Pinching those pennies

[Debi]

The older I get, the more I find myself doing things my mom (a Depression-era baby) used to do to save money while I rolled my eyes at her for doing it!
Ziplock bag? Not that dirty...wash it up.
Aluminum foil? Hey, that washes too!
Still a bit of shampoo in the bottle at the bottom? Add some water!
Dollar Store? My son has become the King of finding good buys there.

Do you pinch those pennies these days?
Got any money saving tips for surviving these days?
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[ozentity]

Not buying take away. I'd rather buy a pork roast that will last me 3 days than a Mac meal at the same price.

 

[Debi]

Not buying take away. I'd rather buy a pork roast that will last me 3 days than a Mac meal at the same price.

I agree. That was pretty much the first thing to go at my house. I can cook much cheaper than buy fast food for 3.

 

[crux]

Dollar stores, thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, craigslist, flea markets ...

I've been a picker since I was a kid.

 

[Debi]

Dollar stores, thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, craigslist, flea markets ...

I've been a picker since I was a kid.

When my DIL was setting up the new house for us here, she used the local chat group on Facebook and she pretty much outfitted an entire house using that approach! This is a very small house vs. all of our old furniture was huge to fit a much bigger house. That girl managed to find just about everything for little or nothing using that approach!

 

[Stevedog]

My daughter loves to go clothes shopping at the thrift store. She finds fun clothes that fit her style but more importantly she finds very inexpensive clothes that she can modify and not worry about ruining it because it cost next to nothing. She has several black shirts and pants that she bleach painted with designs.

In a weird way I feel a sense of pride that my daughter sees these kinds of opportunities in thrift store shopping. I told her that when I was growing up getting clothes at the thrift store was a necessity because we didn't have a lot of money. Once I grew up, got a job and became an adult there was a real sense of accomplishment when I could buy myself brand new clothes and shoes. In fact I have a bit of stigma/PTSD at the thrift store. The fact that she likes going thrifting gives me a different sense of accomplishment.

 

[Selectric]

I found myself hitting the dollar store often on way home but trouble is, it isn't well ran and find many expired items. It's just as easy to swing toward my usual supermarket instead. I am not the budget type guy lately. I do save money, but if i want to eat out for lunch, i do. I will make my lunches, but as with anything, it gets old and have to change it up. May buy one of those heated lunch boxes for leftovers. I am the type of person that will hold back on bigger buys if i don't need. It took me some time of self convincing to buy my car. Now that i have it, it is the best recent thing i bought. A major plus is it will be paid off before i retire lol. Every decision hinges on what i want retirement to be like. I have worked my ass off through life. I want to enjoy those years comfortably with whoever i am with or if i end up solo, well so be it lol.

 

[Selectric]

My career as an electrician has done me well through the years. Sure, it's had it's ups and downs, but that's a common fact. There was a time when there wasn't enough money coming in and that rode me like a broken bicycle. I also remember when my parents went through very tough times and helplessly watched them lose their home. They made it work in the end. It's never easy going through bad times. The older i get, i don't rely on money like i used to. It's an item. It's a tool. That's it. Once i let go of that grip, life seems more pleasant. It's stinks we need money to survive in this world, but there are far more important things than what some refer to as the root of all evil. Hard work does pay off. It can make life and later years easier. Will it make us happier? No. I concentrate more on family and the people i have surrounded myself with.

 

[Duke]

I plan my trips to get a much done on each trip as possible, try to avoid extra trips. I especially try to avoid crisscrossing myself, I'll wait until I have multiple errands in a particular area, if possible.

Mrs Duke is a worldclass recycler/repurposer, she finds uses for things that otherwise would have been thrown away. Most of these reuses are practical, but others are more artsy/crafy. For example, she got on a kick at one point doing art projects made from empty toilet paper rolls.

 

[Lynne]

I am definately a "non waster". I love that saving money is an added benefit.