Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 5792681 times)

Poundwise · « **Reply #11050 on:** March 25, 2018, 06:12:01 AM »

Quote from: Rosy on March 24, 2018, 11:24:33 AM

Signed us both up for AARP (over 45 gets you in) - found a discounted membership for $12. The reason I did this is:
The daypack free gift:) - JK:)

1. Turns out that they have a rewards points program which will get you 10% off gift cards - so instead of $100 you pay only $90 for a gc. Quite useful.
Not sure yet about their travel and entertainment discounts, but I saw they had some nice movie pass options.
I'll be looking into this a bit more.

2. Meanwhile, I took their discounted for members driving course to save $180 and Mr. R. will do the same - to get 10% off his annual car insurance premium as well. Score!
Together we will save literally hundreds on our car insurance premium this way in one year alone and this is good for three years:).

Thank you Rosy! This is a great tip.
Though I find it slightly depressing that I qualify, I suppose I should take the sweet with the bitter...

Botany Bae · « **Reply #11051 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:38:58 AM »

* Went to a brewery last night and we only split a $12 flight instead of getting a full pint of each beer we wanted to try. We ate before heading out, so no food costs. Free live music at the brewery as well, so it felt like a fancy night out.

* Stopped by a thrift store and found a local rock and mineral field guide for $.50. This segues nicely with a conversation we had last night about finding low cost hobbies/entertainment -- rockhounding was one of the ideas on DW's list, and I'm always looking for an excuse to hike. We are thinking of making Saturdays picnic/adventure days instead of date nights now that the weather is nicer! (The bummer is I didn't find the field guide I was hoping to find for a class, but I did find it for $4.99 with free shipping on Amazon, so not all is lost...).

Hirondelle · « **Reply #11052 on:** March 25, 2018, 12:31:23 PM »

Quote from: jengod on March 24, 2018, 01:06:59 PM

Quote from: okcisok on March 24, 2018, 08:33:05 AM
Made strawberry milk out of the scrapings of a jar of IKEA strawberry jam. I poured the milk directly into the jar, put the lid on, and gave it a good shake. Then I poured it into the Magic Bullet blender for a final whirl. Delicious! Now I won't feel the need to get a sweet drink out when meeting a friend later.

I use this "flavored water" for making my oatmeal. It uses up the bits that would go to waste of jars of cream, nut butter, yogurt, etc.

I do this with honey. Pour some boiling water in the jar to solve the last bits and make tea out of it :)

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #11053 on:** March 25, 2018, 01:25:28 PM »

-Made french toast last night for dinner, using a baguette that I found buried in the freezer
-Popped popcorn & watched a movie with the kids. Movie was from the library
-Drove to kids soccer game in the electric car
-Used freezer meal options to feed kids + bonus kid for lunch. I ate leftovers from Friday's dinner. My favorite secret weapon in spicing up Mexican leftovers is sriracha blended into plain yogurt. Yum!
-Made extra lunch, so the kids will have quick options for packing school lunches.
-Tonight we'll have burgers from the freezer

Hula Hoop · « **Reply #11054 on:** March 25, 2018, 02:33:57 PM »

Did all cheap things today. Older daughter went to scouts and younger daughter played with lego (most of which is my old lego from 30 years ago that my mother saved) while I cleaned the house. Then we went down to the park to roller blade and eat the snacks I'd packed. Dinner was fish sticks from the freezer, home made French fries and steamed veggies.

Padonak · « **Reply #11055 on:** March 25, 2018, 02:38:24 PM »

I just sat on my ass all day. read a bunch of stuff online, ate leftovers and sandwiches. $0 spent so far. That's how i save money most of the time.

jengod · « **Reply #11056 on:** March 25, 2018, 07:47:17 PM »

We are outsourcing so much right now it is horrifying BUT I had a car-free day.

Walked to “work” and back, and then cargo-biked to get the baby. About 12,000 steps and counting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

okisok · « **Reply #11057 on:** March 25, 2018, 08:15:56 PM »

Quote from: Mezzie on March 24, 2018, 07:54:51 PM

Went to the mall to wish a student with a new job well. I kept Shopkick open and earned a bunch of points without buying anything.

I love doing this! I really don't like going to the mall, so the few times I've gone lately (helping a friend pick out work clothes, buying a registry gift), I've at least gotten a ton of Shopkick points out of it! Then I take those point and get gift cards toward free groceries and gas :)

Trifele · « **Reply #11058 on:** March 26, 2018, 02:52:47 AM »

Lazy zero-spend day yesterday. For dinner we fried up some fish fillets that have been languishing in the freezer, baked some potatoes, and steamed some brussel sprouts. We had enough that I have leftovers for lunch at work today.

