michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:43 pm
Yesterday I got more than 99% off a prescription. Kroger full price was $1100. I used Amazon Prime RX discount card at Costco to bring the price to $9.50.
I also saved by having my doctor change the prescription for a higher quantity with less refills. This often saves a lot of money depending on your insurance or discount programs. In this case I got 3 times as many pills for 50 cents more.
The difference in prescription prices that aren't covered by insurance can be crazy. This prescription could have been covered by my insurance but would have required getting approval (which isn't fast and is a hassle for me and my doctor) and the co-pay would have been more than what I paid out of pocket with the discount card.
The funny thing is I was going to pick up the prescription at Kroger using a GoodRx coupon when I got an email telling me about Prime RX which I had never heard of before.
Another thing my wife did was check prices on various sizes of the same pill. Turned out that the pill for 2x the dosage she takes was only 10% more than the price for her dosage, and the pills can be broken in half. So she had the doc write a prescription for 45 of the bigger dosage, and she breaks them in half.
For her, Costco + GoodRX is cheapest, but she shops around every single time.
Gooch1226 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:44 pm
Ordered breaks and rotors from eBay .. for $199 and having my mechanic put them on for $150. Beats $900 from the dealer .
$150 for front and rear labor? that's a great price!
Gooch1226 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:44 pm
Ordered breaks and rotors from eBay .. for $199 and having my mechanic put them on for $150. Beats $900 from the dealer .
$150 for front and rear labor? that's a great price!
I'm assuming only one axle, not front & rear. I'm also assuming brakes, not breaks, were ordered.
michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:43 pm
Yesterday I got more than 99% off a prescription. Kroger full price was $1100. I used Amazon Prime RX discount card at Costco to bring the price to $9.50.
I also saved by having my doctor change the prescription for a higher quantity with less refills. This often saves a lot of money depending on your insurance or discount programs. In this case I got 3 times as many pills for 50 cents more.
The difference in prescription prices that aren't covered by insurance can be crazy. This prescription could have been covered by my insurance but would have required getting approval (which isn't fast and is a hassle for me and my doctor) and the co-pay would have been more than what I paid out of pocket with the discount card.
The funny thing is I was going to pick up the prescription at Kroger using a GoodRx coupon when I got an email telling me about Prime RX which I had never heard of before.
I didn't know Amazon had a Prime RX card. I wonder if there is a way to request this (didn't receive an email about this yet.) TIA if anyone knows.
michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:43 pm
Yesterday I got more than 99% off a prescription. Kroger full price was $1100. I used Amazon Prime RX discount card at Costco to bring the price to $9.50.
I also saved by having my doctor change the prescription for a higher quantity with less refills. This often saves a lot of money depending on your insurance or discount programs. In this case I got 3 times as many pills for 50 cents more.
The difference in prescription prices that aren't covered by insurance can be crazy. This prescription could have been covered by my insurance but would have required getting approval (which isn't fast and is a hassle for me and my doctor) and the co-pay would have been more than what I paid out of pocket with the discount card.
The funny thing is I was going to pick up the prescription at Kroger using a GoodRx coupon when I got an email telling me about Prime RX which I had never heard of before.
I didn't know Amazon had a Prime RX card. I wonder if there is a way to request this (didn't receive an email about this yet.) TIA if anyone knows.
I don't think they will send you a card, but in the upper right corner there is a link "View Rx Savings Card." As implied by the name, this is only available to Amazon Prime members.
Like other discount cards, it is entered like insurance (same fields as on an insurance card for pharmacy) into the pharmacy's system. I believe I won't have to present it again if I go to the same pharmacy, but I am not positive of that.
michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:43 pm
Yesterday I got more than 99% off a prescription. Kroger full price was $1100. I used Amazon Prime RX discount card at Costco to bring the price to $9.50.
I also saved by having my doctor change the prescription for a higher quantity with less refills. This often saves a lot of money depending on your insurance or discount programs. In this case I got 3 times as many pills for 50 cents more.
The difference in prescription prices that aren't covered by insurance can be crazy. This prescription could have been covered by my insurance but would have required getting approval (which isn't fast and is a hassle for me and my doctor) and the co-pay would have been more than what I paid out of pocket with the discount card.
The funny thing is I was going to pick up the prescription at Kroger using a GoodRx coupon when I got an email telling me about Prime RX which I had never heard of before.
