The Money Saver Thread

[hubberjub***]

Drink plain tap water instead of buying over-priced, environment-unfriendly bottled liquids.

Speaking of not buying bottled liquids, brew your own beer and wine.

[Eric***]

Let's see here...

• Don't get cable or satellite TV.
• Have only the most basic cell phone plan and whatever phone you can get for free, provided you need a cell phone.
• Don't eat out.
• Buy used for as much stuff as possible. Craigslist is a great innovation that lets you get perfectly good stuff for pennies on the dollar.
• Don't use air conditioning.
• Get a programmable thermostat for heat in the winter and set it to keep your place cold during the day.
• Don't buy a new car -- I've never had a car payment in my 15 years of driving. Helps save on insurance too, since I don't need full coverage.
• Only have one car per family if at all possible. If you can swing it, have zero cars.
• See how little space you can live with -- less space = less rent/lower mortgage payment and lower utility bills.

And, most importantly, cut out the dye jobs and pedicures.

[Heywood Jablomie]

Put all your change in a jar, every day. You won't miss it, but it adds up more quickly than you'd think.

[Spudman***]

Put all your change in a jar, every day. You won't miss it, but it adds up more quickly than you'd think.

Very true. I prefer a can so that I can't see how full it is. Less temptation that way.

And, most importantly, cut out the dye jobs and pedicures.

Ahem, covering the gray is like buying groceries. It's essential.

Use one sheet instead of three...

Ah! From the Cheryl Crow school of economics...but eventually you'll still have to use the other two.

[riverrick]

Put all your change in a jar, every day. You won't miss it, but it adds up more quickly than you'd think.

I do this...in fact rolled my coins today....$140...not bad eh!!

[Bloozcat]

Drink plain tap water instead of buying over-priced, environment-unfriendly bottled liquids.

An under the kitchen sink carbon filtration unit is great for this. Takes out any of the bad taste, even the chlorine from treated water. Then buy those stainless tote bottles to eliminate any toxic gas leaching as you get from plastic, and you're good to go.

[sumitomo]

Drink plain tap water instead of buying over-priced, environment-unfriendly bottled liquids.

That could be deadly some places!Sumi

[marnold***]

Eschew pants.

[Katastrophe]

Eschew pants.

I would, and it would be comfortable in the 100 degree (F) heat, but I don't think my self esteem could handle all the pointing and laughing!

[Katastrophe]

So, where do you go for guitar consumables, like strings?

The local GAS station here is ridiculously high priced.

[poodlesrule]

Use a clothline to dry clothes.
I think I am the only freak on my street to do so, and I understand many/most HOAs prohibit it (along everything else!). I hate dryers almost as much as leaf blowers!

You should smell the laundry after a day in the sun... heavenly.

I started an collection of clothline pictures. on and off. Italy has the best ones, across narrow streets, with the workingman's jeans alongside the ladies unmentionables... delightful!

[Tig***]

Use a clothline to dry clothes.
I think I am the only freak on my street to do so, and I understand many/most HOAs prohibit it (along everything else!).
You should smell the laundry after a day in the sun... heavenly.

We do this when the weather permits. Behind the fence in the back yard, the HOA nazi's never see it. However, we toss everything in the dryer for about 3-4 minutes to loosen the fabric up before folding or wearing.

[Bloozcat]

So, where do you go for guitar consumables, like strings?

The local GAS station here is ridiculously high priced.

Musician's Friend or Music 123 always runs a Christmas special on 12 packs of D'Addario XL110's. It's a staple on my Christmas list every year...cheaper by the dozen.

[FrankenFretter***]

So, where do you go for guitar consumables, like strings?

The local GAS station here is ridiculously high priced.

I've bought some strings recently from Webstrings. They seem pretty decent, and they're pretty cheap ($2.99). Guitar Fetish also has strings, and Sumi says they're good. Those run $2.39 a set.

If you must have a name brand, buy in bulk. Good way to save money.

B stock items, factory blems and seconds are another good way to save. I also try to do as much shopping at the Grocery Outlet as possible. As mentioned a couple times already, the library is great. We "rent" quite a few movies from ours, which is only a block away.

Frankly I'm surprised Eric didn't start this thread a long time ago.

[Eric***]

Frankly I'm surprised Eric didn't start this thread a long time ago.

It's good to know that my reputation precedes me. I suppose putting my love of frugality in my user profile doesn't hurt...

[kiteman]

So, where do you go for guitar consumables, like strings?

The local GAS station here is ridiculously high priced.

Yours too? Mine wants $20 for a set of Elixirs. Cheapest set-$8. I never went back and thanks god for MF online, I buy 'em by the 10 pack (for 3 guitars).

[sumitomo]

Yea a case of strings 25 bucks,now you CAN change your strings!Sumi

[sumitomo]

When you go out to eat,take a little toliet paper home with ya,stuff your pockets!,In Mexico and South America public toliets don't have TP you either buy in on your way in or bring it with you,if they insist on you paying to use THEIR toliet,I just drop my pants and start pissing at their feet,They ain't pullin no cons on this gringo,funny how you can hold of an attacker with a stream of piss.LOL!! Sumi

[pes_laul]

Being a broke teenager Im the master at this!
Whenever I go out with friends i always buy the cheapest meals and when we go to the movies I smuggle my own snacks in I bought from the gas station for five bucks.

and whenever I work I always put 40% of what I make in savings and keep the rest for spending money