Savings Challenge and Perserverance to Save $.30

So a few weeks ago I agreed to take on Ginny Brady's Saving Savings Challenge over at Boardcast. I have to admit it is quite a challenge. Finding savings aren't that difficult, but actually depositing that savings is tough. It's especially tough when the savings aren't physical--since I never carry cash. So this weekend I'll be putting together a simple Excel spreadsheet where I'll log my savings.

Meanwhile, I recently read this post by Donna Freedman. To summarize Donna stood her ground on the right to save just a bit of money at a retailer. This is something I never do. Maybe it's because I don't like confrontation, but mostly I believe that everything just evens out eventually. If I lost a $3 savings one time another will come sooner or later. But this post inspired me to stand my ground.

I've been cheated from savings about half-a-dozen times in the past couple of months at Starbucks. It's not usually much money so I just let it go. Like the many times they forgot to give me my free soy and free syrup with my rewards. And the one time when after I pointed out that they forgot the manager shrugged her shoulders and handed me a dime. That was insulting the savings would have been $.60. But these are cases where I figure it's not that much money so who cares.

But yesterday I was at Starbucks--again--and I ordered 3 petite scones. I only had 2 kids with me but the price was either $.75 each or 3 for $1.95. The clerk charged me $.75 for each one. So I had a moment in my head. It's just 30 cents. But it's my 30 cents and I only ordered 3 because of the 3 for $1.95 price. And then there are all those times this summer that they've cheated me out of 60 cents. So I stood my ground and pointed out the mistake. The clerk became flustered. She blamed the computer (could have been--doesn't really matter). She didn't know what to do or how much money was involved. She asked me if she should call the manager. "Yes," I said. The manager overrided the price and I got my 30 cents.

During this small exchange I never showed one smidge of annoyance or anger. I just told her it wasn't a problem besides anybody can make a mistake. But the point is that I was overcharged and no matter how little it's just not right. Thanks Donna Freedman for teaching me to speak up for savings.

The Saving Savings Challenge

I was reading Ginny Brady's Broadcast for UFirst Federal Credit Union and was inspired by her Saving Savings Challenge.

Here's the basic concept as explained by Ginny:
Each time I find a "bargain" or consciously make a lifestyle change that saves money, I'll deposit the difference between what I paid (or saved) and what I would have paid without the discount into a savings account. For example, since I bought 2 gallons of milk (I have a big freezer), I saved $1.74. I'll round that up to $2...
photo by • Eliane •
You get the rest, Ginny will deposit $2 into her savings account.


I'm going to take up the challenge as well. Of course there's the whole argument of whether a "sale" is really a "savings", but don't you feel like you hit the jackpot whenever you find a bargain?

So here's my first deposit. We're going to Portland for vaca early August. We nearly booked a hotel chain that we're familiar with and love. See we're 5 people so we always need either a suite or two rooms. Anyway this particular chain has always been good for us. But I felt the the $209/night was a bit higher than it should be. After a little online searching I found the same suite chain just 8 miles away at $165/night. Bingo I just won $44/night. Or $308 total for our stay. Time will only tell how good my bargain was, but they do have a basketball court something the other location didn't have.

Today's deposit $308.

Okay so with that one I saved money, but what do I do with stuff I don't expect to buy? Like the glasses I unexpectedly broke--and since we no longer have vision insurance--let's just say that cancels my hotel savings.

This Challenge could drive me crazy!!! But I'm not giving up! From now on I'm going to deposit the difference into an untouchable alternate savings. It's not really untouchable. It's my secondary savings account that I usually forget about. We've used it as an emergency fund in the past and it's dwindled slowly away, so it's time to build it back up.

Forget about the broken glasses and the hotel. I'm starting fresh and I'll keep you posted occasionally. As for you, it's the weekspend get out there and save!