• Home
  • DIY
    • DIY
    • crafts
    • Christmas
    • sewing projects
    • Weekend Projects
    • Frugal Finds
  • Fall
  • Spring
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Saving 4 Six

  • Family/Marriage
    • Marriage
    • Family
    • Homeschool
  • Recipes/Cook for a Month
    • Recipes
    • Cook For A Month
    • Freezer Meals
    • Think Tank Thursday
    • Make Ahead
  • Organization
Home » Time and Money Saving Tips
This blog contains affiliate links.

April 27, 2012 · 30 Comments

Time and Money Saving Tips

Frugal Find

Tweet
Share9
Share
Pin686
695 Shares

My first money saving post brought a lot of feedback and ideas that I thought you’d like to hear.  I also have few more I wanted to share.  Because they say “Time is Money”, I thought I’d throw in some Time Saving Tips too!
1.  Make things from scratch. – This was a biggie in the comments on my previous post.  I agree with this most of the time but if you are a big couponer and often get stuff for free, there is a chance this is not always the case.  I have recently found a great site with many “Fake It” recipes.  This may help in making things from scratch while copying some of your favorite store bought items.

2.  Call your utility companies and see if they will give you a price break.  I watched a segment on the Today show a few weeks back about calling the phone company and seeking a price break on your bill.  They encouraged people to call and speak to the Retention Department to see if they would lower the cost of the service.  I did this a couple years ago with my garbage pick-up service.

, Saving 4 Six

When I called, they offered me a major discount if I payed my bill annually as opposed to quarterly.  You can see the entire post here.
We recently cancelled our cable tv service but when we called to cancel, they did offer us a discount to stick with them.  We didn’t take them up on the offer because I was getting rid of it for more than that reason but it encouraged me to try this with other services as well.  (I’m not encouraging you to be deceptive or threaten to leave a company to get a discount…just be informed and see what your other options are!)

3.  Shop for produce in season.  Food cost is such a HUGE one for all of us.  In my last post I mentioned couponing or buying large quantities when things are on sale.  Some other ways to save on food costs and “the good food” is to buy in season.  Strawberries, oranges, and pineapples right now are dirt cheap!!  Enjoy these treats now and wait for the next “in-season” produce to go on sale.  My kids have been asking for apples lately and I had to break it to them that they need to wait a little longer.
We buy our apples at a local orchard and we buy them in BIG quantities (I bought over 100 lbs last fall).  Let me tell you how…My local orchard sells apples (shocking, I know).  They sell regular apples, seconds (that are not perfect), and my favorite…deer apples.  These are the apples that are too small, too big, have funky spots or the like.  They are perfectly good to eat, they are just not very pretty.  I buy them for about $4 for 20 pounds…yes, that is not a typo!  I make apple butter, apple sauce, and yummy desserts.  So ask your local orchard or produce stand about this type of produce.  It can save you a bundle.

, Saving 4 Six

Another way to save on produce is proper storage.  When you buy potatoes at Thanksgiving, you can get them for a little bit of nothing.  Buy a small ton at that time they will last if you store them in a 45-50 degree area (garage, well house…).  This works for apples too!  Joyful Homemaking offers other produce storage tips.

4.  Don’t shop this week.  If you are anything like me, you go into the grocery with the intent of getting milk and chocolate bread and you come out spending well, way more than the $5 those items would have cost.  The best solution to this is to avoid the grocery all together.  I sometimes think this is impossible but seriously, by searching your pantry, cabinets, frig, and freezer, I bet you can come up with more meals than you thought you could.  Think outside the box for dinner…pancakes and french toast, biscuits and gravy, eggs and toast, soup, or a hod podge casserole.

5.  Make more than one.  This tip saves money and time.  When I am making casseroles, soups, or anything that freezes well, I make more than one.  This saves time by not having to pull all the ingredients out and cleaning up again.

, Saving 4 Six

I then freeze the other to pass on to someone that needs a meal or save it for another day.  If I have a crazy day ahead of me, I just pull out one of my freezer meals in the morning and it will be thawed by dinner time for a quick reheat.  I save money by avoiding the impulse to stop for pizza or fast food.

6.   Stop buying cold cereal.  This may not benefit some of you as much as it does my family but if you are a large family, you have probably realized that too much is being spent on cold cereal.  With 4 hungry boys in the house, a box of cereal is devoured in one meal (if that!)  Although cold cereal costs a small fortune, the ease and convenience is nice.  Our alternative to that is to make up baggies of pancakes and freeze them.  I place three pancakes in each baggie so they can grab a baggie, pop it in the microwave, top with peanut butter and go.  By freezing over 100 pancakes at a time, I only have to do this about once a month.

