# What are some of your nifty money savers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850 "2017-09-21T02:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/61 "2017-09-22T20:28:18Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > My 2002 Saturn just passed 280,000 miles. Now I know why they went out of business. Their owners never bought a replacement. I bought one for my first Saturn, which was a 1993. I did it when an asshole ran a red light and T-boned it when my wife was driving it. Its awesome body cage let her get away with just some aches and physical therapy - no hospital stay at all. I obviously replaced it with another Saturn. Which I drove until the repairs cost more than the car was worth, 15 years later. Only 150K miles, not a long commute. I love Saturns. However I’d tend to buy new these days, since new cars have more safety features than old used ones. And drive them until they fall apart, of course. And pay cash. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/62 "2017-09-22T20:33:13Z")
We plan our meals for the week based on what is on sale, and make sure we have all the ingredients we need to cook them, and that they produce enough leftovers for lunches. Saves grocery trips and we almost never eat fast food. Plus it saves on groceries. I’m addicted to jigsaw puzzles, but have found thrift stores with excellent collections of them for 99 cents or $2 instead of $15 or more. And when I finish them I donate them back for a tax write-off. Best of all, our daughter works for an airline. We saved a bundle on our last cruise, we can fly on hers for free, and we get big discounts (standby) on most others. When my wife was visiting her father every six weeks or so she could fly coast to coast for under $100 one way. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/63 "2017-09-22T20:38:57Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Stack your dishes in the toilet bowl and wash them each time you flush, and you’ll not only save money by not using an expensive, cumbersome dishwasher, it’ll add extra flavour to your meat dishes! And that’s how brown plate specials were born! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/64 "2017-09-22T21:27:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Haven’t you ever seen anyone tear off a whole super Brawny, to wipe a condensation ring where a cold glass has been sitting, and just throw it away? Don’t even get me started on paper plates, doubled, and then both thrown away if there was one slice of white bread on it. maybe a third plate on top to keep it fresh for the spoiled little darlings. What do you blow your nose on? Unwary chinchillas? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/65 "2017-09-22T22:43:26Z")
TP is one thing I will never scrimp on. Costco bulk packs, and I don’t get the sandpapery ones. I’ll never understand people who use only 3 squares or whatever at a time. I hear tale of something called “skidmarks” but it’s not something I’ve ever encountered as I have basic hygiene. If there’s something on Amazon that I want, but I can wait, I use [camelcamelcamel.com](http://camelcamelcamel.com) to create an alert when the price dips below a certain number. Zenni Optical for sure. I use HSA for medical expenses and FSA for daycare. The savings aren’t immediate, and the latter requires a bit of planning in some cases, but it won’t just lower my taxes but make me eligible for additional tax credits etc. The potential repairs to my car cost more than it’s worth, so I’m looking for a “new” one. I would typically buy one that’s 2-4 years old, though lately it looks like new car incentives even things a bit. There are certain cars (Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado) where it’s not really worth it to buy recent used as they keep their value well. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Car insurance. My state lets me insure _myself_, as a driver, and not my cars. $300/year for 15 cars and a dozen bikes. > > Sweet! Couldn’t live anywhere else. Link to what you’re talking about? I’m pretty sure California has the same minimum requirements (liability, but don’t need collision, comprehensive, etc), but you might be talking about something else. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/66 "2017-09-22T23:51:43Z")
It is wonderful if you’re an expert on cars and have the room and the tools to fix most things. Many people aren’t in that situation. While new cars depreciate quickly, buying a one to two year old car can be an excellent value. It can be quite stressful to deal with an older car that has constant breakdowns, trips to the mechanic when you’re clueless about the technobabble s/he is talking about, trying to explain to work why you’re late once again, and all the other assorted hassles. I can’t imagine trying to save money on personal hygiene. It’s fine to decide to use less expensive soap, shampoo, and toilet paper. But, skimping beyond that sounds ridiculous. It’s fine to bring lunch at work. But, if the whole gang goes out to lunch on Friday afternoon, you’d better be part of that group. You don’t want to be labelled as Not a Team Player. Too many of the popular money saving ideas really aren’t based in the real world. Sure, if you find you’re spending $40 a week on coffee just to get you going in the morning, then you might want to consider waking up a bit earlier and making your own coffee. But, if you’re meeting up with a friend to catch up over a coffee on Saturday morning, then that’s probably not busting your budget. No one is going to be on their deathbed and reflect that they wish they’d spent more time eating Ramen noodles at age 30 while making $45,000. No one wants to be elderly and have problems walking and reminisce about spending their vacation time sitting around in their underwear and reading sci fi rather than taking that trip to Europe which ‘cost too much.’ ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/67 "2017-09-23T00:54:28Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > It is wonderful if you’re an expert on cars and have the room and the tools to fix most things. Many people aren’t in that situation. While new cars depreciate quickly, buying a one to two year old car can be an excellent value. It can be quite stressful to deal with an older car that has constant breakdowns, trips to the mechanic when you’re clueless about the technobabble s/he is talking about, trying to explain to work why you’re late once again, and all the other assorted hassles. I’m not economising by buying pre-loved tyres, either. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/68 "2017-09-23T01:01:42Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > A whole $100 a year? That is almost 28 CENTS A DAY! > > I am just fucking with you but not really. People call me cheap too because I greatly prefer Dollar Tree over Whole Foods but you are trying to outclass me. There is no way I am going to wash my butthole with a shower sprayer every time I need to go. I will just pay the admittedly steep financial penalty or just go in public bathrooms. Bidets are cool if you have the money and space but I am not going to try to improvise one. If I wanted to bring out my inner redneck, I would just go outside and break out the pressure washer. I imagine that what I’d save on paper (napkins, toilet paper, note pads, etc) I’d end up spending on my water bill. Cloth napkins don’t wash themselves. I do enough laundry as it is! And I don’t want to imagine how filthy his tub is. All that fecal matter splashing everywhere…ew. Now, I’m all for reusing stuff (plastic grocery bags are great for trash and small sandwich bags I use for scooping the litterbox), but there’s such a thing as being just plain cheap. (And “dude” is not an insult) ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/69 "2017-09-23T17:15:15Z")
