep an open mind. They aren't going to taste the same as the name brands, but how "off" are they? Unbearably off? There are only a few items that I buy name brand for (much to my husband's disliking) and I usually can't tell the difference when I whip up the food in a casserole.
How many non-food items do you buy at the supermarket? Grocery stores generally have larger mark ups on the non food items in order to compensate for low cost specials and loss leaders. Buy your shampoo, garbage bags, toothpaste, laundry detergents, etc. at a discount pharmacy or discount stores like Walmart. And buy in bulk when you can.
Use unit pricing. In other words, how much is a product per ounce rather than per can. This does make a difference. Some stores have incorporated unit pricing into their own store shelf price guides to help you make better decisions but take a calculator just in case.
I read online somewhere that market surveys say that shoppers spend an extra 50 cents for every minute over 30 in a grocery store. Get in, get what you need, and get out.
Shop alone and look on the bottom and top shelves for cheaper products. Think about it....kids generally are in a cart at eye level where you will find the more expensive and eye appealing items. Leave the kids at home and don't fall for the trap. (Men are suspect of this eye level shopping too but I don't want to generalize just because my husband does it!)
Co-ops and buying clubs can save up to 50% by doing the ordering from direct wholesalers and packaging, picking up, and delivering the goods themselves. For information on setting up a coop, write the Cooperative League of the U.S.A., 1828 L Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20036. Want lobster but can't afford lobster? Well, you can substitute lobster in recipes with monkfish. It is a fish with firm white flesh and costs way less than lobster. There are others similar, but monkfish appears to work best, according to my sources.

medical and dental
At least 42 pharmaceutical companies provide free medicine (http://www.needymeds.com/) to uninsured or underinsured patients in need. Hundreds of drugs are available under this program, many are widely used prescriptions. Usually, your doctor must ask for this service for you or be able to back you up on your need basis. For more info: Patient Assistance Directory, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, 1100 15th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005.

Many hospitals and clinics have hardship programs available to help you pay for medical costs. One program is called the Hill-Burton Program (http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/dir/110.html), but not all programs will be called this so simply say "hardship". To qualify, you must meet income requirements and be uninsured or underinsured or have special circumstances. Talk with the Staff Social Worker or Patient Relations Director for more details. You can also call 1-800-638-0742 for info on the Hill-Burton Program or to see if your hospital participates (http://www.hrsa.gov/osp/dfcr/obtain/hbstates.htm).
Dentists around the nation will usually have one day a year that they provide free dental care to patients. You have to keep your eyes and ears open for this because some areas will not publicize it well. And, you have to get there early. Some lucky low income clinics are now providing lower cost dental care to train students. Call around to see what your area might provide. The Health Department may know specifically about this. There are also a number of dental schools in the United States (http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/programs/schools/us.asp) that offer low cost dental services.
Call the National Immunization Hotline (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/) to find information regarding free or low cost immunizations. (800) 232-2522 Always audit your medical bills. Be sure that what you are being charged was actually service given to you. Mistakes do happen and you and your insurance company need to be aware.

utility expenses
You can save up to 75% on your electric bill by investing in fluorescent light bulbs and replacing your regular light bulbs with them.

Someone told me they heard that you could reduce your heating bill by 2% for each degree that you lower your thermostat from the norm. I don't know if I believe it but I'll ask my Mom. She always kept the thermostat at 59 degrees. I slept in a snowsuit! BRRR.
Put a timer next to the phone to control phone calls, long distance and teenagers alike. You know what I mean. ;)
Find out what long distance carrier is best for your particular calling habits by going to this site.
Audit your phone bill as well as your other utility bills. The big boys DO make mistakes!
This is a dirty trick but I have people who tell me they do it all the time. They call people long distance (like their Mom) when they KNOW that person isn't home. They leave a message on their answering machine. The person then calls them back on their dime. Saves the messenger the long distance costs! Viola!
I do recognize the fact that many people own cell phones, so here's a tip: Avoid ruining your Ni-Cad battery by never charging them for longer than eight hours. Them batteries ain't cheap!
Run your dryer and other items during off peak hours (like the middle of the night) when power usage is often cheaper. Investigate your utility company to see if this could reap a bigger savings for you.
Use the air dry or overnight dry option on your dishwasher. This can cut 10% of your dishwashing costs.
In winter, your dryer puts warm air (usually moist) into the outdoors. Why not filter that hot air into the home? You can only do this in a dry home typically or condensation will form indoors, but it is effective. I did it for the first time in my home this year. It's like the Sahara Desert in my house so I saved on not only heating costs but also the cost of a humidifier I had almost bought. Cooking in the microwave is frugal. Bottom line. Wisconsin Power and Light found that in 85% of cooking tasks, a microwave can cut your energy costs by 50% or more! This works best when cooking foods that are small in quantity and low in moisture.

