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Seeing many of us are Forever Broke (viewtopic.php?f=149&t=47280&start=45), I thought we could use a thread to share ways to cut expenses. Share your hott tipps!

This is an obvious one but the power of the savings can not be overstated: cook, cook, cook. Avoid eating out and pre-made, processed foods not just for health, but because you are paying a premium for it. If you're never really cooked, you'll be pleased to know that some of the cheapest foods that could be staples in your kitchen are as easy to cook as it is to dial in a delay patch, e.g. pasta, rice, beans, potatoes.

Here's a good website with good and economical recipes with breakdowns of cost. http://www.budgetbytes.com/

Buy on sale, buy meats that aren't skin/bone removed, freeze what you're not using. Buy frozen veggies. Buy in bulk whenever you can afford to. Buy the cheap spices, they're often just as good but without the brand name premium (I'm looking at you, McCormick). When shopping, don't just look at the price of the unit, look at the other number next to it which is the cost per volume. This is much better for determine what you're spending.

I buy organic whole spices in bulk online and grind them myself as I need them (one 1oz container at a time). This seems like it would be expensive but its actually frugal, especially if you enjoy cooking. 4oz of a whole spice might be $4 or less when those McCormick 1.5oz bottles are like $6+. Shit is WAY more flavorful and McCormick, I hear, add fillers to some of the shit too.

untilshewokeme wrote:I buy organic whole spices in bulk online and grind them myself as I need them (one 1oz container at a time). This seems like it would be expensive but its actually frugal, especially if you enjoy cooking. 4oz of a whole spice might be $4 or less when those McCormick 1.5oz bottles are like $6+. Shit is WAY more flavorful and McCormick, I hear, add fillers to some of the shit too.

Dope tip, where do you order your spices from?

Another food tip for bacon lovers is pour all the leftover rendered fat in your pan into a cleaned-out coffee tin and put that in the freezer. It practically lasts indefinitely and you can scoop out some when you want add a smoky bacon flavor to sauteed stuff. Free(ish) cooking fat!

if u have a lil yard or even a spot in your apt its pretty easy nowadays to grow some of your own herbs and spices for cooking. my parents started doing this, and the shit is like wildfire. mint leaves everywhereeeee, throw that shit into a pitcher w/ a tea bag and some hot water. booooooooom mint iced tea

actually making your own iced tea is a nice way to save money and make your own delicious refreshing drink. ICED TEA. YEA!

Keep in mind, ladies and gentlemen, that most spices have about a six month shelf life.

Acquire and use products that can be fixed instead of needing replaced.
Similarly, fix things right the first time when repairs are needed.

Don't drive like an asshole. Your mileage will improve and stress levels will drop if you're a bit more patient.
This will decrease visits to doctors.
Shop around for deals, research things you desire, to justify if they meet needs and search for value. When a great deal appears, be ready to snatch it up.
Keep credit cards for such deals and/or emergencies, but pay off any balance in full at the end of the month.
Shop the BST and other secondhand markets, where goods hold value and the reduced costs can be recouped.
Finally, when bringing home something new...something old and unused should be sold/donated/recyled to offset it.
Bartering via even-trade is my favorite option and a true win/win for frugal living.

Don't fucking buy ramen, it might seem cheap per unit but it's disgustingly expensive within the context of your whole diet, both financially and health-wise.

friendship wrote:

untilshewokeme wrote:I buy organic whole spices in bulk online and grind them myself as I need them (one 1oz container at a time). This seems like it would be expensive but its actually frugal, especially if you enjoy cooking. 4oz of a whole spice might be $4 or less when those McCormick 1.5oz bottles are like $6+. Shit is WAY more flavorful and McCormick, I hear, add fillers to some of the shit too.

Dope tip, where do you order your spices from?

Another food tip for bacon lovers is pour all the leftover rendered fat in your pan into a cleaned-out coffee tin and put that in the freezer. It practically lasts indefinitely and you can scoop out some when you want add a smoky bacon flavor to sauteed stuff. Free(ish) cooking fat!

