Not to be confused with persistence, another important money saving virtue. Sometimes, you don’t need to make a heap of phone calls, to follow-up, to continually nudge and squeaky wheel your way into money saved. Sometimes you just need to shut up and wait.

Speaking of squeaky wheels, remember this?

A broken tire courtesy of the City of Seattle’s giant freaking pothole. Back in February (!!!) I submitted a small amount of paperwork for a Damage Claim. I got a letter back a few weeks later informing me they would review my claim, and it could take up to two months. In those couple months, I’ve been sorely tempted to call. To cajole. To ask wtf? Are you paying me or not?

I didn’t. And this week, I finally got the phone call to inform me they are in fact, sending me a check. For $190. Reimbursement price, minus depreciation, which was about $6 since it was a very new tire. I’m good with that.

As the tire is long since paid for, that is money banished to the Coffers for time and eternity. Coffers recently raided for refinancing and car paying off. Appreciative Coffers.

Then there’s those elusive free wood chips I’ve been looking for, which we are so desperately in need of. The Husband searched Craiglist and put the word out for a couple weeks. Nothing. They do not exist, or if they do they are scooped up long before people with jobs and projects and limited time can get to them.

Just when I am about to break down and spend the approximately $145 for many yards of purchased chips, friends read about my plight via handy dandy blog, and email me.

I spent the weekend doing this…

Almost as good as goat poop, and another instance of free wood. Minus the $30 in gas for a borrowed truck, and a few trips to pick up our pilfered goods. Gas would have been purchased regardless of chips source, so savings are still intact.

And in these instances, the savings they are substantial. I tend to get caught up in the little things and active participation in my savings. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a believer. They add up. But, sometimes sitting back and waiting, exercising a little patience, even for those of us who aren’t particularly good at it (looking in the mirror here), is just as effective.