[quote]Beatnik wrote:
Ahhh americans, lots of transport options without mentioning the obvious:
Buy a push-bike. Use it for local trips of under 30 mins.
Walk to local shops. Think of it as a farmers walk.
Don’t use a tumble dryer and minimise air con/heating.
You arent aware of some basic things: The amount of a “serving” (i guess we would call it) of basic items like washing powder are larger in america then say in Australia, even though its the same item. Be aware of this.
Gambling, smoking, and excess drinking are not essentials. Don’t drink, it might even help you pick-up.
Car-pool
How many of you REALLY need broadband?
Utilise electronic banking.
Men should pay more attention to “specials” on clothes, especially essentials like socks.[/quote]
#7 - are you serious? I need to get my … erm … never mind.
#9 - this actually frustrates me. Women have got soooo many discount stores where they can get a whole wardrobe for under 50 bucks. Guys get a T-shirt and some slacks and maybe enough for a bus ride home.
I dont know if anyones said this but a good way to save money is to actually make a budget. When you can actually SEE whats going out and coming in (mainly going out), it puts everything in perspective. I was surprised the amount of money I could save by just “seeing” where I was spending my money.
[quote]Charles Staley wrote:
If you’re getting a significant interest rate and you have the discipline to make regular deposits into your saving, sure, of course. I’m just suggesting an easy, painless way of saving.
That said, when you develop a credit on your utils, you then have the option of 1) NOT paying your utils for a few months, or 2) taking the credit with you when you move and/or change utility companys.
CrewPierce wrote:
Charles Staley wrote:
When you pay your utilities, round up to the nearest $50 or $100. Gradually you’ll develop a credit. Also Bank of America has a neat program called Keep The Change, where they round up every debit card purchase to the nearest dollar, which then goes automatically into your savings.
This may be a dumb question but why would you want to have a credit with you water or electric company? Would it not be better to keep that 50 or 100 bucks in a savings account where it gets interest? Even its only 0.40 a month, that’s still money for doing nothing. I just started paying the water and electric bills this yr (my old room mate used to handle that matter) so I may be missing something, let me know!
[/quote]
Sounds good to me, just checking that I wasn’t missing something with my electric bill!
[quote]BIGRAGOO wrote:
PGJ wrote:
Never buy expensive shoes, watches, tires or protein powder. The cheaper versions will do the exact same thing.
…and never know what real luxuries are. Dude, a cheap watch will break quickly, cheap tires wear faster than a better brand, or even blow, and cheap protein is just a gimmick and tons of abdominal gas in a bucket. Seriosly are you that cheap??[/quote]
My cheap watch has leasted me over a decade and it’s still going strong.
The only thing I’ve had to replace was the band that cost me like $5.
#9 - this actually frustrates me. Women have got soooo many discount stores where they can get a whole wardrobe for under 50 bucks. Guys get a T-shirt and some slacks and maybe enough for a bus ride home.
…[/quote]
I just got a nice looking pair of khakis off the clearance rack for $5 the other day.
Always check the clearance rack in Target, Kmart etc.
I don’t completely follow this but I do believe in " you get what you pay for".
[quote]BIGRAGOO wrote:
PGJ wrote:
Never buy expensive shoes, watches, tires or protein powder. The cheaper versions will do the exact same thing.
…and never know what real luxuries are. Dude, a cheap watch will break quickly, cheap tires wear faster than a better brand, or even blow, and cheap protein is just a gimmick and tons of abdominal gas in a bucket. Seriosly are you that cheap??[/quote]
[quote]Jonesy20 wrote:
learn how to work on cars and I mean everything from an engine swap down to checking your tire pressure
[/quote]
Def agree with you on that. I dont drive, I ride a motorbike (cheaper and quicker). You don’t have to pay for parking, better fuel consumption and they’re real easy to work on so you only pay for parts (no oem parts either - get pattern parts. Thats a money saving tip in itself).
