Giveaway Results: 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget

Be sure to check your pantry and refrigerator before you go to the store. I don’t know how many times I have said do I need that? I now look at the ads and see what I can get free or nearly free with what is on sale and my coupons. This stocks my pantry and gives me items to give to our church food pantry. Menu planning does not work very well for us because of my husbands on call and work schedule. But if I can have some quick easy things already made and can defrost and whip up easily, then I can still save.

pscole3467 at gmail dot com

My husband and I love to go to a nice restaurant and since the portions are so big, we split the meal. It so fun and then we aren’t miserable full and then we can go get ice cream or something because we haven’t spent as much money.

I have to plan my meals before heading to the store. I try to plan them based on the sales that week. It sounds like a minor money saving tip, but if I don’t plan, I easily spend 35% more than I do if I do plan!

My top tip for saving money is so big-picture it’s almost worthless for anyone on this site but just keeping track of all my expenses – knowing where *every penny* is going (has gone) made the biggest difference for me. Before starting this “experiment,” I would just have a “feeling” about how much money I had, how much I spent on things, how even my boyfriend and I were in terms of paying for things like groceries, dinners out, etc. Now that I keep track of everything, I know and can take responsibility for my spending.

I try to remember what we used to tell my little sister “Wanting and getting are 2 different things”.

We recently had a “swap” party where friends “swapped” items instead of selling them in a yard sale and got some nice items myself while getting rid of things I no longer needed. For example, a friend took a my lamp while I obtained a gently used tricycle for my young one.

Make it automatic! 10% of my paycheck goes straight into my savings account so I don’t even miss it. A little adds up quickly!

Don’t go to the store! I try to limit the times I go to the store as much as possible. I am not one of those people who stop in everyday to pick up something because I know once I am in the store I am more likely to spend money that is not nessesary!

My biggest money saving tip is to eat at home! I am amazed at how often many people eat out and how much money they spend. I have also reduced my grocery budget this year by eliminating a lot of processed, prepackaged foods. I quit buying chicken nuggets, and my boys haven’t even missed them! I never would have guessed it.

My top tip for saving money is to not spend it! I try to look at everything before I buy it and to determine if 1- I can live without it for another week (until I’m back in the store) or 2- don’t need it at all. Often things that fall in category 1 one week turn into category 2 the next as I live without it and realize that life is still great. It’s been fantastic for our little student budget with two kids and a baby on the way, I hope I can stick with it for our whole life!

I make most of our food from scratch. It doesn’t take much longer and it tastes better plus then I can control what we are eating.

Food shop only once a week, and use up what’s in your fridge, freezer, and pantry instead of shopping. It’s very tough, but it works. Be creative in your meals.

I rent movies at the Red Box insead of going to the movies…. Once you pay for popcorn and a tickey you might as well wait a few months and just buy to movie

is it a want or a need..ask that in the store- don’t go hungry, and just because you have a coupon it does not mean its a bargain just becuase its cheap if its gonna go to waste

I canceled Netflix-saved $10/month
I canceled gym and got over the guilt-saved $56/month
now I only spend $250/month on groceries where I used to easily spend twice that-use coupons

Enjoy your home and your neighborhood! This way you will avoid shopping and spending. You will also be more thankful for what you have.

Anytime you get change- just put it in a giant bottle(like a water bottle).Once it gets a v couple of inches on it- you will not be tempted to”rob” it.

using coupons, and paying cash only so you do not have to pay high interest rates on credit cards. Thanks for the contest!

I always do coupons, I hang my clothes on th eline, and I shop at thrift stores, but I need to do more! this book would help

It is really good for the environment to carpool, and it saves money too!

Shop online through sites like upromise. Use coupons and get money back. Also a huge timesaver that I don’t have to run around all over town with my 2 year old. Thanks for the chance.

Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry, and don’t buy it if you don’t have the cash to pay for it.

emvark at gmail dot com

Always keep a list of gifts and items you need throughout the year. Then when you are in every store check clearance aisles and sales to see if you can get the item dirt cheap and then just put it away until you need it. This has saved me so much money and it is nice to have birthday gifts bought way beforehand so no stressing on the date.

I work hard to match my coupons to the sales ads and buy very few things that are not on sale.

Just keep telling yourself that that extremely cool iphone everybody has will not be ‘cool’ in a couple months. And hey, you can call and text on your phone, isn’t that enough?
Self control is vital

I only drink water not soda when I’m out to eat.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Instead of buying “100-calorie” packs, buy a larger (and cheaper!) package and make your own bags!

One of my favorite and best money-saving tips is menu-planning. I know that’s not very original, but it works. We’ve really saved money and eaten well.

My tip – stay away from stores that you know you will spend too much. Mine is Target – I avoid it because I never leave without spending $100 without intending too!
Thanks

I just learned this other day & I am trying to implement it into my life. You don’t need to turn the lights on every time you go into a room. You know your house, you know where the dog sleeps, you know where you child leaves their shoes – walk around it. Feel the walls if you have to.

Learn to cook. The more skilled you are, the less prepared foods you have to buy.

My top tip for saving money is to use the internet to search for coupons, codes, deals, etc.

madamerkf at aol dot com

Coupons, coupons, coupons….and shopping off a list and on a full stomach

We make our own baby food. I do it once a weekend and we are set for the week. I can’t even imagine how much we have saved doing this as we have never bought any bottled or canned foods. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com

Honestly, the way we save the most money is by keeping track of what we spend and budgeting. Our budget keeps us on track with our financial goals and curtails any potential wasteful spending.

coupons coupons coupons ! that is what i am all about … i try to find items that are on sale and then use the coupon.. wow some times you can really get a great deal… ;0)

I am fairly new at all this but I have recently began to clip coupons and only shop for the items that are on sale and I have coupons for. I also sign up for free samples and save them for when we take a trip for snacks. Much cheaper than buying snacks at a park or convenience store.

