<p>sjmom “cargo pants are good”</p>
<p>Yes, cargo pants and shorts are great for storing treats, wallets, kleenex, etc for all kinds of outings!</p>
<p>When I buy swim trunks for the boys, I always look for ones that have a closeable pocket (prefer the ones with a zipper pocket with an eyelet for drainage) . That way they can keep some change or a key in it.</p>
<p>Want to save a lot of money? Don’t have children.</p>
<p>Of course, you miss the experiences of a lifetime, but hey…</p>
<p>More seriously, I’ve found, contrary to my early imprinting, that buying good quality when you can saves you money in the long run, especially with things like clothing and shoes. </p>
<p>I’m really “tight” about spending for clothes and furniture but when I buy, I buy well. (We’re still using the inexpensive dining table we bought when we first married…I think we’re finally going to “upgrade” this year.)</p>
<p>In contrast, I’m probably more expansive than I should be about food, travel, theater/ballet/opera/music tix, and, of course, books. Everyone has got different priorities.</p>
<p>TheDad, I couldn’t agree with you more. When I bought our house (10 years now) entire rooms went empty until I filled them very carefully and selectively with one piece at a time. The third bedroom is actually still empty - I haven’t furnished it yet. When the central heat & air went out in the summer of the fourth year, I endured the heat for six weeks until I could afford to pay cash for the best possible new system that also made sense for the value and location of the house. </p>
<p>Jlauer, beauty tips - you’re going to think I’m off the reservation, but, mine include stuff like: only get hair cut during a full moon; never brush it under florescent lights (keeps it full, long and thick); always use the blow dryer on the cold setting (this takes a little longer but you can do other stuff like apply makeup with the other hand, also check email, etc. while blow drying); never eat past 8:00 p.m. (sometimes this is unavoidable though); always eat vegetables raw; drink lots of pomogranete (sp?) juice - it’s expensive but an incredible antioxidant; take vitamins for skin tone (I like biotin and a standard daily vitamin, sometimes flax seed oil); go for a run or a walk or some sort of regular workout every day.</p>
<p>Timesavers - never go to the grocery store without a list, and stick to the list; buy in bulk (you’re always going to need toilet paper, etc.); go at off-peak hours; also, I do a LOT of work on planes - I carry an extra laptop battery so I’m never down, I can even work in taxis, trains (always grab a seat on the quiet car); last, try to spend less time on CC (I’m supposed to be finishing a proposal but instead I’m playing on CC). </p>
<p>Best time saver of all - learn how to say “no”, and mean it, and do not feel guilty, and do not worry if it upsets someone. I used to say “yes” to everything; now I’m almost at expert at declining invites that are really time-eaters and that do not result in profitable or pleasurable experiences.</p>
<p>late to school…</p>
<p>what do florescent lights do to hair to keep it from becoming full and thick??? Is it an anti ion thing? Maybe too many men have been combing their hair under these lights and that is the real cause of baldness… </p>
<p>Also… drink lots of water… </p>
<p>adding a few drops of baby oil in the bathtub makes skin soft (H loves it when i do this!) I use a generic brand that has Vitamin E and Aloe added.</p>
<p>Drinking Green Tea – very good anti-oxidant, too! (I hate the taste by itself so I add a touch of raspberry flavored generic “crystal lite” and it tastes great hot or cold!)</p>
<p>When rinsing conditioner out of hair, use COOL water (not warm), hair will be shiny and softer (water doesn’t have to be cold, just cooler than warm water). And never RUB hair dry with a towel – brings on the frizzies.</p>
<p>Keep bottles of water in car… You’ll be less likely to go thru a drive thru and spend $2 on a soda. (If you like cold water, keep some half full ones in the freezer and add water before you go out).</p>
<p>Tip for kids: Teach them to notice when they have stained their clothes and either have them bring them to you to treat and wash or have them do it (teach them how to treat oily stains different from tomato/juice or other stains).<br>
There are few things more irritating than to pull clothes out of the dryer and see that a stain has been set and the item is now ruined. </p>
<p>I buy rubbing alcohol in bulk at Costco (and keep on hand) for when a kid’s ink pen has bled thru a pants pocket. Several soakings may be needed but I can always get it out.</p>
<p>The RIT Dye people make a product that will correct a “pink wash” that happens when a red (or other color) item ends up in a white wash. I keep a few boxes on hand so that I can immediately correct the problem before the items have time to dry and set the dye.</p>