[quote]Nate Dogg wrote:
Here are a few things that have worked for me:
1) Only use 0% interest credit cards and transfer the balances until paid off (be sure to pay more than the minimum balance). I’ve been doing this for the past two years. One card will be paid off next month. The other card now has my car loan transferred to it so I don’t pay interest on a loan. The only other loan I have is my school loan. I may also transfer that to a 0% credit card in the future to pay it off sooner. I am down to about $3,500 on that loan (~$100/month right now).
[/quote]
Are you talking about switching cards whenever the introductory rate is over and the real interest rate kicks in?
How many times can you continue to transfer balances from one card to another? Someone once told me it was illegal to continue doing this over and over again. Were they full of shit? Would appreciate any advice b/c I have a credit card now I am trying to pay off. I only owe about $3,500, but with the interest it is hard to make any progress. I currently have only transfered this balance once from another credit card.
[quote]chinadoll wrote:
This is another one for the ladies: With the exception of needing one for traveling, NEVER use credit cards to buy luxury items, for example eating at restaurants, designer clothing, jewelry, cosmetic surgery.
Buy only those “luxury” items if you can afford to pay cash for them otherwise, you can’t truly afford them. The costs of credit add up quickly over time, and with interest, you end up paying more and also get into the credit-habit mindset.
I only buy stuff like handbags and Roca Wear/Juicy outfits if I have the cash. And I have no credit cards. I’ve been doing this for the last 7-8 years and it has really paid off I actually have much more cash in my pocket at the end of each month.
It requires some planning ahead and thought (and working extra). For example, I will work overtime shifts or a second job and that will be my “mad money”-- designer shoes/handbags, travel, jewelry, but my regular pay will be allocated only to bills and savings.
And avoid the temptation at the department stores and/or boutiques when they offer you their credit card for 15% off your purchase. Yes, that $349.00 handbag is so cute but not cute enough to pay interest on it. [/quote]
That assumes you don’t pay off your credit cards every month. I do not carry a balance and would not dream of making a large luxury purchase any other way. AmEx will extend the warranty for me. Visa earns me bonus points, that I turn into other luxuries. For me, using a credit card enhances the purchase.
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Sonny S wrote:
kellyc wrote:
For some this might not be easy, but, never buy a car less than 6 years old and buy a Honda or Toyota.
I swapped the lease on my 05 Grand Cherokee and bought a 98 Camry in February. I’m currently saving about $430 a month by way of:
What good is saving a few dollars, if you risk your life riding around in one of those ‘Soap Box Derby’ cars? This is a case of ‘Penny wise and Pound Foolish’. Spend the money and get a real car.
HH
[/quote]
Since when is a good reliable mid-size care a ‘Soap Box Derby Car’? I could understand if he went out and bought an old fiesta or something, but whats wrong with a Camry.
[quote]MrChill wrote:
mike08042 wrote:
Invest in some good blinds or drapes, so in summer, you keep the windows and shades closed on windows that the sun is shining on. You can change this based on the time of day, of course I work all day but I keep the shades closed usually all day with the windows open on the opposite side to keep it cool.
Slightly off topic, and of course cannot be applied in real life, but aren’t blinds or drapes useless if used inside? Once the heat gets through the window, doesn’t it stay trapped in?[/quote]
Nope, it won’t enter the room, it stays trapped between the window and the blinds/drapes.
[quote]Meddyg Stigg wrote:
Don’t buy expensive ‘ribbed’ condoms, just buy an ordinary one and slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.
Don’t waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.
Thicken up cheap runny low-fat yoghurt by stirring in a spoonful of lard.
INCREASE the life of your carpets by rolling them up and keeping them in the garage.
OLD contact lenses make ideal ‘portholes’ for small model boats.
WHEN reading a book try tearing out the pages as you read them. This saves the expense of buying a bookmark, and the pages can later be used for shopping lists.
SAVE electricity by turning off all the lights in your house and walking around wearing a miner’s hat.
[/quote]
Did these come from Viz by any chance. I really miss Viz! I hear its gone to crap now though.
[quote]Meddyg Stigg wrote:
jedidiah wrote:
For the fellow college students that are buying textbooks: e-mail your profs, find out the texts and half.com that shit. Serously, the campus bookstoresa are taking you for a ride.
I’ve probably saved 600-800 dollars in two semesters by buying textbooks online.
