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There seems to be this stereotype that musicians aren't good money managers....that they don't have a head for finance. But most musicians I've known can make a penny squeal for its life because they have to live on a budget if they don't make a big salary from being full time musicians. Or they may have another source of income from a job outside music, but they are always saving for musical projects, demoes, etc.Anyone here care to share your money saving tips? It can be anything from reusing baggies to turning down the thermostat in the winter. I'm a notorious tightwad 'coz I have to be. You can also talk about how it helps the planet, how much money it saved you long term, hehe.I am not above 'curb shopping' (neighbors frequently throw away really nice stuff in my neighborhood) and dumpster diving provided it's easy to get too. I have friends who think I'm totally nuts because of some of my money saving activities.Being thrifty allows me to be creative with what funds I do have, and it's fun.If you also have a money saving story (like a piece of furniture you found and how you fixed it up) that's good too.

Hey, Billy, Vicky and Mojo....thanks for adding your thoughts and tips to the thread. Mojo, you're right about guitars. I own an Alvarez acoustic that I payed around $229 for. If you offered me the highest priced Martin, I don't believe I could part with my little Alvarez. It sounds great. My guitar teacher suggested that purchase....he said so many people purchase expensive guitars when they take lessons only to leave their guitars in the closet if they end up not playing much. For the price, it's really a good guitar for a beginner. I agree about the poor thing with musicians....the good thing is that we are rich 'coz many of us get to pursue what makes us happy.Here's one of my thrift stories that is not exactly music related, but it's what allows me to have a little bit of extra funds for demo work. (yeah, like I'm money bags, hehe)When my husband and I first got married, we needed a washing machine. Money was tight, so we looked around at the best deal to purchase one. Meanwhile, a friend of ours was getting rid of an olive green washing machine because she didn't like the color and considered it out of style. We didn't know she wanted to part with it, and she threw it on the curb. We asked her if we could have it, and we even offered to buy it, but she insisted we take it for free....she just wanted to get it off her curb. It really didn't matter what color it was to us....the washing machine would be in our basement anyway. The washer ran for years....until one day, the motor gave out. My husband had been hiking in the woods a month before and saw an identical washer all rusted out, but believe it or not, the motor was still worked, LOL. So he removed the motor (he's the fix-it type of guy) and installed it in the olive green washing machine, and it ran for another 5 years until it finally quit for good. After that, we bought a new washing machine, but I still have fond memories of that old olive green one. Also, my first two vacuum cleaners I owned were fished from the curb too....they just needed belts, and people actually threw them away believing they were broken.....the things folks pitch out. This happened not once, but twice of course.

Hi Wow, I'm amazed at what you find on your curbs, I wouldn't dare pick up the nasty stuff that's lurking on ours! A lot smaller and smellier than olive green washing machines by the way, that would make a sweet lyric Chits I sometimes shop from the bottom shelf! You know, the cheaper stuff that's exactly the same as the brand names, they just keep them on those bottom shelves so you don't notice em! I'm careful with what I buy because I like to know the family are eating well, we always have tons of fruit and veg in the house. (I was a fruit fly in my previous life ), but I don't mind paying less for wrapping we're only going to put in the bin (recycling). Oh and I once read that putting aluminium foil down the backs of radiators will heat up your house that little extra - never tried that - don't buy the expensive foil, hehehe.Actually you've reminded me of a sweet book I have on life in general, there's a few simple money saving tips in there, I'll fish it out later and see if I can't find a few more...Stay tuned.

Sept 2, 2008, 5:20am, linziellen wrote:Hi Wow, I'm amazed at what you find on your curbs, I wouldn't dare pick up the nasty stuff that's lurking on ours! A lot smaller and smellier than olive green washing machines by the way, that would make a sweet lyric Chits I sometimes shop from the bottom shelf! You know, the cheaper stuff that's exactly the same as the brand names, they just keep them on those bottom shelves so you don't notice em! I'm careful with what I buy because I like to know the family are eating well, we always have tons of fruit and veg in the house. (I was a fruit fly in my previous life ), but I don't mind paying less for wrapping we're only going to put in the bin (recycling). Oh and I once read that putting aluminium foil down the backs of radiators will heat up your house that little extra - never tried that - don't buy the expensive foil, hehehe.Actually you've reminded me of a sweet book I have on life in general, there's a few simple money saving tips in there, I'll fish it out later and see if I can't find a few more...Stay tuned. Stay tuned? Ooh, I love more money saving tips. I buy generics too, Lindz. (the products at the bottom of the shelf). I find they are every bit as good as the brand names. If I do like a brand name better, I will purchase it, but for the most part, generic brands have really improved over the years. We recently got an Aldi store here. I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with their stuff. Their stores look plain and you gotta put a quarter in the shopping cart to unleash it, but I like their chips, bratwurst, canned veggies, produce, chocolates and beer and wine selection. Heck, I got a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio for $4.97 that I served to my neighbors one night....they raved over it. I've had bottles of the more expensive stuff, and you can't tell the diff. I thought it would be awful for that price, but I was really surprised. They have good beer from Holland too...it's much cheaper than Heinekin and it tastes just as good. Not all generic or Aldi products are good, but there are some finds out there.Okay, I guess I'm starting to sound like an old bore, but I love saving money.

