DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Let's save money together

With the cost of everything going up and the pockets of everybody getting closer to being empty, I thought we might share some ideas on how you save money. I am sure we all have taken at least a few steps.

My hope is that on here everybody can pick up a idea they haven't used or thought of...the little stuff that adds up a little at a time, but at the end up the year you might be a few hundred to the good.

Saving that dollar here and there might add up to be enough to pay a months light bill at the end of the year.

Most of us can identify the big stuff, it's the dollar here and dollar there stuff we sometimes fail in seeing.

For me, I have altered my driving habits in a big way. When accelerating my car from a stop, I pay attention to the tachometer and strive to not run the RPMs up to 3000. Lot's of gas milage is wasted by running the rpms higher. I have also cut back on the highway speed. I set the cruise on 64 MPH. I actually makes for a easy drive....just get in the right lane and let everybody pass you....sure you lose 6 minutes for every hour driven, but that doesn't really add up to much until you are talking about a 10 hour drive. On the tach, that reduction in speed lowers the RPMs about 200.. about 10%...I don't know if that percentage drop translates to that much in fuel savings, but it has to translate into some savings.

On a 2 hour trip, getting there 12 minutes later isn't really that big of a deal. Even on a 10 hour trip, getting there a hour later isn't a big deal since I have probably saved a quarter tank of gas.

Another thing I do is use the AC about half the time when I need to have it on.

I will run it for 5 minutes to cool the cabin, then shut the compressor off for 5 minutes. The air that comes out of the vents while being shut down remains cool enough for the next 5 or so minutes. If you do this, you can comfortably reduce your AC use in half, which saves you a good deal of mileage.

At the house, I have increased the temp on the thermostat a few degrees and bought a couple of old fashioned box fans that I have set in the places I/we sit the most.

I live in the south, and it gets hot, so not running AC is nearly impossible, but I can reduce usage.....but I can make it up in the winter as with solar gain through open windows, I can keep the living room over 70 without running heat even on a day where it is 30 outside...then by using the fan only on the central system, circulate the warmer air through out the house. A few small space heaters keep us warm in the areas we want to sit.

So, let's have it...any tips?? Energy, food. How do you look to save a few bucks.

Invest in a cheaper new, or used freezer (150-200$). Buy the large family packs in the meat dept at the grocery - they are significantly discounted - and split them up into meal sized portions when you get home. Throw it in the freezer. Think about one of those food sealer thingy's too - frozen food keeps longer, plus you'll save a bundle by being able to keep your leftovers in edible condition for a long time, instead of having them turn into penicillin farms in the back of your fridge like we do. My parents would be shocked at the amount of food we throw out ... I think that every time I throw it out.

Light beer drinkers - lets face it, we're drinking crap anyway - buy the cheaper stuff. If you like Coors Light, try Keystone Light (same brewery) ... ditto Bud Light / Natty Light ... ditto Miller Lite / Old Milwaukee Light. Is it exactly the same? No, but after one or two you won't know the diff, IMO. You'll save about 4 bucks a 12-pack.

USE YOUR CHANGE. Alot of people think of change as a nuisance. Every time I go into a store, I grab the change out of the cup holder. I dont care if the cash register or the people behind me are in a hurry. If you have something that comes out to .67 cents you wont have to break a dollar. This is a simple practice thats often neglected. Also, when I get gas, I use all the change in my cup holder when I pre pay. Instead of getting just $30, I will get $30.35 or whatever change I have in my cup holder. Thats also a way to get rid of your nuisance change. But I might be one of the only people left that refuse to use plastic when I make all my purchases. This only saves a few dollars a month, but every dollar helps. But Im pretty sure that was the purpose of this thread. I guess this wouldnt apply to those of you who already use plastic every where you go. Using your pennies while getting gas is also a way to get rid of them, when most of them are getting lost in your couch or your car seat. Alot of people wont care if they drop change, they will leave it. I had a buddy that thought change was such a nuisance, he threw it out the window after going thru the drive-thru.

This is something I always did, and also read that in an article about saving a few bucks here and there. The writer didnt think about using the spare change at the gas station.

