Embarassing Things You Do To Save Money

[Anonymous]

Latest Unique find: a size 6x Vineyard Vines sundress - $3.99!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poster from way back:

I forgot to add I have started buying spices from the Hispanic section of the grocery store. Much, much cheaper, just as flavorful. And they are also FDA inspected.

The bulk spices from natural food stores are a great way to buy cheap spices. I just bought two jars worth of cinnamon for 78 cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is buying used name brand shoes from e-bay being frugal or being cheap?
When you do not have money, you go without even if you would not be frugal, and that would also negatively affect your quality of life.
What is a negative affect on a quality of life is also debatable. Some like houses that are cool, others want it hot. Some cannot do without air conditioning, others do not really like it. Some just have to get by with what they have.
A school friend of mine was raised to always switch off lights. They rarely used electricity in their home

Buying used shoes, name brand or not, is being disgusting, in my book. Especially given the fact that no one wears socks/pantyhose anymore.
Nail fungus central. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is buying used name brand shoes from e-bay being frugal or being cheap?
When you do not have money, you go without even if you would not be frugal, and that would also negatively affect your quality of life.
What is a negative affect on a quality of life is also debatable. Some like houses that are cool, others want it hot. Some cannot do without air conditioning, others do not really like it. Some just have to get by with what they have.
A school friend of mine was raised to always switch off lights. They rarely used electricity in their home

Well obviously, quality of life is subjective.

And if you can't afford something, it's neither being frugal nor cheap to go without - it's just necessary. The distinction between the two applies to the people in this thread who have enough financial resources to make choices, and choose a money-saving route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too am a high income thrift store shopper. I dress rather simply, but when I go to those stores, I generally feel like I'm the richest person there. I feel a bit embarassed, as if I should be shopping elsewhere. But this thread is showing me that there are plenty of wealthy thrift store shoppers. They probably even dress down to look the part.

I'm having difficulty understanding the thrift store shopping when sales at department/mall stores are so good. Thrift stores in my area either have really threadbare/trendy out-of-date clothing or the good clothing they have is priced on-par with finding it on sale new at the store. Buying designer there is such a risk, especially purses, as the knock-off rate is SO high.

I can see going to look for vintage pieces, but to simply get Ann Taylor clothing or designer jeans that Nordstrom's Rack carries for the same price or $10 new? Makes no sense to me.

I do, however, understand the thrill of the hunt.

Bottom line is I'm understanding the importance of investment pieces as I age. Paying $250 for a 3K Carolina Herrera dress at Saks Off-Fifth will take me farther than an Ann Taylor thrift store purchase. When I decide to sell that, I will get close to - if not more - than 3K. Especially if I hold it long enough to make it considered vintage.

I agree. You can get much better deals on new clothes if you shop online with discount codes and use a cashback site like ebates. I went to a few kids consignment shops after having my baby and the prices were higher than what I can find on sale for clothes. Maybe thrift stores are less but you truly can get great prices online.

Agreed.
With kids' clothes if you wait for sales and used promotions on top of that, you buy new items for less than you'd spend at a consignment shop and comparable to what you'd find in a thrift store.

PP who saves enough on clothes by going to Value Village to take the entire family on a rainforest vacation - just out of curiosity, how much would you have spent if you'd bought clothes for your son retail? Unless the kid has a new outfit for every day of the week I just don't see the math working!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's find out the embarrassing things you do to save money:
1. State your HHI.
2. List some things you do to save money.
3. List some ways how you waste money (not a waste to you, but to most people)
Then we can make fun of each other. Or maybe we can learn new ways to save money.

I'll start.
1. HHI = $500,000
2. I am embarassed about using lots of dining coupons (not enough to stop though). I love the Entertainment Book and restaurant.com. I almost never return to the same restaurant unless I get another discount. I am very conservative with paper products. i.e. Napkins, tissues, toilet paper, writing paper. One shampoo bottle can last nearly a year.
I like to walk instead of drive. I shop online but always through a portal that gives me 1-10% cash back.
3. One year, I bought about 10 timeshare weeks. Some I love, some I now regret. I have a $2.5 million house. My DS had about 6 private tutors each week in a variety of areas.

Sorry your son is so behind, OP.
Guess exorbitant HHI can't buy you brains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too am a high income thrift store shopper. I dress rather simply, but when I go to those stores, I generally feel like I'm the richest person there. I feel a bit embarassed, as if I should be shopping elsewhere. But this thread is showing me that there are plenty of wealthy thrift store shoppers. They probably even dress down to look the part.

I'm having difficulty understanding the thrift store shopping when sales at department/mall stores are so good. Thrift stores in my area either have really threadbare/trendy out-of-date clothing or the good clothing they have is priced on-par with finding it on sale new at the store. Buying designer there is such a risk, especially purses, as the knock-off rate is SO high.

