Confessions of extreme penny pinchers, and things you shouldn't buy in bulk

Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I love browsing the internet as much as I love finding a good deal on stuff. Saving money so that my husband and I can buy a house of our own has led to some pretty crafty penny pinching like making laundry detergent with my mom and only taking a car over a motorcycle if it's going to rain or we need to carry a lot of stuff. I know that we could be making more cut-backs, and we're working on it, but here's some confessions from extreme penny pinchers who have figured out how to make a few extra bucks here and there. You might think that buying in bulk is another good way to save some pennies, but there are some things you shouldn't bother with because the regular grocery stores will often have them on sale for a lot less than you can get in bulk.

Is there something that any of you do to pinch pennies here and there? Would you ever do any of the things that these folks did? Ok, besides the dollar menu thing, that's almost too easy
06/17/2011
  • Save Extra 50% On Sexobot Attachment
  • Upgrade Your Hands-Free Play!
  • Complete strap-on set for extra 15% off
  • Save 50% On Shower Nozzle With Enema Set
  • Enjoy 50% Off Selected Items
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
All promotions
Contributor: MaryExy MaryExy
I could make my own windex, that's about all I know so far :\
06/17/2011
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I love browsing the internet as much as I love finding a good deal on stuff. Saving money so that my husband and I can buy a house of our own has led to some pretty crafty penny pinching like making laundry detergent with my mom and only taking a ... more
The fast food dollar menu one bothers me. She may exclude the fatty add-ons, but the overall quality of the food (grade of meat, bread ingredients) is still poor. My way to save money on food is not to eat out.

Another pennysaver is using online price checkers before ordering anything. If it's not an emergency, I'll set the price I want and wait for the email alert. It's already saved me a few hundred dollars this year.
06/17/2011
Contributor: daniel and frances daniel and frances
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I love browsing the internet as much as I love finding a good deal on stuff. Saving money so that my husband and I can buy a house of our own has led to some pretty crafty penny pinching like making laundry detergent with my mom and only taking a ... more
Reuse bags (ziploc and otherwise). We pay for laundry so I avoid doing it til the clothes stand up themselves. (Except underwear of course!) Other than that and trying to be thrifty, I suck at saving. Lol
06/17/2011
Contributor: Bunnycups Bunnycups
I wouldn't be able to raise pigs for food. I think I'd get too attached and come slaughter time I'd turn my pig farm into a petting zoo. Unfortunately I don't live in an area conducive to raising farm animals, but I'd love to have chickens for farm fresh eggs. I would totally do that if I could.

I have a small garden with tomatoes and peppers. I'd like to try to grow more of my food. I also want to start growing my own catnip for my kitty. I'd save on cat toys if I made my own. One catnip toy is easily 4 or 5 dollars.

I save on cleaning detergents with vinegar

I rarely buy a cup of coffee. I just make my own when I'm in the mood for a cup.

I try to unplug things when they aren't in use and I'm a stickler for turning lights off.
06/17/2011
Contributor: cherryredhead88 cherryredhead88
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I love browsing the internet as much as I love finding a good deal on stuff. Saving money so that my husband and I can buy a house of our own has led to some pretty crafty penny pinching like making laundry detergent with my mom and only taking a ... more
I flip things. I love to watch Storage Wars and Hardcore Pawn, and they have inspired me to start flipping things on my own.

So far I'm getting off the ground, I have made 2 sales

I'd like to start my own business, like a thrift store or something similar.

As far as looking for deals, I bargain/barter/ and research when and where the besst price can be found. I don't always have to have brand new things, and I don't mind cosmetic wear and tear. For example, I just got my new bed frame, headboard, footboard and rails for 250 out of the Art Van Clearance center. That's about 400$ less than the price if it didn't have a couple scratches on it.
06/17/2011
Contributor: Wyo Daisy Wyo Daisy
I have a BIG garden and I can food. I also make my own bread. I often barter. We raise pigs, chickens and steers. I make my own detergent (3 ingredients) and all purpose cleaner (1/2 vinegar and 1/2water with a pinch or 2 of Borax). I breastfeed so no formula costs (formula costs about $2000 for 1 year on average)! I cloth diaper using MODERN cloth diapers (ie no pins - all velcro or snaps) and that has saved THOUSANDS since I was able to use most of them for more than 1 child AND I have sold the used ones.

