Top Ideas for Saving Money Daily - Page 17

I've been freezing the inseason stuff also this year. So far, I have 7 bags of corn (I figure I need 5 more to get me through 2x a month for the winter months), 10 bags of blueberries and a few bags of zucchini. Everyone always has extra zucchini, so everyone knows to send us their extras and I just grate it and freeze it in one cup bags - perfect for zucchini bread or muffins! I make a wonderful zucchini and cranberry bread that I share with the people that donated the zucchini, so works out well for all of us! I also decided that this summer any tomatoes we didn't eat, I'd dry and pack in oil for sundried tomatoes all winter.

Pam

We make use of our DVR rather than go to the Theater or renting movies. There's never anything good on when we want to watch something, so we just kinda keep and eye on when the movies we want to watch will be on, then record them, so we can watch them when we have time.

We also wait to see a new movie until it comes out on TV... about a year. If we're really impatient, we'll wait until it hits DVD, then get it.

Hi! Newbie here

How do you make sun dried tomatoes? We have lots of tomatoes and I can never use them all.

We also have about six fruit trees, so this year I tried my hand at making jam, I will definitely have enough to last through next season.

The Picture People near me, takes excellent pictures, there is no sitting fee, and I can always find a coupon for a free 8x10. I do this for our yearly family photo and occasions such as dance recitals, where the official photographer would charge an arm and a leg.

I make good use of coupons, Couponmom.com has a list each week of the best deals, I make sure to stick to my list and get many items for almost nothing or free. Deodorant and shampoo coupons don't always stipulate size, if they don't I use it to get a trial size, usually ends up being free. We use these for travel or in a pinch when we run out of something.

I also use angelfood ministries and the bread outlet.

If I get there first thing in the morning, Sam's club has a bunch of their packages of meat from the previous day marked down, I separate and freeze when I get home.

When making something that travels well like enchiladas or lasagna, I make an extra pan, cut them up and freeze to send with DH for lunches.

I f I have a couple of errands in a particular area, especially if I have to drive a bit to get there, I check to see if I can find a mystery shop in the area, the pay isn't great, but it usually covers the gas I spent, and I was going anyway.

We always buy an entertainment book, usually when they drop to half price early in the year. We are also signed up for birthday clubs at all of our favorite restaurant, so if we really have to go out to eat, we have some sort of coupon or deal, (or mystery shop).

I am a member of my points, I open emails, and if I need to buy something online, I go through them. I usually earn enough points to get a couple of gift cards a year, to use or give away in the Christmas exchange. If anyone wants a referral, let me know

Oh and if I buy something online, I always do a search for coupon codes before checking out.

Some of the things I do have been mentioned so I won't bore you with repeating them. I read thru the 17 pages (wow - wee great tips gang!) and don't think these have been mentioned yet...

- Run the dishwasher in the middle of the night to save on electricity, same goes for dryer and washer (saves on cost of water too) or early AM. In my neck of the woods the electric company has peak/nonpeak hours so I try to use non-peak when I can

- Use the microwave or toaster oven instead of big oven if you can. In the winter prop big oven open when done using to add some more heat to the house

- Don't put undies or bras in dryer - the heat breaks down the elastic and wears them out that much faster. Also, hang up clothes or only put in dryer until damp, then hang the rest of the way.

- Use bumpy paper towels instead of swiffer clothes. Save a ton of $$ this way

- Buy gas in the AM

- Wash water bottles in the dish washer and reuse

- Put coffee grounds on your plants. Not only does it smell yummy but it gives nutrients, etc to them. Tomatoes especially love coffee

- Freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays and use for cold coffee later on. I blend it up into a cool drink with milk and sugar for hot days or when I want coffee and DH doesn't.

- I bought dual flush toilets to save money, water and our environment. (found them on ebay) Small button for small things = .8 GPF and large button for large things = 1.6 GPF.

- Use left over drinking water that DH/DS forgot about on plants or put plants out in the rain to water.

- Use bathwater from DS to clean his highchair table top, toys, etc.

For the dried tomatoes, I simply slice them up, spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray, put them on the cookie sheet and stick them in the oven at 250 for a couple of hours - just until they look dried out but not burnt. Then I put them in jars either with olive oil or in ziplock baggies dry with as much air out as possible. Not sure how long they would really last as we use them quickly in pasta dishes, soups, pizzas, etc.

Pam

awesome tips! lots of them too! I think that I have a couple that I have not read yet.
I do a lot of canning and freezing. Tomatoes can last months, and used to make meals that call for tomatoes, I make them into my pizza and spaghetti sauces and occasionally ketchup and such. I freeze bags of green beans, bell peppers, and puree pumpkin. Potatoes and onions are partially cooked then frozen.

I buy vitamin D milk mix half with powdered milk, that way I get 2 gallons of milk and it tastes the same as 2%.

With fruit like apples, bananas and apricots, etc ..I dehydrate them when they show signs of going bad. Store them in a baggies and use them in muffins and pancakes.

movies from red box-What is Red Box?

we use budget billing with BGE-WHat is BGE

I make my own chocolate sauce for the chocolate milk my son's addiced to-tell me how please! Both of my boys are addicted too!

If anyone travels, have them bring back all the shampoos, conditoiner, soap, etc. My husband travels at least once a month and I haven't bought soap or shampoo in years. I'm picky about conditioner and lotion, but he still brings them back and I donate all of them about twice a year to a womens shelter and get a receipt for my taxes.

Also, for cleaning, I just add a bit of Pine Sol to a big spray bottle and fill the rest up with water. I have been working on the same bottle of Pine Sol for a few years now. A little goes a super long way.

For me, the best way to spend less and save more is getting together with friends. The kids are happy and mommy's happy too. Its a great compromise. On a Friday night, after a long week my girlfriends and I all chip in and bring something, we alternate houses so its not a burden and we don't judge if your house isn't showcase perfect! The men come too. Its nice to look forward too and its an "easy" out. Our kids range from 2 all the way to 12 and I think we all have a good time.

These ideas are great! Here are some of mine to add:

When we all go out, I pack sippy cups and a water bottle for myself. If its close to lunch and we won't be able to get home to eat right away, I pack a snack. When on long trips, I pack a small cooler and buy a bunch of snacks!

Our electricity company co-op informs us of "peak hours". Its the time when it will cost us more to run our electicity. So we are advised to not run as many appliances and turn the thermostat up or down (depending on the season) by 3-5 degrees during those hours.

When shopping, I start with the clearance aisle or rack first!

Use coupons with sales!