You can get used books on Amazon too or do what I used to do and photocopy the relevant bits. Is that copyright infringement ? I suppose the educated person benefits the economy more than the revenue to said publisher.
[/quote]
Absofuckinglutely!!! Employment law textbook from bookstore, $180 From publisher, $175, From Amazon.com $28
Buy clothes that you plan to ‘slob’ around in at the Salvation Army.
Do not drink, smoke, or buy lottery tickets.
Adopt a soldier overseas and send him things to make his/her life a little more bearable. Won’t save you any money, but its good to do anyway.
HH[/quote]
I have done #3, and you’re right, its good to do. I saw a study on the lottery tickets, its like a regressive tax, the poorer a person is, the more likely they are to spend money they can’t afford on lottery tickets. I kind of look at the lottery as gambling for people who are bad at math.
OK so this thread went from saving money to “How cheap can we be”. Most of this stuff is good and can be used by many but some of it…let’s just say I’m getting a mental picture of really big guys wearing 80’s suits and driving beat up cars. At some point, you may have to look at your bodybuilding ways and how much the massive amounts of food, gym memberships, supplements, and weight lifting equipment is cost you and cut back on that.
I know that may be unthinkable but if you are shopping at the Salvation Army and driving a car older than me to add another inch to your biceps, its time to let go, I’m sorry.
Sorry it had to be me, but someone had to say that!
[quote]BIGRAGOO wrote:
PGJ wrote:
Never buy expensive shoes, watches, tires or protein powder. The cheaper versions will do the exact same thing.
…and never know what real luxuries are. Dude, a cheap watch will break quickly, cheap tires wear faster than a better brand, or even blow, and cheap protein is just a gimmick and tons of abdominal gas in a bucket. Seriosly are you that cheap??[/quote]
Yep! Those $5 watches at Walmart keep time just as well as a $2000 Rolex. And if I loose or break my Walmart watch, I go get another one. Expensive watches are just that…expensive. My cheap Pep Boys tires last longer than expensive Pirelli’s. You can get cheap tires with 50,000 mile warranties. Protein is protein, you want to buy in to the “designer” gimmic, go right ahead. This thread is about saving money, right? Drop the wrist bling and look-at-me tires.
[quote]Kayrob wrote:
Meddyg Stigg wrote:
jedidiah wrote:
For the fellow college students that are buying textbooks: e-mail your profs, find out the texts and half.com that shit. Serously, the campus bookstoresa are taking you for a ride.
I’ve probably saved 600-800 dollars in two semesters by buying textbooks online.
You can get used books on Amazon too or do what I used to do and photocopy the relevant bits. Is that copyright infringement ? I suppose the educated person benefits the economy more than the revenue to said publisher.
Absofuckinglutely!!! Employment law textbook from bookstore, $180 From publisher, $175, From Amazon.com $28[/quote]
Another trick to get back at the book store, but a used book in good condition and when you sell it back take off the sticker (usually yellow) that says used, and also the new barcode sticker they put on the back of it. If there is some sticky crap on it, take some nail polish remover or lighter fluid and get it off. They will scan it as you are returning a new book!
[quote]obatiger11 wrote:
Nate Dogg wrote:
Here are a few things that have worked for me:
1) Only use 0% interest credit cards and transfer the balances until paid off (be sure to pay more than the minimum balance). I’ve been doing this for the past two years. One card will be paid off next month. The other card now has my car loan transferred to it so I don’t pay interest on a loan. The only other loan I have is my school loan. I may also transfer that to a 0% credit card in the future to pay it off sooner. I am down to about $3,500 on that loan (~$100/month right now).
Are you talking about switching cards whenever the introductory rate is over and the real interest rate kicks in?
How many times can you continue to transfer balances from one card to another? Someone once told me it was illegal to continue doing this over and over again. Were they full of shit? Would appreciate any advice b/c I have a credit card now I am trying to pay off. I only owe about $3,500, but with the interest it is hard to make any progress. I currently have only transfered this balance once from another credit card.
Thanks![/quote]
I don’t believe there’s any law limiting how many times you can transfer credit balances. Just be careful because it will drive your credit rating way down.