I can see going to look for vintage pieces, but to simply get Ann Taylor clothing or designer jeans that Nordstrom's Rack carries for the same price or $10 new? Makes no sense to me.

I do, however, understand the thrill of the hunt.

Bottom line is I'm understanding the importance of investment pieces as I age. Paying $250 for a 3K Carolina Herrera dress at Saks Off-Fifth will take me farther than an Ann Taylor thrift store purchase. When I decide to sell that, I will get close to - if not more - than 3K. Especially if I hold it long enough to make it considered vintage.

I agree. You can get much better deals on new clothes if you shop online with discount codes and use a cashback site like ebates. I went to a few kids consignment shops after having my baby and the prices were higher than what I can find on sale for clothes. Maybe thrift stores are less but you truly can get great prices online.

Agreed.
With kids' clothes if you wait for sales and used promotions on top of that, you buy new items for less than you'd spend at a consignment shop and comparable to what you'd find in a thrift store.

PP who saves enough on clothes by going to Value Village to take the entire family on a rainforest vacation - just out of curiosity, how much would you have spent if you'd bought clothes for your son retail? Unless the kid has a new outfit for every day of the week I just don't see the math working!

I think to some degree it's wrapped up in bragging rights, i.e. part of the granola crunchy, organic, 'look at me live below my means' that is so prevalent in this area.

Met with some old high-school friends of mine that had also relocated to this area. One of the women had adopted this lifestyle. She looked 20 years older than the rest of us, very sloppy, and the whole time lectured us on consumerism while insulting our husbands because they had not dedicated themselves to the poor

It got old really fast.

I have no problem, as I said, with people doing this out of true need or the thrill of the hunt. But there are exceptional bargains in retail stores, so it's not really a savings per se.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too am a high income thrift store shopper. I dress rather simply, but when I go to those stores, I generally feel like I'm the richest person there. I feel a bit embarassed, as if I should be shopping elsewhere. But this thread is showing me that there are plenty of wealthy thrift store shoppers. They probably even dress down to look the part.

I'm having difficulty understanding the thrift store shopping when sales at department/mall stores are so good. Thrift stores in my area either have really threadbare/trendy out-of-date clothing or the good clothing they have is priced on-par with finding it on sale new at the store. Buying designer there is such a risk, especially purses, as the knock-off rate is SO high.

I can see going to look for vintage pieces, but to simply get Ann Taylor clothing or designer jeans that Nordstrom's Rack carries for the same price or $10 new? Makes no sense to me.

I do, however, understand the thrill of the hunt.

Bottom line is I'm understanding the importance of investment pieces as I age. Paying $250 for a 3K Carolina Herrera dress at Saks Off-Fifth will take me farther than an Ann Taylor thrift store purchase. When I decide to sell that, I will get close to - if not more - than 3K. Especially if I hold it long enough to make it considered vintage.

I agree. You can get much better deals on new clothes if you shop online with discount codes and use a cashback site like ebates. I went to a few kids consignment shops after having my baby and the prices were higher than what I can find on sale for clothes. Maybe thrift stores are less but you truly can get great prices online.

Agreed.
With kids' clothes if you wait for sales and used promotions on top of that, you buy new items for less than you'd spend at a consignment shop and comparable to what you'd find in a thrift store.

PP who saves enough on clothes by going to Value Village to take the entire family on a rainforest vacation - just out of curiosity, how much would you have spent if you'd bought clothes for your son retail? Unless the kid has a new outfit for every day of the week I just don't see the math working!

I think to some degree it's wrapped up in bragging rights, i.e. part of the granola crunchy, organic, 'look at me live below my means' that is so prevalent in this area.

Met with some old high-school friends of mine that had also relocated to this area. One of the women had adopted this lifestyle. She looked 20 years older than the rest of us, very sloppy, and the whole time lectured us on consumerism while insulting our husbands because they had not dedicated themselves to the poor

It got old really fast.

I have no problem, as I said, with people doing this out of true need or the thrill of the hunt. But there are exceptional bargains in retail stores, so it's not really a savings per se.

This. I agree. I actually tried this lifestyle for a few years. It's actually exhausting keeping track of all of the tiny details of saving every little dime... and extremely time consuming. I made my own detergent, made my own granola bars, etc, etc. I saved a bit of money- but I was plain exhausted and had no time to take care of myself. Now I try to find the happy medium. Do I go into consignment stores -sure every once in awhile. Do I do my own manicures- yes. But I don't cut my own hair. I don't buy used shoes. And I stopped grating soap to make my own detergent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too am a high income thrift store shopper. I dress rather simply, but when I go to those stores, I generally feel like I'm the richest person there. I feel a bit embarassed, as if I should be shopping elsewhere. But this thread is showing me that there are plenty of wealthy thrift store shoppers. They probably even dress down to look the part.

