Frugal Cat Lover's 25 Ways I Save Money

These Are Just The Big Ones... Many Others I Use Daily:

1. I am doing/using the MMA program. I will have my primary mortgage paid off in about 9-12 years, and will save (on average) over $120,000 in interest.
2. I send money every month to my deferred student loans (though I am in graduate school now, you can still pay on them). I want to be in the habit of paying regularly once I am done with my doctoral degree.
3. I own a small car, and it is paid off. I paid it off early. It is a manual shift-saves on gas mileage. I research for the cheapest oil changes in town I can find. I have recently found a place that does it cheap, and even throws in a free car wash.
4. I allow myself to eat out no more than 2x/month. Even then, I will set an amount (usually $10 total, incl. tip). I might order an appetizer (they are so large these days anyhow!) and take 1/2 home for leftovers.
5. I stopped going to the hairdresser for a cut and brow wax. I now pluck my own brows regularly, and cut my own hair when I need a trim. This saves me anywhere between $450-$500 total a year.
6. I buy mostly all generic products. I do clip coupons if I absolutely need an item, however I have found, that even with a coupon, often the name brand is still more expensive with a coupon than the generic is. I closely check, and usually do end up with the generic. If items (like paper products/mouthwash) are even cheaper at the dollar store, that is where they are bought. I refuse to spend a bunch of money for things that end up spit out in the sink or wadded up in the trash. Seems ridiculous. By following these principles, I have slashed my grocery bill on average, from $80-$120 a week (I was way overspending) to $20-$50 every 2 weeks. Quite a difference.
7. I am constantly checking online for freebies, special offers, and tips. I take advantage of free samples offered.
8. I play a money game. Everytime I get a $5.00 bill, I save it. When I get to a certain point, those $5's all get put into savings. Money not even really missed. Same goes for change. It all gets dumped in a jar, and deposited at the bank later on.
9. The library is becoming my new friend. No more bought books, CD's, etc.
10. I never bite the hand that feeds me. If I am offered a plate to take home from an event, I take it. It could feed me 2-4 meals (or more!).
11. I pay myself first. Money into savings/retirement first.
12. I refuse to use ATM's with fees. I usually only use the ATM for withdrawals. I find that when I have only cash, I am less tempted to spend more. I go where I go with a limit.
13. I maximize my work for things they provide with no cost to me so I don't need to buy at home: post-its, paper/envelopes/coffee/pens/paperclips.
14. I do not charge my cell phone at home. I have heard tell that cell phone charges use an extreme amount of energy (even when the phone is not plugged in). I charge it at work.
15. I try very hard to run my errands in bulk. Saves on time and gas.
16. I only run my dishwasher and washer and dryer when I have completely full loads.
17. I ask myself first thing every a.m., 'what can I do to save money today?'
18. I will only turn my heat on when it is 60 or less. Once it hits 64-65, I shut it off. I will hole up in my bedroom at night, with my electric blanket, and run a space heater for a while. No sense heating a whole house if you are only in one room. In the summer, I hardly ever run my central air. I (again) hole up in my bedroom with my window A.C. unit when I am home, close the door, and enjoy the approximate $40-$70 a month I save vs. my neighbors.
19. I really push the trash down in the can. It is only emptied when it is absolutely full. This saves on garbage bags.
20. I shut lights off when I leave a room. My general rule is, '1 light at a time'.
21. I shop at Thrift Stores.
22. I am cutting down on my massage therapy visits from once every 2-3 weeks, to once every 6-8 weeks. Will make me look even more forward to it. Should save me about $600-$700 a year.
23. I scoop out my cats' litterbox everyday. I wait until it is quite low to refill-only then, when I am out of extra litter, do I buy more (and usually I have a coupon). Cat litter is very expensive.
24. I recently investigated, and switched my medical insurance. I got on with an almost identical policy, but $50 cheaper a month, AND, I now have Dental insurance, which I did not have prior. If you factor in 2 cleanings a year and X-Rays, I am now saving roughly $1000 a year having made this switch.
25. I never go to the theatre to see a movie (unless someone else is paying!). I rent movies or borrow from friends.