Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 7432668 times)

Dare2Dream · « **Reply #12800 on:** April 30, 2019, 01:55:10 PM »

Quote from: MaybeBabyMustache on November 09, 2018, 07:35:05 AM

-Meals at home, no eating out
-Charged electric car for free at work
-Turned on our heat for the first time in 9ish months today. It got down to 63 in the house, and that's where I drew the line. I'd been holding out & bundling up at 65, but 63 was just too much.

My new cold threshold is 60. It's the summer that I have issues with. It's hard for me to be inside a house that's above 75 unless a fan is blowing on me.

Buffaloski Boris · « **Reply #12801 on:** April 30, 2019, 02:22:41 PM »

Did a big one today. Had a supplemental life insurance policy. Turns out the price was lousy compared to other coverage. Worse, it went up in price and I hadn’t noticed. Today I decided to let it lapse. Should have done it years ago. Better late than never.

alewpanda · « **Reply #12802 on:** April 30, 2019, 06:58:35 PM »

Back to the MMM forum after a bit of a hiatus...and needing the motivation to avoid the spending traps badly!
We moved, and moved again, and met new people and got involved with new friend groups, and found ourselves S-P-E-N-D-I-N-G!

Reeling it back in....

- Needed a bike for this spring and summer. Was looking at buying something decent used, but as I brought the dogs in from our morning walk yesterday, I saw a bike sitting by the dumpster. Some beat up furniture was there too from a resident that moved out over the weekend. I waited an hour or so to make sure it was actually for the dumpster, and then had to run down and save it before it got hauled away by the pickers heading down our alley! With a handlebar adjustment, it is just the right size and the brakes work great. I'll test it around for a bit and see how the gears work, but I may have snagged myself a completely free bike!

- It's my husband's birthday this coming week. Our more spendy friends wanted to go all out, but I've planned several activities that will be reasonably priced, will allow everyone to be involved, and will make him very happy. We are joining a couple friends for an escape room (hubby loves them!) using a coupon she got for 40% off! Meeting several friends with kids for ice cream on a Sunday afternoon at our favorite ice cream place, and will hit up his favorite arcade/bar with cheap pizza by the slice and 20 cent tokens with our childless friends. 30.00 will feed us and entertain both of us for the night and it was an activity he had also been wanting to go do. Basically our entertainment budget for the month revolves around him...but i'm A-OK with it :D

- Moving apartments in a few weeks. Have been collecting free boxes and working our way through the misc foods that are sitting in the back of the cupboard/freezer. Made a new fish sandwich recipe tonight with fish bought months ago, and chopped up leftover cabbage, carrots and radishes for a simple side slaw.

Raenia · « **Reply #12803 on:** April 30, 2019, 07:20:58 PM »

The rubber sole of one of my sneakers had started to separate, and I was worried I'd have to buy new ones soon. I had the idea to superglue the bits back down, so it shouldn't get any worse and will last a bit longer.

letsdoit · « **Reply #12804 on:** May 01, 2019, 09:47:15 AM »

i'm going on a pot luck trip and i told them i will bring some awesome foodstuffs. it happens to be what i have at home in bulk

middo · « **Reply #12805 on:** May 01, 2019, 07:50:56 PM »

Eating yesterdays sandwiches as yesterdays free morning tea at work became lunch as well as there were left-overs.

horsepoor · « **Reply #12806 on:** May 01, 2019, 10:06:08 PM »

The other day I bought chocolate bars that had a coupon for $1/off each when buying 5 or more. The coupon didn't load to my app, and I didn't notice until I walked out of the store. Went back today to get it corrected. The person at customer service said there was a computer glitch so I was getting $10 back instead of 5. So I got my fancy $3/apiece chocolate bars for .69c.

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12807 on:** May 03, 2019, 03:41:43 AM »

I was thinking of buying bun pins then remembered I still have a stash at my parents' house from my ballet days.

Pretty sure my urge for new bobby pins can wait a few weeks.

Frugal Lizard · « **Reply #12808 on:** May 03, 2019, 05:05:14 AM »

Bought no snacks or beverages yesterday while traveling for work. Brought snacks from home. Made tea in my flask for a cuppa in the afternoon and took a full thermos for the ride home on the train.

