What About Your Lifestyle/Habits Saves You Big $$$ ?

[QueenIsabella]

I never registered or wanted a wipe warmer. I ended up with 3! Never used one of them. Kid #1, I got lots of crap we didn't really need bc I thought we would need it. Ended up buying things later I needed that I didn't think I would. Kid #2, everything is used lol.

One thing that has saved a TON of $ is between my sister in laws fam and ours we have 4 boys from age 12 to almost 7. The youngest are only 4 months apart. So most of the clothes make it thru all 4 boys. Its been great! Getting into an issue now tho that my 7 yr old is bigger than my 10 yr old and wears husky sizes so we have to buy those and those are certainly not a deal lol. We've shared shoes, strollers, all kinds of things. For awhile it was great bc as her oldest would outgrow stuff she'd give it to me and by the time the next summer rolled around (or whichever season) my oldest would be into it. Then we had 3 years where my oldest would grow out of something at the same time my youngest grew into it. Sadly we've pretty much ended that as they've hit different growth patterns. Now there is a couple of years between when her oldest grows out of things and mine can wear it. My youngest is pretty much the same height as his older brother but weighs 20 lb more, which is odd bc they are both very active and eat the same stuff. So now my youngest passes clothes up to his brother, which the older one HATES!

My BFF (the one with the 5 kids) and I did this--as it happens, we were never, ever pregnant at exactly the same time, and our kids went B-G-G-B-B-G-G-B-B (red ones mine). So, we'd regularly pass bins of clothes back and forth. It was kind of funny--I get the last "newborn" bin, and a few of those onesies were practically see-through--I think they'd made it through all 9 kids! But, how long do you use newborn sized onesies, anyway?

And I was DESPERATE for a wipe warmer for my first. I don't know why--she was a June baby, the cool wipes probably felt good. Never had one, never needed it, but I do remember thinking it was the end of the world that I didn't have one!

 

[shawthorne44]

And I was DESPERATE for a wipe warmer for my first. I don't know why--she was a June baby, the cool wipes probably felt good. Never had one, never needed it, but I do remember thinking it was the end of the world that I didn't have one!

I didn't know until this thread that those existed.
I learned as a kid to avoid chemicals on my skin, so I did the same with my baby. I made wipes by sewing double-lines of squares on an old towel sandwiches between DH's oldest t-shirt. Then cut between the lines. Then it was just water and those. Good thing because once MIL let my niece put some hair goop on DD and she got cradle cap.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We just ran into this too. The particular car I want, there are currently 7 of them available in the who country and it's not even like a fancy named car, like a Porsche. Its just a GMC. If I want this particular vehicle, I'll have to order it and I likely won't do that bc its much harder to get a deal. On the other hand tho, my trade in is much more valuable right now. Never before could I have taken a leased, over mileage vehicle and "made money" on it. The residual on my lease was 23k. The trade in value is 29K right now. Heck my husbands truck, I can find a bunch of them listed for sale for only about 9k less than what we paid for it new 2 years ago. and it's got 70K miles on it. Granted, I found an amazing deal on his truck, but still.

My husband and I are really talking about building a car. I know for some people it's like this fancy thing to do (we know someone who loves to brag about custom ordering vehicles) but it's not like it used to be. It's a lot simpler than in the past and not completely uber expensive either. Some of that is really just because of what we want and what we don't care for or what we don't necessarily have to have. We did discuss that yes it means dealership deals may not be there. The down side is with the chip shortage who knows if ordering will be forever and a day. But we weren't intending to get a new vehicle until the end of the year so we have a bit of time. One of the dealerships thought they may get a tiny bit of relief in August but he was more banking on spring. Right now it was more about weeding out cars we didn't like not only in how it looks but features and for me seat comfortability is important. Sat in a Ford Escape and was like 'nope' but the newer Explorers are nice except they have this weird built in tray on the floor in between the captain's chairs in the second floor that has cup holders and stuff and that's almost a deal breaker for us since it's fixed and can't be removed. We haven't looked at it but we were going to see if you could build one without it.

