Weird ways to save money.

[Cahlee]

Does anyone have a weird way to save money that works for them?

I realised about a month ago that I accumulate excessive amounts of change because for some reason I only like to buy things with notes. So I've started a change jar that when full I'll put into a long term savings account. I have $85.65 in my change jar atm. I know this isn't exactly weird but I'm wondering, what are your saving methods?

 

[xitel]

I pick up money off the ground. Even on the sidewalk I'll bend down to pick it up. I also use things until they've become completely unusable. For example, I won't throw away socks until they've gotten to the point where they won't stay on my feet anymore. I'll wear shirts with huge holes in them, to the point where they aren't even shirts anymore, more like sleeves with bits on. I only wear them around the house, but still.

 

[black lincon]

I fast, not for god but for games.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Mooch of your parents, like me (although, to be fair, I'm 16).

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

I have a change tin, use trade ins and eat at certain times. You eat a lot of food but once you schedule it you can save a lot of money.

 

[Cahlee]

I have a change tin, use trade ins and eat at certain times. You eat a lot of food but once you schedule it you can save a lot of money.

I never even thought about the food thing. I might give it a go.

 

[xitel]

I have a change tin, use trade ins and eat at certain times. You eat a lot of food but once you schedule it you can save a lot of money.

Personally I just eat when I'm too hungry not to. I end up eating about one meal a day and eating the leftovers later that night. But being semi-nocturnal helps that a lot. When all the places to shop are closed it's hard to spend money.

 

[vede]

Change jar, like a lot of others. When I was little, we checked it, and we had $130 USD saved up. I was like, "Dayum!" It's a lot emptier now, though. Mostly just pennies and a few dimes.

Past that, I work the system. The system being "human psychology." I'll never spend an amount of money of my own that's less than five dollars. (Right now, at least, when I'm still in school.) I'll always borrow that money from others, because I've found that people assume you're desperate when you're asking for cash, and if they have money, they know they'll feel guilty for not helping a person desperate for something (usually some food for lunch or to eat on a long band trip (which I no longer have to worry about, woohoo!)). That way, I have an almost limitless flow of cash for small things, so I don't have to worry about my own funds being whittled away by small, common amounts, and I can use my unused cash for something more major.

I'm a dick, I know, but I'm just so damn good at being a dick without people knowing it. I'm certain most people have a good idea of how people think (seeing how they're people, too), but being able to use it such great effect is so damn fun. I mean, I get free money all the time, I can survive easily without a cell phone (people are so open to letting others use theirs), I skipped the eighth grade by being able to seem intelligent while talking to the high school principal and district superintendent.

 

[Zac_Dai]

Past that, I work the system. The system being "human psychology." I'll never spend an amount of money of my own that's less than five dollars. (Right now, at least, when I'm still in school.) I'll always borrow that money from others, because I've found that people assume you're desperate when you're asking for cash, and if they have money, they know they'll feel guilty for not helping a person desperate for something (usually some food for lunch or to eat on a long band trip (which I no longer have to worry about, woohoo!)). That way, I have an almost limitless flow of cash for small things, so I don't have to worry about my own funds being whittled away by small, common amounts, and I can use my unused cash for something more major.

Haha I use to do that at school as a Kid, kinda backfired at one point though...

 

[Aardvark]

I realised about a month ago that I accumulate excessive amounts of change because for some reason I only like to buy things with notes. So I've started a change jar that when full I'll put into a long term savings account. I have $85.65 in my change jar atm. I know this isn't exactly weird but I'm wondering, what are your saving methods?

I purchased my 360 and a few games with change.

Actually, that's a lie, they took one look at me, laughed their arses off and pointed me in the direction of a bank.

Stop buying things you really don't need. Chew your food more, so you'll feel less hungry and need to eat less, thereby spending less money. If you pay for electricity, switch off your devices at the walls and don't leave excess lights on at night. It all adds up. Do the maths on your daily commutes. I worked out it's actually cheaper for me to drive, taking into account services and brake jobs, which is getting even better now that oil prices are dropping. Stay single. Quit smoking. Don't donate money to those scabs who hang around train stations and shopping centres, trying to guilt you into donating. They're all working on commission anyway, you're better off giving your money directly to a kid with cancer. Stop texting everybody. If you really need to find out what someone is up to, call them. It's cheaper.

That's all I've got.

 

[Cahlee]

I realised about a month ago that I accumulate excessive amounts of change because for some reason I only like to buy things with notes. So I've started a change jar that when full I'll put into a long term savings account. I have $85.65 in my change jar atm. I know this isn't exactly weird but I'm wondering, what are your saving methods?

I purchased my 360 and a few games with change.

Actually, that's a lie, they took one look at me, laughed their arses off and pointed me in the direction of a bank.

Stop buying things you really don't need. Chew your food more, so you'll feel less hungry and need to eat less, thereby spending less money. If you pay for electricity, switch off your devices at the walls and don't leave excess lights on at night. It all adds up. Do the maths on your daily commutes. I worked out it's actually cheaper for me to drive, taking into account services and brake jobs, which is getting even better now that oil prices are dropping. Stay single. Quit smoking. Don't donate money to those scabs who hang around train stations and shopping centres, trying to guilt you into donating. They're all working on commission anyway, you're better off giving your money directly to a kid with cancer. Stop texting everybody. If you really need to find out what someone is up to, call them. It's cheaper.

That's all I've got.

Wow.. That's awesome! I'm stealing pretty much all of your ideas. Minus the stay single and the smoking (long term relationship, dont smoke). You should be a financial advisor.