Hula Hoop · « **Reply #12809 on:** May 03, 2019, 05:37:30 AM »

Said "yes" when my friend asked me if I'd like a few bags of outgrown kid clothes for my younger daughter even though she has millions of (hand me down) clothes already. Turns out that the bags contained clothes in the next size up that we can use next year including a bunch of nice one piece swimsuits. I was planning to buy her a one piece for swim lessons but this will do the job nicely. Also some sneakers in the next size up.

MountainGal · « **Reply #12810 on:** May 03, 2019, 12:19:13 PM »

Earlier this week:
~Saved .10 a gallon at the pump by using my grocery value card
~Brought food from the office to eat on the road vs buying lunch
~Compiled the following errands on one day since I was going to be in town for niece2's school ceremony
~Saved at the dentist and eye doctor thanks to DH's insurance
~Didn't buy the transition lenses though I really wanted to! Saved $348
~Thanks to their inefficient customer service and computer system, saved $500+ by not buying a dishwasher at Lowe's
~Bought a new humidifier which apparently doesn't use filters = savings in future
~Since I was already in town, bought and gave mom and sis flowers for an early Mother's Day
~I did buy dinner since I was in town for so long, but it was enough for leftovers

Last week at work meetings:
~Didn't gamble, despite the fact the meetings were held at a casino hotel
~Ate free food offered at breakfast, lunch, dinners and cocktail hour (though I tipped heavily, of course)
~Brought snacks and beverages from home for the hotel room (yay mini fridges!)
~Bought only 1 cocktail and one coffee the entire time
~Bought a sandwich at a deli on the drive home, and it was large enough for 2 meals
~Gleaned travel size sani-wipes and tissue pack from the vendor night for an upcoming trip

horsepoor · « **Reply #12811 on:** May 03, 2019, 09:54:53 PM »

Teleworked this morning instead of driving to the office (yesterday too).

Got a call from the feed store that the feed I'd ordered on raincheck had come in. Happened to be just before I was going out to a friend's barn nearby. Went by and picked up the 3 bags of feed @ $9 less per bag than the store near my office. Paid with a gift card I purchased at the grocery store (hello fuel points and 6% cash back).

Spent the afternoon digging out the rock mulch and soil that was all churned together due to gopher activity in the front yard last summer. Built a soil sieve out of scrap material and sieved out the rock mulch to spread back out.

Cleaned more horse blankets with the pressure washer.

Redeemed $20 cash back on my Discover card.

Put my seedlings outside for some free sunlight and shut off the grow lights for most of the day.

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12812 on:** May 03, 2019, 11:12:18 PM »

Two examples of shop your wardrobe/shop your home before buying something new.

I went through my wardrobe picking out things to list on eBay, and found a pair of black pants a friend had given me a couple of years ago.

I only kept them to list on eBay, as they fit but didn't look any good.

Amazing what losing a bit of weight can do. Free work pants!

Then my mum called me and asked me to order her a sugar-free recipe book.

"Remember that box of recipe books I gave you for the CWA stall? Pretty sure there is a sugar-free recipe book in that."

"So there is!"

redbird · « **Reply #12813 on:** May 04, 2019, 12:13:05 AM »

Drove to my ISP's local office where they do customer support. Canceled internet under husband's name and handed them their modem back. Immediately after set up internet under my name. They handed me a brand new modem. Internet was only down for the time it took us to drive there, talk to them, and for hubby to set up the new modem (less than 1 hour). Internet is $20/month cheaper than it was about to be soon, as our old account was about to go up in price and we got a new "introductory" offer good for a year.

Last year we didn't do this. We just called the ISP and haggled them down. The amount was more than the introductory price but less than the amount they wanted to raise it to. It was a huge hassle and required several phone calls. The local visit and swapping who the internet was billed under was quick and painless. Calling would've required paying for a technician to come visit, but the office could give us a self-install kit, which was free. Gonna do this once a year now, just swapping back and forth whose name the internet is under.

