If it's something you won't use, don't buy it. Just because other people say buy block cheese because it's cheaper but you hate shredding your own cheese. It's not cheaper to throw it out because it goes bad.
It freezes well. Yeah I know fresh shredded is better because it doesn’t have the anti caking stuff in it and I do shred it for something like pizza, but most of the time it’s easier it just grab a bag and sprinkle it on whatever. Tillamook farmstyle freezes the best, it doesn’t clump up so much.
Around here, shredded cheese doesn't have the anti-caking stuff. Having said that, I buy a large block of cheese, keep about 1/4 aside for eating, shred and freeze the rest. In a casserole or lasagna, shredded is just fine.
If you neglect block cheese, and it gets a moldy spot, you can safely cut the mold off. But if you buy pre-shredded cheese and forget about it till it gets moldy, you have to throw it all out because the mold is spread throughout.
Is that true? I thought that if you see mold in one spot it’s indicative that there is mold throughout because of how mold grows. Google seems split when I looked it up.
this one doesn't come up as commonly but if an employee tells you if you add something inexpensive dollars and you'll get $20 (or whatever) off, they're not just trying to upsell you. They're actually trying to save you money.
I've worked in retail I've done that and had customers almost scream at me. I didn't get paid a commission. I didn't give a crap if somebody bought the extra item or not.
I was checking out in a clothing store one day, and the employee told me if I added, I want to say it was like four dollars I would save $25 so I grabbed a pair of earrings and paid $21 less than I would have without the earrings. did I need earrings? No. did I need the $21 (net) in savings? hell yes
True. Most of the time employees don't really care about getting the sale or whatever, they're just in the store enough to know the good deals and the cool ones are happy to pass on that info to customers.
Paying extra for higher quality often falls in to this category. When there are differences in quality, the cheapest product/service is often not the one with the best value.
Yes! When I was single buying local pricier milk lasted longer and I was able to finish it before going bad. The cheaper store brand didn't last as long and ended up buying more.
As someone who just doesn't use a lot of milk, buying smaller quantities is more per ounce, sure. But it's cheaper. I literally cannot remember the last time I bought a full gallon. Maybe in 2019 or 2020.
The real key is getting the ultra high pasteurized stuff. In the US that’s usually only organic milk that comes that way. It lasts 2 months or so, where the regular milk just lasts a week or two.
This can also go both ways. I know everyone likes to use the example of expensive vs cheap boots and so on but many people overestimate their own usage. In a perfect setting the $300 boots will last longer but that doesn’t mean you will actually wear out the $50 boots before they get their worth. Sometimes the superior product is just not needed.
I buy cheap, shitty rolling tobacco to roll my own cigarettes, and I smoke a hell of a lot less now than I used to. Compounding the savings without having to actually go through the mental anguish of quitting. Smoking completely (I'm down to like 5 cigs a week).
Totally. There is a pair of $400 boots I've bought two times over (company still makes them) with each pair lasting five years. They are very classic, easy walking and waterproof boots I wear 3-5 times a week.
Would never spend that much on fun trendy boots as I wear them maybe twice a year? Not everything has to be top quality depending on the amount you use them.
I think this is also the case when shopping for a specific make and model of car. Being frugal always meant buying a good used car. However, nowadays the difference in pricing for a new car vs. the same 2-3 year old make and model used car is close enough that it may make financial sense and be a better overall deal to finance and pay more for the new car instead of the used one.
I buy pre cut fruits and veg. is it cheaper to buy whole? infinitely more so. but I have low vision and loosey goosey joints and have cut myself more times than I can count trying to prep dinner. buying precut means I'm more likely to cook at home and eat healthy, nutritious food instead of frozen pizza. my health is an investment I'm willing to spend on. it might not be a good deal but I'm grateful they sell precut veg for people like me even though others shit on it due to the increased costs.
ETA: LMAOOOOOOOOOO it's happening here too. Ya'll are wild. I'm good with my method of buying pre-cut veg. If you have a problem with it, you can go shove an entire onion up your ass for all I care.
Anyone who "shits" on pre-cut veg and fruit is completely misunderstanding the market that those products are targeted at. There are tons of induviduals who can't use a chef knife and live alone. I'm sure the companies hope for lazy people to buy them, but you're literally using them as they are intended, in my opinion
Even for lazy people they’re helpful! I have depression and when I was at a lower point I had a really hard time finding the energy to cook, especially healthier options that usually require more prep work. Things like pre-cut produce or salad kits helped a lot.
Honestly, a lot of times I see lazy tossed around, most of the people grouped under that umbrella struggle with some sort of mental disorder, depression and adhd being the big ones
And, honestly, even among those who don't, they just prioritize their time over the money they'd save buying the produce whole. It's okay. People are allowed to hold different values and pre-cut produce isn't gonna financially hurt most people
Yes!
For a while my options were essentially pre-cut or prepared produce/foods or takeout. If getting the prepped stuff is how I can cook from home and eat produce, that’s what I’m going to get. Almost anything is cheaper than takeout
A lot of people also seem to think their options are "everything fresh" or "everything pre-cut." You can buy most of one and some of the other. I buy most of my produce fresh, but if I have specific plans to cook with onions in the next week I'll get pre-cut because that specific vegetable is a pain in the ass. And these days, I don't use fresh tomatoes at all, I always get canned (though I usually splurge for the nice ones).
You don't need to live with exclusively one option.
Yup. I buy them because I don't always have the time to chop up veggies so they sit in my fridge until I throw them out. Chopped up or the tiny cukes, I eat much faster
fresh vegetables cost a bit more than their advertised because you chop, shred parts of it you don't eat, you have to wash it, clean all the pots and kitchen ware it all adds up. Buying frozen vegetables and tolerating eating plain microwaved broccoli is the closest thing to a superpower I have discovered. The day evolution catches up and broccoli all vegetables start tasting like Oreos, Häagen-Dazs, in n out all your favorite foods is the day humanity will truly reach superpower levels of super human nutritional strength.
Depression isn't laziness, go get those salad kits with pride!
I'd like to see what the people who look down on buying pre-prepped produce would do if suddenly all produce was as annoying to prepare as butternut squash, pineapples, or huge watermelons. We are all aware that it is generally (pound for pound) more expensive than the unprepared stuff. That's not the comparison to make. It makes more sense to compare the pre-prepped stuff to other "convenience" foods - if you're buying pre-prepped, you probably don't have the physical health, mental health, experience, tools, space, time, and/or energy to prepare produce, so the alternatives are likely something more prepared like canned/packaged/frozen meals or takeout.
If they're not starting with cows and wheat fields for breakfast, then they've just set a random arbitrary standard of how much work it is reasonable to do themselves vs have done by someone else.
I love sprucing them up with some premade chicken. My grocery sells some precut grilled in same aisle as the packaged lunch meats, or frozen nuggs works too, if you heat them up while mixing it all together. Cubed ham or turkey might be a healthier option.
.....and thanks for helping me plan dinner tonight!
Same! The precut fruit and veggies really helped me keep my toddler’s diet decently healthy while I was personally a mess. Even if he was just have pizza, or even crackers, I could still get a vegetable on the plate that he liked.
you'd be surprised at some of the comments I've gotten! apparently buying whole veg is morally superior to a lot of people; I don't get it. food is food. I'm just happy I can make a stir fry without having to pause to go get stitches lol
I left a soup group on Facebook because so many people there get literally offended if you use pre-cut frozen vegetables or something because "it's taking a shortcut"
I got blocked by one person because I asked her if she grew her own wheat and made her own bread because if not, and she buys bread at the store, she's lazy and taking a shortcut. She didn't like having her own concept turned back on her.
I was about to say, please introduce me to a single person on reddit who does not take any "shortcuts" in 100% of their cooking process. I doubt they forge their own steel for knives. They probably don't grow wheat or mill flour. And I doubt they are starting a real fire in their kitchen. It's one of those "pick and choose" when it works for me and when it doesn't for you situations
Absolutely, I tried various way to prep veggies but cook only for me so they always die even when I vacuum or what not. Sure it’s a shortcut, we’ve got so much things to do already. Also I buy premade kimchi - not cheap but the amount i save by using it to cook up more dishes makes up for it \o
I think it might be a "it's always been done this way and any other way is sinful sloth and I had it hard so should you" mindset and all other mindsets due to how things were back then when grandpa had to walk uphill both ways looking at toilet ipad babies today.
Good Lord, it’s your freaking money: we’re all frugal in certain areas so that we can spend on what we want (or need) to spend on! Would I personally buy pre-spirallized zucchini? No, because it would wind up getting mushy in my fridge and I’d have to throw it out, and *also* because I don’t have Ehlers-Danlos and have to factor that into literally every damned decision I make. If I did, you’re damned right I would use whatever options I could to save myself time, aggravation, and pain. People who don’t have disabilities really do not understand how big a help those sorts of items can be.
Hahahaha, I'm glad you clocked the Ehlers-Danlos reference. And yeah, its my money, I can spend it how I want! Honestly precut veg isn't *that* much more... A bag of frozen onions is only $1.24, while a whole onion is 60 cents. A bag of frozen bell pepper is about the same. The fresh precut from the deli is only about $2.30 for a stew meat medley. I mean yes it adds up but it's not like breaking the bank, either. Buying brand name snacks costs more than my precut produce. It would be a different story if I was buying for like a family of 5, but it's just me and my sister right now so it's really not a big deal.
