Comments on: The Little Things Do Matter: Twelve Little Hacks That Add Up To A Lot

By: RM

RM — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:24:41 +0000

Discount Tire locations will check your tire pressure and fill them for free.

By: JW

JW — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:26:27 +0000

I’d have to say getting groceries delivered is great, just shop once a month, get everything required (and you can actually just pop over to the pantry and check whether you really need that xxx item) and make it fit the budget, for some reason it is so much easier to put it back on the shelf when it’s only on the computer! Also (I don’t know if you get this in the US) my supermarket stores lists for me of everything I purchase, and I can save my own lists too, so 90% of the shopping just consists of ticking the items I want again, then I review all the discounts and figure where I can save more/have a treat … like this month, premium mini icecream treats half price :-)
Plus, I nearly always cook for 6 (I live by myself) and freeze, that way I have a freezer ‘menu’ of different items to pick from for dinner. My sister was so impressed she decided she’d start doing it too after the night she came to dinner at short notice and got to pick from the menu!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:31:31 +0000

I replaced my bulbs with CFLs a few years ago. Then I started suffering migranes all the time. When you get referred to a neurologist for migranes, the first thing they have you do is get rid of all the compact florescent lightbulbs in your home. Worked perfectly for me, I’ve had zero migranes since I did that.

By: lydia

lydia — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:32:55 +0000

It helps immensely to write down how much I spend on a daily basis-from Sunday to Saturday. I will not allow another year go by and not accomplish my financial goals-I must be proactive and intentional about doing this. I have the knowledge, and I have the wisdom to use the knowledge, and so far I am joyful about it. I have made the decision to stick with My Total Money Makeover Plan by Dave Ramsey and rise above my doubts, disappointments and failures in 2008 and challenge myself to excel by making right choices to maintain Financial Peace.

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:15:04 +0000

I’m glad you added the “easily multipliable” part about the CFLs. Changing one bulb is not enough. I just swapped out 60 bulbs in a house I moved into. There is an upfront cost, but the break-even time for CFL bulbs is around 6 months, so this is a no-brainer.

Why is there always some wacko in the comments saying that CFLs are bad? Yes, the CFL bulbs should be recycled because they contain mercury. However, they use about 80% less electricity and last 6 to 8 times as long as incandescent bulbs. How does that not save energy? LEDs will be even better, when they come down in price.

By: JoeTaxpayer

JoeTaxpayer — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:41:24 +0000

About the cooking, I’d add – While you have that big casserole cooking, why not make another dish? On a bad weather weekend, I’ve had as many as 4 different things going, a mix of stuff right to the freezer and things for the week. A homemade sauce that takes time to cook can be dinner on Monday and a different one on Thursday. Rice already cooked can be quickly stir fried (with other stuff) for a meal during the week. This strategy helps me save time and avoid the cost of takeout. As the cook in the house, and still working full time, the meals during the week have to be ready pretty quick. Just a thought to offer.
JOE

By: AnKa

AnKa — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:33:48 +0000

Thanks for the hint on the high interest checking accounts, everybody! I will definitely look into that as we have house renovations going on that require substantial amounts to sit in the checking at some points….

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:23:37 +0000

I was going to mention my local library offers movies you can download on-line. Granted they are not new releases, its still pretty nifty.

About the CFL’s not being good for rooms or areas where they will not be used long. I’ve found some screw in type LED bulbs @ http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/index.aspx

I’ve also seen these on home depots website, I’m not sure if they carry them in the stores yet. I may just check today!

By: Rooster

Rooster — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:50:00 +0000

Nice tips. Bulk cooking is definitely good.

By: daily walrus

daily walrus — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:35:09 +0000

I think the best place to find loose change is when you are at the front register of a store. If people drop some of their change an don’t immediately see where it went, they don’t make an effort to find it.

By: Sharon Campbell

Sharon Campbell — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:28:31 +0000

You can get compressors for under $10 that you can carry in your car and check and fill your own tires regularly. Not only are properly inflated tires more economical, but they are a lot safer.

