How do you save money!

[Angeltoes]

Very slowly... I love Jesse's idea about making laundry soap. I would like to do that not only to save money, but also because I don't particularly feel like giving my money to the corporations who test on animals and exploit human beings.

It would be great to be a homesteader and learn how to live the zero waste lifestyle.

[Amulette]

It's fun to see how much we have in common when having to live on a budget. So many of us seem to have similar strategies.

I have a shopping triangle: Trader Joes, Sprouts and Costco. I have found I can get really good quality food at reasonable prices by being picky and price aware. Our Costco carries a lot of organic products. I love my freezer too.

I decided to try and redecorate my house via Craigslist. I've bought choice pieces and sold my old stuff. Just this week it all fell into place. I love Annie Sloan and her chalk paint. I buy for shape, design, and quality. And I actually love it if it needs some paint It's really easy to sell on Craigslist if you are reasonable about your pricing. I always screen people via a phone call, sometimes several. There are 2 major cities one to the North and one to the South of me. About a 200-mile drive either way and what an adventure to take a lovely drive and come home with furniture, meet new people lol it's an adventure. But at the end of the day, I have gotten the look I want and quality items that I could not afford otherwise. It's known that I am a decorating addict, please help me. Fortunately, I don't have to answer to anyone on that matter.

TIP: When wealthy people redecorate they often sell things cheap so they can get on with their projects. Act fast and bargain with them.

CL is a treasure hunt you never know what piece you will find at what time. Be patient when you want an item, it will come up.


I heard a saying in regards to organization and decluttering: Only save what you love. I tend to have a love of "SHINEY THINGS" especially if found on a treasure hunt like yard sales, Craigslist etc. Ohhh shiny thing, great price, and growing clutter. So I have been on an only save what I use and love binge. It has happened in layers, over a couple of years. I am finally down to what I really want and love. My house is easier to clean, and when I look around I smile because I really love what's left.

Love the laundry soap idea <3

[DapperButch]

Only order water in restaurants.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Only order water in restaurants.

But not with lemon or lime wedges as most of them have fecal residue on them.

[Kätzchen]

Me too, I live within the means of my earning power. I don't use credit cards at all, but swipe my credit union debit card or use cash for purchases.

I've been able to save money by upgrading all my appliances at home to energy saving appliances. Also, I qualified for energy credits via the power company, because I upgraded my appliances. I wish I could qualify for clean energy off the power grid, but because I live in an much older urban housing community, I won't be able to do that unless I buy my own property/home.

That's my dream, to own my own home. I started a savings account for funds to go toward that dream. I do that by contributing money that I save on my power bill. It's growing steadily because for years, before I bought my energy saving appliances, my power bill would notoriously sky rocket during late fall through late spring (a span of over 7-8 months).

This year, I want to have my sweetheart build a few things (little pet projects): I want to have more privacy by attaching lattice work to the patio balcony, so I can grow sun flowers and trumpet vines and trailing roses and English ivy. I've been keeping an eye out for an rather large patio umbrella, so I can stand it up inside a wooden picnic table, to provide coverage during times of rain.

I'm actually hoping to have a nice amount of cash equity set aside before I turn 60 (a couple of years from now), to help me purchase a small house, on a reasonable sized rural lot.

My car died during grad school, a number of years ago, so I don't miss the price of car insurance or weekly gasoline purchases or car maintenance expenditures. Bicycling gets me to where I need to go, plus it's a fabulous way to get exercise and decompress after a work day or just ride for fun and relaxation. The cost of upkeep on my bicycle is minimal, so I don't miss owning a car at all.

I cook all meals at home, which saves too. I like to go out for dinner or breakfast, maybe once or twice a year. I really like it that four times a year, certain groups of friends get together for potlucks or BBQ's. I always make something to take to these seasonal get-together's: by request, if it's something everyone would like to have again; or be creative and bring something that people don't always make at home but would enjoy eating.

I really want to grow my own vegetables and such but there's not enough space or room to do that, right now.

For the most part, I live modestly. My sweetheart does too. We're happy and it makes us feel good that our lifestyle choices and values match similarly.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Gemme

But not with lemon or lime wedges as most of them have fecal residue on them.

Exactly! (my mom told me this..)