Wow, there are a lot already on here that we do but we also set an allowance for every member of the household. I put $5 in the baby’s saving account twice a mo, our 12 yo gets $10/wk allowance (for chores – no work, no pay) 1/2 of his goes into his savings account, 1/2 to spend and my husband and I get $100 twice a month. EVERY extra penny beyond that goes into our savings account. We paid off a lot of debt working on this system and are now working on paying down our mortgage. Thanks for the chance to win. I’m yearning for this book!!!

I have an automatic transfer set up to my savings account on Pay Day.

Tell your kids that the ice cream truck is the music truck and it just drives around to play music for people. How nice! (My grandmother told my mom this when she was a kid, my mom told me this, and now I’m telling my son.)

Make sure you’re using the right amount of dishwasher detergent – it’s probably a lot less than you think!

Quite often meals are according to what is on sale that week. We also try not to waste any food. If there is left overs, someone uses it the next day.

I buy gifts ahead of time when they are on sale (like items in January for gifts next Christmas). The deals are usually awesome and the gift-receivers like their presents.

My husband and I just bought I first home. With all the little repairs and the new main board computer thing for the AC to even work, cash is T_I_G_H_T!!!! To save I mostly research research reasearch online to what is the best products out there and where I can get the best deal. It takes time, but the money you can save is amazing. Also never buy something large unless it has been on the list of things you need, needless compulsive sale or deal spending can add up just as much!

I start shopping for Christmas right after the holiday is over and look for things on sale and clearance throughout the year that my kids and nieces and nephews would like. It saves money.

I have learned to work outside the typical Target and Wal Mart for deals…I check the website IheartCVS and can find upcoming deals – they have scanned ads before you receive your paper…you have time to see what is coming up and begin looking for cupons if needed and see what you have. I typically use a store coupon and a MFG coupon together…major savings. I buy smaller packages and use the larger coupons. I have started to cut my laundry sheets in 1/2…this helps, I also try to scoop up as many BOGO coupons as I can and use them up before they are done…typically CVS and Walgreens run makeup BOGO…you get both free with coupons and all you need to pay is tax…pretty sweet. In the last month I have scored 12 bottles of Purex…with a family of five…It won’t take long to go through that. I also have a coupon binder that is organized and cleaned every month…I bring it everywhere. This last weekend I spent $42.00 and saved almost $90.00 in coupons by using my binder and doubleing up on store and MFG coupons. I also go through my Sunday coupons and swap with my mom…double the fun

We always get coupons in the mail for different restaurants in the area. I clip and save all the coupons so when my husband and I want to go out on a date, we get to pick from a bunch of different places. Then, we take the coupon with us and enjoy our night out. It makes us feel like we aren’t confined to only cheap restaurans. We still get a date night, but spend less money.

i really need this book

Stockpile! Matching coupons to the lowest sale prices and then buying enough to last you until the next big sale! You will create your own “store” and will be able to shop from that. We went from $150/week for a family of 2 to an avg of $50/week for a family of 4 with me doing this.

We always get a ton of coupons for restaurants in the area. I clip the coupons and save them so whenever my husband and I want to go out to dinner, we look at through the coupons and decide which restaurant looks good to us. Then, we bring the coupon with us. We don’t feel like we are confined to only going to cheap restaurants and we still save money.

We always get a ton of coupons for restaurants in the area. I clip the coupons and save them so whenever my husband and I want to go out to dinner, we look through the coupons and decide which restaurant looks good to us. Then, we bring the coupon with us. We don’t feel like we are confined to only going to cheap restaurants and we still save money.

When you see something you want in a catalog, mark the page and put the catalog down. Then put the catalog down and don’t look at it for a few days. Often the interest in the item disappears after a little time.

We have a menu plan for dinners and I’m currently trying to do one for snacks etc. We are a family of 7 and feeding all of us is getting costly! I started organizing coupons and matching them before heading out the door.

Yard Sale hop and dumpster dive! Okay, so the dumpster diving might not be practical in some places, but my husband and I live in a college town. At the end of every semester we drive up to campus and paruze the furniture out by the dumpsters- some of our favorite items are found this way. We also have pulled two working TVs and sold them Also, yard sales are an excellent way to get baby clothes (who cares if they’ve been worn, they’ll only wear it a handful of times, too!).
You should also check out freecycle.org. Chances are, there’s a group in your area. Everything listed is free for the taking!

I have some very big windows to clean at my house and using paper towels is just not an option for me because I would have to use so many. So…I save my newpapers(not the glossy ads, they dont work as well) and I use them in place of papertowels. I have a ton of newspapers from collecting coupons, so this is a great way to save money and reycle what you already have lying around. It works great! Also, mayking my own glass cleaner by mixing 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 quart water, saves money too!

Thank you for such a great giveaway! I am always looking for ways to cut my spending!

healthyfamilyliving@hotmail.com

I always try to match sale items with coupons to get the most out of sales. I always try to buy clothes on sale with a coupon or always check the clearance rack first.

Garage sale, craigslist, or freecycle for what you need! I’m looking for a bike for a big man under $50! I hope I find it this week.

