Post Your Wins

[GoodLiving]

We had our hot water heater replaced a month ago, city inspection discovered we didn't need the extra duct work and so the plumbing company refunded us the expense. That was amazing, this company we worked with through Home Depot did the work the same day after having a HUGE run around with a company not affliliated with a big box store.

[disneysteve]

I had a couple of wins at BJs today.

Our location recently built a gas station. The regular price is 14 cents/gallon less than the cheapest area station so it's already a bargain to fill up there. They currently have a promotion to get an additional 25 cents/gal off if you spend $150 in the store. If you shop in a warehouse store you know that's not at all hard to manage. There are also designated items that get you an additional 10 cents or more off per gallon. Pump price is $3.05. I filled up for $2.50. Best area price is $3.19.

In our ongoing effort to trim our food bill, I also spent a little extra time browsing the store today to see if there are any other items we could use. There are frozen breakfast sandwiches that we like to keep in the house for when we don't feel like cooking. I believe they're $7.50 for a 4-pack at the supermarket. They were $11.50 for a 12-pack at BJs.

[bjl584]

I had a couple of wins at BJs today.

Our location recently built a gas station. The regular price is 14 cents/gallon less than the cheapest area station so it's already a bargain to fill up there. They currently have a promotion to get an additional 25 cents/gal off if you spend $150 in the store. If you shop in a warehouse store you know that's not at all hard to manage. There are also designated items that get you an additional 10 cents or more off per gallon. Pump price is $3.05. I filled up for $2.50. Best area price is $3.19.

In our ongoing effort to trim our food bill, I also spent a little extra time browsing the store today to see if there are any other items we could use. There are frozen breakfast sandwiches that we like to keep in the house for when we don't feel like cooking. I believe they're $7.50 for a 4-pack at the supermarket. They were $11.50 for a 12-pack at BJs.

They just opened one of those near me. I think that they also have a credit card that will get you a few cents of gasoline.

[disneysteve]

They just opened one of those near me. I think that they also have a credit card that will get you a few cents of gasoline.

They do but I’m not interested in another card.

[disneysteve]

Another win on saving money on groceries.

We buy Wegman's brand shredded cheese for DW and I and Cabot brand for DD (ours isn't vegetarian).
Wegman's: $2.19/8 oz
Cabot: $3.99/8 oz

Today, I bought shredded cheese at Aldi.
Aldi Mexican cheese: $2.79/12 oz
Aldi Mozzarella: $2.59/16 oz

As a result, we're going to transition over to buying just Aldi shredded cheese as it's cheaper than either of the ones we currently buy. The added bonus to this is that we'll all be using the same product again instead of always stocking two different kinds (actually four different: 2 pizza cheese and 2 Mexican cheeses). This will also result in less waste.

[jenn_jenn]

I had a few wins this week.

I was cleaning out the garage and found 2 American Express gift cards we’d long forgotten about that totaled $75. Used them to purchase Starbucks gift cards on Amazon (easier to redeem). Free coffee for the month!

My work surprised everyone with a $250 “lifestyle” spend account as a new benefit this year. It can be used on a wide variety of things related to improve your wellbeing. I’m using mine to cover my gym membership for two months.

And finally, I happened upon a TPG article on the recent change in Amex Platinum benefits and service fee. It sparked a conversation with my husband and I found out that he hasn’t been taking advantage of most of his benefits because he just doesn’t care about those things. Oy! I immediately registered for the benefits using his card. The most noticeable was $200 towards my dog’s flight to CA next week. (A related but non-financial win: going home for two weeks!)

[disneysteve]

This one was my daughter's win.

A few years ago, she got a fraudulent charge on her credit card. The bank caught it and deleted the charge so it didn't cost her a penny. The breach was traced back to a fan convention she had attended. Fast forward a couple of years and there was a class action lawsuit brought against the convention organizer. She submitted a claim with no expectation of compensation, and she hadn't lost anything anyway.

She got a settlement check today for $265!

[Fishindude77]

Had a great day ice fishing yesterday. Myself and a couple buddies caught a great mess of fish, cleaned 62 crappie and 18 white bass.
Will make several great fish fry's for each of us.

[SavingBucks]

I occasionally buy Aspire energy drinks. I bought a few 12 packs directly from their website about 6 months ago because the price was cheaper than in the store plus no tax, CRV, and free shipping. Well... I got an email from the site asking me to fill out a survey. When the survey was completed, I was provided a code for a free 12 pk! I got the 12 pk in the mail about 2 days later!

[disneysteve]

We occasionally buy Tostitos chips. Last time I went to Aldi's, I picked up a bag of their store brand tortilla chips. Of course, it was considerably cheaper than the brand name ones. Everyone tried them last night and was just fine with them. I had had them before so I knew I liked them but DW and DD hadn't and they're both harder to please than I am. One more notch off the grocery budget.

[kork13]

We occasionally buy Tostitos chips. Last time I went to Aldi's, I picked up a bag of their store brand tortilla chips. Of course, it was considerably cheaper than the brand name ones. Everyone tried them last night and was just fine with them. I had had them before so I knew I liked them but DW and DD hadn't and they're both harder to please than I am. One more notch off the grocery budget.

I loved Aldi, when I was temporarily living in a town with one. I did 70% of my grocery shopping there. I also liked their house brand of Greek yogurts, which were the same cost as regular yogurt (of cheaper) at normal grocers. Same for their breads. For basic staples, they're great.

[disneysteve]

I loved Aldi, when I was temporarily living in a town with one. I did 70% of my grocery shopping there. I also liked their house brand of Greek yogurts, which were the same cost as regular yogurt (of cheaper) at normal grocers. Same for their breads. For basic staples, they're great.

As I said, I'm far easier to please. I would buy almost everything generic if the rest of my crew would be agreeable. I'm doing my best to work in some new cheaper products wherever I can.

[ua_guy]

I had to rent a car for a quick overnight trip. Was pleasantly surprised to find a 5% off coupon code for Enterprise after a quick search. Their cheapest daily rate was on a minivan of all things. Look: I'll drive anything in a pinch, but, seriously? I plead my case to the nice lot attendant. She said I could take anything in the row, so I drove off in a new Jeep Cherokee with heated leather seats. Thanks for not sucking, Enterprise!!

[disneysteve]

I had to rent a car for a quick overnight trip. Was pleasantly surprised to find a 5% off coupon code for Enterprise after a quick search. Their cheapest daily rate was on a minivan of all things. Look: I'll drive anything in a pinch, but, seriously? I plead my case to the nice lot attendant. She said I could take anything in the row, so I drove off in a new Jeep Cherokee with heated leather seats. Thanks for not sucking, Enterprise!!

Last time we rented from Enterprise I was surprised by the variety we got to choose from at the price point we booked.

[disneysteve]

Not really a win but it is a savings. DW called today and cancelled my cousin's cell phone. I had kept the account open as I needed to have access to his phone to get into all of his accounts (2-factor log ins, password resets), but I haven't needed any of that for at least 2 months now so it was time to let it go. I don't have a bill handy but I think that will save us $20-25/mo.