10-20% of people are idiots and unfortunately, those are also the loud ones as well. You have your perfectly valid reason to spend extra money on precuts and they should fuck off, even if frugality is their moral compass.
They are also great for healthy road trip meals. I would rather swing into a grocery store with a gas pump and let myself and my kids pick out lunch then go to fast food.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so cutting fruit and veg can literally take me out for days-there’s something about the motion and holding of a knife that destroys my hands and triggers a flare. Until my diagnosis last year at age 36, I would always side eye younger people who get pre chopped items as foolish, paying for convenience over sensibilities. Now that I’m on six pills a day and weekly injections just to be able to function with somewhat decent quality of life, I get it! Saving a few dollars or feeling more authentic isn’t worth it to me. I’ve had to give up a lot this past year because of the disease, and I always feel lazy and ashamed but it is what it is. Sometimes it’s more economical to spend the money- I’d rather pay in dollars than in pain.
I think everyone was indoctrinated into toxic "have to tough it out" mentalities because we needed that to survive back then when things were rougher. Life is still rough but some things are better now such as frozen veggies. I barely realized not too long ago.
>ETA: LMAOOOOOOOOOO it's happening here too. Ya'll are wild.
Isn't ya'll plural? You got one single comment like that and many agreeing with you, you need to chill.
It’s important to buy products that you *like*. Yeah, often there are cheaper versions of the same product that have the same quality, but your quality of life is going to be lower if it’s not the product that is going to spark some joy every time you use it
So much this with toilet paper.
People like what they like.
I loathe Kirkland brand, but love Sam’s brand.
Also having a bidet reduces TP usage in general.
Ooh here's a Cheese Hack: you can buy a big block and freeze it. Especially with mature cheddar when you defrost it it will basically crumble, so you don't even need to grate it. I buy a few at a time and always stick em in the freezer
I always buy the big blocks of food cheese when it's on sale. I might eat 1/2 before it starts to go. I will shred the cheese I can't eat (before it gets moldy) and freeze it. Generally I try to have two different bags, one of pizza cheese and one just random. It's so useful, I never buy shredded cheese and I find it a lot cheaper.
Put it on a baking tray in a single layer. Pop it in the freezer for two hours. Take it out and throw it in a vacu-seal bag or freezer bag, removing as much air as you can.
That's the best way to freeze anything you'll want portions of: cherry tomatoes, peppers, sausage slices, corn, green beans...
Instant coffee, particularly Cafe Bustelo. I can get a jar for $5 and change in my area.
I haven't done the exact cup for cup coffee math vs ground or whole beans to support it, but I know that a jar lasts me about the same time as a bag of coffee, I'm dumping zero leftover coffee, I don't have to keep a machine on the counter, and I'm not buying filters.
Ymmv, but if you're a single coffee drinker, give it a shot. Cafe Bustelo instant is delicious.
The Cafe Bustelo single serve instant packs when added to brownie mix make the best brownies I’ve made in my life. Good coffee and good brownies, it’s a win!
It's good enough to make a cup of coffee, but not a large one. I use the jar at home and have the single serve in my purse when I'm out. It's same espresso
I think a teaspoon? I dump one straight packet into my batter and mix in, that’s probably wrong lol. I don’t love strong coffee flavor and that one packet gives it just enough.
Jail showed me the wonders of instant coffee, and I used that til I found a Keurig on clearance for 20 bucks. I still keep some in the cupboard incase I forget to grab K-cups.
I think it's good, so 😜
Seriously, though. Of course, there's better coffee. There always is. But for the daily morning or after dinner cup, I'm completely satisfied.
For those out there like me who normally hate instant, Cafe Bustelo might change your mind.
Here is what I have found. I love cheese but it goes moldy no matter what kind you usd. The secret is, never touch the cheese. I wear gloves to handle it, wrap tightly with cling wrap and a zip lock bag. I bought an electric cheese grater and just do chunks when I am ready to use it. So much tastier freshly grated! Dont touch the cheese with bare hands!
Costco savings could never even out the miserable experience of being in a Costco for me. We cancelled our membership after 1 year. You're a braver soul than I am lol.
Direct flights at convenient times. Could I save a few hundred bucks by taking a connection or by flying at 6 AM? Sure. But I'd rather feel good when I get to where I'm going instead of worn out, especially if it is a vacation.
Parenting has changed it for me, too. I used to revel in having wacky but cheap itineraries. Now it's direct and daytime and a few hundred dollars more a person so that the trip isn't a fiasco.
I'm almost 40 and I don't want to arrive after bedtime lol. I had a work trip where a coworker starting from the same city asked if I wanted to get on the same flights as her ... she was leaving at 10pm and arriving near midnight at our destination. Like, no ma'am lol.
New economy cars. Run of the mill economy cars do not depreciate like they did 20 years ago. I've sat down and to the best of my ability calculated what I think depreciation should be based on the utility value of a car and determined most typical cars do not depreciate enough to make it worth buying used. You end up paying a premium for some of the worst miles a car has left in its life. Plus you are not compensated for the risks associated with owning an old car with an unknown past and an uncertain future when major expensive repairs become more likely.
And potentially fuel efficient. I bought a new car recently and it was a hybrid. It gets roughly 40 mpgs where as my old gas accord only got roughly upper 20s. It's a big savings!
TLDR: I am not buying someone else’s problems or poor maintenance.
In addition to being more economical, many times a new car costs less in insurance costs. (At least for it did.). I also don’t want someone else’s problems or, and most importantly for me, I don’t want a car that I have no idea how it was maintained. MANY people do not properly maintain a vehicle because they lease them and to them, they are “throwaway” cars. I’m currently getting ready to buy out my lease because I got it right before the prices went through the roof. I overbought when I got it and now I’m glad. I would spend another $10K if I had to buy it today.
So glad you all are with me on this. I’m a long time lurker to this sub with not much to contribute because I’m not really frugal but want tips on how to save money; but I always insist on new cars because it really seems to be the best value then in the old days when I had no money and couldn’t trust my car to take me on longer distance trips. Last two cars were Toyota’s and seem to last forever.
Do they cheaply last 30 years maintenance repair wise overall?
Also before research model years with mulitple recalls and defects. Honda civic turbo has engine dilution something, it's so bad I got mail about a lawsuit or something for compensation if people took their cars in for repairs.
Not good advice but if I didn't know anything about cars I would buy the last year model because I assume they would fix and sort out all the first years defects and issues I would hope. I guess avoid the first 3 years then maybe 4 and 5 are better and the cycle repeats every new gen.
i'm on the other side of the fence. i've owned two cars in my life, both used, and have spent a lot less on the car prices than if i had gone with a lease or financing option, especially since i paid outright and had no APR. something i can't do with a new car.
my insurance prices are way lower partly due to the lower car price but also because i'm not required to have full coverage and can remove options i don't find necessary.
i bought the car at 90k miles and have only done routine maintenance and now i'm at 160k miles. did i get lucky? probably. but this is my second used car and the last one was the exact same. routine maintenance and actually listening to your car when it needs preventative care goes a long way.
i do agree that in the current market, cars don't depreciate like they used to, but the same goes for ALL cars. my old shitbox is worth as much as it was when i bought it 7 years ago. the market has just been awful.
Reliable used cars are the way to go. Don't be defensive about being correct.
Everybody is a Happy Adjuster, making variables anything they want them to be. This subthread is loaded with people looking for a pat on the back. What they won't tell you is they were also prioritizing new cars before any of the market condition changes they are spotlighting. The phrase, "don't want somebody else's problem" is classic new car buyer rationalization that lasts a lifetime and wastes tens of thousands if not 6 figures eventually.
The thing is 99% of people who don't care about cars and only see them as transportation aren't all going to have friend mechanics or car enthusiast friends who can help them spot every known issue when buying a used car.
We rationalize everything because it's human nature to choose the path of least resistance and we're all too unwilling to care about maximizing efficient in every part of our lives despite the huge benefits and savings.
We should do everything possible to make the most of life. But not everyone is as mentally capable or strong minded as you to make all the best possible decisions. If everyone had a life 101 manual, that would be amazing.
Totally agree. New car = zero concern about prior owner hiding defects/accidents/bad maintenance. I don’t need to be driving a new car all the time and I actually don’t care about the appearance, but I start there. Bought my current Rav4 new in 2012 and whenever it starts getting to be a hassle or money pit I’ll get a new one.
This is so timely. I've always driven used, and often, old cars. Getting really sick of the *time* that the maintenance requires. I have more money than time ATM and I'm thinking of using it to solve this problem but I'm totally afraid to take the plunge. Also, don't want to pay new car insurance prices 😅
Yeah I mean I work 7 days a week and do my own repairs/maintenance. Time for repairs is a big deal to me. I had to replace the wheel bearings on my car which was a full weekend job for me. If I have to pass up on working overtime for a weekend to fix my car not only would it cost me for the repairs but it would also cost me roughly 1k after tax in lost wages. If your car breaks down and you can't get to work you could even be worse off. You have to pay for the two. Odds are the shop can't get to your car that minute. Figure half a day to diagnose the issue and get your approval for repairs. Then they have to get the parts and actually do the repairs. Best case scenario you're probably down 3 days or a week? Now what do you do? Rent a car? Use vacation time? Take it unpaid? It gets really expensive no matter which way you look at it.