I didn't know Amazon had a Prime RX card. I wonder if there is a way to request this (didn't receive an email about this yet.) TIA if anyone knows.
I don't think they will send you a card, but in the upper right corner there is a link "View Rx Savings Card." As implied by the name, this is only available to Amazon Prime members.
Like other discount cards, it is entered like insurance (same fields as on an insurance card for pharmacy) into the pharmacy's system. I believe I won't have to present it again if I go to the same pharmacy, but I am not positive of that.
I recently looked into Prime Rx too, and while it was more expensive than my current Rx deductibles and I won't be using them for now, it wasn't that much more expensive. A very good deal for the items I looked up.
Like good comrades to the utmost of their strength, we shall go on to the end. -- Winston Churchill
Got a free stationary exercise bike from a neighbor. The bike didn't have any resistance so I called customer service to troubleshoot. Ended up ordering a replacement servo motor for $50 and replaced it myself. Bike now works as good as new and it currently sells for $650 from major retailers.
The young man who helps me with my leaves also does the house across the street. He brought their leaves over and mulched them and then raked them into piles with my help. Now I have lots of leaf mulch.
"History is the memory of time, the life of the dead and the happiness of the living." Captain John Smith 1580-1631
Not so much today but this season I'm collecting firewood from downed trees in my back lot. I never realized how much firewood is just sitting on the ground. I've been heating my house this season for only a few dollars in gas/oil for my chainsaw and ATV.
quantAndHold wrote: ↑Fri Nov 26, 2021 10:52 am
So we put the turkey carcass in the wooded area out back for foxes and coyotes. It was gone by morning!
At first this sounds like a great idea, then remember that animals should not be fed cooked bones as they can/will splinter and cause internal injury. Please don't do that...
Actually -- no kidding! -- one of the guests was a zookeeper who did not object to this plan. (You make a very important point, but if you saw this carcass, I don't think you would have been concerned either.)
Got an extra 40% off a probably mismarked and barely played “Preowned” set of Titleist T400 irons at PGA Superstore today. They sell new for $1399. Paid $480 out the door!
If I don’t like ‘em, I can flip them for a profit…
D. C. Pline wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:14 pm
Pulled out two calendars, one from 1994 and one from 2005, to use for 2022.
Put aside the ones I used in 2021 until 2027.
I'm not organized enough to do this, but I did replace all of my household and workplace calendars with freebies that were either sent to me as promotional gifts or free ones from my church.
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." Yogi Berra's financial wisdom.
I don't know whether this falls under "sour grapes" or turning "lemons into lemonade". Either way, it's easy to accept.
Recently got a new CC from my CU. It pays 3% on groceries, gas, and a user-selected category, 1% on everything else---easy 50% boost over Citi 2%. Then noticed that it will pay an additional $100 if I spend $1500 in the first 3mos on it. I usually use these opportunities (rotating 5% categories) to buy grocery gift cards (max benefit: $75/yr = 5% x $1500).
So was again going to buy gift cards, but local grocery will no longer allow their gift cards to be bought with CCs---cash or debit only, which doesn't help me.
Was first disappointed. But now I'm a little relieved that I no longer need to jump through this hoop. Why? The benefit was never that great. And I was always worried buying a bunch of grocery gift cards than might not be used for several months. Why? Anyone (store clerk) who knows the number can empty it. So was never relaxed until I'd spent the last gift card.
So while I'm a little disappointed, I'm more relieved. So will not be wasting time/worry playing this game going forward. So small "yea!".
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
We slept on air mattresses while visiting the wife’s parents for the holidays rather than get a hotel. Bought some very nice bourbon with the savings so didn’t really save anything.
Fixed my kitchen cabinet door that had stopped closing all the way. I tried fiddling with the adjustment screws on the hinges, but nothing I did made any difference that I could notice. Then I took an old magnetic calendar off my refrigerator, cut some pieces to size and removed the backing, and put them in place with double-sided sticky tape. That almost worked, but the sticky tape kept coming loose, so now I'm holding them down with masking tape. Total cost: stuff I already had on hand.
AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:41 am
Made a pot of delicious espresso for 12 cents (Pilon @ $10.11 for a 2 lb, 4 oz tub that lasts 3 months, 80 days to be conservative).
AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:41 am
Made a pot of delicious espresso for 12 cents (Pilon @ $10.11 for a 2 lb, 4 oz tub that lasts 3 months, 80 days to be conservative).
dratkinson wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 11:13 pm
I don't know whether this falls under "sour grapes" or turning "lemons into lemonade". Either way, it's easy to accept.
Recently got a new CC from my CU. It pays 3% on groceries, gas, and a user-selected category, 1% on everything else---easy 50% boost over Citi 2%. Then noticed that it will pay an additional $100 if I spend $1500 in the first 3mos on it. I usually use these opportunities (rotating 5% categories) to buy grocery gift cards (max benefit: $75/yr = 5% x $1500).
So was again going to buy gift cards, but local grocery will no longer allow their gift cards to be bought with CCs---cash or debit only, which doesn't help me. Received a "No" answer.
Was first disappointed. But now I'm a little relieved that I no longer need to jump through this hoop. Why? The benefit was never that great. And I was always worried buying a bunch of grocery gift cards than might not be used for several months. Why? Anyone (store clerk) who knows the number can empty it. So was never relaxed until I'd spent the last gift card.
So while I'm a little disappointed, I'm more relieved. So will not be wasting time/worry playing this game going forward. So small "yea!".
Update. Went to another pharmacy in the same grocery chain for a covid booster. While there asked a manager if I could use a CC to buy their gift cards? Was told "Yes". (So above "No" was store dependent.)
Asked about security of gift cards and learned that new gift cards come with a scratch-off PIN number, so hard for someone to empty it if they don't physically have it. So as long as the PIN number is covered when purchases, I should be okay.
So purchased gift cards to max initial 3-mo spending required to get $100 bonus. It was found money. Hope uncle sugar and his nephews at state enjoy their windfall next year.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
brian91480 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:38 pm
On vacation for a week. I bought cold cuts, bread, a few tomatoes, spinach and mustard. I've been making sandwiches all week for lunch. Money saved from not going out to lunch every day is helping pay for experiences while on vacation.
I'm not sure if this is frugal, or just a reallocation of resources... since the money saved on eating out is still being spent on experiences.
--- Brian
I do the same. But mine today was asking the kids where they wanted to go for dinner knowing they would say quick pick (for those Seattle-ites out there). Spent most of the weekend sick and in bed, so we have no breakfast, lunch, or dinner planned for the week. Quick pick is a cheaper option than any fast food joint out there. I also like to think it’s more healthy, but I’d say it lands healthier than McDonald’s but it definitely ain’t a salad!
McDonald's has salads.
That would require self control I don’t possess. I’m pretty sure I’d arrive intending on a salad and end up leaving with salad and at a minimum! Lol
Our current frugality is changing to reflect attempting to "frugalize" stress in the current environment. That means spending more for an item that requires appearing in a convenient store rather than driving extra miles to save a few dollars, spending on "comfort" items, and basically not considering cost for reasonably inexpensive items over immediate convenience.
Replaced a toilet flapper myself. Even better a couple weeks ago I repaired my dishwasher myself.
It’s winter so I’m focused on the interior of my home - still furnishing it after almost three years since I bought it. I have the necessaries but am missing stuff like some guest room and library furnishings, accessories, wall art. I troll FB marketplace for high quality used things and have got some great bargains. Yesterday I spent $200 on end tables for my guest bedroom - design center-type fancy ones that would have cost thousands each new - and managed to get them to my house with a Home Depot truck. $25 for an hour and a half.
I am walking everywhere in NYC because I am afraid of catching COVID on subway. On Monday I will go to my dentist appointment on foot even though it will take 2 hours to get there.
It's my form of multi-tasking: saving money and getting exercise at the same time.
Carol88888 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:01 am
I am walking everywhere in NYC because I am afraid of catching COVID on subway. On Monday I will go to my dentist appointment on foot even though it will take 2 hours to get there.
It's my form of multi-tasking: saving money and getting exercise at the same time.
You first say it’s because you are afraid of Covid. But then say it’s to save money and get exercise. Anyhow, I’m impressed you’d walk 4 hours round trip for a dental appointment. I’d reschedule to after current spike.
I have a few extra family members at my house this weekend, and I fed everyone a potato and hamburger casserole using ingredients from my pantry and freezer. Easy and not too expensive!
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." Yogi Berra's financial wisdom.
I removed a post discussing frugality for a mask (medical advice). See: Medical Issues
Questions on medical issues are beyond the scope of the forum. If you are looking for medical information online, I suggest you start with the Medical Library Association's User's Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on the Web which, in addition to providing guidance on evaluating health information, includes a list of their top recommended sites.