At the bank, select an appropriate monthly fee package, then constantly keep the required balance in your account to avoid paying the monthly fees. It may seem silly to keep 2 grand in an account doing nothing, but when it’s saving you 10 bucks a month, the annual ROI is actually not bad. (Or just use a bank that doesn’t charge any fees, such as Tangerine in Canada.) Always pay off all your credit cards to avoid paying interest. Set reminders in your favourite calendar to pay the credit card balance on time, every month. Just in case you forget, also program your bank account to pay at least the minimum on each credit card, every month. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/70 "2017-09-23T18:50:25Z")
I’m a consultant and dress/appearance is important; I have to dress business casual so I have a pretty full closet. I never buy anything that’s not on clearance. I have a full length cashmere overcoat I got from Men’s warehouse for $70 as opposed to $950 they wanted retail. I’ve literally saved thousands. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/71 "2017-09-23T23:15:37Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > If you don’t use a bidet, you’ll still eventually be cleaning off the poo in your shower or tub. Why would there be poop in my shower?! A bidet or your tub method would not save me money. The cost of running the pump for the well more would definitely outweigh the cost of two people’s worth of toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/72 "2017-09-23T23:18:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I am a thrift store/flea market/garage sale/library sale, free market junkie. We throw out too much reusable stuff, and for a while I was someone who really needed free and cheap clothes and books. > > I own a jacket custom made for Jim Steinman with the logo from his failed musical Whistle Down the Wind embroidered on the back. It was $25 at the Annual Broadway Flea Market! I really like thrift stores, my daughter and husband were just at a few today. She got me a nice lightweight sweater. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/73 "2017-09-24T03:10:55Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > I really like thrift stores, my daughter and husband were just at a few today. She got me a nice lightweight sweater. I just got a new looking electric space heater at one for $10. Half price sale, list price was a steep $20. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/74 "2017-09-24T03:32:31Z")
I am rigorous about checking the Cashback sites for money back or coupons on purchases. I also buy everything with a Cashback credit card which I pay off monthly. When I know I want to purchase something, I set an acceptable price for the item and then wait until I find the item at or very close to that price. I buy in bulk when it results in a saving, splitting the purchase with my son and DIL. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/75 "2017-09-24T04:07:02Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > What do you blow your nose on? Unwary chinchillas? We save hundreds a year by using weasels instead of chinchillas. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/76 "2017-09-24T04:46:31Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > What do you blow your nose on? Unwary chinchillas? I typically go years between a health condition in which nose-blowing is frequent. In between, for occasional use, my mother taught me to carry a handkerchief in my back pocked. You can find them in museums. Pronounced hanker-chiff. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/77 "2017-09-24T04:56:08Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Why would there be poop in my shower?! > > A bidet or your tub method would not save me money. The cost of running the pump for the well more would definitely outweigh the cost of two people’s worth of toilet paper. If you clean the poo off yourself while in the shower, you’d be “cleaning off the poo in your shower”, wouldn’t you? In that case, clean off the accumulated poo in your frugally weekly shower. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/78 "2017-09-24T05:07:05Z")
You only shower once a week? :eek: > [@](#): > > If you clean the poo off yourself while in the shower, you’d be “cleaning off the poo in your shower”, wouldn’t you? Nope, you wouldn’t. Fecal matter would would accumulate all over the bottom of your tub. You should be scrubbing your tub regularly. (Whether you rinse poop off your butt in there or not) And lucky you not getting sick frequently. You obviously don’t have allergies. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/79 "2017-09-24T08:16:22Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I typically go years between a health condition in which nose-blowing is frequent. In between, for occasional use, my mother taught me to carry a handkerchief in my back pocked. You can find them in museums. Pronounced hanker-chiff. Yes, I remember them from my childhood. After a couple of blows they became this nasty abrasive foetid dank soggy ball of snot and misery that dwelt and festered in your pocket all day. Tissues better. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850/80 "2017-09-24T13:02:33Z")
Regarding buying older cars: This might work if you know a lot about fixing cars, but can get pretty expensive if you have to take your car to the mechanic a lot. I used to save money by buying shit-boxes 10+ years old for $2k or less, then driving them around until they got a problem not worth fixing, then junking them. I had a friend that could do small jobs on cars, so I could keep them going for awhile. However, as a result I always had an unreliable car, and more often than not I was driving around with a bad inspection sticker. Then I decided to upgrade a little. I had planned on spending about $5k on a seven or eight year old car. It wasn’t enough! Any decent car was $6k-8k and up (even private party). And I wasn’t looking at anything fancy, Accords and Maximas and the like. Why would I spend that much money on a car that I’m going to have to start shelling out money for repairs soon? I decided to go new, using the $5k as a down payment on a Mazda 3. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made: reliable, worry-free, no money sunk on repairs (after 3 and a half years, I have a small one coming up). I’m not sure how long I will keep this one, but I’ll probably stick to buying new for now on. It might make sense to buy used if you’re talking about an expensive $60k+ pick-up truck or SUV, where the repair costs don’t scale the same with a more economical $25k car. But then my money saving tip is don’t buy a big hulking vehicle you don’t need! Stick to an economical mid-size sedan (or smaller). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-your-nifty-money-savers/796850.md?page=5)