What are 25 different ways you save money?

Whether it be daily or once in your lifetime, either jot it down in the comments or post to your own blog and I will link to it here. (just let me know in some form) It is always good to take a step back and see what good you ARE doing and where you can do better.

Here are my ways I have saved and continue to save money :
1. Change light bulbs to CFL bulbs to save money
2. Use Heat and Air Conditioning sparingly
3. Using sunlight instead of lights in the house as much as possible
4. Unplug items that aren't in use, especially the tv set at night
5. Keep razorblades dry and clean so that they last longer
6. Write checks for over the amount instead of using an ATM with fees
7. Use plastic containers to store left over food for eating later
8. Turn off all lights when not in a room
9. Leave the car at home at least one day out of the week
10. Borrow books/videos from the library instead of buying them
11. Use coupons and check grocery circulars to get the best deals
12. Cook meals at home, cutting back on eating out
13. Take lunch to work
14. Watch movies at home instead of in the theater
15. Wash clothes every 10+ days
16. Wash clothes in cold water to save on heat
17. Every 6-12 months, verify I am getting the best deal on insurance & credit card rates
18. Cut out all subscriptions to magazines
19. Buy foods in bulk or when items are on clearance and save in pantry & freezer
20. Pick up money from the ground and from vending machines, save in a coin jar
21. Round up in check book and place excess in savings at end of the month
22. Go to free events around town - Zoo, art museum, etc.
23. Put raises or bonuses in savings or apply towards debt
24. Do research online for best value for money on medium to large priced items
25. When I go out to eat, make sure I bring half of the food home for a nice lunch for work the next day!

Since everyone saves money a little differently and we all can learn a thing or two from each other, check out other people’s thoughts on ways THEY SAVE:

11 Comments

  1. Anonymous // Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:14:00 PM  

    Darling Diva’s 25 Sensational Savings Tips

    We all want to save money, especially now. The economic crunch has made us more than ever money and frugal conscious.
    As a self professed ‘diva’ it is my pleasure to give you my top 25 diva picks for savings…and they are as stated sensational. You can go cheap and still look like a million. Check for yourself.

    1. Go through your makeup and use it instead of buying new. Check its not tainted first, if it has a sour odor ditch it. Remember most makeup has a shelf life of a year or two if un-opened. You will also notice that most colours that are ‘trendy’ will often resurface with new hip names.
    2. Go through your wardrobe and reuse some of the old stuff, those earrings and accessories will help to perk up your same olds. Pins and scarves can change the look of just about anything.
    3. Buy basics on sale. YOU know black shoes, black handbag. White shirts and black turtle necks , its still new even if its on sale.
    4. Thrift buy for big dollar items, boots are a great example how many have you purchased in the past to donate eventually? YOU can get great finds at the thrift stores. Be smart make a list so you don’t overbuy.
    5. Re-dye your blacks, a small thing but those turtle necks will look worn with a little package of dye they look brand spanking new again.
    6. Eat at home have coffee and drinks out. Its smart and frugal.
    7. Grocery shop with a list only, shop at your local market the one on the way to work or home and plan your menu on the sale finds. You will also get to know the grocer and they will give you a heads up on the deals.
    8. Dye your own hair and get that hair colour when its on sale, then you can splurge a little on the haircut.
    9. Do your own manicure and pedicures. Get the nail colours from the sale bin. Have a stay-at-home spa day with a few girl-friends.
    10. Shave your legs …Yep horror I said it Shave EM…its cheaper. Buy hand and body creams when on sale you can afford to if you shave instead of wax at the salon.
    11. Sew the hem, the button and the small hole on the seam. IF you sit down and sew it before you loose the button or throw it in the laundry undone …You will wear it again and you will be proud of yourself for being so frugal. IF you don’t, you know you wont wear it again and eventually it will make to the donate or ditch pile.
    12. Leave the car at home. Day trips in town are cheaper by local transit and better for your legs, butt and the environment. Plus you will save on the extortion they call public parking lots.
    13. Go to the movies on half price days, that’s Tuesdays in this city but check the theatre first as they are often unadvertised. Invite a friend, they might enjoy the savings too and a movie is always better with a friend to share it with.
    14. Buy thrift and recycle when you’re done with your fantastic find pass it on …donate it, or sell it at your garage sale.
    15. Go through your wardrobe and check the latest trends you can probably put those outfits on the runway together with the stuff in the back of your closet you completely forgot you had.
    16. Share your wealth. If you’re not using it donate it. Karma says some new stuff will find its way to you.
    17. Repair your favorite broken shoes especially if they are leather, nothing is better than a nice worn shoes already broken in. Lifts are cheaper than new shoes and you love them right!
    18. Smile its free it enhances everything.
    19. Wash things in dish-soap, it really works for anything that is greasy (get a grease cutter dish-soap and use just a little) This is especially great for delicates as well (don’t ask).
    20. Take out your bike, those short trips will be a lot more fun and you’ll get fit before you know it.
    21. Go to the free stuff every city has lots of festivals, go to them. Try something new and meet some new people doing it.
    22. Add just a hint of colour especially if you love to wear black. Red lipstick is a staple and everyone has it on sale at one time or another.
    23. Polish your shoes it makes them look new. You can buy black polish for a buck just about anywhere if not use some olive oil it works in a pinch.
    24. Dress up your old winter coat with a new scarf its cheaper than a new coat and wait until the end of the season for the BIG purchase so you can get it at the bargain you crave.
    25. NOW this is it the last way to save big and still be the diva everyone expects. BE NICE,, its free and everyone loves agreeable people. Even if you don’t get that THING YOU MUST HAVE ON SALE, be nice. Then when it is on sale the sales girl just might call you and let you know FIRST because you were the one, the ONLY one that was nice to her. Happy savings all!
    By Darlene Longo
    Darlene Longo is creator of Writers Woes on Facebook

  2. Dawn // Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:58:00 AM  

    Diva~
    Quite a list, Thanks.

