Penny Pinchers!
Tips, Hints, Tricks To Save Money
© 2009 Bruce David
In no particular order, the following are a compilation of useful hints and tricks for saving money. I’ll be adding to this page frequently, so check back often. Also, if you have a resource to share or a useful tip, please send it to me at: bedavid@yahoo.com
Put ‘bargain’ in the subject line. If I use your suggestion, I will send you a website where you can download the files from my PoorMan II series free of charge!
Useful Resources for Saving Money or Getting Assistance
http://www.gogoshopper.com/resources/frugal-living-resources.html has some great information and resources on living frugally and the site has some great coupons that would make a nice addition to your page if you are interested. -- Thanks Sarah!
Get Group Discounts-Even without the group. Check these sites for daily updates:
www.8Coupons.com
www.couponcabin.com
Money Saving Coupon Sites!
http://www.discountcode.net
http://www.ecouponcodes.com
http://www.keepcash.com
Thanks Cindy for these suggestions!
Consumer advocates from various governmental agencies (fed & state)
Education grants, energy assistance and more.
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal
Sara Noels’ Frugal Village-lots of cooking/storage tips
http://www.frugalvillage.com/
Current Frugal Tips
- Refrigerators are usually the most energy hungry appliance in the home. If your fridge is more than 10 years old, might be wise to replace it, View the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy which offers ratings. www.acee.org
- More than 200,000 Americans traveled abroad for healthcare last year. Cost of care abroad is usually a fraction of US costs. Example: A heart bypass here costs an average of $125,000 while in New Zealand, it is only $38,000. Dental work in Mexico is dramatically cheaper than Arizona (7 miles west of Yuma in Los Algodones, there are 350 practicing dentists who speak English and charge 70% less)…500,000 Americans visited India for treatment; 410,000 went to Singapore. Most foreign doctors are trained here. The average cost for full health insurance in Costa Rica is about $95 a month for two adults (again, US trained doctors). Resources: www.medretreat.com, www.medicalnomad.com, www.patientswithoutborders.us
- Share large files easily & free with…use Drop.io or YouSendit.com
- Free office tools – get free invoicing at billingboss.com, custom software and tools from Google Pack, pack.google.com, free customer relation management software at freecrm.com or www.getdoorbell.com
- Find out what auto repairs really cost at: www.RepairPal.com
- Turn snacks into money. Raise money for your school or favorite charity by recycling. Sign up for free at TerraCycle.net, and you can collect yogurt cups, candy wrappers, cookie packages and more & use their pre-paid postage to send them in.
- Find more free software (reliable) at: CNET – www.download.cnet.com
- Win $50,000 savings bond for your child – Got any young scholars at home in grades 5-8? Visit YoungScientistChallenge.com – it will show them how to create a short video varied science concepts for a chance to win one of 51 regional prizes, one of 10 trips to NYC & the chance to compete in the finals for the $50K. Deadline is 5/27/2010
- Keep flashlights ready to use…batteries, when stored in your flashlight will drain so store them with one battery turned around so it doesn’t make contact.
- Stuck without a D battery? Put a C battery in the slot and add 3-5 quarters to mimic the size of a D.
- Make a mini greenhouse by saving the clear plastic containers with attached lids you get from the salad bar or supermarket to serve as a hothouse for seeds you start indoors. Fill halfway with potting soil & add seeds and water. Put the lid down and set in a sunny windowsill until the seeds begin to sprout.
Free Stuff From EZ Freebies
EZ Freebies offers thousands of freebies for the whole family. We offer the Web's largest roundup of free stuff and we add new free items daily. Be sure to check with us throughout the day, as we're constantly adding new freebies here.
Scholarship Resources-Often Hidden in Plain Sight
College costs have skyrocketed and are headed up again making even a State college tuition bill onerous. Federal scholarship opportunities also appear to be headed south. There are many hidden opportunities & here are a few to get you started.
Plenty of scholarships for women; especially over age 40 or for those going into the medical or veterinary fields.
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With a database of 1.3 million, this site is useful:
Consider national service with Teach for America or Americorp
Each offers help with education costs.
www.americorps.gov
Check with any groups you or your family belong to such as the Elks, Rotary, Kiwanis and professional groups like the Culinary Inst. Of America – even bowlers at:
Cut your cleaning bills with these everyday products!
Coca Cola (or Pepsi) is a terrific chrome cleaner (I use it my car) but it’s also good for getting stains out from clothes; just pour it on the stain and toss into the wash.
You can also sparkle your toilet by pouring a can into it and letting it sit for an hour or so and then flush.
Use cooking spray to:
Clean soap scum. Spray it on your shower door, wait 5-minutes and wash it off with soapy water. Also, spray your dog food bowl prior to adding food. Makes clean up a snap and helps keep your pet’s coat shiny and reduces shedding.
