Frugality Tips & Tricks

[Dan]

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

That ship has sailed, NY and LA refugees have bought up all the houses in the vicinity and caused them to more than double in value since I opened this thread that y'all know by topic number https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=21675.0

[yeshivabucher]

That ship has sailed, NY and LA refugees have bought up all the houses in the vicinity and caused them to more than double in value since I opened this thread that y'all know by topic number https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=21675.0

it's your own fault maybe if you didn't push it so much.....

[dm123]

Stop drinking soda - aside from the saved money there are great health benefits - resulting in longer term savings as well!

Don't buy exercise equipment - use local resources like walking/hiking paths or some localities even have parks with exercise equipment!

Free entertainment - listen to an ad every once in a while instead of paying for the premium version.

DIY (major caveat, don't create a bigger mess and face a larger expense) lots of tasks can be done around the house instead of calling a plumber handyman etc by knowing how things work. Easily researchable by asking a friend, threads like this or searching google/youtube/etc.
Same for alterations - save money (and time! likely faster to diy than schlep to tailor) for simple things like reattaching buttons/most hems/etc


This topic makes me think of the old joke:

A farmer decides his horse is costing him too much money in feed, so he'll train it to live on less.

The first week he cuts a quarter of the feed out of the horses supply - and the horse performs as usual, although it looks slightly worse than usual.

So the next week the farmer cuts another quarter of the feed from the horses allotment, and although performance is slightly worse than usual, it's nothing concerning.

The week after the farmer cuts another quarter of the feed (down do just 1 quarter of the original allotment) and although performance is indeed down, it gets the job done.

The 4th week the farmer goes to the barn, sees the horse dead on the ground and cries out: "You had to go and die now, just as I'm about to teach you to live on nothing!?"

[skyguy918]

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

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.

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.

Related story:

I've been on Spectrum's (was TWC) ELP (everyday low price) plan for probably almost 10 years now. Was $15/mo the majority of the time, they upped it to $20/mo a few years back, but at least they bumped the speed from something truly pitiful (maybe 3mbps?) to 25mbps. I had my own modem that I bought refurbished for maybe $30.

Recently the internet wasn't working, and when the tech came he determined it was the modem. He tells me he'll just give me a modem from his truck - it's free. I said, I don't think so, not on my old plan. A whole back and forth ensues, which confirmed that it's not supposed to be free on the ELP plan, but also that they can't figure out the code to have it bill me for it (I figured I'd pay for it for a month while I source a new modem and then cancel). They end up leaving me with a perfectly functioning Spectrum owned modem, but it's been several bills already, and I haven't been charged any extra.

Then a few weeks later my wife gets a call and they're trying to sell her some upgrade package. She tells them to send us an email with the details, and I would review and decide. A week or so later I get an email confirmation with all sorts of upgrades and add-ons, with a $175/mo price tag. Of course we call and ensure that they cancel the order and leave us on our grandfathered plan, which they did. Meanwhile, my speed went up to the 500mbps they were promising with the upgrade. And it's been at least 1 bill with no change.

So now I pay $20/mo for 500mbps with a free modem.

[Kryptonite]

Gas from brand-name stations usually costs more than no-name stations (because of their custom blends or something like that)

[Dan]

Don't buy exercise equipment - use local resources like walking/hiking paths or some localities even have parks with exercise equipment!

Unless you live in LA (which is anything but frugal) that would leave good chunks of the year where this isn't practical.

[smart man]

Gas from brand-name stations usually costs more than no-name stations (because of their custom blends or something like that)

Is it the same good though?

[smart man]

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

You can be a new customer when you’re an existing one? Or you switch to a different company for a day?

[Dan]

You can be a new customer when you’re an existing one?

Yes, just request a new quote.

[Euclid]

Unless you live in LA (which is anything but frugal) that would leave good chunks of the year where this isn't practical.

The best thing I've ever done is buy exercise equipment (I live in Lakewood). I wouldn't exercise otherwise - having equipment in my house takes away the friction. And it's not short lived - I've been using them for almost 4 years.

[smart man]

Free entertainment - listen to an ad every once in a while instead of paying for the premium version.

Lately YouTube has gotten really bad with their amount of ads. A better solution would be to create family plans and split the cost.

[ckmk47]

Don't buy exercise equipment - use local resources like walking/hiking paths or some localities even have parks with exercise equipment!

Don't go to the gym.  Buy your own exercise equipment!

Actually, the most cost effective way to exercise is the one in which you exercise!

Often it's with an exercise partner - a steady walk appointment, biking, doing a video routine, etc.

[thaber]

Unless you live in LA (which is anything but frugal) that would leave good chunks of the year where this isn't practical.

Reason to live in LA?

Is it the same good though?

I've heard it's brand name gas in most cases

[chulent613]

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.

Username checks out.

[Moshe Green]

The best thing I've ever done is buy exercise equipment (I live in Lakewood). I wouldn't exercise otherwise - having equipment in my house takes away the friction. And it's not short lived - I've been using them for almost 4 years.

Frugal Tip 4326: Buy hangers instead of exercise equipment.

[Euclid]

Frugal Tip 4326: Buy hangars instead of exercise equipment.

Running laps in a hangar is certainly acceptable too

[Moshe Green]

Running laps in a hangar is certainly acceptable too

but not cheaper

[dm123]

Unless you live in LA (which is anything but frugal) that would leave good chunks of the year where this isn't practical.

Although there is nothing like shoveling snow in an undershirt...


Another tip: don't go grocery shopping during a fast day.

[sguitarist18]

Reason to live in LA? I've heard it's brand name gas in most cases

Using any brand that certified as "Top Tier" should be fine, but otherwise there may be a difference in quality.

However, using Premium gas if your car doesn't call for it - that seems to a be a total waste, with no benefit at all.

[Kryptonite]

Another tip: don't go grocery shopping during a fast day.

Now you tell me.