My husband is really talking about the new F150 Lightning which is one our list (and is the only truck others are suvs). The thing I did caution him is because right now it's like spring of next year and who knows if that will be the actual timeline plus he's been really considering it because of the price and tax credit but my caution is will that price point actually stay that way (brings back Tesla horrors). If it gets too high it's out of our comfort zone. He did put down the $100 refundable deposit before we went car shopping and a few of the sales people were like that was a good good choice to do that.

We knew about the chip shortage (Ford and GM plants are shutdown in our metro due to it) but man oh man we didn't know just how bad it was. People mentioned rental cars and there's been shortages there too for different reasons. When we went to Vegas in March our rental vehicle from Avis was actually a vehicle Avis was leasing, that was a first for us.

 

[dvcgirl67]

We knew about the chip shortage (Ford and GM plants are shutdown in our metro due to it) but man oh man we didn't know just how bad it was. People mentioned rental cars and there's been shortages there too for different reasons. When we went to Vegas in March our rental vehicle from Avis was actually a vehicle Avis was leasing, that was a first for us.

The chip shortage is a huge deal, and it's going to be awhile before production catches up....like 2nd quarter of next year. In the meantime, some of the chips that auto manufacturers are going to be forced to use will not offer the same capability that they normally install in cars. This article talks about auto makers not getting chips that run intelligent smart systems, ABS brakes, or powertrain. I'd really want to know what systems any car that I'm purchasing has in them through next year. I also saw that the chip shortage is really going to hit the EV auto market hard. Tesla just raised the price on the Model 3 by $2,500.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-global-chip-shortage-what-caused-it-how-long-will-it-last/

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The chip shortage is a huge deal, and it's going to be awhile before production catches up....like 2nd quarter of next year. In the meantime, some of the chips that auto manufacturers are going to be forced to use will not offer the same capability that they normally install in cars. This article talks about auto makers not getting chips that run intelligent smart systems, ABS brakes, or powertrain. I'd really want to know what systems any car that I'm purchasing has in them through next year. I also saw that the chip shortage is really going to hit the EV auto market hard. Tesla just raised the price on the Model 3 by $2,500.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-global-chip-shortage-what-caused-it-how-long-will-it-last/

Thanks for that, it's good to know

 

[afan]

My husband and I are really talking about building a car. I know for some people it's like this fancy thing to do (we know someone who loves to brag about custom ordering vehicles) but it's not like it used to be. It's a lot simpler than in the past and not completely uber expensive either. Some of that is really just because of what we want and what we don't care for or what we don't necessarily have to have. We did discuss that yes it means dealership deals may not be there. The down side is with the chip shortage who knows if ordering will be forever and a day. But we weren't intending to get a new vehicle until the end of the year so we have a bit of time. One of the dealerships thought they may get a tiny bit of relief in August but he was more banking on spring. Right now it was more about weeding out cars we didn't like not only in how it looks but features and for me seat comfortability is important. Sat in a Ford Escape and was like 'nope' but the newer Explorers are nice except they have this weird built in tray on the floor in between the captain's chairs in the second floor that has cup holders and stuff and that's almost a deal breaker for us since it's fixed and can't be removed. We haven't looked at it but we were going to see if you could build one without it.

My husband is really talking about the new F150 Lightning which is one our list (and is the only truck others are suvs). The thing I did caution him is because right now it's like spring of next year and who knows if that will be the actual timeline plus he's been really considering it because of the price and tax credit but my caution is will that price point actually stay that way (brings back Tesla horrors). If it gets too high it's out of our comfort zone. He did put down the $100 refundable deposit before we went car shopping and a few of the sales people were like that was a good good choice to do that.