I'm having difficulty understanding the thrift store shopping when sales at department/mall stores are so good. Thrift stores in my area either have really threadbare/trendy out-of-date clothing or the good clothing they have is priced on-par with finding it on sale new at the store. Buying designer there is such a risk, especially purses, as the knock-off rate is SO high.

I can see going to look for vintage pieces, but to simply get Ann Taylor clothing or designer jeans that Nordstrom's Rack carries for the same price or $10 new? Makes no sense to me.

I do, however, understand the thrill of the hunt.

Bottom line is I'm understanding the importance of investment pieces as I age. Paying $250 for a 3K Carolina Herrera dress at Saks Off-Fifth will take me farther than an Ann Taylor thrift store purchase. When I decide to sell that, I will get close to - if not more - than 3K. Especially if I hold it long enough to make it considered vintage.

I agree. You can get much better deals on new clothes if you shop online with discount codes and use a cashback site like ebates. I went to a few kids consignment shops after having my baby and the prices were higher than what I can find on sale for clothes. Maybe thrift stores are less but you truly can get great prices online.

Agreed.
With kids' clothes if you wait for sales and used promotions on top of that, you buy new items for less than you'd spend at a consignment shop and comparable to what you'd find in a thrift store.

PP who saves enough on clothes by going to Value Village to take the entire family on a rainforest vacation - just out of curiosity, how much would you have spent if you'd bought clothes for your son retail? Unless the kid has a new outfit for every day of the week I just don't see the math working!

I think to some degree it's wrapped up in bragging rights, i.e. part of the granola crunchy, organic, 'look at me live below my means' that is so prevalent in this area.

Met with some old high-school friends of mine that had also relocated to this area. One of the women had adopted this lifestyle. She looked 20 years older than the rest of us, very sloppy, and the whole time lectured us on consumerism while insulting our husbands because they had not dedicated themselves to the poor

It got old really fast.

I have no problem, as I said, with people doing this out of true need or the thrill of the hunt. But there are exceptional bargains in retail stores, so it's not really a savings per se.

I'm a thrift-shopper, and other than my DH and my sister, no one knows that I shop this way. It is certainly not information I would share e.g. at work.

[Anonymous]

I reuse the condoms I used with my wife when I schtoop your mom.

[Anonymous]

1. was making 70K and barely getting by.
2. resigned right before the shutdown.
3. offer for new employment rescinded due to shutdown.
4. denied for unemployment.
5. no savings due to kids hospitalizations last year.
6. i dig through dumpsters and trash bins in wealthier neighborhoods for metal and electronics to recycle just to pay school fees, buy food, gas in car, and not dig into last of savings (less than 1,000)
7. im highly depressed and think about killing myself at least once per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. was making 70K and barely getting by.
2. resigned right before the shutdown.
3. offer for new employment rescinded due to shutdown.
4. denied for unemployment.
5. no savings due to kids hospitalizations last year.
6. i dig through dumpsters and trash bins in wealthier neighborhoods for metal and electronics to recycle just to pay school fees, buy food, gas in car, and not dig into last of savings (less than 1,000)
7. im highly depressed and think about killing myself at least once per day.

Please get the help you need. Things will get better. Reach out to your support network of friends and family and let everyone know you are looking for a job. Let us know how you are doing.

[Anonymous]

I drink box wine and buy clearance meat and bakery items from the grocery store (things that are "expiring" that day). HHI of 150k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i wear my silver wedding shoes to work as my main shoes no matter what i wear (from 3 yrs ago).

i tell the garage guys at work sometimes i have no $$$ to pay them that day (to park).

I ask coworkers for change to buy a bag of chips from the vending machine. And I ask for k-cups.

HHI $155

You sound like a very strange lady.

Agreed.

really?

If you're broke at 155K, you are a horrible money manager.

Asking coworkers for change to save money is rude

REALLY.

Im glad my poorness is so entertaining to so many people (I'm not saving money, Im just broke lol)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i wear my silver wedding shoes to work as my main shoes no matter what i wear (from 3 yrs ago).

i tell the garage guys at work sometimes i have no $$$ to pay them that day (to park).

I ask coworkers for change to buy a bag of chips from the vending machine. And I ask for k-cups.

HHI $155

You sound like a very strange lady.

Agreed.

really?

If you're broke at 155K, you are a horrible money manager.

Asking coworkers for change to save money is rude

REALLY.

Im glad my poorness is so entertaining to so many people (I'm not saving money, Im just broke lol)

Why are you broke with a HHI of $155k? Do you have a lot of medical expenses?