Imma · « **Reply #12814 on:** May 04, 2019, 05:24:44 AM »

Had leftover restaurant food for breakfast. After breakfast I fixed 2 hoodies that belong to my s/o - one hole and three pockets that were ripped. We had a big breakfast so I don't need lunch. Will hopefully save some more money this afternoon :)

Roadrunner53 · « **Reply #12815 on:** May 04, 2019, 06:20:32 AM »

Quote from: redbird on May 04, 2019, 12:13:05 AM

Drove to my ISP's local office where they do customer support. Canceled internet under husband's name and handed them their modem back. Immediately after set up internet under my name. They handed me a brand new modem. Internet was only down for the time it took us to drive there, talk to them, and for hubby to set up the new modem (less than 1 hour). Internet is $20/month cheaper than it was about to be soon, as our old account was about to go up in price and we got a new "introductory" offer good for a year.

Last year we didn't do this. We just called the ISP and haggled them down. The amount was more than the introductory price but less than the amount they wanted to raise it to. It was a huge hassle and required several phone calls. The local visit and swapping who the internet was billed under was quick and painless. Calling would've required paying for a technician to come visit, but the office could give us a self-install kit, which was free. Gonna do this once a year now, just swapping back and forth whose name the internet is under.

I just haggled with my cable company too and finally got a 'deal' for a year. Why are these companies allowed to gouge the public this way? Why don't they charge a flat amount that stays the same unless they have a 'normal' rate hike or you choose to add or drop service? What if the electric company did this or heating oil or garbage pick up service? What if you had to call these people constantly to get a deal for a year! It makes no sense to me and I despise it! If I wasn't addicted to my computer and tv I would drop them so fast!

Imma · « **Reply #12816 on:** May 04, 2019, 09:01:42 AM »

I took an old pair of jeans apart and used the fabric to sew an apron.

Rosy · « **Reply #12817 on:** May 04, 2019, 10:03:09 AM »

Cute idea, Imma:) ^^^

1. Used an old gift card I received two Christmases ago and bought new living room curtains - price - FREE:)
Noteworthy, since it from a real gift I received and returned - something that takes extra effort when there is so much to do during and after the holidays.

2. Made a big batch of Chicken Paprikash for us and some for my son to take back with him on the road; so he can enjoy some home cooking (he's a long haul truck driver).
It was nice to not have to cook for two days and send Mr. R. off with a good lunch too.

3. Harvested about ten peppers and some of the tomatoes and parsley from the garden for that dish. Tomorrow I will harvest the second batch of peppers to cut up and freeze.

We are enjoying a bumper crop of six different kinds of peppers:).
I'll also use some in our omelet along with other herbs from the garden for brunch and make a nice salad from lettuce and tomatoes from the garden.
Mr. R. is loving the grape tomatoes to munch on for lunch and I'm still waiting for the Roma tomatoes to make sauces, etc.

Oh, and the fresh mint made the batch of Mojitos we made for the garden party extra special:)

4. My son helped out with some garden and house projects saving me both money and time.

5. Continuing to line dry which is better for your clothes, saves a bit of electricity and gets me out into the fresh air, bending and lifting - good exercise for an old lady:).

6. Researched a couple of kitchen problems for a potential DIY.

7. This week I will touch up, sand and re-paint some of the kitchen cabinets. Not entirely looking forward to that, since it is oil paint and painting is not exactly my forte.

8. Not willing to pay for a $600 medication that my insurance might not pay for, Myrbetriq - we'll see, I may try to do without, so far I've had free samples from my doctor's office and it is helping - the other meds did not work at all.
I wonder if I could get them online for a better price - no idea how to go about that since I usually get my meds from Walgreens.

9. Monday I'll have to call my insurance to find out why my blood pressure medication is suddenly a co-pay of $44 when it was a co-pay of $17 - with no change in the price of the medication, Telmisartan.
It is times like these I wish I lived back in Europe.

10. Currently shopping for a new mattress - will stop by one more local place to see if they have a better price than what I've found so far, $589 for a Serta.

