Lets do tips to help save money!

[AussieSharon]

Almost everything I buy online including ebay is through www.mrrebates.com

It's a legit website advertised last year on my local news that gives you a % back on all your purcahses.

I add that with www.naughtycodes.com (don't let the name fool you it's ok)
which lists TONS of online stores and every coupon deal they have.

So go through Mrrebates and use the coupon code from naughycodes to get extra savings.

You can also send a link to your friends through Mrrebates and get extra savings. I'd be happy to send emails to anyone who wants them

 

[AussieSharon]

Some other tips....

Close the vents and doors to rooms not being used to help lower heating bills.

Turn the thermostat down a degree or two and put on a sweater, extra blanket on the bed.

Check with your phone, cable company to make sure you're getting the lowest rates. We cut back on our satelite service because we didn't watch half the channels.

Instead of going out have a family fun night with fun finger foods and board games.

Cook extra and reheat leftovers for the next night. I can make 3 meals out of a Cornish X.

Do all laundry in cold water and use less detergent, you really don't need the amount they suggest.

Take a grocery list, clip coupons and stock up on sale items you use.

Put all change in a jar. It adds up quick

Share a meal when eating out. A lot of restaurants will split a meal. My hubby and I do that, it's more than enough to eat and cuts down on the bill. Also instead of going out for dinner, go out for a weekend lunch at the same restaurants. Lunch menus are cheaper!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I don't have time to read through the previous posts at this time but I'm adding a quick reply now. This is a topic near & dear to my heart, I figure this is my occupation as a homeschooling homemaker, I earn money by saving money for my household.

I don't know if anyone else has said this, but I save money on my powdered laundry detergent by buying it in the big bulk containers ... and here's the big tip ... read the label to find out the correct recommended amount per load! The container will say it gives you 200 loads, but you won't get that many if you use the scoop they include.

The scoops are large enough to hold 5X the amont of recommended powder. But if you look closely at them, and read the label, you'll find that you need only fill the scoop to an almost indeciperable mark on the scoop. "Level 1 for normal loads, Level 2 for heavy loads"... something like that.

So if you're filling the scoop to the top, or heaping over, you're using way too much powder, wasting 4X the container, and getting only a fifth of the number of loads you should be getting. And I once saw a report that said you really don't need as much product as is usually recommended, try using less and see if your clothes come out as clean.

When I open a new container of powder, usually less than twice a year, I read the label & examine the scoop. Often I'll measure what the recommended amount is and then replace the scoop with an extra measuring cup that size (like 1/4 cup measure). I get sets of cheap measuring cups at the dollar store and use them as scoops in other things like sugar & flour & etc.

Check it out for yourself & see if what I've said is true for you!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

One other idea, see if you can find a reputable auction house in your area. We have bought almost every piece of furniture in our house from auctions, along with about half of our appliances. My wife buys lots of detergent, food & paper products at auction. Most of the time we can get furniture, tools & vintage items (Like our wood stoves) for around 10% of buying at the store and a lot of it was new too! Food, clothes and such we get for around half of store prices.
We also barter a lot from neighbors & watch the local shopper/trader type papers. It's amazing what you can get for free or nearly free if you just look for it and are willing to work to find it. I've got a building full of junk I don't need that I wish someone would haul off. lol
We also home can from our garden, gather nuts & wild foods, hunt & fish a bit, and by bulk when we can. It all adds up.
And yes, I am an auctioneer... so know for sure it's a great way to save money.

 

[EliteTempleton]

Quote:
This looks great and I'm no animal diet expert by any means, but I'm not sure why there is a need to add extra meat beyond the ground turkey, wouldn't they be getting their share of protein from the turkey and eggs already? Plus the scrap meat pieces with the gristle and fat left over from your meals anyway?

What do you do with the frozen bags? Thaw a bag out daily or just feed to them frozen?

I've thought about making our own dog food, especially with the pet food scare last year and this looks like a decent way to do it. Though rather then buying ground turkey you might be able to save even more by grinding your own meat scraps, you could mix bad cuts of meat from hunting leftovers, hearts, gizzards, tongues, etc, all the things that are eatable but we often choose not to as a culture, grind it up and mix it in with the rest and the dog will be happy to eat it all.

 

[EliteTempleton]

Quote:
I spoke to my DH about this. He was a plumber and said I should write and tell people to be careful, be sure to have a carbon monoxide detecter in your home. This could be very dangerous, gas dryers put out carbon monoxide which of course you know is deadly We just want to be sure everyone is safe.

Another thing is that that is very moist air, which is fine if the humidity is not already high(like if you have wood heat) but if you do this be sure to watch for any mold growth, etc.

 

[EliteTempleton]

Quote:
I agree with the cable/satellite comment. We only have rabbit ears, I paid $30 for one that picks up both digital and the old signal with a signal booster. Which is WAY cheaper than a monthly bill from a TV service. Plus if there is a game that is only on the NFL channel or something like that you can always spend that time at the local bar and use the money you are saving to buy a glass of your favorite brew or more if you have a Designated Driver or heck, the savings is very high it easily covers a cab/bus ride to and fro.

The cell phone thing... we took a different route. We have cell phones and use SkypeOut as a home number/voice mail service. This way we can check voice mail at any PC but not have to give out our cell phone # to everybody. When our cell phone contract is up I intend to review the mins used and see if its worth it for me to have a plan or if I should just get one of those pre-paid ones.

 

[Sebrightmom]

Here are some ways I save money. I know a few has already been said.
*clip coupons (I go to Krogers because they double up at $.50)
*buy things on sale
*froze and canned things from my garden.
*make my own laundry detergent
* reuse plastic baggies
*wash only in cold water
*outdoor wood stove
*Milk goat ( that I will use for yogurt and cheese)
and of course my chickens for eggs
*make almost everything from scratch.(it taste better plus better for you)
We also plan on getting meat chickens for next spring.

I also lowed the satellite and cell phone plans.

I am still looking for more ways to save money. Every little bit helps.

 

[kodiakchicken]

BettyRWe have very poor soil here...most people ranch here because about the only thing you can grow here is grass. But we do hay bail gardening and it works very well. I don't know if you have access to hay where you are but a simple wooden frame with some plastic sheeting over it, some hay and a little heat and you could have a nice garden.

Here on the Gulf Coast we get winter on a Wednesday some time in December or January then Spring comes at the end of February. We can pretty much grow food all year long here with the hay bales.

Check out these sites and see if you think this is something you could do.

http://www.co.clay.mn.us/Depts/Extensio/ExAPHydr.htm

http://www.hvtd.com/?q=node/565

[b :

I don't use pesticides so I have a little bug activity but I also have a healthy population of Anole lizards living in my garden and they keep the insects down to a minimum. [/b]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008001small.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008003small.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008004small.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008006small.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008009small.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/BettyR_139/Fallgarden2008011small.jpg

Betty,

That's a great idea! Straw bales here are VERY expensive ($19.00/bale) but I think I could come up with something similar to make it work. Thanks!​

 

[Sebrightmom]

That's a great idea! Straw bales here are VERY expensive ($19.00/bale) but I think I could come up with something similar to make it work. Thanks!

Straw here is only $3 or $4 dollars at the most. I would hate to pay that much. I use straw a lot in the animals stalls.