Imma · « **Reply #11059 on:** March 26, 2018, 04:04:23 AM »

Went to the hardware store with my mum to get some things for her house. She bought us dinner from the lovely Italian deli around the corner as a reward for our hard work.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #11060 on:** March 29, 2018, 12:12:04 PM »

Combined a few things with 1 driving trip. First a ski trip, then to the public shower to wash my hair and fill up a tank of dring water. (We are at our cabin without water)

DH did not join the fishing contest. We did not visit the basar and did not spend money on shooting like other years.

Imma · « **Reply #11061 on:** March 29, 2018, 12:33:37 PM »

My wallet was stolen last week and yesterday I got a call it was found! As expected, the money was gone (not much, €15) and my credit / debit cards were already blocked, but I'm glad I have my wallet back so I don't have to buy a new one or go through the hassle of replacing my hospital, library and store cards. The thief had even left a voucher for a free coffee! Thief is clearly not a mustachian or he would have spent my coffee voucher and my loyalty points.

Dollar Slice · « **Reply #11062 on:** March 29, 2018, 12:54:02 PM »

They left the coffee voucher! #winning My dad had his wallet stolen on a trip to Europe and someone found it, turned it in, and it was mailed back to him weeks later. All the money gone and credit cards cancelled, but like you said it's very nice not to have to get all those new cards.

This week I'm trying to go out and see a concert every night without paying money. So far I've seen a big all star jazz concert, a string quartet, a brass band, a theremin virtuoso, and as a bonus got a free ginger ale (and a high five from the bartender). Tonight I have a free pass to see a guitar player I like premiere his new album at 7, and then I won tickets to go to a fancy jazz club with a friend at 9:30.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #11063 on:** March 30, 2018, 01:58:11 AM »

We are having a week holiday and are drinking little alcohol compared to what we usually do. DH managed to hurt his rib and is taking painkillers. I don't feel like drinking alone in front of him.

Botany Bae · « **Reply #11064 on:** March 30, 2018, 09:17:08 AM »

Spent the last couple of days completely off-grid with Boy2 -- no cell reception, even! Thus, no way to spend money unless we wanted to hike to a bait shop that may or may not have been closed for the season.

After years of amassing gear from mainly second-hand sources, we didn't have to purchase a single thing for this trip. I was a bit worried that we wouldn't have a right-size pack for a 13 year old who definitely needed to upgrade from his "little kid" pack, but Boy1 found his old pack at the bottom of his closet, in relatively good repair, and passed it on. Yay!

DW and Boy1 stayed home, but it appears they weren't tempted to go out and spend, either. Instead, they were content to eat the contents of the fridge.

Was tempted to order in food last night, but instead made pizzas on some drying out pita breads left over from the campout.

Today I'm picking up a library movie and my Friday Freebies at Fred Meyer, as well as my Monopoly freebies at Safeway. I'll make roasted veggie and tofu faux-Subway subs as a movie night treat, using the free hot dog buns I won at Safeway (we don't eat hotdogs, so yay, sub rolls!)

better late · « **Reply #11065 on:** March 30, 2018, 10:04:59 AM »

stuck on heel taps on several pairs of shoes, and polished and blackened up the heels for a few.
I'll end up taking a few pairs to the cobbler, but this will keep the heels intact until I can get there.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #11066 on:** March 30, 2018, 10:25:51 AM »

-Have been eating leftovers all week. Had a crazy insane day yesterday (husband traveling, work crisis, kids on my own) & ate nachos for dinner. Not healthy, but avoided takeout. I made kids a healthier option, and we all had fruit. You know, the good old fruit/nacho dinner combo.
-Sold a pair of pants for $5 on eBay, and 5 books for $2 through local neighborhood group. Happy to get both out of the house.
-Discovered our solar isn't getting credited to our energy bill. Called & the company is sorting.

Hirondelle · « **Reply #11067 on:** March 30, 2018, 10:42:26 AM »

Switched phone service companies. Paying €2.50 a month now for 250 MB internet and 125 minutes of calling :). Previous package had no internet while being more expensive.

