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549 Posts
It took me far too long to realize how much money I was spending on coffee. Now, I am enjoying trying new recipes for making my own special blends of coffee at home.
What simple ways do you save money every day?
What simple ways do you save money every day?
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
What simple ways do you save money every day?
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9,408 Posts
Eat breakfast at home. A sausage biscuit made at home cost less than $3 and keeps you away from expensive vending machine snacks.
Prepackage your own snacks. A store bought "protein and energy" trail mix pack costs about $1.50. ($7.50 a week) For about $5 I got a pound of bulk nuts, chocolate pieces and dried fruit and can make at least 2 weeks worth of snacks.
Prepackage your own snacks. A store bought "protein and energy" trail mix pack costs about $1.50. ($7.50 a week) For about $5 I got a pound of bulk nuts, chocolate pieces and dried fruit and can make at least 2 weeks worth of snacks.
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19,576 Posts
I've learned life skills to DIY as much as I can, and I never stop learning. Although as I get older, I'm less inclined to do some of the things I used to do. I actually paid someone to install a new water heater a couple years ago. I still can't believe I paid someone to do such a simple job.
Not every day, but I'm developing a collection of recipes for assorted types of breads. My most recent find is a good ciabatta recipe, which works out to less than .45 per twelve Italian rolls compared with the $3 per six rolls we used to pay for day old ciabatta rolls. Taking the time to do the trial and error and find the right recipe will pay dividends forever for me now.
I'm still working on perfecting hot dog buns and getting pretty close. My only problem now is figuring out the correct size and shape and method to get those two things right.
Not every day, but I'm developing a collection of recipes for assorted types of breads. My most recent find is a good ciabatta recipe, which works out to less than .45 per twelve Italian rolls compared with the $3 per six rolls we used to pay for day old ciabatta rolls. Taking the time to do the trial and error and find the right recipe will pay dividends forever for me now.
I'm still working on perfecting hot dog buns and getting pretty close. My only problem now is figuring out the correct size and shape and method to get those two things right.
Joined
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1,873 Posts
Drink coffee at home in the mornings and drink the free bottles of water at work.
I at my new job we can't eat at our desks and there is no cafeteria. Instead of eating out I'm packing my lunch and I'm eating in my car. I need to find a park. Not sure of the solution when it gets cold. Someone mentioned to me a heater thing for the car that costs $40 and the plugin converter is another $17. It will pay for itself in no time but I still have to figure out the winter thing.
I bundle trips as the town I work and shop in is 10 miles away.
I work as a contractor so housing is a big one for me. Instead of bringing the camper 1,400 miles or renting an apartment ($650/mo) with a lease and utilities I found a place to stay using Airbnb. Its costing just over $10/night ($425 for 36 days) plus I have internet and share the kitchen, bathroom, washer and dryer with 2 other people. It's not the nicest (or the worst) place I've ever stayed but it will work for now.
I at my new job we can't eat at our desks and there is no cafeteria. Instead of eating out I'm packing my lunch and I'm eating in my car. I need to find a park. Not sure of the solution when it gets cold. Someone mentioned to me a heater thing for the car that costs $40 and the plugin converter is another $17. It will pay for itself in no time but I still have to figure out the winter thing.
I bundle trips as the town I work and shop in is 10 miles away.
I work as a contractor so housing is a big one for me. Instead of bringing the camper 1,400 miles or renting an apartment ($650/mo) with a lease and utilities I found a place to stay using Airbnb. Its costing just over $10/night ($425 for 36 days) plus I have internet and share the kitchen, bathroom, washer and dryer with 2 other people. It's not the nicest (or the worst) place I've ever stayed but it will work for now.
This is what I do routinely.
I wash clothes in cold water.
Make my own laundry and fabric soften.
Line dry clothes all spring, summer and fall.
I turn all lights off when not in use.
Make my own copycat Dawn dishfoam.
Buy in bulk.
Grow elderberries to make a tincture my cold and flu medicine.
Grow a garden, fruit, berries, grapes, herbs, mints, rhubarb, forage.
Make my own jams no buying any from the store.
Pressure can.
Water bath can.
Dehydrate.
Make many foods from scratch including seasoning.
