78.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
At a sit-down restaurant, avoid ordering the alcoholic
beverages. Most restaurants make a killing on beer,
wine and fancy cocktails. The alcohol mark up can
be anywhere between 75 and 400 percent! If you can’t
borrow, buy used college textbooks. On sites like
Amazon.com used hardcover books are often cheapest.
Soft cover are more valued for convenience, so if
you’re willing to haul a couple extra ounces,
then hardcover is the cost-saving choice. ISBN.nu
allows you to easily compare book prices from major
online book stores. The campus bookstore will sell
a supply of used books, but they are limited; so check
the online sources as well. Collect coupons and follow
the weekly sales at the grocery store. Avoid high-end
markets like Whole Foods. These are nice, but most
products cost much more. Once you’re out of
school and have a good job you can shop the upscale
markets. (Posted: 3/10/10)
77.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. Bulk
is good. Think about shopping and buying in bulk.
Save money grocery shopping by planning meals in advance
and bulk-buying. You can also save money by cooking
in bulk. This is a real way you can save money with
little preparation and almost no extra outlay. Always
purchase generics when you can. Make sure a sale is
a sale. By this I mean do your price research before
you commit to making an expensive purchase in a retailers
money-off sale. You have to be sure the sale really
is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of
the store to encourage you to spend your money without
thinking. Eat in rather than out. This is a huge area
where you can save money. A cup of coffee taken out
could easily cost you TWENTY times (or more) what
it would cost you to make it at home. So think before
you drink when you are out. Eating is the same. (Posted:
3/3/10)
76.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
If there's one certainty in life, it's that unexpected
things can happen at any time. A well established
savings account can help prevent a financial crisis
when these situations arise. While the temptation
to purchase the latest product from the top manufacturer
on the market can be strong, the money that you can
save by buying used and non-brand name products can
be substantial. Refurbished or "Like-New"
products are often just as reliable as new ones and
can cost significantly less. No matter how frugal
you think you are, there are always ways more ways
that you can cut the fat. That subscription to Angler's
Weekly that you never read? Those 500 cable channels
that you never watch? That 5,000 minute-a-month phone
plan that you never come close to reaching? All of
those can go. (Posted: 2/24/10)
75.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. I first
learned the power of this back in college, when I
discovered that I could get my textbooks for free,
by buying and selling them at Amazon. I was paying
a few bucks (at most) for my textbooks that many of
my classmates were paying over $100 for. Second, public
libraries are home to a wealth of resources. Of course
you can borrow books instead of buying them, but they
also often have subscriptions to high cost services
or publications like Hoovers or Valueline. Our local
library has grown a huge collection of popular CDs
and DVDs over the last few years. So, it can be a
cheap (free) ways to catch a few good movies. Third,
Don’t buy clothes that will only work as one
outfit. Look for clothes that you will be able to
wear with many other things, creating multiple outfits.
Instead of buying that green and purple striped coat
that will only go with one or two outfits, you could
get a solid color gray that will work most of what
you wear. Spend less money on the trendy items that
won’t be in style long, and spend more on quality
items. (Posted: 2/17/10)
74.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, pay Off Your Credit Card Debt: While having
a credit card that you pay off in full each month
is perfectly acceptable (even recommended if you're
trying to build up your credit), having an outstanding
balance that you have to pay interest on is a recipe
for disaster. Second, don't Buy Things You Can't Afford
Outright: One of the main reasons that people go into
debt (and consequently cannot save money) is that
they buy things they can't afford on credit. Even
if you eventually pay off the debt, the extra money
that you pay in interest will mean that you've payed
more for the item than it was even worth in the first
place. Third, Save Money to Pay Off Your Debt: The
same principles that you can use to curb your spending
and start putting money away for savings can also
be used to save up enough money to pay off your debts.
Start by figuring out how much debt you need to pay
off, and then calculate how much you will need to
save each month in order to pay it off in a reasonable
amount of time (don't forget to calculate the interest
in). (Posted: 2/10/10)
73.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that
fly to your destination. Remember, the best fares
may not be out of the airport closest to you. Second,
you may save by including a Saturday evening stay-over
or by purchasing the ticket at least 14 days in advance.
Ask which days of the week and times of the day have
the lowest fare. Third, even if you are using a travel
agent, check airline and Internet travel sites, and
look for special deals. If you call, always ask for
the lowest fare to your destination. Next, since car
rental rates can vary greatly, compare total price
(including taxes and surcharge) and take advantage
of any special offers and membership discounts. Finally,
rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver
options. Check with your automobile insurance agent
and credit card company in advance to avoid duplicating
any coverage you may already have. (Posted: 1/6/10)
72.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money
on groceries. Go shopping alone. Have a budget and
stick to it. Make fewer, larger trips. Don’t
shop hungry. Plan your meals in advance. Scan your
cupboards, pantry, and fridge before leaving. Keep
a running list of items you need on your fridge. Break
your list down by store and plan your outing accordingly.
Plan your trip through the store to minimize wandering
the aisles. Don’t forget your list when you
head to the store, but. Be willing to deviate from
your list for great deals. Don’t be afraid of
store brands. Buy the Sunday paper. Keep an eye on
the weekly store circular. Clip (and use!) coupons
for name brand items. Check the store’s website
for printable coupons. Be on the lookout for “double
coupon” days. Stack manufacturer and store coupons.
Keep a price list/book so you know a deal when you
see one. (Posted: 12/30/09)
71.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
go grocery shopping while you are in a hurry: Maybe
you need to go out in a couple of hours. Or your favorite
show is going to be on TV after a couple of hours.
Try to squeeze in the grocery trip in that intermediate
time. Armed with your grocery list, you should be
in-and-out very quickly with little time for meandering
and getting tempted to buy things you don’t
need. Second, watch out for expiration dates on perishable
goods: This one seems intuitive when you read it,
but I am surprised at how many people do not pay attention
to expiry dates. No point getting a gallon of milk
if it is going to turn sour with a couple of days.
