Another reader put in a plug for buying groceries at Walmart+<\/a>, a paid membership service (a one-year membership currently goes for $49) with free delivery from local stores, free shipping on online orders with no minimum, and member discounts on fuel.<\/p>\n I mentioned that I occasionally shop BJs for bargain-priced new clothing. A reader wrote: \u201cYou forgot to suggest the biggest savings of all \u2014 not buying new.”<\/p>\n Instead, she suggested, buy used clothing at thrift stores and vintage shops, including places like Savers<\/a> and Goodwill<\/a>.<\/p>\n In July, the Globe published a \u201cbest of\u201d list<\/a> of such stores and shops. <\/p>\n The same reader also suggested checking out Facebook Marketplace<\/a>, Craigslist<\/a>, and other social media sites \u201cwhere people give things away they don\u2019t need anymore,\u201d or sell them cheap.<\/p>\n Skip the expensive coffee<\/p>\n About two-thirds of us drink coffee daily. Several readers suggested that making your own at home and toting it to work may save big bucks. (Brown bagging a lunch helps too.)<\/p>\n \u201cThose daily or several times a week trips to Dunkin\u2019 or Starbucks really add up,\u201d a reader wrote. \u201cBuy some flavored syrups and create a coffee station at home.\u201d<\/p>\n It says online<\/a> the average cost of a cup of coffee in Boston is about $3.50, $5 for cold brew and $5.35 for a latte. Even at $3.50, two cups a day, five days <\/b>a week, comes out to $35.<\/p>\n For some it\u2019s a small price to pay (but it is a price). My wife rarely returns home from work or errands without a coffee or latte in her hands. It\u2019s her special treat and it\u2019s best for me to keep this cost-cutting suggestion to myself.<\/p>\n On the topic of saving on coffee, another reader simply chimed in: \u201cBuy and grind your own beans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMuch cheaper to eat at home,\u201d one reader said. \u201cHealthier, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, of course that\u2019s true, although I\u2019ve happily paid expensive restaurant tabs for special family occasions, especially when one of my adult children steers us to a fantastic new restaurant.<\/p>\n But dining out multiple times a week might be too much. And while you usually save on the tip by getting takeout at your favorite restaurant, you\u2019re still paying much more than you would at home.<\/p>\n To cut down, I recommend whipping up a batch of turkey chili, beef stew, or similar dish on weekends that can go in the freezer for nights when cooking seems too ambitious. <\/p>\n In my earlier piece, I touted how much money <\/b>it saves to use the MBTA for trips to Boston (Haymarket is my next planned destination). One reader pointed out an extra benefit that comes from driving fewer miles: lower auto insurance bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n It varies among insurers, but generally driving under 7,500 miles a year can save as much as 10 percent on the high cost of insurance. The same reader also suggested increasing your deductible to lower your premiums. (Nationally, the average cost of full coverage car insurance climbed to about $2,650 in 2025, an increase of 12 percent from last year, according to Bankrate.<\/a>)<\/p>\n Speaking of private transportation, several readers warned against buying a new car or truck. New vehicles lose thousands of dollars in value the moment they are driven off the sales lot, a reader wrote. \u201cLook for a pre-owned vehicle that still has factory warranty coverage,\u201d the reader said.<\/p>\n Another reader pointed out you will save significantly in excise tax when you buy a used vehicle, compared to a new one.<\/p>\n \u201cRead Consumer Reports at your local library or get a subscription if you can manage it,\u201d a reader wrote. \u201cCars, appliances, household goods, food items, paints, companies \u2014 you name it \u2014 are reviewed and ranked so that you can purchase the best quality for your money.\u201d<\/p>\n Another reader advised creating a budget to track spending, something I have also advocated<\/a>. \u201cToo many folks don\u2019t really know (or have time to know) where their money goes,\u201d the reader said.<\/p>\n \u201cCut back on holiday spending,\u201d a reader wrote. \u201cMost of us really don\u2019t need more stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Another reader said: \u201cDon\u2019t buy crap on Amazon you don\u2019t need. Amazon purchases are just too easy. When I recently tallied our purchases I nearly fell off my chair.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one suggestion I won\u2019t endorse (at least not for myself), but others have done it<\/a> or considered it: Move to a lower-cost state. I consider myself a Massachusetts lifer.<\/p>\n Got a problem? Send your consumer issue to sean.murphy@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @spmurphyboston<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/45GXG5RUMRBG5HED7WDF3EF7IQ.jpg\")
The Goodwill Store in Somerville’s Davis Square.Mona Miri for the Boston Globe<\/p>\n![\"
Pedestrians](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HPN3LSRMX3ZGDZUDCLYDBPMXF4.jpg\")
\nPedestrians on Boylston Street in Boston on Sept. 25. Lane Turner\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n