automobile expenses
Make sure that you do regular maintenance on your vehicle. Oil changes (http://www.autosite.com/garage/subsys/baengoil.asp), tune ups (http://www.autosite.com/garage/subsys/batuneup.asp), tire rotations, etc. This will definitely make your vehicle last longer and the need for repairs later in its life will be considerably less.

If you are really ambitious, you can take very cheap, if not FREE, classes that will teach you to do your own simple maintenance (http://www.autosite.com/garage/subsys/repair.asp). Sometimes this is cheaper than having someone do it for you. Many auto clubs like AAA (http://www.aaa.com/) also offer classes like these in limited areas.
Look for coupons for the simple services and save them whenever you see them. I can get oil changes for $8.88 at a certain service center, but they practically hide the darn coupon in the mess of small ads in the inside cover of the newspaper.
If you pay cash for a car and still set aside "car payments", you will be prepared to either pay cash for the necessary expenses that come along with getting a used car or you will be able to pay cash for another used car when the need comes along.
If you need to rent a car, consider renting from an insurance car rental agency or from a late model car rental agency. They will often charge cheaper rates and who cares what you're renting as long as it gets you where you are going?
Always check for membership rate discounts when renting a vehicle. AAA (http://www.aaa.com/), AARP (http://www.aarp.org/), etc. These could provide significant savings when you really need it.
Do you car pool? If not, you should. Better for the enviorment, better for your nerves, and better on your pocketbook. Everyone in the vehicle chips in for gas and everyone saves money. Also, charge your teens to use your car and set the money aside for regular maintenance. Believe me, if you are toting around alot of kids to different events or if teenagers are driving your vehicle, you'll need the maintenance more than most. Extra weight in the car uses more gas. Keep your trunk empty and quit hauling your junk around all over town with you

misc
I have 6 children. At different times I have had 2 in diapers together. Baby wipe are so expensive that I found a more "frugal" substitute. I cut my husband's old t-shirts into "wipe-size" and make a solution of 2 tablespoons baby shampoo with 2 cups water. I then soak the t-shirt scraps until they are really wet; ring out the excess and store them in a plastic bowl with a cover. I always keep a plastic bag with me for the soiled ones. I have a small diaper pail that I fill with a solution of detergent (hand washable kind) that I put them in to soak (this removes a lot). I just wash them and reuse them

Save an old facial tissue box and then stuff recycled plastic bags into the box. It holds many bags but still allows pulling out one bag at a time.

To shave legs, use hair conditioner or even better yet - buy the cheapest shampoo w/conditioner. Works great and costs half as much in the long run.

all i got for now, i'll try to add more as i find more things :thumbsup: great thread btw!

Also, I do 95% of my clothing at resale shops like Good Will, Savers, St. Vincent de Paul, etc. Especially St. Vinnys-I get sooooo many brand name, designer clothes there!

I cut my coupons and check the Vons grocery store ads every Tuesday. I get a lot of "free" stuff with my coupons ( they double the coupon). I usually get my Colgate toothpaste for either free or no more than 50 cents. Then they have specials where if you buy 10 items you get like $10 off. So I go with my coupons and all the stuff end up being free. I also have two kids in diapers. I wait for it to go on sale and then use my coupon. So the huggies come out cheaper than the generic. For wipes, I get paper towel (Bounty) and wet it and it works the same. The best I've done is get $35 in grocery free because of the coupons. Plus my neighbors give me their coupons too.