Same goes for meat, eggs, yogurt, spreads, frozen
items, deli/bakery items etc. Third, use grocery store
bags to line trash cans: This may not work if you
use a massive trash can but we use a small sized one
for which the grocery bags are a perfect fit. This
not only helps us save some money, but reduces our
environmental foot print and avoids the kitchen from
stinking from a huge overflowing trash can. (Posted:
12/23/09)
70.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, eat out less. While eating out can be fun and
delicious, it can also take a serious bite out of
your wallet. Try eating in more often and packing
yourself a lunch for eating at work or at school.
Besides saving money, making your own food can often
be healthier too. Second, eliminate expensive coffee
drinks. If you stopped yourself from buying a $3.50
Latte every day from Starbucks, you would have about
$100 a month extra to put into your savings account.
Buy yourself a simple coffee maker and some ground
coffee beans at the supermarket and you'll be able
to get your caffeine fix without spending a fortune.
Third, buy used or non-name brand products. While
the temptation to purchase the latest product from
the top manufacturer on the market can be strong,
the money that you can save by buying used and non-brand
name products can be substantial. Refurbished or "Like-New"
products are often just as reliable as new ones and
can cost significantly less. (Posted: 12/16/09)
69.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
buy a used car. Because cars lose most of their value
in the first few years, buying used allows you to
drive a vehicle you probably couldn't afford brand
new. Recent used models -- those that are less than
five years old -- can be a real value because you
get a nearly new car still in fine working order for
a fraction of the new-car price. And you'll pay less
for collision insurance and taxes, too. Second, buy
a gas sipper not a guzzler. Drive 1,200 miles per
month in a car that averages 18 miles per gallon,
and you'll spend $233 per month (at $3.50 per gallon).
Drive a car that averages 25 miles per gallon, and
you'll spend $168 per month -- a savings of $65 per
month, or $780 per year. Third, re-shop your car insurance.
Using a comparison site like InsWeb.com can help you
determine if you've got the best deal. Rates vary
widely from insurer to insurer. Your savings could
equal hundreds of dollars. Shopping around is especially
important for young adults because their rates could
drop as they approach age 25 or older, build a credit
rating, start a career and get married. (Posted: 12/9/09)
68.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, track Every Expense. Financial advisors say
the best way to control your spending is to know precisely
where all your cash is going each month. There are
several options: Make a budget; keep a spreadsheet
of all spending; or buy a computer program designed
to help manage your finances. Second, vacation in
the Off-season. Financial planner Frank Boucher says
he is taking his beach vacation in early September,
when he found a luxury condo for half its cost during
July and August. Vacationers can also save by staying
with friends or visi ting low-cost locations like
developing countries. Third, cut out Investment Charges
and Fees. Jeff Seymour of Triangle Wealth Management
in Cary, N.C., points out that many investors end
up paying 2% to 3% off the top each year for investing
costs. Lower-cost mutual funds and index funds can
slash that bill, savings that compound over several
decades of investing. Also, save more by taking full
advantage of your employer's matching contribution
to your 401(k) account. (Posted: 12/2/09)
67.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a little over a
week away. To get the best deals, visit websites such
as bfads.net,
blackfriday.info,
black-friday.net
and theblackfriday.com.
Check out all the ads and then make a list of the
stores and what items you want to purchase from them.
Be sure to check when the stores open. Some stores
like Sears open at 4 a.m. while other stores like
Target open at 5 a.m. and some open at 5:30 a.m. like
Radio Shack. The best website for deals is bfads.net
because you can actually look at the ads as they will
appear in your newspaper and print off a page or two
from your computer. Cyber Monday takes place on the
Monday after Black Friday weekend. For a list of all
the Cyber Monday deals, visit cybermonday.net
and bestcybermondaysales.com.
AmericaJR.com's Jason Rzucidlo spoke with Kathy Granis
of the National Retail Federation. Click
here to listen to the interview to find
out what items will be cheaper on Black Friday and
what items will be cheaper on Cyber Monday. (Posted:
11/18/09)
66.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
when dining at a restaurant, always get a free refill
on your drink, especially if you paid more than $2
for it. Most restaurants have paper or styrofoam cups
that you can take with you. That way you don't have
to buy a drink later when you return to your home
or office. Second, stop using credit cards. Pay for
everything with cash or money orders. Don't even use
checks. It's easier to overspend when you're pulling
from a bank or credit account because you don't know
exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you
can see your supply running low. Third, open an interest-bearing
savings account. It’s a lot easier to keep track
of your savings if you have them separate from your
spending money. You can also usually get better interest
on savings accounts than on checking accounts (if
you get interest on your checking account at all).
Consider higher-interest options such as CDs or money-market
accounts for longer savings goals. (Posted: 11/11/09)
65.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, don’t beat yourself up when you make
a mistake. Even if you make ten good choices, it’s
easy to beat yourself up and feel like a failure over
one bad choice. If you make a big mistake and realize
it, think about why you realized it now instead of
then, and try to apply that later on. The memory of
that mistake can end up being very valuable, indeed.
Second, always keep looking ahead. Don’t let
the mistakes of your past drag you down into more
mistakes. Look ahead to the future. The choices you
make now won’t affect the past – but they
definitely will affect the future. Think back, and
remember how the bad choices you made earlier are
costing you now, and constantly remember to not make
those mistakes now so that they don’t cost your
future self. Third, never give up. Whenever the struggle
against debt feels like it’s too much, go read
a personal finance blog and remember that there are
a lot of people out there fighting the same fight.
Read around through the archives and learn some new
things – and perhaps get inspired to keep going,
no matter what. (Posted: 11/4/09)
64.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
utilize online bill pay with your bank. This serves
two purposes. First, it keeps you in much closer contact
with your money, as you can keep a very close eye
on your balance and be in much less danger of overdrafting.
Second, it saves you money on stamps and paper checks
by allowing you to just fill in an online form, click
submit, and have your bill paid. Second, buy staples
in bulk. We buy items we use a lot of in bulk, particularly
items that don’t perish – trash bags,
laundry detergent, diapers, and so on are purchased
in the largest amounts possible. This cuts down on
their cost per usage by quite a bit and, over the
long haul, begins to add up to some serious money.
