Comments on: Your Take: Your Best Money Saving Tip http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:50:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Arabic Student http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-299082 The Arabic Student Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:13:03 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-299082 The best money saving tip is to live alone and be a home-body. I never go out and do things, ever. I mean I go grocery shopping and go to work, but after that all my entertainment needs are met at home. The internet is a wonderful thing and that is such an understatement. Bittorrent is a great way to save money instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars a year on movies and computer programs you just torrent them and save the $20 you would have spent. Sure, some people have a moral aversion to this, but if you really want to save money it gets the job done. I own my own house, but I don't decorate it and I only buy necessities. I really don't have a problem with not spending money. I'd rather have a big pile of money than have a big pile of toys that are going to be obsolete or broken in a few years. Some people get endorphins off of buying new things, I get endorphins from seeing how much I can save and how big my stack of money grows. Also, I believe that being a cynical person is tied to saving money. The best money saving tip is to live alone and be a home-body. I never go out and do things, ever. I mean I go grocery shopping and go to work, but after that all my entertainment needs are met at home. The internet is a wonderful thing and that is such an understatement. Bittorrent is a great way to save money instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars a year on movies and computer programs you just torrent them and save the $20 you would have spent. Sure, some people have a moral aversion to this, but if you really want to save money it gets the job done.

I own my own house, but I don’t decorate it and I only buy necessities. I really don’t have a problem with not spending money. I’d rather have a big pile of money than have a big pile of toys that are going to be obsolete or broken in a few years. Some people get endorphins off of buying new things, I get endorphins from seeing how much I can save and how big my stack of money grows. Also, I believe that being a cynical person is tied to saving money.

]]> By: Brad http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295840 Brad Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:10:17 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295840 I suspect that the best "tip" for most of us (myself included) is to get serious about this process. I am getting much better, but it is an ongoing struggle to not buy something I don't need! Following that "tip" would likely be the most cost effective thing most of us could do. In fact, the same advice would be good for my other challenge now - food! Only eat when hungry. I just need to say that enough that I believe and act on it and things will work! :D Brad I suspect that the best “tip” for most of us (myself included) is to get serious about this process. I am getting much better, but it is an ongoing struggle to not buy something I don’t need! Following that “tip” would likely be the most cost effective thing most of us could do.

In fact, the same advice would be good for my other challenge now – food! Only eat when hungry. I just need to say that enough that I believe and act on it and things will work! :D

Brad

]]> By: Sid http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295477 Sid Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:56:48 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295477 I just read over my comments and I feel the need to defend myself from myself. That last post sounded like I was saying something like, "here you go honey, go buy yourself something nice, like a pack of gum." I have a wife who is very disciplined and meticulous. She literally would not buy a pack of gum because it wasn't in the budget, never mind that blouse she really liked. So, I'm not a control freak, really I'm not. Please believe me. I command you. I just read over my comments and I feel the need to defend myself from myself. That last post sounded like I was saying something like, “here you go honey, go buy yourself something nice, like a pack of gum.”

I have a wife who is very disciplined and meticulous. She literally would not buy a pack of gum because it wasn’t in the budget, never mind that blouse she really liked. So, I’m not a control freak, really I’m not. Please believe me. I command you.

]]> By: Sid http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295471 Sid Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:56:30 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295471 A major upside of the allowance for my wife and me was to minimize the relationship power issues that a budget can stir up. Many times it is one person who controls the disbursal of funds and the other feels they don't have any freedom. I wanted my wife to have the freedom to buy a pack of gum if she wanted to. So on top of getting our "incidentals" under control, it freed us up and empowered us in our personal spending choices. A major upside of the allowance for my wife and me was to minimize the relationship power issues that a budget can stir up. Many times it is one person who controls the disbursal of funds and the other feels they don’t have any freedom. I wanted my wife to have the freedom to buy a pack of gum if she wanted to. So on top of getting our “incidentals” under control, it freed us up and empowered us in our personal spending choices.

]]> By: Ben http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295440 Ben Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:10:58 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295440 Check retailmenot.com before I make any online order. 90% of the time I can find a great coupon that gives me a discount! Check retailmenot.com before I make any online order. 90% of the time I can find a great coupon that gives me a discount!

]]> By: Sarah http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295414 Sarah Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:27:42 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295414 Learn to cook well and from scratch. Yes, eating out is nice, but when you can cook great meals at home, you won't have the desire to go out. Fresh ingredients are way cheaper than pre-prepared dinners! Learn to cook well and from scratch. Yes, eating out is nice, but when you can cook great meals at home, you won’t have the desire to go out. Fresh ingredients are way cheaper than pre-prepared dinners!

]]> By: Joyce http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295409 Joyce Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:09:41 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295409 I ditched my cable and my gym membership, and bought a GPS off eBay for $50 (works like a dream!). I now go out geocaching and hiking with my GPS. Keeps me busy, and I get my exercise, too! I ditched my cable and my gym membership, and bought a GPS off eBay for $50 (works like a dream!). I now go out geocaching and hiking with my GPS. Keeps me busy, and I get my exercise, too!

