Tips on How Families Save Money

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lilyofthevalley
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lilyofthevalley

Guest
Lately, with the economy being what it is, I am sure people have had to resort to extreme penny pinching and other tricks, to keep their families clothed and fed.
Does anyone want to share some penny pinching advice?
Instead of buying fancy pajamas,which really make my children ITCH, I buy a pack of cotton men’s T-shirts. My children don’t itch from the fabric and they rest comfortably.
I do the same with my husband’s, my T-shirts that have been “ruined”, by a stain or rip and hand them over to be pajamas for the children.
 
I shop for some household items and do most of our clothes shopping at a favorite thrift shop, which is called Value Village. I don’t specifically look for popular brand names, but I often find them for a fraction of their cost new. For example, I’ve gotten my daughter several “cool” pair of jeans for about $1.50 a pair. I also often find items with the tags still on them, having never been worn. The gal I work with often compliments me on my clothing, and I just flash her the double “V” with my fingers. 😉 She knows that means I got a great bargain at Value Village.

I also love to scour yard sales for things I need. Most recently, I wanted a food processor. A run-of-the-mill, basic unit was going to run me about $50. I found a Hamilton Beach food processor at a yard sale for $5. I brought it home and cleaned it up, and it’s sparkling white; looks brand new. I’ve also been wanting to try out a Presto salad shooter but wouldn’t pay the cost of a new one. I found one yesterday at a yard sale for $5. Same story as with the food processor – I cleaned it up, and it looks brand-spanking new. Came with all the right pieces and instruction book.

That’s what I like to do to save money.
 
Sheen, good for you! Thank-you for sharing. You are absolutely correct about saving at yard sales!I managed to get some videos for the children, .25 cents a video.
 
Some merchandize – books for example – can be bought used for very good prices through the Internet.
 
I am very lucky indeed, our parish runs a thrift store/homeless shelter, the money made is used to help the homeless, abused women, etc. You can donate any items, furniture, books, toys, clothes, houseware items etc. as long as they are clean and in good condition. So, I donate many things I don’t need anymore or clothes my kids have out grown and I shop the thrift store, I have found so many things, toasters, mixers, wonderful books, toys, and of course clothes, I must say, almost all my and my kids clothes come from this thrift shop, you can fill a grocery bag for 4.00 and if you can’t fill it then it is less, the clothes are in excellent condition because they don’t even put out anything with holes or dirty or out of date etc. they have shoes and socks, blankets, sheets, jackets, you name it, I really like this place and I know that my money goes right back to this place to help the homeless and abused, not only that, they help the homeless find jobs and homes, etc.

The other way we save, dollar stores, they are popping up all over the place, they are great, I buy all my cleaning supplies and laundry detergent at these also birthday favors, greeting cards, tooth brushes, toothpaste, shampoo etc. of course I alos watch all the flyers for stores as I have seen shampoo go for 75 cents at our grocery store for like suave products (thats what we use) so I watch very close for those things and if there is no limit we stock up and put away. We find stores like Super Walmart and Sam’s club good for buying in bulk and freezing foods, we need to get a bigger freezer for more of these things.
Also, my kids don’t take hot lunch at school, I pack their lunches and they like that much more and it costs way less for us.
And dollar stores are awesome for paper, pencils, pens, glue, etc. for back to school.
I’m sure I could think of a zillion more things we do but these are just some that come to my mind right now.
Hope this inspires you to feel thrifty 😃
 
OOPS, I almost forgot, the Library, we love the library, we have movies, dvds, cds, tapes at ours and they are new releases too, so we never rent from the video store as we can actually go and request certain videos at our library and if they don’t have them they will request them from one of their sister libraries and it might take four days to a week but there you’ve got that show you have been wanting to see for free and they do that with books and Cd’s also, we must spend several days a week going to the library and my kids love the programs they offer for free during the summer, they are so fun.
We love the Library!!!
 
once a month cooking, menu planning, owning one car, public transportation (DH’s work pays for most of his bus pass)

There are a lot of good “thrify” web sites that have great ideas.