My biggest tip is to go green without spending money (the greenest you can get). We got into a position nearly 6 months ago in which we were both unemployed and were only getting money from the GI bill for my husband’s school and we still don’t have jobs. So we’ve really had to stretch our money. We did this by trying to figure out how to conserve as much as possible without spending a penny. We stopped buying toilet paper and cut up some of my husband’s old t-shirts he wasn’t using anyway and used them as wipes (trust me, it feels so much better than paper and it cleans better too). We stopped using the heater/airconditioner when temperatures were between 65 and 85. We also started using nature to dry our clothes instead of using the dryer and stopped using the dishwasher to wash our dishes. I also found out that appliances use up to 40% of our electric bill just from being plugged in! So I started unplugging what I could since we don’t have a breaker box (we live in a duplex and it happens to be in our neighbor’s house) when we weren’t using it. My electric bill went from $170 all the way down to $72!!! That’s nearly $100 less a month! It’s shocking how much we’ve saved just from making these simple changes!

I am a single mother whose son is now graduating from college. I never received child support. It’s been rough but fun due to tips. But I need more.

I never go to the grocery store hungry. I buy less that way. I never buy anything that is not on sale. If I find a good deal on a clearance item, I consider if it could make a Birthday or Christmas gift. Then I put it back until I need it!

I keep the mantra “All that I have is all that I need” in mind to help avoid impulse and want type purchases.

My tip would have to be waiting to buy bigger things or want things until after a few days of thinking about it. If you really decide you need it go back and get it but usually by a few hours later I’ve weighed my options and decided to save my money. Or, another option is to research your options for a bigger purchase online and then wait for a sale on that specific item.

My top tip is waste not, want not – I try to throw away nothing – ranges from vegetable ‘ends’, to leftover broth, to bread ‘ends’ – I use everything & anything I can to ’stretch’. My freezer is chock full of misc items. I reuse ziploc bags as long as possible, squeeze every last bit of toothpaste & shampoo out, etc.

No Price is the final price for that item or service. It is ok to ask for a discount or use competitor’s prices to get yourself a better deal. Ask a store to honor other stors coupons. Ask to see a manager…be polite…and as my mom says “USE YOUR PRETTY POWER!”

My top tip for saving money is to actually ask people what they’d like for birthday presents. The most recent party I went to the kid got three different boxes of graham crackers and an elmo cup. His mom swore up and down that all he wanted was Elmo, grahamies and a box.

Easy and done!

My wife is comment #25 and she just left the computer and I sat down to say that she always gets the best price. She just talked my sons summer camp into half off for the summer…So my tip is support your frugal mate in all that she/he does. She deserves this book!

Hi,
Saving money or making do on a fixed income is hard., but you have to check sales and buy accordingly and go to thrift stores, like Goodwill, and by all means use coupons. Use kool-aid, go to 2 different stores and just get the sales, like in meats and fruits and veggies and go to Farmer’s Markets. Cook bigger meals and freeze them for later. Use rice dishes as extenders.
Use all the resources you have available to help make your money go farther.

I shop at a wholesale store (BJs) and then I stock up and fill up the basement freezer! And apparently, the fuller the freezer, the cheaper it is to run! And I have lots of meals ready to go when I precook and bake!

Parents-Local libraries -read a list -get afree book!
Movies -FREEE check local theatre- some –AMC REGAl and MOvies $00 (Cumming, GA-conate can of food get FREE small popcorn)–movies start next week for some!

Barnes and NOBLe-read a book-list it-get freee book!
It take stime but coupons are a blessing!!!!

Eat at restuarants on kids eat free nights.

My best money saving tip is to create a gift closet full of books and gift items that you find on yard sales or new in package at thrift shops/yard sales etc. Stash gift bags you can reuse and some other wrapping supplies and you will be set for any upcoming parties. Last minute gifts can be a real budget buster!

ndisilvio @ gmail . com

I’ve found that hanging laundry has really lowered our electric bill (& it’s a great arm workout too)

Back in my scraping pennies together days, I always thought people who paid for a full year’s subscription to the newspaper, etc. were crazy. But they’re actually savvy shoppers. Whenever possible, I take the discounted rate for subscriptions by paying in advance for the year. I’ve done this with satellite radio, the newspaper, OnStar in my car, some professional memberships sites, and I’ve saved a significant amount of money. You do have to spend a big chunk up front, but if it’s a service that you know you will use for a year, it’s definitely worth your money to pay in advance.

One of the best ways to save money is not to spend it at all. I try to stay away from the stores because I am more likely to buy extra things. I also find all the free things to do with kids like parks, book readings, free museum days.

Shopping at Aldi’s, I’m amazed at how much cheaper basics are like Saran Wrap and ziploc bags (ok Aldi brand ones)!

I recently learned how to prepare dishes in the microwave using Tupperware products, so I can take a few hours one day and make several meals, then put them in containers in the freezer. Then when I don’t want to cook, I have “fast food” in the freezer to heat up and serve!

I can’t think of just one top tip; I think saving money is only successful by doing lots of little things. One little thing I do is talk to other moms about what I need for our family. Their recommendations help me to make wise purchases of “tried and true” products (no sense throwing money away on products that don’t work or you don’t really need). And sometimes, other moms have even given me or loaned me things that I’ve been looking for.

My favorite way of saving money is coupon stacking. Coupon stacking is when you take a store coupon from the weekly flyer and add it with an manufacturer’s coupon. Then if the store doubles coupons, you get an even better deal! Also for coupons that are buy one get one free, always use a manufacturer’s coupon for the item you are buying. Also take these coupons to stores that double coupons and sometimes you’ll end up getting both items for free or at a super deal! Oh, a lot of stores have changed their coupon doubling policies (ie only doubling coupons up to $0.55 only) so ask the stroe manager or check the store’s web site for their policy.

