Sound Bites: Staffers share their money-saving tips

 

Fernanda Valentino, executive assistant, Health Sciences Development

Even pre-recession, I realized that the amount of money that could easily be spent at Coffee Bean, Starbucks and other specialty coffeehouses quickly adds up to hundreds of dollars per year. Going out for coffee is a real treat and somewhat of a luxury for me, not a daily occurrence.

 

 

 

My biggest money-saving tip is to ride a bicycle either all the way or partway to campus. I have probably saved thousands in parking fees, car maintenance (or replacement) and the inevitable tickets.

 

 

 

 

Cassandra Patillo, student affairs officer, Office of Undergraduate Admisions and Relations with Schools

Bring your lunch as much as possible. When shopping at the grocery store, the menu for the week should be based on the items that are on sale for that particular week. For instance, when ground beef is on sale for $.99 a pound and sold in five-pound packages, the menu for the week consist of tacos, spaghetti and meat loaf. The savings can amount to about $25 worth of savings per week by bringing your lunch. I have utilized this strategy for the past two years, and the savings are tremendous.

 

Decide if the expenditure is a need or a want. Needs are not discretionary and will require an expenditure. Wants are put off for a time when one has discretionary income. During these times it is prudent to save any discretionary income for unexpected expenses. Even for most needed expenditures, one can save money. For example, if a product you use breaks daily, it’s less expensive to repair the item and better for the environment. Almost everything we use is designed to be replaced if it breaks. However, almost all these products can be repaired with some ingenuity and a little time spent on the Internet looking for replacement parts.

 

Brent Pantell, graphic designer, UCLA Transportation

My wife and I started making coffee at home in the morning instead of buying coffee everyday. Also, carpooling to and from work helps us save money on gas, parking, and maintenance.

 

I have combined the need to conserve water with the savings on my water bill by filling used milk containers before I run hot water. As the two or three gallons of cold water first flow from the water lines, I collect the water in bottles and save it to water my potted and indoor plants.

 

 

 

Thanh (Titi) Le, academic personnel coordinator, Department of Psychology
I consolidate my errands into one trip so that I am traveling along the same route and not back and forth. I do not go on one-errand trips, e.g. run to the market. Some days, I run many of these errands during my lunch hour, either by walking or taking the shuttle into the village. For example, I go to the post office on campus and I try to do some of my grocery shopping before work or at lunch so that I do not have to make an extra trip after work.

 

I have cut down on buying coffee daily from a coffee house by brewing my own coffee in the office. I normally bring lunch but the few times that I do buy lunch, I often split the meal and share the costs with a friend. When it comes to eating out, my husband and I try to go out only once a week and we always use a coupon. To save even more, we may share an entrée and each get a side soup or salad to fill us up. This saves our waistlines too. To make some extra pocket change, I clean out my closets and try to sell items on craigslist or eBay. I also recycle once a month, which earns me up to $10-$15.

 

Gabriel Mora, electrician, Facilities Management Electrical Shop

My saving tip is carpooling! I live 35 miles away from work and since I started working at UCLA I have been using the vanpool/carpool system. It saves me lots of money in gas, car maintenance, commute time and physical/mental stress. I really believe it's a fantastic way to save, not only the personal aspect of it but saving Earth resources as well.

 

 

Brooke Beighle, Employer and Corporate Relations, Career Center

Save money by not eating out. I grocery shop and take my lunch and snacks with me, and dinner if needed. I try to limit myself to eating out 1-3 times per week. It’s a tough habit to break but well worth it at the end of the month. It can be healthier, too, with veggies and fruit. I also have a water bottle that I reuse instead of buying a new one every day — water is free at the drinking fountains. Buying coffee can add up as well, so I recommend investing in a coffeemaker at home and a thermos or travel mug.

 I also won’t buy clothes unless I absolutely need them. How many clothes are hanging in your closet that you’ve only worn once or twice? (You can sell or donate those too). Unless you’re going to die without that new dress, leave it until you have some spending room. With these changes in my lifestyle, my bank account and stress level have more balance and I spend more time participating in life.

 

There has to be a positive side to everything — yin and yang, darkness and light. In these times, maybe we can stop depending so much on material possessions as our source of happiness and spend more time with our families and friends. Everyone is feeling the pinch, so it makes sense to stop talking about it and actually start taking action. I’m spending more quality time with my family and friends, completing those art projects or books I’ve been putting off, walking to the bank seven blocks away instead of driving — you get the idea. There are tons of free things to do in L.A. and the Metro is always cheaper than driving. So have some new experiences — that’s why we’re here!