Rural · « **Reply #12818 on:** May 04, 2019, 11:45:18 AM »

@Rosy you can check the drug manufacturer's patient assistance site to see if you qualify for help with the Myrbetriq.
http://www.astellaspharmasupportsolutions.com/

You can also get it for less than $600, though it looks like prices are obscene no matter what. GoodRx lists the cost by pharmacy and has coupons:
https://www.goodrx.com/mirabegron

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #12819 on:** May 04, 2019, 02:17:14 PM »

-Arranged for a carpool for one kid to a soccer game this morning. I'll return the favor tomorrow
-Ran to work to pick up my car (9 miles), as I left it there after a work event yesterday. Combining my workout + no cost
-Made lunch out of the freezer (leftover chicken my dad made a few weeks ago, & wontons). Kids are eating freezer meatballs + pasta. I was tempted to eat out after the 9 miles, but convinced myself that I could quickly make lunch.
-Enchiladas from, you guessed it, the freezer, for dinner

Rosy · « **Reply #12820 on:** May 04, 2019, 06:23:10 PM »

Quote from: Rural on May 04, 2019, 11:45:18 AM

@Rosy you can check the drug manufacturer's patient assistance site to see if you qualify for help with the Myrbetriq.
http://www.astellaspharmasupportsolutions.com/

You can also get it for less than $600, though it looks like prices are obscene no matter what. GoodRx lists the cost by pharmacy and has coupons:
https://www.goodrx.com/mirabegron

Thanks:), @Rural - looks like $388 a month instead of $600 - very helpful. I probably will not qualify for the mfg program, but I'll check into it anyway.
There is still hope that my insurance may cover it - they requested more info from the dr. office.

Rural · « **Reply #12821 on:** May 04, 2019, 06:29:03 PM »

Quote from: Rosy on May 04, 2019, 06:23:10 PM

Quote from: Rural on May 04, 2019, 11:45:18 AM
@Rosy you can check the drug manufacturer's patient assistance site to see if you qualify for help with the Myrbetriq.
http://www.astellaspharmasupportsolutions.com/

You can also get it for less than $600, though it looks like prices are obscene no matter what. GoodRx lists the cost by pharmacy and has coupons:
https://www.goodrx.com/mirabegron

Fingers crossed on the insurance company, then.

Thanks:), @Rural - looks like $388 a month instead of $600 - very helpful. I probably will not qualify for the mfg program, but I'll check into it anyway.
There is still hope that my insurance may cover it - they requested more info from the dr. office.

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12822 on:** May 04, 2019, 09:59:12 PM »

A close friend mentioned what her daughter would like for her birthday, and when I started looking into it the cheapest I could get it was $40 + $10 postage. So I thought, well I could get her Christmas present (a variation on the same thing) at the same time, so I don't have to pay double postage.

(It's quite a specific thing, so I'm being deliberately vague.)

Then I realised I was being ridiculous - $90 on an eight-year-old (who has a brother). This is more than I would usually spend on her, especially since her birthday usually involves a dinner out.

I had a look around online and found a similar thing I can get her for about half the price.

It's still what she wants, it's just not the premium option that her mum mentioned, but she will still like it. And she's the type of kid who is thrilled when I visit and play a board game!

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12823 on:** May 05, 2019, 04:42:20 AM »

Went on a hike without driving anywhere.

Yesterday I sold a frame for a painting, bought about 10 years ago and still in the original plastic wrapping. Had to drive to the train station to meet the buyer. He gave me 8 $ extra for the driving.

This week I have been drinking tea from herbs that I picked and dried.

Dare2Dream · « **Reply #12824 on:** May 05, 2019, 07:30:19 AM »

-checked out a kill-a-watt from the library to look for electricity vampires
-great weather weekend here so no central air needed
-hung up more clothes to dry on racks, used less of the dryer and using dryer balls to cut that time down

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #12825 on:** May 05, 2019, 07:35:44 AM »

My husband made his own pomade! And it went well, so this has also given him the confidence to try and make his own beard balm next. The only extra ingredients we needed to buy were the same price as just buying one container of the pomade, and the supplies we bought should make about 10 containers. ($10s of the ingredients being the 'limiting reagent', while the others should last longer). While it's not an insane budget item- he probably replaced these two every 3 months or so- that's still the equivalent monthly cost of a streaming service. So not nothing!

