Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 4873895 times)

marcela · « **Reply #12550 on:** January 07, 2019, 07:25:15 AM »

- We needed more storage in the garage so we didn't just have totes stacked on top of one another and threatening to collapse every time we tried to find something. Instead of buying new shelving we were able to scrounge and use wire shelves and brackets I had taken down when I re-did my laundry room.
- Less money- saving and more income protecting, but I finally filled out my FMLA paperwork to protect my job from my frequent absences due to illness. We have a new grandboss who is more concerned about butts in seats and my boss suggested I might want to formalize the process we've had for the past 3 years.
- Bought a new rug for the living room off amazon using gift cards.
- Going to get my teeth screened at the local dentistry school for free. I don't have dental insurance and they do x-rays and if I do end up with a cavity, it's filled for free. Students need real patients for their boards exams.

Arbitrage · « **Reply #12551 on:** January 07, 2019, 11:12:53 AM »

- Biked to the grocery store with my new bike trailer. Okay, buying half a bike trailer (other half was a gift) wasn't exactly a money-saver, at least yet, but I'm hoping it will further my ascent to a bike-centered lifestyle. Got a few curious comments, and it rained on the way home, but no worries there. I've been doing a decent slice of the grocery shopping on my bike recently with panniers/backpack, but the trailer kicks it up a notch.

- Starting to do some of the cooking myself, mainly in the Instant Pot. So far, so good - cheaper and healthier eating, I hope. DW is a great cook, but has been working later and rarely cooking; though I've managed to curtail our restaurant usage, our family dinners have been suffering. Hoping to fill in some of the gap, and also hoping that by taking on grocery shopping myself, I can trim that bill greatly (thanks, Aldi), as DW is less interested in efficient grocery shopping.

OmahaSteph · « **Reply #12552 on:** January 07, 2019, 11:32:44 AM »

Quote from: letsdoit on January 07, 2019, 07:20:20 AM

I 'fixed' underperforming fridge that was making our food spoiled.
I cleaned the moving parts nad coils
now it is at 34 degrees when we wake up

I need to do this. Thanks for the reminder!

chasingthegoodlife · « **Reply #12553 on:** January 07, 2019, 12:45:52 PM »

Changed our electricity provider for an estimated saving of $400 per year.

Freezer audit and bulk cooking so we now have plenty of last minute dinners.

SO sold some furniture we didn’t need on FB marketplace.

Working on most ethical and profitable way to get rid of a car that has been an expensive lemon for us. Ugh.

Sugaree · « **Reply #12554 on:** January 07, 2019, 01:52:28 PM »

Not sure this is exactly money saving, but I found a set of Rubbermaid food storage containers on sale that are very similar to the ones that have been sitting in my Amazon list for awhile now. On Amazon, it would have been ~$40. I got two sets for $5 each.

Roadrunner53 · « **Reply #12555 on:** January 07, 2019, 02:50:11 PM »

Just put my Frontier Cable/Internet/Landline on my Costco rewards Visa card. Previously was on auto pay on online banking. This way I will get reward money on each month's bill. Not really saving money but making money!

Tried to do the same with my electric bill and they don't take credit cards. BOOO!!! I previously have been paying my garbage pick up bill and Netflix on my credit card.

jengod · « **Reply #12556 on:** January 07, 2019, 03:42:36 PM »

* Coffee and breakfast and lunch all made at home; no takeout
* Harvested tangerines for lunch
* Took a "prompt payment discount" (LOL) and cleared a medical bill for a pre-natal test that my insurance doesn't cover

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #12557 on:** January 07, 2019, 07:03:45 PM »

-Leftovers for dinner
-Free lunch at work
-Had the kids bike one way to school to save gas/time. (It's dark when they finish practice, so I pick up after, but saves o much time when they can at least bike one way.)

horsepoor · « **Reply #12558 on:** January 07, 2019, 09:33:00 PM »

I made a weekly meal plan that included roasted cauliflower. Went to the store and there was one giant organic cauliflower in the whole store, which would have been $9. Quickly decided we could have a $1 cabbage instead.

