Do you watch the register and check your receipts when you’re checking out at the store? Usually, I pay close attention…but when I’m shopping with a toddler, my focus is a little lackluster. Mostly because I’m trying to apprehend him before he puts every bag of M&Ms he can find on the conveyor belt. Thanks to this fractured focus, I almost missed my most recent money wins.
At Target, I noticed that a container seemed to have a bit of a leak moments before the cashier went to scan it. I mentioned it to the cashier, apologizing because it was likely a byproduct of an overzealous toddler who likes to “help” load the cart. She offered to get a new item for me, but I said it was fine. She took $2 off our bill, making the item free.
Later that day, we were at a local store and the cashier mis-rang an item, shortchanging the store. I pointed it out, and the manager discounted my total anyway (but corrected their inventory!). That felt like a win for everyone.
All said, we probably only saved $5 on the entire shopping trip, but it was a terrific reminder to be attentive and polite in the checkout lane. Since errands seem virtually endless, if I can save $5 in one day, imagine what I can do over the course of a lifetime.
I will never not love these small money wins, but I know most readers come here for the big wins. That’s why today’s roundup features travel hacking, investing, and the best eBay tip I’ve ever read!
Jim Wang
What is your money win?
We recently had to replace our dishwasher and as the installer was working, I searched eBay to see if there were any valuable parts I could sell. It turns out that there were a few parts that are easy to remove (the most valuable being a motor) and I was able to sell them and various baskets for about $150 in total. Not bad for something destined for the landfill!
Why are you pumped?
I love discovering value in things that don’t appear to have value. In this case, those parts can go to other folks who need them and I can recoup some of the cost of the replacement!
What can others learn from it?
Always search eBay for things you might otherwise throw out. If it works, someone will want it. I’ve sold remotes to broken TVs, parts out of dishwashers, and even coupons out of those Valpak mailers.
Chris – Money Savvy Mindset
What is your money win?
We have recently took all of the money we are saving by not using a daycare (approx $200/week) and investing it into our Robinhood account.
Why are you pumped?
We are pumped because not only are we saving on the daycare cost, but we are also actively setting ourselves up to be in a better financial spot in the future!
What can others learn from it?
I guess the lesson here is that if you’re saving money somewhere in your budget in one place. You can take that saved amount and do something fiscally responsible and kick start your financial future. Whether it’s by investing the difference or paying down debt, you can do some amazing things.
Andrew
What is your money win?
We just paid for our family of 4 to fly home for free with credit card points.
Why are you pumped?
We have two young kids, and the youngest just turned 2 (which means we now have to buy him a plane ticket). It now costs $1200+ to fly home for holidays or other special occasions, so anything we can do to cut the cost is extremely beneficial to our budget. We have been able to use credit card sign-up bonuses and travel rewards to pay for almost all of the airfare for our family for the past 3 years or so, which has saved us several thousand dollars over that time.
What can others learn from it?
Don’t be afraid to get creative when looking at your expenses. If you are responsible with credit cards and pay the balance in full every month, travel hacking (earning credit card reward points and sign-up bonuses) can be a great way to subsidize vacations and other trips for your family.
Final Thoughts on Money Wins
What continues to strike me about these money wins are all the different ways people can be thoughtful and creative with money.
I’m still in the kiddie pool when it comes to travel hacking, but I’m trying. Stories like Andrew’s remind me that it’s a worthwhile endeavor (because I pay my card balance in full!).
I’m still dreaming about the day that we don’t have childcare as a line item in my budget. But I do try to follow Chris’s approach. Anytime something leaves our budget (car payments!), we direct those funds to savings and investing for as long as possible. You know, until a small human arrives, and then our entire budget has to get revamped. But it’s nice while it lasts!
Now excuse me while I go lament all of the items we’ve tossed and recycled without checking eBay first like Jim suggests! What a win that dishwasher turned out to be.
I hope September treated you well. If you win with money–big or small–at all next month, please share you win. I’d love to send some virtual confetti your way.
If you’d like to join the money win party, fill out this survey. Whether you are a blogger or a reader or both, you are welcome to party here!
Also, don’t miss any of our past money wins:
- Volume 1 – Kate, Revanche, Melody
- Volume 2 – Jody, Aitza, Little Miss Fire
- Volume 3 – Sarah, Kathy, Tara
- Volume 4 – Zero, Kat, Mystery Money Man
- Volume 5 – Anna, Debra, Claudia
- Volume 6 – Kate, Are We Adults Yet, Money Saved is Money Earned
- Volume 7 – Leigh, $76K Project, Josh
- Volume 8 – Jill, Verokina, Mr. Green
- Volume 9 – Budget Epicurean, Felicity, Erin
- Volume 10 – Kris, Revanche, Aaron
- Volume 11 – My Plutus Nod & Jo-Anne
- Volume 12 – Amanda, Kudy, Laura
- Volume 13 – Kate, Rich, Emily
- Volume 14 – Cait, Margot, Mr. Flexcents
- Volume 15 – Kate, Salty Old Lady, Dave
- Volume 16 – Saving4XtraRice, Perpetual Money Machine, Zandile
- Volume 17 – Rachel, Cashflow Cop, Kris
- Volume 18 – Gigi, One Frugal Girl, Barnaby King
- Volume 19 – Educator FI, Financial Pilgrimage, Alberto, Hailey
- Volume 20 – Daniella, Debt Ascent, Tawnya, Dollar Revolution
- Volume 21 – Brian, Matthew, Bettysonly
- Volume 22 – #FinCon19 Money Wins
So Tell Me…How are you winning with money lately? Drop a comment or fill out this survey.
I guess my big money win is being able to take advantage of every 40% off coupon that CVS sends me in an email. It’s usually about two a month and tends to coincide with when I need something (contact lens solution, lotion, etc.) I take the money saved and put it into the saved savings account, which goes against my mortgage. Every little bit helps, right?
Of course, this last time I forgot to check the pantry and found out upon coming home that I’d already bought lotion with a previous 40% off coupon (oops). But it’s the desert, so both bottles will get used up within the next four months (or less). So it’s still a frugal win.
What great money wins! While all are winners in my book, I’m especially jealous of Chris’s story! I can only dream of the day that we are done paying for daycare (yup, teacher-mom to four kiddos here!).
We once tallied up how much we will have paid once our youngest is done, and it’s more than what we paid for our house!
If you have someone providing you with free or reduced childcare, count your blessings!
Meanwhile, we’ll just keep trying to find ways to save money and increase our incomes to make up for all that money spent on daycare!
Congrats to all of you, but especially Chris. I feel you buddy!
Yup. It’s a huge blessing for us the pay less in childcare this year. I know next year, we are looking at between $1500-$2000 a month. Super excited for Chris and his family. How awesome to take that money and put it to really good future use.
Beautiful – have never thought of the eBay hack myself. Thanks for Jim and Penny to highlight this often missed out opportunity. It’s not only better for the wallet but also for the environment as it helps reduce waste and throwing away stuff that might still be of value to others. Love it, thanks!
Great suggestion about eBay. I’m trying really hard to not be so wasteful and to recycle but I often don’t think about trying to sell stuff I’m about to drop into my recycling center.
I suppose I automatically sift the things I might sell though my “who the heck would want that” filter!
It appears though that people might buy anything… even faulty electronic stuff that they can use parts from.
I like to think I’m smart… but sometimes I miss the obvious!