What small things did you do TODAY to save money?

[Imma]

I did something today that was a little bit of a hassle.

I have smart card for public transport that I put credit on in advance and then I tap in and out when travelling. Sometimes I forget to tap out and then a set amount is charged. There's a website where you can redeem overcharges when you forget to tap out. You fill in the details of your destination and they calculate how much money you are owed and this is put back onto your card. The process is designed to be a hassle and it's not real time, but it took me 10 minutes to get €12 back. That's €72/hour after taxes so certainly worth the effort! I should do it more often.

[okisok]

Picked up a book on hold at the library that was posted about here in Reader Recommendations.

I LOVE doing this too!! I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when a book I read about here is actual part of our library’s collection!

I was really glad the library had it when I didn't enjoy the book, and gave up after the first few chapters. I took it right back and no harm done to my budget .

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Used up a gift card that we bought at 5% off for an item we need. I try to buy the gift cards on Raise right before I need something from Home Depot. I also go through Ebates/Rakuten to save another 1%. It's not going to make anyone rich, but does immediately save you off the cost of the purchase.

[Linea_Norway]

Ooooh @Rosy such a shame you're not my neighbour! I wouldn't mind picking all of your avocado's for you if that meant I got to keep some. They don't grow where I live so I've never had a truly fresh one.

Next time you eat an avocado, put the stone afterwards in a pot of earth and water like a normal plant. It will grow a plant/tree.
Ours is now about 4 years old, 1,5 meters high and about a meter wide (at the leaves). It prefers warmth and sunlight and uses lots of water. Still no avocado fruits though, but maybe it will come some day. It stands in our living room, we only put it outside when we go on a long summer vacation.

I never thought it would grow in a moderate climate! But if it grows in Norway (even though it's indoors) it will probably grow here too! I don't think we get enough sun to be able to grow fruit but it's worth a try.

Maybe I should mention that we have floor heating in the winter half of the year. But it doesn't cost anything to give it a try.

Well, we have big windows to the south so there's a little bit of warmth from the sun throughout the year. And during summer we can put it outside.

We are working on our garden and there's a space I want to fill with potted plants (herbs and fruits) and I'm trying to grow most of them from scratch or from other people instead of buying them. An avocado tree would be a nice addition.

DH told me today that our avocado started it's growing process inside our composting bin. It was after it had started to grow some green that he potted it.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Used rewards, marked down meat & a Friday freebie at our local grocery store to get: 10 KCups (we rarely use these but keep them on hand when my parents are in town) & 3 lbs of ground turkey for $.97.

[Raenia]

Volunteered to take home the leftover food from a work meeting.  No one else spoke up, so I got half a pizza and a tub of salad to eat tomorrow.

[Loretta]

I haven’t ordered anything from Amazon in 8 days which may be a record for me.

[Imma]

Used loyalty points in the supermarket to get €5 off.

[marion10]

Going to a cookout today- bringing deviled eggs- this is a hostess gift- we were not asked to bring a dish- but I figure everyone likes them and they were cheap.

[OtherJen]

I cut my own hair yesterday. I've done it several times before but let it get a bit overgrown and shaggy this summer. I decided to chop some obvious layers instead of just the usual trim off the bottom, and I'm really happy with how much neater it looks and how easy it was to style.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Seriously considered buying pico de gallo, but the price was too much. It's not a long recipe, but so much chopping. I know mine is better, and is so very much cheaper given the current price of produce. I saved about $5, given I made a triple batch.

[Linea_Norway]

I cut my own hair yesterday. I've done it several times before but let it get a bit overgrown and shaggy this summer. I decided to chop some obvious layers instead of just the usual trim off the bottom, and I'm really happy with how much neater it looks and how easy it was to style.

@OtherJen , Do you have long or short hair, or in between? How did you cut your own hair?

I sometimes cut a little of my own hair, if it didn't get cut perfectly by my hairdresser or by DH. But I find it incredible difficult to cut straight, looking in a mirror and all that.

[Raenia]

I cut my own hair yesterday. I've done it several times before but let it get a bit overgrown and shaggy this summer. I decided to chop some obvious layers instead of just the usual trim off the bottom, and I'm really happy with how much neater it looks and how easy it was to style.

@OtherJen , Do you have long or short hair, or in between? How did you cut your own hair?

I sometimes cut a little of my own hair, if it didn't get cut perfectly by my hairdresser or by DH. But I find it incredible difficult to cut straight, looking in a mirror and all that.

