Saving money is a balancing act – from small, everyday habits to large purchasing decisions. Because the effort can be challenging, it also needs to be sustainable.
Sometimes, we can employ doable savings strategies or even learn how to cut costs in a way that’s enjoyable. At other times, though, a money-saving attempt may turn out to be a time-consuming or disappointing endeavor we never want to repeat!
At INB, we’re all for saving money in a way that works well for you, your family, and your budget. Everyone’s situation – and motivation! – is different.
We asked some of our team two questions:
- What’s one thing you do that’s worth saving money on?
- What’s something you'll never do again to save money?
Here’s what they had to say…
Nadine Mackenzie, Retail Administrative Assistant/Training Officer
What’s worth saving money on: I try to bring my lunch every day, especially because going out to lunch used to be under $10 and now it’s closer to $15 or $20. Plus it helps to save money on gas by staying at the branch rather than driving and rushing to find something to eat in 30 minutes.
Something I’ll never do again to save: I used to use an app to scan receipts and save money. I tended to find it was a lot of work and record-keeping to save 20 cents.
Vicki Wall, Data Analyst Officer
What’s worth saving money on: My daughter is a new teacher (and has sensory issues), and the only tops that she likes are the nicer brands like Calvin Klein and Kasper. Do you know how expensive clothing is these days? Even on sale, they’re still about $40 each! Thrift stores rarely have them. So we recently went to Joann Fabric, picked out a few patterns and found the perfect fabric to make 5 tops. With coupons and discounts applied, the shirts will end up costing about $15 each. A HUGE savings! While I know I have quite a bit of work ahead of me, I also know that my daughter will love them, not to mention the memories we will make together.
Something I’ll never do again to save: Try to change my exterior light fixtures on my home. YouTube makes it looks so easy, right?!?! I got all the stuff I needed but couldn’t get the light to fit the existing bracket. I was trying to save $50, but it caused so much frustration. I will leave electrical to the professionals!
Zach Ponder, VP, Commercial Lending, Peoria
What’s worth saving money on: I usually bring lunch or go home for lunch, since I only live about six minutes from my office. Buying lunch now is so expensive – it’s easily $15 to get lunch somewhere if it’s not fast food.
Something I’ll never do again to save: Ironing dress shirts and pants at home. It is such a time-consuming process between washing, drying, and ironing; you have to make sure you get them out of the washer and dryer right away and then iron immediately, otherwise they don’t look crisp. Definitely worth it to drop off at the dry cleaners!
Angie Zindars, Branch Manager, Champaign
What’s worth saving money on: I know this might sound funny, but I buy the “cheap” leftover containers. Inevitably, they will get stained with pasta sauce, or you’ll forget something in the back of the fridge, and I would rather throw the whole thing away rather than try to dump it and clean it. So, I just buy mine at The Dollar Tree so I don’t feel bad about doing the latter!
Something I’ll never do again to save: Throughout my “adulting” I’ve learned that I will no longer skimp on hotels or hair products! I will pay the extra money to have a nicer, clean hotel room. And with curly hair, I’ll always go for the better (rather than cheaper) hair products.
Joe Jonaitis, Customer Care Consultant
What’s worth saving money on: I believe it’s worth investing in quality rather than always opting for the cheapest option, especially when it comes to clothes. While the initial cost might be higher, the longevity of quality items actually results in savings over time. This principle applies to other things as well, such as electronics.
Something I’ll never do again to save: I would avoid putting myself on an overly restrictive budget that feels like a chore. It’s important to treat yourself occasionally—everything in moderation, just like with eating. Instead of wasting money on things, save for experiences. These are the stories that everyone involved will cherish and talk about for years to come.
Missy Elam, VP, Commercial Loan Administration
What’s worth saving money on: We found this a good time to get healthy and lose some weight! We stopped buying junk food and soda and just buy what we need at the store and more healthy options. We cut back on eating out, so we food prep a little more and are prepared with lunches and dinners throughout the week. We also use gas apps to help save on gas since we both drive to Springfield daily for work. We planted a garden this summer that helped us with having our own fresh produce that we shared with our family. We also took advantage of the zero interest on student loans and got them paid off during the Covid times.
Something I’ll never do again to save: I actually haven’t discovered anything that I wouldn’t try again.
Wendy Henton, DE Mortgage Underwriter
What’s worth saving money on: We save money in our house by making sure to clip the digital coupons and use the grocery store rewards program when doing our grocery shopping. The rewards programs build up points which then can be used as money off future visits or at their gas station to lower the gas price.
Something I’ll never do again to save: Drive long distances for vacation instead of flying. I would much rather spend the extra money to fly and be there quickly than drive for multiple hours.