18 Crazy Things We Do As Extreme Savers
Some of the best extreme savers know you must chase money to save money.
No laughing because they’ll be debt-free one day, and you’ll have nothing to laugh about.
Although we’ve heard it all about being extreme savers, nothing feels better than winning.
For those of you who are already shaking your heads at “Extreme Savers,” let me explain.
Today I want to talk about the unconventional ways we took on the family title of extreme savers.
Extreme Savers Cash In For Debt Freedom
There is a simplicity to the process where extreme savers have taken the time to understand the system.
What system do you ask?
Well, the consumer marketing system, living below your means, and saving money wherever you can.
The idea is to earn, save and invest.
Becoming extreme savers wasn’t easy for us, but the more we pushed, the easier it became.
We rented a room for two years after getting married, and that’s where our best money-saving plans began.
What we once believed only crazy people did to save money has become somewhat normalized.
Canadians are struggling to pay the bills as grocery prices, gas, rent, interest rates, and mortgages are all rising.
Some of you may not know what you’re going to do day by day, and that money stress can cause anxiety.
I know because I lived through that scenario when I moved to Canada, not knowing what path to take.
Below are many ways we earned money, saved money, or cashed on silly money-making opportunities.
Time Was On Our Side
We have never been the couple who needed something done right away, nor did we fuss about having less.
As a newly married couple without children, time was on our side to save money, so we leaped.
That was back in 2007, and by 2013 we were debt-free, including our mortgage, had a baby on the way and I had my foot in the door at my dream job.
Fast forward to 2021, and life is good, but it still comes with those stressful moments of uncertainty.
We’ve shifted from worrying about finances to what happens if we die or can no longer work.
Any blip in our story could cause our financial plans to collapse, although we’ll still own everything without debt.
My point is that you never stop worrying about money because stories can change quickly.
This is why it’s crucial to stash money away for emergency savings and invest what you can afford.
Extreme Savers Don’t Need Everything Now
You probably know someone who bought a new house and wanted to renovate it before they moved in.
We weren’t that couple at all, even though there were plenty of projects around the house to get done.
The decision to wait, plan and create a budget that helped us pay off our mortgage was more important.
Besides, growing up in the 70s and ’80s when nothing matched, and life was simple hardened us.
Our parents didn’t have fancy rooms, updated kitchens, or bathrooms.
We made do with what we had, which was the end.
Of course, some kids our age lived in what seemed to be a mansion or castle.
We didn’t care because we were kids and could do nothing about it.
You get what you get; for our parents, the least amount of debt was a good starting point.
Even today, we renovate based on the savings we have each year.
Typically that ends up being one major project like the new wood fence I put up two years ago.
We saved thousands of dollars by cutting out the middleman, and it was worth every ounce of sweat.
Let The Spenders Spend
Some people may criticize our extreme savers attitude. However, being debt-free feels better than worrying about anyone else’s thoughts.
Catch my drift? You must lose that mindset to get ahead of the game as we did.
From creating a budget spreadsheet to finding ways to save on everything, we have earned the debt-free title.
Let’s review how we took extreme savers to the next level and cashed in.
Rented A Basement Room
Of all the ways we saved money, this was probably the most significant savings option for us at the time.
With me returning to school at just 30 years old and earning money working in the same field, it bought us time.
Time they allowed us to save for a substantial down payment for our first house and pay off a vehicle.
The family often asked how we were able to live in a basement room every day.
We didn’t like it, but it was the only way to save money and reduce stress.
After finishing school and getting into my new career role, we had to start a new chapter.
We bought our first house together on one income which became a lifesaver for us as Mrs. CBB lost her job.
Company downsizing and medical problems were the first big blip in our financial plan.
So, you see, we’ve been there and done that but took the time to ensure we had that Plan B in place.
Our plan B included becoming extreme savers above what we could do when renting a room.
As you read how we took the extreme savers title to the next level, consider how the small stuff adds up.
Washed and Waxed Vehicle At Home
While renting our room, we would take our vehicle to the car wash up the road for a wash and wax.
It was a drive-in DIY car wash, about 50% less than an automated car wash.
I didn’t mind doing the job myself as I found it relaxing even though I was racing the timer.
Everyone knows it’s a race to the finish in the car wash bay, so we go as fast as possible.
Sometimes I would mess up and add more money to the hungry timer to finish the task.
Often we treat life the same way and forget or miss opportunities along the way.
