OK folks lets get down to it. We need to save Money. Here are few suggestions. Please add yours.

(1)Plan each trip so that you accomplish 2 or more errands each trip.

(2)Buy your Gas either early morning or late afternoon when its cooler.

(3)Buy in bulk and ration it out.

(4)Use everything and cut down on disposable trash.

(5)Buy clothes from Goodwill and Thrift stores.

(6)Yard Sale hunt when possible.

(7)Trade off the gas guzzler for a miser. (Yuck)

(8)(This one hurts) If your really hurting for funds its time to downsize on dogs, cats etc. If you can’t eat it think about giving it a new home.

(9)Use less electricity.

(10)Speaking of downsizing. If you have 2 phone lines. (well 1’s gotta go) Then there’s all them nice extra’s on the phone. Call waiting (gone)Speed dialing (poof) It’ll hurt but it’ll save ya bucks over time.

(11) Time to tighten up the belt and quit eating out at fast food joints. (I saw in a survey that a typical family spends 40% on junk fast food)

(12) Here’s a sure fire winner QUIT SMOKING. If you’re a smoker now is the time to quit. With tobacco prices soaring, Save the$$$$$$.

(13) Then there are those that drink soft drinks. Need I remind you that Coke & Pepsi are multi-billion dollar companies? (My wife quit sodas all together, me and the kid are weaning ourselves). Some will save $100’s by quitting Soda’s.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 26, 2001

Answers

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

Do away with landline phone service and opt for cellular nationwide local calls and free nights and weekends. Get a modem hookup and go online during free times and use a free isp service. I know a guy that did this and cut his phone bill down to 22 dollars a month from 120. You just have to find the right package deal.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 26, 2001.

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

Thankfully, I just weened myself from Dr. Pepper! But that's only 89 cents per two leter here(It does add up, though, doesn't it?). Smoking is definately outrageous considering in Maine they just had prices raised with a supposed cap, yet just this morning there was a full-page add on raising taxes so kids won't smoke. Order over the internet and get a carton free:) Thankfully, the Bangor Daily did a frontpage article on how to grow your own:) hehe. I only drive once per week for errands and all my horses, minus one, are trained to pull a cart:) Wonder how that would go over at the local grocery? Bring the pooper scooper! Last time I ate out was March 16, and I'll remember it clearly because the cops had my road blocked off: we couldn't get home. They refused to tell us why, as well.(Local Mom & Pop's is known for finding the dirt out: some woman was in her house with a gun, threatening to kill herself) Before that it had been 6 months since eating out. Now, the dog is another subject entirely. He eats leftovers, but the local Animal Control Officer wants the money for his registration with a late fee to boot. That means I have to cough up $5 for copies of his shot and neutering records from the vet because I lost mine. Seeing as he's my only alarm system, I won't be giving him up:) I know I can save more, but with a hubby who wants all that's modern and politically correct, we pay out the nose for a satelite dish(yeah. like we need 100's of channels), a new truck that has to have it's tow package redone and electric windows already needing repaires,(vs an older model, which would cost less in insurance at least), race horses costing $200 per WEEK to have trained (like they will ever make that money back!), and new racing bike ($1500) I'm loosing out here. We'd probably starve if I wasn't so self-sacrificing and frugal! Praises to those with life mates who view things as you do!!!!!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), April 26, 2001.

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

1) Buy only when it's on sale and if you use it a lot and it has a long expirationdate or no expiration, buy a lot of it. 2) Buy clothes, shoes and outerwear at end of season sales if you can't find them at thrift stores. I just bought 3 new winter jumpers at Goody's for $3.60 apiece. Know which stores in your area have good markdowns. 3) Never buy vehicles from dealers, you get much better deals and don't have to pay sales tax when you buy from indiviuals. Ditto on selling, never trade in your vehicle. 4) For homeschoolers, buy your books at used book sales, advertise for them through your local support group or go to your local or state conventions to buy. The competition at the conventions is so great now that you not only save shipping and handling but they also have convention specials. 5)BARTER You'll be surprised who is interested when you start asking. That's the stuff I can think of right now. I'm always looking for more ways to save too so thanks for starting this thread!

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), April 26, 2001.