We don't eat fast food so dollar menu is out for us, but we do watch for coupons for restaurants we like. When we go out of town we do the name you own price on Priceline - saved a bundle and stayed at really nice places.
06/17/2011
Contributor: M121212 M121212
Yea I used to hop on the back of the bus instead of paying the fare.
06/17/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by M121212
Yea I used to hop on the back of the bus instead of paying the fare.
Here in NYC they ticket people for that, and I can tell you for free and for certain those tickets cost more than bus fare.
06/18/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
Cloth diapers and cloth toilet paper (family cloth) are big money savers.

I've never been good at coupon shopping, so that's out but I buy things when they are on sale as often as possible. If it's something I can go without until it goes on sale, then I do.

I rarely buy new clothes. Socks, underwear, and shoes yes, but everything else I buy used or get as hand me downs from family. (I will occasionally pick something that's been marked down at the store, but only if it's a great price)

I also never paid for any of my furniture or bedding. It was all either gifted or handed down.

I basically save money whenever I can (other than extreme couponing) since I'm used to getting by with a very low income.
06/18/2011
Contributor: Wondermom Wondermom
we coupon (not extremely), I do swagbucks, surveys, and a few other little things to make some extra money.

we buy used when we can

we don't buy in bulk because its extremely rare to find a good bulk deal and when I find it we get it combined with coupons etc like on amazon

for the past 5.5yrs we have used washcloths instead of wipes for my sons diaper changes. We were gifted a huge pile and in the 5yrs we haven't had to buy more than a dozen.

We cut up my sons old holey clothes for blowing our noses on and rags to use around the house instead of paper towels.

I repair our clothes, buy on clearance ahead in kids sizes when I see a good deal, and look for coupons for clothing stores if we are going to pay retail

I do rebates, contact company's we like to compliment them on their products (just got a 4 pack of red bull for doing so), and if a product has a reward program or point program, I use them to get things for free. I already purchased the product, why not get the extra free stuff. With a 5yr old still in diapers I love the huggies and pampers reward programs.

We buy most of our books used or in thrift stores, homeschool materials are the same way most the time unless I find a great sale or clearance sale at a discount school supply company.

We use paperbackswap, dvdswap and cdswap to rotate our collections and get new ones, which helps up get some homeschooling materials.

The library knows us extremely well, they have seen my son grow from a tiny newborn to the kid he is now. We usually check out at least 100 items at a time, we have a library card each plus a homeschool card (for a total of 4) and we always check the library book sale area to get new kids books, dvds, vhs and audiobooks.

We use free days at museums etc to save on field trips and have a membership at a couple of places because its cheaper than paying for one entrance fee for the family + parking. We have the ACM adventurer add on for the childrens museums to get free entry and hundreds of them over the country.

I use a sea sponge reusable tampon instead of disposable products

we save all our cans and sell them for recycling, we also recycle our paper and put it in the local schools fundraising recycle bin. We recycle our ink cartridges at staples to earn $3 each one (our printer can't be refilled )

I am sure I do more....
06/18/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
i try to buy things on sale. other than that, not much else
06/19/2011
Contributor: M121212 M121212
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
Here in NYC they ticket people for that, and I can tell you for free and for certain those tickets cost more than bus fare.
They ticket people here too. It's not a requirement by law that they are to be paid, though, so a lot of people don't.

I don't hop transit anymore, just saying I have in the past to "pinch my pennies."
06/19/2011
Contributor: null null
Quote:
Originally posted by Bunnycups
I wouldn't be able to raise pigs for food. I think I'd get too attached and come slaughter time I'd turn my pig farm into a petting zoo. Unfortunately I don't live in an area conducive to raising farm animals, but I'd love to ... more
My family tried raising chickens for a while, we had 6, and it ended up being less cost efficient than just buying eggs in the store. It was fun having 'pet' baby chickens for a while though!
06/19/2011
Contributor: iLashe iLashe
i'm trying to be more self-sustainable, but starting out, i don't go shopping rarely ever for anything NEW NEW, only with eden points (thanks E.F.), library, Baking soda is great for deodorant just a smidge with some water on tp, bicycle rides (well, no license, but i'll continue biking when I have one again) online classes for free - uc berkeley webcasts here, share housing with the folks for the time, shower less or for free at the gym. 1/2 price and cheaper stuff from delis etc from when they're about to close shop
06/22/2011
Contributor: AndromedaJane AndromedaJane
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I love browsing the internet as much as I love finding a good deal on stuff. Saving money so that my husband and I can buy a house of our own has led to some pretty crafty penny pinching like making laundry detergent with my mom and only taking a ... more
thanks!
02/03/2012
Contributor: TheSlyFox TheSlyFox
I Make my own steam cleaner solution
02/03/2012