[RKBA Democrat]

Another list of tips. There are a few that I disagree with such as the tips for dealing with credit cards ( I suggest using a pair of scissors). And a $4 latte is not a "must have" when you can make your own faster and cheaper than at Starbucks.

Anything to add to the list?

[The FIGHTIN Illini]

already do 75% of these identified ‘savers’

[Deo volente]

102: STAY OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET!

I decided to get my feet wet and put a little money back into an Energy mutual fund that had been down 56% this year.
Big mistake. It’s down another 12% in one week and looks like it could go much lower. They’re talking oil at $30/barrel before long.

I’ve read serious analyses that predict the Dow dropping to 3000 or lower in the next year or two.

[Squantos]

Excellent !

As well know who profits from every dollar you spend !

Shop Conservative is a double edged effort !

[Dems_R_Losers]

Applebee's, Denny's, and other chains have Kids Eat Free nights. Can be a godsend once in a while if you have kids.

Shop for gifts at local pawn shops.

Stop paying for premium movie channels on cable. Use the $1 DVD rental machines at the grocery stores.

Get on a fixed monthly payment plan with your power company. Saves money and helps with budgeting each month.

Install dimmer switches on all your lights and switch to the CFL bulbs where you can. These two steps will save you more on electricity than anything else you can do. Our electrician told us about this and he was right.

Clip coupons but only for items you really use regularly, like cereal. Use coupon websites like CouponMom to get more coupons. Use those grocery store savings club cards too.

Anything sold in sealed containers can be bought in quantity when it is on sale. I buy the big plastic cans of Folger's Coffee when they are on sale for $5.99. Their Black Silk coffee is great.

Go to yard sales and consignment sales for everything for small children. They don't know from labels and new/used. I almost never bought anything new for my kids when they were small. I bought my daughter a used dollhouse for $10 that she still plays with today. My kids' favorite thing was getting a $1 grab bag with a whole bunch of old Happy Meal toys. These are great to collect and pull out on long car and plane trips to keep your little ones occupied.

Get your kids to participate in local consignment sales and let them keep the profit. They learn about recycling and prioritizing their stuff, and they are usually more frugal with "their own money" than they are with allowances that they don't earn. Keeps the volume of clutter down too.

Bring your own candy to the movies and don't buy drinks. Walgreen's often sells movie-size boxes of candy for $1.

If you like a glass of wine with dinner, buy the new wines in a box. You get the equivalent of 3-4 bottles of wine for $15-20. Stock up when they go on sale. You get a nice wine for less than $1 a glass. "Black Box" and "FishEye" are two of my favorites.

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, their frozen pot stickers are amazingly cheap and good. A bag costs about $2.50 and can feed 4 as an entree or 6-8 as an appetizer. My kids love them. I serve them with homemade fried rice.

Serve one meatless meal each week. I make veggie lasagna with the pre-cooked noodles, cheese ravioli, potato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. Once in a while I make breakfast for dinner with pancakes and bacon.

Buy a cheap waffle iron and make your own waffles, and freeze the extra. Never buy frozen waffles or pancakes.

Make your own Rice Krispie bars for snacks, kids' lunches, etc.

[showme_the_Glory]

Just air up your tires first, then all these other things will fall into place..........I have now returned control of your keyboard

[Vaduz]

Shower with a friend female friend that is no Spam and beans before hand.

[diamond6]

Wow, this is a great list. Heck .. it all adds up.

[Mamzelle]

Except that #9 cancels out #8.

[gdzla]

I’ve told my kids for years that the best way to save money is not to spend it.

[informavoracious]

I think it’s better to tack on a few bucks to your monthly payment than have a bi-weekly mortgage. That way you are not locked in. You pay extra when you can. Skip it when you have unexpected expenses. There also are often “service fees” associated with paying bi-weekly.

[sergeantdave]

1. Save on Ajax and get a cat to lick your dog clean.

2. Hop on your left to foot to save the shoe leather on your right.

3. Buy fire and flood insurance for only the best rooms in your house.

4. Convince your wife you need a bigger bass boat to provide more seafood.

5. Hunt for meat at the local zoo.

6. Get out of bed only on warm, sunny days to cut down heating costs.

[Tarheel]

The usefulness of this tip depends on where on live. We are in the Piedmont of NC, growing zone 7a. In the fall,(plant the seeds about early September) I grow leafy greens in a large pot(16 inch diameter) in a protected spot on my deck. Leafy greens prefer sunny but cooler weather but not freezing temps. The homegrown stuff sure beats store bought and there is little waste. This fall I have a mixture of spinach, leaf lettuce, beet greens and red leaf lettuce. A full pot planted as described has provided us with four to six side salads per week for the last month.