I *actually* did in store returns. This will sound stupid, but for a lot of years I was disorganized enough that if I bought something online and it didn't fit... well, there weren't great odds of it getting returned anyway. I rarely online shopped clothes, knowing this about myself. But for maternity clothing, you pretty much HAVE to shop online. (Or go to insanely expensive stores like Motherhood Maternity, and those are all a bit of a drive for me). So I promised myself with these online purchases, after try on I would actually do the returns. And I did! So that was $50 worth of clothing that I'll be refunded for. (Mat jeans + mat shorts that didn't fit).

horsepoor · « **Reply #12826 on:** May 05, 2019, 09:09:15 AM »

Quote from: Bracken_Joy on May 05, 2019, 07:35:44 AM

My husband made his own pomade! And it went well, so this has also given him the confidence to try and make his own beard balm next. The only extra ingredients we needed to buy were the same price as just buying one container of the pomade, and the supplies we bought should make about 10 containers. ($10s of the ingredients being the 'limiting reagent', while the others should last longer). While it's not an insane budget item- he probably replaced these two every 3 months or so- that's still the equivalent monthly cost of a streaming service. So not nothing!

That is pretty cool! I might look into something similar when my stash of hair products is gone. I'll be it will use less packaging in the long run too. Beauty products tend to have so much packaging for the amount of product.

I'm a hand lotion junkie, so I tend to buy travel-sized lotions a lot, but switched to reusing a little plastic pot and filling it with pure shea butter. One of these days I might get around to putting some essential oil in it for scent, but maybe not.

redbird · « **Reply #12827 on:** May 05, 2019, 07:19:40 PM »

Quote from: Roadrunner53 on May 04, 2019, 06:20:32 AM

Quote from: redbird on May 04, 2019, 12:13:05 AM
Drove to my ISP's local office where they do customer support. Canceled internet under husband's name and handed them their modem back. Immediately after set up internet under my name. They handed me a brand new modem. Internet was only down for the time it took us to drive there, talk to them, and for hubby to set up the new modem (less than 1 hour). Internet is $20/month cheaper than it was about to be soon, as our old account was about to go up in price and we got a new "introductory" offer good for a year.

Last year we didn't do this. We just called the ISP and haggled them down. The amount was more than the introductory price but less than the amount they wanted to raise it to. It was a huge hassle and required several phone calls. The local visit and swapping who the internet was billed under was quick and painless. Calling would've required paying for a technician to come visit, but the office could give us a self-install kit, which was free. Gonna do this once a year now, just swapping back and forth whose name the internet is under.

I just haggled with my cable company too and finally got a 'deal' for a year. Why are these companies allowed to gouge the public this way? Why don't they charge a flat amount that stays the same unless they have a 'normal' rate hike or you choose to add or drop service? What if the electric company did this or heating oil or garbage pick up service? What if you had to call these people constantly to get a deal for a year! It makes no sense to me and I despise it! If I wasn't addicted to my computer and tv I would drop them so fast!

No idea why they do that here in the US. I lived in Japan for a few years and my ISP there didn't do the raising prices nonsense. It was a flat rate exactly like you said. All customers paid that rate for that service, no matter if they were new customers or had been customers for years.

Internet service is pretty important to me too. I feel like it's about as important as water and electric nowadays. Why it isn't considered a utility boggles the mind.

Buffaloski Boris · « **Reply #12828 on:** May 05, 2019, 07:42:31 PM »

Did a few small things and a big one

-made ice tea. I put in bottles and drink during the week.
-prepped lunches.

Big thing: got a refund on some clothes I bought and didn’t fit. Another $110.

okisok · « **Reply #12829 on:** May 05, 2019, 08:09:25 PM »

Got behind on posting, so here's a catchup:

Helped a friend move, which got me lunch and enough leftovers for tomorrow's lunch at work. It did cost some gas money, but a group of us helped so I got to catch up with a group of friends and get some exercise.

Made a big batch of something vaguely Mexican with pantry & freezer products. Some was eaten for dinner with greek yogurt topping instead of sour cream. No going to the store! I put some in the freezer and some in the fridge. I didn't have tortilla chips, so I cut up some tortillas and made some.

Didn't go farther than the mailbox on one of my days off. Stayed home and researched frugal craft ideas *cough* spent hours on Pinterest *cough*. Found a fun one involving melting carrier bags into a type of plastic fabric you can sew! Luminarias from tin cans with yard sale votives inside, and other crafty cheap recycling fun.

Found a really thoughtful, inexpensive gift for a friend's birthday at a locally owned shop. I love it when frugality and shopping local collide! It's also an inexpensive gift to mail.

