How *CHEAP* Are You?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2006
How *CHEAP* Are You?
24
Mon, 05-05-2008 - 7:52pm

We all do things to save a couple of pennies.....


With the rising cost of groceries, gas, and everything else I thought it would be fun (and even funny) if we all shared one or two things we do that's on the *CHEAP* side!


Here's mine:


~ I try to reuse ziploc bags


~ I drive past several gas stations while on EMPTY to go to one that's 3 cents less


 


 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 8:40am

I bundle my errands, so I'm making a loop when out


For clothes, especially for me, I buy off of the clearance rack and use % off coupons (I love shopping at Macy's this way). Not that I'm doing a ton of clothes shopping lately - that has been drastically reduced


For food shopping, I check sale prices, use coupons and stock up when things are on sale.


I pay by credit card for as many things as possible and pay the balance off when the bill comes in.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2007
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 8:44am

We also keep our thermostats very low (55 during the night, 65 first thing in the morning when the kids are getting ready for school, then 60 during the day) and we have the fireplace insert, as well.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 9:35am

Okay - well I must be the only over indulgent one. I just couldn't live a *cheap* lifestyle, even though we certainly should at our income level! I've been racking my brain all morning to think of ANY decisions I make that "save" us money - I can't think of even one!

I NEVER do coupons. I refuse to drive around to more than one store for sales. I buy what I LIKE, regardless of price, sales, etc. Especially with food and clothes. I used to try and grocery shop at Walmart because it was a little cheaper, but I can't stand the employees, crowds, service, etc. so I'd rather pay more at a store I like the atmosphere better. I've tried to shop sales a few times for clothes - but I don't have the patience to search through 100's of racks to find ONE thing that fits and I only kind of like. Not worth a sale price to me. My time is money too and I don't want to go to 10 stores with whiney kids, whiney dh. So if I see it, like it, it fits and we and I'm done - I don't really even look at the tag. I go to the closest gas station - honestly I don't even know what the price of gas is, I don't even look. If I am on E, I stop at the next one I see. We eat out about 3 times a week at probably $50 a time, but I need those nights off cooking and I really enjoy the socialization of eating out. Its relaxing and fun. I'd be a really sad, grumpy person without my evening "breaks" like that, and a sad, grumpy mom isn't worth the money we'd save! Even with my school books - I will go ahead and write in them and highlight the heck out of them if it helps me get an A, even if that means I can't sell them back. The $50-70 dollars I lose is well worth keeping my 4.0.

And I am a big wimp, we keep our heat at like 72, but of course in TX that doesn't really cost us much, our gas bill is still only like $60 in the winter. I am pretty good with the a/c - I keep it at 78-80 since heat doesn't bother me. I've met people here in TX that set their a/c at like 68 and have $600/month electric bills in the summer. I don't keep it high to save money though - I just feel comfy with the house at about 78. If I liked it cooler, I would probably do it regardless of the bill.

I guess I got it from my mom, she was the exact same way, so I didn't grow up watching someone clip coupons, shop sales, etc.

















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belizesig1
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Avatar for corvettebabe1972
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 9:45am

I do most of the things everyone has listed...and I have NEVER wasted food. Guess that was just ingrained into me by my mom.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 9:47am

Ooohhh - I thought of ONE way that I am cheap!!

Dh and both drive OLD beat-up cars (mine is totally crashed in on the front and rusted) Dh's is a 97 and mine is a 98. Both are totally paid for (in cash when we bought them). So we don't have car payments, lower insurance, etc. I refuse to have a car payment or have to have full coverage insurance! I'd rather drive a beat up old car. We also wanted to buy our house here in TX cash when we moved. We could have gotten a bigger, fancier home if we had put the money we had from our home in CA as a down payment instead. But I didn't want to ever have a mortgage payment again! We also don't have ANY credit card debt, I refuse to use them unless I can go home and mail the full amount right away. So we have no debt, no mortgage, no car payments - and I plan to keep it that way! I guess that is what allows me to be anti-frugal with everything else LOL!

















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belizesig1
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2003
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 10:10am

My cheap spot is my internet service and Tv.



 

 


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2008
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 11:29am
Fun topic! I came across a craft website where someone makes cotton flannel sandwich bags. It's cheap AND green friendly.
I taught my kids that going to the movies/zoo/park IS the treat and we bring our own snacks. I find our custom of sitting in the dark with tons of junk food a little disturbing.


Edited 5/6/2008 12:13 pm ET by sf_susan
u
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 5:39pm

Well, I don't think of myself as cheap, but I have to count my pennies if I want to continue to stay home.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 5:58pm

Since the gas prices have gotten so high, we're getting our gas at Kroger (our grocery store) because it's $.10 cheaper per gallon than the other gas stations.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2007
Tue, 05-06-2008 - 5:59pm

I am not a "frugal goddess" (though I love the term!) but I do have my little quirks and cost savings measures.


I reuse jam jars, ziplocks, yogurt containers, twist ties, rubber bands, etc.

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