What is the silliest thing you have done to save money?
@girlgonefishing (2174)
United States
February 11, 2008 8:50am CST
Today I sit here typing with my frozen hands because I'm too cheap to turn on the heat. It started out at 46 degrees this morning, but it's supposed to warm up to 75 by 4 pm so, I don't want to turn on the heat. I even still have the windows open! I hate closing the windows because then I can't hear the birds singing outside. I can't help but think I'm being silly about not turning on the heat so I can get warm. How much could it actually cost me? I'm here alone and believe me, if my family were here, the heat would be on. Ever since I started trying to earn extra money online, I think of how many clicks or offers I have to do to pay for a certain item so, I think I would have to work for two days to pay for one morning of warmth. What do you do to save money that may be considered silly by others?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
11 Feb 08
I sat here thinking about this and don't think I've ever done anything silly to save money. I am very careful when I do my grocery shopping and most times buy very little so I will have more money for the month. Thankfully I'm not a big eater and will eat peanut butter and jelly for dinner!
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
11 Feb 08
I try to save money on groceries too. Especially since we adopted the boys. They eat a lot! The oldest one ate three huge pieces of fried chicken last night.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Feb 08
you can always throw on another sweater...while i dont think this is necessarily silly, we use a lot of candles at night to save money on hydro, we mostly only shop at thrift stores (although i got 2 brand new pairs of shoes for $3.47 at a well known canadian chain on saturday...i only buy new stuff if they are deeply discounted.
i guess the silliest or smartest is that i buy christmas presents all year long and i start wrapping in oct! (that saves time!!)
2 people like this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
11 Feb 08
I have on tons of clothing but, I can't put a glove on my right hand because my finger is broken and the glove won't fit. LOL I don't think any of the things you are doing are silly. I shop for Christmas year round too!
@ozkid92 (549)
• United States
12 Feb 08
Well I am a pretty frugal person, but when I need to spend I do. Not unless i really need to.
I guess this isn't too silly but probably the most senseless time I didn't spend when I wish I would have was when I was walking around town with some friends and we all wanted to get some KFC. Well I was really hungry but I looked at how much money I had and it wasnt much. I decided I'd rather wait untill we got to walgreenes so I could buy the deoderandt and gum I had been needing all week. So I didnt get anything to eat at KFC, but had a stomach ache for the rest of the day from being so hungry. I ended up throwing up when I got home and got dehydrated. Not fun. So yeah, I dont think I will ever deprive myself of food again just to save some change.
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
12 Feb 08
I know what you mean. My husband is like that. I can go days without food, but he has to eat 5 times a day. Otherwise, he passes out.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
11 Feb 08
I keep my heat low all day then I turn it up just before the Hubby gets home. He thinks we keep it warm all day and once in a while I forget to turn the thermostat up and he is surprised. I think he would be shocked at how we live when he isnt here. I am okay being a bit colder for the sake of not spending the money.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
12 Feb 08
Really trying to save all your cents here at mylot eh?
I remember back in high school I didn't eat lunch just to save money.
I would also walk very long distances rather than take public transportation.
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
12 Feb 08
I did the same thing in high school. I guess I've always been the type to try and save every penny I can.
@chris1314 (784)
•
11 Feb 08
Right, i see where you are coming from about saving money, but thats a bit ott, there are other ways to save without freezing yourself! lol
Try .... Walking instead of driveing or public servies, or buy cheep food which fills you instead of smaller junk food, or something like that.
And they say that if you turn your heating down by a small amount then it reduces the cost a lot. so just try that instead =]
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
12 Feb 08
Thanks for the suggestions chris1314. I never buy junk food unless you want to count the chips I buy for the lunch I pack for my sons. I buy them at the wholesale club in big bags and pack them into smaller sandwich bags. I don't think I would walk to the store because the closest one is 23 miles. LOL
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
11 Feb 08
Oh dear, that really worries me! Frugal living is one thing, but you really need to take care of yourself. A surprising amount of people die every year from complications relating to the cold weather. Please wrap up warm and if you really don't want to put the heating on, at least close the windows. The birds will still be there in the Spring, and you don't want to make yourself ill.
Keep warm! x
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
11 Feb 08
Don't worry. It's actually warmed up to a brisk 65 degrees in here now. I knew if I just waited it would warm up some.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Feb 08
Most everything I do is considered silly by some others! One place I used to work I had 3 special buddies and one of them was the kind of guy who if he dropped a dime, he wouldn't bend over or stoop to pick it up. The other 3 of us would almost bump heads going after even a penny, so this guy thought that was great fun and started tossing coins on the floor once in a while just to see who would get them. Not being entirely stupid, the 3 of us then devised a plan whereby we could easily keep track of who picked up the last coin and enter into a rotation. That was a job where we were obviously hard up for entertainment. What did I do with the pennies? Added them to the "pot" that we all chipped into to buy presents for our not so thrifty friend's first baby.
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
12 Feb 08
Ha! I guess you showed him. Way to go girl. I know I would be picking up the pennies too.
