What do you save the most money on?

@AmbiePam (93926)
United States
March 29, 2007 3:11pm CST
Everything costs more now days - gas, groceries, the movies... So what is it that you have found ways to save the most on? Do you save the most on groceries using coupons? Do you earn cash back on a very lucratrive credit card offer? If you can call anything on a credit card lucrative. What are you really good about saving on?
7 people like this
17 responses
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Hi There! I have two credit cards that I earn cash back on. If I find coupons on products that I use I take advantage of the coupons for groceries. I also buy the store brand if my family likes the taste of it as well. It is awful how much everything has gone up, especially gas prices. I buy all my groceries at Wal-Mart because that is the place I have found the best prices for a family of four.
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Hello to you! I have found Walmart to be the cheapest place to buy groceries as well. They also carry a wide selection, so that doesn't hurt. It's nice when I can find a store brand of something I like, for example cereal, but for the most part I like the brand names. That may be why I don't buy too much because the brand names would drive me into the poor house! Often times, Walmart's gas is even the cheapest! I have a credit card where I earn cash back. I just got it, and it is building slowly, but something is better than nothing! : )
2 people like this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
30 Mar 07
That is how I feel about the gas at Wal-Mart too. I try to get it as inexpensive as possible. My husband doesn't like Wal-Mart because it isn't unionized and he is a strong believer in the union. So I'm the one buys the majority of our groceries. If I let him get them he would go somewhere else and pay a lot more than I am willing to pay.
1 person likes this
@CatNPK (461)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I try to save in every way possible. I go to different grocery stores etc depending on sales, and because some stores have certain items cheap while other stores give better deals on something else. I love to grow my own food as much as I can, even if it means I pay $20 for a community plot (it pays itself back!). This year I have my own yard, which will be great. I drive as little as possible, which is easy since my job is a 15 minute walk from my house. I use every rewards program that has any relevance to what I do. Being an avid coffee drinker, putting down a bit of money on an espresso machine ($40 from Mr Coffee) and a coffee grinder has really paid off since I don't purchase nearly as many $2 Americano's now.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I too look for every rewards program I can find. It has saved me hundreds of dollars over a period of years. Have you searched for free coffee on the web? I think you might get a lot of coffee without buying it because I see free coffee offered a lot. Barnes and Noble used to give a free bag to everyone who made an online order. I don't drink coffee, so a lot of my friends were excited to get some free Starbucks coffee! : )
2 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
30 Mar 07
I guess I can say that I'm lucky since I'm financially well off. But I still try to set aside a budget for each month. I have two little girls of my own and I prefer to leave a certain amount of money for them to use in the future. Most of my spending went to groceries, market and gas. I seldom watch movie because I thought its not practical anymore since there are CD and DVD's available readily. Credit card are usually reserved for emergency use only. I still pay cash if I have enough with me. :)
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
That's good that you are well off financially. And because you are wise with your money, I imagine you will stay that way. Circumstances have a lot to do with our financial situations, but whatever the situation we would all do well to stay vigilant with how we use our money. The last two months I refused to use my credit card because it was harder to pay it off than it usually had been. I had been in the process of moving and there were certain expenses. That keeps me in check because I like to only use my credit card for gas.
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
29 Mar 07
I have to admid that I am not much of a saver. If I need something I just go to the nearest shop that sells it and I buy what I have to. Not that i always have money for everything that I want. I do not love shopping so I do not shop around for good prices. I think I save the most on food. I do not like cooking so I just buy the least I can to make the easiest I can. Not always healthy but at least I eat.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Very true. Even if a person can only save here and there, it still helps.
2 people like this
@syain1972 (1011)
• Singapore
30 Mar 07
We try to save money by buying groceries in bulk and also using the coupons for savings. On top of that when we do charge our cards, to collect points to exchange for shopping vouchers, we tend to pay the bank in full when the bill arrives. We do not believe in paying part of the amount charged as the bank will charge interest. We prefer to eat at home rather than outside as it costs more to eat out....