Hey, Vikki and Cam.....good tips. That savings of almost 4 hundred dollars, Vikki, is really worth the effort you put forth to cancel services you weren't using. Little things do add up to big savings.Cam, like you, I've learned to rent a hotel room on the outskirts of town for any event I'm attending, especially Nashville. Hotel rooms in the city can be pricey...I usually stay somewhere in Frankin, TN.

It is my intention to live in a way that requires absolutely no monitoring of cash flow, because I experience abundance on such a grand level that money flows thru me like air. All my needs are met effortlessly. Saving money is a wonderful way to live, and I'm not saying any of you should choose different paths. But I would rather spend money frivolously on my friends and dreams, that ever worry about trying to save it.Money is cool, especially when you can have fun spending it Sept 2, 2008, 8:32am, jchitty wrote:Hey, Vikki and Cam.....good tips. That savings of almost 4 hundred dollars, Vikki, is really worth the effort you put forth to cancel services you weren't using. Little things do add up to big savings.Cam, like you, I've learned to rent a hotel room on the outskirts of town for any event I'm attending, especially Nashville. Hotel rooms in the city can be pricey...I usually stay somewhere in Frankin, TN.

Sept 2, 2008, 8:52am, sgs4u wrote:It is my intention to live in a way that requires absolutely no monitoring of cash flow, because I experience abundance on such a grand level that money flows thru me like air. All my needs are met effortlessly. Saving money is a wonderful way to live, and I'm not saying any of you should choose different paths. But I would rather spend money frivolously on my friends and dreams, that ever worry about trying to save it.Money is cool, especially when you can have fun spending it Sept 2, 2008, 8:32am, jchitty wrote:Hey, Vikki and Cam.....good tips. That savings of almost 4 hundred dollars, Vikki, is really worth the effort you put forth to cancel services you weren't using. Little things do add up to big savings.Cam, like you, I've learned to rent a hotel room on the outskirts of town for any event I'm attending, especially Nashville. Hotel rooms in the city can be pricey...I usually stay somewhere in Frankin, TN.I find that if I'm thrifty, I have more to spend on folks. I hear you though....for some people, saving money is a chore. To me, it's entertainment, sort of like solving crossword puzzles. However, being thrifty doesn't mean being cheap or uncaring with friends or family....it just means working with what you have and putting it to the best use.

Sept 2, 2008, 8:52am, sgs4u wrote:It is my intention to live in a way that requires absolutely no monitoring of cash flow, because I experience abundance on such a grand level that money flows thru me like air. All my needs are met effortlessly. Saving money is a wonderful way to live, and I'm not saying any of you should choose different paths. But I would rather spend money frivolously on my friends and dreams, that ever worry about trying to save it.Money is cool, especially when you can have fun spending it Unfortunately, I used to live by that philosophy, and I have the debt load to prove it So now I pay as much attention to the details of my financial transactions as I do to the composition of my music And I have lots of fun, because... by saving & planning, I'm able to go to the Road Rally every year, buy software for my studio, and have a one month vacation every summer (not that easy, since, being self-employed, I have no holiday pay).

Sept 2, 2008, 8:32am, jchitty wrote:Hey, Vikki and Cam.....good tips. Cam, like you, I've learned to rent a hotel room on the outskirts of town for any event I'm attending, especially Nashville. Hotel rooms in the city can be pricey...I usually stay somewhere in Frankin, TN.FYI, next time you're in Nashville Chits, I stayed at Hyatt Place (real nice hotels) near Opryland for $45 per night two weeks ago. Got it from the web site I mentioned above. Of course, timing is everything, but almost always can get places in that same price range near the airport or Opryland.Cam

Oh yeah Steve we have the same outlook. You cant take it with you right!!I do however save where I can. I am fortunate to have a great job that pays good money. I also have a killer boss who lets me pursue music at the same time.The best advice for saving money (I tell my wife this constantly) is, DONT SPEND IT!!!!!!She thinks that buying shoes and handbags on sale is saving money. She does get great deals and she wont buy if its not a cut price but all in all, NOT SPENDING MONEY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY SAVE MONEY!!!!Not spending frivolously is what I really mean. But even though I make a good living I still wont spend that 800 bucks on that Gibson I really want. I have 6 guitars. All of them are good so why buy another? anyway,"got my mind on my money and my money on my mind"