Jacob – Great post and thanks for adding me to your blog role. Also, your blog is exceptional and I am adding it to my Google Reader so I stay current with your posts. Looks like you have ‘blog technology ninja skills’ which is one of my goals to learn the technology better this year – time allowing with work and school. I like the top 25 list and the sock idea will be of use as I am going to buy socks soon!

One of my moneey savings tips, at the risk of sounding hokey: what sometimes works for me when I think I might “need” something is to take a good look around at my possessions 1. either I already have “it” or, 2. I get creative and fashion some new “it” Whichever way I go, I realize how much I do have and am grateful once again.

If you need to get a cheap textbook use http://www.CheapestTextbooks.com they certainly save me a lot of money as a college student.

Well, burn my dryer lint? ha. I do use the junk mail to start the fire though, so I’m with you there. This is a great list. I’d add; if you buy a magazine every month, subscribe! The 12 months costs about what 4 issues go for. Choose one every 3 months to keep the renewals that far apart.
JOE

I remember reading in The Tightwad Gazette that dryer lint can be bad for birds unless it’s from all cotton or wool fabric.

@Alex – It’s free.

@Alex – The same computer without a “free” pre-installed operating system from Microsoft or Apple tend to cost less though 😉

I agree with #5. Just take the wine out of the bottle and put it in a decanter….nobody will ever know…

# Use linux instead of windows.

Windows requires costly upgrades.
I think Linux is free isn’t it? If so that would save money in big time.

I am a little pissed at both computers as well as Windows. They are in cahoots to get your next six month dollars to keep current. I have an old laptop with (get this) Windows 95 on it and it works still!!!! All be it a tad slow!
I also posted about my computer with Win98 on it that I use quite often.

For help with #5:

http://www.worldcat.org/title/wine-trials-2010/oclc/468974576

Take the book with you to Costco or Target, etc. I usually don’t like cheap Merlot, but the Barefoot Merlot is excellent, sells for ~ USD$6 (0.75L) in a large US East Coast metro area.

I do all except using linux. My husbands computer uses linux but I don’t think I can highjack what he does.
We’ve been saving our junkmail for over a year and made papercrete blocks (http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/25_0/alternative-building/how-to-papercrete) to build our guest house. OK, having a guesthouse is not a NEED but it’s better then my mother-in-law sleeping on the pullout in the living room!
One to add: use a fabric hanky rather then kleenex. You can find them at the thriftstore for next to nothing.

If you are going to subscribe to high-speed internet from a cable company, it makes sense to go ahead and pay for the most basic TV package as well. The reason is because the basic TV channels (usually 1-20 or so) come through the analog line, which also serves the cable modem. It is not possible to cut power to one without cutting both. Therefore, most cable providers account for this in their pricing schemes.

For example, pricing might look like this:
— Basic Cable TV: $15
— High-speed Internet (with TV subscription): $45
— High-speed Internet (without TV subscription): $60

Since you’ll be paying the same amount and receiving the same services in either case, you might as well “officially” subscribe to basic cable TV. That way, if there is ever a problem with your TV picture, the cable company will be obliged to come out and provide service.

I’ve trained my kids not to rip the wrapping paper when opening gifts…they find it annoying, lol!

I’ve often wondered what your gift buying policy is Jacob? If you don’t mind me asking
🙂

How about actually cutting your own grass instead of hiring it to be done and cutting it at 4″ or higher so you don’t have to water it – ever.

[…] substituting “emergency fund” or “retirement plan” for “stores of choice food and oil”. The one who saves is wise. The fool lives paycheck to paycheck, spending all he […]

We use discarded plotter maps (colorful and informative!) from work or newspaper for wrapping paper when necessary. We purchase beef/lamb by the half from local sources or, better yet, by bid at one of the local fall benefit auctions. My husband buys clothes on Ebay – mostly new and super cheap. A quality home espresso machine (yeah, I know…) has saved us a ton of cash over the years. Coffee beans are purchased in bulk from Grounds for Change (relatively cheap for organic, shade grown hippie coffee). Live close to work and have no kids, so that helps…

I’d add: use library instead of Netflix (and I can tell this is a vintage post, as Blockbuster is kaput). And, if you DO need a car, use a car sharing service (http://giddingsplaza.com/2013/03/01/goodbye-saturn-sl1-hello-carsharing/)

Great tips Jacob. I try to rent out the space in the spare room. Income goes towards paying the mortgage off quicker. Great post, thanks for sharing.