Third, connect your entertainment center and/or computer
setup to a true smart power strip. A device like the
SmartStrip LCG4 basically cuts power to all devices
on the strip depending on the status of the first
item on the strip. So, if you have your workstation
hooked up to this, every time you power down your
workstation, your monitor powers down, your printer
powers down, your scanner powers down, and so on.
You can do the same thing with your entertainment
console – when you turn off the television,
the cable/satellite box also goes off, as does the
video game console, the VCR, the DVD player, and so
on. This can save you a lot of electricity and significantly
trim your power bill. (Posted: 10/28/09)
63.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, cut down on your vacation spending. Instead
of going on a big, extravagant trip, pack up the car
and see some of America some years for vacation. One
of the best vacations I’ve ever taken was when
my son was an infant – we just packed up the
car and drove around Minnesota, eventually camping
for a few days along the north shore of Lake Superior.
Second, cancel the cable or satellite channels you
don’t watch. Many people with cable services
often are paying for a premium package but rarely
watch those extra channels. For the longest time,
my wife and I were subscribed to HBO, Starz, and Cinemax,
yet we would only tune in once a month at best. We
argued that it was worth it because we could watch
a movie or a great drama whenever we wanted, but it
would have been far cheaper just to rent a movie.
Get rid of the excess channels and put that cash back
in your pocket. Third, exercise more. Go for a walk
or a jog each evening, and practice stretching and
some light muscle exercise at home. These exercises
can be done at home for very little, meaning you’ve
got an activity without a lot of cost, and the health
benefits are enormous. Just set aside some time each
day to get some exercise, and your body and wallet
will thank you. (Posted: 10/21/09)
62.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
make your own beer or wine. If you enjoy an occasional
drink, this is a great way to enjoy some of the beverages
that you love at a very cheap price. You can easily
make five gallons of beer or wine at once and it doesn’t
take that long, either, once you have the basic ingredients.
Second, make sure all your electrical devices are
on a surge protector. This is especially true of your
entertainment center and your computer equipment.
A power surge can damage these electronics very easily,
so spend the money for a basic surge protector and
keep your equipment plugged into such a device. Third,
get on an automatic debt repayment plan for any student
loans you have. Many student loans offer a rate reduction
if you sign up for their automatic debt repayment
plan. This way, not only do you save a few bucks a
month, you don’t have to go to the effort of
actually paying the bill. Our automatic plan saved
us about $60 a year. (Posted: 10/14/09)
61.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, if you need a haircut, go to Rex Barber Shop
at 24606 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights, Mich. Haircuts
are only $7 each. If you do not live in the Dearborn
Heights area, try Great Clips. Many Great Clips locations
have haircuts for only $5 each. Call ahead to find
out what specials are going on. Second, Use a brutally
effective coupon strategy. Here’s the trick:
wait a month before using the coupons. Save your coupon
flyer out of your Sunday paper for a month, then bust
it out and start cutting anything that might be of
interest. For a bonus kicker, use the coupons in comparison
with your grocery store flyer that week to find out
ways you can use a coupon to reduce the cost of an
item already on sale – you can wind up paying
pennies for some things and, on occasion, actually
get food for free. Third, Air seal your home. Most
homes have some air leaks that make the job of keeping
it cool in summer and warm in winter that much harder
– and that much more costly for you. Spend an
afternoon air sealing your home – the DoE has
a great
guide on basic airsealing. (Posted: 10/7/09)
60.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
dine at Arby's for the new $5.01 combos. You can get
a sandwich, small fries and a drink for only one penny
over five dollars. Choose from the French Dip &
Swiss, Regular Roast Beef, Roast Chicken Ranch, Roast
Beef Gyro or the Roast Beef Patty Melt. Arby's also
special sales where you can get many menu items for
only a penny if you purchase a drink and fries with
a coupon. Second, Don’t overspend on hygiene
products. For most people, inexpensive hygiene products
do the trick – for example, I just buy whichever
toothpaste is the cheapest, and the same goes with
deodorant and the like. The key is to use this stuff
regularly and consistently – bathe daily, keep
yourself clean, and you’ll be just fine. Third,
Eat less meat. For the nutritional value, meat is
very expensive, especially as compared to vegetables
and fruits. Simply change around your regular meal
proportions to include more fruits and vegetables
and less meats – eat a smaller steak and a bigger
helping of green beans, for example. (Posted: 9/30/09)
59.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, buy a smaller house. I currently live in a
2,000 square foot house with my wife and two kids.
Frankly, it’s just the right size for us –
if anything, it’s a little big. We often find
ourselves in the same room in the house, just surrounded
by empty space. You don’t need a giant place
to live. Second, drive a different route to work.
This is an especially powerful tip if you find yourself
“automatically” stopping for something
on the way into work or the way home. Get rid of that
constant drain by selecting a different route that
doesn’t go by the temptation, even if the new
route is a bit longer. Third, always ask for fees
to be waived. Any time you sign up for a service of
any kind and there are sign-up fees, ask for them
to be waived. Sometimes (but not always), they will
be – and you save money just by being forthright
about not wanting to pay excessive fees. (Posted:
9/23/09)
58.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
encourage your friends to do less expensive activities.
This is often a tricky thing to do, but there are
a number of techniques you can try. My favorite
one is to be the first one to suggest something
– that often gives you the power to steer
the group towards things that are cheaper. Second,
don’t speed. Not only is it inefficient in
terms of gasoline usage, it also can get you pulled
over and cost you a bundle, as I discovered a while
back. It’s highly cost-efficient to just drive
the speed limit, keep that gas in the tank, and
keep the cops off your tail. Third, read more. Reading
is one of the cheapest – and most beneficial
– hobbies around. Most towns have a library
available to the public – just go there and
check out some books that interest you. Then, spend
some of your free time in a cozy place in your house,
just reading away. You’ll learn something
new, improve your reading ability, enjoy yourself,
and not have to spend a dime. (Posted: 9/16/09)
57.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, use a simple razor to shave. I’ve been
a big advocate of the basic safety razor for a long
time, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle.
