Have you made any money-saving changes recently?

[Anonymous]

I’ve stopped going to restaurants so I don’t have to tip. When I order uber eats or instacart, I put $0 tip upfront so I don’t feel bad not tipping. Only tips nail salons and hair stylists. It’s not my job to supplement your income. I live in California and minimum was here is $15, and restaurants up to $20. Not my job to tip you more than I make myself when my job is more than putting a pizza in a box.

[Anonymous]

I pee outside (live on a 6 acre lot) to save water. Peeing 6-7 times daily add up - 1.5gpf x 6 = 9 gallons daily. Impressed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pee outside (live on a 6 acre lot) to save water. Peeing 6-7 times daily add up - 1.5gpf x 6 = 9 gallons daily. Impressed?

Classy

[Anonymous]

I wrapped the hot water heater in insulation.

I use a cash back credit card.

I call ahead to compare prices on items (medicines, tires, dry cleaning).

I check out happy hour and kid’s eat free days for special occasions.

[Anonymous]

I bought a small secondhand chest freezer for $60. It fits in our laundry/utility room.

I can make double batches of food and freeze for later and buy things on sale that I know we’ll use later. It helps cut down on meals out and has paid for itself many times over.

[Anonymous]

poor cable...always the first to get axed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I applied for social security just so I could share it with 4 family members. An extra $300 a month for groceries and or gas makes everyone feel secure. And I'll do it until they all get back on solid ground or I die.
It literally keeps me up at night thinking about everyone struggling. Not just our family. I wish I had a lot of money to help anyone needing.

How old are you? You don’t need it for yourself. I plan to take at 70 to maximize my benefit and it is part of my retirement stream of income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:poor cable...always the first to get axed...

I'm one of the previous posters that cut my cable. If they had stopped upping their prices every year, and had better cable packages I wouldn't have even thought about axing them. But every month when my bill arrived I'd question myself as to how many of their channel offerings I actually watch?

I didn't get rid of them totally though. They still provide my internet. I received a special rate when I turned in my cable boxes to persuade me to keep my internet with them. When that special rate expires, I'll probably drop them for internet too. Serves them right for the many times I had to call them to complain that new subscribers got better deals and lower rates than existing customers. Only after I complained that they then would lower my bill. Other than that they were quite happy to charge me more for their services than the new subscribers.

[Anonymous]

Finally set up my combined Verizon fios and cell phone billing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:poor cable...always the first to get axed...

I'm one of the previous posters that cut my cable. If they had stopped upping their prices every year, and had better cable packages I wouldn't have even thought about axing them. But every month when my bill arrived I'd question myself as to how many of their channel offerings I actually watch?

I didn't get rid of them totally though. They still provide my internet. I received a special rate when I turned in my cable boxes to persuade me to keep my internet with them. When that special rate expires, I'll probably drop them for internet too. Serves them right for the many times I had to call them to complain that new subscribers got better deals and lower rates than existing customers. Only after I complained that they then would lower my bill. Other than that they were quite happy to charge me more for their services than the new subscribers.

Np and I agree with the lack of packaging and consistent increases being why I decided to get rid of cable. Another thing is that cable companies don't even attempt to court you when you threaten to leave--they just let you go. Most places offer a slightly better option, so you will reconsider leaving. I'm surprised that cable companies are not in financial trouble, considering how many people I know who've cut the chord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve stopped going to restaurants so I don’t have to tip. When I order uber eats or instacart, I put $0 tip upfront so I don’t feel bad not tipping. Only tips nail salons and hair stylists. It’s not my job to supplement your income. I live in California and minimum was here is $15, and restaurants up to $20. Not my job to tip you more than I make myself when my job is more than putting a pizza in a box.

Wow. So you expect someone to bring your overpriced food to your door and not receive a tip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve stopped going to restaurants so I don’t have to tip. When I order uber eats or instacart, I put $0 tip upfront so I don’t feel bad not tipping. Only tips nail salons and hair stylists. It’s not my job to supplement your income. I live in California and minimum was here is $15, and restaurants up to $20. Not my job to tip you more than I make myself when my job is more than putting a pizza in a box.

Wow. So you expect someone to bring your overpriced food to your door and not receive a tip?

Aren't they already being paid to bring you your food?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a single mom and I’m really struggling to make ends meet the last few months. I finally made a few big changes:

—I cut the cable, saving us around $150 a month

—I’ve made changes at the grocery store such as buying in bulk, making my own beans, packaging the kids Goldfish, etc, instead of buying single serving convenience bags, shopping the ad, “meatless” meals, etc.

But I’d love to find a way to save a couple hundred more. There is nothing else I can reasonably give up, but I’m open to ANY suggestions for living more frugally/cheaper.

Switch cell phone plans. Someone on here recommended this a few months back, and it was a game changer. I switched from T-Mobile family plan at $160 a month to Visible at $75 a month family plan. There is zero difference in service. I tried Mint mobile, which is even cheaper, but their customer service is garbage, and I had too many issues installing it on one of the lines.

Years ago we had Consumer Cellular and were happy with it.

Another suggestion is to shop around for gas. This may seem like a Captain Obvious suggestion, but I was notorious for going to Shell and using gas points. I now go to Liberty and come out cheaper there then I did with gas points at Shell.

We did this (switch to Visible) and I have to restart my phone 1-3 times a day to receive text messages. It's terrible.

[Anonymous]

Years ago we had Consumer Cellular for phone service and were happy with it. I think they have a good reputation.

With small children this may not be feasible but if you have any ability to provide pet sitting through Rover, even just on weekends, or over holiday weeks, you could supplement your income nicely.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, OP. Cutting food costs was the big one for us and it sounds like you’re already doing that. Look at your spending and see what can go - we cut our newspaper from daily to weekend only, dropped a streaming service, that kind of thing.