11ducks · « **Reply #11068 on:** March 31, 2018, 04:30:19 AM »

I talked myself off a purchasing ledge. I went out to get a gift for my sisters bday- having done that, I saw something super cute I wanted to get for my niece, to put with the Easter egg I got her. But I realised that to be fair, I'd have to get something for my two other niece/nephew. I spent 10 mins finding something to buy for each, got to the massive checkout line and realised that I was being silly, I'd got them each an egg already (plus they have parents/gparents and two other aunts each to buy them Easter treats too) and theylikely didn't need more plastic crap toys filling their houses. So I put it all down and left.

LilMissMinimalist · « **Reply #11069 on:** April 02, 2018, 12:00:17 PM »

Heading to LA tomorrow night and working in the office today + tomorrow (I work from home mostly). Instead of buying lunch downtown, I made a triple batch of peanut noodles last night for dinner with enough leftovers for two lunches to bring in.

Roadrunner53 · « **Reply #11070 on:** April 02, 2018, 01:13:48 PM »

May I ask how do you make peanut noodles. I am starving right now and wish I had a big bowl of it right now...drool!

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #11071 on:** April 02, 2018, 01:41:55 PM »

-Kept Easter spending super in check. Bought cute bunny pasta, and had that with meatballs. Also gave the kids a shared Easter bag of fun lunch snacks. They don't normally have a lot of treats, so they were thrilled.
-Made cookies for my older son's school, as he'd asked to buy a contribution for a party they are having.
-Made a casserole to have for two dinners this week, using up stuff we had on hand.

LilMissMinimalist · « **Reply #11072 on:** April 02, 2018, 02:05:16 PM »

Quote from: Roadrunner53 on April 02, 2018, 01:13:48 PM

May I ask how do you make peanut noodles. I am starving right now and wish I had a big bowl of it right now...drool!

http://inpursuitofmore.com/2013/01/24/recipe-peanut-sauce-noodle-bowl/

Here ya go! It's my "Cheap Eats" recipe because I almost always have the ingredients to make it in the house already. I add a teaspoon of Sriracha to the sauce (trust me on this one!) and top with some sliced cucumber + red pepper. This recipe makes a lot of sauce, cutting it in half yields 3-4 servings. Bon appetit!

Roadrunner53 · « **Reply #11073 on:** April 02, 2018, 02:18:39 PM »

Thanks! I had to have some peanut butter and crackers after you mentioned peanut butter noodles!

Kwill · « **Reply #11074 on:** April 02, 2018, 03:01:00 PM »

Made baked ziti for dinner plus this week's lunches. Did a couple lessons from a free language course from Coursera.

1967mama · « **Reply #11075 on:** April 03, 2018, 01:36:11 AM »

*made a double batch of vegan rice pudding to have in the fridge for the week

*had a smoothie using up various bits of fruit and some dried out dates

*have turned off radiant heat even though its still kind of cold out at night - extra blankets and sweaters to sleep

*reading online for frugal motivation

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #11076 on:** April 03, 2018, 03:46:10 AM »

After eating at the cafeteria at work for a couple of days before the Easter holiday (first time in 2018), I have again brought my own lunch to work. and will do so all the days that I don't forget it.

frooglepoodle · « **Reply #11077 on:** April 03, 2018, 05:09:33 AM »

I made our new favorite frugal dinner in the instant pot last night - chicken taco rice. It makes a huge portion so DH is taking some for lunch and I’ll use the rest as filling for stuffed peppers later this week.

I also made homemade iced tea and iced coffee yesterday.

Bought my husband’s protein powder in the big tub using Amazon subscribe and save. I don’t love Amazon but it’s the cheapest way to get it by far.

Reading lots of library books and ebooks.

Today’s toddler entertainment will include taking a walk to watch construction equipment, starting seeds for our garden, baking PB&J breakfast bars, and possibly library storytime.

MatthewK · « **Reply #11078 on:** April 03, 2018, 05:54:05 AM »

Technically did this yesterday.....was going to rent a tiller again to till up our tiny second year garden. Decided to turn it over with a shovel and rake instead. Great workout, and didn't have the hassel of picking up/ dropping off and wrestling with a tiller getting it in and out of the mini van. Also didn't have to inhale the stinky assed exhaust of the machine.....muscle over motor for the win!!!

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #11079 on:** April 03, 2018, 12:02:57 PM »

Today I ordered a new insurance for the house and the furniture. Saving approx 100 USD a year for tye same coverage.

Hirondelle · « **Reply #11080 on:** April 03, 2018, 01:52:41 PM »

I decided to take an extra vacation day (I have plenty) and fly back a day later, saving €25 on the flight. I'll be staying with a friend, so no further extra costs. Now I just have to tell my boss that my "long weekend away" has basically become a full week.

