hollow_rose wrote:

1. Libraries are free! I get books and DVDs there.

And remember, if they don't have it at your library, ask if they have inter-library loan service.  Most libraries do, and they'll be able to order in your request from another library.

When times get lean, ramen is your friend and lover.

If you can, avoid eating out as much as possible. You'd be shocked how much you spend to eat out compared to cooking your own food.

Buy store brand when you KNOW it doesn't affect the quality.

Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and the 99-Cent Only Stores are made of WIN.

Buy clothing from thrift stores and consignment shops.

Never pay full price for anything, if you can help it.

Frozen spinach is often more economical than fresh.

Constantly troll the "Reduced for Quick Sale" sections of grocery stores. I get $10+ ribeyes for $6 that way.

Unless you have specific allergies or chemical sensitivities, all shampoo is essentially the same. A bottle of $1.19 Suave is as good as $4.99 Pantene.

Diluting said shampoo is also good.

Sell things you don't need whenever you can.

Swapping can be awesome. What you get may not be new, but it'll be new to you.

If you live in a large city with mass transit, use it when you can, keeping safety in mind.

If you own a bicycle, use it.

You'd be surprised how far you can walk if you just get up and do it.

Don't leave your computer running all the time.

If you leave for the weekend, unplug as much as you can. Things that stay plugged in, even though they're not on or in use, eat electricity.

"Movie Nights" and "Game Nights" are great ways to avoid leaving the house and spending money.

If you're a music addict like me and downloading is not your thing, have your friends make you mix CDs. Great way to get new music without having to necessarily buy it.

When buying clothing, shop out of season. Most stores mark down those items considerably, and you can get great staples at half the cost.

Internet Piracy is always a great way of saving money when it comes to music and movies.

Tamago wrote:

Internet Piracy is always a great way of saving money when it comes to music and movies.

Don't forget games
*goes off to play with her naughty pirated version of FF7*
But really, is Britney Spears/Marilyn Manson/etc going to hurt terribly from the loss of the sale of an mp3 or 10? I think not.
I suppose the shampoo thing depends on your hair. It's all the same to me, but my hair is quite short and I wash it every day, so *shrug*.
On that note: short hair costs less

Miss Bluesky wrote:

Get drunk before you go out.

Good God as I think about this weekends outting... I wish I would have recalled that...damn it. Anyway It is much cheaper to drink at home. The same goes for food.

Also it pays to shop around you would be amazed how much prices vary form retailer to retailer. 

I love threads like this. I'm incredibly frugal out of necessity but also just because I'm used to living that way. I think it can be smart (as long as you don't take it too extreme when you don't have to, its nice to spoil yourself once in a while) especially since if you do it right you can focus your extra spending money on the things you want most.

That's basically my tip. Budget budget, list lists. When it comes to the things you don't need but just want, like new clothing or a camera, write a list and prioritize what you want the most. Don't make a list of things you'd just like to have for the hell of it, make a list of the things you want that you know you would use a lot.

Then when you've budgeted the rest of your money well for your needs and you have a little spending money for yourself, you can decide smartly what you want to spend your extra money on or save it up for one of the more expensive things on your list.

I find this more cost-effective in the long run and more rewarding than just buying lots of cheap kinda-want-but-not-crazy-about things over time that pile up and don't get used.

I stalk the things I want to buy like prey. I buy a lot of things online so this is easy. (I would buy more locally because I think its better for the economy.. but I don't drive and have few opportunities to go to stores IRL, but also the things I want to buy tend not to be anywhere locally, like the type of hair dye or natural shampoo I use or the panties I like that don't come in my size in the stores in person) When I'm trying to decide what to buy online I take a while before I actually buy. I compare different websites, compare different items, brands, etc., read reviews, and most importantly, I search for coupon codes. It may seem like a lot of effort when I'm just buying only a few things, but it's extremely rewarding to me when I've spent a lot of time watching what I want and comparing and then ending up with the best deal I can find rather than if I just impulsively buy the first thing right away.

Wow, that was long. But, uhm, yeah. :3 Can you tell I'm also a member of poor_skills @ livejournal ? (Good community, for those interested)

Edit: I also agree that in some cases, expensive is better if we're talking about items that are better quality and will thus last longer or be better/healthier for you. (for me: natural shampoo/conditioner. I can't get enough of it. It's a little more pricey but it evens out because I only have to wash my hair twice a week, so I use less than if I had to use cheap shampoo/conditioner daily and it makes my hair healthier and less full of gross chemicals) But then some things, it really doesn't matter if its cheap or expensive because the quality isn't much different. Like dental floss. Do you need to pay more for scented dental floss? The cheap stuff does the job just as good.