In the "savings attempt gone wrong" category, I found fancy mixed nuts in the markdowns section. I opened the package on the way out of the store to grab a handful, and when I got to my car and was putting the lid back on the container, they flipped and ended up all over the parking lot. $3.99 for one handful of nuts was not a great deal, but at least they were delicious.

HappierAtHome · « **Reply #12559 on:** January 07, 2019, 10:18:11 PM »

Returned a cheap appliance that didn't work. $20 back in my pocket :-)

JetBlast · « **Reply #12560 on:** January 07, 2019, 10:57:39 PM »

Needed a new black leather belt for my work uniform. Decided to check Kohl’s since I was nearby and found one on clearance for 90% off. Paid $3.02 including tax.

Rosy · « **Reply #12561 on:** January 08, 2019, 06:36:15 AM »

Trolled for a coupon for our favorite eggs - none - boo. But their website had one for $1.50 and I noticed if you buy ten cartons you can send in the proof of purchase for a free carton of eggs.
Not a problem, a good way to use up some old Christmas stamps:) and in the US you can raise the flag on your mailbox and the carrier will take your letter - no need to go to the Post Office. I've always found that amazing.

Dixie_Amazon · « **Reply #12562 on:** January 08, 2019, 08:58:56 AM »

Bought a spiral cut ham at Target on sale for $1.99/lb. Use a Cartwheel for a 50% discount. I popped it in the freezer to use on Easter.

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #12563 on:** January 08, 2019, 09:08:31 AM »

-The desk I posted about last week? Yeah, that didn't work out. When we went to move it, the particle board crumbled. Lesson: basements in 100+ year old houses, they're moist. So how did I save? Well, we decided to just make do with the desk we have after all. Spent the better part of a day working on that room, going through papers and cord boxes, filing, on and on. I still need to go buy some things to make up for not having drawers (like one of those tiered in/out type paper organizers for things in flux), but I've given up on the desk search. The table will do.

-Making not saving, but I got a message about a circular saw I listed on FB marketplace over a month ago. Luckily we still have it (I was initially worried we gave up and donated it, but husband tucked it away). So that'll be an easy $20 and some space in our closet.

Zaga · « **Reply #12564 on:** January 08, 2019, 03:54:40 PM »

I would recommend something like this for your desktop file organizing. I use one just like it at work and it's kept my desk about 75% clearer and everything is easy to access.

https://www.amazon.com/1InTheOffice-Incline-Desktop-Sorter-Compartments/dp/B06XDSVQCJ/ref=sr_1_8?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1546988019&sr=1-8&keywords=desk+file+organizer

Rural · « **Reply #12565 on:** January 08, 2019, 05:02:50 PM »

I got a little two-drawer file cabinet at a thrift store; it's both drawers and a little bit of extra desktop or a printer stand.

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #12566 on:** January 08, 2019, 06:33:37 PM »

Quote from: Zaga on January 08, 2019, 03:54:40 PM

I would recommend something like this for your desktop file organizing. I use one just like it at work and it's kept my desk about 75% clearer and everything is easy to access.

https://www.amazon.com/1InTheOffice-Incline-Desktop-Sorter-Compartments/dp/B06XDSVQCJ/ref=sr_1_8?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1546988019&sr=1-8&keywords=desk+file+organizer

That's *exactly* the sort of thing I need, thank you! Do you find that the folders "slump" over time? Is there some type of folder that stays more rigid than others? I just remember these from working in college, the folders would get floppy then your pages would curl over inside them and get all weird and folded!

Zaga · « **Reply #12567 on:** January 08, 2019, 07:09:53 PM »

I have not had that issue with that exact (I think) folder organizer. I think because there's really only room between the uprights for maybe 2 folders with things in it, so no room to curl up. I've seen others with wider slots that have that issue.