For “normal” shaves, I just shave in the
shower and dry off the blade afterwards, using just
soap for lather – incredibly cheap, since I
only swap blades once every few weeks. The real moral
of the story? Use a simple razor – not an expensive
electric one that stops working in three years –
and shave your face when it’s wet. Second, find
out about all of the benefits of your job. Most people
aren’t even aware of all of the benefits available
to them. Spend some time with an HR person finding
out about all the benefits of your job – you
might be surprised at what you might find. I found
free tickets to sporting events, free personal improvement
opportunities, and an optional employee match on some
retirement funds that maximized the money I was socking
away. Third, make your own items instead of buying
them. I like to make my own laundry detergent and
my own Goo-Gone, for starters. I also like making
Glade, Windex, and Soft Scrub. In both cases, it’s
way cheaper than buying the commercial version. Hunt
around for recipes – it’s amazing how
many things you can make at home in just a few minutes
that saves a ton of money compared to the commercial
version. (Posted: 9/9/09)
56.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
consolidate your student loans. Interest rates are
quite low right now, so it might be worthwhile to
consolidate your student loans into one low-rate package.
Look into the various student loan consolidation packages
- even a 1% reduction on a $10,000 loan saves you
$100 a year - and your loan is probably bigger than
that (and the rate cut you could get is probably bigger).
Second, when buying a car, go for late model used.
These are typically cars coming straight off of leases,
meaning they were cared for by reliable owners. My
truck was purchased with this criteria and has lasted
me several years already with only one significant
issue - and I saved a ton of money on the purchase
price over buying new. Third, hit the library - hard.
Don’t look at a library as just a place to get
old books. Look at it as a free place to do all sorts
of things. I’ve used it to learn a foreign language,
meet people, use the Internet anonymously, check out
movies and CDs, grab local free newspapers, and keep
up on community events. Best of all, it doesn’t
cost a dime. (Posted: 9/2/09)
55.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, do some basic home and auto maintenance on
a regular schedule. Instead of just waiting until
something breaks to deal with it, develop a monthly
maintenance schedule where you go around your home
(and your car) and perform a bit of maintenance where
it’s needed. Second, pack food before you go
on a road trip. Have everyone pack a sack lunch for
the trip. That way, instead of stopping in the middle
of the trip, driving around looking for a place to
eat, spending a bunch of time there, and then paying
a hefty bill, you can just eat on the road or, better
yet, stop at a nice park and stretch for a bit. Third,
go through your cell phone bill, look for services
you don’t use, and ditch them. Sit down and
go through each item on your bill and see if there’s
anything there that you don’t use, like a surfeit
of text messages or web access or something to that
effect. Then call your cell phone company and ask
to have those services eliminated. (Posted: 8/27/09)
54.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
carpool. Is there anyone that lives near you who works
at the same place (or near the same place) that you
do? Why not ride together, alternating drivers each
day? You can halve the wear and tear and gas costs
for your car - and for your acquaintance as well.
Second, design your “debt snowball.” Everyone
needs a plan to help them get out of debt, so sit
down and plot out what debts you’re going to
pay off and in what order. Simply having a plan goes
a long way towards bringing that plan into action,
and paying off debts early is one of the surest ways
to put money in your pocket over the long run. Third,
get a crock pot. A crock pot is perhaps the best deal
on earth for reducing cooking costs in a busy family.
You can just dump in your ingredients before work,
put it on simmer, and dinner is done when you get
home. There are countless recipes out there for all
variety of foods, and every time you cook this way,
you’re saving money as compared to eating out.
(Posted: 8/20/09)
53.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, dig into your community calendar. There are
often tons of free events going on in your town that
you don’t even know about. Stop by the local
library or by city hall and ask how you can get ahold
of a listing of upcoming community events, and make
an effort to hit the interesting ones. Second, take
public transportation. If the city’s transit
system is available near you, take it to work (or
to play) instead of driving your car. It’s far
cheaper and you don’t have to worry about parking
your vehicle. Third, cut your own hair. I can cut
mine myself with a pair of clippers, for example.
I just cut it really short every once in a while and
don’t worry about it too much. Just put a garbage
bag over the bathroom sink, bust out the clippers
and scissors, and get it done. Two or three cuts will
pay for the clippers, and then you’re basically
getting free haircuts. With a bit of practice, you
can make it look good, too. (Posted: 8/13/09)
52.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
check out what your town’s parks and recreation
board has to offer. My town has several wonderful
parks, free basketball and tennis courts, free disc
golf, trails, and lots of other stuff just there waiting
to be used. You can go have fun for hours out in the
wonderful outdoors, playing sports, hiking on trails,
or trying other activities - and it’s all there
for free. Second, air up your tires. For every two
PSI that all of your tires are below the recommended
level, you lose 1% on your gas mileage. Most car tires
are five to ten PSI below the normal level, so that
means by just airing up your tires, you can improve
your gas mileage by up to 5%. It’s easy, too.
Just read your car’s manual to see what the
recommended tire pressure is, then head to the gas
station. Third, Start a garden. Gardening is an inexpensive
hobby if you have a yard. Just rent a tiller, till
up a patch, plant some plants, keep it weeded, and
you’ll have a very inexpensive hobby that produces
a huge amount of vegetables for you to eat at the
end of the season. I like planting a bunch of tomato
plants, keeping them cared for, then enjoying a huge
flood of tomatoes at the end of the summer. (Posted:
8/5/09)
51.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, if something’s broken, give a fair shot
at repairing it yourself before replacing it or calling
a repairman. Get a handyman’s book or advice
from the internet and give it a shot yourself. Second,
Invest in a deep freezer. A deep freezer, after the
initial investment, is a great bargain. You can use
it to store all sorts of bulk foods, which enables
you to pay less per pound of it at the market. Even
better, you can store lots of meals prepared in advance,
enabling you to just go home and pop something homemade
(and cheap) in the oven. Third, look for a cheaper
place to live. The cost of living in Iowa is surprisingly
low, enough so that I’m quite happy to give up
the cultural opportunities of other places to enjoy
Iowa all year around. When I want to enjoy the cultural
opportunities of another place, I’ll travel there
- after all, I can afford it. (Posted: 7/29/09)
50.