Good point...and on the subject of freezers and refrigerators..a full freezer/frig uses less enery then does a empty unit.

buy some gallon containers of water for a few bucks and keep them in the frig to take up space. If you need the space, take out a gallon or two...or more.

For the freezer, do the same but before storing, pour off about a pint to allow for expansion.

This is also a good way to store some drinking water if something happened to disrupted your water service.

In a power outage, the stored ice and water will help keep food items cold longer.

If you do use plastic, use Discover Card - you get 1/2% back in rebate that you can apply to your balance or redeem for rewards.

A return to gardening more.
This year I've increased the size of my garden. Up until this year, with a smaller yard, I was only planting a few tomato plants. But I have about trippled its size. On less than a fifty dollar investment, I should reap a minimum of three to four hundred dollars in fresh produce.

As far as cutting energy consumption, I've moved into Dayton. My family doctor is pretty far away, but have arranged to see her every three months. Buying a digital blood pressure monitor so that I could keep tabs on it persuaded her to do this. ( two trips in gas offset the cost of the monitor )

My pain doctor is only about two miles away now and it's manditory I see him monthly to monitor my back situation. By doing this, I am saving over $100.00 a month in fuel costs.

I do all of my weekly shopping in one trip as has been my custom my entire life. I grew up in the country and my dad was raised during the depression. So although it was not a "necessity", my dad taught me the value of hunting, trapping, fishing and gardening. This year, while limited somewhat, I'm VERY sure I will get at least two deer and include fish much more in my diet. Saving hundreds of dollars yet again. It all adds up.

He also is the one who taught me about energy conservation along with my studies of solar, wind and passive solar.

While I do lack the resources needed to incorperate them all, many passive solar energy saving measures I have useed. Such as tall shrubery blocking western winds. I plan to have the front porch enclosed by winter time to act as a vestubile. ( serves as a buffer for wind and cold )

I'm looking at more possibilities to "invest the money I'm saving by gardening now" to do even more to expand cost saving measures later.

I'm a very lucky person in that I was taught many of the keys to survival. More than I am willing to detail. But to sum it up, as an individual, I have very little to fear in regards to economic hard times. I'm a fighter and a survivor. At least as long as I'm breathing.

Quit smoking. I said I would quit if it ever hit $3 a pack and now Im paying over $4. The govt. makes too much money off of it to make it illegal but thats for another thread of its own.

Cris Rock said it best, "If Phillip Morris was some jerry curled (African/ American) from Mississippi, he would be serving 10 life terms in prison if he killed that many people.

Smoking is a self-inflicted wound. I don't blame Philip Morris or anybody else for my habit. If the consequences cause me ill health or my eventual demise, it will be my responsibility.

BTW, just to get back to the discussion, smokers can save a boatload by getting a line on one of the discount (Indian Reservation) cigarette retailers in upstate New York ... eg, Seneca, and others. Plus, I have heard that if you do it by mail - paying with a check - the State won't be able to hunt you down for the tax bite they seem to think they have coming.

Or better yet - quit smoking.

I save my change. This now becomes my trip money to do something fun later. It adds up pretty quick.

That reminds me of the story about the guy who won the lottery and was asked what he was going to do with the money: "I'm gonna spend about half of it on wine, women, and song. The rest I'll probably just waste."

Use white or light colored shades on south and west facing windows. Keep them closed during the afternoon. You'll shade your rooms and reflect a lot of heat away to save on your AC bill.

If you have a ceiling fan, you may or may not know that there are two settings. One for the winter, and one for the summer. Make sure you switch them. Summer setting pulls the hot air up and away from you, winter setting pushes the warm ceiling air down on you. This circulation will lower your room temp a few degrees in the summer and keep you warm in the winter.

If you have wall AC's and you like gardening, try to plant shade tree's or bushes that will shade the outside of the AC. Don't plant them too close to block airflow, but by shading your compressor, you'll increase its efficiency, and decrease your electric bill. Also, if your AC';s are 10 years old or more, they are less than half as efficient as a newer one. Technology has come a long way, watch the stores for sales on similar size new units, and you could save a bundle.

I should have added that if you use plastic, pay it off religiously every month ... otherwise the interest will kill you.