I'm not OtherJen, but I am a female with long hair and I cut it myself using the Unicorn method to get nice layers.  Before I started this method,  I just did straight across with DH to help with the back.

[OtherJen]

I cut my own hair yesterday. I've done it several times before but let it get a bit overgrown and shaggy this summer. I decided to chop some obvious layers instead of just the usual trim off the bottom, and I'm really happy with how much neater it looks and how easy it was to style.

@OtherJen , Do you have long or short hair, or in between? How did you cut your own hair?

I sometimes cut a little of my own hair, if it didn't get cut perfectly by my hairdresser or by DH. But I find it incredible difficult to cut straight, looking in a mirror and all that.

I'm not OtherJen, but I am a female with long hair and I cut it myself using the Unicorn method to get nice layers.  Before I started this method,  I just did straight across with DH to help with the back.

I guess I used the bicorn method, then: unicorn, and then I put a second tail at the crown of my head to make sure the back layers were appropriately short (I have to make sure the top layers in the back aren't too long or else my hair is shaped oddly). I have fine, wavy hair and the longest layer is a few inches below my shoulders. The shortest layers around my face are a bit above my chin.

[Imma]

I walked home from the train station instead of taking the bus, which saved me €1 and gave me 20 minutes of exercise. I used to walk all the time and then got into the habit of taking the bus. Trying to break that habit now.

Took advantage of a new thing my employer is offering, signed up on the very first day - it's a website where you can do all kinds of short courses. They're supposed to take only 10 minutes a day and they work on your mobile as well. Some courses look useful for work or side hustle, others are for personal growth or fun. On top of that my employer will be impressed with all the courses I'm taking. The subscription is usually €15/month.

My employer offers so much free training and I have no idea why nobody else is taking advantage of it. They have already paid for a very valuable certificate and I'm due to start a course for another one and the development officer commented that she is really glad that I'm eager to start all these things and then also finish them. Apparantly that's the exception not the rule.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Used a $1.50 coupon off of a $5 purchase today. For whatever reason, the grocery store prints them out with your receipt, and seems to really want you to use them. However, any time I've ever actually had the right items at checkout, the clerk forgets to ring the coupon, or it doesn't work. I always have to ask for them to manually reapply the coupon, and then feel like a bit of a goober if there is a line. But, got my $1.50 off today, so ... maybe one day they will fix their cash register system?

[Exflyboy]

I did NOT go to the 25% off sale at Harbor Freight tools today.. Thats a first!

Avoided a whole bunch of buyers remorse right there..:)

[Gerard]

We roasted and peeled half a bushel of discount red peppers, and made "weak sambal" from the trimmings. Turns out we like the sambal even better than the roasted peppers... we can avoid a lot of work next time!

[Sugaree]

I did NOT go to the 25% off sale at Harbor Freight tools today.. Thats a first!

Avoided a whole bunch of buyers remorse right there..:)

Doesn't Harbor Freight have a 25% off sale like every other week or so?

[Bracken_Joy]

What a roller coaster haha. Baby prep time. Finally figured out a way to have room for a real crib in our apartment. Planned on going to get the flagship cheap crib- the ikea sniglar. Solid wood, $80, good to go. But womp womp, ikea is discontinuing them and my ikea is already out, with no option to order to store. However, this pushed me to look on FB marketplace. Nice lady who lived near me had her toddler's up for $40, since one side was stained black from rubbing against a black milk paint painted play house. Even with just a paper towel and a little rubbing alcohol, it was coming off super easily, but I'll probably pick up some sand paper to make it even faster next time I'm at the store. The next choice solid wood (no MDF etc) cribs we could find were all $250+, so this was a great score.

Saved money for someone else- lady at my yoga class didn't realize there are memberships, she's just been doing punch cards. Since she goes a lot, I'm pretty sure I just dropped her cost from nearly $200/mon to $90/mon. =o

[reeshau]

I caught up on my health insurance reimbursements.  (yes, even in Europe, at least here)  $150 made, $10-$25 at a time.  I had to keep thinking of that as an hourly rate as I scanned receipts and input them into the website.  And prepared for the inevitable one unnecessary rejection, which will require a follow-up phone call or two.

Reminds me of FSA paperwork...ah, the memories.

[middo]

I brought lunch to work today.  I bring lunch to work everyday.

