Creative Ways to Save Money?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Creative Ways to Save Money?
6
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 2:47pm

Creative Ways to Save Money?


What creative ways have you found to save money? What has worked for you? Share your ideas on everything from saving on food and clothing to household maintenance and travel.


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 3:11pm
Um, don't go to the mall?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2006
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 6:24pm
We live in the city and walk around a lot so there is always this constant urge to buy things at the store like a drink or snack even though we could bring from home or wait until we return. We started something where we put all coins we get from anywhere into a jar that is actually a toy bank that counts them for us and at the end of every two weeks, we take them to my bank and turn them into mad money. We have a special mad money wallet and it limits what we spend on drinks and snacks on the go. This has saved us A LOT of money actually in the last six months I think. I had no idea how much we were spending on coffees, drinks, snacks, incidentals but it really adds up. Especially at places like Starbucks or near monuments downtown where they know they can get you to pay just about anything. It has also made us look at prices on bottled water or sodas and different snacks even in regular convenience stores. We are just more careful in general. And the change that we get from the mad money spending gets put right back in the jar and recycled.
Lilypie - Personal picture
Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 7:04pm

I don't really have creative ways. I still don't have the money to spend right now, because I'm saving up for the girls to go to Europe and I almost finally paid all my bills a month ahead. I'm trying to do

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 7:14pm

Walmart for groceries - stock up on staples and then fill in with produce from the grocery store on other weeks.

Cook,bake most things from scratch - no frozen/processed/restaurant meals.

Walmart for a lot of stuff - house stuff, pool stuff, dog stuff, shoes. Never spend more than $10 on shoes or $8 on belts. All jewelry comes from Walmart, too!!

Buy used uniforms at school - I outfited DS for the whole year for $30.

Find a cheap hairdresser - mine comes to the house and only charges $45 for color and cut.

Ebay for used items and brand names, especially office supplies.

Try to think of something else to use before buying something. Reuse, reserve, recycle! Don't buy it just because you want it - wait a bit and see if you can find a deal. Always look for a better price - never just keep using same online store. Search for coupons.

Constantly look for new health insurance - it always goes up so I get a new policy every 2 or 3 years.

Always check with phone service to see if you can get a better deal.

Call all auto places and get bids before taking car in for service.

Pay off debt. I should have listed that one first.

Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 7:40pm

Yes, paying off debt slowly. Even if it's 50 bucks more a month off my car. It really adds up, because it takes away so much

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-30-2004
Mon, 02-11-2008 - 7:54pm

Kat, your situation sounds like mine.