]]> By: Joyce http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295407 Joyce Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:05:20 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295407 And if you register your Starbucks gift card at Starbucks.com, when you buy that bag of coffee beans, you get a free tall coffee, too! And if you register your Starbucks gift card at Starbucks.com, when you buy that bag of coffee beans, you get a free tall coffee, too!

]]> By: Joyce http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295403 Joyce Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:32:15 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295403 Yup, this is my tip, too. I "pay myself first," and that is my cash for purchases til the next paycheck. Everything else is used for bills and savings. If I run out of cash, then I over-splurged and didn't pay attention to the budget. If I have money left over, it goes into the savings account for a "rainy day." Paying attention to what I'm buying, and only paying cash has really helped rein in my over-spending. Yup, this is my tip, too. I “pay myself first,” and that is my cash for purchases til the next paycheck. Everything else is used for bills and savings. If I run out of cash, then I over-splurged and didn’t pay attention to the budget. If I have money left over, it goes into the savings account for a “rainy day.” Paying attention to what I’m buying, and only paying cash has really helped rein in my over-spending.

]]> By: Abigail http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295355 Abigail Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:55:48 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295355 My favorite tip is to attack your debt with each paycheck. First of all, you'll see effects more immediately. This is better for your overall attitude and will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. More importantly, for those carrying balances on credit cards, it will have an impact on the interest you pay. Most credit cards are on a double-billing cycle. As you probably know, this means that you are charged interest based on your average daily balance over the last two months. This means that higher balances continue to effect your finance charges, even as you pay them down. If you pay more often, it means a lower balance, sooner, which decreases the total interest charged. Still, the biggest impact is in your outlook. You see more immediate results, which keeps you feeling in control and effective. This lessens the chances for frugal burnout. My favorite tip is to attack your debt with each paycheck.

First of all, you’ll see effects more immediately. This is better for your overall attitude and will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

More importantly, for those carrying balances on credit cards, it will have an impact on the interest you pay.

Most credit cards are on a double-billing cycle. As you probably know, this means that you are charged interest based on your average daily balance over the last two months. This means that higher balances continue to effect your finance charges, even as you pay them down.

If you pay more often, it means a lower balance, sooner, which decreases the total interest charged.

Still, the biggest impact is in your outlook. You see more immediate results, which keeps you feeling in control and effective. This lessens the chances for frugal burnout.

]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295353 Donna Freedman Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:16:17 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295353 Don't let other people make decisions about how your money will be spent. I'm not talking about your life partner, your creditors or your landlord -- I'm talking about peer groups and advertising. Question ALL such influences, and be realistic in assessing the benefits and drawbacks of expenditures. You'll keep a lot more of your money that way. Don’t let other people make decisions about how your money will be spent. I’m not talking about your life partner, your creditors or your landlord — I’m talking about peer groups and advertising. Question ALL such influences, and be realistic in assessing the benefits and drawbacks of expenditures. You’ll keep a lot more of your money that way.

]]> By: Sarah Denk http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295333 Sarah Denk Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:00:15 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295333 1. Pay yourself first. Take at least 20% off the top of a paycheck or money you receive and put it into savings. 2. Shop grocery stores (triple coupon events) and CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid and get all the grocery items you can for free. Only buy what you need to fill in. Live off freebies as much as possible. 3. Use the drug stores listed above to get free medicine and toiletries. Don't be afraid to use a different shampoo every month. It won't kill you. :) 1. Pay yourself first. Take at least 20% off the top of a paycheck or money you receive and put it into savings.

2. Shop grocery stores (triple coupon events) and CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid and get all the grocery items you can for free. Only buy what you need to fill in. Live off freebies as much as possible.

3. Use the drug stores listed above to get free medicine and toiletries. Don’t be afraid to use a different shampoo every month. It won’t kill you. :)

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295332 jim Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:54:48 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295332 My wife would not like your tip to never get married. :) My wife would not like your tip to never get married. :)

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295331 jim Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:54:24 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295331 Online billpay has saved my rear many a time... I also like how you can schedule payments in advance so you can maximize interest savings while not risking that you'll forget to pay. Online billpay has saved my rear many a time… I also like how you can schedule payments in advance so you can maximize interest savings while not risking that you’ll forget to pay.

]]> By: jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/your-take-your-best-money-saving-tip.html/comment-page-1#comment-295329 jim Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:53:53 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=4083#comment-295329 Ever try the 30 day rule? or even the 5 day rule? Don't buy something until you've waited 30 or 5 days, if you still want/need it, get it. Ever try the 30 day rule? or even the 5 day rule? Don’t buy something until you’ve waited 30 or 5 days, if you still want/need it, get it.

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