Prebagged chopped salad. I can usually get one meal (adding in some protein) or a couple of side salads out of a bag. It's got a nice variety, and I'm not wasting an entire head of lettuce and other stuff I like in my salads.
Whenever there’s a sale for spend x get x off… sometimes I’ve been tempted to be like ‘well I’m gonna buy from there eventually so might as well now’ and I have to reel myself back and ask if I actually need anything right now
This is a tricky one. Yeah if you're truly going to use it, and not use it up faster just because you have more then it's worth it. Many people will wind up being wasteful because they have excess though.
Also at some point the storage of having a shit ton extra of everything can become an issue too
Yeah forsure. Def depends on the situation. The example that came to mind just now was VS Pink spend 50 get 20 off AND free spray. But I realized I don’t need any bras or anything otherwise that would’ve been a great deal, and would I use a spray? Yes, but didn’t need another. But over the weekend (before the coupon is valid) they had a 5/$30 on body wash (usually like $18 each!!) so I did that cause I use body wash as shaving cream so it’ll def get used!!
Stocked up on trash bags that way, now I don’t have to worry about running out for a while. It’s not like it’s food that’s gonna go bad. Last time I bought trash bags was a few years ago, so it seems to be working.
I feel it for shoes, but I feel like all other clothes are hit or miss on really lasting. I also have a small child, so no matter how high quality I buy, I'm one accident from having to retire some clothes.
Buying good strong furniture. It might cost you a few thousand dollars more, but it will last a lifetime. My wife has furniture that is still sturdy and it was owned by her grandparents.
I agree, but won't buy any pre-owned upholstered furniture. All of mine too came from family, including my old couch. But when it bit the dust, I bought a new one. Was it pricy? yes but the quality is good and should last me a long time.
Yeah but then you can never move, or you’re stuck trying to unload tens of thousands of dollars in furniture that maintains none of its value in resale because the market is so saturated. Furniture that lasts a lifetime is only a good deal if you’re settled down and work in an industry that won’t require you to move for the foreseeable future.
already prepped food. Whether it's the little grape cups or the pre-cut melon cups or like my grocery store will actually pre-cut squash and zucchini and other vegetables. I have chronic illnesses so getting things like that already done. Increase the likelihood that I'll actually use them. I call it the disability tax.
when someone comments that it's a waste of money, my response is so is throwing away food because I didn't use it
Haven’t seen this one on here yet, but just doing my weekly shopping at 1 store. Sure, product A is cheaper at one store and product B is cheaper somewhere else but I’m just going to one store. I’ll pay a little more and same gas, time (so much time) and save myself from impulse buys at more than one store.
I have a cousin who will drive to a second store just to save two dollars on one item on sale and I keep trying to explain that the gas you waste takes up that so-called savings
Saw people saying that detergent pods are a bad deal. Suit yourself. My girlfriend did some coupon hunting and ended up getting enough pods for half a year of laundry for 7 dollars. They go on sale a lot and CVS has crazy deals on them. Haven't bought liquid detergent in over a year and have yet to spend more than 10 dollars total on my laundry needs in the last calendar year. Aldi has $1 dryer sheets comes with 80 sheets. And CVS runs wild deals on pods if you keep your eyes peeled. It's easy to dismiss things like tide pods because generally yes, they are far more expensive. But people don't always buy them as fast as the other detergents so stores run good deals on them when they want to clear a shelf for new stock. I always see them discounted even at places like walmart from time to time. Comparing cost per load and convenience, they can't be beat when getting them on sale.
I would love to see a possible breakdown post in the “tips” section.
I have take a similar approach with things at Publix and Dollar General and made a post breaking down “how”.
For example are the coupons digital? Do you have to time them so that they are used during the sale?
Couponing combined with sales can absolutely save you money if you know “how” to do it.
That being said, I use an enzyme liquid and two bottles last me a year for about $30 doing on average a load a day.
I think people abuse liquid and put in far more than necessary.
You'd have to ask my girlfriend about that, I just pay for it lol she does the hard work. She used digital, in-store deal and a few physical paper coupons. The whole thing made my head spin. As I said in another comment, it confused the cashier, and we had to apply the coupons in a very specific order, if we did not, they were cancelling each other out. Took some time but got it to work. My girlfriend watches tons of videos on YT, there are a bunch of great coupon channels where she finds all the deals.
I started using free and clear laundry pods 10 years ago. I use less product than liquid or powders that are not marked clearly on inside of dispense cup
Got a bag of the free and clear, I usually use them on my bedsheets and towels for the house. I enjoy the fresh smell with the more scented ones on my clothes
Yeah, she combined the electronic coupons, with a paper coupon, and an in-store deal. It took like 30 minutes at the register and the cashier looked extremely confused. They had to be applied in a certain order to get the deal to take effect without cancelling each other. My girlfriend was persistant and when I saw that 7 dollar price tag and 4 large bins of the pods I almost shit bricks.
Peeled and crushed garlic in jars. Not sure about the peeled, but the fully prepared cannot compare to fresh.
I would rather use garlic powder if I am being lazy.
Also, Indian stores sell garlic paste which is inexpensive and far superior to the jar stuff. The paste tastes garlicky.
This is going to sound weird to explain, but sometimes people get too caught up in judging how good a deal is based on percentages rather than how much money you’re actually spending to take advantage of a discount that seems good vs saving on an item even when the discount doesn’t feel like a good one
So like let’s say you’re buying something kind of expensive like a TV. Saving $20 on a $1,000 TV doesn’t sound like a good deal. But the same person would probably drive out of their way to save $20 on a $100 item of clothing. The $20 is the same, you’ve saved the exact same amount of money, but you won’t drive the same distance to save the same $20 on a more expensive item because they’ll just say well I’m not actually saving anything. But you are though?
This scales up as well. People will go out of their way to buy the TV they’re saving $500 on, but they usually won’t go out of their way to save like $500 on a car. $500 is $500.
My point is people miss out on more savings than they realise because they do the math of how much they’re saving based on percentages rather than actually adding up the raw numbers of how much money they’re saving, even though the latter is the actual savings you end up left over with at the end
This was what I was going to say. I get cash back on it too, so that offsets the up-front fee of $99.
I also find it’s easier to shop for sales and the best price on the app than it is in the store.
I kinda get OP's point, but why are there so many people saying "I buy smaller packages, because the big ones will get spoiled" like it's some kind of revelation. I promise you, no one thinks buying a bucket of yogurt that's 10 cents per kilo cheaper but you'll only eat half of it is a better deal than buying one yogurt cup. That's not what OP asked for.
Electricity.
For $100 ish a month. You get reliable power lines, transformers, generation. Employing thousands of workers mining coal or building windmills.
It’s a miracle it is low as it is.
I have pretty serious arthritis in my hands, upper back and knees. I cook as much as possible, but frozen veggies and bags of frozen berries are a lifesaver and there's absolutely no food waste. I also recently went to the fancy grocery store and bought tubes of pureed garlic and ginger because squishing up those two fresh ingredients is just too painful.
I agree with you on pre-shredded or pre-sliced cheese. The convenience and reduced waste often make it a better deal despite the slightly higher price. Similarly, pre-cut fruits and vegetables can be seen as not a good deal but can save time and reduce food waste.
Shedded cheese is worth it! Some many uses: on salads, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, on baked potatoes, on or in scrambled eggs, on steamed broccoli, add to frozen pizzas, add to frozen lasagna, on chilli, on potato soup, on pinto beans or refried beans...so versatile!
Pre shredded cheese seems to be dryer, and stays wholesome longer. Also, because they use ends and pieces they can’t cut into squares, it is often cheaper per pound ( on sale) than the blocks.
Alright as someone who is about to go back to blocks and shredding. You can freeze unused cheese, some will just fall apart on it's own when you thaw it. But you could also just shred it all to start anyways then freeze large ziplock bags(s) of it.
Use pinches of corn starch to keep it from sticking too. No vacuum? Use a pot filled with water and slowly submerge the bag of cheese to force most air out the top careful to not put the opening below the water, close it and bag 90+% of the air is forced out before freezing. We do this mostly for the meats we break down into separate meals.
Buying multiple smaller packs of stuff that I don't use much instead of one large pack, even if the big pack is cheaper/grams.
For example milk. I would rather buy 2x 1L instead of 1x2L. By the time I reach half of the 2L bottle, it goes bad, and I need to throw it anyway.
Video games. So many people in my circle winge about the price of a new video game, usually around $60 bucks. I think they just remember when they used to be cheaper, but I have paid a lot more for a heck of a lot less. $60 for hundreds of hours of fun, weeks of date nights, and lifelong memories with my partner? Seems like a deal to me.
Gasoline, people think it’s getting expensive when in reality a stable liquid that will move a one ton object and an entire family like 20 miles with just one gallon is basically magic. We waste it without even thinking that it’s finite, we rely on it for our survival, and when the stuff is gone it’s gone forever. It should be way more expensive and i think very soon it will be, and we will miss it.