The temp is really supposed to drop tonight so I will cover the pot well with an old beach towel.

[diamond6]

This is a great post!!!

[Amelia]

There are a few that I disagree with such as the tips for dealing with credit cards ( I suggest using a pair of scissors).

Use of credit cards depends on how disciplined you are and the terms of the card.

If there is no interest charge when you pay in full each month, and IF you are sure you can do that, you can make money using a rewards card.

The credit card companies make money because most people don't pay off their balances each month.

[Gondring]

First of all, it's about giving up cultural prejudices. Many "middle-class" Americans live lifestyles well into the luxury range, and to talk about "surviving" socialism economically is an insult to many who have it far worse off. Socialism has killed tens of millions of innocent people, and simply lowering our thermostat and wearing a sweater isn't a fight for survival.

But for those who are ready to face the harsh world, here are a few pointers, some of which I've employed...

• Dry your razor blade after use. Oxidation between uses can dull your razor blade more than the act of shaving, and leaving water on the blade will accelerate the process.
• Reload ammo...but note that surplus can often be cheaper
• Consider other factors in menu selection. Eating rat and dog seems to raise the body temperature, so they can be good choices for winter meals (but in moderation, as too much rat is claimed to cause nosebleeds and may raise blood pressure). (Another advantage is that it's "exotic," and exotic cuisine is often priced with a premium.) Insects are plentiful in the summer and are a good source of protein. (Do a Google search for recipes...I'm not a good enough cook to give advice to others.)
• Put more perishible items back into the refrigerator, rather than on the door, so they are closer to the cooling elements and remain fresh longer.
• Cancel cable TV, or keeping just basic for Internet access (e.g., Skype)
• Use half the flavor pack for each package of ramen noodles. Use the other half for your next meal of rice, to give it some flavor. Red (kidney) beans can be added to provide variety, but also protein and fiber (and lots more).
• Avoid having children. They are one of the biggest drains on the wallet out there, and it can take many years to recoup any investment.
• Inspect packages of meat before purchase. Select the less-lean grades and try to get those with the most fat, as it has more calories per unit weight so you get a better deal.
• Add borax to each wash load. You can often use cheaper detergent if borax is added, and get the same result as more expensive detergents (though I use it even with Tide).
• When weather permits, don't wear clothing unless needed (e.g., for personal protection against cooking grease, for going out, etc.) Fewer washes means lower costs, both for electricity and lower wear.

Well, that's just a few...many more out there, once we stop getting caught up on what is a "must have."

And lastly, while the point I make up above is serious, I don't really mind the catch title of "surviving socialism"...as long as we don't forget the blessings we do have.

[Amendment10]

The people can nuke Obama's socialism if they simply do the following. The people could quit sitting on their hands and demand that the feds respect the limited powers expressly delegated to the federal government by the Constitution that they hypocritically sworn to defend, particularly the following statute.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution (emphasis added) in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

In fact, if the people were to wake up to widespread constitution-ignoring corruption in the federal government and insist that the feds comply with the above statute, constitutionally clueless Obama would be a lame duck president before he even takes the oath of office.

I'm actually glad that God gave Obama the Oval Office. This is because the people will be forced to reconnect with the Constitution and its history in order to protect themselves from Socialist Obama's misguided pen.

[metmom]

If you feel obligated to eat out, go out for lunch. The prices are usually better. You don’t necessarily get quite as much food; for example, the meal may not come with dessert, but restaurants usually give you so much food to begin with, that it’s not a big deal.

[onedoug]

ping

[Plywactwo Glowa]

1. We have done the following after reading a suggestion in our local newspaper: Place a bucket under the shower spray to collect the water that would otherwise drain while you wait for warm water. We use the water obtained this way for our rain barrel and to water indoor plants. You’d be surprised by how much water there is.

2. Consider a bread machine. Very little work to create great bread at less cost.

[auboy]

Savings bump!