One of mine, that always puts my spending into check, is to calculate how many hours I'd have to work in order to 'earn' the item. So if I see a
dress for $50 that I love I think "Is this worth "x" hours at work?" Usually it ends up being a big 'no'. Also, are there any
useful Apps for the iPhone or Touch you can recommend for personal budgeting? I wanted to try that Mint.com site, but it's not compatible for Canadians!
boooooo.
What are your little money-saving techniques?
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 Rumple Teaser |
What are your little money-saving techniques? |
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Posts: 679 (09/21/2009 12:54 PM) |
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Jeannine8 |
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Posts: 7566 (09/21/2009 1:00 PM) |
I do that too. I always let myself splurge a little bit on something so I feel like I'm enjoying my money
 but for everything else when shopping, i
always think 'i had to work x amount of hours to earn this money, is it worth it?' and it's a no a lot of the time.
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jeepchic20 |
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Posts: 16092 (09/21/2009 1:03 PM) |
I take out cash to live on so I don't use my debit card for extra charges. I just use my charges for bills and gas.
I also put aside a small bit of cash for just anything. I also write down a list of things I want to buy (clothes, shoes, other un-nessecities) for the coming month so instead of just buying on impulse I know what I'm looking for and check off things once I get them. If they aren't on the list, I don't buy them (or I use the 'just anything' money). It actually works well for me. |
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nerdnik |
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Posts: 16224 (09/21/2009 1:16 PM) |
When I'm tempted to buy something, I don't. Instead, I sit on it for a week. If it's something I've been thinking about every day since I first
wanted to buy it, I go back and buy it. Usually, though, they're just fleeting impulses.
I also make it a rule to not buy something unless I love it. |
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MissDivaDoll |
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Posts: 20634 (09/21/2009 1:18 PM) JJB Smartass '09
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I have the HomeBudget app on my Ipod that I use. I like it.
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 Hollywood Whore 2005 |
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Posts: 6408 (09/21/2009 1:20 PM) |
I try to pay with cash now, instead of always taking out my card.
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coboardgirl |
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Posts: 7625 (09/21/2009 1:21 PM) |
I direct deposit a certain amount of my paycheck into savings, a certain amount into a joint checking and a certain amount into my private checking every
month. I never spend more on what I want personally than what's in my private checking. If I want something big, I have to save up in my private checking
for it until I have enough.
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NancyOttawa |
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Posts: 7798 (09/21/2009 1:25 PM) |
When I'm in the mood to shop, I will walk around the store and try things on and carry them with me while I continue to shop, then at the last minute put
most of them back and just leave with one or 2 items. That way, in some weird way, I get the short enjoyment of thinking all the things were mine!
But I
also cut up all my credit cards when I bought my condo so that I wouldn't impulse buy so if I do want something, I have to budget for it.
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nerdnik |
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Posts: 16225 (09/21/2009 1:25 PM) |
Hollywood Whore 2005 wrote:I'm not good at keeping track of my cash purchases. I guess if I kept a diary it'd be fine, but I know myself -- I wouldn't do that! I charge almost everything to my CC. I keep a running tally in my head of what I've charged + I earn $20-$30 worth of gift cards per month because, like I said, I charge almost everything. |
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Jeannine8 |
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Posts: 7569 (09/21/2009 1:28 PM) |
jeepchic20 wrote:I do all this and it works out for me. Whenever I get paid I take out some cash for anything spending, and that's the money I use for random things instead of using my card for everything. So when that money's out I try not to use anymore on things that aren't necessary. I also make lists of things I need or want to buy (shoes or whatever) so I know what i'm getting and not just shopping aimlessly. |
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NancyOttawa |
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Posts: 7799 (09/21/2009 1:30 PM) |
nerdnik wrote: I do a lot of online banking so when you make a purchase with your debit card, it is automatically deducted so you always have a current balance. The only thing you have to watch is if you write cheques and don't calculate that in until they are cashed. But I pay everything online so it's not a problem for me personally. |
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Rrrrrosie |
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Posts: 14611 (09/21/2009 1:34 PM) |
NancyOttawa wrote:I do the same thing.  Or sometimes I buy it and return it which I hate to do.
