Jessica emailed to ask for some tips on saving money (other than the grocery store savings) so I thought I would post my answer for everyone to see then open it up to you the readers since there is strength (and more info) in numbers 🙂
1. Consider calling your utility companies on a regular basis (every few months) to see if they have any specials or plans that may help to reduce your rate. You would be surprised that often all you have to do is ask and you may get a temporary reduction thanks to a promotion or even a permanent reduction! I call my cable company every few months and more often than not they have a promo where I can get my Internet service reduced for a few months! You might consider shopping around and finding out competitor pricing and asking if your company will match the price. Usually a company would rather keep your business and give you the discount than lose you as a customer!
2. Re-use or re-purpose items. I will admit that I never used to do this. If I received a gift I never thought about keeping the bag that the gift came in until one day I paid attention to the fact that I paid almost $5 for a gift bag! Hello–keep those babies and reuse them again. The same goes for the plastic containers that from margarine, dips, etc. These are perfect to hold craft items or small toys. I don’t care to see the logo so I might have the boys help me decorate the bowl so that you’d never know it was a Country Crock Tub 🙂 There are a million examples of way to save money by re-using or re-purposing. I bet you guys have all kinds of ideas!Â
3. Barter! This is one of my FAVORITE ways to save money! Everyone has talents and all you have to do is find someone who is willing to swap with you!Â
4. Saving When Eating Out. I cook the majority of meals here at home but once per week we do dinner out —my night off 🙂 Where we goes often depends on what coupon I have available! My favorite option is Restaurant.com. I just got several $25 gift certificate for $2!! Different restaurants have different requirements but whenever possible I keep a few of these on hand to our favorite places. Using a Restaurants.com certificate my family can eat for at least 1/2 of what we would typically pay!! Right now you can get 80% at Restaurant.com by using the code SHARE. So… I can let my family choose from one of the four certificates I have on hand and still save money!! (The code is valid through 12/14.)
You can find restaurant coupons everywhere! Did you notice there are several offers right now HERE on coupons.com?! Currently, there is an offer for a $20 gift card when you buy a $100 gift card at Maggiano’s. That is like getting FREE money if that is a place you frequent. $120 would probably cover 2 maybe 3 meals for my family–by buying the gift card during the promotion I am able to stretch our dining out budget even farther!! Also, check your inserts there are often coupons in there too! If you go to the your favorite restaurants website and join their club you will often get coupons and be notified of special events/deals by email!! Lots of places also give you freebies on your birthday!!
5. Track your expenses. Take one week and write down every penny you spend. At the end of the week analyze your findings and determine what percentage of that money spent was for necessary vs unnecessary items! I bet you would be shocked at how much money you spend on completely unnecessary things! Even if you determine you only spend $10 a week on unnecessary items that is like blowing $520 a year!! Of course we all need our treats and luxury items but make a point to track your spending–I bet you will find yourself thinking twice when you pick up that one bottle of soda that cost $1.50 at the convenience store!!Â
These are just the first things that came to my head. I’d love for you all to share your money saving ideas and tips!! After all alot of times we have learned lessons the hard way 🙂
I’ve always saved the plastic tubs from margarine or cool whip. I re-use them as tupperware containers. Especially at the holidays, I don’t mind putting leftovers in them to send with family. I don’t care if I don’t get it back. I save alot of money on tupperware.
I use the recyclable bags for my grocery shopping, but every now and then I will get the plastic bags. I use them to put in my trash cans in the bathrooms and bedrooms.
The glass jars that some things come in ( olives, fruit cocktail, etc) I use for leftovers, sourdough bread starter, cookie mix for gift giving ( just add a little piece of holiday fabric and some ribbon and they will never know), and even as a pencil cup.
I use the yahoo group Freecycle alot. It’s like a garage sale without the money or the hassle! Just post what you have and someone will email you that they will come get it! easy peasy! Also, I call all of my “utility” providers including cell and direct tv every few months. I am always honest and say that I am just making sure that what we are paying for is the best package for us. Last time I called direct TV, they cut my bill by $15 p/mo and gave me a 3 month FREE trial of the Showtime package! It never hurts to call and it only costs you time!
Do save all those empty food cantainers if you have college students. They never return your good containers when you send leftovers home with them. I found a cupboard full of them at our oldest son’s college apt. and he claimed that they were not mine! Lesson learned!!
I can’t tell you how many hundreds of dollars we used to spend on giftcards for teacher’s for Christmas gifts and end-of-the year gifts. Alot of times classes have a co-teacher or full time intern which really adds up. I finally started using my couponing diva-ness to collect things to make gift baskets for teachers! I went to IKEA and bought some nice organizational containers for about $2.99 each. Then I put a nice Glad Fragrance Collection candle, a smaller soy candle, some Celestial seasonings holiday teas (that are BOGO this week), some fancy chamomile cough drops, Kleenex, a Febreeze reed diffuser for their classroom (since they can’t burn candles at school) and some Bath and Body Works lotion that was free during a promotion. It’s practical stuff that I would personally like to receive and all of it was cheap or free throughout the year thanks to couponing!
As a teacher, I love Kimberly’s idea!
Im confused. . . on restaurant.com, when you use the restaurant certifs., so many of them say minimum of $50 order at the restaurant. For a place like Johnny’s Pizza and a family of 4, we don’t normally spend $50. Am i missing something? thx.
I love the giftcard promotions as well. Last week I invested $200 in Texas Roadhouse restaurant, a place we eat at least twice a month. After buying the gift cards, we received 2 vouchers for two meals up to $30!! The $30 meals for DH and I is way too much, it’s a meal and a lift over for another day.
Gina:
I think you are looking at the $25 gift card. do they have the $10 gift card? If so then you might be required to make only $20 to $25 purchase!!
If you ususally spend $30 it’s still a good deal. get your total to $50 have Left over for another Pizza night at home ( You can even have the server pack the rest to go) use your gift card (Will take $25) and pay the rest of it cash. You wind up with two meal for the price of what you usually pay..
ok, I’m clear now that i was looking at $25 gift card. Another question – if i buy 2 $10 gift cards and i spend $25 a the restaurant, can i use 2 $10 gift cards that i bought or can i only use one? i see restaurants say only 1 certificate per table, but some don’t say anything. Thx for any help. Some of this on their website is confusing to me.
ok, I’m clear now that i was looking at $25 gift card. Another question – if i buy 2 $10 gift cards and i spend $25 a the restaurant, can i use 2 $10 gift cards that i bought or can i only use one? i see restaurants say only 1 certificate per table, but some don’t say anything. Thx for any help. Some of this on their website is confusing to me.