Today,
we have more simple ways to save money. First,
go through your clothes - all of them. If you have
a regular urge to buy clothes, go through everything
that you have and see what you might find. Take the
clothes at the back of the closet and bring them to
the front and suddenly your wardrobe will feel completely
different. Second, brown bag your lunch. Instead of
going out to eat at work, take your own lunch. Lots
of people think that this means “nasty lunch,”
but it doesn’t. With some thoughtful preparation
and just a few minutes of time, you can create something
quite enjoyable for your brown bag lunch - and save
a fistful of cash each day, too. Third, learn how
to dress minimally. Buy clothes that mix and match
well and you’ll not need nearly as many clothes.
If you have five pants, seven shirts, and seven ties
that all go together, you have almost an endless wardrobe
right there just by mixing and matching. (Posted:
7/22/09)
49.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, get rid of unread magazine subscriptions. Do
you have a pile of unread magazines sitting around
your house? Likely, it’s the result of a subscription
that you’re not reading. Not only should you
not renew that magazine, you should give their subscription
department a call and try to cancel for a refund.
Secondly, eat breakfast. Eating a healthy breakfast
fills you up with energy for the day and also decreases
your desire to eat a big lunch in the middle of the
day. Not only that, breakfast can be very healthy,
quick, and inexpensive. Third, don’t fear leftovers
- instead, jazz them up. Many people dread eating
leftovers - they’re just inferior rehashes of
regular meals, not exactly enjoyable to the discerning
palate. However, there’s nothing cheaper than
eating leftovers and with a few great techniques for
making leftovers tasty, you can often end up with
something surprising and quite delicious on the other
end. My favorite technique? Chaining - using the leftovers
as a basis for an all-new dish. (Posted: 7/15/09)
48.
Today,
we have more simple ways to save money. First, when
buying a car, go for reliability and fuel efficiency.
A reliable and fuel efficient car will save you thousands
over the long haul. Let’s say you drive a vehicle
for 80,000 miles. If you choose a 25 miles per gallon
car over a 15 miles per gallon car, you save 2,133
gallons of gas. At $3 a gallon, that’s $6,400
in savings right there. Secondly, don't go to stores
or shopping centers for entertainment. Doing so is
just an encouragement to spend money you don’t
really have on stuff you don’t really need.
Instead, find other places to entertain yourself -
the park, the basketball court, a museum, a friend’s
house, or even in your own home. Third, rent out unused
space in your home. Do you have an extra bedroom that’s
not being used? Rent it out. In our home, we could,
if times were tough, rent out our entire basement
- it has a “living room,” a bedroom, and
a bathroom and has a stairwell right by the kitchen.
(Posted: 7/8/09)
47.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
Try generic brands of items you buy regularly. ikely,
you’ll save a few cents now, but you’ll
also likely discover that the store brand is just
as good as the name brand - the only difference between
the two, often, is the marketing. Once you’re
on board the generic train, you’ll find your
regular grocery bill getting smaller and smaller.
Secondly, prepare some meals at home. Get an accessible
and easy-to-use cookbook (my favorite “beginner”
cookbook is Mark Bittman’s excellent How
to Cook Everything) and try making some of
the dishes inside. You’ll find that cooking
at home is much easier than you think - and way cheaper
and healthier than take-out or dining out. Third,
switch to term life insurance. Repeat after me: insurance
is not an investment. Switch to term insurance instead
and use that difference in cost to get yourself out
of debt and start building some wealth. (Posted: 6/30/09)
46.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
do your holiday shopping right after the holidays.
Most people use this technique for Christmas, but
it works for every holiday. Wait until about two days
after a holiday, then go out shopping for items you
need that are themed for that day. Get a Mother’s
Day card for next year the day after Mother’s
Day. Get Easter egg decorating kits the day after
Easter. Get wrapping paper and cards and such the
day after Christmas. Secondly, join up with a volunteer
program. It’s a great way to meet new people,
get some exercise, and involve yourself in a positive
project that can lift your spirit. It also comes without
a cost to you and can provide a lot of entertainment
and a fulfilling day when you’re in the right
mindset. Third, reevaluate the stuff in the rooms
in your house. Go into a room and go through every
single item in it. Do you really need that item? Are
you happy that it’s there, or would you be just
fine if it were not? If you can find stuff to get
rid of, get rid of it - it just creates clutter and
it might have some value to others. (Posted: 6/23/09)
45.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money
and get free food. White Castle is celebrating it's
88th anniversary in business. Click
here to print off your coupon for a free slider.
One coupon is valid per person per visit. Secondly,
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is celebrating Flip Flop Day
on June 19. The first 500 customers at all Tropical
Smoothie locations will receive a Jetty Punch smoothie
for FREE! All you have to do is show up in your flip
flops! Click
here to find the nearest location. Third, give
a gift of service instead of an item. For new parents,
give an evening of babysitting as a gift. If you know
pet owners, offer to take care of their pets when
they travel. Offer up some lawn care as a gift to
a new homeowner. (Posted: 6/17/09)
44.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
when shopping for standard items (clothes, sports
equipment, older games, etc.), start by shopping used.
Quite often, you can find the exact item you want
with a bit of clever shopping at used equipment stores,
used game stores, consignment shops, and so on. Just
make these shops a part of your normal routine - go
there first when looking for potential items and you
will save money. Secondly, keep your hands clean.
