What is the number one (or two) thing you do to save money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:06 - that is interesting. We actually BOUGHT a car because our metro expenses were astronomical. It was costing us $15 a day (husband took train and bus 2 ways and I took train 2 ways) and we thought case would be cheaper.

We stopped paying for a housecleaner and started just biting the bullet and cleaning the darn house ourselves. It sucks, but we are saving $200 a month.

My fed employer pays for my transit pass. Thank you taxpayers!

[Anonymous]

Cheap cell phones w/ no data plan, one car, shop at Aldi

[Anonymous]

We stopped going to Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) and stick with mainstream grocery stores like Safeway and Giant. I can't believe how much we save on groceries.

[Anonymous]

Really, the best thing you can do is to do an automatic, maximum deduction from your paycheck into your 401K/403B, 529s, and other savings accounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Food choices: We only go out to eat a maximum of once of week, sometimes not at all. Lunches are almost always brought from home. We rarely buy meat, and eat other forms of protein (mainly beans) instead. We make coffee at home (I love my Keurig!)

2. Money is automatically transferred from our checking to a high-yield savings account, which doesn't get touched at all

3. Coupons (grocery and non-grocery items), online coupons for stores, and waiting for sales.

Would you mind sharing where you found your high yield savings account?

Me too. I'm dying to know. I have cash stashed in our stupid banks saving account program but honestly I'm not seeing anything else that looks better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Food choices: We only go out to eat a maximum of once of week, sometimes not at all. Lunches are almost always brought from home. We rarely buy meat, and eat other forms of protein (mainly beans) instead. We make coffee at home (I love my Keurig!)

2. Money is automatically transferred from our checking to a high-yield savings account, which doesn't get touched at all

3. Coupons (grocery and non-grocery items), online coupons for stores, and waiting for sales.

Would you mind sharing where you found your high yield savings account?

Discover Bank (online) has an APR of 1.15%. Opening deposit is $500 minimum. You can set up an autosave function, which is what we did to transfer money each month, but you do not get a bank card or checks with the account. It is strictly online transfers only.

[Anonymous]

We live in Silver Spring instead of Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

We live in Silver Spring instead of Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

PP - how do we sign up for windpower? Is it through Pepco or someplace else?

[Anonymous]

Got rid of cable (saved $150 a month). Switched to a limited data plan for husband's iPhone (saved $40 a month).

[Anonymous]

Got rid of cable and Netflix. Never had the time to watch much anyway, now we just stick with Hulu (free) and books from the library.

Making lunch 4 out of 5 days per week.

Meal planning for dinner for the entire month in advance. Makes it easier to grocery shop, and we're less likely to eat out.

Now, working on spending less at Starbucks. Not sure why that's been so difficult. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

We don't go shopping as a leisure activity and so don't really buy much.

I also plan menus in advance and bake my own bread.

[Anonymous]

eating out lunch at work probably costs me $250/month

[Anonymous]

Would you mind sharing where you found your high yield savings account?

Bankrate.com. It can help you find the best checking/savings accounts, the best credit cards, etc.

[Anonymous]

Clothes: ALmost all hand-me-downs, and party dresses on e-bay. It's not that I'm that cheap, it's just that these things are worn so few times....and noone knows...my daughters Ralph Lauren cotton waffle dress with shrug was $6....