We knew about the chip shortage (Ford and GM plants are shutdown in our metro due to it) but man oh man we didn't know just how bad it was. People mentioned rental cars and there's been shortages there too for different reasons. When we went to Vegas in March our rental vehicle from Avis was actually a vehicle Avis was leasing, that was a first for us.

I ordered my car from ford in April in the hopes I'll have it by end Aug as I had wanted to drive my 2001 to 200k but covid so I just want to get my 20 years out of it. I love my car and don't want to replace it but realize it's the practical thing to do.

Anyway I started with production date of july 19 I think, then it moved up to june 14 and I started freaking out that it's too soon and then in the last week or so it changed to june 28. It'll take a week to build and then a few weeks to go from MI to WA according to my sales guy.

Ordering worked for me because this way I'm not stuck with bells and whistles that I don't want and I got an actual spare tire instead of the inflator thing. Not all tires can be reinflated when flat so that just didn't appeal to me. But the only deal I get is whatever the incentive ford has, hopefully it gets better than the tiny one I got but I doubt it. Am ok with it simply because I get what I want and it's less $ than most you'd find on the lots so it works out.

Have a friend whose coworker ordered a truck and isn't expected to get it until the end of the year at the earliest. It's crazy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I ordered my car from ford in April in the hopes I'll have it by end Aug as I had wanted to drive my 2001 to 200k but covid so I just want to get my 20 years out of it. I love my car and don't want to replace it but realize it's the practical thing to do.

Anyway I started with production date of july 19 I think, then it moved up to june 14 and I started freaking out that it's too soon and then in the last week or so it changed to june 28. It'll take a week to build and then a few weeks to go from MI to WA according to my sales guy.

Ordering worked for me because this way I'm not stuck with bells and whistles that I don't want and I got an actual spare tire instead of the inflator thing. Not all tires can be reinflated when flat so that just didn't appeal to me. But the only deal I get is whatever the incentive ford has, hopefully it gets better than the tiny one I got but I doubt it. Am ok with it simply because I get what I want and it's less $ than most you'd find on the lots so it works out.

Have a friend whose coworker ordered a truck and isn't expected to get it until the end of the year at the earliest. It's crazy.

I really appreciate you sharing your experience, this is good info to pass along especially as building is something we're heavily considering.

 

[afan]

I really appreciate you sharing your experience, this is good info to pass along especially as building is something we're heavily considering.

It was the same as building it online just that the salea guy went over what was in each package so I could say yes or no. So you can use those to see what you'd be looking at. At least with Ford you can't pick and choose what you want, if it's in a package that's the only way to get it. So no heated seats for me .

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It was the same as building it online just that the salea guy went over what was in each package so I could say yes or no. So you can use those to see what you'd be looking at. At least with Ford you can't pick and choose what you want, if it's in a package that's the only way to get it. So no heated seats for me .

We found some of that stuff too. We have a Mazda already and are still needing to go look at the dealerships on their CX9 mainly but when I went to build it if you want cloth seats (which is what my husband has) you can only pick their base package and some minor other things. Some of the things I want are only available starting in the next level up which you get leather at that point. Normally leather would be sought after but for us it's a take it or leave it. Often I think of the issues I have in the summer time haha but yeah it's things like that that you have to consider too.

 

[MomToOne]

Whaaaaat... It looks like this guy doesn’t have health insurance according to one of his blogs from 2020. He has some subscription type thing, but it won’t cover anything big. Maybe it’s because I had melanoma in my mid-20s, with $30,000+ in medical bills over a few months that would have been impossible without insurance, not to mention on-going check-ins and more moles removed in the years that followed, but I think going without insurance would be a reckless decision.

DD had to have a stuck gallstone removed from a duct, followed by removal of her gallbladder the next day, at 20 years old. ER visit, 3 night hospital stay, a couple of fancy tests, LOTS of painkillers, 2 basically emergency surgeries. The bill before insurance was over $125K.

