What are your money saving tips??

Although some of us product junkies (and those of us that are well on our way to being PJ's) will spend money of stuff for our hair, I thought it would be nice to share ideas on how we SAVE money! Not just on hair products but everything else too. I figured this would be a nice way to encourage each other, educate, and maybe try something new to help keep money in our pockets.

I'll start:
I love to use coupons and I use discount cards (mostly free) at the supermarket and places like CVS & Sally Beauty. I can't explain the rush I feel when I see how much money I saved printed on my receipt

I buy my produce and meat at one particular supermarket because they have mostly locally grown items and it's way cheaper than where I regularly shop (Publix).

I also visit my local farmers market when I can to see what deals I can snag.

When buying chicken breasts, I cut the thicker breasts in half lengthwise to maximize the amount of meat.

When I shop for meat, I've learned to look more for the meats that are on sale and buy those and plan meals that way.

Ok your turn!

Great thread.

I don't have any tips. I would love to save money though.

The only thing I currently do is use the Kroger plus card everytime I buy groceries. You really do save a lot. I need to sign up for other cards now...

Great post!! I am working on getting my finances in order so all tips posted here will help.

Mine mostly has to do with food since thats my major expense


well, right now my focus is on eating healthier and losing weight. So one way i save money is when i buy a veggie or cheese pizza i cut it into 4 quarters which equals out to about 2 slices a piece. This has helped alot because instead of making a whole pizza when its only me i only cook what i need. This keeps me from overeating and it stretches a $5-6 pizza into 4 meals. it ends up being about $2-2.50 per meal.

I also save money on beverages by switching to water. Again not only is better for my health and my hair but its free (with the help of a Brita filter). I realized that i was spending 2-3 dollars on juices that would last a couple of days and were filled with sugar.

I make my own Jello. instead of buying a 6 pack for $3 that goes quick i buy alot of the 50 cent packs and make it myself. I put them in Ziploc 100 calorie containers which makes it easy to it with me to work or wherever. plus you get more bang for your buck

i also buy in bulk (which is cheaper) and use the Ziploc 100 calorie containers to put the snacks in. My food last longer and again i'm not sitting here eating the whole bag of something because i'm bored [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Oh and i also frequent a site called http://www.dealseekingmom.com/ . its full of coupons and they send emails with deals from stores every other day. I've saved alot of money this way.

..and quiet as its kept because of this site i haven't paid for a magazine subscription for a year [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

this site gives free mags
http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffer/thankyoumain.asp

and yes it is legit i'm currently sitting here looking at a stack of mags that i havent read nor need ( I have a Golfing magazine subscription, i got a problem i know)

I like that Youngfly! I don't think I've seen those Ziploc 100 calorie containers...gotta look into that.

I also am trying to drink more water for the same reasons. We tend to buy a lot of juice and drink it often. But to stretch a buck even further, I like to buy the Celestial Seasonings fruit tea variety pack. It has 5 different flavours of tea, each one has 5 teabags. I basically make iced tea with each flavour in a 2L jug. So that's 5 pitchers of tea/juice for less than $3 (at Target).

YoungFlyy&Nappy wrote:Oh and i also frequent a site called http://www.dealseekingmom.com/ . its full of coupons and they send emails with deals from stores every other day. I've saved alot of money this way.

..and quiet as its kept because of this site i haven't paid for a magazine subscription for a year [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

this site gives free mags
http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffer/thankyoumain.asp

and yes it is legit i'm currently sitting here looking at a stack of mags that i havent read nor need ( I have a Golfing magazine subscription, i got a problem i know)

Oooh thanks for the sites! I also frequent www.couponmom.com for coupons and deals on restaurant dinners and things like that.
I will definitely visit the site for free mags. Last year I don't remember how but I got a Time mag and Real Simple mag subscriptions for $2 each! I was sad when my year ended because I was not about to pay the regular subscription price!

I do www.thegrocerygame.com it has been great. I try to take advantage of any coupon I come across.

We recently signed up for gas rewards with Sheetz. I filled up today with $0.20 off per gallon and while filling up we accumulated more points that go towards more gas discounts.

jamaicacurl wrote:I like that Youngfly! I don't think I've seen those Ziploc 100 calorie containers...gotta look into that.

I also am trying to drink more water for the same reasons. We tend to buy a lot of juice and drink it often. But to stretch a buck even further, I like to buy the Celestial Seasonings fruit tea variety pack. It has 5 different flavours of tea, each one has 5 teabags. I basically make iced tea with each flavour in a 2L jug. So that's 5 pitchers of tea/juice for less than $3 (at Target).

thats a good one!!.. i'll have to try that tea, tho i'll have to be careful since i am southern and we are known to have a heavy hand when it comes to sugar in our tea

oh the ziploc containers are sold in Wal-mart...they are small and usuallu come with like i think 5 in a pack

I've been taking lunch to work instead of buying something from Taco Bell or Mickey D's.

tiashauntee wrote:I do www.thegrocerygame.com it has been great. I try to take advantage of any coupon I come across.

