Join AARP
Join for Just $16 A Year
- Discounts on travel and everyday savings
- Subscription to AARP The Magazine
- Free membership for your spouse or partner
Message Boards Directory
Welcome to the AARP Discussion Board. Here you can talk with peers about current events ranging from Social Security to caring for your parents to the latest on health care reform. It is also the perfect place to exchange healthy eating recipes and job hunting tips.
These forums are for you to engage and have fun meeting new people. Just remember the community code: Be nice!
99 Ways to Save
False
Budget & Savings
99 Ways to Save
<font size="1"><div>Saving money is easier than you might think with a little ecouragement from fellow savers on a budget. Learn how to save for long or short term goals. Who knows a money saving expert might even pop in every once in a while.</div></font>
AARP Bulletin is launching their 2012 version of 99 Ways to Save real soon. So it got me thinking, what are some of your secrets to saving? The topics range from saving money on pets, home, cars to fi
0
Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:f80ddd14-505a-4bab-8d65-8444c1068885
Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:f80ddd14-505a-4bab-8d65-8444c1068885Discussion:10e03862-db09-4874-b820-dfd66c100694
Forums » Money » Budget & Savings » 99 Ways to Save
|
99 Ways to Save
posted at June 25, 2012 5:25 PM EDT
|
Posts: 42
First: May 26, 2010 Last: July 2, 2012 |
AARP Bulletin is launching their 2012 version of 99 Ways to Save real soon. So it got me thinking, what are some of your secrets to saving? The topics range from saving money on pets, home, cars to finances, utilities, health and more. There are quite literally 99 different ways you can save money in this feature. But let's use this forum to talk about other ways we save. Share your thoughts and tips with other members and maybe we'll all have a little more money in our pockets this year. |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at June 26, 2012 6:52 PM EDT
|
Posts: 153
First: February 12, 2012 Last: April 26, 2013 |
Great Topic, dvansant, Now, first I will tell you I am a certified, unadulterated, verified, and documented cheapskate! And, proud of it, too! 1. Don't buy water, when you can get it from your faucet for free. Anyone who buys water needs their head examined, and should send the money to me, and I will supply them with free water, and keep their money! 2. Don't buy coffee at those expensive coffee shops!! You know which ones I mean! Get a thermos, take your own coffee, and save a bunch! 3. Don't buy retail ! There are plenty of thift shops, consighment shops, hospice shops, etc, who actuallly do good for your community, and recycle goods instead of making new. The thrill of finding those bargains is priceless! 4 Don't eat out so often! It is not fun if you are doing it every day anyway! Go out to eat only once a month and save your money. Eat your leftovers, and prepare your own food. Why make the restaurants rich, and you poor? 5. Find a BF or GF who will spend their money on you, and save yours. This is always a good idea, and saves you lots of ,money. 6. Go to the local beauty academy and get your hair done for less than a third of the price of the beauty shop, and you are helping those young people learn as well! 7,. Go to the Dental School, Optometry School, etc. for needed services at very low cost, and you will find you get excellent service there, too! 8. Buy your eyeglasses on the internet at Zenni Optical, for 25-85 dollars! You can't beat their prices. 9. If you need an expensive operation, go overseas where they treat you like a king, and don't take your entire life savings! |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at July 4, 2012 12:50 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: July 4, 2012 Last: July 4, 2012 |
When I have a coupon, I buy cat litter that comes in a plastic tub. When the litter is gone, I drill holes in the bottom of the tub and use it as a planter. These could be spray painted, but flowers don't care what they are grown in! |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at July 9, 2012 10:13 AM EDT
|
Posts: 334
First: January 24, 2008 Last: May 1, 2013 |
In Response to 99 Ways to Save: What's everyone doing to save on Summer energy bills? I find that simply closing the curtains where the sun comes in goes a long way to keeping the house cooler in the summer. Here's a link to the page on AARP.org that has a collection of articles which all adds up to "99 Ways to Save": http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/aarp_save_money/. AARP Bulletin is launching their 2012 version of 99 Ways to Save real soon. So it got me thinking, what are some of your secrets to saving? The topics range from saving money on pets, home, cars to finances, utilities, health and more. There are quite literally 99 different ways you can save money in this feature. But let's use this forum to talk about other ways we save. Share your thoughts and tips with other members and maybe we'll all have a little more money in our pockets this year.
