What non-frugal thing has really saved you money?

**Mojjo** · 12-07-2005, 09:42 PM

I received a digital camera for my birthday this past year. I could have had the money in the alternative and put it towards some household expense or gotten something more "practical" but gosh darn it I wanted the camera.

Now...it's saved me so much time and money it's not funny. I'm not constantly having prints made and mailing them to extended family. I can take a picture of the boys wearing a shirt grandma bought them and she'll have it in 5 minutes. A lot of Christmas presents are starting from the camera. I haven't had to buy class pictures because I take them during holiday programs. It's turned into a real money saver.

Anyone else have something they didn't think was going to help with saving money turn into a real help.

**Daydream Believer** · 12-07-2005, 10:52 PM

I would also have to say my digital camera because even though it was a fairly cheap one, it has paid for itself many times over with being able to use it for e-bay sales.

**owiebrain** · 12-08-2005, 01:41 AM

Definitely the internet.

I know people say it's a luxury, something that should be given up first during hard financial times but, dang, it saves us so much money!

We don't spend anything on long distance. We don't even spend anything on local calls. All communications are done through either email or instant messaging. If someone wants to talk to us but doesn't have internet, they can wait for me to get around to writing a letter.

Research and reading is free. No more gas-sucking trips to the library. No more buying a bazillion books trying to research something.

Homeschooling lessons/topics are unlimited. I've not had to buy curriculum in years.

Freecycle and other free finds--so many things we've gotten for free over the years by just keeping an eye out or putting the internet word out for something we need/want.

Comparison shopping. Not only using the internet to compare prices of brick & mortar local stores but the endless internet-buying opportunities for deals. The whole dang world is now in competition for my business.

And on and on...