Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?  (Read 7428039 times)

cool7hand

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15650 on: January 26, 2023, 07:31:41 AM »
Bundled errands that require a vehicle and planned the most efficient route

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15651 on: January 30, 2023, 08:35:24 PM »
Strained the homemade orange cleaner and it works great. The vinegar smell is very faint and fades quickly. I started a new jar since oranges are $3 for 4 lbs at Aldi right now.

Patched four more socks with the same face mask scraps i used on DP's sock. These hadn't worn through yet but were getting threadbare, so more reinforcing than patching.  There are about 6 more patches left in the face mask.

Used some shopping rewards to get a free bottle of soda, a lint roller, granola bar, almond milk, and eggs. Eggs were $5.65 a dozen so the only way I could justify paying that was that I wasn't actually paying for them...

I have some free wild game thawing in the fridge for a cooking experiment while I WFH tomorrow.


Roadrunner53

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15652 on: January 31, 2023, 03:56:24 AM »
Does anyone know what to do with walnut milk? I am guessing just to drink it or use it over cereal. I was gifted a container and don't even use almond milk or hardly much cow milk.

sonofsven

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15653 on: January 31, 2023, 05:50:31 AM »
Does anyone know what to do with walnut milk? I am guessing just to drink it or use it over cereal. I was gifted a container and don't even use almond milk or hardly much cow milk.

I use it in my scratch pancake recipe in lieu of dairy.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15654 on: January 31, 2023, 11:16:12 AM »
Updated our son's car insurance with his school transcript, saving us $160+/year, thanks to a good student discount.

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15655 on: January 31, 2023, 08:55:32 PM »
Bought a discounted gift card on Ibotta. I was able to get a $50 gift card for $32.50.

Loretta

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15656 on: February 01, 2023, 03:56:03 AM »
I’m beginning a low spend Feb!  I have a pricey laser eye procedure mid-month for $3845 but other than that, I’m a-gonna be frugally Februarying.

EverythingisNew

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15657 on: February 01, 2023, 11:44:09 AM »
One of my favorite low cost meals is rice and black beans. It’s so yummy too!

Anette

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15658 on: February 01, 2023, 01:55:57 PM »
Brought an Aldi Talk yearly cell phone package (plan) for 59,99€ and  received a 5 € Aldi coupon with the purchase. 55€ for 12month of unlimited calls within Germany plus 12 GB of data works great for me ( my kids wouldn't last long with 12 Gb and are laughing about me but I usually even have about 7Gb left at the end of the year. In Germany we use what's App a lot - the kids not as much as parents and older people and I think I often send things from home when in our wlan)
Anyway I feel good about spending way less than most people

Rosy

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15659 on: February 01, 2023, 04:14:59 PM »
Requested and got a $500 discount plus they waived the $100 fee on their service call. New AC will save us some serious money on our energy bill going forward too.
Happy with how quiet it is compared to the old unit.

oneday

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15660 on: February 02, 2023, 12:06:35 AM »
Snagged some diced squash for $1 at the closeout/overstock grocery, vs $5 at the regular grocery for almost the same thing. Woo!

stoaX

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15661 on: February 02, 2023, 05:05:06 AM »
Requested and got a $500 discount plus they waived the $100 fee on their service call. New AC will save us some serious money on our energy bill going forward too.
Happy with how quiet it is compared to the old unit.

Good job on that. Big ticket items are where you can save the big bucks.

oneday

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15662 on: February 02, 2023, 10:06:25 AM »
When using Fancy Expensive Tea Concentrate, used about 10% less, and less milk too. Not a big savings, but I don't notice that my hot beverage is slightly smaller. By the end of the container, I have an additional half serving, it's like a bonus/reward :)

sonofsven

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15663 on: February 02, 2023, 10:23:56 AM »
I finally fixed my dryer but I'm still drying my clothes and towels (not sheets) on a rack by the woodstove.
Bonus: no need to fold towels, just lean them in the corner.

Roadrunner53

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15664 on: February 02, 2023, 12:46:31 PM »
I finally fixed my dryer but I'm still drying my clothes and towels (not sheets) on a rack by the woodstove.
Bonus: no need to fold towels, just lean them in the corner.

I have a clothes rod in my laundry room. after taking out of washer, I put the clothes in the dryer for a few minutes to dewrinkle then remove, hang on a clothes hanger, put on the rod and aim a fan at the clothes. By morning, all is dry and not wrinkled. My dryer only runs for a few minutes but I do let the dryer run for my whites a whole cycle because most of it is nothing I want to hang up and I have limited space on the rod.

MyAlterEgoIsTaller

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15665 on: February 02, 2023, 10:24:28 PM »
Used a scrap from a worn out flannel sheet to sew new corners on a comforter that my dog had chewed on.

la Condessa

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15666 on: February 03, 2023, 09:07:16 AM »
Finished the fancy refrigerated fresh pickles my husband loves.  Cut up half a cucumber, put it in the store-bought fancy pickle container that had the leftover brine, dill, and garlic mixture.  $0.35 and two days to another container of fresh refrigerated pickles!

slappy

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15667 on: February 03, 2023, 01:17:54 PM »
I keep hearing people say you can call and pay your medical bill in full and get a discount. I got a medical bill for $1600 and I noticed a little note that said they would discount it if i paid in full. So I called, and they knocked off 20%!

Dicey

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15668 on: February 03, 2023, 01:37:37 PM »
I finally fixed my dryer but I'm still drying my clothes and towels (not sheets) on a rack by the woodstove.
Bonus: no need to fold towels, just lean them in the corner.
Lol!

Dicey

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15669 on: February 03, 2023, 01:53:07 PM »
We decided last night to go to our place in the Desert for ten days this morning. I packed up the lunch cooler for the road trip, then another cooler with a few meals and easy ingredients (looking at you, lovely frozen Costco pesto). We just defrosted the freezer, so I had no prepped meals on hand. I also did not have a week's worth of homemade breakfast granola left, so I'm going g to have to buy some. Horrors!

Happily, we have Sam's, Costco and Winco near our place there. If only we didn't have an 8 hour drive to get there...

« Last Edit: February 03, 2023, 02:43:25 PM by Dicey »

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15670 on: February 03, 2023, 02:09:53 PM »
@Dicey - a desert getaway sounds great!

I had to pick up an item at the grocery store, and after purchasing, I checked one of the shopping apps I use (iBotta) & found a $.50 rebate. I also picked up the Friday Freebie at the grocery store (yogurt), which I'll either get one of the teens to eat, or I'll use for baking.

marion10

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15671 on: February 03, 2023, 05:19:45 PM »
Cleaned out and defrosted our freezer and found stuff I had forgetten about including some nice homemade turket stock from Thanksgiving. My daughter has been sick, so I'll have some soup for her when we visit tomorrow. Also found a chicken caccitore freezer meal- so I can push off grocery shopping for a few days.

PMG

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15672 on: February 04, 2023, 12:12:41 AM »
I forgot to put detergent in a load of laundry. Whoops!

I made valentines cards for my kids daycare. (Why?!?) the cheap ones are awful and the nice ones are expensive. I just couldn’t spend money on either.

marion10

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15673 on: February 04, 2023, 11:09:59 AM »
Library had an art supply swap- I donated a fancy adult coloring book and picked up some colored pencils and some paper for card making.

oneday

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15674 on: February 04, 2023, 04:58:56 PM »
Didn't buy the cute sticker charts. I'll find some free printables online and print at the library.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15675 on: February 05, 2023, 08:28:15 AM »
I had to replace my teen's soccer cleats, and clicked through a cash back site first. I had also purchased discounted gift cards to the store ahead of time, as I knew cleat replacement was around the corner. Between those two things, I saved about 20% off of the purchase.

Loretta

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15676 on: February 05, 2023, 11:18:06 AM »
I ate up some leftovers for breakfast  and have not purchased anything yet today. 

Michael in ABQ

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15677 on: February 05, 2023, 03:08:04 PM »
Stopped at Goodwill and my son found a Tom Clancy book on the shelf for $1.99 that we were planning to order online for several dollars more.

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15678 on: February 05, 2023, 07:38:28 PM »
I finally fixed my dryer but I'm still drying my clothes and towels (not sheets) on a rack by the woodstove.
Bonus: no need to fold towels, just lean them in the corner.
Lol!
Deep belly laugh!

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15679 on: February 05, 2023, 07:44:46 PM »
Skipped breakfast and had lunch at a family event for free. Filled up the gas tank at the cheapest station on my way home.

