Trying to save money can be the ultimate frustration. But some purchases are savings in and of themselves because you either get them discounted, or you don’t pay for them as often.
Ways we save where we can:
Haircuts: My husband saves money by not going to the barber as often. No, he is not growing out his hair, but he trims it himself. He’s pretty good at it too! I help him with the edges and parts he may inadvertently miss, but he looks good! I would say that he visits the barber every other haircut. One haircut he does himself, one haircut for the barber. The money saved adds up over the course of a year, considering how often guys need their hair cut when they are keeping it short.
My cat: My cat likes a specific brand of cat food; he’s picky, like most cats. Even though I don’t coupon out of control (anymore, ahem!), I do clip coupons for his cat food and then use them and stock up, when it goes on sale. When you have a pet, saving money on food goes a long way!
Newspaper Delivery: I love to read the newspaper; always have since I was a kid. But my life right now doesn’t allow for the leisure reading of the newspaper every day. So, we only receive the paper on Sundays. The Sunday paper comes with all of the ads and coupons, so it gives me a lot to go through as I drink my morning coffee. The difference in price of receiving the newspaper once a week as opposed to even just getting it 3 times a week, is astronomical where I live. So this option really helps us save money.
Buying Items In Bulk: Buying items in bulk is a great way to save money over the long run. But it needs to be stuff that you will definitely use. We purchase brown rice in bulk because it is cheaper and we use a lot of it. I feel like I am constantly at the stove making up a pot of it! But we use it for so many dishes! Buying brown rice in bulk is cheaper than buying individual boxes of brown rice. I get a ton of meals out of the bulk price and this in turn, saves us money on our grocery bill.
What are some things you do to save money where you can?
I negotiate everything – refinance the house, car, cable bills, cell phone, etc. I even called my blog hosting service last week and got them to lower the bills. Anything to save a few bucks! 🙂
The cable bill is what I am working on this week. It is too high and I know we can get a better rate.
I save money by sticking to my list! You’d be surprised by how much NOT having a list used to cost me.
I can relate to that one, for sure!
I do my own nails now! Actually, if you look at the pic I just put up on twitter with the box wine, my sis said to me “I hate your fingernails…they don’t look like tips. They just look like you have dirt under your nails.” SLAM! So today, they’re just pink. 🙂 Apparently, my tips-painting skills need some work!
-M
Ha! That’s funny. 🙂
My haircut is very expensive. I noticed that I try to stretch it as long as I can. I went from six weeks to seven, and then to eight. Still doesn’t feel like I am saving anything.
I think with womens’ hair, sometimes it can be more expensive. I stretch out the times I go to the salon myself, so I know what you mean.
That’s why I go to a Chinese barber. I get a crew cut anyways, so Chinese barbers are usually the cheapest.
I went a little nuts last year stocking up on lotion, body spray and nail polish and for some reason, I have more lip balm than I can go through in the next three years. So before I allow myself to buy more, I’ve committed to using up everything that I have. It’s freed up money for other necessary items, which is good.
Like some others, I go a little longer between haircuts and I do my own nails, and I use coupons for items that I know we use.
Every little bit helps, right?
Yup, every little bit helps! 🙂