<p>jlauer95, I noticed your comment about the Costco Exec membership. I’m always a bit leery of things where you have to pre-pay to get savings/rebate. You find it to be a good thing? How long does it take to earn out? And does it pay any overage at a specific time, i.e. every January, or is it on your “anniversary date” with the program?</p>
<p>Jlauer I am not sure what is up with the flourescent light issue - it might not even be a fact; I cannot even remember who told me but supposedly it breaks hair, and even does other bad things to skin. I don’t ever use the flourescent lights in my work spaces, always work with the lights out, or use lamps. </p>
<p>I agree about rinsing in cold water - I also like to soak my hair in olive oil for a couple of hours, then wash it, it manages to somehow look fantastic. Plus I am very careful about what I put in it - I like my long hair but only if it’s in excellent condition and very well groomed - if I’m not careful it will start to look yucky. Good to know about green tea - pomegranate tastes very, very strong and tart, plus it’s very expensive, but, works when the real fruit isn’t available. I do not know of a stronger antioxidant though, unless it’s consuming more dark fruits. Do you know offhand the potency of green tea vs. other options?</p>
<p>moominmama,
I am not jlauer but we also have the executive membership. I just got my rebate check and it was $186. The exec membership costs $100 so it definitely paid for itself this year! Especially if you buy a big ticket item like computer, appliances, tires, etc they will add up over a year and I think the smallest rebate I ever got was about $80. Still: $100-$80 had my membership down to $20 
I get my rebate check (it’s actually a costco check, but they’ve given me change before if I don’t spend the whole thing) every May. I can’t remember when we switched to Executive. My membership is due in July, so I’m not sure how they time the rebates. </p>
<p>It is easy to go crazy there, though! One trick I’ve done if I’m just going there for one or two things is that I don’t get a cart. It makes me think twice about impulse items because I can’t carry all that stuff around in my hands. I’d have to REALLY want whatever it is to go back through the store to find a cart!</p>
<p>This might seem kind of odd and I’m not sure this qualifies as a money-saving tip because it doesn’t save you anything but my dad did this with me and I do it with my kids. If your kid wants something, offer him/her the money if he doesn’t use it for that item. For instance, he gave me the money for my high school class ring if I didn’t buy it. He thought it was a useless and frivolous item, so he gave me the money that it would have cost. If I really wanted it, I could have bought it with my own money. I have to say, I have never missed having a high school class ring. I don’t even know if kids get them anymore. He made the same offer for my wedding but I didn’t take him up on it. (He didn’t make me pay for my wedding though). The effect it had on me was to teach me that I don’t really have to have things that I think I really want. </p>
<p>Now, when my kids go on a school trip, I’ll give them $20 for souvenirs. If they buy something, they give me the change but if they don’t buy anything they keep the $20. It has been a good lesson for them to see that they can get through the gift shop without spending anything while their friends bring home loads of junk. </p>
<p>I told you this was an odd one and it does save money in the long run because they use the money I gave them for other stuff that I might have ended up paying for anyway. I do give them separate money for food and drink because I don’t want them going hungry or getting dehydrated because they’d rather have the money.</p>
<p>Buy soft luggage at Sports Authority or anywhere else that sells hockey bags. Save 75% over Target prices.</p>
<p>moominmama</p>
<p>Re – costco exec membership</p>
<p>For us it pays for itself. Our sign up is in Nov and every October we get the check - usually it is for about 110 -160 bucks. Sooo, the membership pays for itself, year after year. Otherwise, I think a regular membership is about 35 dollars a year or so.</p>
<p>I know some families who don’t buy enuf will split an exec membership with each mom taking one card (use one address). That way their combined spending reaches high enuf to get at least $100 back to pay for the next year’s membership card…</p>
<p>Just a warning - I thought I was being smart by charging the college tuition on my credit card, and getting tons of airline miles. We then transferred it to 0% credit cards and made low monthly payments until the 0% expired, then rolled it again. (We had a great spring break vacation with the airline miles.) BUT it turns out that this has affected our credit rating, so now we are in a different class for car insurance. Just can’t seem to win…</p>