Once we moved, I no longer went to a car wash that made me feel like an Olympic contender.
Washing and waxing my truck and our minivan (RIP) was much more relaxing and cheaper.
I’m not sure why people think I’m cheap for washing our vehicles at home, but who cares.
It saves us money, and I control the time it takes and how good the outcome looks.
Extreme Couponing
What started as saving money on everyday products became a massive stockpile we still use today.
In 2010, extreme couponing started to take over our grocery bill, and we have no regrets.
We were yelled at, laughed at, and perhaps pissed people off because we used coupons, but nothing stopped us.
The amount of money we save using coupons paired with a credit card and in-store rewards is incomprehensible.
Related: Canadian deals, coupons, rewards, and discount codes
That one year, we got hundreds of free toilet paper rolls and toothpaste and used the Scanning Code of Practice still blows our minds.
Since then, we’ve moved on to using coupon apps, tear pad coupons, rewards programs, and credit card rewards.
Related: How we saved 6 Million PC Optimum Points
Online shopping has also been a massive source of savings, especially when we factor in discount codes, rewards using a credit card, and no driving.
Gas prices are increasing, and sitting behind the computer to shop has become somewhat of the norm.
Although we aren’t extreme couponers these days, there are plenty of ways to continue saving on everyday household items.
Tested Food And Drinks
For years we were getting calls monthly to test different food and drink products at the facility.
The cash was significant; all we had to do was sit at a window and wait for the product.
White walls, light above our heads, a computer, and a magic window surrounded us.
All we had to do was follow the process lined out on the screen, and that was it.
Testing some of the upcoming products was pretty cool, although one time, it was espresso.
We left the facility so wired we never touched a coffee for the rest of the day.
In about 15 to 20 minutes, we earned $75 cash, an extra $150 for our budget.
Our biggest haul was ten bags of winter driveway salt and $100 cash each.
That took one hour of our time. Cha-Ching!
Free Stuff On The Curb
Nightly walks are uncommon for Mrs. CBB and me, and we occasionally spot free stuff on the curb.
I’ve picked up a free lawnmower, hedge trimmer, push lawnmower, wood post, and countless other items.
I don’t know about you, but nothing bothers us about stopping to look at stuff on the curb.
Where some people see extreme savers, we see extreme savings.
Focus Groups And Experiments
Let’s start with the experiments or studies that we participated in.
They aren’t as bad as they seem in the movies.
Do you remember the movie “Fun with Dick and Jane“?
It stars Jim Carey and Tea Leone, a married couple who go to extreme lengths to get money after he loses his job.
At one point in the movie Leone participates in a beauty experiment to earn cash.
It all goes wrong, and her face swells up. Overall a disaster, but she gets paid.
We’ve never experienced anything like that, so don’t let it deter you from joining.
The most lucrative experiment we participated in was for three months, where we visited once a month for one hour.
They tested how our brains reacted to sugar before and after playing video games.
That paid us each $300, an extra $600 for 3 hours of our time, and three sugary drinks. Not too shabby.
A focus group based on smoking also paid us $100 each.
Honestly, there were so many that we participated in, and we loved doing them.
If we qualify, we still go to this day because you have to prepare first as they look for specific people.
Extreme Savers Shop Thrifty
Second-hand shopping was a taboo topic for people embarrassed to shop at one.
Today, Canadians realize the benefits of saving money on used or new items.
The only embarrassment comes from within because no one cares where you buy your stuff.
If you have friends who live a lavish lifestyle far more significant than what you could imagine and judge others, what does that tell you?
There’s never a need to keep up with anyone, especially regarding lifestyle.
Shopping at thrift stores has allowed us to dress sharp and spend far less on everyday essentials.
Resell Items For Profit
Over the years, we’ve settled down with reselling items for profit only because of the pandemic.
This has been an excellent profit-making opportunity, especially when we find something we know will sell.
In our case, it was wood toys made by high-end companies such as Melissa and Doug, Simplex, The Learning Journey, etc.
For example, we would pick up a Melissa and Doug toy for $3 and sell it for $20 on 50% off days.
The money we earned by reselling we would put towards buying second-hand items for our home.
Clothing for our son was a significant expense as he grew out of them quickly, but we paid next to nothing for them.
We would turn around and sell the clothing to get our money back.
Extreme Savers Forage Food
You’re considered part of the extreme savers club if foraging for food is a fun day out.