We recently signed up for gas rewards with Sheetz. I filled up today with $0.20 off per gallon and while filling up we accumulated more points that go towards more gas discounts.

Hmmm...I'm going to have to check that out Tia! Thanks! Is Sheetz another online thing?

The Grocery game has definitely ben worth it. We go shopping once a month, buy about $150+ of groceries and our total comes up to $70-$90 each time and that is with buy all name brand items.

Sheetz is a gas station chain we have here. I don't know where all they are located. https://mysheetzcard.com/MySheetzCard/home

I'll have to check out that Grocery Game. I need to start using coupons, I always forget to look.

My saving tip has to to with grocery shopping as well.
I plan 2 weeks worth of meals, make a list and only buy the things needed to cook those meals. The using the same side dishes 2-3 times in different meals helps as well--for example I buy a nice sized bunch of fresh green beans for $1-2 and we have green beans 2 or 3 times as a side in that two week period.
Also making meals that yeild enough left overs for the next days dinner or taking it as lunch helps w/ saving as well. We spend around $70 every two weeks for 2 people.

I have a credit card that pays me points for the purchases I make = saving money on travel because I redeem those points for airfare. Please note that I pay off my balance every month. There's not much that wastes money more than paying CC interest.

My other tip is SmartPig. For the things that I want to buy but I don't have enough money for I open a savings goal at SmartyPig (www.smartypig.com). Right now I have a new car savings goal. I'm earning a much higher interest rate than my local bank was paying. I can contribute money automatically if I wish. My friends and family can make contributions to my goal. When you reach your savings goal you have the option of getting your money transfered to your regular bank, a Mastercard debit card or store gift cards w/ up to 12% bonus.

Here are a few of my tips:
1) Whenever I do my own hair, I pay my savings account what I would have paid the hair stylist.
2) All rebates, refunds, and prize winnings, go into savings.
3) I shop clearance and sales and use coupons (when I can) and put into savings what I save.
4) I bank with the credit union and ING Direct to maximize interest and get discount tickets to attractions.
5) When the gas prices rise, I ride public transportation.
6) I use credit cards that give cashback bonuses and points - I pay off every month.
7) I take my breakfast, lunch, snacks, and tea (incl sweetners) to work.
I unplug any electronics that aren't used daily (this really makes a hugh difference in my electric bill.)
9) I borrow books, cds, and dvds from the library.
10) I use my AAA for discounts at local merchants.

I don't really have any tips about groceries (or any other adult type saving tips haha), but for movies, you can sign up for the Regal Crown Club or the AMC Movie Watcher card to get free movie tickets, snacks, and other discounts

That's ok Karyn those tips are helpful too! Not having to pay for a movie and/or movie snacks from the theater saves a lot of money! That's why I use Netflix.

My tip is not to be married to my husband he doesn't know the meaning of saving. Although I have been thinking that I should just let him continue spend and then have him knocked off and I can spend the insurance money. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

LOL @ LuvMeLuvMyFro

LuvMeLuvMyFro wrote:My tip is not to be married to my husband he doesn't know the meaning of saving. Although I have been thinking that I should just let him continue spend and then have him knocked off and I can spend the insurance money. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I know exactly what you mean. After 13 years of marraige we had to separate our finances because I such a "saver" and he is such a "spender."

jamaicacurl wrote:LOL @ LuvMe!! That's too funny!
I guess I'm lucky that both my husband and I are frugal (although I do spend more than he does). He will wait til his shoes are talking before he buys a new pair! Most of the clothes in his closet either I have bought him or other poeple have bought as gifts. There are only a few things in there he bought himself.

That sounds just like me and my Hubby!!!! I had to beg him to buy himself a pair of shoes. His response: "these are still good!" Y'all.....they are busted!

tiashauntee wrote:

jamaicacurl wrote:LOL @ LuvMe!! That's too funny!
I guess I'm lucky that both my husband and I are frugal (although I do spend more than he does). He will wait til his shoes are talking before he buys a new pair! Most of the clothes in his closet either I have bought him or other poeple have bought as gifts. There are only a few things in there he bought himself.

That sounds just like me and my Hubby!!!! I had to beg him to buy himself a pair of shoes. His response: "these are still good!" Y'all.....they are busted!

OMG Tia it's ridiculous! Then when he needs a new pair of shoes he'll lurk around websites and shoe stores to see what he wants....always calling me to the computer to show me the shoes he likes....6 months later he still hasn't bought shoes!!

I love coupons. But I will have to check out that groceygame TIA. I also like to borrow books and videos from the library. If I like them after that I buy them at the bookstore with a coupon of course or at a library sale.

I stretch my buck at the grocery store by not buying alot of meat per month and try to cook meals that require a little to no meat. I found that meat and fruits were eating up our budget. I will never do away with fruits and veggies, but meats we can work around. This has helped tremendously. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

@Intelligentbeauty: Do you all have a farmer's market in your area? You can get fruits and veggies from there and the cost is always better than the grocery store and you get better looking fruits & veggies when they come straight from the farmers.