Make homemade vanilla extract, kahlua, copycat baileys Irish cream.(Haven't bought any of these in 10-plus years)
Pick dandelions growing on my lawn to make dandelion wine.
Make my own salves.
Buy most things on sale.
Grow most of my own vegetables and flowers from seed and saving seeds.
Pay bills on time so no late fee.
Do online banking to pay bills and eMobile deposit no wasting gas to make a deposit at the bank.
Always make a list of what I need..I never go into a store without a list.
Don't buy clothes monthly, I buy a few things a year that are needs.
Don't go to the hairdresser.
Don't go to get manicures or pedicures.
No buying jewelry.
Clean my own house.
Mow our own lawn.
Do all of our own maintenance on cars except for things alignment's or under warranty.
Rake and clean up all the leaves ourselves and we have a 2-acre lawn.
Have only a few chickens now after loosing my babies to a Fox) for eggs.
Tap our maple trees to make our own syrup.
Forage wild apples that I use to can to make our apple pie filling, applesauce, apple butter, use my steam juicer to make/can apple juice..the cores and peels are used to make apple cider vinegar.
Have cut our own fire wood a few years ago for our wood stove but, lets just say I have a husband that doesn't really care to help us save money in this area.
I buy 2-liters of my favorite diet soda and refill a 20oz container that I use constantly.
I ALWAYS bring a drink with me when traveling so not to spend money.
Bought a Berkey water filtration so no buying bottled water.
Bought a SodaStream for my brother, sons and dh to make their own copycat Red Bull since they were spending so much money on those very expensive little containers..I bought many other flavors for them also..definitely cheaper over time.
Make my own rice packs that I use daily in the winter time saves us from turning up the heat.
I strictly buy my slippers from LLbean because for one I love them but also because they back their product.
Both my boys pay rent and for their part of the cell bill..(we have the family plan)
My youngest pays for his part of the car insurance.
Crochet my own dishcloths..I do not buy them anymore.
No car payments.
Credit card debt is all interest free.
I buy Yankee Candles only when they are buy 1 get 1 free..these are a huge downfall for me..I need them for my mental state year round.
We don't take vacations..we do stay at home vacations,we have entertainment on our property like the 4-wheeler and go cart we take for rides up behind our house or my families property up the road, we also have a fire pit, or we go fishing in my family's man made ponds with their canoe.
I'm sure there is more that I forgot.
I would make my own cleaners but still have several left that I got for free or paid .25 for over 13yrs ago.
I want to learn to make my own candles, chap stick/lip balm,toothpaste, body wash, soap, cold cream, shampoo, conditioner, sew clothes, feminine pads, non paper towels, pot holders.
By doing these things we are able to have other luxuries that mean something to us...like full cable, DSL connection and cell phones.
I wash clothes in cold water.
Make my own laundry and fabric soften.
Line dry clothes all spring, summer and fall.
I turn all lights off when not in use.
Make my own copycat Dawn dishfoam.
Buy in bulk.
Grow elderberries to make a tincture my cold and flu medicine.
Grow a garden, fruit, berries, grapes, herbs, mints, rhubarb, forage.
Make my own jams no buying any from the store.
Pressure can.
Water bath can.
Dehydrate.
Make many foods from scratch including seasoning.
Make homemade vanilla extract, kahlua, copycat baileys Irish cream.(Haven't bought any of these in 10-plus years)
Pick dandelions growing on my lawn to make dandelion wine.
Make my own salves.
Buy most things on sale.
Grow most of my own vegetables and flowers from seed and saving seeds.
Pay bills on time so no late fee.
Do online banking to pay bills and eMobile deposit no wasting gas to make a deposit at the bank.
Always make a list of what I need..I never go into a store without a list.
Don't buy clothes monthly, I buy a few things a year that are needs.
Don't go to the hairdresser.
Don't go to get manicures or pedicures.
No buying jewelry.
Clean my own house.
Mow our own lawn.
Do all of our own maintenance on cars except for things alignment's or under warranty.
Rake and clean up all the leaves ourselves and we have a 2-acre lawn.
Have only a few chickens now after loosing my babies to a Fox) for eggs.
Tap our maple trees to make our own syrup.
