Anonymous wrote:I cook. Probably saves us thousands a year compared to some people.

Don't buy organic or much packaged food.

Make our own coffee. Always. Drip. Store brand. It's fine.

Installed mini-splits to replace underfloor heating. I expect that's saving us thousands a year, as well. We only turn on the units in the rooms we're using.

Can you explain mini splits and underfloor heating?

I cook. Probably saves us thousands a year compared to some people.

Don't buy organic or much packaged food.

Make our own coffee. Always. Drip. Store brand. It's fine.

Installed mini-splits to replace underfloor heating. I expect that's saving us thousands a year, as well. We only turn on the units in the rooms we're using.

Do my own manicures at home, natural nails only. Not sure what gels or acrylics cost but I think I'm saving at least 50/month. My nails look really good and a couple of ladies have asked me where I get my nails done
with home mani there is the outlay of nice polishes, cuticle oils, nippers, glass files etc. But that pales in comparison to gels. Plus natural nails with a nice polish just look better imo.

Anonymous wrote:Before I make any nonessential purchase, I think long and hard about whether I will be glad 6-12 months from now about the purchase or whether I’ll be more likely to prefer having not spent the money. It stops a lot of impulse buying in its tracks.

I like this longterm perspective. Vs the Herr and now and if I'll like it say this month.

Use a French press.or.drip to male.yoir own coffee. No to k cups and no to nespresso. Cost savings, depends. But could be significant depending on how much you drink.

Anonymous wrote:I cut and style my own hair, and I saved 60k

Short hair or do you have long? I've sometimes thought of doing this. But my hair is collarbone length.

Buy clothes at consignment and keep minimal wardrobe. Cost savings of entire wardrobe is in the low thousands.

I cut and style my own hair, and I saved 60k

Ditched cable and use a digital type antennae with ability to dvr shows. Cost of equipment was 150. $5/month to record. After the cost of equipment and based on my previous cable bill, money saved is 150/mo. One does have to be careful not to get sucked into Disney plus, peacock, youtube TV etc.

I use an indoor wall mount clothes rack to line dry all my clothes. I do use the dryer for towels bedding obviously. Cost savings is probably 100/yr at minimum.

I only invest in index funds. Expense ratio is a fraction of managed funds or even target date retirement funds. S&P500 (fxaix) is my major holding. Savings is thousands of dollars, depending on size of portfolio. Expenses on some funds are 10-20 times higher than a standard s&p index fund.

I wait at least a few months before a major purchase that gets stuck in my head. I likely forget about it by then. I also wait for deals. At least 15% off plus at least 5% cash back off from any of the various cash back sites. This is usually around federal holidays.

Before I make any nonessential purchase, I think long and hard about whether I will be glad 6-12 months from now about the purchase or whether I’ll be more likely to prefer having not spent the money. It stops a lot of impulse buying in its tracks.

My tip:

Meal prep on weekends and bring lunch into work every day. (I work in office setting.) I estimate I save at least $10/day.

I prepackage lunches into individual containers. A typical lunch for me will be a layered grain bowl in a wide jar, with dressing on top. I layer grains (bulgar, einkorn, couscous, kamut etc.) on base, top with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta, roasted peppers, spicy chickpeas, greens on top, pistachios. Dressing is a lime cilantro vinaigrette with harissa. It sounds like a lot but it is quick and easy when you make five salad jars, assembly line. Dressing is in its own container so it doesn't get things soggy. The key is to have the same thing everyday for a week, to save money and time. The following week I'll vary it and do a Baja style one with roasted corn jalapeño salad, black beans, brown rice etc.