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

I lurk daily but seldom post. But I would like to comment on the post just before this, re: buying a used car from an individual. I am a used car dealer in Houston, TX, and according to state law in TX sales tax must be paid (6.25% here) regardless of who it is purchased from/sold to unless it is 'gifted' to someone and then there's a $10 or $15 'gift' fee (can't remember which) or it is sold to a tax exempt organization such as church, etc. At any rate, if you do this it is wise to check with your state's DOT or tax assessor's office to determine if you do in fact have to pay sales tax; it may vary by state.

All the ideas are great. But I sure do have a problem with those Dr. Peppers......

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

#1-I wash all my plastic baggies after use and re-use time after time until they get a hole. Just wash them right along with the dishes, by hand. #2-Unplug any phantom lights on equipment, saves electricity. #3-When I go to town I do everything I can think of I need to do before going home. Saves time, gas, and energy. #4- I just started cutting my own hair. It works good for me and I did a good job. I just followed the line of cut that the beautician did on my last cut. I can now give myself the money I would ordinarily give a beautician.(if I have any money) #5- Turn the hot water heater off until you actually need hot water. This is a BIG energy saver and cuts back on electric bill a lot. #6-Cut back on junk foods...saves money and improves health. I stopped drinking pop, except an occasional 7up. #7- Make your own greeting cards. Or get a artistic friend to. The prices of greeting cards are out of sight. I use colored pencils or acrylic paints to make mine. #8-To save on computer printer paper I use the backs of used paper for print-outs I want to keep. I also go to the local library and ask for their used paper. They usually have a box that they put all that used paper in. #9-If you buy dish liquid, put half in another container and fill with hot water. Turn upside down, back and forth and mix well. The dish liquid is so condensed that one bottle can become two bottles easily. Most agree that looking in yard sales is a wondrful way to find things you need and to save money. There are so many ways that people can save money, time and energy. I bet we could write a book on it. In fact, there is probably a book in the making. I am into too many other things now or it would be fun to compile all the information on saving money the practical way.

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), April 27, 2001.

Response to Just a few ideas to save a few bucks ($$$)

Patsy in MT, I buy all my greeting cards at a salvage store .25 cents each tax included. My wife figured it up if we print off the pc it'd cost .22 cent B&W add color and it jumps to .32 cent. While cheaper than most places the quarter still buys a Hallmark. :)

Here in NC no matter where you buy a car you pay taxes when you go to get your tag. BTW Georgia is much more lenient on cars than NC. I got kinfolk down there.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

1. Plant perennials in your flower garden...get them from friends and family. 2. Start your own annuals from seed (preferably that you've saved). 3. Ditch the junk food by keeping on hand (or growing) popcorn. Also keep lots of cocoa to make something yummy for that sweet tooth. A cup of hot cocoa does it for me, and it's quicker than cake. 4. Don't EVER eat out...unless it's someone else's special occasion. 5. Split newspaper subscriptions with family or neighbours. 6. Keep hairstyles short or natural...my family of 4 hasn't paid for haircuts for years, Daddy buzzes with his trimmer, and the girls go long. This also cuts down on costly styling items like gel, etc. 7. Don't carry cash if you aren't going to get something specific. If you don't have it, you can't spend it. 8. Make double for dinner, and freeze it for those nights when you just can't cook AGAIN...and would otherwise order a pizza or go out. 9. Make your own fast food. We have homemade soft tacos or pizza at least once every two weeks. Tastes better made at home. 10. Learn to re-create your favorite "dining out" meals at home.

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), April 28, 2001.

I have scrounged lots of dumpsters and one of my favorite finds was hundreds and hundreds of envelopes. From unused greeting cards. Evidently the store sends back the unsold cards for credit and then trashes the envelopes. Does my heart good to send bill payments in RED envelopes. :)

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 28, 2001.

Way to Go Gailann Schrader

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 29, 2001.

Speaking of colored envelopes, at the end of a season, our local card shops send the cards back but toss out the envelopes. I asked if they would allow me to have the envelopes so now they save them for me and I don't have to dig them out of the dumpster. All you have to do is ask.

Thanks for reading.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), April 30, 2001.

Go to the dump. Lots of dumps have burn piles (wooden stuff), construction material piles, etc. Get free windows for cold frames, old fishing nets to put over the chicken pen,etc. Saturday I found a pile of thatch that I carted home and put in the compost heap, plus enough wood to rebuild the duckling shelter, a board with long pegs for hanging the climbing ropes to dry (or for coats or.... The State Fair site has free horse manure for the shoveling. Look behind big builder's supply places for their discard piles- great stuff there.

-- seraphima (djones@kodiak.alaska.edu), April 30, 2001.