Forage wild apples that I use to can to make our apple pie filling, applesauce, apple butter, use my steam juicer to make/can apple juice..the cores and peels are used to make apple cider vinegar.
Have cut our own fire wood a few years ago for our wood stove but, lets just say I have a husband that doesn't really care to help us save money in this area.
I buy 2-liters of my favorite diet soda and refill a 20oz container that I use constantly.
I ALWAYS bring a drink with me when traveling so not to spend money.
Bought a Berkey water filtration so no buying bottled water.
Bought a SodaStream for my brother, sons and dh to make their own copycat Red Bull since they were spending so much money on those very expensive little containers..I bought many other flavors for them also..definitely cheaper over time.
Make my own rice packs that I use daily in the winter time saves us from turning up the heat.
I strictly buy my slippers from LLbean because for one I love them but also because they back their product.
Both my boys pay rent and for their part of the cell bill..(we have the family plan)
My youngest pays for his part of the car insurance.
Crochet my own dishcloths..I do not buy them anymore.
No car payments.
Credit card debt is all interest free.
I buy Yankee Candles only when they are buy 1 get 1 free..these are a huge downfall for me..I need them for my mental state year round.
We don't take vacations..we do stay at home vacations,we have entertainment on our property like the 4-wheeler and go cart we take for rides up behind our house or my families property up the road, we also have a fire pit, or we go fishing in my family's man made ponds with their canoe.
I'm sure there is more that I forgot.
I would make my own cleaners but still have several left that I got for free or paid .25 for over 13yrs ago.
I want to learn to make my own candles, chap stick/lip balm,toothpaste, body wash, soap, cold cream, shampoo, conditioner, sew clothes, feminine pads, non paper towels, pot holders.
By doing these things we are able to have other luxuries that mean something to us...like full cable, DSL connection and cell phones.
Joined
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1,873 Posts
Joined
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19,576 Posts
Brenda, you did describe what you do daily. It's all part of your frugal lifestyle.
I'm making ciabatta again. Husby got into it. LOL.
I'm making ciabatta again. Husby got into it. LOL.
Joined
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19,576 Posts
There, I just saved myself some money. I looked up recipes for "everything bagel topping" since it's so expensive to buy it already mixed. Here's the exotic, expensive, hard to find ingredients contained in all of the recipes I found.
Everything Bread and Bagel Topping Mix
4 t. sesame seeds, toasted or not
4 t. poppy seeds
4 t. garlic flakes or granulated garlic
4 t. onion flakes or granulated onion
2 t. kosher or coarse sea salt, or to taste
Mix in a shaker jar and shake before each use. To use, lightly brush top of bread with beaten egg white or egg wash, sprinkle with Everything Mix, and bake.
I looked up six or eight different recipes and every one of them had the same ingredients, just slightly different amounts, so I combined them. How difficult, complicated, and time consuming is it going to be to measure five ingredients into a jar and shake it? I will be well paid for my time! And it's all stuff I always have on hand. It's not going to cost me anywhere near the $1.33 per ounce and higher price tag I saw on the mixes I found online for sale.
I know we'll like this one because we buy French bread for fifty cents a loaf or bagels cheap at WM sometimes when we happen to be there, that have the same topping. I love making my own herb mixes because they're always outrageously expensive to buy, so cheap to make at home, there are loads of recipes online to clone almost anything, and I can control the salt in them.
This will be super simple to make a bigger batch, just equal amounts for everything but the salt, which is half the amount of the other ingredients.
One recipe suggested this mix is also good on popcorn, salads, etc, so that's an idea.
Everything Bread and Bagel Topping Mix
4 t. sesame seeds, toasted or not
4 t. poppy seeds
4 t. garlic flakes or granulated garlic
4 t. onion flakes or granulated onion
2 t. kosher or coarse sea salt, or to taste
Mix in a shaker jar and shake before each use. To use, lightly brush top of bread with beaten egg white or egg wash, sprinkle with Everything Mix, and bake.
I looked up six or eight different recipes and every one of them had the same ingredients, just slightly different amounts, so I combined them. How difficult, complicated, and time consuming is it going to be to measure five ingredients into a jar and shake it? I will be well paid for my time!