1. I keep lost change in a jar and cash it in at coinstar. once every three months is buys my groceries for the week.

2. i sometimes shop at consignment shops. (got my george foreman grill there)

3. in my check book i do this: if the checkk i write is $5.01 i write that down. then on the right side when i go to subtract it i round it up to $6.00. i do this for every check and by the end of the year i have a couple hundred $.

4. I use my credit card with rewards as much as possible. then at the end of the month i pay off the bill. i use the rewards to help me pay down my mortgage.

5. i use a shopper card at the grocery store. at the end of the bill it says "you save $x on this trip." when i get home i go online and transfer that dollar amount i saved from my checking to savings.

6. i go to walmart for toilet paper, dish detergent, etc. it is much cheaper than the grocery store.

7. i use coupons when i can for oil changes, buying clothes, anything.

I opened a different account for my 2nd job. When I get the check cashed, I keep the "even" money and put the "odd" money in the account... for instance, if the check is $75.64, I deposit $5.64 and keep the $70 for gas & stuff. I get paid weekly at that job, so it adds up when you're not looking! LOL!good one texxie!

I thought of one more....

I installed an automatic thermostat. When I leave the house in the am the heat goes down to 62. About 30 min b4 I come home it starts up and warms up to 69. Then at 10pm it goes down to 64. I preset all this so i don't have to think about it. It does save over time.

I buy my daughters clothing at the end of the season for the next year. Saves a ton of money. Just bought next years christmas dress at Belks for six dollars.

I don't pay full price for anything I buy. Kid's clothes, Target Clearance rack, they are the off season, but buy for the next year, I don't think my kids own one single out fit that I have paid over $5.00 for. And they don't look dorky, or "poor" it's just how I shop. Everything comes off of a clearance rack!!!!! buy food in bulk at the grocery store, freeze what you arent going to use right away. buying a package of 10 porkchops is cheaper than a pkg of 4...... re-use grocery bags for dirty diapers, instead of buying the fancy diaper throw away bags. I sold the family car to buy a small car to save on gas money.

Glad to see this brought back up again as I have been through h*ll the past two months just trying to put gas in the car and food in the belly.Things should be looking up soon (fingers crossed) but I have done a few more things since my original post to save.


I do most of my grocery shopping at Wal Mart now as they seem to have the best prices around

I cut back to the slowest/cheapest DSL plan

I cut off my text and date package on my cell phone (and am now considering just shutting it off and having a friend add me to their family plan as I use so few minutes per mo. it is not worth paying for even the cheapest individual plan)

Shut off my satellite dish

Stopped tanning

Stopped getting my nails done and no more pedicures :( (yah that one killed me,its the ONE thing I do or rather did for myself to feel good about myself but such is life right??)





any and all suggestions still welcome :)

Join all those free customer loyalty card programs and USE them- Read the flyers and plan your shopping around the member discounts (Just yesterday, I splurged at Borders and got 4 CDs(new release, not older clearanced stuff) for $38 instead of the $73 that I couldn't have spent and now Borders owes ME $5 in rewards credits- I just waited to go shopping until they were having a member benefit promotion on the CDs)...last week I saved 15% on my cat food because I have a PetSmart card.... if you frequent a coffee place, ask if they do stamp cards... a free drink every 5th or 10th visit is two or three bucks saved.
Brown bag it for lunch and pack a cooler of drinks and goodies for road trips... When you go for visits,hit the grocery store and use the fridge in your room instead of eating out or ordering pizza.

Every 6 months or so, call the home telephone providers and see if they have a package or promotion better than your current one- That's how I ended up with an international plan that lets me call my mom in New Zealand for 11 cents a minute any time of the day instead of the 28 to 42 offered by most plans.