I tried leaving my credit card at home but one time I went to the store and found this absolutely fantastic item that I just HAD to have and I didn't have any way of buying it. They wouldn't hold it for me so I had to hide it, run home, and go back all the while wondering if someone found it. It was intense. 
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NancyOttawa |
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Posts: 7801 (09/21/2009 1:35 PM) |
Rrrrrosie wrote: OMG that's too cute. That's why I cut mine up!! 
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insomniachollie |
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Posts: 41417 (09/21/2009 2:45 PM) Best Fan Fic Writer '08 |
Little things... I stopped buying so many magazines and got the couple I can't live without on subscription so that I got the discount and it was only a
one off payment (plus, freebie gift).
I quit stopping for Starbucks or whatever when I go out. If it's an item that I don't have to try on, then I hunt for it online. It make price comparison easier - and if they don't do free delivery then at least I know which store it's cheapest in when I next go to the mall. If I love something but don't have to have it *this* second, I wait until end of season sales. Of course, there's always the risk that there'll be none left in your size when you do that
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MandsLB8 |
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Posts: 4962 (09/21/2009 2:48 PM) |
I never use cash. I always use my debit card because I've noticed if I get a dollar and change, it doesn't go right in my wallet- I just toss it in my
purse and who knows where it goes after that.
I feel like I save at least $20 a week doing that.
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elled211 |
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Posts: 555 (09/21/2009 2:49 PM) |
A big one now... I am slow and just learned how to make coffee at home, so now I rarely stop at Starbucks, etc... saving like $4 every few days!
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JellyRoll2 |
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Posts: 17153 (09/21/2009 3:13 PM) |
I pay myself first. I have it set up with my bank that as soon as my paycheck hits, they take out a certain amout to put into my savings, some goes into my
holiday account, some into my vacation account. And I just live off what's in my checking account. I generally pretend my savings account doesn't
exist. I use a credit union for my main account but as it doesn't have ATMs all over the place, I have a separate checking account at a major bank that I
use simply for when I need to withdraw money and am not near my main bank (and sometimes even when I am). So that saves me from having to pay fees at ATMs.
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Rumple Teaser |
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Posts: 689 (09/21/2009 4:47 PM) |
JellyRoll2 wrote: what's the difference between a vacation account and a holiday account?? |
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AlfTheGreat |
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Posts: 31632 (09/21/2009 4:55 PM) |
Don't laugh - I use a lot of coupons. They come in quite handy. If it's something non-essential, like shoes, I think about if I would really wear/use
it enough to be worth the price. Usually, it isn't. I comparison shop a lot, and I seldom buy anything at full price.
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JellyRoll2 |
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Posts: 17162 (09/21/2009 5:06 PM) |
Rumple Teaser wrote:Holiday in this instance means the holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas). It's money that I get in early October that is set aside all year to, in essence go towards gifts for the holidays. If I'm not shopping, it's an extra $1000+ that just goes into my savings account. I get the vacation money in May and that's what I can use to pay for a summer vacation or as spending money on said vacation. Again, if no vacation in the summer or it's later in the year, it's just extra money in the account. But during the year I know that there's money set aside just for those things and it doesn't have to come out of my checking or saving accounts. |
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SusieMC |
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Posts: 1200 (09/21/2009 5:08 PM) |
My check is direct deposited, the bulk goes into checking and the bills are paid immediately....$75 goes into savings...which I pretend doesn't exist.
Doing this allowed me to put new windows in my condo with very little credit usage on my part.
I'm on to saving for new floors for the bathroom/kitchen now. I also carry very little cash on me. |
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