How about this one related to car insurance…

I cut way back on using my car (more biking, walking, and my spouse has one that we share) so I cancelled my insurance (Farmers). It sits in my driveway unused most of the time. When I need it, I use my agents secure email system to tell her that I’m using it for the day so I’m covered. I’ve never received a bill. She told me once that for periodic use they put you in their system for the day but unless their is a report/accident they never send it to billing.

I plan to sell my car within the next 6 months after I’ve transitioned away from it but in the mean time I’m saving a good deal on insurance.

I would suggest not buying wine, beer etc. at all, but then I can’t do without my daily diet Pepsi fix so I guess I can understand someone who truly likes alcohol. And quite honestly, I don’t find any movies I like anymore. I think the last one I went to a theater to see was Saving Private Ryan, so watching through DVD rental or Netflix is a non-issue. I suspect everyone has little tricks that same them some money.

An idea is checking with your electric company and see if they are offering soler rebates. I live in kc no our electric company played 50,000.00$ of a 55,000.00$ solar system and we get a rebate on our 2014 income taxes.we also no longer have a electric bill. The electric company also wins because what we don’t use they buy from us for 2.00$ a kilowatt and sell for more.

How to stop wasting $:
1. Buy cheap dollar store cloths for cleaning with bleach and a bit of dish soap (no more paper towels).
2. Use “Universal Precautions” for ALL cleaning ( two tablespoons of bleach with quart of water). Soak all dishes in a solution of bleach and water, then once dishwasher is FULL, turn on.
3. Use night-lights in strategic areas for safety during the night, turn ‘OFF’ all lights not being used and unplug anything that you are nor currently using. Heat only rooms WHEN you ARE OCCUPYING them. Use crock-pot instead of stove-top whenever possible or electric fry-pan.
4. Wash clothes in COLD WATER, except cleaning clothes with bleach, soap and HOT WATER. Hang all clothes on portable drying gadget (saves me $100 CAD per month – I’m a foster parent so a ton of laundry!).
5. Cut up fraying towels – teach kids how to make a seam along edges – great for cleaning car, windows, floors and walls.
6. Use sheets with clips (from JYSK) and make curtains or pillow covers, duvet covers, shower curtains (buy cheap liner from dollar store) from sheets.
7.Make decorative pillow covers or gym-bags using old T-SHIRTS. Cut up old pyjamas made with flannel make excellent LINT-FREE clothes for glass tables, windows, etc.
8.Cook 3 x’s a recipe – freeze the rest in containers (use recycled ones from items bought from store). On days you are too tired to cook or for lunches at school or work.
9. Buy bread from Wholesale – day old, or occasionally on long weekends, opportunity to buy fresh breads 3 days ahead of stale date.
10. Check internet for cheapest gas, here, at Costco near the USA border we get gas 10 cents cheaper than other providers, incentives – do grocery shop at same time (only things you WILL USE.
11. Use ‘Coast’ on vehicle as much as possible = 10 kilometres per gallon. Drive if possible during non-peak hours to alleviate stops and goes.
12.Use bath water for plants when bather is finished.
13.Some libraries will let you borrow up to 60 CDs every two weeks, keep return dates written on calendar to avoid late fees!
14.Post all appointments on cell phone and calendar – use these ‘route trips’ to shop or run other errands for less mileage/kilometre usage. Try to ‘bulk travel’ if using vehicle.
12.Investigate Banks for ‘NO FEES’ for 65 years and older.

MORE LATER, GOT TO GO..

Love your blog you are doing us a great service. I have a good Credit Score. So we talking with my agent I ask if it could cut my cost some. I am now paying 20% less on my auto insurance. You should check this out the worst that can happen is there is no change.
My aunt Ruby always dried everything on the line. Then she would put the towels in the dryer for about 5 minutes. This made then fluffy instead of hard as a board but without the cost of drying with electricity.