Discussions

What are your money saving hacks/secrets?  
 
I'm not talking anything in particular, but what do you do to save money little or big.  
 
I just wondering if there is anything I am missing out on to save money.  
I have heard of people putting a brick in their toilet to save on water for example. But I want to hear about anything and everything from groceries, to non necessities!

Nordberg said "This one is a mind hack...     Sometimes you will come across a "great deal" and be tempted to buy something. You need to determine whether you really want the item, or whether you are just tempted by the perceived "deal".     Say the price of the item is $50. Ask yourself, if someone came along right now and offered me $50 or the item, what would I take?     If your answer is that you'd take the money, then you don't really want the item and you keep your $50, which is what you really want.     Source: Lifehacker       edit: Told a manager of mine about this a number of years back, he says he uses it all the time now.     Edited by Nordberg, 2015-06-11 10:01:49"

I have definitely never heard of that one before, I am going to try it next time I come across a deal! Sounds like a great way to save money

I did not have time to shop around much the last few years, and we were finding we had less spending money. It dawned on me I used to watch the flyers and shop at all the stores for the best pricing. So I am beginning to do that more.  
 
One big money saver - and this may sound crazy - I shop at Costco now. It may seem counter productive to drive in to Winnipeg for groceries, but I am finding I am spending far less all around. Yes, I am spending a thousand bucks each time I go (about every six weeks to two months), but if I plan well, I end up saving. I so wish we would get one here - especially with a gas bar.  
 
The produce there is so much fresher it lasts longer. I pay $4 for five large romaine hearts, but those same packs come in threes here and are half the size for the same price. You do have to be careful as some impulse items can add up and some items are not as well priced as loss leaders in our local flyers, but all around I am spending less for the household.  
 
For instance,  
Propane tanks - $8-10 to fill ($20-30 here)  
 
Generic Robax Platinum - $8/bottle ($28-30 here for fewer pills)  
 
Prescriptions - my one migraine med is $60 less there than at all the pharmacies here  
 
Cleaning supplies - I can't even go into how much I save by buying them there - I find huge savings with dishwasher detergents, laundry, all that fun stuff.  
 
Cheese - I can't get over the cost difference.  
 
It takes some planning, but we find it worth it.  

I tried a trick that I saw on Pinterest. Every time I had a $5 bill or a Toonie I would save it. I was never allowed to spend toonies or fivers. In one year I saved a few hundred dollars.  
They're small amounts but they add up.

Let me start off by saying this doesn't work every time but most. What I do when I want to save some money other than tfsa is I put money into my regular savings account. For everyday purchases I always use my chequing account. Since I don't want to pay more in bank fees, this works for me

These are all great ideas so far!

Never buy anything that's not on the list.  
Never eat out.  
Learn to be patient.  
Never worry about keeping up with the Jones.  
Learn to do as much for yourself as possible.  
 
Saving money is discipline.

...and pay with cash. It's too easy to overspend when using debit cards or credit cards since you can't see when the money runs out. When my habits start to get out of hand I go back to cash for awhile. Works everyone. Read Debt free Forever by Gail Vos Oxlade.  
 
Marpet

Good Money saving advise!  
I was wanting to hear more about interesting hacks that I have never heard of (ex. putting a brick in the toilet to save money on your water bill type stuff) lol  
 
I am not in debt and I am very good at saving money, I am just wondering what others do beyond the typical things to save money.

For hand lotions/face creams/etc that come in tubes, when you can no longer get any out by squeezing, cut the flat end off. You can then access the remaining lotion/cream with your fingers or a swab!  
If there is a lot in there still, I keep the cut off portion and fit it back onto the cut end to keep the lotion from drying out before I use it all up.

I've heard of using a timer on your deep freeze, I don't know how healthy that is (for you or the deep freeze). But you only run it for so many hours then it shuts off for so many hours, as long as you don't open it the hours it's off (so overnight) it supposedly stays cold. Plugging all electronics into a power bar and then Unplugging the whole power bar when your not using the electronics (they continue to suck energy even when not in use).

