Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 7615727 times)

ZsaZsa · « **Reply #14000 on:** July 31, 2020, 08:20:57 PM »

Cooked a spaghetti squash from the garden, with peppers, tomato, onion and garlic. Saved the seeds, also some from the heirloom variety tomato German Queen. Yesterday I baked a peach pie, using the left over pie crust scraps to make cinnamon sugar roll ups.
Went online to the local library's website, checked out some books that I can read on my computer rather than buying them on Amazon. This should save me a bundle! I miss being able to browse the stacks at the library, now at least I have something to read without a trip to town.

Freedomin5 · « **Reply #14001 on:** August 02, 2020, 01:45:38 AM »

Had a bunch of people over today. Instead of ordering lunch, we had a potluck.

ZsaZsa · « **Reply #14002 on:** August 02, 2020, 08:51:45 AM »

Canned 9 pints of homemade salsa using our tomatoes and a motley collection of assorted hot peppers.

bloodaxe · « **Reply #14003 on:** August 02, 2020, 09:19:49 AM »

Rode my bike + trailer to 3 different grocery stores to hit up some sales. And get some exercise.

Was ~20 miles total!

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #14004 on:** August 02, 2020, 02:26:06 PM »

I made two jars of jam from wild berries.

Dicey · « **Reply #14005 on:** August 02, 2020, 03:15:23 PM »

I bought two bags of nice apples from the 99 Cents Only Store, then kind of forgot about them. Last night, I made my first-ever apple pie from scratch. I found a recipe that called for Apple Cider. I remembered one in the back of the pantry that was left over from an event I hosted nearly three years ago, so it cost me nothing, because I'm responsible for clearing away any leftovers. I used all of one bag of apples and only two from the second bag, because they'd gotten kind of soft. Today, I will ask Sir Google for soft apple recipes and will use them up. The pie turned out great and we're looking forward to leftovers tonight.

Loretta · « **Reply #14006 on:** August 02, 2020, 07:31:29 PM »

I did my own manicure in a bright and cheerful color. I also drank up a pitcher of cold brew coffee made by my own hands in my fridge using the cold brew sock I purchased at MOM’s Organic Market a few months back. I put my old used coffee grounds on my balcony container plants. I redeemed some old Starbucks rewards points for a large bag of ground decaf to make more cold brew to drink in the evenings. I find it very cool and refreshing.

Raenia · « **Reply #14007 on:** August 03, 2020, 06:20:25 AM »

Quote from: Dicey on August 02, 2020, 03:15:23 PM

I used all of one bag of apples and only two from the second bag, because they'd gotten kind of soft. Today, I will ask Sir Google for soft apple recipes and will use them up.

I recommend apple sauce or apple butter.

Dicey · « **Reply #14008 on:** August 03, 2020, 06:43:17 AM »

Quote from: Raenia on August 03, 2020, 06:20:25 AM

Quote from: Dicey on August 02, 2020, 03:15:23 PM
I used all of one bag of apples and only two from the second bag, because they'd gotten kind of soft. Today, I will ask Sir Google for soft apple recipes and will use them up.

I recommend apple sauce or apple butter.

Thanks! There are only three left, so I think it's going to become a small batch of apple sauce.

MudPuppy · « **Reply #14009 on:** August 03, 2020, 07:12:40 AM »

Do you eat meat? That apple sauce would be great with pork chops.

cool7hand · « **Reply #14010 on:** August 03, 2020, 08:11:35 AM »

Today I checked the household items that we need from Amazon for subscribe and save eligibility to see if we could save extra on them by bundling them with other purchases.

Dutch Comfort · « **Reply #14011 on:** August 03, 2020, 09:52:20 AM »

Quote from: Dicey on August 03, 2020, 06:43:17 AM

Quote from: Raenia on August 03, 2020, 06:20:25 AM
Quote from: Dicey on August 02, 2020, 03:15:23 PM
I used all of one bag of apples and only two from the second bag, because they'd gotten kind of soft. Today, I will ask Sir Google for soft apple recipes and will use them up.

