Comments on: A Dollar Saved

By: Fiona

Fiona — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:02:51 +0000

I completely second Jenny’s comment about how this show keeps her in the ‘fight the stuff-lust’ mode….this forum does that for me also!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:57:16 +0000

Elvin, I do see your point about the coffee, and I am thinking about it, but the bigger picture is that I am a mom to 3 little ones and the coffee could be filed under ‘mental health’ most of the time. It gives structure to my walks with the kids through the neighbourhood and something ‘grown up’ to look forward to. I have no social life-related expenses to speak of since I haven’t been out at night in about nine months, so the 2 bucks is not a big deal in my case — that is, the deprivation would be harder for me than for some. Having said that, I have begun brewing coffee in advance to take out on walks in order to cut a /bit/ of the coffee bill!

I guess what I’m saying is that all this depends on the individual. That is what Gail says over and over too — she can’t tell you what’s ‘worth it’ for you. Right now I would go mental without the cafe stops; in the next two years I’m gearing up to go back into career land and things will change again. Thanks for your comment though — certainly food for thought. I love this forum! It keeps me in that energizing ‘fight the stuff-lust’ mode and excited about saving. Hurrah!

By: Charmian Christie

Charmian Christie — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:23:16 +0000

Interesting concept. I see others have pointed out the logic of factoring in fuel costs. I wouldn’t lug a computer 7 blocks for fear of dropping it, so fuel and parking fees must be factored in. But more importantly, that $7 is a false economy if the store can’t give me the same service or tech support I need. Whereas a book? Same book, same author, no warranty/service needed.

I think I’m rare here in that my time is worth $7. I would NOT walk 7 blocks for a book bargain if I had other important things to do. However, I might if I had the time.

That said, I do get your point that the dollars add up. A couple bucks extra for the fancy cable package, a few cell phone calls, that extra item in the shopping cart…

By: Sharlene Burke

Sharlene Burke — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:27:19 +0000

How about instead of shopping for new items, like clothing and some household goods, browing the aisles of charity shops like Sally Ann, hospice thrift shops, Humane Society shops for used and still good condition/quality stuff? Amazing how much designer and ‘label’ goods are found at amazing prices!!

By: Elvin Takeda

Elvin Takeda — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:46:06 +0000

Jenny, splurging $2 a day on that Americano results in about $700 annually. Take that amount and dump it into an RRSP and you can rake in a fortune from now until you retire! Since I’ve discovered Gail and other financial guru David Bach…Im bring my coffee into work and I’ve saved tons of cash.

As for Fab Broke’s comments $2 saved is $2 earned when you put that $2 into an RRSP or that new Tax free savings account introduced by the Tories! So now you can actually save tax free!

As for buying electronics such as a computer….unless you absolutely need it, I would recommend refraining from getting one. A computer becomes a distraction in life not to mention a sinkhole for your hard-earned cash. Take a $1000 PC, add the cost of internet for one year say at $40+tax/mth, add the additional electricity needed to run the machine…say $10/mth, not to mention any online purchases you make because you’ve fallen for one or two ads. For the first year of your PC purchase, you’re looking at additional expenditures of $700+ just to have the luxury of surfing the net at home. Multiply that for say 5 years and you’re looking at $4500 ($3500 + cost of PC)! Now think of the things you could do with that!

Now many of you may think that I am hypocritical by posting a message on a blog about the pitfalls of a PC; however, I am at work. On my designated breaks I pay my bills, do my surfing and read Gail’s advice.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:58:09 +0000

I buy one cheap but nice looking purse about once a year or a bit more, and use only that until it’s nearly falling apart. I find shoes interesting through the plate glass window, but I’m blessed with an innate immunity against feeling like I have to have them. Two or three pairs TOTAL do me for a long time. I scoff at lottery tickets (you will never win; put the five bucks in the bank!) and ALL anti-aging products (waste. of. time. and. money.) This has saved me zillions over the years! Which is good ’cause I have honking student loans to pay down!

I do have a taste for the expensive coffee, but I am trying a new thing of asking for a medium filter coffee rather than a large Americano — I don’t even notice the difference except when I pay and it’s /below/ two dollars! If it’s not fresh enough, I speak up and ask for a replacement, afer all the freshness is /their/ responsibility, not mine! I swear, it is actually making a difference to our bottom line.

Gail, you rock my world. I’m so glad I ‘discovered’ you and that you are putting your expertise and charm to such great use. You are actually saving lives and liberating people — how wonderful. Oh, and you blow the socks off that /other/ show, which really pales by comparison!

By: kristin

kristin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:11:52 +0000

my husband laughs but i’m a researcher. once we had the $ set aside it took me over a month to purchase a vacuum (dirty floors yuk). i could get one anywhere, but i wanted the best bang for my buck. best features, most practical use, longevity etc. and i love vacuuming now (it’s a sexy vacuum mind you) but because it was a GOOD BUY! it wasn’t on sale, i found the listed price reasonable, it was well researched and i love it. and most importantly it’s paid for upfront. never carried over.
so for me, i do love a deal, but a GOOD BUY, providing you always have the $ upfront, makes my day!

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:52:56 +0000

Every little bit counts.

That, and a $1 earned is really $2 because the government eats half LOL!!!!!

I like the idea with the charts for children. I’ll make a note to do that to my kids in the future when I have ‘em

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:02:18 +0000

Interesting topic today. Now, if it was me buying the computer, I’d buy it at the store I was at, if they had the price match plus the 10% as most major consumer electronic stores do. I actually did this for laptop, the price difference was only a penny, but I made the salesperson do it anyways, to prove the point. I could just go down the street, and buy it there. She made the adjustment. In fact when I purchased my photo printer, the price went down 2x in 2 weeks, which is the restriction for pricing matching on computers and computer accessories, my $300 printer ended up costing me $80 in the end. I live in walking distance of the store, so no transportation costs.

By: Nahidah

Nahidah — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:26:09 +0000

My favourite way to shop is - as I stare at the item tempting me - I ask myself - need or a want? Because every time I see something tempting - my first thought is - I NEED, I NEED! So my brain is now trained to say - Hold on, back up lady - need or want - do you really NEED that 9th handbag, cause it is looking so delicious right now? 99% of the time, I can walk away without buying.

I also shop with a friend - and we talk each other out of buying anything we don’t need. Before we enter the mall, we tell each other what we need - for eg, all I really need today is a pair of flip flops cause my old ones broke - then off we go and keep each other on track.

And another tip is - make a list of all clothing, shoes, etc - go through all the closets for the family, make a list of everything that the family needs and walk into that mall with it. Example, my son needed a spring jacket, his old one was too small for him - every time we went to the mall, we all kept a look out for a great deal, well, last saturday he got it - Timberland spring jacket - $24 down from $138! Whoo hoo! Kid happy, mum very happy!

You are all such smart ladies and I agree with everything said. Gail - saving money never felt so good and it’s all your fault! We love you for it!