Saving a buck…
I found this article on the Oregonian’s website talking about different ways people try to save a buck or two in their daily lives. It got me thinking.. What do you do to save a buck? Personally I feel like I find ways to spend rather than save. I feel like I’ve gotten that part of life down pretty well. I do know people that regularly do some pretty crazy stuff to save some money though. Maybe I feel like my time is more valuable than the effort it would take to wait in line for gas or go to the bottle return line at Fred’s.. I do find it interesting to hear what others do though. Who knows.. Maybe as I grow older I will adopt some of these practices. Here are some of my favorites from the article:
– Using scrap paper from junk mail as printer paper..
– Washing and re-using paper towels..
– Dumping trash in the local grocery store dumpsters.
The thing thats odd to me is the people who do this are usually people that have considerable amounts of cash at their disposal. My Parents are a perfect example. They are retired and doing just fine.. Yet my Dad insists on doing whatever it takes to avoid paying a garbage bill. He reguarly finds new places to dump the trash as long as it doesn’t involve him putting a can out on the curb.. You have to pay for that! Am I missing a valuable lesson?
It’s a small thing – but it makes me happy (note – JD also posted about it a day or so ago during his Blogathon marathon ’cause I gave it to him…)
I love iced coffee. I also drink milk in my coffee. But I won’t pay for an iced latte or iced americano.
Instead, I get 2 (or 3) shots of espresso over a full cup of ice, and then add my own milk from the condiment bar. And I save at least a dollar with each drink.
But I also don’t often buy coffee out – instead, I make mine at home and ice it, and also make coffee ice cubes so it’s not too watered down.
Like I said…it’s the little things…
Putting your garbage in someone else’s dumpster might be considered “theft of services” according to the Oregon Revised Statutes. In particular:
“…obtaining the use of any services of a public utility nature, without payment or offer to pay for such use is prima facie evidence that the obtaining of the use of such system or the use of such services was gained with intent to avoid payment therefor” (ORS Chapter 164.125 – 2005 revision)
I am not a lawyer, but I’d think twice about it.
I would too.. thats why I don’t do it. But I think it would surprise a lot of people to find out how many people really do.
Personally I doubt anyone is going to come after you for doing it.. Maybe a store manager yelling at you if you got caught.. But I would be more than slightly embarrassed to be caught in that situation. Thats really what would keep me from doing it.
you know, my parents are similar. they don’t go to the extent of dumping their trash somewhere else, but my father does collect his returns and takes them to the store. with gas prices these days and the tweakers at the store, that is something i would never do. Mind you, they are truly able to enjoy retirement with little concern of $$$, so maybe there is something to thriftness.
money saving tips…..hmmm…..
i think i’m in your category. I know how to spend, just not how to save. I use Ebay every so often to get a good deal. I saved $20 on a cooler the other day – that’s cool.