I've also raised my thermostat a degree or two. Sucks out here, but we get by. I don't think my dog is too happy with me though.

Set up a carpool to work. Many people can do it, but they don't. Lots of benefits to that one besides just financial too.

Bring your lunch to work. It's unbelievable how much this saves. And it's usually much healthier.

My girlfriend and I enjoy going out to dinner on the weekends, but we've cut it back to one night. The other night we cook inside.

Combine errands. If you are the type that has to do something as soon as the need arises, this might be tough. But try and wait for two or more errands that need to be done and do them together.

No more frivolous trips. Only leave the house when you have to.

No more frivilous trips, indeed. I've been looking for a reason to go to Mayfield and get Chipotle while I'm at it but it hasn't happened all summer.

I too have been nursing the gas pedal. Far cry from the days when I had a Mustang and would floor it until I was up to speed because I liked to hear the sound of a throaty V6 engine (yeah V6...still sounded relatively badass though).

This one's college related but I started buying old editions of text books instead of the current editions. They're about $2-3 vs. $90-$150. Although I admittedly would be screwed in some ways without my friend who has the current book telling me certain things.

I've been running the air during the day, and after 10pm, turning it off and opening windows with maybe a ceiling fan or 2 on. Last night, I watched the thermostat, and the temp stayed pretty close to where the AC was set on.

I'm also encouraging my wife, who doesn't listen, to limit her shopping trips. If you want to shop, go all at once, and make sure you get everything. She'll go to Wal-Mart or Giant Eagle 3 times a week sometimes.

Complete waste of time.

Other times, she'll want to run to the mall just to look at stuff, when that weekend, we'll be out that way. I'm trying to get her to not waste time and gas like that, and just go where you NEED to go, not go somewhere because your ADD is kicking in and you can't wait a few more days to go.

I also just open the moon roof and windows in my car. Rarely do I ever use the A/C.

Even if it only saves you .50 cents a week. Thats $2 a month, $24 a year. But if you can save .50 cents on 4 or 5 things a week that could be $2 to $3 dollars a week $8 to $12 dollars a month to around $100 dollars a year.

When I know Im getting gas that day, I will drive to my destination and check out all the gas prices on my way there. So that way, I know which gas station is the cheapest, on my way home. And yes, it could change prices on your way back, which lost me almost 10 cents a gallon at one gas station. That was when gas prices were less then $2 a gallon and would jump around more thru-out the day. Now they more or less stay that one big price during the whole day.But I think I have made out in the long run.

The Giant Eagle closed by me, but I use to just buy my name brand stuff when it was on sale at Giant Eagle. Everything you spent there, went towards savings on your gas price at their Get-Go gas station. Who wouldnt want to save $1.48 (my biggest savings) a gallon All the other stuff, like paper towels, toliet paper, paper plates, snacks, soap, tooth paste, laundry detergent, and even smaller boxes of name brand cereal at the dollar store.It suprises me that alot of people wont even go to the dollar store. You juct cant get things like fruit, veggies,baked or deli. The only thing I need name brand is kethup (dont buy Heinze products ), Miracle Whip, and Jif Peanut Butter (which the dollar store by me carries, just not crunchy). I also like to shop at Aldis for non name brand stuff like canned goods. Aldis also has fruit. If you know how to shop for bulk, then Sams Cub could be added to the discussion. But you have to know how to buy bulk. Also, grocery shopping at the Super K-mart is suprisingly cheap. I couldnt believe how much I saved there shopping for my lunch for work, especially lunch meat. I didnt even go there to grocery shop one day. I was looking for a gift someone wanted, and specificly told me where it was. I left with a couple bags of groceries when I walked by and saw the prices.

Another way to save a couple bucks a week- pack your lunch. Packing your lunch gets old after a few years, but a peanut butter and jelly will give you the energy you need instead of the $5 you spend at the work cafateria or the fast food place. See how saving one way, leads to another. I thought of spending my change at the gas station, to how I shop for gas, how to get cheaper gas from shopping, a couple shopping tips, and packing you lunch. That right there is .50 cents to $10 dollars a week and I was just going to start and end this post with how I get gas and stop at the cheapest one on the way home.