We’re that couple and love to source free food from the earth, such as asparagus, fiddleheads, berries, mushrooms, wild garlic, and dandelions.
We don’t have to go far to find crab apples and serviceberries as they grow on trees around our property.
Asparagus we find in the ditches of country roads and fiddleheads, mushrooms, and wild garlic in the forests.
Also, many foragers sell what they find to earn extra money.
Wide varieties of plants and flowers are edible and waiting to forage.
Join a local foraging club or online Facebook group, or read a book or online information about foraging in Ontario.
It’s rewarding, and you get exercise at the same time.
Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking cold turkey was tough for us, but we did it. It lowered our life insurance premiums, and we felt better.
We’ve stopped adding up how much money we saved by not buying cigarettes and lighters.
After we hit the thousands of dollars mark, we caught wind of how much money we blew away.
This may not be an extreme saver win, but it felt that way because we saved potential health problems and money.
I Got Rid Of Cable, and my Home Phone
Recently, we decided to get rid of cable and our home phone as they weren’t benefiting us at all.
Each month we’d spend money we didn’t need to because we didn’t have time to watch cable.
The home phone was all scam calls or a doctor’s office ringing us up for appointments.
Now we pay Rogers unlimited internet and watch what we want online, which is good enough.
Is that extreme?
I’m unsure, but it was for us since we’ve never been without either.
Extreme Savers Negotiate Whenever Possible
When we did have services with Rogers, we would negotiate at the end of the savings contract.
That was probably one of the phone calls we would dread as if we were begging for savings.
They certainly put customers who want savings through the red tape, but it was always worth it for us.
Other times we’ve negotiated food near expiry at the grocery store, especially Zellers when they were around.
The farmers market is another excellent negotiating place, as vendors are ready to make a deal.
Paying cash for service is another way we’ve negotiated a cheaper rate, such as buying bulk from a landscaping company.
My new truck is fully-loaded and was the model for the dealership cost nearly $90,000, but I negotiated $47,000 cash.
I know some of you may say, Mr. CBB, why would you buy a new vehicle that depreciates?
Well, the price was right, and I know it will be around for a long time plus, it was second-hand as it was used for test drives.
The mileage wasn’t even near 10k, so it was a smashing deal for us as we had just lost our 13-year-old minivan.
Lastly, we negotiate for anything we purchase online from Kijiji or any buy-and-sell groups on social media.
Product Complaints
If we buy a product we don’t like or don’t live up to the advertised standards, we let them know.
Writing a complaint email or letter to a company about a product they manufacture helps them.
They love customer feedback, whether excellent or not, so they can improve their product.
Not only that but many of them thank you for the time you’ve taken to share your experience with their product.
Over the years, we’ve gotten our money back on something that wasn’t up to standard and free product coupons in the mail.
Being friendly to companies is a smart way to save money, especially on products you’ve never tried.
Extreme Savers Do DIY Projects
Whenever possible, I renovate and take on home projects that I know I can do to save money.
Our neighbours were laughing (in an excellent way) at me while building our rock garden.
Not only did I go and pick out every rock on our property, but I also installed a small retaining rock wall.
I dug the front yard, turned the soil over, removed weeds and grubs, and laid new sod.
It was hard work, but it saved us thousands of dollars in landscaping costs.
I’ve also fully gutted and renovated our second-floor bathroom, built a wood fence and deck, and sealed our driveway.
I’ll tackle a breakdown of appliances as long as I know what I’m doing.
Related: How To Repair A Refrigerator That Won’t Cool or Freeze
Online Surveys For Cash
There are SO MANY opportunities for Canadians to earn money with online surveys for cash or gift cards.
I’ve conveniently put all of these surveys and savings opportunities on one page on the blog, so you don’t have to look far.
Related: Canadian Savings, Deals, Surveys, Discounts, and More.
For those of you who have the time and don’t mind earning money, they are opportunities.
Garage Sales For Extreme Savers
If you’re part of the extreme savers club, you likely enjoy garage sales, where bargains are always found.
Although we stick to our neighbourhood these days for garage sales, just about every city has them on the weekends.
Saturday is the most popular day of the week to host a garage sale, so we’d map out a plan, and off we’d go.
Garage sales are another place to negotiate prices, as homeowners want the stuff gone.
Extreme Savers Garden Swapping
This is unique but a great way to save money, especially when your space is tight on your property.
We are participating in a community garden this year and swapping our bounty with neighbours.
For example, our neighbour grows zucchini, but we do not, so we swap for crab apples.