Today I brought my wife's lunch by mistake.  It turns out her's is better than mine. 

[Exflyboy]

I did NOT go to the 25% off sale at Harbor Freight tools today.. Thats a first!

Avoided a whole bunch of buyers remorse right there..:)

Doesn't Harbor Freight have a 25% off sale like every other week or so?

Yeah and I usually find a need I have just prior to every one of them..:)

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Filed an appeal with the post office for an insurance issue. Why is it so hard? Why did I bother with insurance if I'm not going to get paid out?
-Brought back to life enchiladas that have been in the freezer since April
-Booked my parents flights to watch the boys over Thanksgiving break. Used frequent flier miles to cover their flights. I'm super close to status this year, so would rather pay cash for our flights & use the miles for my parents flights. (You don't earn miles on flights booked with miles.)

[alewpanda]

-- Walked to the library to return a book, picked up one I had on hold.  Combined it with a dog walk, and left my husband outside to hang with the dogs when I went into the library.
-- Roasted potatoes this morning.  Ate 1 for part of my lunch (with leftover salad from last nights dinner), and divided up the rest for future lunches.
-- Finished hand sewing the hem of a pair of dress khaki's turned into shorts for my husband.  He kills pants quickly...and these turned out well, so I'm happy to have saved them.  I have another pair that might be salvageable too...
-- Made cookie dough.  Baked 8 cookies and scooped the rest into individual balls and froze.  I have almost 2 dozen premade cookie dough balls ready for those random "I want sweets" moments that generally turn into spending and calorie splurges....
-- Have a new recipe for vegetarian jambalya from my sister.  Making it tonight!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Went to the office for a free lunch (had a meeting scheduled)
-Chased a $6 missing grocery reward
-Contacted HR about my HSA amount to ensure my paycheck savings were adjusted to account for my leave. It didn't happen automatically, so if I hadn't called, I would have lost out on $1200 or so of HSA money.

[Linea_Norway]

DH sold 2 items that we don't use anymore, for a pretty good price.

I made some private copies, at work.

I'm going to borrow a hanger at work to drive away some large garbage items.

[MissNancyPryor]

Rather than get all new hardware I replaced just the lenses in my glasses since the frames are in fine shape.   Further, I recall I can replace 6 months of sealed contact lenses I have on hand with the stronger prescription for no charge so I will do that tomorrow.   Saved about $400.   

[Imma]

I bought a small stash of ready-made pasta sauce today that was BOGOF. I love sauce made from scratch as much as the next mustachian, but sometimes I get home late and the best I can do is throw some frozen veggies and sauce together. At €1,10/bottle after this discount, for a sugarfree sauce with few additives that tastes nice this is a good deal. It means stress free <€2,50 fairly healthy dinner during busy periods.

[horsepoor]

Canning up some tomatoes and some salsa verde right now, and making stock out of a chicken carcass and some carrots from the garden that are too woody to eat. 

Cleaning and repairing/waterproofing horse blankets instead of paying someone else to do it.

Reworking the closures on a set of horse boots that I wanted to replace due to the Velcro overkill situation making them hard to put on /take off.  Will spend $6 on Velcro vs >$100 for a new set.

[Trifele]

Reworking the closures on a set of horse boots that I wanted to replace due to the Velcro overkill situation making them hard to put on /take off.  Will spend $6 on Velcro vs >$100 for a new set.

Thank you for my interesting educational item for the day @horsepoor -- I had no idea that horses ever wore boots

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Was tempted to pick up takeout tonight due to so many conflicting activities/priorities. Instead, pulled out some leftovers, tossed together a salad, & called it good for all of the diners. I ate leftovers before I left.

[horsepoor]

Reworking the closures on a set of horse boots that I wanted to replace due to the Velcro overkill situation making them hard to put on /take off.  Will spend $6 on Velcro vs >$100 for a new set.

Thank you for my interesting educational item for the day @horsepoor -- I had no idea that horses ever wore boots

Oh yes, so many kinds of boots!  I'm talking about "splint" or "brushing" boots, which are used during exercise to protect the lower leg from getting nicked by another leg. https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/DSB_Dressage_Sport_Boots_-_ASB_All_Sport_Boots/descpage-DSBAS.html?from=Google&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGwnQabmHkKpLDDgTGGPsNqnfe4osx8l3Un8ZKQK-qkriC4u0xxtyaQaAiPOEALw_wcB

Then there are big puffy boots they wear on the trailer, therapeutic ice boots, sports medicine boots that claim to provide "support", bell boots to protect the heels, and finally hoof boots for horses that aren't shod.