Posted by dvansant |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at July 23, 2012 1:13 PM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: July 23, 2012 Last: July 23, 2012 |
This is a great series. I want to comment on the reminder of draconian tax penalties if you take money from your 401k before age 59 1/2. A way to avoid this is to choose the option that allows withdrawal of 401K funds according to your life expectancy. I retired at age 55 and chose to have my 401k disbursed with monthly checks--the amount is determined each year by what the 401K is worth on Dec 31 of the previous year AND my life expectancy. In this way I can avoid the big tax bite. I just just pay tax on the disbursement as income. Also--if you retire in the same year as you turn 55, some of the penalties discussed do not apply. Another thing I found out last year is that disbursement from my mutual fund is not taxable because I am in a 15% tax category. This will go away at the end of this year if the Bush tax policies are rescinded. I guess they figured that middle class and poor people don't have investments, but this is not true in this day and age, especially for seniors who have played by the rules their whole working lives and took advantage in a modest way of all the financial instruments they could to prepare for retirement. |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save - on Air Conditioning
posted at July 24, 2012 9:55 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: July 24, 2012 Last: July 24, 2012 |
Thermal drapes really work! You can also buy thermal panels to hang over windows in sunny locations. They completely block out light and are also great for sleeping at night if you live in a city or other location with outdoor lights that come in your windows. Other strategies: When sitting any length of time, put some cold water in a dishpan and soak your feet. Feels great! Put a bag of ice on your head. Since 90% of your body heat escapes from your head, it really keeps your whole body cool. This is also great for walking on hot city streets! Install a stove in your basement. You can cook in comfort while keeping the rest of your house cool. |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at July 26, 2012 10:35 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: July 26, 2012 Last: July 26, 2012 |
On your "Care expenses" piece, here in Minnesota I'd beg to differ. With like coverage, I went from a stripped down pickup truck to a 15 passenger van with air, automatic transmission, power steering, cruise control and 9 years newer, and my insurance stayed the same! All of the options I mentioned were not on the truck. |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at August 9, 2012 8:29 PM EDT
|
Posts: 1
First: August 9, 2012 Last: August 9, 2012 |
In order to save money on energy, I went through the house and completed every modification that I could do, over a couple of years. I had the insulation increased in the attic. Had the insulation corrected in the crawlspace (we do not have a basement). Sealed all leaks in the house which included around light fixtures, light switches, where the pipes come in under the sinks. Switched out all of the lighting to LED bulbs and installed high efficiency windows. Also, I had a company come through and use an infra-red camera to look for leaks and missing insulation. They were amazed at the changes from before the upgrades and the results after. They could not tell the difference between the walls (insulated) and where the windows were. This showed that the windows were working. They did find a couple of interesting leaks along the floor boards (I plugged them now also). I did an experiment where I unloaded and turned off the extra refrigerator in the garage. 1 year later and we still have not used it. Our energy bills went from being higher than average, to well below. Since I did most of the work myself, it was not expensive. |
|
|
Re: 99 Ways to Save
posted at August 14, 2012 7:57 PM EDT
|
Posts: 2
First: May 27, 2009 Last: August 14, 2012 |
I live in Orange County, CA where there are more automobiles than cars. Where the rideshare lanes on the freeway are virtually empty as almost everyone drives by themselves alone in their individual cars, including neighbors who work at the same company. How do I save? I haven't owned a car in nearly 34 years. We have an extensive system of 100s of miles of off-road bike trails, Metrolink and Amtrak train service, OCTA bus service. It is so easy for me to get all around Southern California and the senior discount rates are terrific! Try $10 for an All-Weekend Metrolink Pass. You can travel anywhere from Oceanside north into LA, out to the Inland Empire, etc plus the pass is good on Los Angeles Metro lines, so you can hope the subway, a bus or one of the light rail lines and head to the various regions of Los Angeles also. |
Forums » Money » Budget & Savings » 99 Ways to Save