<p>At the grocery store where I shop, every week there are buy one get one free sales. The deal is if you only buy one then you get it for half price. Also those annoying coupons that print out with your grocery receipt can be valuable. Just this week I saved $5 using one of those when ordering pet meds online for the mutt.</p>
<p>On school lunches. Our h.s charges $2 for the regular plate lunch. Of course pizza, fries, burgers and subs are available for more $. I give my S $10 for lunch every Monday. If he choses the more expensive lunch, then he has to pick up the difference himself (with his hard earned money from bagging groceries). It doesn’t take long to figure out that the $2 extra spent on pizza is really not worth it. </p>
<p>A few years ago I bought hair clippers at Target for $20. Both boys have “buzzed” their own hair ever since saving a lot of haircut money. </p>
<p>I am a loyal Goodwill shopper. You would be amazed at what you can find there. My co-workers are always surprised when I come in to work sporting great Goodwill finds. The trick is you have to allow yourself plenty of time to shop. It’s not as easy as walking in a dept store and pulling your size right off the rack. And if you find a great deal thats out of season, buy it anyway and four months later you’ll be glad you did. Our local GW also sells baked goods at outlet prices.</p>
<p>When eating out, order water instead of tea and soft drinks. A family of 4 can add $6 to $8 to the bill by ordering soft drinks and tea.</p>
<p>Great thread!</p>
<p>I’m a big Goodwill fan–also there’s another quality thrift shop near us where I always find something interesting for myself or nice shirts for the boys. To them, a shirt is a shirt–they are more concerned with what is printed on t-shirts and I have also found cool t-shirts there.</p>
<p>I sometimes have to stop myself from bragging that I got something at Goodwill–some people look at you funny–but I am so pleased when I get designer clothes that look great but I never would have bought new!</p>
<p>I’m sure we saved money when the kids were younger by only watching PBS. There were no commercials to show them all the toys they “needed.” :)</p>
<p>I have always made my kids lunches for school (high school only–the private elementary provided lunch.) They like it better than standing in line anyway. Generally it’s a sandwich with interesting condiments/pickles, a piece of fruit or carrot sticks, granola bar or similar, and a “juicy box”–juice in boxes. I make it the night before so there’s no rush in the morning.
(Sometimes they make it themselves but if they’re overworked, the buck stops with me.)</p>
<p>Here’s the deal with fluorescent lights–they make you look like death if you stand under them!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, they are also an electricity & money saver. We got some for the house but the only room that can stand it is the room that is light yellow and has a butter yellow chair in it! Everyplace else looks gray and washed out.</p>
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<p>actually, once you add tip and tax, it can actually be more!!! Many restaurants are charging 1.75 - 2 for soft drinks – When you add tax and tip that can be $9 - $10+ more depending on your state’s tax rate and your level of tipping. </p>
<p>We stopped ordering drinks when they got to be too big to get kids meals where the drink is often included. When the kids complained, I told them that we have a choice… we can order drinks and then go out less often or order water and be able to go out more. They chose more.</p>
<p>I always order extra lemmons for my water at restaurants and then add sugar or equal, poor man’s lemonade tastes better then regular lemonade. I buy everything I can at Cosco because of their return policy. If it breaks or does not work as well even 6 months later there is no hassle in returning it, and you are not stuck with something that is not seving it’s purpose. They also sell restaurant gift cards that take 20% off the bill so for $80 you would get a certificate to use for $100. We also always buy an entertainment book and get our money back easily early in the year. When booking a hotel I usually laugh and say which discount is better, AAA, ARP, entertainment rate, government rate and never pay full price.</p>
<p>arizonamom…you stole my lemon water cocktail!!! I do that all the time. It really is good. Just had lunch with some co-workers today who looked at me like I was crazy as I was pooring my sweet-n-low into my lemon water.</p>
<p>If you hit that mid-life crisis and decide you want the old car of your HS dreams–say a 60’s Jaguar or American muscle car buy one already restored as long as they have good documentation of the job. That’s unless you are a skilled mechanic and patient.