I recommend apple sauce or apple butter.
Thanks! There are only three left, so I think it's going to become a small batch of apple sauce.

With 3 left, I usually make some little apple pie. Just ready-to-use crust in little squares, put a little apple, some raisins and cinamon on half of it, bake it and you're ready for more!!!

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #14012 on:** August 03, 2020, 10:26:29 AM »

-Found $100 bill on the ground (crazy)
-Used a gift card to offset a grocery store purchase
-Ordered bike parts for my son, who repairs his own bike. He's very interested in bike mechanics, and learning more about how to be self sufficient. Love it. He's 13, btw, and has been rebuilding old bikes we have laying around & selling them.
-Sold another few items on eBay. Packaged up using repurposed mailing envelopes & other miscellaneous boxes hanging around

mm1970 · « **Reply #14013 on:** August 03, 2020, 12:00:21 PM »

Cut my 8 year old's hair. We tag teamed it. He's not very patient.

ZsaZsa · « **Reply #14014 on:** August 03, 2020, 07:42:13 PM »

I baked two loaves of Cuban bread (recipe from the Tightwad Gazette)...first yeast bread I have made in YEARS. It made fabulous turkey and tomato sandwiches for lunch, will make toast with bacon and tomato for breakfast.
Contacted one of our credit card companies, they refunded $12 from a mistaken charge and will send us a check for that amount. That was worth staying on hold for 9 minutes. (I think!)

Dicey · « **Reply #14015 on:** August 04, 2020, 09:41:25 PM »

Quote from: Dutch Comfort on August 03, 2020, 09:52:20 AM

Quote from: Dicey on August 03, 2020, 06:43:17 AM
Quote from: Raenia on August 03, 2020, 06:20:25 AM
Quote from: Dicey on August 02, 2020, 03:15:23 PM
I used all of one bag of apples and only two from the second bag, because they'd gotten kind of soft. Today, I will ask Sir Google for soft apple recipes and will use them up.

I recommend apple sauce or apple butter.
Thanks! There are only three left, so I think it's going to become a small batch of apple sauce.
With 3 left, I usually make some little apple pie. Just ready-to-use crust in little squares, put a little apple, some raisins and cinamon on half of it, bake it and you're ready for more!!!

They're pretty soft, so they're in the Instant Pot now, with a cinnamon stick, a splash of lemon juice and about 1
3 cup of leftover apple cider. Fingers crossed.

Quote from: MudPuppy on August 03, 2020, 07:12:40 AM

Do you eat meat? That apple sauce would be great with pork chops.

Ha! I've been a vegetarian for 32 years. When I got married nearly eight years ago, I inherited carnivores. I make chicken and buy ground beef which gets batch cooked for tacos, burritos, etc. then frozen. Any other desired meat is purchased and cooked by the desiring party, not me.

However, apple sauce is the winning answer. We'll see how it turns out.

In related news, I took a slice of pie to my 95 year-old friend today, and there is enough left for one last go 'round tonight.

Dollar Slice · « **Reply #14016 on:** August 06, 2020, 12:17:10 PM »

I subscribe to two newspapers (digitally) - one I get for free/a gift, the other was expiring today and they wanted to renew it at the full undiscounted rate :-( $100 a year. Ick. I decided to cancel and see if I could get a better offer later. I didn't have too wait long, just signed up for $29 instead of $100.

Loretta · « **Reply #14017 on:** August 06, 2020, 06:05:24 PM »

I cancelled my reservation for WDW ....in November....In Florida. My 2 friends are hashing out their plans now. It’s a hard no for me.

LaineyAZ · « **Reply #14018 on:** August 06, 2020, 06:23:34 PM »

A small thing I did a few months ago has paid off: I had filed an appeal with the county assessor's office on my home appraisal. They replied this week and agreed that their assessment was too high and reduced it to a much lower number.
The appeal was a single page form that took about 15 minutes to fill out and mail, and probably saved me several hundred dollars in property taxes.

