What are people doing to save money in this insane economy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so ready to do solar. We have the right roof for it but I'm so worried about choosing the right installer and how maintenance will work that I've never been able to pull the plug. (haha punny)

I'm looking into this as well, but concerned that we don't have enough sun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don’t go out to eat much like many of the other posters. It makes me curious about how restaurants and servers are faring; I used to waitress on and off in my teens through thirties as a second job and would make great money.

Restaurants are busy. We go out maybe three times a month. They’re full of people.

I’m sure the 11 remaining restaurants in the DMV are busy, lol.

I’m not understanding this post.

It was way overstating something to make a point, and the point is getting lost.

The point is that many, many restaurants have not survived, and there are less of them. Therefore, the statement that "they're full of people" does not mean restaurants are "faring" well, which was the question expressed by the prior post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't tip anymore. It was hard at first but once I realized servers make the minimum wage, I felt better about it. I don't tip hair dressers either. Mine owns her own chair and can charge what she wants....and she does.

You suck, and should feel bad about it. Do better, or stay home.

Actually it used to be that no one who was just working at a coffee bar would dream of asking for tips. This was mission creep during COVID for them being in person and they never gave it up. Tips are for table service and things like delivery men or hairdressers. I never tip for counter service it’s just an 18% upcharge.

I worked at a "coffee bar" in the 90s, and tips were how we made decent money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don’t go out to eat much like many of the other posters. It makes me curious about how restaurants and servers are faring; I used to waitress on and off in my teens through thirties as a second job and would make great money.

Restaurants are busy. We go out maybe three times a month. They’re full of people.

I’m sure the 11 remaining restaurants in the DMV are busy, lol.

I’m not understanding this post.

It was way overstating something to make a point, and the point is getting lost.

The point is that many, many restaurants have not survived, and there are less of them. Therefore, the statement that "they're full of people" does not mean restaurants are "faring" well, which was the question expressed by the prior post.

I wonder if they are having more difficulty in DC compared to NoVA or MD suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm renting space in my garage to a company that does aquamation of pets. They have freezers with animal remains in my garage. Veterinarians drop the remains off and then the aquamation company comes and picks up the remains and brings them to their facility. The freezers are locked so my kids can't open them.

OMG.

Good for you on finding the craziest side gig I've ever heard of. But I'd have nightmares, lol.

Pp here with the animal remains freezers.

My friends and family think I’m insane. But it doesn’t freak me out. Maybe because it’s truly passive and i have not once ever had to see anything upsetting. We have that bay of our garage completely sealed off with privacy curtains and shelving.

I guess on some level I feel sort of….good about it? Like I’m keeping people’s babies safe and secure during a transitional time. Everyone is so respectful about the whole thing, too.

But I’m also just kinda ruthlessly practical about earning money.

[Anonymous]

Using what I have.
Not buying pretty much anything and everything except food.
NOT shopping at the dollar store which is much more money for less now since they raised prices and are using smaller packaging it costs more to shop there. Plus you end up buying so much crap you don't need. NEVER shop the dollar store!!!!
Mostly just making due with what I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using what I have.
Not buying pretty much anything and everything except food.
NOT shopping at the dollar store which is much more money for less now since they raised prices and are using smaller packaging it costs more to shop there. Plus you end up buying so much crap you don't need. NEVER shop the dollar store!!!!
Mostly just making do with what I have.

I still go to the dollar store for birthday cards; can’t beat the 1.25 as opposed to Hallmark prices.

[Anonymous]

Buying less and being careful not to over pay since so many places are price gouging. I found some things I needed for less expensive on ebay of all places! Don't sleep on ebay. Also you can search by closest seller to you and help local people and help save the environment as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using what I have.
Not buying pretty much anything and everything except food.
NOT shopping at the dollar store which is much more money for less now since they raised prices and are using smaller packaging it costs more to shop there. Plus you end up buying so much crap you don't need. NEVER shop the dollar store!!!!
Mostly just making do with what I have.

I still go to the dollar store for birthday cards; can’t beat the 1.25 as opposed to Hallmark prices.

I buy the handmade 3-D cards (comes in a box of multiples) from Costco. It costs around 5 cents each and they are gorgeous and expensive looking. Similar cards at other places run around $7-$8.

Over the years, I have bought several different boxes and I actually have a good collection now.
My entire extended family (those who live close to us) use these cards.

[Anonymous]

^^
50 cents...not 5 cents

[Anonymous]

Limiting going out to eat to once a month.
Using up food, like the last bit of butter I might have tossed before.
Buying fewer clothes, making do with what I have. Getting clothes/shoes altered or repaired.
Not passing by the cheap gas station and filling up instead of just going where it's convenient.
Doing less and doing free things.
Buying a boring used car with cash. No loans or debts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so ready to do solar. We have the right roof for it but I'm so worried about choosing the right installer and how maintenance will work that I've never been able to pull the plug. (haha punny)

We went with Solar City (during the time of Obama 1st term). It was later acquired by Tesla. They do a good job of installation and there is hardly any maintenance required. They recently came to upgrade some stuff and install squirrel guards etc.

Here is how we tackled it. We first put in a new roof (we were due for it). We put in the strongest storm-proof and impact resistant shingles that we could. We put in the solar panels on top of that new roof.

We leased for 20 years. We are in year 14. A minimum production is guaranteed by the company. If that does not happen, they cover the shortfall. In case the panels are damaged from anything - the company has to replace (including damage to roof if any) it.

We have been very satisfied with our investment and recovered the cost in first 7 years. Till date, the roof and the panels are working well. So we believe that it will continue to work even after the lease expires.

We also paid Pepco to do an energy audit for us. Based on their recommendation we upgraded our windows, front door and most importantly increased significantly the thickness of the insulation in our ceiling. The extra insulation has been an absolute game changer because it has made our house absolutely comfortable in all seasons. That has been a game changer.

Having the solar panels has also provided with extra insulation to the whole house and protection to the roof.

We also replaced our attic fans with solar attic fans on our roof and we also got new solar attic fan installed over our attached garage. It has made our garage cool in summer and warm in winters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Limiting going out to eat to once a month.
Using up food, like the last bit of butter I might have tossed before.
Buying fewer clothes, making do with what I have. Getting clothes/shoes altered or repaired.
Not passing by the cheap gas station and filling up instead of just going where it's convenient.
Doing less and doing free things.
Buying a boring used car with cash. No loans or debts.

We have a hybrid that we charge at home (we have solar panels too), so our gas needs are not high, but we always fill it up at Costco when we do our grocery runs.

[Anonymous]

Sell all your junk on FB marketplace.

Don't buy expensive plants during summer. Last two summers, I have just planted marigolds in the garden and they are proven performers with least amount of care needed. I plant tomatoes next to them and they thrive. Not much care needed.

I also overseeded with different types of clovers and grass seeds a few summers ago. I no longer fertilize my lawn or use herbicides. All weeds are welcome in the lawn.

[Anonymous]

Reupholstering my sofa on my own.
Do all my own home repairs.

I already do the regular belt tightening stuff.