Ways to Save Money & Live Frugally

This is true. Being your own boss is always more satisfying. If someone didn't like dinner that night, tough; it won't get you fired or demoted!!

 

Speaking of brakes and such, I have come to the conclusion that just because a mechanic tells me it's "time" to get new shocks and struts (as opposed to they are actually shot), I will stick with the original. Every car I have had, as soon as aftermarket shocks get put on, the ride is actually bumpier. First time I thought it was a fluke; second time, I was convinced. There are some things you don't fool with, such as the timing belt--other things not so much. Also, it is not so hard to change oil and filters.

 

Are you saying you dont change timing belts? Or that you do them as needed based on maintence schedule from manufacturer!

There also is a huge variation in quality in parts. You know you can buy the exact OE replacements many times at a parts house opposed to a dealer or you can get the cheapest aftermarket part which is probablywhat was being out on your vehicle.

A trick for a person who ddoesnt do their own repairs as well as those who know but just dont feel like doing them is to have the shop return your old parts or at least have them show them to you and explain how there worn out/bad. This should not take more than a few mins and they should not balk at this if they do find a new shop.

 

Sorry, didn't word it properly. What I meant was, if it is time for the timing belt to get changed out, do it, without fooling around!!
You are right about the parts. Another trick is to scratch a little mark on the part getting replaced, then look for it later. I did that with a hose on car when my daughter wanted to buy one from a shady dealer. We didn't buy from him.

 

Yep cause if you dont know what a part is or how to replace it will you be sure that those are your struts or another set that was out back and really shot.

Just tell the shop you would like to be shownthe old part and how it was defective when you return. Only reason iI say this is that my fatherinlaw rand an auto shop. I worked some summers and breaks in college there. When you pull parts they either went in the trash or scrap metal pile once the mechanic cleaned up. No way to necessarily find your break pads in a big pile of scrap metal. If an owner wanted to see them or have it back they were left by the mechanics work station on his table or placed into the car.

 

Another .....do my own vehicle maintenance mostly.
Last brake job, I paid someone, but the one before that I did myself.
All oil changes done by me. Most of it is fairly easy if you have the tools and desire to save some money.

 

Some people spend money like there isn't any tomorrow.
I try to spend money like there isn't any.

 

Just curious. What brand of oil and filter do you use? and how often do you change it?

 

I've used many, but right now I'm using QS Defy, with a Wix filter.
I usually use a Motorcraft FL1A.

 

I like purorlator filters. In my good vehicle I use mobile 1 but in the other cars I use whatever oil change special I can get on sale. Or I use walmart oil. Most any oil you buy is fine. I have mostly used walmart oil in my ranger that just flipped 300k and the last 150k by me. Changing oil is more important than brand. Unless you plan on keeping a car past 200k as most dont these days type oil oil is not important. Most oil change places unless you get the $50 oil change there using bulk kendall or warren oil in bulk most likely. Its fine but is basically the cheapest oil you can get at stores. Warren makes walmarts oil and many house brands and is acceptable quality.

I do all main fence and repairs on my vehicles except a few things that I do t feel like. CV axles and u joints being g the main. Items.

I won't do the timing belt on the highlander due to the complexity not that I could not figure it out but also the small clearance with the transverse engine. I did the timing belt on the ranger. But its an inline and has one cam!

 

A few thoughts:

First, cut what you don't need.

Second, look at the value chain of things. For some things it's worth paying for new/the best equipment, while other times it's cheaper and easier to buy single use Chinese junk and be rid of it after one use. In other cases, buying quality used equipment/parts can make the most sense, but in all cases it's worth looking at the value of the item over time, and what your realistic use case is.

For instance, lightly used cars that are only a few years old, unless you get a steal, aren't appreciably cheaper than new, so it makes sense (at least to me), to buy a new car, or buy a used car that's at least ten years old, but also cheap, and acknowledge that it will likely need more maintenance while not having all the latest features. Buying in between it seems like you pay top dollar for something that you don't know the history of.