Rosy · « **Reply #14019 on:** August 07, 2020, 07:50:47 AM »

That's awesome @LaineyAZ

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #14020 on:** August 08, 2020, 02:02:52 PM »

Yesterday we stayed on a campsite that needed 20 Norwegian crowns for a shower. We brought a 20 crown coin and went showering together, because 6 minutes is a very long time for one person. DH found out that there was a coin stuck in the coin insert machine. He pushed it with his own coin and the stuck coin dropped in. He retrieved his own coin and we got 6 minutes of showering for free.

We also ate selfcaught mackerel for dinner and I added some wild edible plants as vegetables.

Today we can load our plugin hybrid car for free at another campsite. With permission from the German interim manager.

MrThatsDifferent · « **Reply #14021 on:** August 08, 2020, 03:00:08 PM »

I’m working on a saving for a deposit plan so I had to have a serious talk with myself with how lax I’ve been with my money and I’ve returned to keeping a detail spreadsheet to tracking things. I now have the most complete picture of my spending and expenses, so that was helpful. It also motivated me to see if I could reduce expenses or “find” more money, and here’s what I’ve done over the last 2 weeks:

1. Called my health insurance and had that lowered: $572 savings for the year
2. Contacted my phone provider and had the data plan for my iPad removed as I mostly use wireless or it can hotspot and share data with my phone: $480 savings for the year
3. As my lease is ending and my landlord wants me to renew, asked if I can have my rent lowered since the rents have all gone down and he’s agreed for 6 months, which works perfectly: $2600 savings for 6 months
4. Discovered that my health insurance will refund me costs for my gym if my doctor signs a form, and because of COVID, they’ve rolled over the benefit I didn’t use last year: $500 refund

Total: $4152 in “extra” money. Not bad for 30 minutes of work.

marion10 · « **Reply #14022 on:** August 08, 2020, 03:59:53 PM »

This week:
Downtown garage in Chicago was having a free parking Monday special. I signed up and went to the Art Institute with a friend. Already have a membership. We brought or lunch and ate outside.
Reviewed our credit cards- husband feels we have too many to keep track of. Looked at the points for one we want to cancel and had enough for a $250 visa gift card. Another card had enough points for $10 Lyft credit.

okisok · « **Reply #14023 on:** August 08, 2020, 09:53:56 PM »

Quote from: okcisok on July 25, 2020, 01:45:31 AM

Redeemed rewards points for a $10 Uber gift card, got it in the mail today. I'd forgotten about it, so it was a nice surprise.
Ordered a Mint mobile SIM card and three-month plan. Now I've just got to switch my old plan over.

Switched my phone over from AT&T to Mint. It's been two weeks, and so far so good! My phone was the only one that worked on a recent trip to the mountains (ha!) out of everyone who had traditional wireless plans. I'm saving $41.08 per month and have already set up an automatic transfer from my checking to savings. Now I'm actually SAVING that amount per month and not letting it get absorbed into spending.

Haven't bought groceries in three weeks. I made an eating plan of all the freezer and pantry items for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

RainyDay · « **Reply #14024 on:** August 10, 2020, 09:45:12 AM »

Quote from: okcisok on August 08, 2020, 09:53:56 PM

Switched my phone over from AT&T to Mint. It's been two weeks, and so far so good! My phone was the only one that worked on a recent trip to the mountains (ha!) out of everyone who had traditional wireless plans. I'm saving $41.08 per month and have already set up an automatic transfer from my checking to savings. Now I'm actually SAVING that amount per month and not letting it get absorbed into spending.

Have you noticed any difference in coverage? Lost texts? (I've heard that some people have problems with texts not getting through.) I keep thinking about switching, but I'm not a risk taker and tend to be a loyal customer...making it hard to make a change! But saving $40 a month is awfully tempting...