I came to really, really appreciate insurance that week! Even my high deductible plan. Hit my max out of pocket for the year at just over $6K, then everything else was covered 100%.

I always thought if I used my insurance at that sort of level at this time, it would be on myself, due to all my middle-age issues. Never in a million years would have thought DD would have had something at that level at 20 years old.

I love medical insurance now LOL Will never, ever go without it. Will work extra years to pay for it. Imagine if DDs experience had been something even more serious - 3 days went to over $125K, what would 3 weeks have been? I have a friend whose early 20s son was in a major car wreck and was hospitalized for MONTHS (it was a miracle he lived). I can't even begin to imagine those bills.

 

[shawthorne44]

DD had to have a stuck gallstone removed from a duct, followed by removal of her gallbladder the next day, at 20 years old. ER visit, 3 night hospital stay, a couple of fancy tests, LOTS of painkillers, 2 basically emergency surgeries. The bill before insurance was over $125K.

People assume that the amount charged to insurance is the amount that they'd have to pay out of pocket without insurance. Not only is it not, but the two have no relationship. For example, when DD was delivered, the hospital charged the insurance 30K and my part of that was $1600. Of course, insurance didn't pay the remainder. They paid the remainder of a *much* lower negotiated rate. We weren't entirely sure we'd have insurance for the delivery, so out of curiosity DH asked them what the charge would be if we wrote them a check. $1600. You probably think that why doesn't the hospital just have one fee? But the insurance will refuse to pay the full amount. So the hospitals inflate the number. Insurance is fine with the game because it makes them seem far more valuable.

eta: This wasn't a super easy delivery. Three inductions and an epidural.

 

[LovesTimone]

Another way this saves: your membership can give you free reciprocal visits to other zoos, museums, etc. -- we used to always check the list when we were traveling.
Similarly, read the marketing that comes in your various bills; for example, a credit card we used to have gave us free entrance to certain museums one or two days a month. We got free entrance to the county fair with our property tax bill one year.
[/QUOTE]


Most towns, counties, and states have some sort of deal... When my DD was little, every year my parents gifted us museum passes, it included a passes to the kids museum, which was hands on... the regular museum, free admission to the arts festival, and included parking, all for under hundred bucks for the both of us... When she got older, I bought a museum pass for in Tampa... It included MOSI, Glazer Children Museum, Lowery Park Zoo, The Aquarium, I think that there were a few other spots... and couple years they offered different promotions, like buy one adult and once child is free kinda thing... and it included VIP parking and discount as well.

We have a-lot of festivals here in Florida... and if you look around someone is always offering free admission... We got into the corn festival, for a few can goods for senior adults two years, the blueberry festival for blankets for the homeless shelter...

Movie Passes... We had local dollar movie theater, and it was so cheap for a year pass for like 10 or 12 bucks, and kids under 12 with an adult were free. Plus it would give you free pop corn or a drink, some months. When it went to dine in movie theater, they raise the price to like 25 bucks for current members which was still a bargain... it was still a dollar for the movie, then you of course had to pay for your meal... which was okay... as a pass holder you got anywhere from 20 to 50 percent off meals, and there were constantly different promotions...

Local, State, and National parks offer some type of passes...

As well check your job HR, employee benefits websites... it really depends on what size and type of company you work for... DH's company Employee benefits... We have used many times the rental car discounts, huge money saver for us. Bought tickets for different things through it, concerts, ball games, movie tickets and alot more...

Check your credit cards for travel offers, on air and hotel.... We have gotten some amazing deals...for long weekends getaways packages...that are at some fancy and quite expensive resort hotels that include ocean view rooms, plus spa treatments or reserved pool loungers and umbrellas, or pool side cabanas and/or resort or food credits. Plus some pretty amazing deals on air fare discounts... It is quite exciting when you land one of these deals...even better when you are enjoying it knowing you did not over spend for it... and have money to spend on vacation.