-D
 
Two years ago my husband had a stroke, and I was left wondering when and if he would recover. I didn’t know if he would be able to resume the good job he had. So, before I knew the outcome I got busy on the phone cancelling all things we didn’t really need that were monthly bills. I cancelled cable, and paid them for just the antenna hook up. My bill went from $39. month to $8. month. I quit my health club that I loved and used often and I found a new no nonsense place closer to home with a savings of $30. month. I quit my long distance carrier that was $4.95 a month and used a phone card from Sam’s Club and the rate for that was 2.9 cents a minute, with no monthy fee. I quit AOL that was $29. month and found a cheaper service (earthlink, for 17.95 month). You get the picture. I reviewed my phone plan and bought a cheaper one. I made all my meals and quit eating meals out. I too, took advantage of resale shops. I rented movies and had popcorn night at home when watching films. I let my youngest invite kids over instead of taking them out and spending money. He still had fun but it was affordable. I asked my kids for ways they thought of to save money and we all got creative. My daughter borrowed a dress and shoes to wear to a high school dance. It was a challenge but so very do-able. For Christmas we all picked one name and we made a gift. We cut our shopping and our spending. That was three years ago, and we never returned to our old Christmas buying. We love the gift making. I can’t even go into all the kids have done to make this special. They love it and would never return to store bought no matter what. Granted, my youngest was 11 when this happened and didn’t believe in Santa to we were able to pull it off. Going on disability pay- overnight cutting your pay in half was a shock. We learned to take advantage of all the free things around us, including things at church that are offered. I work part time in teaching and I have never once since the stroke bought a cup of coffe or lunch out for work. I buy ahead, plan ahead with lunches, and I make all my own coffee. I make pizza once a week from scratch and it is a cheap meal and one that adds up when you buy it or have it delivered. I also use coupons again. I sort of got out of the habit for a few years. I dusted off my sewing maching and began repairing things instead of throwing them out. I shop at some bread outlets when I am passing them on the way home from work. Everything adds up. I like used book stores and the library for entertainment also. My parents were depression survivors and they actually brought me up this way- being economical. I returned to my beginnings and it felt good.

The outcome is that my husband was very blessed and he completely recovered. I have stayed with a part time job, but I kept up all the money saving plans that we engaged in. I am now putting any extra into saving for retirement. We are about 5 years away from that. I feel blessed, I pray more and as a family we are so much closer. My husband has a second chance…God is good.
 
Fitz, Good for you, that is such an awesome testimony, God bless you and your family, the gift making idea is awesome, I am going to speak to my husband about this, I think it sounds so fun and such a lovely way to show someone how much you care.
thanks so much for sharing your story 😃
 
Great tips, particularly using the library and the Internet. The library is also a great resource for cookbooks and popular magazines. If your spouse takes the kids and gives you some private time, consider the library… a great quiet place to relax without spending money or gaining weight!

If you haven’t done it already, take the time to get a financial education. Learn why you need insurance, what kind, how much, and how to shop for it… huge savings. Learn how to go about buying a car and getting a new mortgage. Factor in all expenses when pricing a new purchase: Never buy a house or car without finding out first what it will cost to insure it. Learn about places you can buy big-ticket items used, such as used office supply stores for office furniture and filing cabinets. Scout out reconditioned appliance stores for the day the washer quits. Take special care to maintain your car, house, and appliances that take energy, like your furnace and hot water heater. Get on those conservation websites, and find out ways to save energy and water… money in your pocket.

Most of all, take stock of where your own money is going. You may get some surprises. Don’t just look at where you overspend. Think about what circumstances are most likely to lead to overspending, so you can keep yourself out of “near occasions of sin.” And, of course, always pay off your credit cards every month.

When you cook from scratch, get some idea what it costs to make it homemade vs. what it costs to buy it. You’ll probably save bunches on homemade freezer jam (especially if you use u-pick), but you may pay extra to make your own lasagna every time… Costco’s was cheaper than mine! And look into vegetarian cooking, especially vegan, since meat and dairy (especially butterfat) are high-ticket items. Don’t forget that frozen fruits and vegetables are comparable to fresh in nutrition, are often higher in quality, and have a longer shelf life. Find a place that you can buy herbs and spices in bulk. If you can garden, grow some of your own food, especially high-ticket fresh herbs.

Don’t use more of anything chemical than what you need, particularly cosmetics. For instance, using too much of a cleaning agent just requires you to take more time and water to get the excess off. Again, the Internet is a great source for cheaper homemade substitutes. (PS The most effective anti-aging cream? Suntan lotion. Every day.)

I think that the best way to save money, though, is to decide that there are a lot of things you just don’t need. 100% savings!!
 
Penny pinching advice~from a penny pinching queen.
  1. Eliminate services that are really unimportant~No cell phones, no extra phone service (call waiting, caller id), no cable or satellite. It’s easier not to get such services in the first place. Once you have them, I guess it’s harder to give 'em up.
2.No impulse buying at the supermarket. Limit or eliminate convenience foods. A homemade pizza is a lot cheaper than a takeout one and a lot of fun to make.
  1. If you have to use credit cards, get ones with introductory offers for no interest. When the offer is up, find a new credit card. (We never pay interest.) With good credit, the offers keep coming.
  2. Breastfeed (if applicable)
  3. Get the extra weight out of your vehicle. Do not push the car to get up to speed. Take it slowly and you will save gas. When going to town, take care of all of your business instead of returning day after day. How many cars does your family need?
  4. Move out to the country. My friend who lives in suburban NY pays 6,000 a year in property tax. She has a modest home. I pay less than 400 a year. No kidding. The trade off? We breathe fresher air, enjoy wide open spaces and live life at a much slower pace. I guess to each his own~
  5. Investigate your state’s health insurance programs. Our state has low cost insurance for children of working families. We did not qualify but it was very CLOSE. (Isn’t it sad to wish you made a few thousand less a year??)
  6. Do you have a dollar movie theater near you? We do. We never see films when they are first out. If we wait a few weeks, the whole family can see a good movie for three dollars. Seriously!
  7. Be a smart gift giver. I created stamp collection books for my nieces and nephews. I also made them for my kids. When Christmas and birthdays come around, I contribute to each child’s stamp collection, in addition to or in place of buying other gifts. It’s fun. It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. It’s educational. It’s an investment. Need I say more?
Maybe I will share more of my penny pinching tips if you are interested. I’ve got so many. Time to move on for now.

