I switched from TI Jazz flats to EB Cobalt flats.
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Ways to economize
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
Just came from getting a quote on a tooth implant. So far, this dentist charges significantly lest than others. In fact, the implant is less than what my regular dentist quoted me for a bridge. The implant is not a luxury, the teeth surrounding the blank space where the tooth used to be are staring to lean over and that is not good. Did my homework on the dentist, so far he looks good.
I have switched to tea at home. Like to buy loose leaf and use the same tea at least twice a day. Takes great and cuts down on the caffeine in the afternoon.
One difference between the rich and the poor: Rich people know you spend your money a dollar at a time. I've seen one movie in a theater in the last three years. And that is because we had a group see a movie together.
I own four cars, but have no car payment. But my state only charges me about $420 a year for all four tabs.
I drink a lot of coffee, but it's Kirkland brand Keurig cups that I get on sale for $.26 a cup (they recently raised it to $.30).
We use Amazon Prime to watch movies. We dumped television in 1997. i.e. no cable TV and Amazon prime includes videos for free.
We cook our own food. That's for health reasons, but it saves us a TON of money as well.
Because we own our own small home, free and clear, we have zero debt and are living solely off Social Security. Our monthly cost of living is roughly half of the total of our two SS checks. When I lived in Seattle I bicycle commuted even in the rain. Almost 30 miles round trip. That was 15 years ago. I'm now 72 so that length of daily trip probably would not be that doable.
I used to say to my wife that if the whole nation lived like we do, the economy would collapse. And it would. The key to financial independence is this simple: Spend less than you make.
And finally, I don't think people fully grasp just how much of their monthly expenses go to these two worthless things:
1. Interest on loans.
2. Taxes.
And both of those things go up, up, up. Do all you can to eliminate debt, and also try to reduce your taxes. Our RE taxes on our home and 32 spectacular acres are less than $250 a year. We often have to wait for deer or wild Turkeys walking across our 1/4 mile long driveway. And both are also delicious!
I own four cars, but have no car payment. But my state only charges me about $420 a year for all four tabs.
I drink a lot of coffee, but it's Kirkland brand Keurig cups that I get on sale for $.26 a cup (they recently raised it to $.30).
We use Amazon Prime to watch movies. We dumped television in 1997. i.e. no cable TV and Amazon prime includes videos for free.
We cook our own food. That's for health reasons, but it saves us a TON of money as well.
Because we own our own small home, free and clear, we have zero debt and are living solely off Social Security. Our monthly cost of living is roughly half of the total of our two SS checks. When I lived in Seattle I bicycle commuted even in the rain. Almost 30 miles round trip. That was 15 years ago. I'm now 72 so that length of daily trip probably would not be that doable.
I used to say to my wife that if the whole nation lived like we do, the economy would collapse. And it would. The key to financial independence is this simple: Spend less than you make.
And finally, I don't think people fully grasp just how much of their monthly expenses go to these two worthless things:
1. Interest on loans.
2. Taxes.
And both of those things go up, up, up. Do all you can to eliminate debt, and also try to reduce your taxes. Our RE taxes on our home and 32 spectacular acres are less than $250 a year. We often have to wait for deer or wild Turkeys walking across our 1/4 mile long driveway. And both are also delicious!
Biggest areas for found money, technology. This includes hardware, cellphone sevice, internet connectivity and subscriptions services.Like the old sayin goes "Money is tight and times are hard." Mrs. slo and I are in danger of running in the red for the first time in our marriage.. We are looiking at ways to live for less. Things like shopping at Costco and Grocery Outlet, searching the internet for the best deals and of course she is not buying any more basses or amps.We buy discount coupons for the movies, air travel and anything else we can think of. I also sign up for stores preference lists and just deal with the emails. We look closely at subscriptions we have and opt out of what we really don't need. We also do as much as we can ourselves without hiring others, and of course we make our own burritos and have eliminated tuna noodle casserole from our diet.
Not complaining, we sill live comfortable lives without financial worry but it is never a bad idea to be good stewards over what we do have. That way we have more lo help others with.
What are your ideas about living well and spening less.
I learned to cook a long time ago and I learned how to budget and manage a meal plan, believe it or not , when I was in the Boy Scouts. I can put a fair number of pretty good nutritious dinners and lunches for about $3-$4 a plate. What I would start learning to cook are things you typically buy in a restaurant, like specialty Burgers, Mexican fare, Italian, whatever it is, google the recipe.
So this is the second area. Avoid buying food on the street. Definitely buy the rotisserie chicken when you are at Costco. This is the most economical source of protein you’re going to find. .$5 and you have enough chicken for two dinners and at least 4 lunches. Buy two if you have freezer space. Bone the second one, and separate the white and dark meat. Shred the chicken breasts for casseroles BBQ sandwiches, burritos, soft tacos, enchiladas, and or quesadillas. The dark meat use for chicken and biscuits and or chicken salad. Boil the bones the skin any left over vegetable trimming you have with a little salt and pepper for a soup starter. Brown bag your lunch, make sandwiches with the leftovers from last night’s dinner paired with a small apple or some other piece of fruit. No going to 5Bucks coffee, or coffee at the gas-mart either. Brew your own.
