Posted on 12/31/2017 12:51:08 PM PST by PJ-Comix
Okay, it is the last day of the year. So what did you do in 2017 that saved you money? I am all ears and will be taking notes. In addition, I will lead off with my own moves to save money.
My biggest single money savings move of 2017 was getting Amazon Fire Stick for our 2 TVs. At the same time I cut out our cable TV. Net savings for the year over $600. This comes from saving $80 per month by cutting Comcast Cable TV. Actually I am really saving $55 per month because along with my Amazon Prime, I opted for $25 per month for Sling TV so net yearly savings of $600. One interesting thing is that I thought Comcast would go for a long sales pitch to keep me with their cable TV when they switched me to their account executive but I was pleasantly surprised when he gave me online TV streaming for no additional cost so I ONLY pay for Internet.
Okay, what else? Well, a lot of you know I am a heavy duty couponer so I figure I saved at least $2000 this past year via coupons. I come to that figure because I save at least $40 per week. Oh, and for those of you who don't think the time and effort are worth it, GOOD NEWS! You only need to use a couple of coupon sites to find all the deals you need. For me it is PublixSavings101.com because I shop a lot at Publix and the Mother Ship of all coupon web sites... KRAZY COUPON LADY. As to clipping coupons, things have changed. Most of the coupons I use now you can print right off the web or get electronically.
Another trick that I use when buying stuff online is to go thru the entire checkout process except for the payment. I just leave the item sitting in my shopping cart. Guess what? Almost always the company sends you an email within days offering a discount from what you would have paid.
In 2018 I will be looking for saving money on travel deals. I have heard the best time for booking cruises is within a couple of weeks when the cruise actually begins so they can fill unbooked cabins.
Hubs is binging on that one too.
My daughter and I are binging on Poldark on Masterpiece Theatre.
She loooooves Aiden Turner as Ross Poldark.
(The only man she’s ever seen that looks great with long hair)
Still driving my paid for Dodge Caravan van, has 205,000 miles on it. It looks good a nd runs good. Instead of buying “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans” for $120 per pair, found and love $22 per pair Levis Signature Stretch jeans. I buy Philosophy lotion and shower gel as well as Purity cleanser in large bottles from QVC, cuts the price in half. Replaced a lot of household light bulbs wth LED versions, electric bill cut by 25 percent.
Great post!
TexasGator wrote: “Sometimes you can get extras right up to the last day.”
Check your private messages.
TexasGator wrote: “It was a joke.”
Thought so but budgeting is how you pay for things without debt. Debt is the killer.
Right you are, bogo items are great! But when i crave a cheesecake, i buy it and pay the price at publix.
“voting for trump.”
Ditto. Hubby just just did year-end financials to prepare for taxes, and seeing in black and white how PDJT’s “president-ing” affected our investments was jaw dropping.
That was 2016.
quitting work. It costs money to work!
Paid my property tax early and will save almost $700 in income tax in April. The county posted the 2018 tax due last week and I paid it immediately instead of waiting until February and July. Most years that would just shuffle the year I deduct it, but with the increase in the standard deduction next year this might be the last time I itemize for a while.
“eliminate coffee all together for big savings and better for you”
Eliminate coffee? The horror! Also, the benefits of coffee seem to be very positive, especially in the area of Alzheimer’s.
our last cruise in november 2017, carnival dropped price from $299 3 months ago to $209 last minute deal for 5 day cruise on ship elation. we could jump on it because cruise terminal in jaxonville is 40 min ride for us, and a good neighbor dropped us off, so no parking fees either.
I’m lucky in that I have all of these food stores within a 10 minute drive: Aldi, Acme, Shoprite, Giant, Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, Produce Junction, and a slew of specialty food shops. I get the weekly flyers and stock up on the best sales.
Meal planning is also a big money saver. If 85% ground beef is on sale for $1.99/lb. I’ll buy 5 pounds and make/freeze chili and vegetable soup, Italian and Swedish meatballs, and a nice meatloaf.
Check your messages.
No more new cars. I am driving my 16 Y.O. Camry into the ground. Cars are not status. They are money sucks. Buy a Honda or Toyota and watch the years go by.
entropy12 wrote: “our last cruise in november 2017, carnival dropped price from $299 3 months ago to $209 last minute deal for 5 day cruise on ship elation. we could jump on it because cruise terminal in jaxonville is 40 min ride for us, and a good neighbor dropped us off, so no parking fees either.”
Wonderful, our closest cruise terminal is about a 12 hour drive.
BOOKbump
“Spend some time at CruiseCritic.com to learn more ways to save.”
Cruise Critic is incredibly helpful. After we book a cruise, I check that cruise’s forum every couple of days where fellow passengers connect to share info. If one notices a drop in the price, we all know about it and can call our agents or the cruise line and adjust. And their threads on general tips for savings are excellent.
When’s supper?
I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area, just a short driving distance from cruise ships going to the Bahamas, Caribbean, or Cozumel.
We booked a suite for this spring at $2699 PP (Seven day cruise). I’ve called twice to get lower prices and it’s now listed at $1699 PP.
That sounds like exactly like what I am trying to do except my 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise is $2700 per couple, including drink package. I am trying to shave over $1000 from that. It could be possible because I think the cruises will be underbooked for the Eastern Caribbean due to the devastation created by the hurricanes or at least the perception of that devastation.
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