I utilize many money saving tips that have become so much a part of my daily routine that when people ask me what I do to save money I often 'forget' about mentioning them.
One of my all time favorite money saving tips is when I'm engrossed in surfing the web, I oftentimes remember to go to http://walmart.triaddigital.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples.aspx
and sign up to have Wallie World send me any free samples that I would like to have mailed to me. I know I've received enough shampoo and conditioner to wash my hair for about a month without spending a dime. I have received small boxes of cereal, fiber supplement, deodorants, whiteners for teeth, lotions, creams, etc. It's a great way to get a surprise in the mail and it saves me money. I also have found many products that I really like above and beyond others.
Another tip I have used is to dilute shampoo and conditioner. I bought two 64 ounce plastic containers that I pour a whole 16 - 32 ounces of shampoo or conditioner into, then I add the same amount of water. I get twice as much shampoo/conditioner for the same price. I know many of you will wonder if the shampoo will really clean your hair or if the conditioner will really condition your hair when it's diluted like this, but I've found that I like it better than the 'full strength.' I've gotten used to the conditioner to the point that whenever I use condition right out of the bottle undiluted, it makes my hair greasy looking. The undiluted shampoo makes my hair feel dry and brittle. So, I really think it's helped the appearance of my hair, too.
I love to knit and crochet. I have tried this year to think way ahead of the Christmas season to craft a few of my gifts. I asked my sister-in-law if my niece would like a homemade knitted letterman sweater. She said she thought my niece would absolutely love to have one. She's very much into the school spirit thing. So, with my trusty knitting machine, about $6.00 worth of yarn and 6 hours of my time, I have a wonderful gift for my niece at Christmas-time.
I have made some darling dish clothes that are a bit more special than a plain old dish cloth. The url to some of the patterns is: krisknit.blogspot.com. I used the free ones. I've made the flower (spring) one and the heart (Valentine) one for members of my family for their birthdays. Now, I have requests from other members of my family making requests for them. They cost about $1 in yarn and about 3 hours of my time.
I also do not drive very far for bargain gas prices. Let me explain why. I have calculated that if a gas station is 10 miles away and has gas 5 cents cheaper than the one right in town...it actually costs more to drive those 10 miles to get gas than to just fill up at the more expensive station. For example, it takes 18 gallons of gas to fill my van. If I am totally on empty (which I rarely am) then it would cost me 90 cents more to fill my tank at the more expensive station. If I get 20 miles per gallon with my van (I actually get just a wee bit more than that), then it would cost me 1 gallon of gas to get to the gas station further away and then home again. So, in my area that would be $3.12. So, I don't want to spend $3.12 to save 90 cents.
Yes, you read that right. Gas is $3.12 per gallon in my area. Of course, there was a gas station in the city of Syracuse that was selling gas for $2.99 per gallon, but I wouldn't drive the 25 miles to get there, because I would probably use more gas than the savings would be to drive there for the cheaper price.
I also use the above method to figure out if it's worth my time and money to drive 10 miles up the road to the little city and buy groceries. If chicken is 10 cents cheaper per pound in the little city, I might just go to the little town grocer that is 1/2 mile from my house to buy that chicken.
These are just some of the automatic money saving tips I use on a regular basis. I hope some of these may help you.
5 comments:
This was a great blog. I get all the free Walmart stuff too. My daughter is expecting some feminine products soon too. I have never tried diluting the shampoos and conditioners. I will try it though because we go through loads with 7 heads being washed.
I was reading up on a site that says all you need is baking soda to wash your hair..not sure about that one though. I have been having much luck with the homemade deodorant that you mentioned a while back. :o)
ALso,I have used mayo before a few times as a conditioner too, once on my wedding night! LOL
With the chicken you mentioned, we are like that with milk. Walmart is cheaper but about 17 miles away.
Sometimes we just buy locally. I am really looking forward to getting some milk goats next year...
How exciting to get milk goats! I would probably make them a pet, too, besides taking their milk! Have you ever had goat's milk? Can't say as I've ever had it. Let me know what it tastes like.
Yes, My Dh's coworker milks his 2 goats. He gets a gallon each day per goat. We all liked it and it is the only milk that is totally digestable enough to give to newborns..Too expensive in the stores though. I see it right next to the coffee creamers in the stores.
I'm glad you discovered it was cheaper to buy the more expensive gas than to drive to the cheaper station. My husband has been trying to convince his frugal brother of that for years now.
Gas was $2.90 here the day you wrote this, by the way.
Love your blog stat on the sidebar. It's nice to know we're feeding each other.
Buying more expensive gas to save money is something my hubby is having a problem with. I keep giving him the example that I posted here, but he just doesn't see it. He says he would rather buy from the less expensive gas station, because it encourages all around prices to come down. ???
But, he has agreed to not drive to our little city to get gas without having another errand to run. That has helped!
I love the Feedjit feature. The only thing I don't like is that it keeps showing my hits on my own blog. I keep clicking on "ignore my browser", but it keeps coming up. It even shows up as another hit when I move from one page to another within my blog.
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