Its amazing that most people dont care about saving a few cents or dollars here or there. Ive often been criticized for trying to save on so little. People dont think on how that adds up in the long run. Especially if you can get yourself to do it as a habbit without even thinking about it.

Another example, when you cash your check, to leave your change in your savings or checking account. Especially for those of you who dont often use your change. That 17 cents or 82 cents, will add up instead of just putting a set amount in your checking account. I know some might put their whole check in by direct deposit. I also buget myself from $100 to $150 a week, put $200 a week into my checking and the rest into my savings. If you get ahead with your bills, I put $200 in a week and figured it out to where I will never bounce a check, or even check my account, to see if I have the money in there when paying a bill. But I got my wife into doing the same thing and Im not paying bills by myself. We also have money left over after bills are paid, which she dont tell me about The money you have left over is what you could use for going out to eat, getting your oil change, an article of clothing or the girl on the street corner who privides $20 services to get thru college.

Good thread Peen. Now you got me going. Everyone always called me a penny pincher and I can go on and on about how to save a little here and there. This is a subject that many Americans take for granted and now that we are finally feeling the pinch, some of us are starting a little too late. Something we should teach our children, teach them some humility, and dont start when your in your 30's and 40's. Most people start after its too late and you saw how all the careless spending you did when you were younger has caught up. I also think there should be a mandatory business/financial class in high school. To me, that is a more important subject then algebra, in preparing a child for the real world. That is what high school is supposed to be for (and babysitting)

I have always used the net when Im bored, to read articles on saving money, good credit (which helps save money. I know people who work in banks and they say the people with money and good credit get better rates then the people who need it) and such. I have read that many of us just use credit cards (who borrow from foreign lenders) with high interest rates (your spending more then you should) and use it at Wal-Mart (mostly cheap because its cheap foriegn product thats poorly assembled and bought in bulk). So we are making other countries richer by buying their cheap products bought in bulk, which puts local business' out because they cant afford to sell their products as cheap (even though they dont have to ship their products as far). On top of that, we are making them richer by being in debt to them and they make money off the interest. Most of our U.S. lenders are borrowing money overseas because they lose so much money, from so many Americans going in dept, and they are not collecting the money they have lent. So they have to borrow money from foreign lenders, to lend out more money, to make it back.

I catch all of the cold water that comes out of the kitchen spigot before it gets hot, and use it to water my plants and flowers, both inside and out.

A few other ways to save. This is for bigger purchases, so its kind of off topic. But I have read the debate between buying a new car and leasing. It differs from person to person so that is something you would have to look up on your own. My mom is trying to get a car in the $800 to $1500 price range. Problem is, with the economy so low, nobody is buying new cars and in return, nobody is selling their old ones. I would have found one for her by now every other year.


SAVING MONEY AND THINKING GREEN

Electricity bills. I try not to use my washer and dryer at the same time. More appliances being used at once, makes your rate higher. Which is BS. I also try doing my laundry during the day, when I wont need lights on thruout the house. Our parents yelled at us for doing this when we were younger, yet I see many adults being so wasteful with their electricity. Our neighbor has a $160 minimum bill for electricity. THATS MINIMUM. They are in their late 30's and have all their lights on at the same time, all day. Thats just what I see. Im sure the TVs are on, laundry, etc... While sitting on the porch they will have the outside ceiling fan, another big square floor fan facing them, and you can see their A/C dripping so they can cool the inside . Even when they arent sitting out there or they leave the house, they still leave all 3 of them on. But its easy to do when the wife works at a daycare owned by her mom. They complain about their bills being so high that they borrow the money before payday and dont have to pay mommie back. I wouldnt be that wasteful even if my parents would pay my bills when Im in my mid to late 30's. Luckily, my house is in the shade almost 24/7. So I have only used my central air twice this year tops. In the summer, my house wont get hot until the sun is setting. Finally, it hits the side of my house and windows on that side, at about 7 to 8pm.