By: Also Dave

Also Dave — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:07:28 +0000

HSBC is at 4.25% for savings today.

Most gas stations in my area no longer provide free air, though some still do. I filled my tires last week, and felt immediatley like I was saving money on gas, and I was.

I just bought two 3 watt CFLs. 3 watts! One I put on my front porch, and the second is being used as a night light in a bathroom, making turning on the bathroom lights (and therefore fan which draws out the heated air) unnecessary a lot of the time.

By: MamawW

MamawW — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:06:16 +0000

My library charges for Video/DVD rentals
The local milk store has gas cheaper, for $,99 you can get a delicious cappachino and a newpaper. It is 1 mile.

By: Torley

Torley — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:31:39 +0000

Apt, welcome article! Very practical and neatly-compiled. I recently heard about the Simple Dollar from Josh, who commented on my blog when I suggested 7 great deals websites I enjoy.

I agree wholeheartedly that many little things add up to BIG things in aggregate. :)

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:16:50 +0000

@Ms Clear
@Pifreak

I love finding lost money. A great place to pick up coins is at the bus stop.

Several years ago, I found a paper bag full of bills in a city park. I’m sure it was lost after some drug deals. I donated the entire bag of bills (never counted it, but saw lots of hundred dollar bills) to a homeless shelter near my apartment.

What goes around, comes around.

By: Louise

Louise — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:27:12 +0000

Little things make a big difference. I find a great way of getting people to realise just how important the little things are is to ask them to look at how much pleasure something gives them and whether they would get more pleasure spending their money on something else or saving it instead. For instance, how much pleasure do most people get spending $7 on a magazine? How much more pleasure would that $7 give you if you spent it on coffee and cake with a friend, or the ingredients for a picnic lunch for yourself and your friends, or putting it in a separate account that you have set up for something you really want.

Looking at the small amounts of money this way makes people realise just how much of the money they spend is either habit or impulse and how little return they get on that money in terms of either pleasure or practical usage.

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:03:06 +0000

Hi, just found this and have been really pleased with all the interesting ideas I’ve been getting here. I have to say that definitely the Starbuck’s thing works. When our oldest son wanted to participate in a new activity requiring a monthly fee of around $56/mo I gave up my Starbuck’s “habit” (went once a week instead of 3x) and the money “magically” appeared. ;-)

One thing I’d put on a list like this (replace the movie one– since we don’t really rent movies often) is to always take a snack with you when you go out, even if your errand is supposed to be a short one. This really cuts out having to stop and get something “small” if you start feeling a little hunger twinge. This will save you a lot…especially if you have kids with you.

Sara

By: beth

beth — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:16:19 +0000

Debate about the current impact of CFLs aside (which I think will even itself out as they become more common and handling them becomes more common knowledge), I have found that you can get CFLs for almost every fixture in the house too. I have replaced the recessed can lights in my kitchen with CFLs. I like them even better because of the warm-up cycle. When I turn on the lights when it’s dark, I’m not immediately blinded by the six (yes, six; that’s how the house came) bulbs blasting on me. I’ve replaced all of the ceiling fan lightbulbs and all of the mini-globes along with any “standard” bulbs.

I can also buy the plain swirly CFLs for about the same cost as incandescants due to the rebates and subsidies from the electric company; even more savings there.

I’m not advertising for anyone, but here’s an example I just stumbled across of the bulb types available: http://www.1000bulbs.com/Screw-In-Compact-Fluorescents/

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:06:43 +0000

The High yield savings and checking is a great way to earn extra money. My wife and I got our tax statements from the bank today, she made $470 in interest, and i made $380. Thats alomost one of our rent payemts.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:55:43 +0000

I pay for everything with bills only and put change in a box at the end of every day. Then we cash it in at Commerce Bank’s free penny arcade and either put it towards savings or to something we need. It’s an easy way to save $100 more a month.
http://www.theinnovativetraveler.com