• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

What have been your most successful cost-cutting/money-saving techniques so far?

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Make a list of everything you pay during the month. Go down the list and decide if you what you listed is a want or a need. Most of the things we worry over are really wants disguised as needs.


For me:

DirecTV went bye bye - $84 a month ? no way
Groceries - don't buy anything not on sale unless I absolutely need it now. Why buy today what will be cheaper next week ? This has saved me huge amounts on food.
 
I cut out the hookers and blow a LONG freakin time ago. Not much left besides junk food and video games.
Finally got done with junk food. Didnt go organic since I still believe its overpriced crap, but eating green vegetables is still a much better deal than most processed shit.
For video games I decided to only buy dirt cheap stuff on STEAM, and am still waiting for those handful of games I really need to have, like Starcraft 2 and Deus Ex 3. But those will take forever to come out, so its not an issue.
 
Eating in for sure. Not going to bars. Grocery shopping for sales and w/ coupons.

Also, haggling with your 'net/TV provider (or threatening to leave) in order to keep an introductory rate.
 
TwiceOver said:
Also, saving the change from all the cash transactions makes for a fun little surprise.
Click to expand...

You know what builds some little savings is those "keep-the-change" options some banks have. You don't really "feel" the impact on your checking, but you'll be surprised when you have a few hundred extra $$$ in your savings in a few months.
 
Last edited:
living with a former communist.

Seriously, over the previous 4 years, you wouldn't IMAGINE the amount of money that we've (mostly she) have managed to squirrel away.
 
I cut back the eating out a LOT. Down to about once a week now, if that sometimes.

The cable package is going to be the next to go since I only watch about 3 channels and I'm sick of Comcast's bullshit.
 
I turned fridge off after I realized it was on for months with just a bottle of mustard sitting in it. Now I only turn it on if I put stuff in there.
 
JEDI said:
i made a post about that a couple of years ago. i had $500 worth of charges in a month. None of the items were over $15 :Q

i stopped looking at DealExtreme.

b4 that, i quit magic:the gathering. i was spending $1000/quarter when new expansion sets came out. then realized 3 yrs later that $4000/yr could get me more value, like rent a couple of hookers/month, and a little blow.
Click to expand...

i knew this thread looked familiar.
 
Switching from fios to comcast. There's $40/mo.
Bought a cheaper car. There's $100/mo.
Have almost completely stopped eating out. Last time was at IHOP with a coupon.

I'd ditch the blackberry but it would take a while to make up for the outrageous termination fees with verizon.
 
I got a job bouncing again at a bar. Not only do I make some spare change, but I save a ton by not going out on those nights.
 
senseamp said:
I turned fridge off after I realized it was on for months with just a bottle of mustard sitting in it. Now I only turn it on if I put stuff in there.
Click to expand...


lol.


...but doesn't it cost more in the end to keep turning it on and brining the temp to 4c or -10 from room temp than it does to maintain the temps over a longer time?

I honestly don't know...
 
Gooberlx2 said:
Eating in for sure. Not going to bars. Grocery shopping for sales and w/ coupons.

Also, haggling with your 'net/TV provider (or threatening to leave) in order to keep an introductory rate.
Click to expand...
That actually worked for us. Right around the time comcast wanted to jack our rates, Verizon put in FIOS.
I had them fight with each other and comcast came out the winner. Saved a lot of money there.
 
zinfamous said:
lol.


...but doesn't it cost more in the end to keep turning it on and brining the temp to 4c or -10 from room temp than it does to maintain the temps over a longer time?

I honestly don't know...
Click to expand...

This is a fallacy. You wouldn't save money by keeping the AC on high all summer rather than timing it to crank up when you got home. Nor would you save money by keeping your heat up 24/7 all winter.
 
zinfamous said:
lol.


...but doesn't it cost more in the end to keep turning it on and brining the temp to 4c or -10 from room temp than it does to maintain the temps over a longer time?

I honestly don't know...
Click to expand...

Nope. I usually only put stuff in it on weekends, and even then not every weekend. So I could go for weeks without using it.
 
dainthomas said:
This is a fallacy. You wouldn't save money by keeping the AC on high all summer rather than timing it to crank up when you got home. Nor would you save money by keeping your heat up 24/7 all winter.
Click to expand...

fair enough, but you don't need to keep AC on high to maintain a comfortable temp, esp if you have some decent tree coverage (if necessary).

also, maintaining temp wouldn't mean the AC was running constantly.
 
We make our own laundry soap on the cheap, and it works pretty damn well. We are lucky that our apartment provides free WiFi and we elected not to get cable or satellite, so compared to our previous place we are saving $100+ by not paying for cable and internet. However we do get the cheap Netflix package.

We severely restricted how much we go out, and we do we do not spend as much money on beer . . .which sucks, but that's how life is.

I also learned that PBR really isn't all that bad of a beer.
 
dainthomas said:
This is a fallacy. You wouldn't save money by keeping the AC on high all summer rather than timing it to crank up when you got home. Nor would you save money by keeping your heat up 24/7 all winter.
Click to expand...

Your comparison is a fallacy. A refrigerator going from ambient room temperature back down to 2º (or whatever) is a large change in temperature and therefore will take a significant draw of power to change. Therefore it may be better to keep the refrigerator on at a reasonable temperature instead of essentially turn it off and on as needed. The variation in room temperature is not going to be large enough to take significant energy to heat up or cool down. When using a programmable thermostat it is not typical to completely turn off the heat or A/C but rather the temperatures are only slightly changed so as to improve the effective use of energy balanced by comfort of life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top