I would truly LOVE to win this book – I’m a frugalholic and it’s right up my alley!! lol

And my best tip is to NEVER BUY NEW/RETAIL PRICE FOR ANYTHING IF YOU CAN HELP IT! become a yard sale vulture and you’ll be amazed at the nice things you can find for pennies on a dollar, save gas and carpool with friends to hit these sales and be there early!

I go to a nearby fruit stand to buy my fruits and vegetables.

Try to shop consignment shops and second hand stores. Many people drop off items for sale that have never been worn! I also shop yard sales to stock up on toys for my daughter. Many of the toys are like brand new for a fraction of the price!

When I shop online I make sure to shop through ebates. Every time you shop online you get a certain percentage back. I earn money for things I already buy online.

Half priced books. My husband is a giant reader but likes to collect series (I think he’s got 300+ books upstairs) He used to buy new but now we wait until we can find it used. We also sell books games and movies when we are done with them and get credit. It’s saved us probably $1500 on entertainment expenses in the last three years alone.

I reuse cereal bags. I use them to in my lunch instead of lunch bags. I use them for anything I would use a regular bag for use a clothes pin to keep closed. I also rinse them and use them for wax paper when I need a sheet of wax paper

I’ve always been a coupon clipper, but lately, I’ve been working on matching them better with store sales and store coupons. I started a coupon trading train at work to pick up extra coupons at no cost and I feel great that I am also helping others save.

I make a menu list for the week ahead my kids like it cause they know whats for dinner and it also helps when I go shopping to have the list handy

I started clipping coupons a few months ago and I can’t believe how much $ I save. But you have to keep your coupons organized. If you don’t you won’t stick with it. I sort my coupons – dairy, frozen foods, detergents, etc and then put them in their own envelope. This way when I go through the sales flyer, I just pull out the envelope I need. Saves a lot of time!

My top tip for saving money, in this case for a family trip, is to get a certain percentage of my paycheck direct deposited on one of those loadable debit cards. My great grandmother keeps it locked for me so I have no access to it. This way I save for upcoming events without thinking about it!

I shop at Goodwill. I sign up for all the freebies, and I go to the store one time a week.

I live in a fairly small community and I have started walking most places I need to go work, the doctor, library, even Walmart when I only need a couple things. That cuts down on impulse buying. I also try to only go shopping every few weeks, use every coupon I can and only buy what is on sale.

I make sure I purchase items that are BOGO and have a coupon that doubles.

I rout my trips in a circle so I am not making no many left turns.

There are several good quality consignment shops near where we live so I do a lot of our clothes shopping there (especially mine).

We use the ‘envelope’ program for household purchases. I carry around about 20 envelopes that are labeled for certain categories throughout the month. It has cut down on our credit card bill by more than half (I had to face the fact that’s it’s just too easy to loose track of what I spent when I whipped out the plastic). However we still use our cards so we can get rewards on certain purchases, fuel, bills, large purchases, etc.

My top top for saving money is to shop at Aldi for the large majority of your groceries. Then I just go to the grocery store and use coupons for other products,

One thing is trying to take advantage of the buy one get one free items every week and then trying to use coupons with that. Last week Frosted Mini Wheat on sale BOGO for $4.19 I had 2 $1 off coupons so I got two boxes for $2.19 or $1.10 per box! I did this twice! That was a great savings and a treat since I don’t usually buy much cereal.

My biggest money saver is research….I search for coupons for free items & free samples…I scan the circulars to find the best deals & match with coupons…wheb I find a product I use at the lowest price possible…I really stock up…I only buy products on sale…if not on sale then we go without that week…it really works & the kids understand…I let them help so they get the big picture…
plb8156@aol.com

my biggest is not to creative but it save me a bunch every year, do not take your little ones with if you can at all avoid it. we get paid on Friday and for my big shopping day i go on Tuesday while my little one is at Mothers Day Out. this way i avoid the impulse buys that a preschooler can add to the buggy because you are tired of hearing them ask for things. while you use your coupons and sales adds to get the best deals.

Make use of your local library! Let the kids play on the computer, sign up early for all the programs, check out craft books and dvds, and just enjoy the cool and quiet. I always sit and read magazines while the kids play on the computers.

My biggest money saving tip is to create fun weekly meals that encourage you to eat at home. We have homemade pizza night and cheeseburger/hot dog night. One afternoon I discovered I didn’t have any hamburger buns, and decided to try my hand at making them. That was a few months ago, and I may never buy them from the store again, they’re that delicious, simple to make, and cheap.
With these supper traditions, we’ve avoided eating out for almost two months!

I have been couponing for about three months, we cancelled our cable, and now I look for free community activities to do with the kids. We are really just getting started with our new frugal lifestyle, but already seeing improvements in our finances as well as our family relationships. There is less stress adout money and more quality time spent with the kids (thanks to no cable).

Like many have already said, don’t shop hungry, make a list and stick to it. There have been countless times I’ve been shopping and I keep throwing things in my cart that I just “want” and don’t “need”. Ever since I started reading and subscribing to freebies4mom and sites like this I am a coupon user and meal plan. Also, never buy a clothing item full price. More often than not they ALWAYS go on sale.