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #12568 on:** January 08, 2019, 07:29:55 PM »

Quote from: Zaga on January 08, 2019, 07:09:53 PM

I have not had that issue with that exact (I think) folder organizer. I think because there's really only room between the uprights for maybe 2 folders with things in it, so no room to curl up. I've seen others with wider slots that have that issue.

Is that the specific one you have? That's perfect then.

Zaga · « **Reply #12569 on:** January 08, 2019, 07:54:35 PM »

Quote from: Bracken_Joy on January 08, 2019, 07:29:55 PM

Quote from: Zaga on January 08, 2019, 07:09:53 PM
I have not had that issue with that exact (I think) folder organizer. I think because there's really only room between the uprights for maybe 2 folders with things in it, so no room to curl up. I've seen others with wider slots that have that issue.

Is that the specific one you have? That's perfect then.

It's either the exact one or one almost like it. 6 or 8 narrow vertical slots on a basic wire rack.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12570 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:52:01 AM »

Quote from: Yasha on January 06, 2019, 11:44:25 PM

Super small, but today I only pumped the dishwashing detergent pump once. I have always pumped it twice, for who knows what reason... should make my detergent costs halve XD

:-) I do that too, always pumping twice. Today I only pumped once at work, and it was very little soap indeed.
At home I have the problem that I used the liquid soap in the bathroom so little, that no soap came out, no matter how much I pumped. So I should try to flush it through with water.

horsepoor · « **Reply #12571 on:** January 09, 2019, 10:33:08 AM »

Returned some extra unneeded light switches this morning.

I periodically troll the lighting section at Lowe's for fixtures on clearance. We replaced most of the fixtures in our house for about 25% of retail the first year in our house by doing this. Today I found a nice seed glass pendant for the stairwell, marked down from $50 to $18. Instead of spending $50+ on a new matching fixture for the upstairs hallway, I'm going to spray paint the existing fixture in nickel, and add an $8 seed glass cover and one of those groovy vintage-look LED Edison bulbs.

While I'm at it I'm going to also spray paint the copper-look handrail hardware instead of buying new hardware.

If the finish comes out nice enough, I might even do the sconce lights on the fireplace.

MountainGal · « **Reply #12572 on:** January 09, 2019, 11:44:53 AM »

~Avoided buying a box of tasty sounding k-pods at WM last night. Saved approx $13. We have plenty of others, as well as loose coffee. Stuck to my list.

~Avoided buying impulse junk food while standing in line. Saved whatever candy bars are going for these days.

~Put .72 into my penguin bank.

~Because the roads are nasty, not doing my usual driving like a bat out of hell driving keeping my gas mileage up.

~Tonight is clean-out-the-fridge, leftovers-for-dinner night. This saves on food, propane for cooking said food, and dirtying more dishes/pans.

~ETA: Been eating "garbage salad" for lunches this week. Using a base of baby spinach and homemade vinaigrette dressing, I add whatever we have leftover in the fridge. Monday was leftover doctored up canned chicken. Yesterday was a leftover pork chop. Today and tomorrow is sliced deli chicken, fresh berries, and some Gouda cheese leftover from the holidays. Delish.

OmahaSteph · « **Reply #12573 on:** January 09, 2019, 12:56:15 PM »

Quote from: Dixie_Amazon on January 08, 2019, 08:58:56 AM

Bought a spiral cut ham at Target on sale for $1.99/lb. Use a Cartwheel for a 50% discount. I popped it in the freezer to use on Easter.

HOLY CRAP! Thanks for the heads up. We're headed there tonight!

letsdoit · « **Reply #12574 on:** January 09, 2019, 03:30:05 PM »

i ate partially rotten veggies once a day for 2 weeks before i figured out prob w fridge

SquashingDebt · « **Reply #12575 on:** January 09, 2019, 06:45:26 PM »

Quote from: Zaga on January 08, 2019, 07:54:35 PM

Quote from: Bracken_Joy on January 08, 2019, 07:29:55 PM
Quote from: Zaga on January 08, 2019, 07:09:53 PM
I have not had that issue with that exact (I think) folder organizer. I think because there's really only room between the uprights for maybe 2 folders with things in it, so no room to curl up. I've seen others with wider slots that have that issue.