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #14025 on:** August 10, 2020, 10:00:07 AM »

Bought a rebate card for the high speed train system - 25% off for 17.5€ in the first 3 months of owning that card. It will pay for itself within the third ticket.
Brought my own lunch.

okisok · « **Reply #14026 on:** August 11, 2020, 10:52:19 PM »

Quote from: RainyDay on August 10, 2020, 09:45:12 AM

Quote from: okcisok on August 08, 2020, 09:53:56 PM
Switched my phone over from AT&T to Mint. It's been two weeks, and so far so good! My phone was the only one that worked on a recent trip to the mountains (ha!) out of everyone who had traditional wireless plans. I'm saving $41.08 per month and have already set up an automatic transfer from my checking to savings. Now I'm actually SAVING that amount per month and not letting it get absorbed into spending.

Have you noticed any difference in coverage? Lost texts? (I've heard that some people have problems with texts not getting through.) I keep thinking about switching, but I'm not a risk taker and tend to be a loyal customer...making it hard to make a change! But saving $40 a month is awfully tempting...

No issues so far. I'm very slow to adapt to new ideas or changes, so I've been eyeing this change for about a year. I figured I could always cancel it and sign back up with AT&T if it's terrible. It's worth it for an extra $492 a year.

Loretta · « **Reply #14027 on:** August 13, 2020, 01:54:28 PM »

I got my free flu shot at the CVS Minute Clinic this afternoon. I had booked the appointment online for 1300hrs, filled out forms online, they call when they’re ready for you to enter. Masks on the whole time. I was walking out by 1311 and it didn’t hurt at all.

This saved me money because I will Lord Willing avoid the flu or have a lesser flu. I will also get a handful of health rewards points in my GEHA insurance account. I did NOT buy anything in the CVS store but just ran through enroute to the clinic itself.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #14028 on:** August 13, 2020, 04:00:02 PM »

-Continued using garden produce
-Noticed an Amazon email about a promotional credit. Don't remember how I earned it, but followed the steps to click through & apply it to my account. Used it for a purchase I was already planning to make
-Continued to list items & eBay. It's really slow right now, but I've sold a few things. Mailed & packaged in entirely recycled/repurposed containers, to reduce waste & save costs.
-Made all meals at home, and we're on week 5 of no kitchen. Fingers crossed we're in the home stretch & back to normal next week.

okisok · « **Reply #14029 on:** August 13, 2020, 10:44:38 PM »

Picked up a new book at the curbside library service. It's a new release in a series I really enjoy. Thanks to the library e-book app and hold program, I've read the whole series.

Ate lunch for free at work, then came home and ate leftovers for dinner.

Imma · « **Reply #14030 on:** August 14, 2020, 01:05:50 AM »

We don't buy alcohol and snacks when we go grocery shopping - on purpose to discourage us from eating unhealthy food. Whenever someone has a craving they need to walk 5 minutes to the store and pay from their own spending money. My partner really wanted a sixpack of beer but also really didn't want to leave the house in the middle of the game he was watching. He was considering delivery which is of course ridiculous. So I joked "I'll do it for half the money". To my surprise he said yes! So I went to the store and got beer and ice cream and paid with his card and had a nice evening walk as well.

Not sure if that counts because it's not totally unusual for us to bring something for the other as well when we do a late night grocery run. But I did get unexpected free icecream yesterday and that's always a win!

stream26 · « **Reply #14031 on:** August 16, 2020, 03:31:56 AM »

Yesterday I've made free birthday card for my grandfather
I have always made cards by hand, it’s a lot of work sometimes but when people are genuinely happy to open it it makes me really happy

okisok · « **Reply #14032 on:** August 17, 2020, 08:40:46 PM »

I was given a free Hello Fresh meal delivery. Signed up with an empty Visa gift card and made sure to cancel before the week was up so that I don't get charged. That's six free meals.
Used up my coin stash when I had to pay for parking downtown. Most of them were picked up for free on my walks, so some free parking. Returned a library book while I was already downtown so no late fees.
Used coupons and Shopkick & Ibotta apps to get some free and cheap groceries.
Went through my bathroom cabinets and found some 'beauty treatment' type things. Had an at-home spa night and really enjoyed myself.
Wrote some notes to friends on cards and stamps from my stationery stash.