Same with auto insurance- get quotes from other companies about 2 months before renewal... If you get a lower quote than your current premium, give your agent a chance to match it.... also if you change jobs and it results in a shorter commute (or your loved one gets moved closer to home), let your agent know that your annual mileage has gone down.
My biggest "penny saver" unfortunately is not one a lot of folks have the space and ready cash to use but...

If you don't already know how- learn to cook from scratch- the food tastes better, is better for you and "ingredients" are cheaper than "packages".
- Buy in quantity whenever possible-
I belong to Costco and buy all of my paper products and cleaning supplies in "wholesale lots"- 48 rolls of TP for 11 bucks, a years' supply of garbage bags for 10, laundry soap in a 3 or 4 gallon jug, etc, etc...only have to buy such items every 3 to 6 months.... and meat- I get whole pork loin for 1.98-2.50 a pound, cut and wrap it myself and voila, 2 months worth of really good pork chops for 17-20 bucks.
I buy all my canned goods by the case at the warehouse and save 25 to 40% off the single can grocery store price.
We recently invested in a full side of beef - 3.27 per pound to have a cow chosen, butchered, wrapped and frozen and we have a big chest freezer full of roasts, steaks,ground beef, stew meat, etc- 400 pounds or so, it'll see my household through probably next September... If you CAN, I highly recommend it, there's something very comforting about having a fully stocked freezer and pantry, even though the initial cost is a little scary.

Someone mentioned Walgreens...if you use the coupons from the weekly flyer AND have a manufacturer's coupon, you can use both! I didn't know this (haven't had a chance to try it either) but it's been known to work. Good way to get even some change back on it! Also if you sign up for weekly emails from them, there is usually a $5 off coupon that comes once a month or so you can use when you spend $25. It's worth it to sign up for weekly emails at stores you shop because sometimes you will get deals that way. Just open another free email account for those and remember to check it! :)

Also, there is some cleaner at the Deals store here (probably in most dollar stores) called Awsome or something like that. It works REALLY well. You have to dilute it, which makes it last longer so you are getting more for that buck!

I have two cats and the one has to have fluids 3x a week, so I go through a lot of litter. I used to ONLY buy tidy cats because it worked the best, but my mom (miss pennypincher) turned me on to the Target brand of litter. It's identical to the tidy cat and is about $2 cheaper. It works very well. I use dollar store trash bags for scooping the litter and they hold up really good. They are the small size kitchen bags with scents. I think there is about 50 in a roll and that roll lasts me months.

I don't do well with groceries, but I do print coupons off the internet at coupons.com and most stores will take them. It's usually the same ones that come in the weekend paper. I can't stick to a list but have been really good about only buying what is on sale and using a coupon. If it's something out of the norm, I will only buy if on sale and have a coupon (candy, goofy not everyday stuff that I want to try). I have done the Walmart grocery shopping and it does save money, I just wish there was one a little closer! They don't always have the same brand names, but it will save money.

When I buy stuff for the home (decor, etc) I only do so when I have a 20% coupon for places like Hobby Lobby or Bed Bath and Beyond. I try to stick to clearance items at those places and at Walmart for stuff like that.

Clothes, I have no tips other than trying to dig in the clearance racks! I have a hard time with that and really have to be in the mood to do so, but when I have done it, I have walked out of places like Kohls with high dollar items for low dollar costs! Kohls is a good place to shop for clothes if you have one since they have sales on EVERYTHING! If you want something from there that is not on sale, wait a week or two and it will be! They run BOGO free sales online sometimes. Another good store to sign up for emails.

Those are my tips!

I have zillions of ideas for saving money, and will tell a couple of them.

You can buy a toaster over at a thrift shop for about $5 and use it to make meals instead of of heating up a big oven. I use my $5 oven every day to save on power.

If you get takeout save the aluminum tins they come in and wash them. You can use them to bake a meatloaf or chicken. Saves on work and water.

Line your indoor garbage receptacles with the plastic bags you get from the stores. It saves you from having to buy garbage bags.