Use fabric sheets to:
Keep mosquitoes at bay; just tie a sheet around your belt…the chemicals keep bugs away. If you have a pan with burnt on food, place a sheet and some water into it and lit it sit overnight; then clean as normal. The sheets are also good for wiping tables, blinds or TV screen – removes dust and prevents it from resettling.
Online
A Better Way to Bank
Many no longer trust their bank and a solid alternative is a non-profit credit union. Credit Unions usually offer better service and lower fees. To find one in your area, go tto:
www.culookup.com
Bulk Supplies for the Home Economist
Get bulk yeast, canning lids, pectin, baking powder and more - Helen is a peach & terrific customer service.
www.mulberrylanefarm.com
Fix it Yourself
Save money on small appliance repairs and other DIY projects by getting the information you need free at the following resources – you’ll find how-to videos and other useful stuff at:
www.homedepot.com
www.monkeysee.com
Grow your own tobacco
While many applaud government price hikes on tobacco products,
They would not be singing so loudly if they also began taxing the blazes out of fast food or other items you use. It’s perfectly legal to grow your own tobacco
For personal consumption and the resources below show how & where to obtain seed.
http://www.taoherbfarm.com/herbs/resources/tobacgrow.htm
http://www.tobaccoseed.ca/
http://www.thetobaccoseed.com/
How to Make Vinegar
Vinegar has been made at home for hundreds of years. The flavor of vinegar can enhance many of the foods we eat. Making vinegar at home is not difficult. Any fruit or vegetable that contains enough sugar to be fermented can be turned into vinegar. Some examples are peaches, honey, grapes, plums, apples, oranges, cherries and blueberries. The most important thing is that the alcohol content of the product that will be turned into vinegar is about 6% alcohol by volume. If you have a 12% alcohol wine, first dilute it with 50% water so that the alcohol content is approximately 6% by volume.
The process of making vinegar is the same whether you are going to make 1 gallon or 100 gallons. You will need the following:
1) A clean container or cask with a hole for air (for example, a glass jug, crock, food grade pail, vinegar cask or vinegar barrel). You do not want to close the container but keep it lightly covered. This allows for air transfer and keeps bugs out.
2) Vinegar culture (Mother)
3) Product to be converted to vinegar (cider, red wine, white wine, beer, fruit wine etc..)
Process
Step One- Add vinegar culture to vinegar cask
Step Two- Add 6% by alcohol product to be converted to cask. Allow for 50% excess volume in cask.
Step Three- Cover cask with cheese- cloth, cotton ball, dish- towel etc. Do not seal cask.
Step Four- Allow vinegar cask to rest in a warm place. If you can reach a temperature of 80 – 90 deg F the speed at which the vinegar is produced will be greatly increased.
Your product will be converted into vinegar in about 1 to 6 months depending upon temperature. Once conversion is complete, you may begin drawing- off some of the vinegar for consumption and then replacing that amount with new wine. The mother will grow and this will allow for more vinegar for consumption and an increased capacity for making more vinegar.
Typically we selll Natural Mother of Vinegar for Red Wine Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar, Cider Vinegar and Malt Vinegar. Instructions are included with each culture but are given below:
The instructions included with the culture are:
Use a clean and sanitized one-gallon jar or bottle. Add to this culture 16 oz of wine and 8 oz of water. Air is needed for the conversion of alcohol to vinegar so plug the opening lightly with cotton or cover with cloth to allow air to enter. Keep in 80-90 deg F. temperatures. Complete conversion is possible in 2-3 months. Use the finished vinegar as a culture to make more vinegar using the same proportions.
http://www.grapeandgranary.com/vinegar.html
check their site for more information and resources.
SWAPS
*Turn gift cards into cash – www.swapagift.com or www.plasticjungle.com
*Trade duplicate/unwanted gifts for new ones at:
www.swapathome.com
*Sell your old sporting goods at: www.playitagainsports.com
*Instead of standing in long store lines to return unwanted gifts; host your own gift exchange get togethers.
*Most folks have become coupon clippers and many grocery stores now offer double coupon days (some offer extra discounts for seniors; check with your favorite store) so you might consider buying a 2nd Sunday newspaper to grab the extra coupons. Some supermarkets offer unadvertised specials on their web page so be sure to check it out. Also try this site for bargains – www.shortcuts.com
THE COUPON QUEENS!
Check out Julie Parrishs' and Heidi Kennedy's site for finding bargains...Julie uses coupons to save an average of $11,000 annually. It's all about the deals. A 100,000 member community!
www.hotcouponworld.com
Qualify for rebates up to $2500 When you shop at eBay, Overstock.com, Sears and more...
www.search.live.com/cashback
Struggling to pay for medications?
