How do you yourself cut or get rid of expenses

[tantricia44]

I've started going to the laundromat to wash my clothes, altho I have a washer at home. I turn off the lights when I'm not in the room and when no one's home, I turn down the heat/

How does going to the Laundromat help to cut costs? You'd b using gas to get there & don't you have to pay to was clothes?

[davidh121]

My household is mandated to cut on water usage already, but we're also notorious coupon cutters. I also like to stack cashback as much as I can, especially when looking online and looking through circulars. Of course I wonder if I do this as I see this as more of a game too.

[marciaenglish]

I do a lot of couponing and looking for sales whenever I need something!  I find every penny counts!   

[sak4kat]

I know I've mentioned this in other threads but we've cut out trips to the laundromat.  I've only gone a hand full of times since September 2012.  I asked for a wonder washer for my birthday.  (Found on amazon) every day I do about 5 loads of laundry.  I hang jeans over the shower to dry.  Hang bulk sweatshirts from hangers in there too.  The rest of the laundry is hung around my children's room from there dresser drawers.  Since most of the the clothes is theirs they put it away when it's dry.  I'm saving on gas to the laundromat, wear and tear on an already old Ford, Bout $20 a week in what I would spend at the laundromat in quarters.  I even use less detergent and fabric softner.  Baking soda and vinegar work great for removing odors or germs and those 2 items are covered on food stamps. 

[kingozzy]

I ttry not to eat out so much, and instead of going out both nights on a weekend I try to only go out once

[pmagalei]

I think carpooling is one way. Avoid eating out at restaurants. Turn off all outside lights before you go to bed. reset your house temperature to 67 or 68 degrees. Save money if you build a new fireplace(goal this year). Limit your laundry days to 2 days a week. I don't use any credit cards except a debit card that has a visa on it. Did I miss anything?

[sfreeman8]

I paid off all credit cards (5) in 5 years (hubby had open heart surgery and couldn't work for quite a while, so we had no choice but to use them), and kept 1 for emergencies only. It's never taken out of the drawer.

Hubby bought an outside wood furnace (used, of course) and we use that for our main source of heat. He gets free wood to use from people who lose trees to storms or don't want the trees in their yard anymore. This is hooked up to our electric water heater, too, so in the winter, we don't have that expense. We also have a coal and wood stove for temps that go below 15 degrees.

I have taken a look at our insurance policies and canceled some, saving around $100 a month.

I have Comcast (which I really don't like) and took their bundle of phone, internet, and cable. I would love to give it up because they just raised prices again and it's now up to $170 a month and this is for their "starter" TV package which is only one step above the basic channels...but reception in our area is lousy without cable and satellite dishes go "out" too often. We don't watch the network stations, only cable like A&E, History, C-Span 1,2,3, etc. so it's tough. Also, our TV is close to 15 years old so it doesn't have all those "new fangled" thingies that we can use Netflix, Hulu, or whoever for movies and programming.

I was thinking about getting either Magic Jack or Ooma for land line, but haven't found anyone who use either one. Dont' want to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

I shop mainly for 10/$10 items in the stores, use coupons, and stock up on non-food items when on sale.  We usually buy a half steer or pig every year. Cost up front is hard to cough up but we aren't a slave to changing prices in the stores and it is cheaper in the long run. There is a butcher shop a couple miles away that also wraps and freezes the meats. When eggs are on sale, I freeze them and we also have a small garden for tomatoes, beans, peppers, cukes, and herbs.

[countrygirl12]

I've started going to the laundromat to wash my clothes, altho I have a washer at home.

How exactly is that saving you money?

I don't know what it costs now but if it is .75 per load of clothes I am sure you spend more than that on electric and water at home.  Although I wouldn't want to cart the clothes back and forth.

[aflyingmonkey]

...   We don't watch the network stations, only cable like A&E, History, C-Span 1,2,3, etc. so it's tough. Also, our TV is close to 15 years old so it doesn't have all those "new fangled" thingies that we can use Netflix, Hulu, or whoever for movies and programming.     ....

You can use a Roku on those analog TVs.   I bought a Roku 1 for one of my analogs to test out, it costs $53 with tax.  I am able to stream Netflix, Hulu, etc...   PLUS get get time warner cable through their app & HBO etc...

I'm going to order a Roku 2 today for my other analog tv, it is supposed to be the same, but a faster processor.  So I am going to try it out to see if there is any difference.

Buy a Roku for your "old" television, they stream the internet to those old televisions.   

[sfreeman8]

....
[/quote]


You can use a Roku on those analog TVs.   I bought a Roku 1 for one of my analogs to test out, it costs $53 with tax.  I am able to stream Netflix, Hulu, etc...   PLUS get get time warner cable through their app & HBO etc...

I'm going to order a Roku 2 today for my other analog tv, it is supposed to be the same, but a faster processor.  So I am going to try it out to see if there is any difference.

Buy a Roku for your "old" television, they stream the internet to those old televisions.   
[/quote]

Didn't know that. THANK YOU! I'll check into it. Gosh, when you get to a certain age, it seems like you can't figure out anything electronically. I was always the one to buy and hook up the "latest and greatest" but no more. I can't even fix my own computer anymore. 

[cwillard1]

Thank yall for some of these great ideas.  I am doing some of these things to cut expenses but, I have learned alot more.  This is good information since they told us they are cutting benefits at work and no raises for at least 2 years.  I am already working less hours.  This information really helps. 

[Freebase]

Thank yall for some of these great ideas.  I am doing some of these things to cut expenses but, I have learned alot more.  This is good information since they told us they are cutting benefits at work and no raises for at least 2 years.  I am already working less hours.  This information really helps. 

your very much welcome (i knew this thread i created will be helpful & informative) though i do have idears of some ways to cut & get rid of expenses like make an magnetic electric generator (lots of plains that are online on how to build one & it cost less then solor panels) & a water gathering system & riding a electric moped during spring to fall for single uses.

[missplaymate618]

Not eating out as much and couponing is some of the things we are doing to save because we are wanting to purchase a bigger home for our family.

[Dynamite2013]

I pay as much as I can until that bill is paid in full. I also don't have credit cards so if I don't have the cash I don't want it.  But if I need it I try to save enough to get it. It doesn't take much if you really plan just put away 20 or 30 dollars a week and you can be surprise at the outcome. What you have saved will be your backup to future expenses.

[hawkeye3210]

I've started going to the laundromat to wash my clothes, altho I have a washer at home.

How exactly is that saving you money?

I don't know what it costs now but if it is .75 per load of clothes I am sure you spend more than that on electric and water at home.  Although I wouldn't want to cart the clothes back and forth.

The water and electric is not going to cost more than using a laundromat, not to mention the gas you will use to travel.