Instead of putting items in my Amazon shopping cart, I've been adding them to my Wish List. I have a Life Event coming up that people will insist on getting gifts for, so I can direct them to my Wish List. Why YES, I DO want a 12-pack of the fancy schmancy toilet paper, thankyouverymuch! And craft supplies. And other non-traditional gifts that will get used.

@horsepoor, great idea about the travel shea butter, and I have the perfect container. Less plastic waste!

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12830 on:** May 06, 2019, 01:10:26 AM »

I made jam from leftover plumps at work. I also cut up 5 leftover bananas and put them in the freezer, waiting for a good plan. Maybe milkshake would be good. Or ice cream.

Loretta · « **Reply #12831 on:** May 06, 2019, 05:25:51 AM »

Instead of buying new dandruff shampoo that doesn’t really work, I am trying some home remedies first. Tea tree oil epsom salt foot soak scrubbed into my scalp with shampoo, for example. This morning I put off a haircut and I picked up a quarter in a parking lot. I’ve decided to start actually picking up stray coins, as I didn’t seem to notice them until now.

Sugaree · « **Reply #12832 on:** May 06, 2019, 11:23:29 AM »

Fixed a pair of shoes instead of throwing them out. I probably wouldn't have replaced them, but I do like them. Bonus that they were free in the first place.

I'd like to either fix or replace cheaply the pair of shoes that I've work to work every day for the last 16-ish years. They're Doc Martens. Apparently the new ones come in two flavors, made in England or made in Asia. The ones still made in England are still good quality, but significantly more expensive than the ones made in Asia, that are reportedly subpar quality-wise. The really Mustachian thing to do would be to just wear the steel toes that I was issued 5 years ago, but they are terribly uncomfortable and I don't regularly go anywhere that they are required. So they live in my desk drawer.

Raenia · « **Reply #12833 on:** May 06, 2019, 11:32:07 AM »

Found a pair of old running shoes that I had left in my old closet at my dad's house. They still fit, so now I will not need to buy new sneakers to replace my pair that is falling apart.

Dare2Dream · « **Reply #12834 on:** May 06, 2019, 02:41:04 PM »

- lawn mower was running like crap so did DIY job (new plug, filter, oil, blade) $25 instead of $50 service or $200 for a new mower

I am not a DIY person (yet !) so I was pretty proud of this.

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12835 on:** May 07, 2019, 03:44:42 AM »

Quote from: Dare2Dream on May 06, 2019, 02:41:04 PM

- lawn mower was running like crap so did DIY job (new plug, filter, oil, blade) $25 instead of $50 service or $200 for a new mower

I am not a DIY person (yet !) so I was pretty proud of this.

Well done, @Dare2Dream!

The first time I changed the light in my rangehood (a fiddly job), I texted my mate the electrician to tell him. :D

Dicey · « **Reply #12836 on:** May 07, 2019, 05:11:54 AM »

Quote from: Linea_Norway on May 06, 2019, 01:10:26 AM

I made jam from leftover plumps at work. I also cut up 5 leftover bananas and put them in the freezer, waiting for a good plan. Maybe milkshake would be good. Or ice cream.

I'll bite. What are "plumps"?

Sugaree · « **Reply #12837 on:** May 07, 2019, 05:31:16 AM »

Quote from: Sugaree on May 06, 2019, 11:23:29 AM

Fixed a pair of shoes instead of throwing them out. I probably wouldn't have replaced them, but I do like them. Bonus that they were free in the first place.

I'd like to either fix or replace cheaply the pair of shoes that I've work to work every day for the last 16-ish years. They're Doc Martens. Apparently the new ones come in two flavors, made in England or made in Asia. The ones still made in England are still good quality, but significantly more expensive than the ones made in Asia, that are reportedly subpar quality-wise. The really Mustachian thing to do would be to just wear the steel toes that I was issued 5 years ago, but they are terribly uncomfortable and I don't regularly go anywhere that they are required. So they live in my desk drawer.

Just a follow up. I checked Poshmark and found a lightly used pair of the work shoes that I've been wearing for $45 with free shipping. I'm pretty happy with myself. Hopefully I can get another 15 years out of them. I watched Mind Over Money the other day and have been thinking about his suggestion that we only "save" money if we put the money we'd have otherwise spent in a savings account. I might have to start doing that.