You’ll probably save 50% from what it would cost to buy a rough car and have it restored. And you get to enjoy it before you are too old to care.</p>
<p>Otherwise we shop at Costco and break the mass quantities down to meal size freezer bags.</p>
<p>Tightwad Gazette fan here. Extreme cheapness warning: Some of these you won’t like. Some are repeats that work for me. You might wonder if I’m joking. Laugh if you want, but I’m serious.</p>
<p>Home haircuts, no makeup, thrift shop clothes. </p>
<p>Don’t own it–borrow it from the public library.</p>
<p>How low can you go? I used to mix my milk–1 quart powdered milk, 1 quart water, and 2 quarts whole milk for a gallon of milk. My kids were so used to this that when they tasted “regular” milk, they said “Ew, this isn’t mixed!” Kool aid–2/3 c sugar and 3 quarts of water–instead of the usual 1 cup sugar/2quarts water. (Yes, I’m from a big family–and have one myself-- my mom taught me how to “water down” and “stretch” everything! “Portion control” is also very important).</p>
<p>Don’t look at any ads/commercials. (I don’t use coupons). No recreational shopping. Never buy stuff at the checkout or from vending machines. (Why pay 60 cents or more for a soda when you can buy a case of store brand soda for about 12-15 cents a can? Better yet, drink tap water–carry your own in a recycled bottle). Keep snacks–box of crackers, pretzels, peanuts in the car so you won’t be tempted to stop for fast food.</p>
<p>Buy the car you “need” to get you there, not the car you “want” to impress people. Who cares what strangers think?–your friends and family already know how cool (or, as in my case, uncool) you really are.</p>
<p>Turn the AC up in the summer and the heat down, way WAY down in the winter–put on your longjohns and sweatshirt. </p>
<p>Do full loads of laundry in cold water. Try using 1/2 the recommended amount of soap (or anything)–use the smallest amount that works.</p>
<p>No need for expensive cleaning products–water and a rag work for most things.</p>
<p>Make your own greeting cards. Wrap gifts with comics. Or just don’t give gifts–people have enough junk anyway. And they’ll be glad they don’t have to write you a thank you note. (No problem sending my kids to birthday parties with dollar store gifts when everyone else spends $10-15). </p>
<p>I once got laughed at on a talk radio show by saying I could make a school lunch for 15 cents. (This was back in the 90s when they were talking about cutting the school lunch program–my kid qualified for “reduced price” lunches–my point was that I could make them cheaper myself). I could get white bread for 25 cents a loaf, store brand (Aldi) PB for $1, cheap grape jelly. Spread it thin. Save a plastic water/juice bottle and fill with mixed milk or kool aid–(why pay 25 cents for 1/2 pint of milk?)–use the same bottle over and over all year. You’ll save a lot on drinks by not buying juice boxes, etc. Some carrot or celery sticks or an apple. My kid had the same lunch every day for years. No complaints. Even if you use packaged drinks and snacks, you’ll still save a lot by taking your own lunch</p>
<p>Oatmeal for breakfast every day–about 5 cents a bowl and good for your heart. Grits. Toast.</p>
<p>Cheap snack: Popcorn, popcorn, popcorn. Pop it yourself on the stove or in the microwave (Popcorn for dinner once in awhile won’t hurt, either). Other cheap stuff we have a lot of: bananas, eggs, beans, rice, pasta, pancakes, potatoes, iced tea, . .</p>
<p>Garage sale, give-away furniture</p>
<p>Never eat out. </p>
<p>Take cold showers.</p>
<p>Nah. . .that’s too extreme for me. Shower with a friend?</p>
<p>Homeschooling: private school without the tuition.</p>
<p>Any questions? Ever been dumpster diving?</p>
<p>Other than my wife, the thing I miss most in Madison is Costco. The nearest ones are in the Chicago area. Too far to drive just to buy stuff for one person.</p>