I buy my daughter’s clothes at consignment sales when there is a 1/2 price sale and get a jacket for $4.00 . Some shirts are a $1.00. I also go to a thrift store for clothing. I buy on clearance racks. I try to buy end of seasons clothes for next year. I also check out yard sales and flea markets. Sometimes this works. But now my daughter is getting bigger this not working as well.
I try to match coupons to sale items at stores. I hope I can get this book to try to same more money.

Every year we put in a garden and our neighbor does also.As the food comes in we can and freeze it and if we have extra we give it to our neighbor and he gives us his extra produce.We both plant some differant things that the other didn’t plant.

I am a stay at home mom of four committed to making my husband’s check go farther.

One word: Library!

First, I hang on to all my coupons pretty much, even the ones I don’t normally use. Second, I match items on sale with my coupons for things I want to pick up…I get help with this by reading blog posts at CouponAllies.com or Refundcents.com. Sometimes I get things for free.
I rebate at Rite Aid and buy things I get Register Rewards with at Walgreens (if they are of value to me). Lately I’ve been able to save lots of money…only spending like $3-$11 per shopping trip and stocking ahead a little bit.

I always check freecycle before I buy a new item.

This is my biggest money saver…at least for right now. Breastfeeding! I have never had to buy all expensive formula or accessories. This tip won’t be able to apply to everyone, but for those are considering it or do breastfeed, they will have to admit it is one of the most natural and loving ways to save money!

I try to stick to my list. I also try to catch the early morning meat markdowns at the local grocery stores.

I have a group I attend and we all bring our couopons we won’t be using and trade.
It’s great!

Hi! I’m trying to save more money this year by planting a garden, with planned extras to can, freeze or store!!

I like to wait for my local grocery store to have their “buy 1 get 1 free” sale to purchase items I need or items I may not necessarily buy due to their price. This allows us to sometimes “splurge” while sticking to our budget.

When I have the urge to go buy something, or eat a frivolous snack that I don’t really need, I put the money into a jar for savings instead. It works even better when I have a picture of something I am saving for instead (WDW trip). Then I can see how my skipping on something I wanted helped. The kids can see it and want to save too!

We try to do home improvement and repair projects ourselves. Labor costs usually double the cost of home projects.

We rent movies at the local library,it only costs a dollar and that saves $3.00 over the local video rental place and at least $6.00 a person over going to see a movie.

We have a budget by-weekly meeting and we allot money for each expense for those two weeks. It’s so nice to know things are taken care of beforehand and we always know how much money we have. I also clip coupons that I know I’ll use and try to match them with the store’s sales.

I am working very hard not to make a purchase unless it’s on sale, REALLY marked down or used.

Hi! The shopping tip that helps me the most is buying clothes in the off seasons! If it is soemthing that a family member has to have, then I purchase the item. If not, I wait until the end to buy our clothes at a rather high percentage off of the sale price! Many thanks, Cindi

To cut electricity costs, I use my crockpot several times per week and pre cook many things using the crockpot.

When going clothes shopping I always look on the clearance racks first. I also watch for ads when stores have an extra 40-50% off their clearance merchandise. I have gotten some really nice clothes for $1.50.

Try to get creative with essential items are inexpensive! My husband loves to eat rice with eggs. Finding essential foods that don’t cost a fortune really makes a difference!!

I also highly recommend using redbox! There are also a lot of codes out there to get free redbox rentals. Go to their website for more information!

Instead of going out of town for vacation, check out what is going on in your town or a neighbor town. You may find several things to do for free.

One of the things I do is when I grocery shop I bring coupons of things I would normally purchase. If they are not on sale, I wait till next time to get them. I like to stack my coupon with the sale.

I have to go with couponing!! Use your coupons with the sales, ECB deals, RR deals, etc. Then I use my RR at Jewel in order to keep them rolling. My new favorite hobby is to help other people in my family learn how to do it!

I use a lot of coupons and rarely buy anything that is not on sale and/or that I have a coupon for.

It’s a standard, but reusing everything as much as possible.

Teach teens how to budget and save. When they want brand names clothes,show them they could have 2 or three of the store brand for the same money, but let them choose. For my boys it was a no-brainer…3 pr of off brand jeans vs 1 pair of levis. For my girls it was harder, but eventually they learned that variety was much better than exclusivity. They eventually became second hand shoppers and saved even more. We now give our kids a clothing allowance and I am proud to say they buy just what they need, and save the rest!
Couponing is the same. My kids laughed for awhile….until I started counting out my savings in dollar bills!
BTW….a great way to teach kids a budget is to bring home your monthly salary in $10 bills. Their eyes go wide at how rich we are….and then they watch it “disappear” into gas, electricity,and other bills, (don’t forget savings) and THEN they understand where all the riches go! Sure cuts down on the “can I haves” at the store! My kids opted to lose the cable in exchange for yearly passes to the water park!(A great deal if you buy them in the off season)

Me and some friends alternate going through the sunday ads and then post an email to eachother of what is a good buy and where. That has saved so much time for me..another way I’ve been saving money is to plan out the next two weeks of meals and then I make just one stop to the store. It’s amazing how fast you can save money with minimal effort.

Leave the car at home. We’re a one car household and sometimes my husband has the car for work all day. So we walk it everywhere. This keeps the window-shopping-becoming-real-shopping syndrome at bay, we get a lot of exercise and still are able to stop by the grocery store if we need something. But we don’t overbuy either (because we’d have to lug it all home). It makes for happy kids and happy wallets. (My kids prefer the stroller over a carseat any day.)

