Money Monday – February 6, 2012 (Part 1)

For this Money Monday post, I decided to do something a little different, and recruited the help of my Facebook friends who’s brains I picked to see what they do to save money and stretch their dollars a little further, I present to you a 2 part post compiling tips and ideas they gave me to share with my readers.  Special thanks to each contributor for this little project, I truly appreciate it!

• Jen H-C said she does a couple of things ….
  • “I buy generic/store brand when I buy food…there is minimal difference (if any) in quality. That allows me to splurge on items that are worth it, such as toilet paper, tissues, paper plates, makeup, etc. If you buy generic of those items, you often use twice as much! And who wants a ripped tissue?”
  • “Sometimes generic is not a bargain! I will take the time to figure out how much a certain item (more expensive stuff like soap, cat litter, detergent, etc.) is per pound or per ounce…sometimes a sale on a brand name does make it cheaper than generic!”
  • “A change jar! I keep them everywhere…the ashtray of my car is one, there’s one on my dresser, in my office at work too. Anytime I break a bill, I save the change in a jar (sometimes I keep quarters for vending machine, meters, etc…but you get the idea). Then when they get full, I take them to the bank and use the money for spending money on vacation. I can end up saving a few hundred dollars that way within a year…!”

• An anonymous friend, gave me the following list of things she does to help stretch her dollars further
  •   Shop at thrift shops, household sales and antique shops
  • darn socks
  • hang cloths to dry
  • take short showers
  • “But I’m not willing to compromise on things that involve my health and happiness as I do value myself more than my $.
  • I use a credit card that earns points for almost all purchases, even groceries, insurance, medical, etc. I pay it off in total every month and still earn points. Each Christmas I can buy over a hundred dollars in gifts and use my points–the gifts and shipping are free.”
  • “I also make gifts such as scarves, embroidered towels and pillow cases.”
  • “Some of my friends barter for both products and services.”

• Marissa offered the following list
  • Buy off-brand items
  • Recycle cans/bottles
  • Buy cheap food choices: rice, potatoes, pasta, bananas, etc
  • Buy uncooked, unpackaged food and cook at home
  • Pack lunches
  • Use sunlight during the day and sparingly at night. Try candles, and always turn off lights when leaving a room.
  • Turn down refrigerator temperature to conserve  energy
  • Turn washing machine to highest spin to conserve energy
  • Bike or walk instead of driving when possible
  • Use Netflix and other online sites instead of cable
  • Use a water filter instead of buying water jugs
  • Unplug appliances while not in use, otherwise they consume energy even when turned off
  • Hang laundry to dry
  • Keep appliances as clean as possible to extend their life: pull off the bottom-front piece on your refrigerator and clean thoroughly every year, change air filter at least every 2 months
  • Use coupons
  • Buy second-hand
  • Buy at garage sales
  • Turn down thermostat as low as is bearable (you can always put on more clothes for warmth); also open windows for temperature control, during the day for heat or during night to cool
  • Eat well and exercise to avoid medical bills
  • Drink water instead of juice or soda
  • Plant a garden
  • Make sure you get frequent oil changes and keep your tires well-inflated for better mileage. Try not to break hard or start-up fast; the smoother your transitions the better your mileage gets.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post to be posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 …..