Is that the specific one you have? That's perfect then.
It's either the exact one or one almost like it. 6 or 8 narrow vertical slots on a basic wire rack.

Those look high enough to be fine. I have some problems with my organizer like that at work, but I think it's because it's technically a letter holder, haha, with much shorter dividers.

MissMuffins · « **Reply #12576 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:04:14 PM »

Today I was helping a friend with a small child go shopping. I found a shirt I would like to wear around the house to lounge in. But... I have been planning to do a closet reassessment, and so I put it back because I don't need it.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12577 on:** January 10, 2019, 07:07:28 AM »

I saved petrol and motor warmer, because I walked to work and will walk back soon.

slappy · « **Reply #12578 on:** January 10, 2019, 09:59:06 AM »

Quote from: OmahaSteph on January 09, 2019, 12:56:15 PM

Quote from: Dixie_Amazon on January 08, 2019, 08:58:56 AM
Bought a spiral cut ham at Target on sale for $1.99/lb. Use a Cartwheel for a 50% discount. I popped it in the freezer to use on Easter.

HOLY CRAP! Thanks for the heads up. We're headed there tonight!

aren't they much cheaper than that around easter time? i feel like i've seen .59 a pound for easter hams

Poundwise · « **Reply #12579 on:** January 10, 2019, 02:37:29 PM »

Cooked dinner for today yesterday, using a giant eggplant that I got from our Misfits box, and a small bag of mystery shredded cheese from our freezer that I'm hoping was mozzarella. This is good, because I'm exhausted today and would likely take out food if I had the option. Also I've been cooking very well all since Christmas, after going through a slump.

Called Optimum and got a new $25/month promotion on our internet package, although I'm still cross with myself that I didn't call last April and get it renewed then. That's the problem with autopay... it was completely off my radar. Did I save money or lose money? I guess it depends how one looks at it.

OmahaSteph · « **Reply #12580 on:** January 10, 2019, 03:32:24 PM »

Quote from: slappy on January 10, 2019, 09:59:06 AM

Quote from: OmahaSteph on January 09, 2019, 12:56:15 PM
Quote from: Dixie_Amazon on January 08, 2019, 08:58:56 AM
Bought a spiral cut ham at Target on sale for $1.99/lb. Use a Cartwheel for a 50% discount. I popped it in the freezer to use on Easter.

HOLY CRAP! Thanks for the heads up. We're headed there tonight!

aren't they much cheaper than that around easter time? i feel like i've seen .59 a pound for easter hams

Dunno. They were out of them anyway. BUT they had whole chickens BOGO 50% off, plus each one had a $3 off coupon plus another 5% off for using a Redcard. They were nice consolation prizes.

jengod · « **Reply #12581 on:** January 10, 2019, 03:50:41 PM »

Dinner is a casserole that will use up odds and ends including wild-boar sausage bought on closeout (they were changing the packaging), home-canned tomato sauce and leftover tomato paste, leftover rice, and topped with Parmesan and red chili flakes that came with a pizza my husband ordered.

horsepoor · « **Reply #12582 on:** January 10, 2019, 04:04:33 PM »

Sanded down and refinished the stair handrail instead of replacing it (also spray-painted the mounting hardware instead of replacing).

Found two boards that were part of a bed frame that was left in our rental. They have been kicking around our backyard and getting weathered. It suddenly occurred to me that I could salvage them for shelves flanking the fireplace mantel. Sanded, stained, and added a little more "distress" to them, and they are looking pretty good.

No driving today.

Ate homegrown eggs and green chile for breakfast and finished off some leftover cooked spaghetti squash for lunch.

OtherJen · « **Reply #12583 on:** January 10, 2019, 08:59:22 PM »

Tonight’s dinner was a clear-out-the-fridge meal: the last few ounces of leftover lentil soup, a small portion of leftover roasted root veggies, a leftover piece of chicken tossed with some buttered noodles. Now I really DO have to cook tomorrow.

