Happy first day of fall! After suffering through extremely hot and humid temperatures, we are finally receiving some rain, rain we haven't seen in almost a month and a half. It's deary out today and sort of cooler, so it feels like fall.
Since the end of July, I've been keeping a running tab on how much I've saved using coupons, digital and paper. I'm not counting mark downs, just coupons. I hit just a few cents over $74 this weekend. This is for stuff we normally buy, but I'm trying to pair the coupons for either keeping the pantry/fridge/freezer stocked or something we would use for every day. I guess that's not bad. Sadly, most of the things we buy, I can't find coupons for.
I try to give blood every few months. I received a $15 gift card for Amazon for doing so last month. It isn't why I donate, but it was a nice benefit. I do a bunch of receipt apps and just got to a $20 gift card for Amazon as well. We live in rural America so DH often orders things off of Amazon that are not available locally, or even 30 minutes away. I consider it found money. Again a lot of things we buy do not give us bonus points.
I try to stay out of thrift stores because I'm often tempted to buy things I don't need, but I was on a mission to replace mixing bowls. The ones that were here had those cracks on the inside that bacteria can grow in. When I divorced, I didn't take everything out of the kitchen so I really wanted decent mixing bowls. I cook and bake a lot. I found a set that were clear for $20. Vintage, but safe! As a result, I was motivated to clean out some cabinets and reorganized a few things to get rid of the other mixing bowls. Hopefully it will make me a little more efficient.
I often use my Discover card to pay for things. I am getting a little over $100 back after a few months. That will go into savings.
As we head into the last quarter of the year, do you think you did enough to save money? I'm not talking about things that were out of your control, but just everyday things that helped you save?
September 22nd, 2025 at 09:53 pm 1758574405
I fly to Florida to see my dad twice a year. A few years ago I signed up for a JetBlue card and got 80,000 points. The card lets me check a bag for free and that alone is worth the $99 annual fee. I booked a trip recently for $5.60. I use this card for all my donations so they are grouped together and I earn a few miles, plus I book travel on it.
I pay my cell phone and cable bills, plus everything I buy online on a different no fee card. That card has offers at other merchants including CVS, Walmart and Macys and I used those multiple times in the past few months. I do ‘pickup’ at CVS so I can get the cash back plus not need to call someone with a key so win/win. This card also has cash back.
I have another no fee card that also gives cash back, I use this for in person shopping. I seem to do less and less of that but I like having a card I never use online as a safeguard.
Iin December I bought some Target gift cards at 10% off, and I use these to replace household things and occasionally for clothes and food that is either cheaper online or not available in stores near me.
I do most of my grocery shopping at a store which is part of the Albertson’s chain. I bought a delivery membership for $99 per year, but I get a $5 credit each month so delivery is $39 per year. I don’t have a car and previously I walked to the store and taxied home. The deliver cost plus a tip for the driver is less than a taxi so for me it’s a win. I shop 2-3 times per month which lets me take advantage of more sales. I shop by ‘what is on sale’, freezing meat and bread and storing non perishables. I like most fruits and vegetables so buying sale items gives me variety across the year. I try to pay attention so food doesn’t end up getting thrown away.
I almost never eat out any more. There are two local restaurants I want to support so I do try to go to each of them once a month which is not a lot but not nothing.
My health insurance has a rewards program for self reported exercise, and I try to ‘earn’ my benefits each month. When I can, I combine the OTC drug benefits with my CVS Extracare benefits so things like allergy medicine and vitamins are free. I buy some household, all personal care, and some food at CVS and pay attention to their sales and coupons.
I am having a health insurance broker help me review Medicare plans this year. I lost dental coverage last year and hope I can find a low cost way to add it back. The broker review is free - I've worked with him before and I recommend doing this even if you think you know what you want to do.
I keep my heat set at 62 at night/68 during the day in the winter. On really cold days I bake something to get the heat from the oven! This Summer I never got my fan out and ran my AC just for a couple of hours. This is comfortable for me - no one should be cold or hot for long stretches!
I should do something to lower my cable bill - we are reportedly getting FIOS ‘soon’ - and I have a newspaper subscription I am thinking of canceling to see if they offer me a lower rate. My big entertainment expense is my Ancestry membership, but I go back to my tree often enough that it is worth it, plus the digitization work they do is amazing record preservation that I am glad to support.
My family reached the ‘we all have too much stuff’ gift giving level several years ago so we have a swap that everyone seems to enjoy and have some nice meals together, some of which I cook.
I support a lot of political candidates with small donations, plus my local food bank and DonorsChoose . Org which supports teacher created classroom projects.
So I am satisfied that I am using my resources wisely!
September 23rd, 2025 at 02:39 pm 1758634754
September 23rd, 2025 at 07:21 pm 1758651712
LifeBalance, I hope CreditCardFree is doing well too. I remember her snowflakes!