Trading Happy Meal Toys for ScubaToys!

[Cichlid]

Something that I just started today:

With the need for new gear and the need to lose weight, I came up with a plan to combine the two. I usually finish work at 1-2pm and have an hour to drive home. Unfortunately fast food has been a perfect way to have a late lunch and kill time on the drive home. On avg I spend $5/day, which adds up to $25/week or $100/month! So today I skipped the drive thru, got home and had a healthy lunch. I then took the $5 I was gonna spend and I put it in a box. Every time I have the urge to eat out I know I can beat it since I'm using the cash for scuba stuff instead. Now I know $100 a month isn't gonna buy me much in this hobby when I still need everthing, but it's a start. Plus it will still buy me the extra stuff that I couldn't justify buying before!

If you have any other ideas, post them!


PS I know that I really didn't save a whole $5 because I still had to pay for the food I had at home. Still, it was a savings and it was a more healthy option. It's just easier to keep it at $5.

[Wolfie2012]

That's a great idea! Good luck with it!

[TAH 73]

$100 a month is still $1200 a year, in five years $6000 look at it that way.
I did something similar to that this year when working with pocket change. In Canada we have $1 and $2 coins, and at the end of the day I would take my pocket change and drop it into an old pony bottle I had cut a hole in. After 8 months I dumped it out, to the tune of almost $800.

[picxie]

That's a great idea!!

I already eat packed lunches so it won't work for me.

Just think, in a years time you'll have enough for a holiday!

[dallasdivergirl]

I am bringing my lunch every day or if I do eat out it has to be some where I can get a to go box & only eat half & have the other half later in the week. I was shocked at how much I was saving. Some days I had been spending $12 & $15. DOH! Plus I know I am eating healthier. The move has been a great motivator as well. I make myself eat at home so I have less food to cart to the new place.

[thor]

Great idea. Also cutting up your credit card works well. For me it was giving up Starbucks and making my own cofee at home to save for a new wetsuit. Who wants to pay $5 for a latte anyway? (But it is oh so good)

[DiveCaptain]

I have a similiar way to save. Everyday I have loose pocket change and all I do is fill an old beer bottle bank I have that once had popcorn in it when I bought it. When it fills up I take it to the bank to get counted and usually end up with around $500 to $1000 dollars (depending on how much silver is in it). The only problem is that I have only managed to fill it up on time. It takes oh so long to get it filled.

[ScubaToys Larry]

I found a way to save money. Empty my pockets at the shop and don't take any cash, or coins home - where my wife will confiscate it!

[Osprey]

Well I mean, it's cheaper to just have one grocery bill than to add lunches on-the-go on top of it all, isn't it? Besides, if you physically put money back, you KNOW it isn't spent, and it will slowly add up in that box.

Also I recommend to save all your change in a big jar, roll them, and then turn them into the bank after they've accumulated for a while. CoinStar takes a fee, so you're better off just doing it all yourself and going to the bank. This is how I pay for goodies when I am on vacation at the end of a full year!!!

[Theepdinker]

I quit smoking 14 years ago. Two packs a day.

Can you guess where that money goes.
I've taken a couple trips & bought a bunch of toys over the years.

Recently quit drinking soda & eating candy bars.
I'm losing weight & have more money for toys.

Theep