This concludes another chapter of my book - Why Horse Sport is Expensive AF.

[Trifele]

Reworking the closures on a set of horse boots that I wanted to replace due to the Velcro overkill situation making them hard to put on /take off.  Will spend $6 on Velcro vs >$100 for a new set.

Thank you for my interesting educational item for the day @horsepoor -- I had no idea that horses ever wore boots

Oh yes, so many kinds of boots!  I'm talking about "splint" or "brushing" boots, which are used during exercise to protect the lower leg from getting nicked by another leg. https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/DSB_Dressage_Sport_Boots_-_ASB_All_Sport_Boots/descpage-DSBAS.html?from=Google&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGwnQabmHkKpLDDgTGGPsNqnfe4osx8l3Un8ZKQK-qkriC4u0xxtyaQaAiPOEALw_wcB

Then there are big puffy boots they wear on the trailer, therapeutic ice boots, sports medicine boots that claim to provide "support", bell boots to protect the heels, and finally hoof boots for horses that aren't shod.

This concludes another chapter of my book - Why Horse Sport is Expensive AF.

Wow.  I have a new understanding now for your username and signature!

[Prairie Gal]

Bought two new bras yesterday for 50% off. Haven't bought any bras for quite a while. They didn't originally ring in at 50% off, so I had to remind the clerk that it was a VIP discount, and she changed the price.

[okisok]

Picked up cans to resell on my walk to the vet's for medication. So the meds cost money, but they are preventative. There is a rebate I'd already asked about over the phone. I've gotten really good at asking, as there's usually a quantity requirement. If I'm going to need four doses this year anyway, might as well order at once and get the $25 back! I've already printed the form, read the fine print, and addressed & stamped the envelope.  Now to mail it off!

(Another great thing about working toward FI & having money in the bank--I can get a year's worth of medication and my only concern is the rebate requirements! Not how I'm going to cut my budget somewhere else, how I won't even have this year's medication off my credit card before I have to order another year's worth, etc. It's so relaxing! And I get to choose to walk to the vet on a sunny Saturday morning, instead of *having* to work a second job or *having* to drive because I just have too many money-related choices to make and I just need to get the dang meds. )

[Imma]

We visited a friend who lives in another country (I'm in Europe, so like 2 hours away) and instead of taking the train which would have been €90/return for 2 we bought long distance bus tickets at €55/return for 2. We're on our way home now and I'm not completely sure yet if it was the right decision. Train tickets are valid the entire day but bus tickets are booked for a specific bus and there are unexpected delays which means we may miss our connection. Of course in the worst case scenario we could get home by train but that would mean spending another €40, so I'd rather not.

[Arbitrage]

Doing errands by bike today, as usual.  DW is making dinner for company and wanted a few select items that I can't get from Aldi, so I rode on over to the local full-priced grocery to grab a couple of things.  One of them was a rotisserie chicken.  I saw that it was priced at $8.00 + tax.  I knew that I could get one from Sam's Club for $5.00, but I already did my Sam's Club trip yesterday and didn't need anything else from there.  Then, I asked myself - would I ride my e-bike 2 extra miles if someone would pay me $6 to do so?  (I'd have to make about $6 more to earn the $3.30 saved)  Dumb question; I'd ride my e-bike an extra 2 miles for free; I just need the excuse. 

10 miles of bike errands down, ~$50 saved on groceries vs. letting DW do it, and $30 in free books from the library.  Also back down to my target weight after a gained a few during vacation and work travel.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Used drug store rewards to pick up mailing envelopes for free for eBay sales
-Used lingering cilantro & jalapeno to make pico de gallo for dinner
-Forgot to make something for dinner (rough start to the day, which threw me off my game entirely), but defrosted carnitas for dinner. We'll make it work! I seriously, seriously wanted to eat out instead, but said no.

[Mellow Mallow]

- Ate leftovers for lunch (I seem to be the only person in my family who eats leftovers, so I've eaten a LOT of leftovers since finding MMM).

- Made a big batch of porridge and divided it into portions for brekkie throughout the week.

- Made really runny yoghurt yesterday. I'm giving up on that - I just can't get the texture right. Found some really good cheap yoghurt at Aldi, though, so all good. But instead of chucking the runny stuff, I'm using it for cooking porridge (it works for me...).