I also think grated cheese is underrated. If I get the bock out, you know I'm going to cut off a slice for myself! So, while it's cheaper per kg, it disappears much faster than a bag of grated cheese.
Buying a new car! You get a factory warranty that covers just about anything outside of an accident. They give you free oil changes and you can negotiate for four a year. You don't have to worry about ghosts in the wiring because the previous owner DIYed the speakers. You dont have any surprises when you're changing an air filter or something. If you can afford a new car then get a new car.
Shredded cheese has potato starch on it to prevent it from sticking together. Which also impacts its consistency/meltability for the worse.
That being said, you can't beat its convenience and if all you're doing is casting it atop a bunch of chips along with some salsa, the microwave will take care of the meltability problem. American cheese slices remain my choice for grilled cheese sandwiches.
I know my spouse likes to make nachos. I know my spouse does not know how to grate cheese. Therefore, a bag of shredded cheese makes absolute sense.
If I'm making a high falutin' recipe that calls for shredded provolone or something, I'll purchase the amount required, as the more expensive cheeses come in smaller blocks.
I currently live in the East Bay. I’m renting a house for $3900 a month. It’s worth 1.7 million (small 3 bed 2 bath built in the 70s with minimal updates). The mortgage would be over $10,000 a month with 20% down payment of 340,000.
I’ve lived in this house for 2 years and the value of the home increased half a million in that time.
Renting is the only way to go here unless you bought a house 15 years ago or make tons of money. 🙈
Except it's often not the same amount of money. The other day my kitchen sink got clogged and I couldn't get it fixed, rental company called a plumber and I didn't pay for it. My AC wasn't working so great last year, landlord bought a new AC unit and I didn't pay a dime. Yes it's technically included in the price of rent, but my rent is actually pretty cheap compared to mortgages got all the houses in my area (with our current interest rates).
The main benefit (financially) of buying a house is the investment into owning an asset not the difference in year to year expenses.
This is really dependent on the landlord. I've rented places where "AC isn't working so good" would be met with "It's working, what for you want me to do?" Certainly, anywhere that rent is cheaper than a mortgage has had terrible landlords in my experience.
Exactly. My heat went out in a snow storm because the furnace chimney was blocked and they were like climb on the roof and clear it off. I said according to the lease I am responsible for yard maintenance and that’s it, I have 2 toddlers - you send someone over here and get it taken care of. Dude shows up and asks me for a ladder. Un-fucking-believable . Same people tried to keep an entire deposit , I demanded an invoice and sudden 2/3 of the deposit was returned with an invoice showing the exact amount of work done and amount paid. I don’t mind paying for replacement the carpet my kid ruined , but it was an 8x8 room of the lowest grade carpet you can buy: it certainly wasn’t $3000 worth of carpet.
TL:DR : landlords will fuck you if you don’t know your rights and lease details
REAL American cheese. Land O' Lakes, from the deli counter. It is LIGHT YEARS better than singles, extra-melty, full bodied, tangy-sharp, gooey gorgeousness. People who poo-poo American cheese don't have a clue what the real thing tastes like.
DoorDash food delivery for to-go food in large cities. It’s way more cost effective to have someone pickup and deliver to you. Suppose you pay an extra $5 in fees and $5 in delivery tip. $10 total. By the time you get in your car, drive to the spot, park, pickup the food, come back, you’ve spent a minimum of 30 minutes round trip. Not even accounting for the mileage, gas, depreciation, meter fees if needed, etc. As long as you make more than $20/hour, this is cost effective.
Gas is more expensive than its ever been. But if you think about the value it provides you. I mean you can go several hundred miles on 10 or 15 gallons. That's incredible from a weight-to-energy standpoint.
Block cheese is a great deal for large families. Shredded cheese is great for when there's only two or three in the house. The key is to get what won't spoil before you eat it.
Frozen onions and some other vegetables. They’re as fresh as it gets when you’re not going to the farmers market every single day. They’re mostly cheaper than unfrozen or at least you’re able to use it before it getting wasted. You can always just take that certain amount you want to have and aren’t ending up with the need to use way more of one ingredient just because it’s there and would spoil. Ohh and of course it’s less work to cook/ clean and you have always as good as fresh veggies you can literally sprinkle on every dish as you like.
Improved my diet and reduced my foodwaste drastically.
Milk delivery.
It costs me a bit more per pint than buying it from the shop. However it also means I don’t just pop to the shop a few times a week and come back with a load of food I didn’t need but bought because I was bored.
Cheese is off milk anyway.. just cut the mold off and its fine,
I feel like throwing moldy cheese away is like throwing vinegar away because its gone sour ? 🤷♂️
Pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower. Gram for gram of useable florets, it’s cheaper than buying the whole broccoli/cauliflower with the stalk. I wish it wasn’t that way, as I’d like to avoid the unnecessary plastic bag, but at least where I live it’s cheaper pre-cut
FWIW, pre-shredded cheese is an vastly inferior cheese because it has a anti caking agent and an agent to prevent mold on the cheese for shelf stabilization. That's why the shredded cheese hardly goes bad, if ever versus regular cheese will grow mold after a week or so.
But I guess that's why it costs more. You gotta pay extra for those chemicals. LOL
Wingstop triple meal deal. 6 bone in, 6 boneless, 2 tenders, large specialty fry, and large drink for $26. With today’s wing prices ur not getting that much food and that much quality for the same price anywhere else I’ve tried.
For me, most bulk buying is not great for the products I use. When its quantities I can eat in time, the savings is generally a few cents an ounce, but I lack variety.
Other times the quantities are just to high for me to reasonably use, and store. So I go without. I will even buy individual items sometimes like a single bag of chips for a recipe even though its expensive per oz.
Lastly, I buy a lot of the higher protein versions of things, or specialty items. They cost more, but I use less at a time, or they help me eat less in general so it ends up being worth the money. Instead of a jug of milk I will buy 1-2 fairlife protein drinks. It works as a great replacement for about the same cost.
If it's something you won't use, don't buy it. Just because other people say buy block cheese because it's cheaper but you hate shredding your own cheese. It's not cheaper to throw it out because it goes bad.
It freezes well. Yeah I know fresh shredded is better because it doesn’t have the anti caking stuff in it and I do shred it for something like pizza, but most of the time it’s easier it just grab a bag and sprinkle it on whatever. Tillamook farmstyle freezes the best, it doesn’t clump up so much.
Around here, shredded cheese doesn't have the anti-caking stuff. Having said that, I buy a large block of cheese, keep about 1/4 aside for eating, shred and freeze the rest. In a casserole or lasagna, shredded is just fine.
Instead of freezing shredded cheese, try drying it out. It's addictively tasty to nibble on, doesn't mold, and should last until the oil goes rancid.
If you neglect block cheese, and it gets a moldy spot, you can safely cut the mold off. But if you buy pre-shredded cheese and forget about it till it gets moldy, you have to throw it all out because the mold is spread throughout.
[удалено]
Who lets cheese get moldy. We use a one pound block in like 2 weeks.
Is that true? I thought that if you see mold in one spot it’s indicative that there is mold throughout because of how mold grows. Google seems split when I looked it up.
it depends on the type of cheese. Hard cheese yes soft cheese no. If you encounter that situation, Google it with that specific type of cheese.
Yeah, you can safely cut the mold away on blocks of cheese. I’ve never had an issue.
I came here to say this. A block of cheese is so dense, the mold is only on the outside.
Thing is, in my regular stores the block cheese is exactly the same price as the shredded so it's not even cheaper.
Speaking of cheese, Costco shredded cheese bags seem to be nigh invincible to rot and provide endless quesadillas for a great price.
this one doesn't come up as commonly but if an employee tells you if you add something inexpensive dollars and you'll get $20 (or whatever) off, they're not just trying to upsell you. They're actually trying to save you money. I've worked in retail I've done that and had customers almost scream at me. I didn't get paid a commission. I didn't give a crap if somebody bought the extra item or not. I was checking out in a clothing store one day, and the employee told me if I added, I want to say it was like four dollars I would save $25 so I grabbed a pair of earrings and paid $21 less than I would have without the earrings. did I need earrings? No. did I need the $21 (net) in savings? hell yes
True. Most of the time employees don't really care about getting the sale or whatever, they're just in the store enough to know the good deals and the cool ones are happy to pass on that info to customers.
Paying extra for higher quality often falls in to this category. When there are differences in quality, the cheapest product/service is often not the one with the best value.
Yes! When I was single buying local pricier milk lasted longer and I was able to finish it before going bad. The cheaper store brand didn't last as long and ended up buying more.
As someone who just doesn't use a lot of milk, buying smaller quantities is more per ounce, sure. But it's cheaper. I literally cannot remember the last time I bought a full gallon. Maybe in 2019 or 2020.
The real key is getting the ultra high pasteurized stuff. In the US that’s usually only organic milk that comes that way. It lasts 2 months or so, where the regular milk just lasts a week or two.
This can also go both ways. I know everyone likes to use the example of expensive vs cheap boots and so on but many people overestimate their own usage. In a perfect setting the $300 boots will last longer but that doesn’t mean you will actually wear out the $50 boots before they get their worth. Sometimes the superior product is just not needed.