Just wash your hands thoroughly each time you use
the bathroom or handle raw foods. You’ll keep
yourself from acquiring all kinds of viruses and bacteria,
saving you on medical bills and medicine costs and
lost productivity. Third, remove your credit card
numbers from your online accounts. It’s easy
to spend online when you have your card information
stored in an account - just click and buy. The best
way to break this habit is to simply delete your card
from the account. (Posted: 6/10/09)
43.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, you should challenge yourself to make your
own things. Start out by making your own bread. It
is much cheaper, healthier and tastier than buying
a loaf from the store. Secondly, you should do a "maintenance
run" on your appliances.Check them to make sure
there isn’t any dust clogging them and that
they’re fairly clean. Look behind the appliances,
and use your vacuum to gently clear away dust. Check
all of the vents, especially on refrigerators, dryers,
and heating and cooling units. The less dust you have
blocking the mechanics of these devices, the more
efficiently they’ll run (saving you on your
energy bill) and the longer they’ll last (saving
you on replacement costs). Third, you should cancel
unused club memberships. For example, a gym membership
or a country club membership. You can always renew
at a later date. (Posted: 6/3/09)
42.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
hide your credit cards. Yes, hide them! Put them somewhere
in your home but not in your wallet where it's easy
to spend them. Don't keep plastic on you until you
have the willpower to not use it even when you're
sorely tempted. Secondly, plan your meals around your
grocery store's flyer. Instead of planning meals based
on a cookbook, plan them around what's on sale. Look
at the biggest sales then plan meals based on those
ingredients. Third, do a price comparison and find
a cheaper grocery store. Just keep track of the twenty
or so things you buy most often, then shop for these
items at a variety of stores. Eventually, one store
will come out on top for your purchases - just make
that one your regular shopping destination and you'll
automatically save money. (Posted: 5/27/09)
41.
This week, we're featuring a list of free food and
drink items from Arby's. All summer long, Arby's will
be offering free items on Wednesdays from May through
August. Here are some of the remaining giveaways:
May 27 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink
purchase, June 3 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich
purchase, June 10 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any
soft drink purchase, June 17 - Free Regular Sidekickers
with any sandwich purchase, June 24 - Free Regular
Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase, July 1 -
Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink
purchase, July 8 - Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with
any sandwich purchase, July 15 - Free Regular Roast
Beef with any soft drink purchase, July 22 - Free
Roastburger with any soft drink purchase, July 29
- Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase, Aug.
5 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase,
Aug. 12 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink
purchase, Aug. 19 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich
purchase and Aug. 26 - Free Regular Beef ‘n
Cheddar with any soft drink purchase. These offers
are available at participating Arby's restaurants.
(Posted: 5/20/09)
40.
Today, we have more simple ways to save money. First,
install a programmable thermostat in your home. These
devices will regulate the temperature in your house
automatically according to the schedule that you set.
When you're not home, it allows the heating or cooling
to turn off for serveral hours. It can cut your energy
bill by 10 to 20%. Secondly, buy appliances based
on reliability, not what's cheapest. If an appliance
saves energy and lasts for 15 years, you'll save significant
money in the long run. An hour's worth of research
now can save you hundreds of dollars later. Third,
clean your car's air filter. A clean air filter can
improve your gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more
than $100 every 10,000 miles you drive. It only takes
a few minutes - just follow the directions in your
automobile's manual. (Posted: 5/13/09)
39.
This week, we have more simple ways to save money.
First, be diligent about turning off lights before
you leave. If you spend one minute turning off lights
before a two-hour trip, that's the equivalent of saving
$50 per hour. That's some impressive savings if you
do it before longer trips. Secondly, swap books, music
and DVDs cheaply on the interview with services wuch
as PaperBackSwap.
You can very easily swap books, CDs and DVDs that
you are bored of with others who want them. Clean
out our media collection and trade them with others
online. The best part is you'll get new books, CDs
and DVDs mailed right to you for free. Third, maximize
yard sales. Stop by yard sales and ask to lower the
prices. You can get a really big bargain or just walk
away with the money. (Posted: 5/6/09)
38.
Today, we're looking at how to save on food and beverages.
First, drink more water at home. One glass of water
before each meal will help you digest better and will
discourage you from eating more. You will feel better
because you will become more hydrated. Don't buy bottled
water. Drink water from the tap if you can. Cut back
on fast food restaurants and microwave meals. Try
making some simple and healthy replacements that you
can take with you. Make breakfast sandwiches, quick
sandwiches, chicken nuggets, and other things by scratch.
Buy the ingredients and make extra to keep in the
freezer. When cooking casseroles, make four times
as much as you need. Then, eat one now and put the
other three in the freezer. Next time you need a quick
meal, heat it up and you're good to go. It will be
much cheaper than eating out. (Posted: 4/29/09)
37.
This week, we look at simple ways to save money. First,
sign up for every free customer rewards program you
can. Just about every store offers a savings card
and they even have small ones to put on your keyring.
By showing your card at the register, you can save
a percent off the bill or receive free rewards to
spend on cash for future visits. Instead of throwing
out damaged clothing, just repair it. You can easily
fix a broken button or sew a hole in a pair of pants.
It just takes a few minutes and will be much cheaper
than buying a new piece of clothing. Call your credit
card company and ask for a lower interest rate. Tell
them if not, you will take your business elsewhere.
Most times your rate will go down lower or even down
to zero percent. You could save hundreds of dollars
per year. (Posted: 4/22/09)
36.
Today, we've got two easy ways to save on your personal
care. First, dying your hair. Buy hair coloring from
a drug store or discount retailer instead at the hair
salon. It can cost as much as $100 at the salon when
you can spend only $7 by buying the box and doing
it yourself. Ask a friend or family member to help
you. Secondly, instead of paying membership fees at
the gym, buy a workout DVD. You only end up paying
once instead of once per month. You can save money
in the long run. Workout DVDs can cost $20 or $40
depending on what's included. Keep doing the workout
DVD and you'll see getting fit at a much cheaper price.
(Posted: 4/15/09)
35.
This week, we look at practical ways to save money
at home. First, turn off the television. Yes, turn
it off. Here's the benefits: less exposure to guilt-inducing
ads, more time to focus on other things in life, less
electrical use. Secondly, make your own gifts instead
of buying them. You can make food mixes, candles,
bread, cookies, soap and other things quite easily
and inexpensively. Not only will you have the homemade
touch, but it's consumable so you don't fill up someone's
closet with junk. Make a list before you go shopping
and stick to it. If you don't have a list, you'll
end up with many more things you don't need. Don't
buy anything that's not on your list. Third, master
the thirty day rule. When considering a major purchase,
wait 30 days and ask yourself if you stillwant the
item. (Posted: 4/8/09)
34.
