Frugality Tips & Tricks

[dm123]

Didn't notice anything dedicated to this so thought I'd start a topic for frugality/money saving tips:

NUMBER ONE: ALWAYS CHECK DDMS!  (For things you need and are buying anyway)

Shop around every year or 2 (Auto insurance is usually an easy one, generally creeps up and companies often give new clients great rates)

Check your bills
1. recently noticed a fee for "home services" on my gas bill - apparently I was being billed for a service contract that didn't offer much value to me b/c the previous homeowner had it - 20 minute phone call had it removed and stopped paying ~$25/month for it
2. Make sure you aren't getting billed twice for the same service - streaming services/subscriptions/etc.

Set meal plans for the week and only buy those necessary items - avoid buying extra unneeded items in grocery.

Do your own haircuts

Use Beis Medrash/Library instead of buying sforim/books (or local secondhand shop for sforim/books you'd want on hand at home always)


@mods If there's an existing or better thread please merge. I tried searching for this topic with tips from Wiki in Help me find it - searched frugal/tips/save but couldn't find a good thread. Best possible alternative I saw was this: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=117308.0

[whacked1]

Cancel your amazon prime.

If you need something, add to cart and only checkout once you have the threshold for free shipping. The amount of junk i'm not buying is awesome!

[dm123]

Cancel your amazon prime.

If you need something, add to cart and only checkout once you have the threshold for free shipping. The amount of junk i'm not buying is awesome!

As someone once told me: they say a good deal (on something you don't need) is saving 50% - I say a good deal is not buying it and saving 100%! 

[Something Fishy]

For the Monsey folk:

A container of fish sauce at Glauber's is $1.50, but free if you buy any fish.

A slice of gefilta fish by weight is about $1.



Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[ushdadude]

Didn't notice anything dedicated to this so thought I'd start a topic for frugality/money saving tips:

NUMBER ONE: ALWAYS CHECK DDMS! 

-1
I buy stuff that's posted but very rarely is it something that I actually needed

[ushdadude]

Ynab.com

[etech0]

If you order and return things, keep track and make sure you really get your refund. There were times that I didn't get it and had to contact the retailer. It can really add up.

[ushdadude]

For the Monsey folk:

A container of fish sauce at Glauber's is $1.50, but free if you buy any fish.

A slice of gefilta fish by weight is about $1.



Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

That is not a heimish combination

[dm123]

-1
I buy stuff that's posted but very rarely is it something that I actually needed

Yep lol you're right I should've put the caveat "On things you need and are anyway looking to buy".

Updated thanks

Ynab.com

Yes budgeting is amazing - just curious, anything specifically about YNAB.com as opposed to any other budgeting system? (Dave Ramsey/Mint/Mesilla/RSK/etc? If ynab is free I think the DR everydollar app or mint app are also free)

[ushdadude]

Yep lol you're right I should've put the caveat "On things you need and are anyway looking to buy".

Updated thanks

Yes budgeting is amazing - just curious, anything specifically about YNAB.com as opposed to any other budgeting system? (Dave Ramsey/Mint/Mesilla/RSK/etc? If ynab is free I think the DR everydollar app or mint app are also free)

Not sure about the others but mint tells you where your money went while ynab helps you give each dollar coming in a job. I heard Ramsey is similar

[etech0]

Not sure about the others but mint tells you where your money went while ynab helps you give dollar coming in a job. I heard Ramsey is similar

Simplifi is similar to Mint but I like the UI much better (though it's not as fast as it used to be). I tag purchases with 'return' so I can monitor the list and make sure I get my refunds.

[Euclid]

Just remember that your time is also worth money

[Sam 77]

Just remember that your time is also worth money

Anyone on ddf (me included) doesn't seem to know that.

[ckmk47]

Cancel your amazon prime.

Share your Amazon Prime with many family members.
Pro: Everyone gets free quick shipping. (and prime video)
Con: you all know what everyone else ordered.
con: you buy lots of stuff you may not need.  But might.

[Joel]

Buy ur own modem instead of spending $10+ a month to rent one from the internet provider

[ckmk47]

When your 'special introductory' price for cable (this applies to many things)
goes back to highway robbery, a) notice  b) call again to get a better rate c)HUCA if necessary.

[Sam Finkelstein]

Buy ur own modem instead of spending $10+ a month to rent one from the internet provider

Not in my experience. My modems always fried on me. Now I lease and when they go bad a tech installs a new one on the spot.

[YitzyS]

I'm shocked Dan didn't show up in this thread yet to tell us all to move to Cleveland.

[etech0]

Not in my experience. My modems always fried on me. Now I lease and when they go bad a tech installs a new one on the spot.

The key is to compare the monthly cost with the one-time cost and make a decision, instead of just going with the defaults. In general.

[Dan]

(Auto insurance is usually an easy one, generally creeps up and companies often give new clients great rates)

Of late, I've been opening a new Progressive policy every 6 months. Nice discounts for new customers