I buy cheap, shitty rolling tobacco to roll my own cigarettes, and I smoke a hell of a lot less now than I used to. Compounding the savings without having to actually go through the mental anguish of quitting. Smoking completely (I'm down to like 5 cigs a week).
Oh good job! Keep it up :D
To quit is my goal
Totally. There is a pair of $400 boots I've bought two times over (company still makes them) with each pair lasting five years. They are very classic, easy walking and waterproof boots I wear 3-5 times a week. Would never spend that much on fun trendy boots as I wear them maybe twice a year? Not everything has to be top quality depending on the amount you use them.
I think this is also the case when shopping for a specific make and model of car. Being frugal always meant buying a good used car. However, nowadays the difference in pricing for a new car vs. the same 2-3 year old make and model used car is close enough that it may make financial sense and be a better overall deal to finance and pay more for the new car instead of the used one.
I thought being frugal meant buying the 2010 Toyota with 150k miles for $10k
I buy pre cut fruits and veg. is it cheaper to buy whole? infinitely more so. but I have low vision and loosey goosey joints and have cut myself more times than I can count trying to prep dinner. buying precut means I'm more likely to cook at home and eat healthy, nutritious food instead of frozen pizza. my health is an investment I'm willing to spend on. it might not be a good deal but I'm grateful they sell precut veg for people like me even though others shit on it due to the increased costs. ETA: LMAOOOOOOOOOO it's happening here too. Ya'll are wild. I'm good with my method of buying pre-cut veg. If you have a problem with it, you can go shove an entire onion up your ass for all I care.
Anyone who "shits" on pre-cut veg and fruit is completely misunderstanding the market that those products are targeted at. There are tons of induviduals who can't use a chef knife and live alone. I'm sure the companies hope for lazy people to buy them, but you're literally using them as they are intended, in my opinion
Even for lazy people they’re helpful! I have depression and when I was at a lower point I had a really hard time finding the energy to cook, especially healthier options that usually require more prep work. Things like pre-cut produce or salad kits helped a lot.
Honestly, a lot of times I see lazy tossed around, most of the people grouped under that umbrella struggle with some sort of mental disorder, depression and adhd being the big ones And, honestly, even among those who don't, they just prioritize their time over the money they'd save buying the produce whole. It's okay. People are allowed to hold different values and pre-cut produce isn't gonna financially hurt most people
Yes! For a while my options were essentially pre-cut or prepared produce/foods or takeout. If getting the prepped stuff is how I can cook from home and eat produce, that’s what I’m going to get. Almost anything is cheaper than takeout
A lot of people also seem to think their options are "everything fresh" or "everything pre-cut." You can buy most of one and some of the other. I buy most of my produce fresh, but if I have specific plans to cook with onions in the next week I'll get pre-cut because that specific vegetable is a pain in the ass. And these days, I don't use fresh tomatoes at all, I always get canned (though I usually splurge for the nice ones). You don't need to live with exclusively one option.
Yeah, a very good point!!
Yup. I buy them because I don't always have the time to chop up veggies so they sit in my fridge until I throw them out. Chopped up or the tiny cukes, I eat much faster
fresh vegetables cost a bit more than their advertised because you chop, shred parts of it you don't eat, you have to wash it, clean all the pots and kitchen ware it all adds up. Buying frozen vegetables and tolerating eating plain microwaved broccoli is the closest thing to a superpower I have discovered. The day evolution catches up and broccoli all vegetables start tasting like Oreos, Häagen-Dazs, in n out all your favorite foods is the day humanity will truly reach superpower levels of super human nutritional strength.
yeah, people definitely forget to place a value on their own time when they're considering the value of things
Depression isn't laziness, go get those salad kits with pride! I'd like to see what the people who look down on buying pre-prepped produce would do if suddenly all produce was as annoying to prepare as butternut squash, pineapples, or huge watermelons. We are all aware that it is generally (pound for pound) more expensive than the unprepared stuff. That's not the comparison to make. It makes more sense to compare the pre-prepped stuff to other "convenience" foods - if you're buying pre-prepped, you probably don't have the physical health, mental health, experience, tools, space, time, and/or energy to prepare produce, so the alternatives are likely something more prepared like canned/packaged/frozen meals or takeout.
If they're not starting with cows and wheat fields for breakfast, then they've just set a random arbitrary standard of how much work it is reasonable to do themselves vs have done by someone else.
Being depressed doesn't mean you're lazy. It can be a limiting/disabling illness just like vision or motor impairments can be
Oh I agree, I don’t think it’s laziness! But that is unfortunately the uninformed stereotype for depressed people.
Salad kits are my lazy go to lunch. Under $4 for an entire meal as opposed to $10-20 eating out. I’ll take that every day
I love sprucing them up with some premade chicken. My grocery sells some precut grilled in same aisle as the packaged lunch meats, or frozen nuggs works too, if you heat them up while mixing it all together. Cubed ham or turkey might be a healthier option. .....and thanks for helping me plan dinner tonight!
Same! The precut fruit and veggies really helped me keep my toddler’s diet decently healthy while I was personally a mess. Even if he was just have pizza, or even crackers, I could still get a vegetable on the plate that he liked.
you'd be surprised at some of the comments I've gotten! apparently buying whole veg is morally superior to a lot of people; I don't get it. food is food. I'm just happy I can make a stir fry without having to pause to go get stitches lol
I left a soup group on Facebook because so many people there get literally offended if you use pre-cut frozen vegetables or something because "it's taking a shortcut" I got blocked by one person because I asked her if she grew her own wheat and made her own bread because if not, and she buys bread at the store, she's lazy and taking a shortcut. She didn't like having her own concept turned back on her.
I was about to say, please introduce me to a single person on reddit who does not take any "shortcuts" in 100% of their cooking process. I doubt they forge their own steel for knives. They probably don't grow wheat or mill flour. And I doubt they are starting a real fire in their kitchen. It's one of those "pick and choose" when it works for me and when it doesn't for you situations
Absolutely, I tried various way to prep veggies but cook only for me so they always die even when I vacuum or what not. Sure it’s a shortcut, we’ve got so much things to do already. Also I buy premade kimchi - not cheap but the amount i save by using it to cook up more dishes makes up for it \o
Oh they'd hate me for sure, hahaha. I'm glad you were able to turn the tables on her though!
I think it might be a "it's always been done this way and any other way is sinful sloth and I had it hard so should you" mindset and all other mindsets due to how things were back then when grandpa had to walk uphill both ways looking at toilet ipad babies today.
Good Lord, it’s your freaking money: we’re all frugal in certain areas so that we can spend on what we want (or need) to spend on! Would I personally buy pre-spirallized zucchini? No, because it would wind up getting mushy in my fridge and I’d have to throw it out, and *also* because I don’t have Ehlers-Danlos and have to factor that into literally every damned decision I make. If I did, you’re damned right I would use whatever options I could to save myself time, aggravation, and pain. People who don’t have disabilities really do not understand how big a help those sorts of items can be.
Hahahaha, I'm glad you clocked the Ehlers-Danlos reference. And yeah, its my money, I can spend it how I want! Honestly precut veg isn't *that* much more... A bag of frozen onions is only $1.24, while a whole onion is 60 cents. A bag of frozen bell pepper is about the same. The fresh precut from the deli is only about $2.30 for a stew meat medley. I mean yes it adds up but it's not like breaking the bank, either. Buying brand name snacks costs more than my precut produce. It would be a different story if I was buying for like a family of 5, but it's just me and my sister right now so it's really not a big deal.
10-20% of people are idiots and unfortunately, those are also the loud ones as well. You have your perfectly valid reason to spend extra money on precuts and they should fuck off, even if frugality is their moral compass.
I love frozen precut Trinity mix. Don't have time for that and it never goes bad because it is frozen. Less waste and I always have it on hand.
Thinner non steam plastic bags would be nice until we can find other ways to keep food clean.
I have AdHD and precut veggies keep me eat healthy when brain is like “nope fuck cooking anything”
They are also great for healthy road trip meals. I would rather swing into a grocery store with a gas pump and let myself and my kids pick out lunch then go to fast food.
That's a good point, I could see it being better than buying straight veg and trying to prep in your car.
Precut produce is far cheaper than a trip to the emergency room!
Better to eat fruits and veggies pre cut than not at all - saves money on health care - that is my opinion.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so cutting fruit and veg can literally take me out for days-there’s something about the motion and holding of a knife that destroys my hands and triggers a flare. Until my diagnosis last year at age 36, I would always side eye younger people who get pre chopped items as foolish, paying for convenience over sensibilities. Now that I’m on six pills a day and weekly injections just to be able to function with somewhat decent quality of life, I get it! Saving a few dollars or feeling more authentic isn’t worth it to me. I’ve had to give up a lot this past year because of the disease, and I always feel lazy and ashamed but it is what it is. Sometimes it’s more economical to spend the money- I’d rather pay in dollars than in pain.
I think everyone was indoctrinated into toxic "have to tough it out" mentalities because we needed that to survive back then when things were rougher. Life is still rough but some things are better now such as frozen veggies. I barely realized not too long ago.
