Snowball savings can grow so quickly. I'm writing down all that I'm saving by things that I'm doing this month. Although this will be virtual, it means money I don't have to spend.

- Returned 2 Christmas gifts and saved $273.00. After much thought, felt I could get a couple of smaller gifts for the kids instead.

- using deodarant every other day - saving $2.99 from having to purchase another one so quickly.

- using less shampoo and washing my hair every other day. Again saving $5.00 because I'm stretching my shampoo for an extra month.

- I've changed my setting on my clothes washer from normal which is 20 minutes to Permanent press with is 10 minutes, thus saving electricity, less water and less wear and tear on the machine. The amount saved will show up later.

- cut back our thermostat another notch. Again will show that amount later in the month.

So far this month, I've put the $273.00 back into our bank account and saved that along with $7.99, making my total $280.99. Quite a savings that have not had to be taken out of our account.

Anyone game to write down how and what they are saving on.

I think it would be ok if you used deodarant every day:)

I have also been turning the tstat down but being on a concrete slab means the condo is cold!:bigsnow: and that is what I will have in my living room if I let it go down too far!!

Carolyn that's what i do.lol i shave once a week,mostly cause well i can only get a 5 min shower cause the kids run in the bathroom.Hello have they head of privacy!

Anyways We snowball our debt meaning we pay off a bill and then take our monthly payment from the bill we just paid off and add it to another bill each month so say bill A was $50 and Bill B was $50 we ended up paying off bill A and Adding that payment to bill B till that got paid off So bill B's payment was $100 and then when bill B was paid off we added that $100 to bill C.Hope I'm exlplaining this clearly.

Amanda, I am going to try that idea. I keep saying I am, but never do. This is one of my goals for the new year! You explained it great!

CJ, love your ideas.

We recently refinanced our mortgage and will be getting a check on the 27th for $1,200 and knocked $180 off of our mortgage payment. The $1,200 is going in a special account for any home repairs and I am hoping to convince dh to put $50-$100 of that $180 towards the van payments so we can get that paid off more quickly. We don't really have any other debt right now as we pay off our credit card every month and the rest are just bills that come regularly, no matter what: electricity, gas, etc.

Whenever we get a little extra money we throw it on the mortgage. Putting it towards the principal means big savings in the long run.
We've been using our wood burning fireplace with an insert (1st year to have it) a lot so far this season and it is saving us so much on our oil bill. They came last week to top us off and were here a matter of moments and only gave us about 50 gal. All that hard work to cut down trees ,split and stack is really paying off now.I'd call that a snowball effect. Good stuff.
;)