Imma · « **Reply #12838 on:** May 07, 2019, 05:32:00 AM »

Quote from: Sugaree on May 06, 2019, 11:23:29 AM

Fixed a pair of shoes instead of throwing them out. I probably wouldn't have replaced them, but I do like them. Bonus that they were free in the first place.

I'd like to either fix or replace cheaply the pair of shoes that I've work to work every day for the last 16-ish years. They're Doc Martens. Apparently the new ones come in two flavors, made in England or made in Asia. The ones still made in England are still good quality, but significantly more expensive than the ones made in Asia, that are reportedly subpar quality-wise. The really Mustachian thing to do would be to just wear the steel toes that I was issued 5 years ago, but they are terribly uncomfortable and I don't regularly go anywhere that they are required. So they live in my desk drawer.

For what it's worth, I haven't noticed a big difference in quality between older and newer pairs. But then I haven't had my newish pair for 16 years yet - no noticeable wear after 3 years though.

For work, I need to travel to the city my sibling lives in. Hadn't visited them in their new home yet, so I'm travelling after work today, will spend the evening there and go to the work appointment tomorrow. Work pays all my travel costs so I will go there for free. Saves me about €40.

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12839 on:** May 07, 2019, 01:12:15 PM »

Quote from: Dicey on May 07, 2019, 05:11:54 AM

Quote from: Linea_Norway on May 06, 2019, 01:10:26 AM
I made jam from leftover plumps at work. I also cut up 5 leftover bananas and put them in the freezer, waiting for a good plan. Maybe milkshake would be good. Or ice cream.
I'll bite. What are "plumps"?

Plums?

SerenaDarrin · « **Reply #12840 on:** May 07, 2019, 02:04:43 PM »

Apples from our farm food box needed to be used. They were showing signs of getting near the end of their life.

A bit of butter, oatmeal, molasses and some spices -- there is now apple crumble! I make it not-very-sweet, so this shall be breakfast/snacks for a couple days, at least!

And bonus -- it fits in the toaster oven, so I don't have to use the big oven!

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12841 on:** May 07, 2019, 03:58:15 PM »

First day wearing stockings this year.

Apparently I’m out of practice. Punched both thumbs straight through the waistband.

So I got out the trusty clear nail polish (and threw a spare pair in my bag just in case).

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12842 on:** May 07, 2019, 10:25:58 PM »

And another one from me, since I didn't have time to post this morning.

Husband announced he needed a new motorcycle helmet.

Me: Why?
Him: I broke the visor.
Me: So buy a new visor.
Him: But I broke the side pod too.
Me: You can replace that... don't you already have a spare visor since you put the mirrored visor on as soon as you bought it?
Him: Yes...
Me: Wait, wasn't there a spare side pod too?
Him: Maybe.
Me: So where are they?
Him: The last time I saw them they were at [his parents' old house].
Me: Yeah, me too... have you called them?
Him: No.
Me: You could save $900 by making a phone call and you haven't done it?
Him: Well... I just wanted a new one.
Me: Oh I know.

His parents' turned up the visor (his dad texted a photo of six spare helmet visors and said, 'Is it one of these?') No luck on the side pod, but I just found them online. I can order a spare set, in the same helmet design, posted from overseas, for $80.

I'll take spending $80 over $800 any day.

(Note: If he'd come off the bike in that helmet, I would agree to replacing it in a heartbeat. Frugal. Not cheap.)

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #12843 on:** May 08, 2019, 02:41:17 AM »

Quote from: mustachepungoeshere on May 07, 2019, 03:58:15 PM

First day wearing stockings this year.

Apparently I’m out of practice. Punched both thumbs straight through the waistband.

So I got out the trusty clear nail polish (and threw a spare pair in my bag just in case).

Woman here. I hate stocking too, because they always tear apart. And yes, the nail polish makes them live a little longer. It does help though to buy the thicker, inelegant stockings. They last a little longer. Wearing trousers is an even better idea.

alewpanda · « **Reply #12844 on:** May 08, 2019, 10:05:08 AM »

-- On Thursday we went with friends to an escape room for hubby's bday. Friend had a 40% off coupon for all of us to use because she interviewed there. Turns out they offered her the job, so regardless of whether she takes it, her game on Thursday was entirely free for all of us! Score!