LWYRUP · « **Reply #14033 on:** August 17, 2020, 08:52:52 PM »

My wife gave me a covid haircut yesterday. I mowed the lawn.

Today, normal day. Eating in. Work from home.

MyAlterEgoIsTaller · « **Reply #14034 on:** August 17, 2020, 09:14:46 PM »

The fence around my compost pile got squashed by a falling tree, and it was rusty anyway and the posts were rotting. I made new posts from sharpened branches from the fallen tree, and new fence out of about a million feet of ivy and grape vines that I wove together.

Trifle · « **Reply #14035 on:** August 18, 2020, 04:08:34 AM »

Quote from: MyAlterEgoIsTaller on August 17, 2020, 09:14:46 PM

The fence around my compost pile got squashed by a falling tree, and it was rusty anyway and the posts were rotting. I made new posts from sharpened branches from the fallen tree, and new fence out of about a million feet of ivy and grape vines that I wove together.

Wow, that's hard core mustachian/green gardening for the win. Love it @MyAlterEgoIsTaller!

midweststache · « **Reply #14036 on:** August 18, 2020, 08:33:27 AM »

Now that we no longer have a car note, I called to update our car insurance today. Dropped collision, saving us $450/year.

Also related to no longer having the car payment, I upped DH's student loan contributions today by an additional $75/month, which will not only save us $500 in interest over the life of the loan, but more importantly shave off eight months of payments (assuming we don't be any additional beyond that toward the loan - HA!) My updated timeline has us paying off student loans about the same time our oldest leaves daycare for kindergarten.

I'm officially WFH for the rest of the year, so I cancelled my pre-tax transit contributions through work. I'll pay tax on that now, but I already have about three months of transit banked that I'm not using, since everything we need is in walking distance; I certainly don't need a full year of passes banked on my Ventra card. About $75/month in net income from canceling that.

Put some work purchases on my personal CC that I'll be reimbursed for next week. Points go to pay for Xmas this year!

okisok · « **Reply #14037 on:** August 20, 2020, 11:01:11 PM »

Quote from: midweststache on August 18, 2020, 08:33:27 AM

Now that we no longer have a car note, I called to update our car insurance today. Dropped collision, saving us $450/year.

Also related to no longer having the car payment, I upped DH's student loan contributions today by an additional $75/month, which will not only save us $500 in interest over the life of the loan, but more importantly shave off eight months of payments (assuming we don't be any additional beyond that toward the loan - HA!) My updated timeline has us paying off student loans about the same time our oldest leaves daycare for kindergarten.

I'm officially WFH for the rest of the year, so I cancelled my pre-tax transit contributions through work. I'll pay tax on that now, but I already have about three months of transit banked that I'm not using, since everything we need is in walking distance; I certainly don't need a full year of passes banked on my Ventra card. About $75/month in net income from canceling that.

Put some work purchases on my personal CC that I'll be reimbursed for next week. Points go to pay for Xmas this year!

Kudos to you for taking care of all those details! Pre-MMM, I would've put off making those calls/filing those papers/completing niggling little tasks. Sounds like you got everything straightened out quickly.

Did not get lunch out today, even though I really wanted to and had already chosen what I'd get. Pulled out my wallet, looked at my cash envelopes, put it back in my bag. We do have healthy options for free at work, so no excuses not to eat there. I ended up getting delicious meal that I loved for free. It was so filling that I just had a snack for dinner at home.

Found a missing earring. Glad I put off replacing that pair. I have so few pairs that taking one out of rotation make a difference, but jeez--what a first world problem!

okisok · « **Reply #14038 on:** August 26, 2020, 11:03:09 AM »

Used a rebate gift card to order needed items from Amazon. I tried to use it to pay my car insurance, but the agent couldn't get it to work. Didn't use it for something to 'treat myself' unless you count replacing a vacuum cleaner attachment a treat :)

Loretta · « **Reply #14039 on:** August 27, 2020, 06:59:54 AM »

I ate dinner from my own kitchen at home the last 2 nights--this is big for me. I also ate 3 perfect cherry tomatoes from my balcony tomato plant. Freshly picked homegrown cherry tomatoes are the best.