And it's all stuff I always have on hand. It's not going to cost me anywhere near the $1.33 per ounce and higher price tag I saw on the mixes I found online for sale.I know we'll like this one because we buy French bread for fifty cents a loaf or bagels cheap at WM sometimes when we happen to be there, that have the same topping. I love making my own herb mixes because they're always outrageously expensive to buy, so cheap to make at home, there are loads of recipes online to clone almost anything, and I can control the salt in them.
This will be super simple to make a bigger batch, just equal amounts for everything but the salt, which is half the amount of the other ingredients.
One recipe suggested this mix is also good on popcorn, salads, etc, so that's an idea.
I complete shut down computer,tv AND microwave when not in use and at night i unplug my recliner.Stop using dryer and diswasher in peak and try not use oven in peak time sometime i have to use oven awhile i can tell different in electric bill since starting doing these things.
More then one thing but all connected to saving on electric
More then one thing but all connected to saving on electric
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9,916 Posts
I know my vehicle gets better mileage at 55-57 so try to keep it there. Not a fan of cruise. Long story. If nothing behind me I let off gas and coast to stops, lights etc. No hard gas pedal coming off the line.
Try to keep unused lights off.
I keep saying "try" ... cause sometimes it just plain isn't happening. Sigh.
Try to keep oven off but like today have a meatloaf and scalloped potatoes in. Been a long time though. Same with burners for long periods but that's only possible a few times a week. When the burners are on it heats the house/trailer up something terrible. Nice in winter... sucks in summer.
Use microwave or toaster oven as much as possible.
Fill up with gas when I see it looks like it's lowered as far as it will go.
Pantry/fridge/freezer shop at home not for all but a big part of.
Cancelled satellite last month and did a buy out of contract but it was set to go to $135 a month but all the garbage taxes, fees and surcharges plus they had already raised it a couple times on their end even with their " no raise for a year" in the contract. Now using Netflix, Sling and Hulu. Hulu not so much. I might cancel it too.
Take coffee from home with me to work in the morning and drink coffee made at business. Once in a great while I'll do Dunkin' but not very often.
Go over sale ads before I go grocery shopping. Doing a lot of $General 5 off 25 on Saturdays.
Try to keep unused lights off.
I keep saying "try" ... cause sometimes it just plain isn't happening. Sigh.
Try to keep oven off but like today have a meatloaf and scalloped potatoes in. Been a long time though. Same with burners for long periods but that's only possible a few times a week. When the burners are on it heats the house/trailer up something terrible. Nice in winter... sucks in summer.
Use microwave or toaster oven as much as possible.
Fill up with gas when I see it looks like it's lowered as far as it will go.
Pantry/fridge/freezer shop at home not for all but a big part of.
Cancelled satellite last month and did a buy out of contract but it was set to go to $135 a month but all the garbage taxes, fees and surcharges plus they had already raised it a couple times on their end even with their " no raise for a year" in the contract. Now using Netflix, Sling and Hulu. Hulu not so much. I might cancel it too.
Take coffee from home with me to work in the morning and drink coffee made at business. Once in a great while I'll do Dunkin' but not very often.
Go over sale ads before I go grocery shopping. Doing a lot of $General 5 off 25 on Saturdays.
First of all, I just want to say- I want to live with Brenda- she is my hero- I wish I could do all the things she does. I just got started too late & will not live long enough to get where she is, but I still try...
My coffee costs less than 4 cents a cup. I only drink it for warmth & caffeine, so I am fine with instant, just black.
Don't use paper towels
Have a garden
Preserve some of my own food
Buy all food on sale/manager specials/Aldi's
Cook at home
Pack lunches, snacks, beverages
Take advantage of free activities
Eat economical food- not many fancy dishes going on here
Buying second hand when I can
Probably the biggest is not wasting food or resources.
My coffee costs less than 4 cents a cup. I only drink it for warmth & caffeine, so I am fine with instant, just black.
Don't use paper towels
Have a garden
Preserve some of my own food
Buy all food on sale/manager specials/Aldi's
Cook at home
Pack lunches, snacks, beverages
Take advantage of free activities
Eat economical food- not many fancy dishes going on here
Buying second hand when I can
Probably the biggest is not wasting food or resources.