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I pay my credit card in full as well. The interest is crazy, and if you don't read the fine print - even if you DO read the fine print - the credit card company can hike up your interests rate. My dad likes to shop at Sam's Club because he can buy things like toilet paper and paper towels in bulk, which does save money. My mom wishes she could buy her groceries there, but usually the grocery items come in a bigger size than she would use considering the expiration dates.
• United States
30 Mar 07
We belong to NetFlix http://www.netflix.com/ and we can watch 3 movies each weekend. Than we always have a weekly menu, so we can strech our food for 2 or 3 meals. That started when our 4 sons were home. Now that Thom cut his work hours, we need every cent we can get
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
If families regularly watch movies I imagine programs like Netflix do save a LOT of money. Plus, it's always good to have something to do together as a family. I'm sorry things are tight at your house. I wish you nothing but the best!
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 Mar 07
You can save a lot by buying cheaper food and I have found that I prefer second hand clothes. They are often softer and if it is a good quality, they look great even if they are used. A woman who liked to save for travelling said once: the money I donĀ“t use is my biggest income.
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I really like that saying.
1 person likes this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
30 Mar 07
This is so true, price for everything is just going up. It is so hard to save. I don't use coupons for saving, but I go to different grocery stroe as they are having sale in different item. Also I try to buy some household things under mail in rebate programe. And sometime I buy things totally free after mail in rebate. But that is very little saving.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
31 Mar 07
Every little bit helps!
• United States
31 Mar 07
I am not good at saving money at all. My husband and I want to get a rewards credit card to earn cash back or flyer miles. I do buy my daughter all used clothes. She is 6 months old so she only wears the clothes I buy her for a few months and then she is too big for them. I decided why pay a lot of money on clothes that she is only going to wear for a little while and they get so dirty now that she is learning how to eat baby food.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
31 Mar 07
True. And good point.
@Kaeli72 (1229)
• United States
1 Apr 07
I buy store brand of nearly everything...but spaghetti sauces. I have to have my Paul Newman's sauces.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
1 Apr 07
Everyone has their own vice. : )
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I save the most money on books. I am a bibliophiliac! I love books and I love to read! I save money by going to the library. I also belong to two web sites that swap books and I shop for used books on the web, in used books stores and at flea markets.
2 people like this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
1 Apr 07
I save a lot of money on clothes. I never buy anything unless it's been discounted. Usually if you wait a while, you can find what you want for at least half price. Also, I wear my clothes until they're worn out.
1 person likes this
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
1 Apr 07
we have really been trying to cut corners...ive saved alot of money on groceries by using the angelfood program and by buying the store brand items instead of big names...also we stopped buying soda unless its cheap wal-mart brand..ive been cooking alot more things from scratch they are much cheaper better for you and taste better i think...we turned our hot water heater down and kept the heat at 55 this winter that saved alot on the electric bill...if you have any tips please pass them along...
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
1 Apr 07
I have heard good things about Angel Food. As for tips, have you tried online coupon sites like www.eversave.com? There are quite a few sites that can be total lifesavers.
@9w2whi (108)
• Malaysia
1 Apr 07
i save on shopping to although i'm a girl, i'm not shopping lovers i buy what is needed, not what i need but most of my money goes to my family so i open fix deposit to secure the money
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93926)
• United States
1 Apr 07
A lot of women sacrifice for their families. That's a noble thing.
• Philippines
30 Mar 07
for my studies, and for starbucks! lol!
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
1 Apr 07
I find that if I buy generic brand stuff at the supermarket andn differentiate between needs and wants I can save probably 25/30% off my grocery bill. This is where I make most of my savings. Also, by not buying takeaway at all I save a whole lot more.
• China
1 Apr 07
I think i save the money on the shopping.Because i do not like shopping really.Maybe u donot believe as a girl.It is true.I just buy what i need.