Credit Card points... I have just started really getting into learning how to manage this... some you can consolidate your points onto one card...I have a good friend that is a master at this... so if I get stuck I just ask her...

It does take work for these type of discounts, and time to research it...totally worth in my book...

 

[QueenIsabella]

DD had to have a stuck gallstone removed from a duct, followed by removal of her gallbladder the next day, at 20 years old. ER visit, 3 night hospital stay, a couple of fancy tests, LOTS of painkillers, 2 basically emergency surgeries. The bill before insurance was over $125K.

I came to really, really appreciate insurance that week! Even my high deductible plan. Hit my max out of pocket for the year at just over $6K, then everything else was covered 100%.

I always thought if I used my insurance at that sort of level at this time, it would be on myself, due to all my middle-age issues. Never in a million years would have thought DD would have had something at that level at 20 years old.

I love medical insurance now LOL Will never, ever go without it. Will work extra years to pay for it. Imagine if DDs experience had been something even more serious - 3 days went to over $125K, what would 3 weeks have been? I have a friend whose early 20s son was in a major car wreck and was hospitalized for MONTHS (it was a miracle he lived). I can't even begin to imagine those bills.

These days, my DH is basically working for the medical insurance. Like you, we've had some big medical bills along the way--DH got his gall bladder out last year, my youngest broke his arm and needed surgery, that kind of thing. Nothing humongous, like cancer treatment or a debilitating disease, but enough so that the OOP costs were 4 figures. It's easy to see how a medical emergency could bankrupt someone.

 

[MomToOne]

People assume that the amount charged to insurance is the amount that they'd have to pay out of pocket without insurance. Not only is it not, but the two have no relationship. For example, when DD was delivered, the hospital charged the insurance 30K and my part of that was $1600. Of course, insurance didn't pay the remainder. They paid the remainder of a *much* lower negotiated rate. We weren't entirely sure we'd have insurance for the delivery, so out of curiosity DH asked them what the charge would be if we wrote them a check. $1600. You probably think that why doesn't the hospital just have one fee? But the insurance will refuse to pay the full amount. So the hospitals inflate the number. Insurance is fine with the game because it makes them seem far more valuable.

eta: This wasn't a super easy delivery. Three inductions and an epidural.

In DDs case, the insurance negotiated rate was still over $50K. While hospitals will lower rates if you don't have insurance, there is no magic - there are bills that still need to be paid and they can be high.

Maybe it's just me, but I find your $1600 number for an uninsured delivery - well, odd that it exactly matched your deductible. I suspect someone misunderstood the question. Most employees would not even be able to cite a number like that off the cuff.

 

[shawthorne44]

Maybe it's just me, but I find your $1600 number for an uninsured delivery - well, odd that it exactly matched your deductible. I suspect someone misunderstood the question. Most employees would not even be able to cite a number like that off the cuff.

It was the business office.

eta: Early in our marriage there was some time that DH was uninsured. We didn't like it, but we had no choice. Every doc he went to, we said up front that he didn't have insurance. All said that the cash price would be 50-70% discount from the insurance price.

 

[DLgal]

People assume that the amount charged to insurance is the amount that they'd have to pay out of pocket without insurance. Not only is it not, but the two have no relationship. For example, when DD was delivered, the hospital charged the insurance 30K and my part of that was $1600. Of course, insurance didn't pay the remainder. They paid the remainder of a *much* lower negotiated rate. We weren't entirely sure we'd have insurance for the delivery, so out of curiosity DH asked them what the charge would be if we wrote them a check. $1600. You probably think that why doesn't the hospital just have one fee? But the insurance will refuse to pay the full amount. So the hospitals inflate the number. Insurance is fine with the game because it makes them seem far more valuable.

eta: This wasn't a super easy delivery. Three inductions and an epidural.

There is NO WAY a hospital delivery would only cost $1600. They misunderstood your question.