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com

Join one of those warehouse stores (Costco/BJs/Sam's Club/etc.). The membership fee you pay up front pays for itself quick with the money you'll save.
However, you should still comparison shop. For example, my mother discovered that buying toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent is often cheaper when on sale at the grocery store than even Costco's prices.
I tend to use Costco for just a handful of items but I save a ton buy buying them there.

Buy store brand/generics as much as feasible (this also applies to Costco, etc.).

Don't carry a balance on your credit cards, but using credit cards wisely can save you a lot in rewards. I probably get anywhere from $200-$300 in cash back rewards per year.

Save your coins and hit up Coinstar every so often. If you have a TD Bank near you, they will coin count for free if you're a customer. You'll be surprised how much you can get out of that.

Buy used. Not just gear though, even used clothes can be a good deal if you score a good find at a thrift store. Sometimes you can find clothes that still have the original tags but are a fraction of the retail price. However, sometimes it is a better to buy a quality piece of clothing that will last.

If you still have cable, what is wrong with you? Cut the cord and get a Roku or whatever the cool kids are using these days. You could probably take a nice mini-vacation with the money you'll not pay the cable company.

If you do have enough money to take a trip, go in the off season. I went to Cooperstown last fall when the hotels were about $80 per night instead of around $300 per night during the summer. The weather was still nice and the crowds were significantly less.

Coupons can often easily be found online for certain types of stores (Staples is one store that I have found that always seems to have coupons floating around).

Websites like cardpool.com can save you a lot of money, especially if you tend to shop at certain stores a lot or are looking to make a big purchase.

Buy stuff like ink/toner on ebay. I buy refurbished toner cartridges for around 13 bucks.

Chankgeez wrote:Keep in mind, ladies and gentlemen, that most spices have about a six month shelf life.

Yea if you pay attention to that sort of thing. Pfft. I had the same thing of pepper for like 6 years. Still tasted good. Whatever. haha


I suck at being frugal. I'm hear for tips.

Dude, if you can't taste the difference, it doesn't really matter.

Krosis wrote:Join one of those warehouse stores (Costco/BJs/Sam's Club/etc.). The membership fee you pay up front pays for itself quick with the money you'll save.
However, you should still comparison shop. For example, my mother discovered that buying toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent is often cheaper when on sale at the grocery store than even Costco's prices.
I tend to use Costco for just a handful of items but I save a ton buy buying them there.

Just buying gas from these places buys back your membership, depending on car.

Skip out on regular check-ups and teeth cleanings so you can afford to pay bills.
Get acquainted with your local junkyards for future DIY auto repairs.
Hold out hope for tomorrow.
Also, carrots make for a cheap, healthy alternative to sweets.

Achtane wrote:Skip out on regular check-ups and teeth cleanings so you can afford to pay bills.

man I haven't been to a dentist in like 5 years, that's probably not a good thing though

Achtane wrote:Also, carrots make for a cheap, healthy alternative to sweets.

recently i've almost entirely given up sugary shit in favour of like boring cheap plain old-people crackers. also, Edamame (boiled soybeans) is very addictive and cheap to buy in bulk, i think Costco sell it frozen.
some of the most mundane foods can be really great for snacking if you give them a chance, shit like chocolate and biscuits can be goddamn expensive and foul for your health.

DONT HAVE FUN EVER AGAIN

Nah but really, just dont go out so often. Bars are too expensive, just drink at home or with friends if you wanna. Same with the cinema, fuck that $10 ticket all the time non sense. Usually there are theaters that will play 1-2 month old movies for way cheaper.

Dont go out for dinner so often. Try making food with friends, everyone pitch in some ingredients and make a dinner to share. Also lentils are super healthy, easy to make, and cheap as hell. Eat more of those for sure. And when you make food, make a lot all at once so you can have left overs for your next couple of meals. This will cut down on the impulse urge to order out when you dont want to make food again.