Last edited by SleepDebtFairy (02-03-2009 12:26:06 AM)

Mmm, we have no landline here, and I'm the thermostat nazi around here. For a good sized 2-bedroom apartment our energy/heat bill was a respectable $80 last month, and this is in a cold climate.

Nice tips!

Ta guys, and hello canned coelacanth. Awesome name, welcome to forums

NECRO FOR GREAT POVERTY.


I MEAN JUSTICE.


-When the opportunity presents itself, take advantage of free things.  You can save a lot of money by stocking up on the free little cups of various creamers and sugars they offer at gas stations and whatnot.  Will you look like a complete freak?  Yes.  A complete freak with LOTS OF CREAMER.  Then pre-brew and chill coffee and tea (or make a coffee concentrate, or simply save any leftover coffee from the morning's pot) so that you can make and enjoy iced coffees and the like without paying 3-5 dollars for one on your commute to work!  Do this with other things, such as syrups, honey, butter, bbq sauce.  Free is free -and I'm a fast food employee, trust me, the packeted stuff is so flipping cheap, we really don't care how much you take -so long as it's not so much that we have to bother with refilling it. 

-Find recipes that suit what you already have in your pantry.  Leftover sweetened and condensed milk?  Let's make Vietnamese iced coffee!  A spare avacado or lonesome can of chunky pineapple?  Remember that salads and omelettes are you leftover paradise -you'd be surprised what will taste amazing in them!  (I personally adore pineapple and ham omelettes oh. my. god). 

- Savemore.com and groupon are legit sites that offer AMAZING deals, and savemore gives you a ten dollar credit for buying coupons when you first sign on -I took advantage of this and bought a coupon good for 40 dollars worth of mineral make-up - and all I had to pay was shipping!

-Speaking of make-up, mineral make up can be cost effective if used (im)properly.  Because it's more lovey-dovey with your skin, you can wake up the next day wearing it because you worked late last night and it's a miracle you found your way home in the first place without guilt.  And we all know eyeliner looks way better the second day anyway.  Also, pretend you have uber sensitive skin and go around fancy make-up counters asking for samples so that you can try out products.  I have a wondaful moisturizer from Este Lauder -a sample no bigger than my thumb- that's great for brightening under my eyes, and I've been using it every day for two months, and it's barely made a dent!

-Always keep receipts, always ask a place about their return policy.  Even Wal-mart will give you a gift card refund if you've lost your receipt.  If you need an item for a one time use, like a nice pair of shoes or necklace, or just want a quick leg wax, this is your game.  Buy, use once, make up lame excuse and return.  YAY.  Yes, you can even do this with make up and such.  >.>

-Take advantage of the internet for not only great coupons and the wonderful cheapness that is ebay, but for maps.  There may be a shorter route to your job that you never even knew about, or a post office that was totally right around the corner howtheheckdidyounotnotice????

-Find out about and start donating plasma for cash.  The first trip can get you around 40-60 dollars, with a about 20 per visit after, two per week.  Most places have websites that will tell you all about donor requirements, locations, pay, what you need to do to prepare, the procedure and allow you to schedule an appointment online.

Last edited by OnlyInThisLight (06-19-2011 10:43:26 PM)

If you need to save on hygenics, most department stores/drugstores carry a cheap brand of 3-in-1 shampoo/body wash/bubble-bath that can save you some green.

Also, here are some sites.  Enjoy!

http://www.thatfreebiesite.com/   (Free samples and things)
http://www.buymebeauty.com/    (Ridiculously discounted high-end make-up products)
http://shortcuts.com/home          (Electronic and printable coupons!)

Groupon!  If you want to treat yourself, that's the best way.  Plus, sometimes there are practical items.

Toilet paper.  Use one or two squares to wipe.

Brew your own coffee instead of stopping at a shop in the morning.  If a good cup is important to you, get a better machine.

Rewear outfits.  You've got a few days on those pants before they actually need washing.  Shame is an expensive emotion.

Roommates, but that's a no-brainer.  I currently don't have the luxury, and I'm already feeling it.

Vegetable dishes.

If you have a neighbor you feel comfortable approaching, see if you can get a shared internet plan.  This can really bite you in the ass if you aren't careful, so use this rule cautiously.

Believe it or not, you can find nice suits at Goodwill.

If your family has a shared mobile plan, ask your parents if they'll let you pay them for your portion instead of getting a new plan for yourself.  It's usually much cheaper.