Stuck with the plan to eat last night's leftovers for dinner tonight, even though we were ambivalent the first time around (a different brand of soy burger and not sure we'd buy it again). The leftovers turned out to be perfectly serviceable though and glad we didn't waste.
tvubpwcisla wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 8:35 am
Avoided Costco and Home Depot.
I also want credit for picking up a prescription at Costco today and not buying anything else while I was there
michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:43 pm
Yesterday I got more than 99% off a prescription. Kroger full price was $1100. I used Amazon Prime RX discount card at Costco to bring the price to $9.50.
I also saved by having my doctor change the prescription for a higher quantity with less refills. This often saves a lot of money depending on your insurance or discount programs. In this case I got 3 times as many pills for 50 cents more.
The difference in prescription prices that aren't covered by insurance can be crazy. This prescription could have been covered by my insurance but would have required getting approval (which isn't fast and is a hassle for me and my doctor) and the co-pay would have been more than what I paid out of pocket with the discount card.
The funny thing is I was going to pick up the prescription at Kroger using a GoodRx coupon when I got an email telling me about Prime RX which I had never heard of before.
Another thing my wife did was check prices on various sizes of the same pill. Turned out that the pill for 2x the dosage she takes was only 10% more than the price for her dosage, and the pills can be broken in half. So she had the doc write a prescription for 45 of the bigger dosage, and she breaks them in half.
For her, Costco + GoodRX is cheapest, but she shops around every single time.
Excellent thoughts. My own frugality today: I remembered to look for a copay card for a relatively expensive prescription, and there was one, so I called the mail order pharmacy (Costco, coincidentally) and had them add it to my file. GoodRx has a list of copay cards with links. I take another super-expensive drug where the copay is $150, but a copay card reduces it to five bucks.
Yesterday, saw that the MCT Oil I use (Keto on!) was on sale - then they had a sign up for text, get 20% off offer, and buy over $50 for free shipping. got 4 bottles for $50, normally $26 or more a bottle. This morning I realized I forgot to order Milk Thistle for our dog (liver cancer), so I called to see if it could be added. Too late, but she took the order - buy one get one free, used the 20% off code I had gotten yesterday, and the $5 in points I had acquired They had a promotion for $12 of items I use, so i got that added. So, saved $$ today, even more yesterday. Oh, and put on my card for 2% cash back.
Not sure this is very frugal, but it is kind of interesting. I bought a frozen pizza on sale for $5 (regularly $6.99). It said "double pepperoni" on the box. When I took it out of the box, there were only half as many pepperoni slices on it versus as shown in the picture on the box. However, they were twice the thickness of what was shown in the picture, so I guess that's sort of okay.
Like good comrades to the utmost of their strength, we shall go on to the end. -- Winston Churchill
Made my own black coffee and a very good and spicy no-mayo egg salad sandwich with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, hummus and avocado oil on hardcore whole kernel bread w cucumber. Making your own food is not that difficult after all.
Last edited by AnnetteLouisan on Fri Feb 04, 2022 7:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Today, Amazon had $200 Airbnb Gift Cards on sale for $180 each, with coupon code. Limit 1 per account, so DW and myself each bought one from our individual accounts. $40 discount plus additional 5% from my Amazon CC ($18) for a total of $58 saved. I have already applied the $400 on GC's to a reservation we have in May 2022. Easy Money!
It is not about how much you make; it is about how much you keep and how well you invest it. - Author Unknown |
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. - Author James Dean
AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 04, 2022 7:17 pm
Made my own black coffee and a very good and spicy no-mayo egg salad sandwich with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, hummus and avocado oil on hardcore whole kernel bread w cucumber. Making your own food is not that difficult after all.
Yeah… but those ingredients add up to one unfrugal sandwich.
tooluser wrote: ↑Fri Feb 04, 2022 7:13 pm
Not sure this is very frugal, but it is kind of interesting. I bought a frozen pizza on sale for $5 (regularly $6.99). It said "double pepperoni" on the box. When I took it out of the box, there were only half as many pepperoni slices on it versus as shown in the picture on the box. However, they were twice the thickness of what was shown in the picture, so I guess that's sort of okay.
Try the Costco Kirkland frozen pepperoni pizza. $13 for 4 pizza’s and they are completely covered in pepperoni.