Relating to ways to save money, generally by either spending less, or changing what is being spent on.
3
votes
5answers
399 views
Saving money on electricity: Is a refrigerator more efficient when empty, or full?
To save money on hydro (electricity), I'd like to make optimum use of my refrigerator.
For this purpose, is less energy used when the fridge is full? Or when it is empty?
21
votes
7answers
694 views
How to help a financially self destructive person?
My ex-wife is a mess, financially speaking. After the divorce, her house that she won in the divorce was foreclosed on, filed for bankruptcy, owes money to pretty much everyone that tried to help her ...
4
votes
2answers
105 views
For somebody that travels the same route over and over again, what are some ways to save on airfare?
I am an Indian immigrant currently living in Canada. My family is in India. As part of this arrangement, I need to travel back and forth between Toronto and new Delhi fairly frequently. (~2 times/yr, ...
1
vote
4answers
148 views
For which kinds of products does a generic brand tend to be just as good as a name brand?
Sometimes I buy the generic brand at the super market and it turns out it's just as good as the name brand.
Other times, I totally regret buying the generic brand.
For which kinds of products do you ...
3
votes
8answers
278 views
What are the best tips for saving money as a university student?
What are the best tips for saving money as a university student?
I will be attending university this coming semester and am planning on maintaining a sustainable financial situation right now, but ...
5
votes
1answer
306 views
How can I cash out my prepaid cell phone?
As a very frugal person, I have a prepaid phone plan that costs $100 a year. For the past two years, I've spent roughly $50 of that each year. As long as I renew the plan with another $100 every year, ...
5
votes
4answers
229 views
Which car features are more cost effective if purchased & installed aftermarket, as opposed to when buying the car?
So I'm looking at buying a new car, because I'm going to need one to commute to a new job. There are many features I "like" (not 'must-have', just 'like') in new cars these days:
Remote Keyless ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
Are you better off going with the BIG energy provider in town or a smaller competitor?
I live in Maryland and we have our energy delivered from BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric). That means they manage and service the power lines and I have no choice in that matter. We do however, ...
3
votes
3answers
63 views
What is the best way to determine the Value (balance of reliability and cost) of an insurance company?
My question is - how can an individual determine how reliable or likely an insurance company is to pay on their claims? I'm trying to balance two things here - cost of premiums and reliability of ...
15
votes
5answers
313 views
How can I tell if buying a cheaper car will end up costing me more?
Cars can be very expensive, so it seems like a good place to save money. However, I worry that getting a car that is too cheap, especially if buying used, may end up costing me more in maintenance, ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
How do you find reasonably priced, quality, long lasting clothing?
As noted in the products you shouldn't buy cheap question, you should buy quality, long lasting clothes. Where can you find quality clothing and how can you recognize quality clothing in discount and ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
What are some sites that offer decent deals on college textbooks?
Textbooks are quite expensive these days. I know of half.com, but I don't know of anything else.
7
votes
5answers
232 views
Are solar cell panels and wind mills worth the money?
Besides being more environmentally friendly is it worth the investment in solar cell panels and wind mills for home use? Is it possible to be "off the grid" completely?
7
votes
5answers
456 views
How to avoid friends' peer pressure to spend money on shopping & at restaurants?
How to avoid peer pressure from friends to spend money on shopping and at restaurants?
5
votes
4answers
613 views
How much money does Earth hour save?
Does the recent Earth-hour event staged over the week-end actually save money? When the event occurs there is a major drop in energy consumption at the start but isn't there also a spike when ...
5
votes
3answers
514 views
Do real nappies (reusable / cloth diapers) really save money?
We would like to use "real nappies" (reusable diapers); both to minimise environmental impact, and to save a bit of money. According to some literature I've been given, using real nappies can save ...
7
votes
4answers
451 views
Is it more cost effective to wash a car at home or take it to a car wash?
Now that spring is here this becomes an option. Is it more cost effective to wash a car at home (increasing water utility expense) or to pay to have it washed at a car wash? Also which is more ...
6
votes
3answers
188 views
What is the best option for an occasional driver in the USA?
I never had a car before, but I'm starting to feel the need of having one.
