Ways to save money

[persepolis]

Good tips, Coolmama!

Here are some of mine:

I use "magic dryer balls" instead of softener sheets as I have *very* sensitive skin. I got 2 balls for $8.99 online (plus taxes and shipping from marymaxim.com-but I'm sure they can be found elsewhere...). I find they work just as well as softener sheets. No static cling and no dryer fuzz! (My mom used to throw tennis balls in our dryer with the same effect apparently...)

I also use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean my windows (with newspaper). Works just as well as Windex without the smell!

I often use my airmiles points for admission to the zoo, movie night out, gift certificate to a specific store to buy clothes for my daughter, etc. I will never get enough points for a flight so I figured that I might as well use them for everyday stuff...

[Coolmama]

Oh, I have to try those dryer balls. Tennis ball? cool.
I also use my airmiles for that stuff too. Thanks for the tips!

[ycswid]

Great tips. Here's a few I use.

use vinegar in a downy ball for the laundry. No static.
Make your own laundry soap.
Make your own body wash from bar soap.
Use borax soap for shampoo with a citric acid rinse.
Keep a price book. (Can't know if it's a good sale price if you don't know what pay)
Old cotton sweaters get unraveled and made up into dishcloths.
Old terry housecoats are made into rags to be used on a swiffer mop (cut to size) or general use rags or napkins (great dampened for wing night). Same for old towels.
Old sheets are torn into strips and needleworked (crocheted or knitted) into mats or animal beds.

[Lkn4abrgn]

I save my milk bags and re-use them. Just cut the bag open across the top and wash out. They make great freezer bags since they are so thick. When I buy hamburger, I separate it into 1 lb amounts and freeze in milk bags. I use them for sandwich bags, storing crackers, cookies or whatever...

I also make my own laundry soap.

[decemberlily]

A couple thoughts:
1. RBC now has an online bank account where you can transfer online in and out of the account and I believe its higher than the interest on PC.
2. Ask your credit card companies for a rate reduction. I talked to CTFS about my cc and they told me my card could be reduced to 9.9%! That beats most banks and I dont have annual fees. I also use it to gain CT $ to buy presents, on sale stuff, etc.

[Coolmama]

Cool, U can put vinegar in the downy ball? Don't want to sound dumb but, how do U make your own soap. Sounds great and thanks for the tips!

[tammy8701]

-l take the left over baking soda that l have in my fridge and instead of throughing it in the trash l save it and put it in the toilet with vinegar and clean my toilet,it cleans alot better than the store stuff.and l use it for cleaning my sinks and taps it makes them very shiney
-if we have any left over steak,roast beef l put it in freezer bags and freeze till l have enough and make like a shepard pie out of it same goes for left over chicken and turkey
-l called a insurance company to get a quoite for car and house and they gave me price for 1350.00 with the same coverage we had so l called my insurance company and give them the price l got,mind you we were paying almost 2000.00 a year for both they ended looking up a different company for us and got a better deal for us with a payment of 1270.00 per year not bad for 20 mintues of work and we saved 730.00 per year and our insurance is in a package( old policy was car due in oct and house due in feb)
-called cc company and lower the interest rate from 19.5 to 11 percent save us 8.5 percent for 10 mintues of work

[Pepsy]

I bought small scrap books from the Dollar store and beautiful animal stickers and multi-colored gel pens. I put horse stickers, jokes and poems free from the Internet about horses, wrote a couple of my own poems, and did the same for dog and cat lovers. So, for a grand total of $12, I made 7 people a home-made scrapbook for Christmas.

I have 3 kids from age 5 to 9 to buy for but I sent away for 3 of every free poster that I could get...equals....free presents for 3 kids.

I buy tin cans for 59 to 69 cents each or put a "wanted...tin cans...ad on the free web sites in the town where I live, and just put the gifts inside. No wrapping paper needed. Some people even give me back the tins after Christmas.