I use household items for crafts. My kids and i have a blast trying to figure out what we can make out of various items like the cardboard roll out of a papertowel roll (a rocketship)! It saves us from purchasing craft supplies and it makes us more creative!

I do tons of things, use coupons and shop buy store adsShop at yard sale and thrift store. But the best one yet is to join a freecycle group and get rid of the things you don’t need and ask for things you do need. I have gotten rid of tons of clothes, toys and house hold items and in return I have outfitted my whole bedroom for nothing…not one single penny! What a great way to save money and the enviroment, nothing goes to waste it goes to a fellow freecycler! Thanks for the contest!

Go through your coupons, keep only those that you need, share the rest, even take them to work and place on a table at work for others.

I am started a coupon swap at work and that has gotten me lots of extra coupons … I also sign up for reward cards or punchcards from all of the restaurants we go to — free food is good

The most eye opening tips for me were quite basic. That is what you have to do is get back to the basics. What can we eat at home? What can we do at home? Menus, shopping lists, and a plan! Then you can do the splurge trip every now and then and you will be able to make it even better with your frugal knowledge. Sharing meals, using coupons and going on nights that offer 2 for 1 or kids eat free can stretch that splurge trip.

Thanks for such a great giveaway.

My top tip for this week

Need a cooking and saving money tip? When cooking something in the oven, cook several things at one time while you are using the energy to heat the oven. For example, making a baked potato for dinner? Cook the entire 5-10 pound bag at one time. Wrap them in foil, freeze them, and microwave later (after you have removed the foil). So not only does this save money but time.

We love using a long distance carrier called One Suite (www.onesuite.com). We also have pre-paid cell phone and only use them sparingly. We only have to add money (a minimum of $5/month) through Virgin Mobile. I’m not sure that the plan that we have still exists. It has saved us tons of money.

I make meals that last us more than one day- like spaghetti or a casserole.

I clip all the coupons I can find for items I use and shop once a week. Also, check the end aisles and day-old stuff.

Plan your menus (balanced & nutricious)for a week or two ahead. Shop sales & use coupons only for items you WILL use, stock up on staples (flour, sugar, spices, etc,)& needed non-perishables (t-paper etc) when on sale. Take advantage of frozen veggies, fruits, juice, as well as meats on sale and freeze.
kar625@bellsouth.net

Plan your menus (balanced & nutricious) for a week or two ahead. Shop sales & use coupons only for items you WILL use, stock up on staples (flour, sugar, spices, etc) & needed non-perishables (t-paper, etc) when on sale. Take advantage of frozen veggies, fruits, juices, as well as meats on sale and freeze.
kar625@bellsouth.net

My best tip for saving money is to think twice before buying anything non-food. If we think it over a few minutes before pulling out the money to buy it, we can decide whether an item is truly needed, or another dust-collector. (how many pairs of colored flip flops do we need? lol)

I shop several grocery stores ads to buy what I need but also have coupons for. I try to make it a game to see how well I can save money that week.

I never go to the grocery store without a list and my weekly meals planned. Otherwise I buy on impulse and spend more than I should. Coupons are a necessity also.

restaurant give too much food so i eat half and have a nice lunch the next day.

I shop in the local Thrift Stores for fabric
for sewing and I make my own lingerie. Sewing
my own clothes saves a lot of money.

My biggest tip is not really a tip after all,but a life experience I would like to share. Two years ago my mother-in-law passed away very unexpectedly. Before she passed away I was a big shopper and would get very jealous of her. You see my mother-in-law bought whatever and wherever she wanted. It was so ironic here I was in the middle of her beautiful living room with my father-in-law telling me I could have most anything I wanted. I remember I said that the only thing I really wanted was to hear my mother-in-law’s voice again. You see after her passing so suddenly I realized I didn’t need all of the so called “things” that I really wanted. The need to buy just gradually faded away. I’m now a completely different person. I buy my families clothing at thrift stores. I use coupons,and really try to buy what I only can use. A family tragedy turned into the biggest budget blessing.

My biggest tip is not really a tip after all,but a life experience I would like to share. Two years ago my mother-in-law passed away very unexpectedly. Before she passed away I was a big shopper and would get very jealous of her. You see my mother-in-law bought whatever and wherever she wanted. It was so ironic here I was in the middle of her beautiful living room with my father-in-law telling me I could have most anything I wanted. I remember I said that the only thing I really wanted was to hear my mother-in-law’s voice again. You see after her passing so suddenly I realized I didn’t need all of the so called “things” that I really wanted. The need to buy just gradually faded away. I’m now a completely different person. I buy my families clothing at thrift stores. I use coupons,and really try to buy what I only can use. A family tragedy turned into the biggest budget blessing. Thanks for reading!

Pay yourself first, and only buy the necessities. Nobody really needs things like subscriptions (magazines, netflix, whatever), cable (everything is on the internet nowadays), landlines. We use the envelope system for our spending cash: when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Enjoy reading free books – use the library. Books are expensive, especially fiction that we tend to read just once. Many libraries rent DVD’s too.

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!!! Doubling them with store coupons for places like Walgreens and Target!

Coupons coupons coupons! I always shop the store circular with all my saved up coupons!

I’m afraid it isn’t terribly creative, but I find that one of the best ways to save on groceries is to use coupons and to plan meals and shop for only the things you need.

I try to hang most of my clothes on a drying rack instead of using the dryer. I also wash all my clothes with cold water instead of warm or hot.

I clip coupons. I don’t buy until its on sale. Most of the time I end of getting it for free or almost free. I make a list and then search online for coupons to the items i need to purchase.

