Hi, I already posted the msg below on the thread 'How do you do it??'....

But I thought I would repost it for others who did not want to read though the 60+ responses that thread has already received:

Hi,

I know many people can't do this (myself included) but I have a friend who NEVER spends a One $ bill.

If something costs $6.00, she pays with a $10 bill (not a 5 and a 1) and when she receives 4 $1 bills in change... well that is another $4 that she won't spend, and just puts it away. It is AMAZING the money she saves every year.

I do a varation of this, probably like many people, and dont spend my change. I honestly do not miss the nickle here, quarter there, but manage to save a few hundred $ a year

Anyone else do something similar?

Ruby

I find that by using a credit card affilitated with a frequent flyer program that awards 1 mile per dollar spent is a good way to save on travel.
$-)

To save money while travelling, I like to make lunch our biggest meal since in many restaurants the lunch menu has lower prices than the dinner menu. Then for dinner I like to go to a pub, have a beer or 2 and eat some appetizers or pub food.

JohnD,

We do the same thing with the credit card, however this year we decided to bite the bullet and go *Platinum* status, and now we get DOUBLE miles for everything (instead of just double miles for gas and home improvement stores).

We do have to pay an annual fee of about $100, however with this annual fee renewal comes a free companion airline tix

Ruby

Bank of America offers miles (1 mi per $2) on its debit (ATM) cards issued in conjunction with Alaska Airlines, in addition to the usual $1/mi for credit cards. Pretty good deal for west coasters.

I save money by having it directly taken out of my paycheck each and every month and put into my savings account. If I don't see it, I don't miss it. No hassels, no messing with change.

It's called paying yourself first.

Utahtea

Unless you have a 2 income household (married people), it is very hard unless you want your house to go down the toilet just so you can go on vacation. I have a suggestion, don't eat.

stephanie,
It doesn't have to be that difficult. Say you get paid every 2 weeks or twice per month. Put away $25 each pay period. That's $50 per month over a year is $600.00. That is a good chunk of change toward a BUDGET VACATION...not everyone travels first class and most people travel budget when they have young children, or are single and starting their careers, or any one of a number of situations where there is not much money floating around. It is possible to save for vacation; sometimes you just have to get savvy.

If you plan on just two or four paychecks a month depending on how you are paid, there are usually a couple of extra a year which you won't miss if you put towards travel.

Reply to Carib Ruby: Would you be so kind as to share with us which Platinum card is giving 2miles/dollar and which airline it is partnered with?

Bring your lunch to work everyday instead of eating out. It amazes me how many people I've worked with over the years who complained about a tight budget yet they would go out to eat (or eat in the cafeteria) every day.

The "average" American spends $2,000 each year on work-day lunches.I agree with Austin--brown bag it.If you get into the routine,just like working out,then you will see results quickly.You might even amaze yourself!!

Continental partners with Chase for Visa cards that offer 1 mile per dollar, or 2 miles per dollar at the platinum level (slightly higher annual fee but other perks, too.) The CO-Chase debit card also gives 1 mile per $2 used on the card.
I use both as much as possible and boy, do those miles pile up! And as a nice side benefit, I get a monthly record of how I'm spending and can make budget adjustments accordingly.

Austin
I agree! I work with those same people! Packing a lunch saves so much money.

Reply to Seamus: =D> Many thanks Seamus ! Your info. is most helpfull, I'll have to upgrade my Visa level.

Sounds like an awful lot of effort (and some reduction in daily quality) to save a realtiovely small amoutn of change daily. And if you live cheaply, what's the say you'll change your style and habit once on vacation? Sounds like the points route makes the most sense in all this. I know people who pay all their mortgages on AmEx, for example - can you imagine all their FF miles they rack up every month.

To save money I eat a power bar at my desk instead of going to a restaurant. Then I have my whole lunch hour to go to the mall.

For some reason it doesn't seem to be working...

To Stephanie,

I was a SAHM (stay at home Mom) and we were living on my DH's income and we were buying our own home and still managed to go on vacation EVERY year for at least 2 weeks and usually longer!

We did without going out to dinner and out to movies when I was a SAHM because VACATION was more important to us. My DH has taken a brown bag lunch to work almost EVERY day for 30 years. You got to believe that ADDS up!

We also went camping at a fraction of the cost of motels and hotels. We cook our own meals on vacation and that saved money too. We like our own cooking! Now that we can afford to do what we want we still prefer the camping (in an RV) route and we still do our own cooking! Boy have we had some really good meals in some really SCENIC locations!

Utahtea

Simply spend less than you earn and live within youe means. For some reason,this concept has been forgotten in america.

If you can, try and get to work out of your house. "Telecommute".

I used to travel about 40-50 miles a day to/from work AND go out to lunch every day.
I figure I'm saving a minimum $6000 per year by not having to drive that Gawdawful route to work...no freeway...all surface streets with about 42 stop lights between me and the office front door!
I've saved money on blood pressure pills too.
Not to mention I've only put about 35,000 miles on my car over the past 4yrs! And since it was paid off about 3yrs. ago, it will last me, hopefully another 5 yrs.
As doc_sez, "spend less".
Alooohaaa,
Kal