Cut up old socks with holes and use them after laundering as hand rags. Saves on paper towels and dusting cloths.

Instead of buying hair color boxes for a single use, buy a beautician sized developer bottle and little bottles of color. You can get many colorings far cheaper by using the bulk method, and use small amounts for touch-ups.

Buy products marked "ibuprophen" instead of Advil and "loratadine" instead of Claritin. It's the same thing.

I'll have more soon.

Buy day old breads and bakery items. My husband hates it, but they taste brand new if you pop them in the microwave for a few seconds. I use really dried up bread for stuffings, croutons,
and breadings.
There's nothing wrong with buying day-old bread, as it's just as fresh as the other kind. You can freeze the bread you can't eat now and always have bread in the house via the freezer.

You can also freeze cheese if you have a lot you can't use now.

1. I bring packed food to work for my lunch, it easily saves me $$$ versus eating in canteen or buying out.

2. I join car pools going to work to save on gas.

3. I totally dropped my landline for Onesuite voip for $2.95 monthly and use a T-mobile pay as you go plan.

4. Re use plastic and paper bags.

5. Unplug appliances (they still consume electricity) and turn off uneccessary lights.

I clip coupons. I also look at all the sale ads in the sunday paper- but instead of going to each store, I bring the ads to my nearest Wal-Mart and they match the price! That saves me gas and time. I think those ladies at the register can see me coming from a mile away now! :D
I also save all of my change in a big waterbottle. When I am cleaning or doing any laundry (4 boys, so I have lots of it), any change that I find is what we call "the maids fee" :thumbsup: and I put it in my bottle. I use that change for an emergency fund of sorts.

In the winter I hit the clearance racks for tank tops. In the summer I look for winter coats.
Have you ever gotten an insane mobile phone bill because you went a little text-crazy or went over your minutes? You don’t have to take it! One time I ran up $400 in overage charges. I called and asked to speak to a manager. I said, “I misunderstood my plan. I know you have the authority to adjust my bill, even if just once. That’s what it’s going to take to keep me as a customer.” He cut the bill in half! Here’s another example: my Comcast Internet service cut out for an hour last week. I called and complained, and they took $15 off my bill! Never hand over money you can keep with a little persuasion!

In the winter I hit the clearance racks for tank tops. In the summer I look for winter coats.
Have you ever gotten an insane mobile phone bill because you went a little text-crazy or went over your minutes? You don’t have to take it! One time I ran up $400 in overage charges. I called and asked to speak to a manager. I said, “I misunderstood my plan. I know you have the authority to adjust my bill, even if just once. That’s what it’s going to take to keep me as a customer.” He cut the bill in half! Here’s another example: my Comcast Internet service cut out for an hour last week. I called and complained, and they took $15 off my bill! Never hand over money you can keep with a little persuasion!

I completely agree with you!! I just bought my son a pair of shorts for $1.00 on the clearance rack at Target!! (he actually wears them now as we are in California and the weather has been GREAT!!)

A little "nice" goes a long way. If you call and ask for something, most of the time you will get some sort of discount or deal!! I called my internet/phone company because they messed up my bill and she took $5.00 a month off my bill for the next YEAR!! :thumbsup: $60.00 a year may not seem like alot, but it is, believe me!! :D

I also clip coupons and check the ads weekly. I was told if you hang on to a coupon for at least 3 weeks, then the item for the coupon will be on sale in one of the ads. I do this and it seems to be working!! I get all my toothpaste for free every time!!

I also go to the grocery store after work and can usually find the hamburger meat (and some others also) marked down $1 - $2.00 because it expires the NEXT day!! :eek: Well, I take it home and freeze it and it is just fine!!

I just bought my son two pairs of shoes on Walmart.com for $5.00 each and if I ship it to the store, then shipping is free!! They have baseball cleats right now for $3-$5.00!!!

You can find some really GREAT deals if you are looking for them!! You can use coupons on CLEARANCE items from stores also!! I am such a thrifty shopper and I LOVE IT!! :yes: I love to see how much money I can actually save!!