Every spring we invest in a year pass to the local zoo/science museum. We save a ton of money and always have something to pull “out of the hat” on any given weekend. It’s also a great way to spend those freezing winter days when your suffering from cabin fever.

One excellent way to save and be energy conscious is to hang clothes after washing to dry, either outside or inside!

I have found that searching for things on EBAY is a great way to save money. I used to spend $5-$6 a tube for the Burt’s Bees that I love…but now I pay less than half that when I need them, on EBAY:)

I grow my hair our for Lock for Love. I save money on hair cuts and help someone else.

If you have certain things you use often or brands you really like, join their website so you can download and print those coupons. They usually aren’t available in the paper or on coupon sites. Also, my son does not have many true, store-bought toys. They are expensive and only interesting for a short time. I buy a few really great toys on sale and then use tubs, boxes, anything that he finds interesting and fun to fill in. He loves his rotation of unusual things to manipulate!

I buy a majority of my clothes at Goodwill. They tend to have a better selection than “real” stores, anyhow…

I am always looking for ways to save money…We cancelled our internet at home and now go to the library. I always use coupons and love it when somehow I can actually make a few cents when you match them with ads. I have recently started menu planning and although a bit overwhelming at first, I am now a true believer, my husband and I can’t believe that we can get out of walmart for less than $100.00. Yeah menu planning.

By dumping change in a bottle & having husband do same was able to turn into coinstar for Amazon e-certificate for birthday, already have a good start for next BD coming up. Don’t watch alot of TV thus don’t see all the things (commercials) I must have.

my husband has been laid off for almost a month
and my least worry is food I have learned to make food last I never use a piece of meat for just one meal anymore I always cut it in half and make two meals out of it usually one is soup its amazing how creative you can get when you have to

I do comparison price shopping for ALL my medications. Calling Walgreen’s, Costco, Sam’s and Wal-Mart always shows one store that is clearly much cheaper. It takes a little time, but it so worth it.

I LOVE after hoiday clearance!! I stock up on this years savings for next years holidays. My 2 1/2 yr old loved getting valentines day stickers/erasers and halloween spider rings in her easter eggs! I also take advantage of toy clearance and save up all year so it isn’t a money issue with birthdays and christmas. We even have a “gift box” full of and items I either found for cheap or didn’t think my kids needed.

Never go grocery shopping hungry! You make too many impulse buys listening to your stomach.

We barter for services with people we know! My husband does computer work for a massage therapist so I get pampered. I help a lady with her embroidery business to get free babysitting. Get creative and don’t be afraid to ask!

We are cuurently looking at everything we do/pay for and rethinking if things are necessary. Do we really need a landline when we have cellphones? Things like that. It is amazing how much you can save.

DON’T BUY ANYTHING THAT’S NOT ON SALE OR CLEARANCE.IF IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT YOU CAN WAIT FOR 2 WEEKS TO SEE IF IT GOES ON SALE.IF IT DOESN’T THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT DOES GO ON SALE.

I have a box I keep in my bathroom closet that I keep all my freebies in. I check this when a gift is needed. A basket full of shampoo, toothpaste, etc would make a great gift.

I set price limits for most items that I purchase. Then, I aim for that price or better. Take toilet paper for an example. My limit is $.25 per roll. I prefer some of the more expensive brands so I try to combine a sale and coupon to arrive at or below $.25 a roll. If you are not picky about the brand you could do even better. My clothing price limit is set by what I would pay at our local Goodwill. So for kids pants/jeans, I will not allow myself to spend more than $2.99. I can often get items new for this price or less by shopping end of season clearance and yard sales.

I am stunned by how much we’ve saved by purchasing a $199.00 freezer. I stock up on frozen foods at BJ’s and we hardly ever need to eat out or pick up take out any more. When Momma can’t get it together to cook – we have “garage take out” and pick something out of the freezer. It has paid for itself several times over this year already!

I think that FREE is a great word during these economic times. My favorite website is Freebie4Mom.com.

Every few months I decide to stay away from the grocery store for an extra month (except for perishables like milk..) It’s amazing how much food you have in the pantry that just doesn’t gt used!

pdxbabysigns at gmail dot com

My top tip was to get rid of cable. We had to do this last year when my husband was laid off, and I thought that it was going to be horrible. However, it has turned out to be so wonderful! I will watch my favorite shows online, so I really do not miss it. I also found that I have so much extra time that I didn’t before since I don’t just sit down for hours watching meaningless shows. I also love that my children are not being subjected to marketing ploys and tricks.

We love to give photo gifts for all gift giving occasions – Christmas, birthdays, Mother’s Day, etc. You can always find some free or cheap photo deal throughout the year and we look for them, stock up, save money and they’re awesome for gifts – everyone loves a personal photo calendar, tile necklace, etc…and little do they know it cost next to nothing!

My husband has a group of friends that share tools. That way no one has to run out to buy tools. We all live within a few miles of each other in the country (not a quick trip to the store) & we always need big ticket items such as chain saws, generators, riding lawnmowers, post hole diggers, rototillers you get the idea. The guys always get together to work on the projects as well, this includes tiling a friends whole house, fences, building sheds etc. It’s great to have a network. This weekend we’re putting vinyl siding on our house (I wish it would stop raining )

I find I save the most when I know what’s in the house. I post a list on my fridge with everything that’s in my freezer, cupboards & fridge. I do my shopping monthly and make menu of about 10-16 meals that I know I can make with the inventory in the house or from the shopping trip. It’s so much easier to look at my list see what I have and make it then to dig through the freezer or buy rxtra things I didn’t know I already had!