I make my own cleaning products. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are all I buy. So $1 for the peroxide, $4 for the vinegar. Lasts months. Pinterest has lots of recipes.

just like on the show. there is almost always a way to get free stuff. usually if i do pay, it's nowhere near the original price.

Where do you find the coupons slurpeegirl?

I used to have my driveway cleaned in winter, but decided to do it myself as it was getting pretty expensive. Not that hard and saved a few hundred dollars. Same for yard work.  
Also, lots of small jobs you can do yourself - you really don't need a plumber to change a kitchen faucet. If you don't want to tackle it, find a good handyman who can do it for less than half the price.  
Also, buy second hand - just check the e-brandon ads, lots of good quality things. And I have no problem with used clothing swaps with friends, or buying from 2nd hand stores.

CatMan said "I used to have my driveway cleaned in winter, but decided to do it myself as it was getting pretty expensive. Not that hard and saved a few hundred dollars. Same for yard work.   Also, lots of small jobs you can do yourself - you really don't need a plumber to change a kitchen faucet. If you don't want to tackle it, find a good handyman who can do it for less than half the price.   Also, buy second hand - just check the e-brandon ads, lots of good quality things. And I have no problem with used clothing swaps with friends, or buying from 2nd hand stores. "

I second this!  
 
Especially the clothing. My mom works at a second hand store, and the staff get crazy discounts. A quarter for tee shirts, a dollar or two for dresses, skirts, pants, etc. And, much of what she's bought for me is name brand, and still had the price tags on them. She's quite literally saved me hundreds of dollars. And, when I'm tired of my wardrobe, I pack up whatever I don't want and send it back to her to be resold in gently used condition.

In decent weather, definitely a clothesline of some kind. Clothes smell great too. Just a simple length of line and a few clothespins (or hang things out on hangers.  
 
Gardening and growing your own veggies. Some can even be done in containers for a small balcony.  
 
Walking instead of paying a gym for summer exercise (sorry, gyms - I do support you in the winter).  
 
Edited by Kellye, 2015-06-11 16:07:56

I am loving all these ideas!!!!

If you are disciplined and pay off your credit card each month, then this idea might work for you.  
 
Some credit cards will offer a “cash back” incentive. Generally speaking for anything $10.00 or more I put on my credit card. The balance of the “cash back” builds and I get paid out once a year either in a credit to my card or a deposit into my account. I just paid my car insurance and house insurance on the card so that will certainly bump up my “cash back” balance.  
 
I also use my Air Miles card for saving money on groceries. When the balance gets to be 95 reward miles, I can redeem for $10.00 off my grocery purchase. If you have a neighbour or a friend who does not collect Air Miles, you can give them a card to help you boost your balance.  
 
These two ideas have been “big wins” for me.

foxtrot11 said "I did not have time to shop around much the last few years, and we were finding we had less spending money. It dawned on me I used to watch the flyers and shop at all the stores for the best pricing. So I am beginning to do that more.     One big money saver - and this may sound crazy - I shop at Costco now. It may seem counter productive to drive in to Winnipeg for groceries, but I am finding I am spending far less all around. Yes, I am spending a thousand bucks each time I go (about every six weeks to two months), but if I plan well, I end up saving. I so wish we would get one here - especially with a gas bar.     The produce there is so much fresher it lasts longer. I pay $4 for five large romaine hearts, but those same packs come in threes here and are half the size for the same price. You do have to be careful as some impulse items can add up and some items are not as well priced as loss leaders in our local flyers, but all around I am spending less for the household.     For instance,   Propane tanks - $8-10 to fill ($20-30 here)     Generic Robax Platinum - $8/bottle ($28-30 here for fewer pills)     Prescriptions - my one migraine med is $60 less there than at all the pharmacies here     Cleaning supplies - I can't even go into how much I save by buying them there - I find huge savings with dishwasher detergents, laundry, all that fun stuff.     Cheese - I can't get over the cost difference.     It takes some planning, but we find it worth it.   "

What else do you buy there that saves you so much? I agree the produce there can't be compared - my SIL's dad works for a trucking company and was complaining about how picky Costco is about their produce, they will refuse entire shipments.  
 
