Ways to Save Money & Live Frugally

I bought land on contract when I was 19 that had a falling down abandoned house on it. Well was good. Put a septic system in with cash. 2nd year mortgaged it and bought a used mobile home. Interest rate at that time was 16%.
At 29 I sold part of my hauling company . Paid off everything and have remained debt free since.
Paid cash at 36 for an energy efficient new modular home and haven't looked back.
It really is easy . You just have to be willing to make sacrifices early on.

 

We do a good bit like that with our credit card, saving up points for a future cruise.

 

The cost of using credit cards is built into the price of the goods so you may as well play their game and get a few % back, otherwise you're just throwing money away. It may not be much but it's something and it adds up. I don't see a lot of cash discounts any more to take advantage of otherwise.

 

16???
Holy moly!

 

Our first mortgage, in the late 50's was at 10%. I'm guessing that 16% was even earlier. Of course savings interest rates were 6-8% then too. High inflation, as was common back then (especially 70's), brings both types of interest rates up.

 

During the early 1980's recession, interest rates spiked way up. I had a CD paying 20% interest ( one of the few successful financial gambles I've made).

 

I like the Giant store also. I watch for the thier meat sales. Pork loins - get two. One cut in small roast size and the other then gets smoked.

 

No wonder Ruger looks so well...

 

I have an Amazon prime business account. A lot of stuff is discounted even further than just a Prime account . Also have a Chase Visa Amazon CC . It's 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. 2&3% on most everything else. It's a default card on my Paypal account so major equipment/tool/parts purchases get run through it also. The cash back is insane and it's all stuff I would have bought anyway.

 

At the beginning of the year I also got an Amazon CC (rgular). I hadn't even thought of getting another cc (I only had 1), but when it said I could have gotten ~$80 back last year, I figured I might as well get cash back on stuff I'm buying anyway. I like that they allow you to use as you go along (not waiting until end of year), or to "save up" for later use.

 

I read some of the reviews re: the Amazon CC and it scared me off a bit. Maybe I should reconsider?
Just bought something from Prime today.

 

I just got off Amazon a couple of minutes ago and used the $30 I had for cash back so my original purchase of $119 was $89. I've only had the cc since January and this is the 3rd time I've redeemed. You can only redeem thru Amazon, but I buy plenty so am okay with that. Don't know about how the interest rate is since I always pay off my cc's.

 

Which is exactly what I'd do. Everything is cash nowadays, but having a card like that would be useful.

 

Nothing to be scared about. I have had one a few years now. I have prime as I live in the country and it's the easiest way to get stuff. I have gotten hundreds of dollars back over the years on stuff I buy anyway. I have it set to auto pay.

 

Prime here too. Ordered something today that should be here on Tuesday. Awesome.
We use Prime for TV, movies, music, e-books (wife). I have a bunch of stuff in my "save for later" stash that I can't make up my mind on.

 

I have hundreds of things in mine. I use it to save stuff I want or ideas. Some stuff stays forever before I get around to that project or buying it.

 

I would I have no issues

I got the mortgage in 89 or 90
Right after the 87 market crash.Everything sucked except food prices , gas prices and 80s Rock !
IIRC standard bank savings accnt interest was 5-6%

 

My save for later is usually a shopping list for me and to compare prices with eBay or elsewhere.
Have the Amazon Fire TV= AWESOME
Cutting the cord with Direct as I speak!
All the business expense goes on the Amazon card and the cash back is usually enough monthly that it covers most all household expenses other than utilities . It's a supreme money saver. Amazon is typically lowest price on most everything to begin with , add business pricing discount and the 5% cash back = home run !

 

Yep i do the same. Cross compare with walmart.com, eBay and the companies own website if applicable.