Trifele · « **Reply #11081 on:** April 03, 2018, 02:02:44 PM »

Did a 1500 mile road trip to visit friends over the holiday weekend, and did not eat out once. We hit grocery stores and ate out of the cooler. The food is better in every way, and we saved oodles of money. Double score!

Spruit · « **Reply #11082 on:** April 03, 2018, 02:34:32 PM »

Not really saving money as much as scoring a good deal:
Picked up a midcentury design coffee table for free. I've been admiring similar models on Marktplaats (local Craigslist) for a while, but people easily ask 100 euros or more for a vintage piece which is just not worth it to me. Our now-former table was on the list to eventually be upgraded, so this was a really timely find.
I''ll give away our former coffee table for free, to keep the Karma going.

Line drying was easy today (sunshine, wind). Made a new batch of DIY detergent. Put the redundant very big houseplant's pot on Marktplaats.

Made spanakopita with spinach + weeds from the allotment. Ground elder is a handy parsly substitute.

jlcnuke · « **Reply #11083 on:** April 03, 2018, 02:39:39 PM »

Saved $200/6 months by switching auto insurance companies again. I think I was a year or so late getting around to it this time. I really need to remember to shop around more often.

Trifele · « **Reply #11084 on:** April 03, 2018, 05:24:37 PM »

Took my lunch to work like every day this year so far.

TheWifeHalf · « **Reply #11085 on:** April 03, 2018, 05:29:07 PM »

We live in an area with low property taxes, but we have to buy our garbage pick up. My husband called the company we've been using (600/year, 3-4 bags) and explained the kids are gone, he's a senior, can they do better.
Now it's 1-2 bags a week, 74/year

Botany Bae · « **Reply #11086 on:** April 04, 2018, 10:21:53 AM »

Yesterday was my birthday, so these are the birthday savings:

- Boy2 took me camping last week (ok, I drove....) as my gift. He even handled tent setup, fire starting/tending, and meal prep.

- DW took me out to dinner at a pub I like. We went for happy hour for a single half-price local brew each (Vanilla bourbon stout, mmm!) and we split a vegan pizza to bring down the cost. She had also mapped out a geocache* route through the area so we went on a treasure hunt for a couple of hours afterward. Early night, since I'm back in class.

- Boy1 is taking me on a free wildflower hike that a local conservation group is putting on this Saturday as my gift. He says he will pack the picnic lunch so I don't have to ;)

- Handmade cards <3 <3 <3

*Geocaching is our new obsession - it replaced our Saturday restaurant and pub dates! If you don't know what it is, look it up because it's tons of free fun and available worldwide. You basically use your GPS (or phone GPS) to find cache's other users hide, then sign the log and sometimes trade swag if you want. In our area there are also lots of free to no cost group events. You can spend money on it -- there is a premium service -- but thus far we haven't felt the need. A lot of Little Free Library owners are in on the game and have cache's in their library, so we have been taking evening walks to different libraries and leaving/taking books while also logging cache's :)

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #11087 on:** April 04, 2018, 11:01:12 AM »

-Picked up $.02 on the ground
-Drove electric car to/from work
-Leftovers for dinner

mm1970 · « **Reply #11088 on:** April 04, 2018, 11:21:23 AM »

Packed lunches

Drank free coffee at work

And this past weekend
- spent the weekend swapping rooms with the kids
- we purged as we did this
- this means that I no longer feel the intense need to add space to the house (we live in a 2BR, 1BA, 1146 sf house).

The boys have the master now. So there is room for a desk for homework. We have the tiny 2nd bedroom. Room for the bed, a dresser, and a filing cabinet. We really don't need more than that.

Easye418 · « **Reply #11089 on:** April 04, 2018, 01:52:40 PM »

I haven't been on the website it a pretty long time so I have a few things to share:

Moved my cell phone service from ATT to Cricket Wireless: $143 a month to $102 a month.

Moved my TV service from Dish Network to Sling TV: $100 a month to $27 a month.