Our rhubarb plant is insane and another excellent garden swap for cucumbers, beets, and lettuce.
Get to know your local neighbours, or start a Facebook garden swap group and start saving and swapping.
Started A Blog
Lastly, I started Canadian Budget Binder to share our journey as extreme savers in 2012.
Fast forward nine years, and I’m still here sharing our wins and losses with all of you.
This blog has gone from earning me zero dollars to a 5 figure business.
Although some bloggers earn enough money from blogging to quit their day job, I’m not one of them.
I love my career and the defined benefits plan that comes with it, and I can’t see myself blogging full-time.
Although for those of you who want to earn five or 6-figure incomes, blogging it’s a possibility.
It isn’t easy to blog, and earning money takes time, but it’s worth it when rolling in while you sleep.
Writing about what I’m passionate about and having people read what I write is fantastic.
I’m true to my blog and followers who want the same things as we do, debt-freedom and choices.
This blog is not necessarily an extreme savers necessity but a dream come true for me.
Getting paid to do what you love is fantastic. I’ll be sharing my blogging journey with all of you soon.
Related: How I made my first $100 blogging on Canadian Budget Binder
That way, those who want to learn how to earn money blogging can start minus my mistakes.
I could have been earning far earlier than I did, but we learn from our mistakes.
Related: Mistakes I learned From Blogging Over The Years
Reality Life vs. Fantasy Life
Living a fantasy life, buying big houses, and spending money that isn’t available is living a fantasy life.
Real life is understanding why you don’t want to carry that fantasy and that it’s unnecessary.
I’m sure it’s safe to say that winning for us meant allowing us the freedom to make choices.
The fastest way to save money is not to spend it.
So if anything comes from this post, let it remind you about the choice, to be honest, or live a fantasy.
Discussion: What are some craziest things you’ve done as extreme savers?
Share your stories below, as I’d love to read about your journey.
many years ago you said that you will never buy a smart phone for your wife because she does not need it. also you were not used the idea in spend money in makeup ( in excess). Your wife spend hundred of dollars in beauty and your son has a tablet and you mention your wife has a 1000 dollars phone. I guess is because your blog make you affluent you can spend in frugalities. Time has show me that you change in the way you spend money even if you save. I admire the way you pay your mortgage in 5 years the way you save alot in the past all your passion when you wrote about it, lately I find you blog more money oriented and not the same that use to be. Thanks for your hard work and passion in the past years. I will stop being a reader of Canadian budget binder.
Hi Ruth,
First off, I’m sad to see you go. I also think that you misunderstand that frugal is different for everyone. I also feel you are judging us without really knowing what our family is going through.
Yes, we are debt-free, and we sacrificed lots over the years, and at times, we enjoy spending some of our money, especially now that we have a child. The blog has nothing to do with this, and I spend countless hours researching and talking to other professionals to share what I feel are informative blog posts with all my readers. I’m always learning. It was me who didn’t have a phone in Canada, not my wife and the only reason I got one was because my employer thought it would be helpful to reach other colleagues in the facility. I took Mrs. CBB’s old phone, and she paid cash for a new one. She needed a good phone to monitor her dying mother on camera hours away, and we used it for business purposes. We also got rid of our home phone and have no cable. Cell phones are not cheap, and we don’t have a plan or data with Mrs. CBB’s phone. My phone does as it came with a $21 plan with data which was an excellent deal. We also got rid of our second vehicle to save money. You will see health and beauty products increase because my wife has a severe allergy which means she can only purchase certain products for her skin, hair and laundry. Mrs. CBB hardly, if EVER, buys makeup, so I’m not sure where you are getting that information from. In fact, she only wears a bit of coverup as her skin is sensitive. She also lives with a life-long disease that requires certain products that she has to pay for from time to time. These are just new from over the past few years, so we separated our budget categories. Every budget will always be different, and we can’t compare, which is what I’ve always said. It’s based on so many factors. I’m not sure if you expected us to live off the same budget forever, as that will not be the case because life happens, health issues have been our biggest expenses. We are renovating our house slowly, which is expensive, and our son has Autism which has cost us quite a bit of money over the past three years. So, our life behind the scenes is more than just being frugal which you don’t know about. I’m sad to see you go over us buying a phone for our business and personal family life that I haven’t felt the need to discuss in full as it’s personal and sensitive. I”m sad that you don’t think we are frugal when we are. Take care.
Mr.CBB