Spent the afternoon listening to an audiobook from the library while I did yard chores and laundry. Had a delicious orange as a reward/snack on a beautiful, sunny, spring-like day while sitting in the sunshine and drinking homemade iced tea.

Spent the evening batch cooking and cleaning up the kitchen.

sonofsven

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15680 on: February 06, 2023, 05:25:29 AM »
Picked up some free firewood Sunday from a farm where I've been repairing the barn, brought my partner so she could feed the Scottish Highlands cattle (she loves cows).

Weisass

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15681 on: February 06, 2023, 06:48:35 PM »
Picked up some free firewood Sunday from a farm where I've been repairing the barn, brought my partner so she could feed the Scottish Highlands cattle (she loves cows).

They are verrrrry cute.

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15682 on: February 07, 2023, 07:41:44 PM »
Took breakfast and lunch to work. Brought work snacks at a B1G1 sale so there's no need to buy expensive vending machine or cafeteria food.


oneday

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15683 on: February 07, 2023, 08:14:41 PM »
Stocked up on carrots while the discount grocery had an abundance in stock. Had gone to the regular grocery last night and was outraged at the price of carrots, lol

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15684 on: February 08, 2023, 09:16:45 PM »
Got physical books from the library and an audiobook from their app

srrb

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15685 on: February 08, 2023, 10:05:41 PM »
Skipped breakfast and had lunch at a family event for free. Filled up the gas tank at the cheapest station on my way home.

Spent the afternoon listening to an audiobook from the library while I did yard chores and laundry. Had a delicious orange as a reward/snack on a beautiful, sunny, spring-like day while sitting in the sunshine and drinking homemade iced tea.

Spent the evening batch cooking and cleaning up the kitchen.

Sounds like a wonderful day!
Even though I have a new knitting project I'd like to start and need new yarn, I'm getting a jump on this year's xmas gifts and using up my odds and ends yarn stash for gloves and mittens first.

midweststache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15686 on: February 11, 2023, 01:43:22 PM »
Registered for summer camp for our eldest. Because we got into this summer camp, which was our first choice and one of the least expensive options available, we saved about $1,000 on our anticipated summer care expenses; used the excess savings from that and some anticipated overage from this month to make a big payment to student loans. [Totally on track to have those paid off this year - WOO HOO!]

Paid in full for camp because we'd already earmarked the funds for it. DH forwarded me the receipt and I thought "Huh, that was more expensive than what I thought it was going to be..." Checked the receipt against listed prices and realized I was paying a higher-than-publicly-listed rate. Called Parks and Rec and found out it was incorrect in the registration system and correctly listed in the brochure. They'll refund us (and all the other families who paid the incorrect rate) the $150 excess from the incorrect charge early next week.

Dollar Slice

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15687 on: February 11, 2023, 04:51:53 PM »
They'll refund us (and all the other families who paid the incorrect rate) the $150 excess from the incorrect charge early next week.

Nice going. I bet there will be a bunch of grateful people over that one.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15688 on: February 11, 2023, 05:41:40 PM »
-Used $12 of Safeway rewards ($7 was from my birthday, $5 was just a random offer added to my account) & used $1 offers for frozen items & veggies to save a bit more.
-Took advantage of two other birthday freebies: a Starbucks drink, & a free treat at Panera.

Josiecat23503

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15689 on: February 11, 2023, 06:25:27 PM »
@MaybeBabyMustache , happy birthday!!

and, on topic, ate homemade muffins for breakfast, went for a long walk with dog, read a library book, ate homemade moussaka for dinner...basically a normal, boring, inexpensive day in the life of a FIRE-ee.  And I loved every second of it!

Dicey

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15690 on: February 11, 2023, 06:31:56 PM »
-Used $12 of Safeway rewards ($7 was from my birthday, $5 was just a random offer added to my account) & used $1 offers for frozen items & veggies to save a bit more.
-Took advantage of two other birthday freebies: a Starbucks drink, & a free treat at Panera.
++Happy birthday++

Rosy

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15691 on: February 11, 2023, 06:51:37 PM »
1. Made sure to use my 5% family discount at Ikea - saved about $45 - not bad.
plus
I got a free coffee as a member too.
2. Paid w/2% rewards credit card so really seven percent off. Sweet.