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #11090 on:** April 04, 2018, 02:58:14 PM »

Save money where you can, even if the spending sucks:
-Ordering my IVF meds direct from Israel, rather than using a US intermediary. This is half the cost, although a bit more work to do. Still, my clinic has done it before, and made it super easy.
-Related, the nurse mentioned they have discount codes for the ones I have to buy domestically. 20% off the whole order of one of the meds. Woop woop. I totally picked the mustachian clinic, the other clinic I looked at didn't do that! =P

So yeah, I'm *spending* like $18k, but at least I saved a couple grand ;)

Non-IVF:
-Neighbor offered onions, since he started too many. I had open space in the garden plan (cucumbers didn't like the spot last year), so now we have a couple rows of onion transplants in.
-Different neighbor wanted a stationary bike out of his garage. We happily accepted. It's good to add a non jump roping cardio option to our home gym! He also threw in a big ol venison steak, since Husband helped him move some stuff to get the bike out. (Guy just had knee and back surgery in the past year... ouch!)

zachaloo · « **Reply #11091 on:** April 05, 2018, 07:53:54 PM »

I switched from Sprint postpaid to MintSIM. Saving roughly $92/mo.

I dumped collision and comprehensive coverage on my car, saving about $45/mo.

I ate leftovers for lunch and dinner. Big day for me.

abhe8 · « **Reply #11092 on:** April 06, 2018, 07:52:57 AM »

Took my lunch to work. Ordered snacks in bulk online for our upcoming road trip.

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #11093 on:** April 06, 2018, 01:59:27 PM »

Took home the bunch of leftover apples from work. Made an apple cake of the solid apples and the rest has been cooked and can be used as vegetables later.

MaybeBabyMustache · « **Reply #11094 on:** April 06, 2018, 03:19:18 PM »

-Made breakfast/lunch out of some random fridge items
-Worked from home today, & while the no free food is a downside, my husband then can drive the electric car for free
-We scrapped a date night (not due to money, but I just don't feel great) & will be saving that money for another time

Basenji · « **Reply #11095 on:** April 06, 2018, 09:03:47 PM »

Made whole-wheat waffles using leftover sourdough starter (among other ingredients). Froze them for easy toaster breakfast.

VeggieTable · « **Reply #11096 on:** April 07, 2018, 11:03:02 AM »

I am super excited about this one. This week our Habitat for Humanity ReStore has been having a sale - all books for 5 cents, all cans of paint for 25 cents. I got 3 almost-full cans of paint in the exact shade of green I wanted for 75 cents. We'll use this to paint baby #2's room. I let my son go crazy on the books, and we left with 20 for a grand total of $1. Including tax, I spent less than $2.50.

Zaga · « **Reply #11097 on:** April 07, 2018, 11:08:26 AM »

Quote from: VeggieTable on April 07, 2018, 11:03:02 AM

I am super excited about this one. This week our Habitat for Humanity ReStore has been having a sale - all books for 5 cents, all cans of paint for 25 cents. I got 3 almost-full cans of paint in the exact shade of green I wanted for 75 cents. We'll use this to paint baby #2's room. I let my son go crazy on the books, and we left with 20 for a grand total of $1. Including tax, I spent less than $2.50.

I love Habitat ReStores! Great finds you got there!

frooglepoodle · « **Reply #11098 on:** April 07, 2018, 11:29:56 AM »

We’re on a short weekend trip for a family member’s athletic event. Hotel was paid for with points, and I packed breakfast and snacks. I brought lots and was able to share when the hotel breakfast wasn’t open before we all needed to leave this morning.

Bracken_Joy · « **Reply #11099 on:** April 07, 2018, 12:40:18 PM »

-Sold a gift card on cardpool. It was a Macy's card left over from our wedding (going on 3 years ago... oops). I kept thinking we'd use it for some kitchen item or gift or something that would come up, but I literally *never* found an occasion where it wasn't staggeringly cheaper to get the item elsewhere. So, $50 GC that was sitting in a drawer to $41 on our amazon account. Fine by me. Just in time to replace some medications, so it's not going to "junk spending" either.
-Traffic was bad enough around a plant sale that we passed up going. We didn't need anything anyway, and need to not spend money right now.
-Bulk bins were 20% off today only at the store, so we stocked up on a couple items.
-Awesome weather today (in spite of some high winds). Opened up the house and turned off the climate control.
-Set up subscribe and save through the manufacturer of one of my prescribed supplements. It's crazy how much cheaper I've been able to get them from when I first started taking it. From like $75+/month, now I'm down to $33/month. It pays to shop around, and even when you've found a good deal, keep shopping around!
-Have some MASSIVE upcoming expenses, so I'm taking out a travel CC to get the sign up bonus. Have to unfreeze my credit (UGH), but it'll be worth it.

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Author Topic: What small things did you do TODAY to save money? (Read 5792681 times)