Alot of us drink beer while watching the games. Everyone knows about recycling aluminum cans. Hardly anyone does it. I admit I throw some away, but my brother-in-law drinks alot of beer. The cans I do stomp and throw in a bag, I take to him. Easy money. Plus, you could think of it as free beer. Beer in a can is also cheaper (also guilty of buying bottles for beer, pop in cans though) I know some hillbilly scrappers who refuse to buy bottles and will complain at you for bringing bottles. Ive seen hillbillies that go out to nighborhoods on nights their garbage is being put out, to scrap metal being thrown away. I would think that you couldnt make too much money with the extra weight, being put on the truck being dragged around, and gas prices. It doesnt bother me that they are taking scrap from our garbage for beer money because its better then going to the landfill.

Another one, Tyler Derden would agree with me on this one. If you have the money, its always cheaper to buy the product in larger volumns such as ounces or half ounces rather then grams or eights of an ounce. And dimes, whatever the heck that means. But you need the money first to spend on the larger volumn. Which also goes into the Sams club discussion, on saving money by buying in bulk.

" Use your change" and never spend a $1 bill.

I actually did this last year and paid for our entire Christmas shopping list with the accumulated single $1 bills. Is it a pain in the butt...yes. Do you get frustrated when you receive 8 $1 bills in change ---yes.

Just take 'em home and stuff 'em in a large coffee can and each couple of months count them. I ended up with $876 in single dollar bills last December. Try It!!!

I guarantee your coin change will become very important to you and you'll find yourself picking up lost pennies on the sidewalk for the firat time since you were 12.

BTW...we live in Florida and I maintain the thermostat at 75 during the day. At night I move it to 78 and turn on a great fan in our bedroom. Oh yeah...did I mention our pool is only 6 feet from our bedrooms sliding doors??

I found what works for us in buying meats in bulk at Sams/Costco. Going to the grocery store and continually getting a dinner size package adds up the cost if you buy 3 or 4 every week. Once we started getting the big packs,breaking it down and then freezing them made a difference. Having a small garden has been a good thing as well this summer.

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buy some gallon containers of water for a few bucks and keep them in the frig to take up space.

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Better yet- save emptied milk cartons and reuse them instead of buying the water. You can use the water from the tap, which is MUCH cheaper.

Car AC: I set the temp for maxcool at first, then raise the temp setting after the car has cooled down. The compressor on my CRV cycles on and off less frequently, and the cabin stays fairly comfortable. Additionally, I will use the "recycle" setting for long periods of time- it's easier for the compressor to cool the recycled cabin air than the hot outside air.

I'm taking my 12 speed touring bike into the shop this week for some refurbishing. Haven't ridden it in 10 years or so, but I plan to start running all my short errands with it. Maybe I'll buy a lightweight trailer or set of paniers for it to increase my hauling capacity. Any time I can leave that car in the garage I'm saving... AND it'll help me get back in shape at the same time.

We live in a 2-story Brick house that's well shaded from the afternoon sun. On even the hottest days, our house is 6-10 degrees cooler than the outside temp. We close down the windows and doors to a mere crack (to allow some ventilation) before 10:00 AM, and reopen them in the evening when the day cools down. As a result, we probably run our house AC a grand total of about 30 days each Summer. It only gets run during those weeklong hot humid spells... and that's only to knock down the humidity.

I simply don't go very many places in a given week. I like my crib, and there's always something to do there. Face it- every time you leave your property, it costs you money. Stay home and save.

When it's time for a car repair or major outlay of cash, I use the phone to comparison shop before I ever leave the house. I seldom go out without calling at least 4-5 places.

We combine errands that require driving. Get a comprehensive shopping list together, drive to the farthest destination first, and hit all the other stores on the way home. Saves on gas over making 3-4 separate trips.

TURN OFF THE FREAKKIN TV SET! Aside from your major appliances, the TV is probably the biggest power hog in your house. The silence is a bonus, as well. I mean really- do I need to pay out money to hear Billy Mayes scream at me 15-20 times a day to buy his Oxy-Clean products?

We're organic gardeners. Have been for 2 decades. NO CHEMS in our backyard at all. We compost like crazy, using ALL our kitchen produce scraps, as well as bush/hedge/grass clippings, etc. Our plants are almost always healthy, grow like they're on steroids, and we save 100s of bux each year that others spend on chemicals. In about 2 more weeks, we won't have to buy almost any produce at the store, because our backyard will provide most of what we need.