Peace~
 
Try these books: Miserly Moms (www.miserlymoms.com) and The Tightwad Gazette. They are full of tips and both of these books can usually be found in libraries. There’s also a great website called The Dollar Stretcher: www.stretcher.com. Keeping track of every penny you spend for a few months will also reveal any surprise areas where you’re spending more than you realized. We use the Money Matters budgeting software (www.crown.org) created by Larry Burkett. I can’t begin to tell you how much it has helped us.
 
Ebay Ebay Ebay

This is my hint of the week.

I buy my kid clothes on ebay “by the box” For a hundred dollars-or so- she has all the clothes she needs for the season. (She’s 8). They are nice quality (often times name brand)- and since they are made so well, and with quality fabric- we can box them right back up and resell them on ebay! At the very least you can get 50% of your money back. There were even a couple of times were I was able to MAKE MONEY on the resale.

So I’m clothing my kid for about $100 a year net- in name brand, quality clothes.

I also sell any of the toys she’s outgrown. I make sure to keep everything in sets. She learns about keeping track of things and treating her things with respect, and I get more money for them when she’s outgrown them! I would say I get about 50% back on what I paid for those items as well.

Videos- I transitioned to DVD about 4 years ago. I had accumulated several hundred dollars worth of Disney and other kid videos. Ebay! I made money here too. On average I got right around 100% of my money back, and was able to purchase the titles we really loved on DVD and I got to clean out the video library.

Can you tell I love Ebay? 👍
 
Shiann do you like Ebay? 😃 I may sell all the videos we have, I don’t know yet.

Does anyone read Mary Hunts column?
 
Anonymous said:
1. Eliminate services that are really unimportant~No cell phones, no extra phone service (call waiting, caller id), no cable or satellite. It’s easier not to get such services in the first place. Once you have them, I guess it’s harder to give 'em up.
Click to expand...

I know a lot more people who are getting rid of their landline instead of the cell. A cheap plan with free long distance can often beat the landline.

-D
 
I buy all my cleaning supplies, paper supplies, greeting cards, office supplies, wrapping paper, etc. at the Dollar Store. There’s a degreaser called “Awesome” sold at Family Dollar that is great.

You can’t beat a Sam’s Club phone card. I think it’s about 3 cents a minute.

I took a larger deductible on my auto and homeowner’s ins. to lower my premiums.

My boss buys clothing at the thrift shop. He purchased a really nice pressure cooker for $7.00.

Blessings,
Shannin
 
Oh…when my grandchildren come, we rent videos for free at our library.

Shannin
 
This is really a truth in my house, never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, you’ll want everything and if possible, leave the kids with your husband or have a big talk before even walking in those doors, I know my kids will ask for everything at the grocery store and it gets very frustrating, one thing our grocery store does have is free sample day, on Saturday’s they have free food samples around every corner, those days I will take the kids just to sample foods, they think its a real treat and so adult like, ha!!
 
I am a member of www.thegrocerygame.com , which I learned about through Mary Hunt’s newsletters. Basically, for $1 and some change every week, you can get a list of items in the grocery store that are both on sale and have a coupon in that Sunday’s newspaper, or a coupon you probably have on hand from previous Sundays.

I went grocery shopping today with my Grocery Game shopping list and coupons, and here are some examples of what I got and how much I saved:

Irish Spring Soap (10 pack): Regularly 4.99, on sale this week for 2 for $6.00, with coupon (35 cents, doubled). I ended up paying $2.40 for the 10-pack, or 24 cents a bar.

Speed Stick Deodorant: Reg. 3.19 Sale price: 1.99 Coupon: 1.00. Final price: 99 cents

Ritz Bits Sandwiches: Reg. 3.59 each Sale price: 2 for $4 Coupon 1.00 for 2 Final price 1.50 each
I usually don’t buy my kids stuff like Ritz Bits, but when its on sale and I have a coupon, I’ll get it for them for a “treat.”

Most of my savings from the Grocery Game are for toiletries, detergents, and special treats like ice cream or snacks, but they keep a database of the lowest possible price in a cycle and then tell you to buy it that week if you want it. For example, bananas were on sale for .49/lb. this week, but I know in a few weeks they’ll be .25 a pound and I can stock up then. They do the same with meats, dairy products and produce. I have a nice little cupboard in the bathroom that my family “shops” from when they need stuff - all bought on sale and with coupon! No running to the store for toothpaste and paying $3.00, because we already have it and only paid .99 cents for it!

They have a one month trial membership for $1.00, so check it out! Unfortunately though, they are not available in every state.

P.S. No I don’t work for them! 😃
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top