There are many ways to save money on dating and entertainment.
First, most girls won't mind if you cook for them
instead of going out to eat. Exercise outdoors and
at home instead of paying a gym fee. If you drink,
buy cheap beer from a grocery store instead of at
the bars. Find cheap entertainment to do with friends
instead of going out on weekends. Go for a walk instead
of going out on the town. Have a feast/potluck/community
meal with friends. The food is better and everyone
shares the expense. Check out books and movies from
the library. Share books with friends. Wait until
moves come out on DVD and rent them instead of seeing
them at the theatre. It's a fraction of the cost.
(Posted: 4/1/09)
33.
When it's the summertime, that's the time to make
the money. Work at least 70 hours a week. That way
you have regular pay and overtime pay which is triple
more money coming in that way for you and your family.
Don't go on summer vacations, they can be extremely
expensive with airfare tickets, food expenses and
souvenirs. Don't take any courses at a college or
university during the spring/summer term. No students
take courses unless they extremely have too. This
is the time to work and save every penny for the fall
and winter semesters. Because during those semesters
you can't work that much. That way you have money
coming in. (Posted: 3/25/09)
32.
If you're a business traveler, you can save money
on your transportation. First, take public transportation
from the airport to your hotel. The average price
of a bus ticket is $1.75 for a one-way ride. That
is huge savings off the price of a taxi cab which
can cost $30 or more from the airport. Consider renting
a car if you are going to drive long distances. It
is best to book your rental car online, about a month
in advance to get the cheapest rate. Enterprise is
your best bet for a low rate. If your hotel charges
a fee for parking, consider parking in a off-hotel
lot. There may be a parking lot or garage just around
the corner from where you are staying with a much
cheaper rate. Look around for a bit before selecting
your spot. (Posted: 3/18/09)
31.
If you're a student, bag a lunch instead of going
out to eat everyday. Most places charge $6 for per
meal. That adds up to $30 per week or as much as $360
per semester. Most restaurants in the student center
at colleges charge a lot due to high rent costs. Those
restaurants tend to not offer drink refills. Include
in lunch bag: a bottle water or pop, a sandwich, an
apple, orange, chips, pretzels, cookies and a pack
of gum. Refill bottled water or thermos from the tap.
If you get sick of a bagged lunch, use 2 for 1 coupons
at restaurants so you can save money. Also, sign up
for email coupons at local restaurants. Most on-campus
restaurants offer a discount just by showing your
student ID card. (Posted: 3/11/09)
30.
Shop at your local dollar store. You can save as much
as 70 percent off name brand products when compared
to drug stores and supermarkets. The five largest
dollar stores are Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family
Dollar, Fred's Super Dollar and 99 Cents Only. Often
times, the quality is just as high as the name brand
products. Check the ingredient labels on items --
most times they will be exactly the same at a much
lower price. Snacks like potato chips, crackers, movie-theatre
candy and seasonal candy is about 50 percent off prices
at the supermarkets. The best savings will be on shampoo
and conditioners. Consumer Reports says the
quality on store-brand shampoos is just as high as
the expensive ones. Other items you can find cheaper
at the dollar store include gift wrap, scrapbooking
supplies, containers, kitchen gadgets and tools, children's
books and school supplies. (Posted: 3/4/09)
29.
Make a library card at a community college. Then,
print off papers in its library. Most community colleges
allow people to make 50 pages at one time for no charge.
It is not necessary to be a student there. The savings
will add up on both the paper and the cost of ink.
Most universities charge 8 to 10 cents per page so
go to your nearest community college instead. Don't
try Oakland Community College as they only allow students
to print 150 pages per semester. They have suspended
free printing for the public. Some univerities already
have websites dedicated to printing policies that
describe the number of pages a student may print.
(Posted: 2/25/09)
28.
Pay all of your bills online instead of sending them
in the mail. You will save on the cost of postage
and also on the cost of checks. Remember to record
online payments in your check book register. Some
credit card companies will give you a discount on
your bill if you go paper-less. You can save as much
as $70 per year. Due to rising costs, stamp prices
are set to go up to 44 cents each for a regular-sized
letter on May 11, 2009. Customers can purchase a Forever
Stamp before May 11 and can continue to use them beyond
the day of the rate change. Some banks also offer
free online banking. Check with your bank to see if
it offers that feature. (Posted: 2/18/09)
27.
When dining at fast food restaurants, take home extra
condiments. This includes napkins, straws, plastic
forks, knives and spoons. Also, take home extra sauces
such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, taco sauces
from Taco Bell and sandwich sauces from Arby's. Also,
take home toppings such as packets of pepper, salt,
and sugars. In addition, take home extra creams for
your coffee and crackers for your soup. Each time
you dine out, it is another opportunity for you to
save money when eating at home. Restaurants order
these items in bulk so they get them cheap. (Posted:
2/11/09)
26.
There are ways to save money on your prescription
drugs. First, ask your physician to consider prescribing
generic drugs. Generic drugs can cost several hundred
dollars less to purchase annually than brand-name
drugs. The average prescription for a generic cost
$29.82 in 2005, according to the National Association
of Chain Drug Stores, while the average brand-name
prescription cost $101.71. Secondly, find the lowest-cost
place to purchase prescription drugs. Make sure to
check out not only your local pharmacist but also
local supermarkets, area discount centers, and mail-order
pharmacies. Also consider purchasing storebrand over-the-counter
medications. Storebrand medications often cost 20-40
percent less than nationally advertised brands. The
savings could easily exceed $100 a year. (Posted:
1/7/09)
25.
There are many ways to save money while you are having
fun. Rent a video instead of going to the movies.
