Comments on: When It Comes to Saving, “Instead of

By: Myrna Garren

Myrna Garren — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:12:08 +0000

I HATE MESSING WITH COUPONS,

By: cooliojones

cooliojones — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:28:53 +0000

I completely agree. I think people who use these excuses are just lazy, and it’s that laziness that has so many Americans in debt. If you want to change your situation, get off your rear and do something about it!

By: Monroe on a budget

Monroe on a budget — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:26:41 +0000

You can clip coupons while watching TV.
You can also “hire out” the chore to the kids in the family (penny per useful coupon?)!

By: Kelli Myers

Kelli Myers — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:35:09 +0000

Saving is a very important part of life. Saving does not always mean that we cannot spend but that even should be well planned. We should plan our expenditure in such a way so that we have enough fund for an emergency which can strike anytime without notice.

By: nobrainerdeals

nobrainerdeals — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:15:10 +0000

I find the best way to start saving is by asking yourself do I really need this or is this something I really want. Most of the time I realize that it is something that I dont really need and if it is something I really dont need why spend the cash now. Spend it when I really need it or when a super good deal comes along.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:34:30 +0000

Interesting take on rationalizations. Here’s one my family does, “Instead of going to movies, we just rent them, it’s so much cheaper”. BUT, when we don’t get them watched on the first night (new releases), and we hold them over another night or two @ $3/each/night, how much did we really save !

Thanks for the insightful post.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:28:20 +0000

There are so many strategies to use. And, sometimes its finding the right combination for your household. For me it is combining coupons/sales/rebates, with generic for things like canned beans and then stocking up when the generic goes on sale. It also about right usage, meaning the right portion of food or only using what the dishwasher need to clean the dishes not just filling the little detergent holder to the top(about 1T does mine). Its also about values, if I can afford it I will let the next door neighbor boy cut the grass and learn about responsibility and conducting a business. It cost $15 but I didn’t use my gas or wear and tear on my tractor (he set the price not me). It was a good deal for both of us. He was esctatic to earn $10hr at 13yr old (assuming gas/wear&tear expenses). I believe its about living within your means in balance with your values.

By: A Marino

A Marino — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:11:48 +0000

I have done a little bit of everything I’ve read here. I’ve found extra ways to add money to our income. I’ve poured over the grocery sales papers, the CVS and Walgreens sales, and anything else that has a sale that I need. I also clip coupons and have learned not to throw the unused coupons away because many times they can be used down the line on a future sale. I buy generic items but I have also saved as much or more buying brand name items on sale that has a coupon. A few weeks ago I went into CVS and purchased almost $40 in items and came out only paying a few dollars. (Mostly because of tax).

I also save money when I buy taxable items on sale as well. I try to do as many errands as I can in one trip to save on gas.

By: Joe @ SimpleDebtFreeFinance

Joe @ SimpleDebtFreeFinance — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:19:46 +0000

I LOVE coupons!

My wife is a super coupon clipper and routinely saves us $30-50 a week on groceries. To be fair regarding the issue of time, she is a stay at home mom and views part of her job as saving as much as she can and making our money go as far as possible. I think that even if she did have a job outside the home, we would still buy on sale whenever possible… it’s part of our frugal nature.

As for myself, I haven’t bought a CD at full price with my own money in over 3 years. No, I don’t steal the music off the Internet – I use gift cards. And even then I wait until I get a coupon or see a sale to make my gift card go further.

By: Meg from FruWiki

Meg from FruWiki — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:54:56 +0000

I’m definitely a generics shopper, so thanks for the generics mention there! My experience has been the same: unless you’re really playing coupon games and getting lots of free stuff, generics are still cheaper. Plus they’re a lot less hassle and I buy only what I want/need, when I need it and not based on coupon dates. However, on the rare occasions that I see a coupon for something I do use, you better believe that I snatch it up and use it.

As for earning vs. saving, for a lot of people I don’t think the choice is necessarily about their skills. I know a lot of people who choose to live on less to pursue a career that provides them with other benefits. I know a lot of great teachers who could be making a lot more in other careers, but stay anyway, knowing that their pay is capped no matter how hard they work at their particular job.

As for me, I’m focusing hard on both since I’m really at the very start of my career at the awkward place where the pay is slim but where I have lots of potential if I play my cards right. Plus, with me focusing on ways to save, it frees up my husband to focus on earning more which, as clich