 

Aurora Garcia, administrative specialist, Research, Training and Development

Cook your own food – enough for home and a for lunch at work. It’s safe – no server’s DNA will be dropping on your food as you order. It’s clean – especially with salad and fruits, which you should wash well yourself to prevent E. Coli contamination. It’s cheap – the price for a lunch out could be the cost for the whole household’s lunch or dinner. I’ve tried it and saved a lot!

 

What I do is buy a pack of cold cuts and a loaf of bread, which will cover me for a whole week. I buy veggies to do my own salad. For meats, I watch for those New York steak/rib eye/tri-tips on sale at reputable stores and freeze ’em. The $2 chicken soup at a restaurant is composed of a lot of noodles and celery with three tiny strips of microscopic chicken. Boiling a bunch of chicken parts for your own soup will go a long, long way. There’s a zillion recipes out there and cheap ingredients – it’s up to our imagination as to how we are going to use them.

 

• Take public transportation to save money on gas and wear and tear on the car. Carpool whenever possible.

• Use coupons.

• Save the movie theater for a special occasion and instead rent movies from the local movie store or from pay-per-view on cable — you can save on movie ticket costs, parking, expensive snacks, etc.

• Instead of going out to eat often or at expensive places, find a nice recipe and make a meal at home. Also, invite people to your place for an upscale dinner and ask folks to bring something. This cuts your cost and you all can enjoy a wonderful meal and conversation together without having to shell out cash.

• Use your BruinCard (or AAA card if you are a member) to save costs on purchases and entry fees.

• Buy dried foods, such as grains, in bulk rather than individual packages. There is a good chance you can make several meals for the same price.

• Check online and local weekly publications to see what’s going on for free around the city or in your local area.

• Rather than join a costly gym, exercise in the comfort of your own living room or local neighborhood. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and great outdoors of Los Angeles and exercise for free in Mother Nature.

 

Lisa Rose, senior fund manager, Department of Urology

My game plan is to try and imitate my grandparents by simplifying my life and saving up to pay cash for everything. I have started eating at home most of the time and bringing my lunch to work. I’m paying down all credit cards ASAP. The only thing I will put on credit is in an emergency situation after all other options have been exhausted. My plans to upgrade my car, as I have in years past, are no longer an option. I’ll drive it until it just won’t go any more and, meanwhile, save up a huge down payment, if not the entire amount, to pay cash for the next car. I will also settle for something less luxurious, if needed.

 

What I have found interesting by doing this is that things we think we absolutely must have are not so appealing when you save up for it and later go back to buy it. I have truly learned my lesson about credit — it really is a trap I could have avoided if only I’d have imitated my wise ancestors years ago!

 

Rita Kern, staff research associate, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

About 12 years ago I took a hard look at my monthly spending and tracked every penny I spent for two months. Armed with that data, I was able to make better decisions about how I chose to spend my money. I was able to get out of debt over a period of time, eat healthily and still have fun with friends and family. These are many of the ideas I figured out for saving:

• Use public transportation — especially a UCLA subsidized line — and a rideshare parking lot. It may take a little more time but it saves on gas, car wear and tear, UCLA parking costs and possibly some car insurance, and you can plan your day or read while you’re on the bus.

• Buy fresh produce, dairy and canned food (some fresh and canned foods are even organic) at the 99¢ Only store — there's even a cookbook using ingredients from the store.

• Get a slow cooker and make soup, stew and one-pot meals. Homemade low-fat soup is one of my favorite weight management foods, too.

• Look around for free and low-cost entertainment: UCLA activities like clubs for dancing and hiking; low-cost classes through city recreation programs; community colleges; early movie times or UCLA discount tickets; getting together with friends for potlucks, movie rental nights; walks, runs or biking at the beach; hiking local mountains; camping in state parks. Local papers usually list a schedule of community activities and talks — many for free.

• Clip coupons for all kinds of activities or things.

• Rejuvenate a hobby that uses stuff you might already have around.

• Recycle, reuse and repurpose stuff — save the environment and cash.

• Have a trading or swapping party with friends — bring lightly used items you no longer want and maybe you'll find a new treasure in trade.