"Tricks" for snowflakes

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2009
"Tricks" for snowflakes
5
Sat, 01-02-2010 - 10:54pm

Happy 2010 to all
I have learned so much from all of you, I wanted to see if there is more help out there. Since we all know how the "little" things can add up (in both directions) let's see if we can share and post our ideas for ways to find snowflakes for 2010.

Here are some of mine
1. I always carry change to give the to cashier. Then I take the dollar that I would have broken and tuck it into an envelope in my purse. At the end of each week I take it to bank and pay on a CC.

2. When I grocery shop I always put back 1 junk food item from my cart and add those few $ to envelope too.

Total for these 2 ideas is usually about $15-$20 a week.

What tricks do you smart people have?

Lila
Lila
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Sun, 01-03-2010 - 6:51am

I use an all cash budget for groceries, gas, kids allowances and spending.




iVillage Member
Registered: 12-23-2008
Sun, 01-03-2010 - 3:15pm

Hi -
I also tend to "reward" myself by putting money I would normally spend toward a payment. I use to eat donuts every morning and an orange juice. Instead I have started putting the extra $7.00 towards one of my dept store cards (I go into the store and pay, which also is gratifying - because I get use to going to the dept store and NOT spend money) ---although I am paying their bill !!!

I also recycle cans and plastic bottles. A trunk full gets me about $20.00 every 2 weeks. I split this up into my vacation account and pay down a bill I have at the credit union (which only has $45.00 left on it now so all of the money will go to my vacation account now !!!) --I pay the minimum each month and flake the recycling money in to pay it down quicker --

I also use the change from coupons and rebates the same as I do recycling. Rite Aid offers rebates on products I would normally need to buy, such as feminine hygeine items, shampoo, soap and shaving cream. I can do the rebates online and once that check comes I deposit it then flake it to something. Its awesome if I had coupons too, I will go home and flake that money immediately because I saved by just handing over a a tiny piece of paper.

Hope these idea's help. It's not much money, between the coupons, rebates and recycling it's probably no more than $60.00. Remember it's just flake money - I still am paying the minimums plus a few dollars more already but, it managed me and my kids to take a non-credit charged vacation last summer (with money to spend on groceries, gas and fun) !!!

xoxo Shannon

XoXo Shannon 2010 YTD Flake $349.94 2010 YTD Flake to Savings $193.33
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Sun, 01-03-2010 - 4:46pm

Lots of people tend to up their minimums on their cards. For example: if their card minimum is 47 dollars the would up their payment to $50 or 60 0r 70 or whatever they can afford.

Or as they pay the cards down and the first minimum they had was $107 dollars they would put $110 on it every time they made a payment even though the minimum would steadily go down.

When I make extra payments on my ticker(I am not making extra right now) I would make it an even dollar amount to simplify my accounting. I can't do 10 here and 15 there as it would be a lot of work and very confusing.

I am just saving right now and hope to go back to flaking in the spring. It is a whole lot easier to flake on the saving end than it is on the paying down debt end! I use my Avon money I make to save and so much each pay check.

Good luck everyone and keep the ideas coming!


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Sun, 01-03-2010 - 5:44pm

Similar to what Karen was saying, I round up on my bills. For example, my hydro is 133 a month and I round up to 135. I pay water every two months, but have it in my budget as a monthly item. The months that I don't pay it are built in snowflakes.


I also have a change jar that I throw loose change in to (can build up fast when you live in Canada and have $1 and $2 coins!!!) I take out $100 a week cash. If I have anything left, I store it in a jar and either flake it, or use it for those times when I am a little short!


Trying to think if there is anything else I do . . . hmmmm.


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 01-03-2010 - 10:46pm

Great post for the New Year!


I'm a round up &