Joined
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2,280 Posts
I also want to live like Brenda...I just have such a weakness for books...although I purchase them used.
I refuse to turn on the oven during the summer and instead use my $5.00 thrift store purchased toaster oven.
I vegetable garden year around..currently I have okra, roma beans, asparagus, and lots of flowers growing. ( Although this is not just for my budget but also for my mental health...time in the garden is therapeutic for me)
I use fans versus turning on the air conditioning.
I pack lunches/snacks
I try not to drive to conserve gas as much as possible.
I combine errands and shop at my local salvage grocery store or Aldi's
I buy used if at all possible
I refuse to turn on the oven during the summer and instead use my $5.00 thrift store purchased toaster oven.
I vegetable garden year around..currently I have okra, roma beans, asparagus, and lots of flowers growing. ( Although this is not just for my budget but also for my mental health...time in the garden is therapeutic for me)
I use fans versus turning on the air conditioning.
I pack lunches/snacks
I try not to drive to conserve gas as much as possible.
I combine errands and shop at my local salvage grocery store or Aldi's
I buy used if at all possible
Joined
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1,080 Posts
I want to be like Brenda too.....:smile2: I got a big bottle of Everything Bagel for $2 at Trader Joe's bout six months ago. I use it on everything and still have 1/4 of a bottle........cashier told me it has been flying off the shelf.....
E
equestrian
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I always have a plastic container with me in the office. In case there's any left over food in the office, I can take it home. There were many many times before that leftover food was just given to the security guards or were just left to spoil in the fridge. Taking home food saves me a meal or two.
I used to spend $3-4 on breakfast at our office canteen. Now I just have a jar of oatmeal in my cabinet and I have it as breakfast around 4 times a week. It's so much healthier than bacon and eggs and a bowl of oatmeal costs less than 50 cents. Man I have lost weight and saved so much money.
I used to spend $3-4 on breakfast at our office canteen. Now I just have a jar of oatmeal in my cabinet and I have it as breakfast around 4 times a week. It's so much healthier than bacon and eggs and a bowl of oatmeal costs less than 50 cents. Man I have lost weight and saved so much money.
Joined
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19,576 Posts
We've sworn off garage sales for the most part and hadn't been to any at all this year, but decided to go this morning since I'm on the hunt for a baguette pan. It's a good thing we went. We've been planning to buy a TV for our garage for days when we're working out there but don't want to miss news or sporting events or whatever. Husby's TV of choice would cost us about $200 and we weren't going to buy it till next year, when, hopefully, we'll have the garage organization and upgrades done. But at a sale this AM we found a flat screen TV with no remote and a supposed minor picture defect for $3. :wow: We decided to take a chance. It really doesn't have a remote, but we have some spare universal remotes that might work, and we've had the TV on for an hour or so and the picture has been perfect. Even if it's not, we figured we'd be listening to a TV more than looking at it anyway, so it's good enough for a garage TV.
This was almost as good as the $5 laptop I got at a church sale two years ago!
We picked up some other bargains too, including some needed things to add to the stash for the charity sewing I do such as ribbon reels and ribbon roses.
The point is secondhand shopping can be a double-edged sword because it's easy to pick up more than we need, which can cause clutter and unnecessary spending, but OTOH, it can also save big money. Today was a good day with very little purchased but huge savings on the TV and some of the other items we got. Garage sales are a good tool to use to save money, if it's used with self-discipline. But I still don't want to get back into habitual saling.
No luck on the baguette pan, but eventually I'll find one at GW or somewhere. It's like a game to me to see if I can get it without having to buy it on Amazon.
This was almost as good as the $5 laptop I got at a church sale two years ago!
We picked up some other bargains too, including some needed things to add to the stash for the charity sewing I do such as ribbon reels and ribbon roses.
The point is secondhand shopping can be a double-edged sword because it's easy to pick up more than we need, which can cause clutter and unnecessary spending, but OTOH, it can also save big money. Today was a good day with very little purchased but huge savings on the TV and some of the other items we got. Garage sales are a good tool to use to save money, if it's used with self-discipline. But I still don't want to get back into habitual saling.
No luck on the baguette pan, but eventually I'll find one at GW or somewhere. It's like a game to me to see if I can get it without having to buy it on Amazon.
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