  3. Jerry // Friday, March 06, 2009 11:08:00 AM  

    Love the list and while I'm not going to do 25 things, I'll share a few. Many of the ways you shared are what we do in our family already. However, in an effort to simplify we sold one of our cars which cut down on our gas and insurance, we grow many of our own veggies in the summer, take the train instead of taxi as much as possible (we live in the city). I want to read others as it may lead me to implement some new ideas!
    Jerry
    www.leads4insurance.com

  4. Anonymous // Tuesday, September 08, 2009 6:58:00 PM  

    To add, do online banking to save time and stamps, and more easily consolidate checking/savings (recommend wamu - now chase); always keep only what you need in checking, the rest in savings/CDs/Stocks etc. And always take advantage of Credit
    Cards paying balance in full while reaping the rebates ie penfed (5% gas, 2% groceries, 1.25% on everything else). Saved about $200 for just using the card and paying in full every month.

  5. KeithTax // Monday, August 09, 2010 7:29:00 PM  

    Top 25 lists of ways to save money are great reading for ideas. It is nice to know I'm not the only one that unplugs appliances not in use. Diva has a nice list too. Very impressive.

  6. John | WaysToSaveMoney.tv // Tuesday, October 26, 2010 8:32:00 PM  

    Nice list. I can save a lot of getting rid of my car. Not practical for everybody, but I can save hundreds/month.

  7. Jonathan Poland // Sunday, December 12, 2010 8:58:00 AM  

    This is a great post, but what happens 10 or 20 years from now when inflation has continued to diminish the value of that money? All of a sudden that money you saved can't buy the same amount of Cokes it once could. Do you read Mises.org at all?

  8. Anonymous // Thursday, January 20, 2011 4:22:00 AM  

    Hi Jonathan. I agree. Why not save until you have enough to put a deposit on a flat.
    Ask an estate agent to keep an eye open for a "positive cash flow" property. Once found buy the property. Rent it out and let the rent pay off the bond. ( ie. positive cash flow )
    You will also continue to pay the amount that you were saving every month into the bond. This will diminish the bond as fast as possible and save on interest. Now you have "passive income" and an asset that will give you more return ( in appreciation in value ) than the interest on a bank account

  9. Anonymous // Friday, January 21, 2011 11:14:00 AM  

    Hi! I've been reading a lot of money saving blogs lately because we've been reduced to a single income suddenly in our household. I'm surprised though that you have very little feedback from people who live a country lifestyle. Here are ways in which we have always saved money (just have to do it more now!)
    1. Barter - really, we do this a lot. We installed a new garage door for our lawyer, who redid our will, traded venison for services, and much, much more!
    2. Be a good neighbour - if you help your neighbours, they will return the favour when its needed. We loan/borrow equipment, tools, food, and occasionally vehicles.
    3. Live close to family. OK, not an option for many, but my inlaws live next door and my mother lives close by as well. This has saved us money on before and after school babysitting. Not to mention that our children have lots of love very close by.
    4. Cook at home. We love to cook and entertain. Why pay for meals out when you can have a houseful of people over for a bangup meal at a very low cost?
    5. Keep thermostat down. Always have. Always will.
    6. Eat leftovers/pack lunches. Why waste food?
    7. Buy good quality thermoses for childrens lunches and work. Cuts back on buying so many hot lunches through the school when you can send your own.
    8. Animals - they also help use up the leftovers/meat juices on their food. Some people don't agree with this, but our animals are healthy active country animals.
    9. Free entertainment. The kids have had tobaganning parties for the last 2 weekends and most of their friends think it is the best party they have ever been to! Also, we have horses, so their friends love to come over just to spend time with them and occasionally score a ride.
    10. Line dry laundry
    11. Wash in cold water
    12. Use a water softener for your well water - you get more suds with less soap.
    13. Use a filter/UV light on your well water - never understood buying water. When did that become normal?
    14. Make your own coffee. Again, do you ever remember your parents driving somewhere to buy coffee?
    15. Make an errand day. A trip into town is a big thing. Do it all at once, or better yet on your way into work or on your way home if you work in town. Saves gas and time.
    16. We live near water - and leave our windows open for a crossdraft most of the summer. And if you still find it too warm, sleep in the coolest part of the house - the finished basement.
    17. We only drive used vehicles.
    18. We bought our furniture at auction and refinished it. Over the years we have accumulated some very nice pieces for very little cash. None of our furniture matches exactly, but I think it looks beautiful.
    19. Plant lots of shade trees.
    20. Grow things! Perennials for cut flowers and outdoor ornamentation, vegetables, herbs, apples!
    And here are a few bonuses -
    our best friends are vets (this falls under the be a good neighbour and barter rule) and if we fix their leaky roof and help with small repairs as needed, they fix our pets and keep their shots up to date.

  10. Anonymous // Wednesday, February 02, 2011 2:27:00 AM  

    It works like magic- take lunch to work. I've been packing lunch for years before retirement and my lunch box has helped me saved hundreds of dollars, a lump of sum that continues to grow after I invested it. Now we've happily retired at Alden Place in Pa. and occasionally travel abroad. We could have not done it without years of living frugally.

  11. Jenny // Monday, February 28, 2011 1:46:00 AM  

    I find that in order for anyone to save money, you have to find a balance between spending and saving. The issue is, we spend much easier than we can save. One could say we can be frugal with everything we do, but then what are we working so hard for? Following these tips would help anyone save money, while living an enjoyable life. I follow many of these tips myself, and do not find myself living a decent life.