Insurance companies negotiate rates that are much lower than the amount charged initially, but without insurance, YOU then have to negotiate a price with the provider. Some will give a cash discount, some will offer extended payment plans, but in no way will they just lower the price you pay to the same negotiated rates they give to the large insurance companies. Those are basically "volume discounts."

Trust me. I've had to pay my share of out of pocket medical bills when I chose to use providers outside my insurance network. None gave me a discount.

 

[MrsPete]

I figured breastfeeding was my contribution to saving $ and the environment and all that ...

And let me tell you just how loud those pumps can be.

I thought the same way about breastfeeding and buying baby clothes /gear almost exclusively used.

Yes, my years-ago pump was loud ... but my daughter and I were talking last night. She was telling me they have a new type -- it's called Freemie Independence, and you put it inside your bra /can walk around hands-free while pumping. She says one of the docs at her office wears an oversized shirt and actually pumps while seeing patients. Her insurance will pay for this model for her.

This is NOT personal knowlege -- just repeating something I heard.

I breastfed for years and people often assumed I was of a certain judgmental mindset about various baby/parenting things. Nope, I was just cheap and lazy. Not having to buy/clean/prepare bottles and formula was wonderful.

Me too. Breastfeeding was totally worth it for the simplicity. Nothing to buy, bring home, prepared, wash up after. And breastmilk doesn't stain baby clothes -- formula does.

I would've breastfed for the savings. I would've breastfed for the health benefits. I would've breastfed for the simplicity. Few things are so perfect.

Having said that, I did not have an easy time starting. The lactation consultant at the hospital helped me so much. My best advice: don't give up. It takes weeks to learn /establish the breastfeeding relationship. When I had my second child I thought, "Piece of cake". No -- the learning curve was shorter because I knew what I was doing, but the baby had to learn.

Once I learned the process, I had no problem breastfeeding part-time when I went back to work at 6 months. The baby nursed first thing in the morning, when I got off work mid-afternoon and again at bedtime. Nursing doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing thing.

New parents get sucked into buying so many things they probably wont use.

So true. I see my daughter doing it now, and I keep my mouth shut if I'm not asked.

I never registered or wanted a wipe warmer.

Yeah, that's the kind of junk no one really needs.

 

[MillauFr]

We found some of that stuff too. We have a Mazda already and are still needing to go look at the dealerships on their CX9 mainly but when I went to build it if you want cloth seats (which is what my husband has) you can only pick their base package and some minor other things. Some of the things I want are only available starting in the next level up which you get leather at that point. Normally leather would be sought after but for us it's a take it or leave it. Often I think of the issues I have in the summer time haha but yeah it's things like that that you have to consider too.

So you are able to buy a car directly from the manufacturer and skip the dealership? I would be interested in that.

 

[afan]

So you are able to buy a car directly from the manufacturer and skip the dealership? I would be interested in that.

Doubt doing it through the website let's you cut out the dealership. They need those people for the paperwork and stuff. Unless you want to order from Volvo or bmw for one of their Germany based factory pick ups and even that may not avoid it completely.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Doubt doing it through the website let's you cut out the dealership. They need those people for the paperwork and stuff. Unless you want to order from Volvo or bmw for one of their Germany based factory pick ups and even that may not avoid it completely.

The only time we've ever avoided a dealership (other than literally picking the car up) was when we got our Tesla Y. We never spoke to a human being...not even one time. Built it online, wired deposit. When it was ready, wired the down payment. We're in NJ, and Tesla isn't currently dropping off new vehicles to your home, so we had to go and get it. Went to pick it up and went directly to our car that was in a long queue. Lots of other people there as well. We found our car, used the account that was created when we ordered it...via the app on an iPhone. Once in the car, there was a fed ex envelope with papers to sign...dropped those in a designated drop box....and we were on our way. It was amazing...no games. The price is what it is....no nonsense.