Divas Chat Corner

What’s your best money saving tip?

DJ, All Diva Blog: Baking soda! I use baking soda for so many things it’s crazy. Not only is it fun, but it saves so much because it costs less than $1 a box. The other ingredients to go with it are just as affordable. Toothpaste, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies- I have a ball with my creations!

Heather, Marriage Diva: I have two tips - first, keep track of every dime you spend for a month. You’ll see where you stumble financially and it helps keep you in check going forward. I do this a couple times a year to stay on track.

My second tip is pack your lunch for work the night before. I’m too tired in the morning to do it and I wind up spending money to go out somewhere. If it’s ready to go when you leave for work, you’re less likely to spend the money (and calories) at a fast food place.

Valencia, Telecommuting Diva: I used to have a hard time saving money. So, I started depositing all my payments into my savings account, and then transferring X amount of dollars to pay bills. Whatever disposable income I had for the month remained in my savings account; and with little funds in my checking account, I was able to cut out a lot of frivolous spending.

Laurel, Parenting Diva: I buy stuff used. I can’t afford to go out and buy all new things anymore! I just recently went to a thrift store and bought clothes that would have originally retailed (nice name brand basics) at $350, for $50.

I buy and sell on Craigslist. I bought my car off of there. I bought a $1000 bedroom set for the kids for $300. Everything I buy is in good to new condition though. After a rough decade in my 20’s, credit cards & learning the hard way, I now know more about what living within my means is & how to go about doing it. I have a feeling that this country is in the process of learning the same lesson.

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