Call the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Assn. At 800-762-4636 and ask for their free Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs.
Get a free drug discount card by joining Rx Savings Plus – 877-673-3688 or visit:
www.rxsavingplus.com
Get Free TV & Movies
Tune in instantly to your favorite show (900 selections & growing) by going to:
www.hulu.com
Household Hints
*Save money by shopping the frozen food aisle vs. fresh…fruits and vegetables in the freezer are often better than fresh as fresh food loses its nutritional value quickly, while frozen foods often cost 50% less and is preserved at the height of freshness.
*Dump your cable bill…the new Digital TV converter boxes do bring you a better picture and more channels. Even basic cable is expensive and features too much unwanted garbage. Don’t forget to get your $40 coupon off the converter box at: www.DTV2009.gov
*The next time you want to deep fry something (meat, vegetables, fruit, etc.) try this batter mix.
Mix 1 cup of beer, 1 cup of flour, and two teaspoons of oil. Add salt and pepper if desired. Stir until smooth, cover, and let the mixture stand for three hours before using.
Then dip bite sized food, even seafood, and cook as usual. Mighty tasty.
*Free garden fertilizer…some may find this weird, but if you dilute 10 parts water to 1 part of urine and spray it on your garden, it works great. Save the water you use from boiling vegetables or eggs. When cool, it’s great for houseplants.
Also, use 1-2 tsp. of Magnesium flakes (Epsom salt) to a 1/2 gal of water and use this to water your vegetables...beats high priced commercial fertilizers.
*Homemade ice cream/frozen desert – sugar free. Beat together in a blender 5 dates (suggested but try other fruit too), ½ cup of cashews, 2 tablespoons of carob powder or cocoa mix, 1-1/2 tsp. Of vanilla, ¾ cups of water and a pinch of salt. Then slowly add 4-5 ripe bananas. When completely mixed, pour into a container and store in your freezer or eat immediately like soft serve ice cream.
*Fix a scratched CD with toothpaste. Put a dab on your finger, rub it from the middle outward, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. Toothpaste also makes a good cleaner for chrome.
*When those tiny screws in eyeglasses won’t stay put, remove them and put a dab of superglue or shellac on the. Re-insert them, tighten them up and that should work.
Save money; about $1400 annually, by drinking tap water vs. bottled water.
You can always buy a filter for your tap water if needed which still saves a ton of
Bucks…nearly 40% of bottled water, including Disani and Aquafina is merely repackaged tap water.
Entertainment savings big time simply by using your local library.
As a member you can rent DVDs and videos without charge and of course, reading books from the library is usually more beneficial than watching TV.
--Thanks to Margaret M of MI for these tips.
Unusual Ways to Make Extra Cash
--Become an egg or sperm donor! In nearly every city you will find clinics which purchase eggs and/or sperm. Women we know have earned an extra $5000 for this relatively painless procedure. On average, you must be between 18 and 34 (applies to men donating sperm also), in good health, no sexual diseases and you will be asked about your family medical history.
Look in your local Yellow Pages, ask your family doctor, do an internet search or go to:
www.spermcenter.com
--Volunteer for medical research. Where we live, there are tons of ads in the Sunday newspaper and on the radio from researchers seeking subjects for a wide variety of medical studies…all of them pay a stipend and require a medical examination.
--Become a plasma or blood donor. Especially popular near universities and military bases, you can earn about $200 a month.
Save Money on Your Pet Needs
Owning a pet(s) can be expensive. Here are a few ways to save some cash.
*Sign up for Walgreens’ Prescription Savings Club. (www.walgreens.com)
A discount medication plan that allows you to register your pet as a dependent and get $4 antibiotics and discounts on other commonly prescribed medications.
*Replace store bought treats with human treats such as apples, carrots, turkey and other pet safe foods. Cheaper and more nutritious. Of course, avoid unsafe foods including chocolate, grapes, onions, raisins, and most nuts. Check with your vet.
*Vaccinate every three years instead of annually. Your pet should still get an annual checkup, but yearly shots are rarely needed. Ask you vet. NOTE: Most often pet insurance is not worth the price. It pays to check your premium, coverage & what your vet would charge.
---Thanks to Yvonne
***NOTE: On our PoorMan II CD, there is a complete section on making your own, healthful pet food at home.
Ease your mortgage worries...
Get a lower interest rate via the FHA. If you qualify, you can convert your adjustable rate to a fixed rate...
www.fha.com
www.hud.gov
To learn if you're eligible for any federal or state or private health programs, try these sites!
www.benefitscheckup.org
Discounted dental plans and/or dental schools which offer savings - go to:
www.nidcr.nih.gov
www.dentalplans.com