Tools are also interesting, because it depends on what you use, and how often you use it. Everyday hand tools it pays to buy the best, or at least top line amateur equipment, since you use them a lot, and it saves a lot of work in the end. On the other hand, if you're making a one-off special tool that you'll only use a few times, then it's probably cheaper to buy something from Harbor Freight and junk it. Also, if you use your tools everyday for a living or serious hobby, it probably makes sense to spend more on them than it does if you use them occasionally for a hobby. (i.e. we have an HF concrete vibrator, but a Stihl chainsaw, and a mix of Craftsman and Snap On hand tools).

Third, pay yourself first. No matter how hard put you are for cash, there is almost certainly someone living on less and still doing okay. So, take some amount from your paycheck, put it towards savings,* and then recalculate your budget based on the remainder.

Fourth, remember that money is just instrumental. Frugality needs to be balanced against what the money can buy you in terms of time, memories, and security. Life is for living, and while financial security is certainly something to aim for, turning into a Scrooge-character is also something to be watchful for. (I struggle with this sometimes, as I occasionally fall below spending my allotment of fun money, which isn't an excessive amount, but I see as problematic because it means I'm not getting out enough to socialize and see/do things, but rather working too hard or taking too many nights in. However, I suppose once you're married it becomes a different calculus.)

Also, the value of a thing that you can do yourself changes over time. It used to save a lot of money changing the oil and filters on a car by yourself versus taking it to a shop, but now some of the Jiffy Lube places can do it for basically $5 over the cost of oil and filter, if not at cost (because they buy in bulk instead of small quantities), which seems like a decent trade for not having to get under the car and mess with everything.

On the other hand, if you have the skills, some things make a lot more sense to do yourself, provided you're qualified. I know a fellow who got quotes for having a foundation dug on his new house, and found it cheaper to buy a lightly used full sized backhoe (not an add on to a CUT) and do it himself, versus paying the excavating contractor, even assuming he scrapped the backhoe at the end of the job, rather than resell it or keep it as a new big boy toy. (He ended up reselling it).

Fifth, try to earn more money. Frugality and cutting expenses is one way to improve the balance sheet, but adding assets is another way, which is often easier, especially if you save half the raise. Obviously, this isn't for everyone, but if you can take a side job or turn your hobby into money, that can help a lot, as can moving up at work. Again, this isn't for everyone, but if you can do it, it helps improve the budget picture from the other side.

*This is a whole other topic, but briefly, once you have some cash set aside for emergencies, start investing the savings, don't just stick it in the bank. Sticking it in the bank loses money after inflation, and you're giving up on even the modest returns that you can get on Treasuries. Obviously, higher returns are possible for higher risk, but that's something that you should seek out more personalized advice on, depending on your timeframe, resources, and so on.

 

Dont know if this has been mentioned. Find an Aldis Grocery Store in your area.
We save $400 a month buying Groceries there instead of Walmart.

Take your Breakfast and Lunch to Work saves about $200 per person over eating out or at the Company Cafeteria. So if both the wife and hubby saves $400.

Kids working to make their own spending money, pricelss. LoL

 

Look around you. What are you wasting? For us, it is power, and food. My wife likes to buy fruit at Sam's Club. I'm betting half of all our food goes to waste. I have made significant headway in reducing power consumption, but it is hard for my wife not to over buy food. Both parents products of financial disaster during the depression. Plus we had four kids. It has been very hard for her to change. Needless to say, the dogs are well fed.

 

Got dang. I don't spend near $400 a month in groceries. Heck, not even 1/2 that!

 

Yea but are you married with two teenage kids? I think brian has 2??

I am married with an 8month old. I spend $75 a month on formula and close to that on diapers. Things change my friend

If you told me I would be making the money I do now when I was in high school I would of thought I would be rich and have all kinds of extra. I dont, I dont have a new truck and dont go on vacations!

But we too found Aldi about a yr ago or more. Love it and we too save probably $100 month by going there. Wife went to college near where we live now and went there in college but we did not shop there for years for some reason?

 

You'd be surprised how much money you can save when you don't have any to begin with….

 

I say this all the time...Where did it all go wrong!!

 

When people started buying stuff today with money they won't have tomorrow...

 

We feed a family of 5. We would spend around 220 at walmart per week and only spend around 120-130 at Aldis. So we save around
400 per month . And its mostly hamburger and chick type meat no high dollar stuff.