, Saving 4 Six

We also make egg burritos in bulk and freeze them.  Quick Oats is also a good alternative to cold cereal.

7.  Consolidate your trips to town.  This too is a money and time saving tip.  I would never leave the house if I didn’t have to.  But when I do need to go out, I try to do it all at once.  My Princess has gymnastics one day a week so I choose that day to go to the grocery, library, post office, bank, and any other stops that  need to be made.  I plan ahead, make lists, and organize my day in town.  Try to eliminate those extra trips out…this will save on gas and any additional money you may spend when you are out and about and will obviously save you a ton of time.

8.  Plant a garden.  Sizes of gardens will vary.  Whether you plant in pots on your porch, window boxes in your kitchen, small raised beds, or a massive garden, after the initial cost of set up, these will all save you money.  We have three raised beds and plan to ad another this year.  My beds have produced enough that I have had green beans and tomatoes all winter long.

, Saving 4 Six

I have grown lettuce in window boxes and tomatoes in flower pots.  Neither of these require much space but the rewards are great.

9.  Do the jobs you can do.  I am blessed to have a wonderful handyman for a husband.  He is willing to try just about anything and my house shows the results of his creativity.

, Saving 4 Six

, Saving 4 Six

, Saving 4 Six

I can count on one hand the times we have had service men in our home.  He does most everything himself.  I know this is a privilege.
However,  I know that we can probably all do more than we think we can.  One time, my mom and I came across frozen pipes at their vacation home.  When we turned on the water, the pipes burst and we had leaky plumbing and spraying water.  Since it was just ladies and kids there, we called a plumber…OH NO WE DIDN’T!!!!!  We headed to the hardware store, bought plumbing and supplies, and came back and fixed the plumbing ALL BY OURSELVES!  NO LEAKS!!
So, give your project a try…I bet you can do it!!!

10.  Avoid debt.  We have had to learn this the hard way.  Early on in our marriage we accumulated debt…lots of it.  Many year ago, we made a commitment to pay off that debt and although it took us four years, we payed off every penny of our unsecured debt.  We no longer have car payments either.  This has saved us more than I know, I’m sure.  Incurring debt on high interest credit cards will cost you…BIG.  Avoid it if at all possible.

I hope these tips have been helpful.  In the economy we live in, we all need to be careful about how we spend money.  Even if you are loaded and don’t really “need” to save…It is just good stewardship.


Blessings,
, Saving 4 Six
Tweet
Share9
Share
Pin686
695 Shares
Previous Post: « Ham and Cheese Sliders
Next Post: Saving on College Textbooks »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margo says

    April 27, 2012 at 2:00 AM

    Great tips!

    Reply
  2. Rhonda says

    April 27, 2012 at 2:18 AM

    Great post

    Reply
  3. Heather B. says

    April 27, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    I love reading posts like this one! I had a look at the “Fake Recipes” and it looks really good…I’ll have to go back when I have some more time to read through more closely.

    I forgot to comment one of your last posts – the “pop of red” in your kitchen – love it!! Especially the stove knobs 🙂

    Hugs,
    Heather

    Reply
  4. Rachelle says

    April 27, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    GREAT tips! Thank you so much for posting this. I am a new follower 🙂

    Reply
  5. KCoake says

    April 27, 2012 at 6:14 PM

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  6. Elise says

    April 27, 2012 at 10:51 PM

    Those are great tips! Can’t say that I’ve ever tried calling the electric company before, but we did get one of our two bills cancelled today. Woohoo!

    Reply
  7. mellywoods5 says

    April 29, 2012 at 12:08 AM

    Love this, I too have a big family (5 kids) I slow cook my oats overnight. Works out very cheap and I just pop it on before bed and the kids can serve themselves in the morning.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      April 29, 2012 at 1:54 AM

      Wow, what a great idea! I’m certainly going to give that a try. How nice to have it all ready in the morning!

      Reply
  8. bonniegetchell says

    April 29, 2012 at 3:08 AM

    These are awesome tips– thanks for sharing them! I need them haha 🙂

    -Bonnie @ Revolutionaries
    http://www.revolutionariesblog.com

    Reply
  9. shannon p says

    May 1, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    Love the tips. I have a question about the pancakes. What kind of baggies do you use? Do you reuse them? Otherwise I’d think the cost of baggies would start to add up. We spend way too much on cereal and that’s one area I’d like to cut back.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 1, 2012 at 5:05 PM

      I use the cheapo baggies I get at Dollar General…they’re under $2 for 50 baggies. I do often reuse my gallon bags if at all possible though!!

      Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    May 1, 2012 at 5:00 PM

    Love these money saving tips- please keep them coming. My most favorite money saving tip as of late is that I took 3 pair of jeans that had faded to the point of being embarassed to wear them. I dyed them in black Rit dye and they look like brand new jeans- for the cost of a box of Rit dye about $2, I have 3 new pair of jeans! Every little thing we can do to stretch each and every dollar really helps in these difficult times.

    Reply
  11. Janet says

    May 1, 2012 at 6:53 PM

    Great tips! I’m glad I clicked on your link from Homemaker on a Dime. I don’t know if I can get my son to give up cold cereal, one of him probably eats as much as your crew,lol, but it’s worth a mention. I follow you already, would you check out my blog (if you haven’t)?
    craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com

    Reply
  12. Six Sisters says

    May 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM

    Thanks for the great money saving tips! Thanks for being a part of our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Hope to see you again real soon!! -The Sisters

    Reply
  13. Julie Bagamary says

    May 2, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Good ideas. I do several of them myself too.

    Reply
  14. Thee FireWife says

    May 2, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    Very helpful! Thanks for sharing all these great tips. I’m in a very warm climate, but I’m going to try and find a way to store my produce this winter! Found you through WFMW

    Reply
  15. Mindie Hilton says

    May 2, 2012 at 3:26 PM

    Great tips, I do a lot of these things too. Thanks for sharing at Bacon Time.

    Reply
  16. Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy says

    May 3, 2012 at 6:42 PM

    Great tips!

    Reply
  17. Motivated Mommy of two says

    May 3, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    great tips thank you for sharing, stopping by from the delightful order link party

    Reply
  18. Our Pinteresting Family says

    May 3, 2012 at 7:50 PM

    Great tips! This summer our neighbor and I are going to combine our trash pick up. We both spend approximately $600 dollars together, and our trash/recycling are placed right next to one another. He has about a bag a week of trash, so he is going to simply put his trash/recycling in our cans then pay us a percentage of the total. Big money saver for both of us.

    Reply
  19. Jola says

    May 4, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Very inspiring post! Thanks for sharing those tips!

    I’m visitng from delightful order.

    Reply
  20. Ginny @ OrganizingHomelife.com says

    May 6, 2012 at 12:16 AM

    Great ideas! Thanks for sharing at Simply Sensational Tuesday.

    Reply
  21. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

    May 8, 2012 at 3:39 AM

    Carrie these are all great tips! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

    Take care,
    Trish

    Reply
  22. Crystal says

    May 9, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    Congrats on being my #5 most clicked link last week on Mommy Solutions! Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your tips & idea! I appreciate you taking the time to share!

    Have a great week!

    Crystal
    http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2012/05/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-43

    Reply
  23. Rustown Mom says

    May 29, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    These are all great tips and very do-able! I also freeze extra from meals and do freezer breakfast tacos. Forwarding your info on to a friend (:

    Reply
  24. photoshop free trials says

    December 3, 2013 at 9:54 AM

    Usually I don’t learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very
    pressured me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me.

    Thanks, very great post.

    Reply
  25. ช่างถ่ายวีดีโอ says

    October 22, 2014 at 1:54 AM

    I used to be suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not positive whether this
    post is written through him as no one else recognize such distinct about my trouble.
    You’re wonderful! Thanks!

    Reply
  26. Guadalupe says

    November 11, 2014 at 5:19 PM

    Hey There. I found your blog the usage of msn. That is an extremely well written article.

    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your helpful information. Thank you for the post.
    I’ll definitely comeback.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Welcome to Fridays Unfolded #64! | nancherrs WordPress says:
    October 3, 2013 at 11:57 AM

    […] Time and Money Saving Tipsfrom Saving 4 Six  […]

    Reply
  2. Healthier Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Muffins says:
    April 8, 2017 at 10:57 AM

    […] told you in my last money saving post that I have tried to eliminate boxed cereal from our home, mainly because of the expense.  I have […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Me

https://saving4six.com/

Welcome to Saving 4 Six! I'm Carrie, a wife and frugal mother of four. This is my soap box, where I share money saving ideas, tips, and projects. Stick around...I hope you'll be inspired to save too.

Pinterest

Categories

7 Ways I Encourage My Husband

7 ways I encourage my husband

10 Ways I Love On My Man

10 Ways I Love On My Man
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosures
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2023 · Captivating Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT