Share a savings tip (and i'm not talking couponing)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why cable can't be on the chopping block. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu+, I just don't see why you'd pay for a cable package. Find the online provider who carries the shows you want and use that - $10/month. With Prime, we do so much Amazon shopping anyway, the live streaming is just a bonus for us. We'd have the account either if they didn't offer live streaming to go with it.

In other realms, I don't think there are any secrets when it comes to savings. Pick a home, or find a place to rent, at 20% or less of your take home income (after taxes, health premiums, retirement contributions) and if that means going to the burbs to be comfortable, do it. Once you're in the burbs, you've got lower cost childcare - use those $1k/month or less licensed options instead of a nanny. Cook, eat at home, get freezer meals stocked for nights when you would have otherwise done take out.

We do get crazy cheap produce through our farm share and we save a few hundred a year on diapers by using cloth, but that's all peanuts compared to the thousands we have in budget flexibility because we're at peace with living in the burbs and not using daycare in the middle of downtown DC. We're also a one car family, but getting a second one wouldn't really make or break what we already have going since we get simple cars and don't drive into work - the cars are for weeknight errands and weekend use.

Another savings tip: Cut back on Amazon shopping. You rarely actually need what you order.

[Anonymous]

Bring old clothes by a consignment shop. I went to mustard seed with a bunch of old things I haven't worn in years and walked out with $75. Whole thing took 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

When I notice my spending has gone a little nuts I meal plan around what I already have, and then only buy essentials for a couple of weeks. (I tend to go overboard at the grocery store)

Know your weaknesses.

Put together as many outfits as you can out of what you have, then buy a few pieces to freshen things up.

Cut back on cable, there's usually a way.

IF you eat away from home a lot, evaluate and see if you really need to. I figure cutting back on things like that is easier and more likely to last than cutting it out entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut your cell phone plan. Many people are paying way too much money for cell phones.

You can get services with limited talk minutes, unlimited text and data access for as little as $35/month. You can get unlimited talk, text, data for even an iPhone for as little as $50/month. Even in a family, you can get 2 phones for $100 or less. I know of plenty of people who are paying $180 or even over $200 for 2 iPhones.

What service had this? I would love to cut my bill.

[Anonymous]

Don't drink so much alcohol. You'll be rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut your cell phone plan. Many people are paying way too much money for cell phones.

You can get services with limited talk minutes, unlimited text and data access for as little as $35/month. You can get unlimited talk, text, data for even an iPhone for as little as $50/month. Even in a family, you can get 2 phones for $100 or less. I know of plenty of people who are paying $180 or even over $200 for 2 iPhones.

What service had this? I would love to cut my bill.

Not quite as cheap as that, but I have Page Plus Wireless for $55/month. No contract. Uses Verizon network. I bought an iPhone at Walmart and activated it on Page Plus. Works great. I did have to buy the phone, but my monthly savings meant that after 10 months I was even, and every month after I save the difference between $55 and the Verizon price for unlimited monthly.

[Anonymous]

No spend days. Wednesday and Sundays I can't spend money, with the exception of grocery shopping on Sundays if I need to, but even then I can only by necessities, no indulgences.
If I really want/need something I can wait and buy it another day. Often, though, by the next day I decide I don't really want/need it. And on Wednesdays I save the price of coffee, lunch out at work, a snack, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut your cell phone plan. Many people are paying way too much money for cell phones.

You can get services with limited talk minutes, unlimited text and data access for as little as $35/month. You can get unlimited talk, text, data for even an iPhone for as little as $50/month. Even in a family, you can get 2 phones for $100 or less. I know of plenty of people who are paying $180 or even over $200 for 2 iPhones.

What service had this? I would love to cut my bill.

Not quite as cheap as that, but I have Page Plus Wireless for $55/month. No contract. Uses Verizon network. I bought an iPhone at Walmart and activated it on Page Plus. Works great. I did have to buy the phone, but my monthly savings meant that after 10 months I was even, and every month after I save the difference between $55 and the Verizon price for unlimited monthly.

I have been looking at page plus but thought you had to buy one of their phones. I did not know you could bring your own devise. How did you activate your iphone on page plus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why cable can't be on the chopping block. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu+, I just don't see why you'd pay for a cable package. Find the online provider who carries the shows you want and use that - $10/month. With Prime, we do so much Amazon shopping anyway, the live streaming is just a bonus for us. We'd have the account either if they didn't offer live streaming to go with it.

In other realms, I don't think there are any secrets when it comes to savings. Pick a home, or find a place to rent, at 20% or less of your take home income (after taxes, health premiums, retirement contributions) and if that means going to the burbs to be comfortable, do it. Once you're in the burbs, you've got lower cost childcare - use those $1k/month or less licensed options instead of a nanny. Cook, eat at home, get freezer meals stocked for nights when you would have otherwise done take out.

We do get crazy cheap produce through our farm share and we save a few hundred a year on diapers by using cloth, but that's all peanuts compared to the thousands we have in budget flexibility because we're at peace with living in the burbs and not using daycare in the middle of downtown DC. We're also a one car family, but getting a second one wouldn't really make or break what we already have going since we get simple cars and don't drive into work - the cars are for weeknight errands and weekend use.

Another savings tip: Cut back on Amazon shopping. You rarely actually need what you order.

Right, we totally don't need pantry staples, soap, laundry detergent, baby clothes, or baby proofing gear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why cable can't be on the chopping block. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu+, I just don't see why you'd pay for a cable package. Find the online provider who carries the shows you want and use that - $10/month.

What about sports? that's the hook to the cable companies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut your cell phone plan. Many people are paying way too much money for cell phones.

You can get services with limited talk minutes, unlimited text and data access for as little as $35/month. You can get unlimited talk, text, data for even an iPhone for as little as $50/month. Even in a family, you can get 2 phones for $100 or less. I know of plenty of people who are paying $180 or even over $200 for 2 iPhones.

What service had this? I would love to cut my bill.

Not quite as cheap as that, but I have Page Plus Wireless for $55/month. No contract. Uses Verizon network. I bought an iPhone at Walmart and activated it on Page Plus. Works great. I did have to buy the phone, but my monthly savings meant that after 10 months I was even, and every month after I save the difference between $55 and the Verizon price for unlimited monthly.

Virgin Mobile has $35 plans with 300 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data (although they really slow it down after you use a certain amount of data in a month, which has never happened to me).

[Anonymous]

Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint network, I forgot to mention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why cable can't be on the chopping block. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu+, I just don't see why you'd pay for a cable package. Find the online provider who carries the shows you want and use that - $10/month. With Prime, we do so much Amazon shopping anyway, the live streaming is just a bonus for us. We'd have the account either if they didn't offer live streaming to go with it.

In other realms, I don't think there are any secrets when it comes to savings. Pick a home, or find a place to rent, at 20% or less of your take home income (after taxes, health premiums, retirement contributions) and if that means going to the burbs to be comfortable, do it. Once you're in the burbs, you've got lower cost childcare - use those $1k/month or less licensed options instead of a nanny. Cook, eat at home, get freezer meals stocked for nights when you would have otherwise done take out.

We do get crazy cheap produce through our farm share and we save a few hundred a year on diapers by using cloth, but that's all peanuts compared to the thousands we have in budget flexibility because we're at peace with living in the burbs and not using daycare in the middle of downtown DC. We're also a one car family, but getting a second one wouldn't really make or break what we already have going since we get simple cars and don't drive into work - the cars are for weeknight errands and weekend use.

Another savings tip: Cut back on Amazon shopping. You rarely actually need what you order.

Right, we totally don't need pantry staples, soap, laundry detergent, baby clothes, or baby proofing gear.

Well, you certainly don't nee baby proofing gear. That's a scam. And I bet you overspend on the other things, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you use cash, save all the extra $1 bills and put them aside in an envelope. Every few weeks we usually have at least $20, but I wait until it's at least $50 to do anything with it. Right now we're at $86 in about 5 months, and are currently deciding what to do with it. I've always done this.

Keep all loose change in a coin jar and once it's full, take it to Navy Federal or another bank that will roll it and deposit with no fees, or go to Coinstar and use the Amazon gift card option for redemption (no fees).

I sold a double BOB stroller to a couple who had done this with $5 bills. They had started at the new year and by summer had saved enough to buy the stroller--I don't remember exactly what they paid me but it was over $300.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Cable's not on the chopping block because I want it- what about turning on the TV and flipping channels and watching things you didn't know existed? I honestly barely watch actual TV shows, just flip through and watch news, sports games, etc.
We don't NEED to cut, just wondering if I'm missing good savings tips.