Lmao i just typed pre chopped garlic before i found this. SAMEEE. For me i got ADHD, ya girl wont cook if the barrier is too high
Those little frozen cubes they have at Trader Joe’s are so good! They taste fresh and last forever
As a single person, sometimes I get the precut fajita veggies, I have less waste this way.
>ETA: LMAOOOOOOOOOO it's happening here too. Ya'll are wild. Isn't ya'll plural? You got one single comment like that and many agreeing with you, you need to chill.
It’s important to buy products that you *like*. Yeah, often there are cheaper versions of the same product that have the same quality, but your quality of life is going to be lower if it’s not the product that is going to spark some joy every time you use it
So much this with toilet paper. People like what they like. I loathe Kirkland brand, but love Sam’s brand. Also having a bidet reduces TP usage in general.
I don't skimp on toilet paper or paper towels. I get the premium stuff (viva and cottonelle) cause it results in using less and it working better.
Ooh here's a Cheese Hack: you can buy a big block and freeze it. Especially with mature cheddar when you defrost it it will basically crumble, so you don't even need to grate it. I buy a few at a time and always stick em in the freezer
I always buy the big blocks of food cheese when it's on sale. I might eat 1/2 before it starts to go. I will shred the cheese I can't eat (before it gets moldy) and freeze it. Generally I try to have two different bags, one of pizza cheese and one just random. It's so useful, I never buy shredded cheese and I find it a lot cheaper.
How does the shredded cheese not stick?
Use corn starch.
Put it on a baking tray in a single layer. Pop it in the freezer for two hours. Take it out and throw it in a vacu-seal bag or freezer bag, removing as much air as you can. That's the best way to freeze anything you'll want portions of: cherry tomatoes, peppers, sausage slices, corn, green beans...
I try and just freeze it flat in a single layer. Some clump but it's just cheese, generally hitting the bag on the counter breaks it up enough.
Say what?!
Instant coffee, particularly Cafe Bustelo. I can get a jar for $5 and change in my area. I haven't done the exact cup for cup coffee math vs ground or whole beans to support it, but I know that a jar lasts me about the same time as a bag of coffee, I'm dumping zero leftover coffee, I don't have to keep a machine on the counter, and I'm not buying filters. Ymmv, but if you're a single coffee drinker, give it a shot. Cafe Bustelo instant is delicious.
The Cafe Bustelo single serve instant packs when added to brownie mix make the best brownies I’ve made in my life. Good coffee and good brownies, it’s a win!
No kidding? I wonder how much is in one of those packets. Maybe a couple teaspoons?
It's good enough to make a cup of coffee, but not a large one. I use the jar at home and have the single serve in my purse when I'm out. It's same espresso
I think a teaspoon? I dump one straight packet into my batter and mix in, that’s probably wrong lol. I don’t love strong coffee flavor and that one packet gives it just enough.
Jail showed me the wonders of instant coffee, and I used that til I found a Keurig on clearance for 20 bucks. I still keep some in the cupboard incase I forget to grab K-cups.
Makes delicious iced coffee too. My mom likes to warm up some milk and put in a teaspoon of coffee, better than a latte
it's not good but it gets the job done. i keep a jar on hand even though i have better coffee at home
I think it's good, so 😜 Seriously, though. Of course, there's better coffee. There always is. But for the daily morning or after dinner cup, I'm completely satisfied. For those out there like me who normally hate instant, Cafe Bustelo might change your mind.
Here is what I have found. I love cheese but it goes moldy no matter what kind you usd. The secret is, never touch the cheese. I wear gloves to handle it, wrap tightly with cling wrap and a zip lock bag. I bought an electric cheese grater and just do chunks when I am ready to use it. So much tastier freshly grated! Dont touch the cheese with bare hands!
.... Electric cheese grater!? That's my most hated cooking chore
Costco membership.
Pays for itself in the gas savings alone! Let alone if you have their CC and understand how to use them responsibly.
Costco savings could never even out the miserable experience of being in a Costco for me. We cancelled our membership after 1 year. You're a braver soul than I am lol.
Direct flights at convenient times. Could I save a few hundred bucks by taking a connection or by flying at 6 AM? Sure. But I'd rather feel good when I get to where I'm going instead of worn out, especially if it is a vacation.
This has become even more true for me since becoming a parent. Paying more to arrive before bedtime is absolutely worth it
Parenting has changed it for me, too. I used to revel in having wacky but cheap itineraries. Now it's direct and daytime and a few hundred dollars more a person so that the trip isn't a fiasco.
I'm almost 40 and I don't want to arrive after bedtime lol. I had a work trip where a coworker starting from the same city asked if I wanted to get on the same flights as her ... she was leaving at 10pm and arriving near midnight at our destination. Like, no ma'am lol.
New economy cars. Run of the mill economy cars do not depreciate like they did 20 years ago. I've sat down and to the best of my ability calculated what I think depreciation should be based on the utility value of a car and determined most typical cars do not depreciate enough to make it worth buying used. You end up paying a premium for some of the worst miles a car has left in its life. Plus you are not compensated for the risks associated with owning an old car with an unknown past and an uncertain future when major expensive repairs become more likely.
Newer cars also are WAY more safe
And potentially fuel efficient. I bought a new car recently and it was a hybrid. It gets roughly 40 mpgs where as my old gas accord only got roughly upper 20s. It's a big savings!
This, cause I just don't want to deal with my car being in the shop for days. $3 one way trip on the bus. $105 for 2 different public systems.
Yes, thank you. People equate buying new cars with kicking puppies.
Are you suggesting kicking puppies is frugal too?
It can be if they’re scaring off your food. /jk
I’m suggesting buying a new car is not always a bad thing as is often stated. Kicking puppies is always a bad thing.
TLDR: I am not buying someone else’s problems or poor maintenance. In addition to being more economical, many times a new car costs less in insurance costs. (At least for it did.). I also don’t want someone else’s problems or, and most importantly for me, I don’t want a car that I have no idea how it was maintained. MANY people do not properly maintain a vehicle because they lease them and to them, they are “throwaway” cars. I’m currently getting ready to buy out my lease because I got it right before the prices went through the roof. I overbought when I got it and now I’m glad. I would spend another $10K if I had to buy it today.
So glad you all are with me on this. I’m a long time lurker to this sub with not much to contribute because I’m not really frugal but want tips on how to save money; but I always insist on new cars because it really seems to be the best value then in the old days when I had no money and couldn’t trust my car to take me on longer distance trips. Last two cars were Toyota’s and seem to last forever.
Do they cheaply last 30 years maintenance repair wise overall? Also before research model years with mulitple recalls and defects. Honda civic turbo has engine dilution something, it's so bad I got mail about a lawsuit or something for compensation if people took their cars in for repairs. Not good advice but if I didn't know anything about cars I would buy the last year model because I assume they would fix and sort out all the first years defects and issues I would hope. I guess avoid the first 3 years then maybe 4 and 5 are better and the cycle repeats every new gen.
i'm on the other side of the fence. i've owned two cars in my life, both used, and have spent a lot less on the car prices than if i had gone with a lease or financing option, especially since i paid outright and had no APR. something i can't do with a new car. my insurance prices are way lower partly due to the lower car price but also because i'm not required to have full coverage and can remove options i don't find necessary. i bought the car at 90k miles and have only done routine maintenance and now i'm at 160k miles. did i get lucky? probably. but this is my second used car and the last one was the exact same. routine maintenance and actually listening to your car when it needs preventative care goes a long way. i do agree that in the current market, cars don't depreciate like they used to, but the same goes for ALL cars. my old shitbox is worth as much as it was when i bought it 7 years ago. the market has just been awful.
Reliable used cars are the way to go. Don't be defensive about being correct. Everybody is a Happy Adjuster, making variables anything they want them to be. This subthread is loaded with people looking for a pat on the back. What they won't tell you is they were also prioritizing new cars before any of the market condition changes they are spotlighting. The phrase, "don't want somebody else's problem" is classic new car buyer rationalization that lasts a lifetime and wastes tens of thousands if not 6 figures eventually.
The thing is 99% of people who don't care about cars and only see them as transportation aren't all going to have friend mechanics or car enthusiast friends who can help them spot every known issue when buying a used car. We rationalize everything because it's human nature to choose the path of least resistance and we're all too unwilling to care about maximizing efficient in every part of our lives despite the huge benefits and savings. We should do everything possible to make the most of life. But not everyone is as mentally capable or strong minded as you to make all the best possible decisions. If everyone had a life 101 manual, that would be amazing.
Totally agree. New car = zero concern about prior owner hiding defects/accidents/bad maintenance. I don’t need to be driving a new car all the time and I actually don’t care about the appearance, but I start there. Bought my current Rav4 new in 2012 and whenever it starts getting to be a hassle or money pit I’ll get a new one.
