cost savings tips !

[HALEY]

I thought this would be a good thread to start here.
Since gas prices are so high, and prices of groceries are going up as well, what is everyone doing to save some money?

Here's are couple of things im doing in my house.

Sticking to a grocery list.
stop getting the newspaper ( no one reads it anyways)
upgraded to digital cable, so i can watch free movies, saves from going out to watch one.
Stopped Micah's book club ( too many books)
Buying in bulk when i can at Sam's club.
Buying cleaning supplies at General dollar..
We only go out once a month for dinner. (that one hurts but we save so much money)
Washing clothes when i have a full load.
cooking out on the grill, saves on my gas bill.
Mikes getting a company truck in July, so Thank God i'm selling my old car.. saves on gas, insurance and wear and tear ... the car is a 1994 chev. good car, but the last time i got it inspected it cost me 800.00..
anyone else got some tips.....

[Marilyn]

1. Use flourescent light bulbs for your most used light fixtures. The ones you seldom use, don't matter.
2. Turn off the computers, TV's, and other electrical devices when not in use. TV's and other items actually consume some electricity when not in use. Using a power strip with an on/off switch will allow you to shut these devices off completely.
3. Drive the speed limit, and reduce braking when stopping by slowing down earlier at intersections.
4. Buy a good quality water filter for your kitchen sink cold water and stop buying bottled water. Much of our bottled water is filtered municipal water anyway. Filter yourself and save money.
5. Buy a box of white lint free rags from the paint store and use these for cleaning instead of paper towels. Wash with your whites and reuse.

This is a start. Will try to come up with more.

[HALEY]

Thanks Marilyn, those were good ones, i'm always buying paper towels, have to get some rags.. and i just got a water filter a couple months ago
thanks for the tips.

[judy]

I've spent so much money the past few days!

But, what I have been doing is that I just stopped all of the impulse spending and I haven't bought any clothes for a while. In other words, nothing unnecessary.
That works for me.

I also have been buying fresh veggies and steaming them. They're delicious and much cheaper than the frozen. Food is just so expensive lately. I only buy what I really need for my WW diet.

[Janet]

Those were all great ideas. I don't spend much anyway. Gotta have it to spend it...LOL. Our Farmers Market started up last weekend and the fresh fruits and veggies are cheaper there than in the stores. Although I love the frozen steam packages of veggies...it's time I stop and steam my own fresh ones too.

I've already tried saving in other ways a long time ago, but really not noticing a whole lot of savings.

[HALEY]

Mike also put one new storm door up, hopefully if its not raining this weekend he'll get the other one up, i'm going to see if it makes a difference on my a/c and gas bill.
Last year we also put up all energy light bulbs, i didn't see to much of a difference in my electric. But cutting down on washing clothes, im going to check it next month.
I couldn't believe prices of groceries, when i went yesterday, i shop wal mart for all my baby stuff and then i go to giant eagle for my meats, wal mart meat is just terrible, i got the pop special that giant eagle was advertising for our lunches, i started packing a lunch again for work, sometimes i eat lunch sometimes i don't..
so i'll save some money there too..
i got Micah off of all baby food, so i'm saving tons of money there, next step is to start the potty training.. oh boy !!!!