Dollar Stretcher Tips
Dollar Stretcher Tips courtesy
of TheDollarStretcher.com.
Email your time or money saving tip to Tips@stretcher.com.
Tricky Pricing Practice
One of my treats to myself is to purchase a magazine in the
check out line at my local supermarket. The other day, I saw
a magazine with a big, bright star with the price of $1.99 in
it on the cover at my local supermarket. Since Wal-Mart gives
10% off the cover price of magazines, I thought I'd buy my copy
there this week.
When I got to the check out line at Wal-Mart,
the very same magazine had a big, bright star on the cover with
a price of $2.50! At 10% off, this is still more than the copy
at the supermarket chain. I'll look more closely at magazine
prices before I automatically buy them now.
April G.
Irving TX
Instant Protection
My mother-in-law keeps a spray can of matte (not shiny) urethane
on hand to spray all the items she puts outdoors each summer
that may rust, such as wind chimes and small lawn ornaments
that are made of metal, and wooden objects that may rot, such
as bird houses, etc. This really increases the life of these
treasures.
MJG
The Educated Consumer
I have a vacuum that just didn't seem to be working right and
it was only a year old! I was so fed up with it I had plans
on buying a new one.
Before I did though, I went through my owner's
manual and found out this particular vacuum had 2 filters that
needed to be washed periodically. I removed them, washed them,
reinstalled them and the vac works like new!
The moral of this story? Read your owner's
manual no matter how trivial you think the appliance is. It
saved me almost $400!
Karen in NE Indiana
Delighted With Dehumidifier
One of the best purchases we ever made was a dehumidifier for
the basement. In just a couple of weeks, most of our munching/crawling
insect population had vanished! In our humid summer, the roaches
and centipedes were eating holes in boxes, the papers stored
inside, etc.
The dehumidifier's impact was even noticeable
upstairs. Fewer insects up there, too. Plus, when it's too humid
to hang wet laundry outside, I hang things in the basement,
where the dehumidifier is nearby. I'm sure this uses less electricity
than to power up my electric dryer, plus it saves the a/c work
cooling off the house.
Nancy
Freezing for One
I am notorious for buying meat and eventually throwing it out
because my busy schedule didn't allow me to take the time to
cook or freeze it. I have started coming home from the grocery
store, immediately opening the packets of meat, then freezing
individual servings of pork chops, ground round, and chicken
in "Hefty One Zip" storage bags, preferably the freezer
bags.
I have found that the cost of the bags is much
less than the cost of wasted meat. Also I am only eating one
serving or less because that is all I cook. I'm spending less
money at the store and can count the number of servings in the
freezer when I'm getting ready to go back to the store.
Willette B.
Student Budgets
Most college financial aid offices have a wonderful guide available
that is a 'budget book' for students. It allows the student
to put his/her expenses in appropriate places; set up a visible
daily/weekly/monthly expense calendar and allow for unexpected
expense.
It also has counseling for use of credit cards,
loans, car payments, etc. My kids' college tuition was worth
getting this alone!
Rhonda B.
Eligible for Phone Discount?
Phone companies, cable companies and others who provide essential
services often have discounts for seniors and the disabled,
but they seldom advertise this. I get $7 off my home phone bill
(which now totals only $11.14 a month) and used to get about
the same off my cable bill too.
All it takes is a phone call to inquire and a quick trip to
show proof, which can probably be mailed in as well. A Medicare
card is good documentation.
My phone company also gives discounts if you use their internet
service as well as their phone service, another savings of $4
a month, plus tax.
Barbara
Crummy Carpets
As any mom with kids and a van knows, the floor is always a
mess of crumbs and other debris. Since I like a clean floor,
I was paying to vacuum it at the local car wash far too often.
I found that a little stiff bristled whisk
broom works wonders between real cleanings and I don't need
to vacuum as often. I keep it in the van and use it each time
I fill up the gas tank. It does a great job of keeping the crumbs
under control, and it even balls up the dog hair so I can just
throw it in the trash!
Of course, you can also save money by using
your home vacuum instead of the coin operated ones - I just
like the big suckers!
Julie in Washington State
Handy (and Inexpensive) Mop
I purchased a Clorox Ready Mop and though I love having a mop
handy at all times without fear of my young children playing
in mop water, the cost of the pads and solution were eating
at my household budget. To solve the problem, I make my own
solution. In the bottle that comes with the mop, I mix one cap
full of Pine Sol cleaner. I suppose any all purpose floor cleaner
would work. I also add 1/2 cap full of bleach to add disinfecting
power and fill the bottle with water. Make sure at this point
that your cleaner can be safely mixed with bleach without making
harmful fumes.
For the pads, I recycle old towels. Using one
of the purchased pads, I cut the towels to the same size. Make
sure that you leave the tabs to push into the points on the
mop and that enough material is cut from the front of the towel
to not block the sprayer. Simple and cost effective.
Melissa H.
mom of two young girls
Affluent Neighbors
I have a tip for saving on nice clothes for kids. There is a
large church in our area with affluent members, which holds
a rummage sale twice a year. The prices are better than garage
sales. I buy clothes, but also baseball cleats, tap shoes, sporting
equipment such as helmets, basketballs, football pads, etc,
for pennies on the dollar. They have all the name brands and
many sizes.
I actually put it on my calendar because it
is the same 2 weekends every year.
Pat in Kansas
Check for Discounts
Check out your AAA or other membership cards for extra discounts.
I get discounts on shoes at Payless, clothes at Casual Corner,
tickets to sports games, etc. I receive more than just travel
or car related discounts.
For instance, I found out that my AAA card gives me a 10% discount
at participating Burger Kings.
Gayle G.
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