Fortunately, I can bike to work, and would only use the car on weekends (and very occasionally on weekdays). Additionally, ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
What are good strategies to maximize cross border shopping benefits? [Canada]
Depending the length of one's visit to the US from Canada there are different limits and different exemptions. This also assumes that the price discount is worth it. What strategies have people ...
5
votes
3answers
115 views
What are some ways your family has saved money via resource-sharing or hand-me-downs?
For instance in our family, baby items - from the big (cribs, changetables) to the small (clothing, bottles, toys) - are constantly passed around from brother to sister to cousin and back again. It ...
7
votes
7answers
199 views
How can I save money on a gym / fitness membership? New Year's Resolution is to get in shape - but on the cheap!
Do gyms ever negotiate or haggle on price? Do they always insist on a term commitment? Are there any tips and tricks on ways to avoid paying through the nose?
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Is a fixed-price natural gas or electricity contract likely to save money?
Is a fixed-price natural gas or electricity contract likely to save money?
These types of contracts are often marketed to homeowners to save $$ on their utility bills. When would such a contract ...
8
votes
8answers
266 views
Can slowing down your lifestyle save you money?
If you simplify your life, and slow things down.. can you save money?
I'm looking for opinions and experiences here.
11
votes
12answers
354 views
What are some good ways to control costs for groceries?
I find groceries to be one area where I have a hard time controlling costs. We want to eat well, buy healthy foods, good cuts of meat, etc. and limit eating out. I find it hard to know what is a ...
12
votes
2answers
244 views
Is selling your house without an agent worth the hassle?
There have been numerous "for sale by owner" signs appearing recently. This seems like a convenient way to reduce the commission charged by Real Estate agents but I have heard that this is still a ...
12
votes
6answers
222 views
How can I reduce the cost of having a cell phone?
In terms of cell phone plans the U.S. is the worst followed by Spain and then Canada. Besides the obvious get rid of the phone option what other strategies can be employed to keep the costs down?
6
votes
4answers
108 views
How can I save on banking charges?
What tips and tricks do people use to keep the cost of banking down?
2
votes
2answers
38 views
Are there any services/sites/organizations/clubs at which video games can be traded?
My family plays a lot of video games (PS3 and Nintendo DSi) - are there cheaper alternatives to buying the games new? Library service of sorts? Wishful thinking?
3
votes
5answers
196 views
How can I reduce my home's monthly electricity and water expenses?
Are there gadgets I can buy which can help me measure consumption and reduce use? What are some good habits I can get my family into starting to help reduce our costs?
5
votes
3answers
142 views
How do you save money on clothes and shoes for your family?
I feel like I'm constantly buying clothes, shoes, boots, jackets, hats, etc. for my kids, because they grow so fast! I try to re-use via hand-me-downs, but are there other ways I could be saving ...
7
votes
2answers
149 views
How do you make sure your child's birthday party doesn't break the bank?
I've been to childrens' birthday parties that clearly cost in excess of $500 when the price of the venue, activity, food, cake and loot bags are factored in. I don't want to spend a lot in order to ...
8
votes
9answers
231 views
How can I avoid going deep into debt during the holiday season?
The holiday season is just around the corner. The shopping malls are especially eager – Christmas trees, lights, and decorations have been up for weeks, all to get us in the mood to spend, ...
14
votes
15answers
415 views
What are some tips to help avoid impulse-buying?
My husband and I are both impulse buyers - not a good pair now that our combined income has been reduced! How do you stop yourself from making an impulse purchase? I need some help to improve our ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
How can I save money on home insurance?
What are some of the easy or not-so-easy ways to save money on home insurance?
6
votes
4answers
242 views
How can I save money on car insurance?
What are some of the easy or not-so-easy ways to save money on car insurance?
8
votes
3answers
447 views
Where can I find an example of a really basic family budget?
It's about time that I took my family's finances seriously and built a budget. I'd rather not start from scratch, and am thinking, "surely, I can benefit from someone else's work?" - can someone ...
16
votes
17answers
2k views
I spend too much money. How can I get on the path to a frugal lifestyle?
How do I live a frugal lifestyle? I'd like to live on less but it doesn't seem easy. How can I get started? I want to get out of debt and not have to work until I'm dead.