Today I'm going to see the dentist, for free. Health insurance that allows for free dental cleanings is the best.

okisok · « **Reply #14040 on:** August 28, 2020, 11:06:54 AM »

Did not go on a Target run today. Made a list, checked my Target Circle offers, looked on the website to make sure the items were actually in stock before I drove over...then realized none of the things on the list were *needs*. Instead, I made some cornbread and cleaned up my kitchen while listening to a free audiobook, and puttered in the garden.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #14041 on:** August 28, 2020, 01:13:55 PM »

-Used $4 in rewards at Walgreens before they expired. Picked up a few household items we needed.
-Used 3x$1 coupons at the store. I rarely use coupons, so this was a standout for me
-Continuing using garden produce in our meals, eating leftovers, menu planning, etc

Unique User · « **Reply #14042 on:** August 29, 2020, 03:34:26 PM »

In the last month have sold several things on Craigslist - desk, chair, bikes, jeep storage bag, deep fryer, beach umbrella, one textbook (need to list the rest), end tables, monitor, projector and a guitar. Headed out of town for work for five weeks, I'll ramp back up when I get home.

Found several meat deals including $1.50 whole chickens, $2 lb grass fed 90% lean ground beef and $1.39 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts. Also found a couple coupons for our favorite coffee, Seattle's Best, so stocked up on bags of coffee for $3 each.

Not frugal? Signing a lease for an apartment in January for my college age daughter for this school year. University has shut down, but she'll stay in it.

lazycow · « **Reply #14043 on:** August 30, 2020, 02:06:50 AM »

We ran out of wraps, so my daughter made some for her lunch. It took 10 minutes, and as a bonus, no plastic packaging.

Freedomin5 · « **Reply #14044 on:** August 30, 2020, 06:12:55 AM »

Borrowed my friend’s label maker instead of buying my own label maker or ordering labels online. She needed a set of earbuds, so I traded her a free pair that I recently got in a buy-one-get-one-free deal for the use of her label maker.

Instead of buying food for a lunch potluck, I used up some extra pastry dough and a pear I had in the fridge and made French pear tarts.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #14045 on:** August 30, 2020, 07:33:41 AM »

-Returned a couple of items we didn't need, but my husband purchased at Costco. The return process with COVID has gotten much longer, so I had to really convince myself to deal with it.
-Found my running belt (holds phone/keys), which I thought I'd lost. Can return the new one I ordered, when it arrives.
-Remembered to use a cash back site when buying new running shoes. i try hard not to buy clothes/shoes that I don't need, but running shoes are a regular purchase i make allowances for.

Loretta · « **Reply #14046 on:** August 30, 2020, 07:54:43 PM »

My barber shop was so busy that it was an hour wait, so I left and will let it grow awhile longer. So many people were out and about the past 2 days---argggh! Saved $20 plus tip.

horsepoor · « **Reply #14047 on:** September 01, 2020, 09:49:49 PM »

I had an unused windshield wiper blade from my old car that is technically 1" bigger than the wipers for my truck. Tried it on, and it actually works better than the supposedly correct size.

Now I only need to buy one replacement blade.

Trifle · « **Reply #14048 on:** September 02, 2020, 05:47:43 AM »

I haven't gone anywhere in 6 days. Just been working in the garden and around the house.

Rosy · « **Reply #14049 on:** September 02, 2020, 07:49:37 AM »

Quote from: Trifele on August 18, 2020, 04:08:34 AM

Quote from: MyAlterEgoIsTaller on August 17, 2020, 09:14:46 PM
The fence around my compost pile got squashed by a falling tree, and it was rusty anyway and the posts were rotting. I made new posts from sharpened branches from the fallen tree, and new fence out of about a million feet of ivy and grape vines that I wove together.

Wow, that's hard core mustachian/green gardening for the win. Love it @MyAlterEgoIsTaller!

SWEET MOVE!

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Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 7615727 times)