 

[Gitsnik]

I'll always borrow that money from others, because I've found that people assume you're desperate when you're asking for cash, and if they have money, they know they'll feel guilty for not helping a person desperate for something (usually some food for lunch or to eat on a long band trip (which I no longer have to worry about, woohoo!)). That way, I have an almost limitless flow of cash for small things, so I don't have to worry about my own funds being whittled away by small, common amounts, and I can use my unused cash for something more major.

I have personal pride issues that prevent this. I tend to screw over the bigger corporations.

Ahem. That's another story.

Like a couple of the above I only eat once a day or so (where I say or so I mean "or week"). I throw $50 a week into a bank account as my saving and just spend whatever I need to (rent, car, fuel, food, bills) before banking the rest - keeping $50 for myself.

Here's the kicker, that savings account is in my name but it was started about 21 years ago (you know, when I was born) so my mum still has the signatory on it - which I refuse to take off. This way, if I want money to spend, I have to either save it from the mediocre amount I get to keep to myself each week, or I have to go explain to a crazy little lutheran lady why I need the latest game.

I tend to just save things myself that way, my mother is an expert at giving "that look" even when I'm a state away.

 

[Cahlee]

Here's the kicker, that savings account is in my name but it was started about 21 years ago (you know, when I was born) so my mum still has the signatory on it - which I refuse to take off. This way, if I want money to spend, I have to either save it from the mediocre amount I get to keep to myself each week, or I have to go explain to a crazy little lutheran lady why I need the latest game.

I tend to just save things myself that way, my mother is an expert at giving "that look" even when I'm a state away.

My parents try to get me to give them all my pay each fortnight and that they'll give me whatever I need and save the rest for me, but I just cant bring myself to do it!

 

[JuniorMartin]

I have found that not knowing how much you have works. See we use money more when we know that we have money to waste. So by not knowing I am never Sertens that I can afford anything. Its weird but it works give it a try.

 

[Aardvark]

Wow.. That's awesome! I'm stealing pretty much all of your ideas. Minus the stay single and the smoking (long term relationship, dont smoke). You should be a financial advisor.

Now would be a lousy time to start.

Other than that, improve your cash flow. If you're in fast food, move to retail. If you're in retail, move into better retail. If you're unemployed, swallow your pride and take whatever you can find. If you live in one of those semi-socialist states that seem to be popping up, find out if there's any government payments you can leech in addition to your paypacket. Rental allowance, study allowance, minority allowance, if you qualify, cash in. Suckle on the teat of taxpayer funding.

 

[Gitsnik]

My parents try to get me to give them all my pay each fortnight and that they'll give me whatever I need and save the rest for me, but I just cant bring myself to do it!

Yeah I wouldn't do that either (I moved out not long after I started work a few years ago by the way). The point is that you have your own cash, you're paying your own bills and whatnot, but every extra bit you have (rent is an essential, basic vegetables are an essential, Fable2 is not gets put into that bank, then if you want it you have to ask for it.

If she permits me I'll keep doing that till I'm at least 30, it's a damn fine way to do it.

Something I forgot to mention earlier:

For every $100 I want to spend, I have to think about it for 1 week recursivly (so $200 is two weeks - anything over $500 is just cut off at 5 weeks). It's surprising how much crap I was so sure I desperately needed which I never got.

 

[Handofpwn]

I have a change tin, use trade ins and eat at certain times. You eat a lot of food but once you schedule it you can save a lot of money.

Personally I just eat when I'm too hungry not to. I end up eating about one meal a day and eating the leftovers later that night. But being semi-nocturnal helps that a lot. When all the places to shop are closed it's hard to spend money.

I do the same thing! Chinese is the best for doing this, it is cheap and delicious even when it is cold. also, never tell people you have money, they will try to guilt you into giving it to them. I hide my money in one of my manga volumes (actually, it is a manga sample book), that way, I wont have it on me and it will be out of my sight so that i am less tempted to buy bullshit. One last thing. Instead of buying posters I go to gamecrazy or gamestop and ask for the cardboard promotional stand ups. They give them away for free, and they are 100 times more awesome.

 

[xitel]

I do the same thing! Chinese is the best for doing this, it is cheap and delicious even when it is cold. also, never tell people you have money, they will try to guilt you into giving it to them. I hide my money in one of my manga volumes (actually, it is a manga sample book), that way, I wont have it on me and it will be out of my sight so that i am less tempted to buy bullshit. One last thing. Instead of buying posters I go to gamecrazy or gamestop and ask for the cardboard promotional stand ups. They give them away for free, and they are 100 times more awesome.

For me, I'm just heartless enough to tell people I left my money at home, or that I only have a large bill and can't break it. As for the decorations, my room is still bare, so there's no need to pay for things. The only decorations I have are books and games.

 

[Handofpwn]

I do the same thing! Chinese is the best for doing this, it is cheap and delicious even when it is cold. also, never tell people you have money, they will try to guilt you into giving it to them. I hide my money in one of my manga volumes (actually, it is a manga sample book), that way, I wont have it on me and it will be out of my sight so that i am less tempted to buy bullshit. One last thing. Instead of buying posters I go to gamecrazy or gamestop and ask for the cardboard promotional stand ups. They give them away for free, and they are 100 times more awesome.

For me, I'm just heartless enough to tell people I left my money at home, or that I only have a large bill and can't break it. As for the decorations, my room is still bare, so there's no need to pay for things. The only decorations I have are books and games.

Almost all of the decorations in my room is stuff that I got free from tournaments, broken guitar hero guitars, books, posters, awesome paint job on my wall, and some of those cardboard standups I mentioned. 3 to be exact.

 

[xitel]

Almost all of the decorations in my room is stuff that I got free from tournaments, broken guitar hero guitars, books, posters, awesome paint job on my wall, and some of those cardboard standups I mentioned. 3 to be exact.

Heh, I don't even have any special paint. Just the white paint on the cinderblocks the room came from.