But I found the last couple of times I was there, the prices were comparable to what I could get at Superstore on sale, as long as I watched my flyers. There's maybe a 1/2 dozen items that's not the case (spaghetti sauce was one of them), but it wasn't worth the hassle of going to Winnipeg to shop.

Getting a piggy bank that you can't ever open? So when you finally have it full you have to smash it to get the money out. That will make sure you won't reach in to grab those spare loonies and twoonies in a pinch.

I only drink it when visiting at the neighbors and they offer.  
I visit every night.  
 
just kidding

wilhelm said "I only drink it when visiting at the neighbors and they offer.   I visit every night.     just kidding "

LMAO!  

Drowsy said "If you are disciplined and pay off your credit card each month, then this idea might work for you.     Some credit cards will offer a “cash back” incentive. Generally speaking for anything $10.00 or more I put on my credit card. The balance of the “cash back” builds and I get paid out once a year either in a credit to my card or a deposit into my account. I just paid my car insurance and house insurance on the card so that will certainly bump up my “cash back” balance.     I also use my Air Miles card for saving money on groceries. When the balance gets to be 95 reward miles, I can redeem for $10.00 off my grocery purchase. If you have a neighbour or a friend who does not collect Air Miles, you can give them a card to help you boost your balance.     These two ideas have been “big wins” for me. "

We do this. Bought a trailer and put the pst on the card along with our 5th wheel hitch and all our normal monthly spending. Got $65 for the month in West Jet dollars. We average about $35 a month in kickbacks. Getting paid to shop, go figure.

Read the book The Richest Man in Babylon. It completely changes your way of thinking about money.

How does one go about getting this set up?

:) said "How does one go about getting this set up? "

Contact the supplier of the utility or goods. Manitoba Hydro, MTS, etc. Not all companies offer this. You have to go through the company not the bank to set this up.  
 
I wish I could pay my taxes with my credit card. That would be a big time win!

Close your curtains to keep the sun out when you out for the day in the summer. Turn your heat or air conditioning down when you are not home.  
 
Sales seem to go in cycles in the grocery stores. If you know an item regularly goes on sale, wait for it and buy enough then to last a while.  
 
Buy meat in bulk and freeze it.  
 
I don't buy pre-packaged snacks for the kids. They take re-fillable water bottle, put your own crackers in a re-useable container etc. I rarely use a ziplok bag. I use containers and drink bottles for their lunches and wash them.  
 
Gardening: put something to fill your pots in the bottom so you don't need as much soil. I have used pine cones from my yard, or plastic container (like a margarine or sour cream container) with the lid on to take up space. Get compost free from the dump.  
 
If you shop at Superstore get a rewards card, and sign up online. I get $20 off every few weeks, they add up fast. I get my gas there too so that helps as well on the points.  
 
Pay cash, you watch more. If you are diligent in watching your spending get a rewards credit card. We have an airmiles card and can get 2 flights a year on our points. We do pay off our balance online weekly to monitor it closely.  
 
Watch sales on cable and internet. We regularly switch between the companies as soon as we come off the current sale. Or ask the company to continue to honor the current price to avoid switching.

First, get a PC debit and credit card. There's no fee and you accumulate points each time you use it and you can get free groceries.  
 
Second, Do you need cable tv? I only get mine in the winter and only get it if they will give me a deal (20 dollars/month for basic for first 6 months)  
 
Third, Do you need a fancy phone? I just have a flip phone for about 25 dollars a month.  
 
To save on hydro, in the summer, I open the windows at night and close them and the blinds in the morning. In the winter, I turn the heat down at night and when I'm away.  
 

Lots and lots of change.  
We never use change to pay for things, always break a new bill. We put all the change in a huge jug and when we are ready for a big purchase or a vacation....we roll it up.  
It is amazing how fast it adds up!