Poundwise · « **Reply #12584 on:** January 10, 2019, 09:24:19 PM »

Quote from: OmahaSteph on January 10, 2019, 03:32:24 PM

Quote from: slappy on January 10, 2019, 09:59:06 AM
Quote from: OmahaSteph on January 09, 2019, 12:56:15 PM
Quote from: Dixie_Amazon on January 08, 2019, 08:58:56 AM
Bought a spiral cut ham at Target on sale for $1.99/lb. Use a Cartwheel for a 50% discount. I popped it in the freezer to use on Easter.

HOLY CRAP! Thanks for the heads up. We're headed there tonight!

aren't they much cheaper than that around easter time? i feel like i've seen .59 a pound for easter hams

Dunno. They were out of them anyway. BUT they had whole chickens BOGO 50% off, plus each one had a $3 off coupon plus another 5% off for using a Redcard. They were nice consolation prizes.

Could you get a rain check? Some screamin' deals!

jps · « **Reply #12585 on:** January 11, 2019, 02:30:54 PM »

Rode the bus today to work.

I try to ride the bus 3-4 days/week (DW's work and my work both pay for our bus passes) and had a driving day banked up from riding all week, but we rode anyway.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12586 on:** January 12, 2019, 10:07:54 AM »

I am sick since yesterday morning, so I'm not going anywhere or spending anything. Not even spending online.

horsepoor · « **Reply #12587 on:** January 12, 2019, 10:23:46 AM »

Made pancakes from excess sourdough starter. Topped them with blueberries grown by a generous co-worker.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #12588 on:** January 12, 2019, 05:48:56 PM »

-My husband fixed both a pool & electrical issue. Which, unfortunately, were related. We are super lucky there wasn't a fire while we were out of town. The pool repair alone would have been several thousand dollars had we not discovered the issue, so I suppose the electrical led to that. But, yikes.
-Made a pumpkin/banana chocolate chip bread for a friend. I only had enough pumpkin for one loaf, and bananas likewise, so I combined them & it turned out great.
-Ate food from the freezer for lunch
-The kids hand made Christmas thank you cards. They turned out really well, and have an origami Christmas tree that comes out of the card when you open it.
-Used Rite Aid rewards to pick up a few things we needed

OtherJen · « **Reply #12589 on:** January 12, 2019, 07:23:08 PM »

Went to a free knitting circle meeting held at a local nature center. Technically, one needs to pay for a day or annual pass to get into the surrounding park, but my in-laws gave me an annual pass for Christmas so it didn't cost me anything out of pocket.

Bought all weekly groceries at Aldi instead of the more convenient but more expensive Kroger.

Raided the freezer for meat for dinner.

jengod · « **Reply #12590 on:** January 13, 2019, 03:01:45 PM »

* Got gasoline for the car at the debit-card-only station instead of another more expensive gas station. Kept about $7 in my bank account.

* Was prepared with a stockpile of gifts for a late-notice kids’ birthday party and used a giftbag from our stash, so stayed out of the car unnecessarily and didn’t spend extra for wrapping.

DreamFIRE · « **Reply #12591 on:** January 13, 2019, 03:58:30 PM »

Shoveled/snowblowed 15" of snow out of my driveway over 2 days instead of paying someone else to do it. My snowblower was undersized for the job.

Roadrunner53 · « **Reply #12592 on:** January 13, 2019, 04:07:27 PM »

We made a spatchcock chicken and saved all the bones, skin and scraps. Added onions, parsnips, celery, Better than Boullion, water, ginger powder, a tiny bit of lemon juice, peppercorns and some apple cider vinegar (just a tad). The vinegar is supposed to help the bones break down I think. It is in the crock pot and will simmer all night long. I will cook it about 16 hours or more. Will have some delicious (almost) FREE broth tomorrow! Mmmmmm! So much better than the broth you buy in the store!

jps · « **Reply #12593 on:** January 13, 2019, 05:25:38 PM »

This morning I installed a new natural gas hot water heater with my contractor buddy instead of paying someone else to do it! Old one conked out last week and went we went about 4 days without hot water so that we would have free time to replace it ourselves. Ended up taking a fully cold shower in there too; do I voluntary discomfort points too?