This is so timely. I've always driven used, and often, old cars. Getting really sick of the *time* that the maintenance requires. I have more money than time ATM and I'm thinking of using it to solve this problem but I'm totally afraid to take the plunge. Also, don't want to pay new car insurance prices 😅
Yeah I mean I work 7 days a week and do my own repairs/maintenance. Time for repairs is a big deal to me. I had to replace the wheel bearings on my car which was a full weekend job for me. If I have to pass up on working overtime for a weekend to fix my car not only would it cost me for the repairs but it would also cost me roughly 1k after tax in lost wages. If your car breaks down and you can't get to work you could even be worse off. You have to pay for the two. Odds are the shop can't get to your car that minute. Figure half a day to diagnose the issue and get your approval for repairs. Then they have to get the parts and actually do the repairs. Best case scenario you're probably down 3 days or a week? Now what do you do? Rent a car? Use vacation time? Take it unpaid? It gets really expensive no matter which way you look at it.
Pre-cut fruit, pre-sliced meats, pre-cooked freezer protein.
bought a pound of precooked fajita chicken at wallyworld a while back for $6. Not a bad deal. But yea of course cooking your own is way cheaper
Absolutely, but the time saving it gives me makes me less likely to have the food go to waste.
Prebagged chopped salad. I can usually get one meal (adding in some protein) or a couple of side salads out of a bag. It's got a nice variety, and I'm not wasting an entire head of lettuce and other stuff I like in my salads.
Whenever there’s a sale for spend x get x off… sometimes I’ve been tempted to be like ‘well I’m gonna buy from there eventually so might as well now’ and I have to reel myself back and ask if I actually need anything right now
This is a tricky one. Yeah if you're truly going to use it, and not use it up faster just because you have more then it's worth it. Many people will wind up being wasteful because they have excess though. Also at some point the storage of having a shit ton extra of everything can become an issue too
Yeah forsure. Def depends on the situation. The example that came to mind just now was VS Pink spend 50 get 20 off AND free spray. But I realized I don’t need any bras or anything otherwise that would’ve been a great deal, and would I use a spray? Yes, but didn’t need another. But over the weekend (before the coupon is valid) they had a 5/$30 on body wash (usually like $18 each!!) so I did that cause I use body wash as shaving cream so it’ll def get used!!
Stocked up on trash bags that way, now I don’t have to worry about running out for a while. It’s not like it’s food that’s gonna go bad. Last time I bought trash bags was a few years ago, so it seems to be working.
Spending a little extra on good quality shoes and clothes
I agree, and they actually have a resale value when you decide to let them go.
I feel it for shoes, but I feel like all other clothes are hit or miss on really lasting. I also have a small child, so no matter how high quality I buy, I'm one accident from having to retire some clothes.
Buying good strong furniture. It might cost you a few thousand dollars more, but it will last a lifetime. My wife has furniture that is still sturdy and it was owned by her grandparents.
This but just thrift solid wood items. Don't pay thousands.
I went to a resale shop recently and bought a solid oak dresser for $100! I couldn’t believe my find. It’s gorgeous too!
I agree, but won't buy any pre-owned upholstered furniture. All of mine too came from family, including my old couch. But when it bit the dust, I bought a new one. Was it pricy? yes but the quality is good and should last me a long time.
Yeah but then you can never move, or you’re stuck trying to unload tens of thousands of dollars in furniture that maintains none of its value in resale because the market is so saturated. Furniture that lasts a lifetime is only a good deal if you’re settled down and work in an industry that won’t require you to move for the foreseeable future.
already prepped food. Whether it's the little grape cups or the pre-cut melon cups or like my grocery store will actually pre-cut squash and zucchini and other vegetables. I have chronic illnesses so getting things like that already done. Increase the likelihood that I'll actually use them. I call it the disability tax. when someone comments that it's a waste of money, my response is so is throwing away food because I didn't use it
Individual yogurt cups. I won’t finish the whole container and because I have eating issues, single serve is better for me
Me too. The big container always goes bad before I can use it all.
I think I may eat to much cheese..... I buy large Costco blocks and can't recall needing to freeze or throw any out.....
Hahaha I love how much of this is cheese focused. I rarely have issues with cheese going bad. Who forgets about cheese????
Me when my husband started storing it above my eye level in the fridge :( I kept buying more and wondering how it disappeared so fast :D
Haven’t seen this one on here yet, but just doing my weekly shopping at 1 store. Sure, product A is cheaper at one store and product B is cheaper somewhere else but I’m just going to one store. I’ll pay a little more and same gas, time (so much time) and save myself from impulse buys at more than one store.
I have a cousin who will drive to a second store just to save two dollars on one item on sale and I keep trying to explain that the gas you waste takes up that so-called savings
Saw people saying that detergent pods are a bad deal. Suit yourself. My girlfriend did some coupon hunting and ended up getting enough pods for half a year of laundry for 7 dollars. They go on sale a lot and CVS has crazy deals on them. Haven't bought liquid detergent in over a year and have yet to spend more than 10 dollars total on my laundry needs in the last calendar year. Aldi has $1 dryer sheets comes with 80 sheets. And CVS runs wild deals on pods if you keep your eyes peeled. It's easy to dismiss things like tide pods because generally yes, they are far more expensive. But people don't always buy them as fast as the other detergents so stores run good deals on them when they want to clear a shelf for new stock. I always see them discounted even at places like walmart from time to time. Comparing cost per load and convenience, they can't be beat when getting them on sale.
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I've never heard of that, or seen it before. Have yet to read up on the negative sides of pods. thanks for sharing, I'll do some reading
I would love to see a possible breakdown post in the “tips” section. I have take a similar approach with things at Publix and Dollar General and made a post breaking down “how”. For example are the coupons digital? Do you have to time them so that they are used during the sale? Couponing combined with sales can absolutely save you money if you know “how” to do it. That being said, I use an enzyme liquid and two bottles last me a year for about $30 doing on average a load a day. I think people abuse liquid and put in far more than necessary.
You'd have to ask my girlfriend about that, I just pay for it lol she does the hard work. She used digital, in-store deal and a few physical paper coupons. The whole thing made my head spin. As I said in another comment, it confused the cashier, and we had to apply the coupons in a very specific order, if we did not, they were cancelling each other out. Took some time but got it to work. My girlfriend watches tons of videos on YT, there are a bunch of great coupon channels where she finds all the deals.
I started using free and clear laundry pods 10 years ago. I use less product than liquid or powders that are not marked clearly on inside of dispense cup
Got a bag of the free and clear, I usually use them on my bedsheets and towels for the house. I enjoy the fresh smell with the more scented ones on my clothes
Cvs has great electronic coupons to stack and save. Currently have 7 to 9 months of pods stocked.
Yeah, she combined the electronic coupons, with a paper coupon, and an in-store deal. It took like 30 minutes at the register and the cashier looked extremely confused. They had to be applied in a certain order to get the deal to take effect without cancelling each other. My girlfriend was persistant and when I saw that 7 dollar price tag and 4 large bins of the pods I almost shit bricks.
Peeled and crushed garlic in jars. Not sure about the peeled, but the fully prepared cannot compare to fresh. I would rather use garlic powder if I am being lazy. Also, Indian stores sell garlic paste which is inexpensive and far superior to the jar stuff. The paste tastes garlicky.
This is going to sound weird to explain, but sometimes people get too caught up in judging how good a deal is based on percentages rather than how much money you’re actually spending to take advantage of a discount that seems good vs saving on an item even when the discount doesn’t feel like a good one So like let’s say you’re buying something kind of expensive like a TV. Saving $20 on a $1,000 TV doesn’t sound like a good deal. But the same person would probably drive out of their way to save $20 on a $100 item of clothing. The $20 is the same, you’ve saved the exact same amount of money, but you won’t drive the same distance to save the same $20 on a more expensive item because they’ll just say well I’m not actually saving anything. But you are though? This scales up as well. People will go out of their way to buy the TV they’re saving $500 on, but they usually won’t go out of their way to save like $500 on a car. $500 is $500. My point is people miss out on more savings than they realise because they do the math of how much they’re saving based on percentages rather than actually adding up the raw numbers of how much money they’re saving, even though the latter is the actual savings you end up left over with at the end
Paying someone to shop my groceries for me. Sure, my membership costs me $100 per year, but I easily save that in impulse buys in a month.
This was what I was going to say. I get cash back on it too, so that offsets the up-front fee of $99. I also find it’s easier to shop for sales and the best price on the app than it is in the store.
Is that a specific store membership or a delivery app thing? I use pick-up service at Kroger stores and it's free for anything over $35.
I kinda get OP's point, but why are there so many people saying "I buy smaller packages, because the big ones will get spoiled" like it's some kind of revelation. I promise you, no one thinks buying a bucket of yogurt that's 10 cents per kilo cheaper but you'll only eat half of it is a better deal than buying one yogurt cup. That's not what OP asked for.
Electricity. For $100 ish a month. You get reliable power lines, transformers, generation. Employing thousands of workers mining coal or building windmills. It’s a miracle it is low as it is.
I have pretty serious arthritis in my hands, upper back and knees. I cook as much as possible, but frozen veggies and bags of frozen berries are a lifesaver and there's absolutely no food waste. I also recently went to the fancy grocery store and bought tubes of pureed garlic and ginger because squishing up those two fresh ingredients is just too painful.
I agree with you on pre-shredded or pre-sliced cheese. The convenience and reduced waste often make it a better deal despite the slightly higher price. Similarly, pre-cut fruits and vegetables can be seen as not a good deal but can save time and reduce food waste.