3. Ikea had a couple of X-mas items at 50-70% off - so I scored on a fancy red flower pot (perfect for Valentines and fun to use in my spring garden later)
and
4. A string of starlights that came in its own metal box - I'd wanted an extra set and I love that the light string can be stored in the cute metal container.

5. Got a free Kindle book thru BookBub - I missed the offer the last time but resisted paying the full price since it was a new author for me and a departure from my usual reading genre. I opted for the wishlist instead and six months later - voila - FREE.

6. Sewed up the frayed backing on a X-mas rug that I'd stuck in the closet last year (I "found" it when I did my annual closet decluttering.
My friend has one of those electric razors for fuzzies - so now - after a final run in the washer - it looks as good as new.

7. My neighbor gifted us a big fat Papaya off their tree - so there will be fresh fruit for the big game day tomorrow.

8. Sort of batch cooked this week - cooked twice but had supper for five days.
Added fresh produce from the garden, changed up the sides to raw and still had potatoes left for today. No freezing or re-packaging involved - saved time and labor/electricity by keeping it in the same pot, saved more time and product for doing less dishes...

9. Found a white wine that I really like at the nearby ethnic grocery store. Negotiated a 10% discount for buying a case of my new favorite wine.

10. Mr. R. got excellent BOGO deals on coffee, vitamins and his favorite ice cream - along with some coupons ($8) - he ended up paying less than 50% of the regular price at the grocery store.

I am currently totally frustrated with my health insurance website - they force you to change your password every three months and the new password setup never goes smoothly! GRRR!
Once I finally clear that hurdle there will be $$$ of rebates and reimbursements coming my way - enough incentive for me to pursue the issue.
 




« Last Edit: February 11, 2023, 06:54:23 PM by Rosy »

Dicey

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15692 on: February 11, 2023, 07:05:48 PM »
Mine used to do that, as did my employer. Just come up with a standard format that works in their system and change the number at the end each time. Or do something with the date (123, 423, 723 1023 etc.), anything so you can remember the pattern.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15693 on: February 11, 2023, 07:06:49 PM »
Thanks, @Dicey and @Josiecat23503 !

MyAlterEgoIsTaller

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15694 on: February 11, 2023, 08:03:24 PM »
Got some free dishes in my pattern, just because I was the first one to respond to somebody's free post on a facebook group for collectors of said dishes.

Also I traded some extra toothbrushes I didn't need (I get them from the dentist, but I use an electric toothbrush) for a cabbage.

okisok

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15695 on: February 12, 2023, 08:10:47 PM »
Used Shopkick rewards to get a discounted birthday card to mail to a family member who really likes getting mail. Used a stamp that was gifted to me.
Found an item at work that will be a great birthday gift for a frugal friend (we almost always exchange cheap or free gifts). Used some other office cleanup items to create a mailer for some other items I need to mail out. I'll used gifted stamps on these packages as well.
A freak warm spell allowed me to turn the heat off for 24 hours. I put two loads of laundry on the line and drying rack.

middo

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15696 on: February 12, 2023, 11:49:01 PM »
Made up some popcorn as a morning tea snack at work.  I've been getting hungry lately and I'm too stingy to buy anything.  Popping corn costs next to nothing and I have enough for a week at least.

la Condessa

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15697 on: February 13, 2023, 08:28:37 AM »
Last night I made mozzarella cheese from powdered milk + a little cream I had leftover from a recipe.  It turned out great, much better than I expected from powdered milk.  Today I’m going to try my hand at making ricotta from the whey.

Trifele

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15698 on: February 13, 2023, 10:15:18 AM »
I realized today that it's been over a year since I had my hair cut.  Back when I had short hair I was not able to cut it myself (tried it), and those haircuts used to cost ~$70 with tip. 

I don't love having long hair, but (a) it's simple enough I can trim it myself, and (b) not paying someone else saves me something like $2 a day.  That adds up. 

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: What small things did you do TODAY to save money?
« Reply #15699 on: February 13, 2023, 03:30:31 PM »
-Started a defensive driving course, which my insurance says will save me a couple hundred dollars/year. Assuming that works, the other three members of my household are all going to be taking it. We have two teen boys on our policy, and that's crazy expensive.
-Began the process of splitting out our taxes (so we can file Married/Separately). Because of a unique tax situation, it will save us a little over $3k. It's a giant hassle, but worth the hourly rate (my own ;-)).