I could go on, but these are the first few that popped into my head. I'm sure other Dawgs have good ideas, and I can't wait to see what they are.

You are right on that one. I go to BJs and can buy a bulk pack of meat for about half the cost of buying 2 or three individual packs that equal up to that size.

KING

Hey Peen Good thread here I will add my 2 cents:

I use the Speedway Rewards card and the Mastercard at Speedway stations which automatically gets you $.05 off a gallon which if you are using 20-40 gallons of gas a week its $1 or 2 a week which adds up to $52-104 a year. Also with the speedy rewards card you get points which turn into more free gas or merchandise, I have already got a $100 gas card and am working towards my 2nd one already. At Speedway stations you get 40 points per dollar spent and I use the mastercard to pay for all other purchases like car insurance where you than get 10 points per dollar spent, $1000 dollars equal 10000 Points I do pay off the balance each month to keep the benefits up and rollin

Here is a couple more money saving tips while thinking green.

To save on that water bill and to not use water that doesnt need to be used, when using the restroom there is the old saying - If its yellow, let it mellow. If its brown, flush it down.

On a more seriose note
While driving, if you stop to pick up your kids...drop them off....go into a convieniant store for a quick buy...pick up a pizza...etc.. leave the car running. I could be wrong, but I think it uses less gas to leave your car running for a few minutes than it is if you turn it off and start it back up again. Starting your ignition uses more fuel by sucking up the gas needed to start the engine, than by letting it run. Also not turning you car on and off, will give your engine more life. Which definately saves you money .If im wrong on this, someone let me know. Also, if Im right, what do you guys think would be the time limit to leave your car running? 2,5..10 minutes? You also might want to watch out which neighborhood you leave you car running I dont think twice in my neighborhood about leaving it running. If you have full coverage, it could get you out of an unwanted car payment which could help you save. But, it would bring your insurance coverage up.

If possible, put off buying your gas until the end of the day or until the next morning during the summer. When it is hot out, gas expands. So if you get gas at 2:30, in the middle of a hot summer day, you are actually getting less gas because it is expanded in the gas tanks. Wait until it cools down. You get more gas. When I was landscapping and we filled up all the gas tanks in the morning that we would need to use during the day, gas would be leaking out thru the cap in the weed whip; leaf blower; the extra 5 gallon cans; and the reserve gas tanks in the vehicles,tractors or mowers. Dont fill anything up to full in the middle of summer to avoid gas expanding and leaking out. It could be dangerous and it waste gas. Even on the mowers or trucks, we would switch to the reserve to use some gas in each tank before it expanded to where you would lose some. Weve had gas caps come off mowers from gas expanding.

I guess the weight aspect makes sense. I still think the more space that is available for the gas to turn to fumes, the more gas that will be wasted.

I also think gasoline that comes out of the ground at a cooler tempature results in more gasoline pumped.

But thanks for your contribution.

I've been driving much different in my car. It's a stick and I never hit over 3k rpms when accelerating. It's usually more in the 2-2.5 k area depending on the situation. I also started driving slower on the highway. Set the cruz around 61ish and leave it. At the times of day I go to and from work it's not that bad to stay at that pace and not feel like you're going to be run over.

All told I went from averaging 30mpg between city and highway to 41 mpg in my car. The EPA estimation on it is 27/33.

I use my American Express 5% cash back card to buy my groceries at Kroger and get gift certificates to various stores we already use. I've gotten 50 cents off per gallon for the last 3 months for 4 fill-ups each month. Additionally, I take a 5 gallon tank with me to fill up as well. I pour a tank full in the lawn mower and then when my car gets low on gas pour it in my car. My wife's car holds more fuel so I usually take it to do this as my overall savings increases this way. In addition I get the 5% cash back on the fuel I do buy.

Have a manual, I coast... A LOT... there are many places where you do not need your foot on the gas pedal and just cruising in neutral will leave your engine idling... There are places I can coast for nearly half a mile before I have to press the gas pedal again.

I just started playing this game and the 11 mpg extra I'm getting is definitely worth it. I can now almost make a roundtrip to work on just one gallon of gas.