We also have grown a garden most of the 49 years we’ve been married. This years 5 different types of tomatoes, cucumbers peppers, summer squash zucchini, carrots and beets. We also potted some herbs, rosemary ,thyme (no sage rose), basil and chives. We may plant some potatoes here in a week or two.
I hope this is useful, amd best wishes.
True, but having your stomach pumped after eating toxic TNC can be expensive.
The term we are looking for, and how I approch things, is frugal.
"Frugal means being prudent and intentional with money and resources, avoiding waste, and maximizing value without sacrificing quality. It is a value-driven approach aimed at freeing up resources for long-term goals rather than a fear-based focus on spending the absolute least amount possible."
Save on everyday stuff when you can, so you can then spend on things that make you happy, even if those things may seem frivolous to others.
"Frugal means being prudent and intentional with money and resources, avoiding waste, and maximizing value without sacrificing quality. It is a value-driven approach aimed at freeing up resources for long-term goals rather than a fear-based focus on spending the absolute least amount possible."
Save on everyday stuff when you can, so you can then spend on things that make you happy, even if those things may seem frivolous to others.
Does this mean no more Wednesday afternoon discount presentations of "The Little Mermaid??
I hate having to sew up all the rips in used underwear!
True story: When we lived in Seattle we always bought new cars. I still have three of them. All of them are now over 200,000 miles. However, we also bought everything else we could at garage and estate sales. Heck, I got a NEW bicycle A-frame (converts your bike to an exercise bike) that was $152 new - for $2.00, and a JVC 106 WPC 1970's monster receiver for $5.00 (yes, it worked).
But those sales are a waste of time here in rural Kentucky. That exercise bike would have cost $150 here, and maybe more. "Everybody" shops at these sales here and the owners think their stuff is way too valuable. But in Seattle, it was an amazingly useful secret!
Big purchases :
Used car. Don’t give in to keeping up with anyone. It’s a depreciating asset that gets used up.
House - don’t get the most expensive home you can afford unless you really need something of that size with those amenities.
Choose wisely, and location is the only thing you can’t change.
Do the math and consider renting if it is a better financial decision for you. This is very situation and budget dependent.
Max out your pretax with holdings if available. Start a Roth IRA. Do this early to take advantage of compound interest.
Smaller stuff:
Don’t eat out. Make coffee at home.
One luxury item per trip at the grocery store.
Used clothing /Ebay has amazing deals on barely used items.
Don’t buy things in the hope that you will become something that you are not.
Also don’t t buy items hoping they will bring you back to a time period that is past.
Things won’t change you. If you want to pursue activities, then get the gear, but otherwise, leave the dreaming in your head.
Buy once, cry once for quality daily use items like shoes.
Used car. Don’t give in to keeping up with anyone. It’s a depreciating asset that gets used up.
House - don’t get the most expensive home you can afford unless you really need something of that size with those amenities.
Choose wisely, and location is the only thing you can’t change.
Do the math and consider renting if it is a better financial decision for you. This is very situation and budget dependent.
Max out your pretax with holdings if available. Start a Roth IRA. Do this early to take advantage of compound interest.
Smaller stuff:
Don’t eat out. Make coffee at home.
One luxury item per trip at the grocery store.
Used clothing /Ebay has amazing deals on barely used items.
Don’t buy things in the hope that you will become something that you are not.
Also don’t t buy items hoping they will bring you back to a time period that is past.
Things won’t change you. If you want to pursue activities, then get the gear, but otherwise, leave the dreaming in your head.
Buy once, cry once for quality daily use items like shoes.
We did the same thing about a year ago. I wish we’d done it much earlier. I hate to think about all the money we burned on even the least expensive Verizon and T Mobile plans. I can’t tell a difference in the service at all.
Regarding food expenses, we cook at home at least 5-6 nights a week. However, food is a passion for both of us, and we live in a city with a lot of great culinary options. We definitely splurge on nice meals, but it has to be something we don’t have the skills to make at home.
And unless it’s a very special occasion (or we’re on vacation), we don’t drink alcohol in restaurants. Even if we each only have one cocktail, that adds $30 to the tab.
Haaa! My son has the exact dog!! He spent $3700 to have a sock removed that the dog swallowed!Whatever you do don't buy one of these. We did and this ball of fur has cost me $10k in five months between vet bills, supplies, damage to property, etc.
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We stream movies for free from oui public library with Hoople
Last Sunday we walked to church and then walked over to an awesome car show. It was a great day and cost us nothing.