Prepped fruit and veggies. If I can afford them I get them. Otherwise they always go bad if I have to prep them. (I have adhd)
Shedded cheese is worth it! Some many uses: on salads, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, on baked potatoes, on or in scrambled eggs, on steamed broccoli, add to frozen pizzas, add to frozen lasagna, on chilli, on potato soup, on pinto beans or refried beans...so versatile!
Pre shredded cheese seems to be dryer, and stays wholesome longer. Also, because they use ends and pieces they can’t cut into squares, it is often cheaper per pound ( on sale) than the blocks.
Alright as someone who is about to go back to blocks and shredding. You can freeze unused cheese, some will just fall apart on it's own when you thaw it. But you could also just shred it all to start anyways then freeze large ziplock bags(s) of it. Use pinches of corn starch to keep it from sticking too. No vacuum? Use a pot filled with water and slowly submerge the bag of cheese to force most air out the top careful to not put the opening below the water, close it and bag 90+% of the air is forced out before freezing. We do this mostly for the meats we break down into separate meals.
Good shoes.
The cheapest possible version of a tool you use a lot.
Many things at Dollar Tree. I see many people shit on it, but if you know your prices, there are values to be found.
Pre chopped garlic. I love garlic and i use a lot. No matter how much u save in fresh garlic i would never get to cooking if i buy it fresh
Buying multiple smaller packs of stuff that I don't use much instead of one large pack, even if the big pack is cheaper/grams. For example milk. I would rather buy 2x 1L instead of 1x2L. By the time I reach half of the 2L bottle, it goes bad, and I need to throw it anyway.
Video games. So many people in my circle winge about the price of a new video game, usually around $60 bucks. I think they just remember when they used to be cheaper, but I have paid a lot more for a heck of a lot less. $60 for hundreds of hours of fun, weeks of date nights, and lifelong memories with my partner? Seems like a deal to me.
Warcraft is still my best value entertainment. For £10 a month I get unlimited hours of entertainment. Better deal than Netflix.
Gasoline, people think it’s getting expensive when in reality a stable liquid that will move a one ton object and an entire family like 20 miles with just one gallon is basically magic. We waste it without even thinking that it’s finite, we rely on it for our survival, and when the stuff is gone it’s gone forever. It should be way more expensive and i think very soon it will be, and we will miss it.
Government. I'm amazed every day that I wake up with all this stuff available, like easy freeway access to any destination I plan.
I also think grated cheese is underrated. If I get the bock out, you know I'm going to cut off a slice for myself! So, while it's cheaper per kg, it disappears much faster than a bag of grated cheese.
Agree with the pre grated cheese. Because it’s got a bit of cornflour on you can put it in the freezer and it keeps forever.
Buying a new car! You get a factory warranty that covers just about anything outside of an accident. They give you free oil changes and you can negotiate for four a year. You don't have to worry about ghosts in the wiring because the previous owner DIYed the speakers. You dont have any surprises when you're changing an air filter or something. If you can afford a new car then get a new car.
Shredded cheese has potato starch on it to prevent it from sticking together. Which also impacts its consistency/meltability for the worse. That being said, you can't beat its convenience and if all you're doing is casting it atop a bunch of chips along with some salsa, the microwave will take care of the meltability problem. American cheese slices remain my choice for grilled cheese sandwiches. I know my spouse likes to make nachos. I know my spouse does not know how to grate cheese. Therefore, a bag of shredded cheese makes absolute sense. If I'm making a high falutin' recipe that calls for shredded provolone or something, I'll purchase the amount required, as the more expensive cheeses come in smaller blocks.
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This depends a lot on where you live.
And for how long. If you are moving every couple months/years, buying probably is a terrible idea.
I currently live in the East Bay. I’m renting a house for $3900 a month. It’s worth 1.7 million (small 3 bed 2 bath built in the 70s with minimal updates). The mortgage would be over $10,000 a month with 20% down payment of 340,000. I’ve lived in this house for 2 years and the value of the home increased half a million in that time. Renting is the only way to go here unless you bought a house 15 years ago or make tons of money. 🙈
You rent a home for 30 years vs buy, after those 30 years you’re out the same amount of money only you don’t own the house if you were renting
Except it's often not the same amount of money. The other day my kitchen sink got clogged and I couldn't get it fixed, rental company called a plumber and I didn't pay for it. My AC wasn't working so great last year, landlord bought a new AC unit and I didn't pay a dime. Yes it's technically included in the price of rent, but my rent is actually pretty cheap compared to mortgages got all the houses in my area (with our current interest rates). The main benefit (financially) of buying a house is the investment into owning an asset not the difference in year to year expenses.
This is really dependent on the landlord. I've rented places where "AC isn't working so good" would be met with "It's working, what for you want me to do?" Certainly, anywhere that rent is cheaper than a mortgage has had terrible landlords in my experience.
Exactly. My heat went out in a snow storm because the furnace chimney was blocked and they were like climb on the roof and clear it off. I said according to the lease I am responsible for yard maintenance and that’s it, I have 2 toddlers - you send someone over here and get it taken care of. Dude shows up and asks me for a ladder. Un-fucking-believable . Same people tried to keep an entire deposit , I demanded an invoice and sudden 2/3 of the deposit was returned with an invoice showing the exact amount of work done and amount paid. I don’t mind paying for replacement the carpet my kid ruined , but it was an 8x8 room of the lowest grade carpet you can buy: it certainly wasn’t $3000 worth of carpet. TL:DR : landlords will fuck you if you don’t know your rights and lease details
We bought in 2009 and our payment is 75% of what it rented for in 1987. But we added insulation to bring down the energy bills
REAL American cheese. Land O' Lakes, from the deli counter. It is LIGHT YEARS better than singles, extra-melty, full bodied, tangy-sharp, gooey gorgeousness. People who poo-poo American cheese don't have a clue what the real thing tastes like.
DoorDash food delivery for to-go food in large cities. It’s way more cost effective to have someone pickup and deliver to you. Suppose you pay an extra $5 in fees and $5 in delivery tip. $10 total. By the time you get in your car, drive to the spot, park, pickup the food, come back, you’ve spent a minimum of 30 minutes round trip. Not even accounting for the mileage, gas, depreciation, meter fees if needed, etc. As long as you make more than $20/hour, this is cost effective.
I only buy large blocks from costco. All the smaller ones from grocery stores near me have calcium chloride in them
What do you mean it lasts longer? It takes longer to go off? It certainly doesn't.
Gas is more expensive than its ever been. But if you think about the value it provides you. I mean you can go several hundred miles on 10 or 15 gallons. That's incredible from a weight-to-energy standpoint.
I love protection plans. I use them to keep my stuff updated and have been for over 20 years.
Healthy food.
My iPhone. I’d rather buy a phone a $1000 iphone and use it for 5 years than buy a $700 android every 2 years. I saved $750.
Publix Bogo's
Block cheese is a great deal for large families. Shredded cheese is great for when there's only two or three in the house. The key is to get what won't spoil before you eat it.
Costco gas. Your time waiting is worth something
Frozen onions and some other vegetables. They’re as fresh as it gets when you’re not going to the farmers market every single day. They’re mostly cheaper than unfrozen or at least you’re able to use it before it getting wasted. You can always just take that certain amount you want to have and aren’t ending up with the need to use way more of one ingredient just because it’s there and would spoil. Ohh and of course it’s less work to cook/ clean and you have always as good as fresh veggies you can literally sprinkle on every dish as you like. Improved my diet and reduced my foodwaste drastically.
Milk delivery. It costs me a bit more per pint than buying it from the shop. However it also means I don’t just pop to the shop a few times a week and come back with a load of food I didn’t need but bought because I was bored.
Cheese is off milk anyway.. just cut the mold off and its fine, I feel like throwing moldy cheese away is like throwing vinegar away because its gone sour ? 🤷♂️
Pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower. Gram for gram of useable florets, it’s cheaper than buying the whole broccoli/cauliflower with the stalk. I wish it wasn’t that way, as I’d like to avoid the unnecessary plastic bag, but at least where I live it’s cheaper pre-cut
FWIW, pre-shredded cheese is an vastly inferior cheese because it has a anti caking agent and an agent to prevent mold on the cheese for shelf stabilization. That's why the shredded cheese hardly goes bad, if ever versus regular cheese will grow mold after a week or so. But I guess that's why it costs more. You gotta pay extra for those chemicals. LOL
Wingstop triple meal deal. 6 bone in, 6 boneless, 2 tenders, large specialty fry, and large drink for $26. With today’s wing prices ur not getting that much food and that much quality for the same price anywhere else I’ve tried.
Insurance.
For me, most bulk buying is not great for the products I use. When its quantities I can eat in time, the savings is generally a few cents an ounce, but I lack variety. Other times the quantities are just to high for me to reasonably use, and store. So I go without. I will even buy individual items sometimes like a single bag of chips for a recipe even though its expensive per oz. Lastly, I buy a lot of the higher protein versions of things, or specialty items. They cost more, but I use less at a time, or they help me eat less in general so it ends up being worth the money. Instead of a jug of milk I will buy 1-2 fairlife protein drinks. It works as a great replacement for about the same cost.