-- On Saturday I answered an online ad for free moving boxes (we are moving in a week). Picked up WAY more boxes than I think we will end up using. And they were only used once, and were the heavy duty ones from Lowes and Home Depot! I will pass them on to extend their use when we are done too.

-- Met a big group of friends at the ice cream shop near our house (again for DH's bday). I held the table while everyone else ordered. One of our friends tacked DH's cone onto their order, so we only paid for mine out of the account.

-- Am cleaning out the cupboards before moving. I've been adding leftover cream to my coffee, drinking up tea hiding in the cupboards, eating the meat out of the fridge and freezer, and all around creating slightly odd combos to clear it out. We did cheat and buy some BOGO frozen pizzas to fill in any gaps during the next week or so of living in a fort of boxes and a half packed house.

-- The big one -- Managed to find someone who wanted our second hand box spring. If they hadn't taken it, we would have had to pay to dispose of it and add mileage to our moving van rental to transport it. Someone posted online that they needed one and we gave it away to them.

-- And also, we found out our insurance covers the occasional cracked windshield without a copay or any effect on the insurance since it wasn't caused by a collision. The money I budgeted for our cracked windshield this month went straight into savings :D

Kitsune · « **Reply #12845 on:** May 08, 2019, 12:22:24 PM »

Spent 14$ on epoxy glue and white duct tape to fix the 2 broken shelves and 1 broken drawer on my fridge, instead of spending 280$ on new shelves or 1200$ on a new fridge.

Also spent 20$ on dye to re-dye the formerly-white slipcover (stained and grimy-looking even when clean) instead of spending 150$ for a slipcover for a 500$ couch.

Imma · « **Reply #12846 on:** May 08, 2019, 12:54:55 PM »

Quote from: Linea_Norway on May 08, 2019, 02:41:17 AM

Quote from: mustachepungoeshere on May 07, 2019, 03:58:15 PM
First day wearing stockings this year.

Apparently I’m out of practice. Punched both thumbs straight through the waistband.

So I got out the trusty clear nail polish (and threw a spare pair in my bag just in case).

Woman here. I hate stocking too, because they always tear apart. And yes, the nail polish makes them live a little longer. It does help though to buy the thicker, inelegant stockings. They last a little longer. Wearing trousers is an even better idea.

Wearing thicker pairs certainly helps - my 60 denier pairs usually last me two winters. Thinner ones don't last as long but more expensive pairs are certainly much better than cheaper pairs. It's kind of stating the obvious but make sure your nails are smooth (hands and feet) and there are no sharp edges to any zippers. I wear skirts and dresses 90% of the time and I buy about 10 pairs a year. I have a lot of skirts that go well with thicker thights but for a formal look I do wear thinner ones from time to time.

Imma · « **Reply #12847 on:** May 08, 2019, 12:56:30 PM »

Plus, to save money I took home a sandwich that was left over after a meeting and had it for dinner. They were going to be thrown out otherwise.

Dare2Dream · « **Reply #12848 on:** May 08, 2019, 01:32:58 PM »

Quote from: horsepoor on March 10, 2019, 02:48:37 PM

*Making sourdough bread for dinner, used the excess starter to make pancakes for breakfast
*Returning a sweater I bought on clearance but decided I won't wear often
*Used Hilton points from a work trip to knock a few bucks of my Amazon order this morning (LED grow lights, which in the long run will be cheaper than what I currently use for my veggie seedlings, both in electricity and bulb replacements)
*Built a seed-starting bench out of cheap lumber, mixed a couple kind of leftover stain together to finish it, and mounted it with old shop shelf brackets that I spray painted to make them blend better/be less ugly, using a can of paint I already had.
*Starting a bunch more seedlings for the garden.
*Working with Stanley customer service to hopefully get a replacement lid for my travel mug instead of replacing the whole mug.

Make sure to plant a lot of tomato seeds this season. "Tariffs could send tomato prices soaring in US, Mexico says"

mustachepungoeshere · « **Reply #12849 on:** May 08, 2019, 04:51:53 PM »

Put in my M5 cashback form for tolls, got $111 back in less than 48 hours.

News:

Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 7432668 times)