- Researched cheaper health insurance. Have no idea why it's so complicated.

- Meal planned.

- Went grocery shopping instead of my husband doing it. The bill was significantly lower than when he does it (interesting...), even though I bought multiples of things on special.

Not bad for one day!

[Linea_Norway]

- Ate leftovers for lunch (I seem to be the only person in my family who eats leftovers, so I've eaten a LOT of leftovers since finding MMM).

- Made a big batch of porridge and divided it into portions for brekkie throughout the week.

- Made really runny yoghurt yesterday. I'm giving up on that - I just can't get the texture right. Found some really good cheap yoghurt at Aldi, though, so all good. But instead of chucking the runny stuff, I'm using it for cooking porridge (it works for me...).

- Researched cheaper health insurance. Have no idea why it's so complicated.

- Meal planned.

- Went grocery shopping instead of my husband doing it. The bill was significantly lower than when he does it (interesting...), even though I bought multiples of things on special.

Not bad for one day!

Do you perhaps stirr the yoghurt during the process of making it? That makes a difference. And starting with full fat milk also helps.

Before you eat it, you can also hang up your yoghurt in a sieve with a tea towel. The fluid will go trough the towel and the solid parts of the yoghurt remain and can be eaten.

[Imma]

We visited a friend who lives in another country (I'm in Europe, so like 2 hours away) and instead of taking the train which would have been €90/return for 2 we bought long distance bus tickets at €55/return for 2. We're on our way home now and I'm not completely sure yet if it was the right decision. Train tickets are valid the entire day but bus tickets are booked for a specific bus and there are unexpected delays which means we may miss our connection. Of course in the worst case scenario we could get home by train but that would mean spending another €40, so I'd rather not.

We made it but it was stressful. If we had arrived one minute later we'd have missed our connection.

Today when I was walking out of the grocery store I noticed a discount had not been applied, so I walked back in and claimed my €1 discount. A friend and I also decided to combine two trips to the same city over two weekends, so I stayed home today and will only pay for the train once. And one of the two things we're doing is a free event!

[Mellow Mallow]

Do you perhaps stirr the yoghurt during the process of making it? That makes a difference. And starting with full fat milk also helps.

Before you eat it, you can also hang up your yoghurt in a sieve with a tea towel. The fluid will go trough the towel and the solid parts of the yoghurt remain and can be eaten.

I don't stir... should I? I'm using skim milk. Doctor's orders, I'm afraid...

[marty998]

My request to fix my investment mortgage at a lower rate for the next 2 years was approved. Will save $4500 in interest in the first year and a little more in the second.

you can also hang up your yoghurt

A sentence I never, ever, thought I would read :)

[Linea_Norway]

My request to fix my investment mortgage at a lower rate for the next 2 years was approved. Will save $4500 in interest in the first year and a little more in the second.

you can also hang up your yoghurt

A sentence I never, ever, thought I would read :)

In Dutch the traditional dish is called "hangop", meaning "hang up". Therefore I used the term here.

[Linea_Norway]

Finally I did something to save money. Walked to work and will walk back this afternoon. Washed my hair at work with shampoo and towel (and hot water) provided by employer.

[MyAlterEgoIsTaller]

I cut-and-sewed a flat flannel sheet to make it into a fitted sheet, instead of buying new sheets.  The fitted sheet and pillow cases in a set wear out before the top sheet does, so I always seem to have a surplus of mismatched top sheets and not enough fitted sheets.

[SunshineGirl]

Dyed my hair instead of going to the salon, and took the time to sign up for a new (but annoying) grocery store app to get my apples for 19 cents/lb. vs. $1.99/lb.

[Sugaree]

Instead of buying the kid a whole new set of long-sleeved shirts for winter (because his arms are like 4 inches longer this year), I bought him solid-color, long sleeved thermal shirts to wear under his favorite t-shirts, i.e. the ones that made it through The Clothing Purge.  I also bought them at a consignment sale for under $5 per shirt plus a North Face jacket for $15.  The best part is that I've sold enough of his outgrown clothes to more than cover what I've spent on his winter wardrobe.

[Linea_Norway]

We decided to doing the styling of our home for sale ourselves, instead of paying 1500 euros to let someone else do it. We have their advise on how to make it nice. We just don't want to rent the stuff. We can do it much cheaper ourselves, reusing some materials that we have and buying a few things that we can use normally later.