OmahaSteph · « **Reply #12594 on:** January 15, 2019, 08:47:37 AM »

1. Finished the nightmare, two-week process of switching over DH and I from AT&T to Consumer Cellular.
2. Ate leftovers for dinner.
3. Made stock out of leftover frozen chicken carcasses and veggies.
4. Switch prescriptions to Walmart after checking GoodRx for the lowest nearby prices.
5. Sold two items on eBay.

marcela · « **Reply #12595 on:** January 15, 2019, 09:52:55 AM »

- switched from cox internet to att fiber. Just got our first bill and it looks like we'll save $34/month. Resisted getting the higher speed for no change to our cost. We've done well on 100 mbps for years, why do we need to go higher?
- continuing to eat down the fridge and pantry to make up for spendy grocery months of November and December. We are out of potatoes and almost done with pasta. Might be able to stretch it to the end of the week with creative meals. I want to go to the store before I go out of town because my husband is not as cost conscious and left to his own devices, will definitely goover budget.
- putting sewing supplies on my amazon wishlist instead of buying them for myself. My birthday is coming up and this will make it easy when asked for gift ideas. I have projects I can work on without those supplies in the mean time.
- switching from expensive juice to cheap crystal lite type flavorings. Fewer calories and lower cost. Plus our recycling bin is looking emptier! We were going through so much plastic buying juice. Now we just reuse a couple of the old juice bottles(cleaned out obviously).

jengod · « **Reply #12596 on:** January 15, 2019, 05:02:49 PM »

* Curb shopping: Someone discarded a plastic laundry cart with three plastic laundry baskets. The cart and one of the baskets were trashed but the other two were pristine and I grabbed them for use at our house.

* Buy used and save the difference: Picked up some more size #1 diapers at Goodwill for baby due May

* Buy used and save the difference: Picked up a Spider-Man “Thermos Funtainer” at Goodwill. We have a stash of the pieces that are usually missing from these so this is a good deal on a reusable water bottle my kids like to use.

Threshkin · « **Reply #12597 on:** January 16, 2019, 03:01:26 PM »

Quote from: jengod on January 15, 2019, 05:02:49 PM

* Curb shopping: Someone discarded a plastic laundry cart with three plastic laundry baskets. The cart and one of the baskets were trashed but the other two were pristine and I grabbed them for use at our house.

* Buy used and save the difference: Picked up some more size #1 diapers at Goodwill for baby due May

* Buy used and save the difference: Picked up a Spider-Man “Thermos Funtainer” at Goodwill. We have a stash of the pieces that are usually missing from these so this is a good deal on a reusable water bottle my kids like to use.

Used diapers? Now that is hard core!

35andFI · « **Reply #12598 on:** January 16, 2019, 03:07:56 PM »

Quote from: jpo on November 20, 2013, 07:03:15 AM

Yesterday: after car was pronounced DOA by the mechanic, hiked 7 miles to work instead of renting a car.

Nice! Sorry to hear about the car.

You don't have a bicycle?

jengod · « **Reply #12599 on:** January 17, 2019, 12:36:18 PM »

Quote

Used diapers? Now that is hard core!

I realize now I could have phrased that better LOL.

* We’ve had an amazing week of rain so turned off the irrigation sprinklers for the maximum nine days.

* Pretty much stuck inside so got out the vacuum and cleaned the dusty grunk on the air conditioning vent, the fridge coils and inside the dryer behind the front panel. I can call that last one a $90 savings bc that’s what Sears used to charge for cleaning out the inside of your dryer. (All the old lint that accumulates inside the machine can be tinder for an electrical fire as my parents once learned.)

News:

Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 4873895 times)