I send away for all free samples that I can find and make up gift baskets. The baskets are from friends or bought for less than 60 cents from the second hand stores. I go to all pet stores and ask for free samples or coupons. I make up "bath and beauty baskets, dog and cat baskets.

I enter every free draw or contest, fill out survery, etc. There are lots of ways to save money and "home-made" gifts are usually remembered more than other more expensive gifts.

[elliott_gyal]

I bought small scrap books from the Dollar store and beautiful animal stickers and multi-colored gel pens. I put horse stickers, jokes and poems free from the Internet about horses, wrote a couple of my own poems, and did the same for dog and cat lovers. So, for a grand total of $12, I made 7 people a home-made scrapbook for Christmas.

I have 3 kids from age 5 to 9 to buy for but I sent away for 3 of every free poster that I could get...equals....free presents for 3 kids.

I buy tin cans for 59 to 69 cents each or put a "wanted...tin cans...ad on the free web sites in the town where I live, and just put the gifts inside. No wrapping paper needed. Some people even give me back the tins after Christmas.

I send away for all free samples that I can find and make up gift baskets. The baskets are from friends or bought for less than 60 cents from the second hand stores. I go to all pet stores and ask for free samples or coupons. I make up "bath and beauty baskets, dog and cat baskets.

I enter every free draw or contest, fill out survery, etc. There are lots of ways to save money and "home-made" gifts are usually remembered more than other more expensive gifts.

really great ideas! I would love to recieve a gift basket full of samples for next xmas!! Good thinking, i like your style and i think i might try that next xmas my mom would love it!!!!! thanks!

[mam25]

awesome tips everyone!

[travel-mum]

If this is a repeat - I'm sorry. I forgot to check if I posted this earlier.
LEARN TO SEW - I've made everything from children's clothes to comforters to re-covering a three piece sectional
BUY A SMALL FREEZER - it will save you tons in the long run
LEARN TO USE POWER TOOLS - You can build it instead of buy it. I'm talking to you women! If a guy can do it, we can do it. I'm over 50, and petite (less then 5 ft) tall. If I can do it anyone can do it. I can use a circular saw or jigsaw as well as my husband. In fact, we built our own house. And you should have seen me with a 32 inch chain saw when we took a log-building course!
LEARN TO DO YOUR OWN HOME REPAIRS - Hey, my daughter married a man who is not handy. She is. She and her father-in-law replaced a toilet last year. She's not afraid to get down and dirty.
TAKE USEFUL INTEREST COURSES - It'll get you out of the house and doing something you'll enjoy. I learned how to refinish furniture, decorate cakes, build a log house, belly dance (how useful is that, I don't know, but my husband loved it!) etc.
TEACH YOUR KIDS HOW TO COOK AND CLEAN - Our son made dinner every night for us when I was working full-time, so we didn't have to use ready-made or eat out much. He's now a cook. Our daughter hated cooking, so she did the dishes. She now uses power tools better than her brother! They are both well-equipped, married adults with children now. Do them a favour, and teach them the basics while they're young.
BEFORE SPENDING A DOLLAR, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU NEED IT- Travel is my passion, and every dollar I spend is a dollar I can't spend on travel. Find your passion and ask yourself every time you go to buy something - Do I need this or is this money I can spend on my passion? You'll be surprised how many times you'll walk away from a purchase you'll probably regret later anyway. If I had a dollar for every item I bought in the past that was useless and not worth the money I could probably retire right now and travel for the rest of my life!

[kitkong]

Wow, great tips everyone!!! Thanks so much!

[Judstir]

Hey people....thanks for all the great tips. I'm new to the ""try to save a buck" era so will take all tips into consideration.

[ringer]

my favorite money saving tip is that since i love footwear i first look in the children's department for my shoes. I am a size 8-8.5 womens and i fit into a size 6 boy's and with children's footwear i only pay one tax

[oli1234bear]

here is my newest tip - potty train your toddler, lol. Only now I am realizing how much $$ we spent on diapers and wipes, GULP.