Couponing helps a whole lot! My family thinks I’m a coupon queen, but I save hundreds of dollars a month on groceries each month. Bow before the queen!

To save money, we buy a pizza from Sam’s Club or WalMart (with a coupon) instead of ordering out. Just as yummy!

How to save money ~ stay home, cook from scratch, use coupons for just about everything and read great blogs like this one for many more tips! Thanks for the great giveaway!

My best tip is that I do ALL of my shopping on 1 day. Since I am not working its Tuesday but when I did work I did all of my shopping Saturday. I start around 7:45 am. This gives me several days to get organized i.e. to cut out coupons, make lists, menu plan, and ask my son and hubby if they need anything for work/school. Organization is my key to saving the most money.

Take leftovers from dinner the night before to have for lunch at work the next day. Tastes better than fast-food and healthier for you, too!

I save lots (and encourage others to) by using coupons AND shopping at a local grocer on $10 off days. They give $10 any purchase of $50 or more. I search the local sites (STLMOMMY.COM) to match my coupons with the deals and save lots!

no web site but would like to have a chance at this book, with my medical bills it would be a big help.

I purchase most things with cash, but never use change. Instead, I bring home the “pocket change” every day, and put it into a coin-sorting bank. It takes very little effort to save money this way. I have been able to save $65 in the last few months, which I will be using to purchase items for our garden. A little change every day goes a long way!

I have stopped impulse buying. I save my money and I use coupons. I research what I want to purchase or where I (or my family want to go on a trip) for the cheapest fare or hotel prices. I have learned to use my voice and ask “do you have a coupon I can use?” Or ask for that discount, it works 90% of the time.

We save about 10% from my huband’s paycheck every month and save it. I also work hard at clipping & using coupons and matching them to sales for the best savings.

No Cash.. no buying!

I put all my loose change in a jar and use it for vacation play money later on!

I find what’s on sale at Target then I go to the Target coupon generator and find a coupon for the sale items. Then I go to the newspaper coupons database (RedPlum, SmartSource, P&G) and see if I can match up those coupons too. With a sale item, a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon I can quite often get free items that I need like cereal or toothpaste or toilet paper.

coupons, coupons, coupons. store brands, store brands, store brands. cash, cash, cash. no credit cards.

I always buy my groceries on sale and with coupons. Don’t just stick to one store. I always check over the flyers each week. It’s amazing what control you can have over your grocery bill!!

I am amazed at how my leftovers add up. I used to just give the little bits to the dog or add it to the compost. Once I started sticking them in the fridge, whole meals could be planned from just leftovers. Besides making soups from the odds and ends, my kids love it when we have leftover night because after I reheat the food, we eat it right out of the container. No extra dishes here! And the kids think it’s something special. Who needs fine china plates?

My top tip is using coupons wisely. I use hair color and and like pricey hair conditioner and shampoo. Unfortunately I have high end taste on a blue collar budget. I don’t deny myself I wait until it goes on sale. Target clearances a lot of their hair color and good shampoos and conditioners. I combine this with my coupons and get what I want for prices under two dollars. In fact people watch me and ask how I do it and usually end up giving a lesson on saving money.

I love saving money by using coupons and playing the CVS game. I scour blogs and play IWG to win stuff for free also. I find it FUN!

I shop consignment sales and shops…and I consign items that I know I cannot use again!

We save all of our change in a large change jar. When this jar is full, we use it as a special treat for our family. (movies, etc.) The kids know that we can’t do this special treat unless we have the money, so they help by putting their change in the jar, too.

I always save the heels and any stale bread, toast, and either use a hand grater or a food processer to make my own bread crumbs.

I we find free things to do as a family. All you have to do is a little research and you can find all kinds of fun activities. Festivals, free music in the park, playground, geocaching (hide and seek with gps), etc.

I make good use of the library. I get cookbooks, fiction, even DVD’s.

Coupons! Also only shopping the sales and stockpiling things so you don’t have to buy them later. Thank you!

My sister and her two daughters(8yrs and 2 1/2yrs) are living with me husband and our son and daughter(4 and 6 1/2). Money and square footage is tight, so one the nights were neither her or I want to cook, we take our kids to a local restaurant were kids eat free and after 8pm you can order a large 3 item appetizer for $5.00. All six of us can eat(drinking water of course) for under $14.00 with the tip! Thats what I call a cheap meal.

thanks,
Laurie Hancock

I use coupons and store coupons together. I also shop clearence sales, shop thrift stores and I got to auctions. At autions you can get anything you can or can’t imagine. I bought a almost new pressurer cooker along with many other things. I have got craft supplies, clocks, dishes and appliances at very reasonable price.

1) Buy in bulk (Costco/Sam’s Club or good deals at Walmart/Kmart), keep nonperishables in a cooler in the car (water, drinks, chips, snacks, etc.). Get back to basics, your kids/you will live drinking room temperature water/drinks. Prep/cook/eat meals at home before going out and/or pack meals when the family has all day activities/errands.

2) Discipline yourself to buy only what you really need, not what you want/desire/crave. Be true to yourself and avoid getting sucked into the materialistic/shallow world of “keeping up with the Jones” and/or “whoever has the most toys wins” to have designer/name-brand clothing, bags, shoes, etc. In the end, it’s not what you have but who you are and what you have accomplished (career, family, travel/sports experiences, happiness/inner peace, etc.) that defines you and gives full satisfaction.

I don’t know how to save, that’s why I need the book.