If you really want to go to the movies, go to the
less expensive afternoon "matinee". AMC
Theaters offers a discount to those who see movies
before 5 p.m. for only $5 each. Another option is
to rent movies from your local library. Often times,
it will only cost $1 to rent a movie from your local
library on DVD or 50 cents for a VHS rental. Cancel
your cable (or at least premium channels), as well
as subscriptions to magazines and newspapers. Take
advantage of free entertainment in your community
-- parks, museums, exhibits. Go to free park concerts
and other community activities. (Posted: 12/31/08)
24.
The holiday shopping season comes to an end right
after Christmas. Just about every retailer is offering
special deals and discounts to shoppers who want to
use gift cards or make exchanges. Home Depot is giving
$300 off two or more select General Electric appliances
and up to 30% off Dirt Devil products. Macy's is offering
75% off fall items such as earrings, bedding and appliances.
Wal-Mart is going to offer 80% off jewelry, appliances
and toys, along with Christmas decorations. Target
is offering deep discounts on it's GO designer collection
with markdowns on appliances, games and toys. Sears
will be giving 40% off tradmills and further discounts
on New Year's Day. Circuit City is also offering discounts
on laptops, flat-screen TVs and digital cameras. (Posted:
12/24/08)
23.
There are many ways to save money while you eat
out at restaurants. Most restaurants offer special
prices at lunch time, as much as half the price
of their dinner prices. Some restaurants such as
Applebees offer half off appetizers at night. Baker's
Square offers a FREE slice of pie every Wednesday
with any purchase. You can just order a drink and
get your favorite kind of pie slice at no cost.
There are locations in Livonia and Warren in southeast
Michigan. Bennigan's is offering College Night every
Sunday. Students can receive half off all entrees
just by showing their college ID. Valid at locations
in Michigan: Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Madison Heights,
Okemos, Flint, Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw, Midland, Howell,
Kalamazoo, Portage, Walker, Big Rapids and Lansing.
(Posted: 12/17/08)
22.
Communication devices can be expensive but there are
ways to save on them. Many consumers are overpaying
for unneeded communications. For example, if you have
a cell phone, cancel your landline telephone. Secondly,
communicate via e-mail instead of by phone. E-mail
is free. Most phones come with contracts with a limited
amount of minutes. Read up about peak calling periods,
your coverage area, romaning and termination charges.
Dial phone numbers directly. If you need a number,
open the phone book or look online for it at yellowpages.com.
Don't call an operator. It can cost you up to $10
per each call to the operator. Now you can communicate
and save money at the same time. (Posted: 12/10/08)
21.
The holidays are here and the economy is officially
in a recession. There are some ways you can save money
on gift giving. First, look for estate sales and flea
markets for inexpensive gifts. Set a spending limit
on gifts for your spouse or closest friends. Consider
volunteering or giving charitable gifts to take the
focus off buying and wanting. Help out a food bank
or soup kitchen or agree to exchange gifts that support
charities. Make gift certificates or coupons to offer
free baby-sitting to your friends or to prepare a
home-cooked meal for them. Kids could give breakfast
in bed to their parents. A husband might offer candlelight
dinner at home. Let the kids make wrapping paper.
They can use old newsprint, fingerpaint, rubber stambs
or even stickers. Save on decorations by using branches,
piner cones, wire and ribbon to create holiday wreaths.
Let kids cut out paper snowflakes or other decorations.
(Posted: 12/3/08)
20.
There are many ways you can save on gas. First, keep
your car mantained. This means regular oil changes,
air filter replacement and properly inflated tires.
Secondly, drive smart at a steady speed for as long
as possible and use the cruise control when you an
over long distances. Increased acceleration and braking
can use unnecessary gas. Drive to work earlier so
you can avoid heavy stop and go rush hour traffic.
It will also be less stressful for you. Consider purchasing
a hybrid vehicle. You might have to pay more up front
but the savings will add up in the gasoline usage.
You may even get a tax credit for purchasing a hybrid
and it will save you hundreds of dollars a year. Plan
your travel so that it maximes your time on the road.
Combine trips to the grocer store, dry cleaners and
other errands. No need to make a separate trip. (Posted:
11/26/08)
19.
Black Friday is just around the corner! It is also
known as the day after Thanksgiving when many retailers
hope to get back in the "black" and become
profitable just before Christmas. Almost every store
will be offering deep discounts. Many are even having
doorbusters, which are sales that normally begin at
5 - 6 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. or noon. You can preview
black friday ads online at websites such as bfads.net,
www.blackfriday.info,
www.theblackfriday.com
and blackfriday.gottadeal.com.
Many of these websites will offer a scanned version
of the ad circular with pictures. Some of the sites
also allow you to click on the items you want to buy
and then print them off in a handy checklist separated
by store name. Get ready for Black Friday and you
can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars! (Posted:
11/19/08)
18.
Saving money at amusement parks is possible. Visit
Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California
in 2009 on your birthday and you get in FREE! Click
here to register your birthday. Get maps and brochures
to find out about discounts and freebies. Visit unofficial
theme park websites for special tips and trucks. Some
examples include amusementpark.com,
AllEarsNet
and Theme
Park Insider. Purchase tickets online instead
of at the gate and you will receive a huge discount.
Don't order tickets too early -- if traveling in July
or August, order them at the end of June but not any
earlier. You can also save money by presenting your
AAA, AARP or warehouse-club membership card. Bring
your own food and keep a cooler handy. (Posted: 11/12/08)
17.
There are many ways to save money while doing your
banking. First, reduce the number of checks you bounce
per month. It can save you $20-30 per check and could
end up saving you hundreds by the end of the year.
Reduce your credit card debt by $1,000. It could save
you $150-200 per year from the penalty fees. Make
your credit card payments online. It will lower your
chances of paying a late fee and could save you $30-35
per month. Only use ATMs owned by your bank or credit
union. Using a ATM from a different bank or credit
union can cost as much as $3 per withdrawl, or about
$150 per year. Keep these tips in mind when you do
your banking. (Posted: 11/5/08)
16.
Eat at home more often. Bring your lunch to work at
least once or twice a week. It could save you hundreds
of dollars per year. Make your morning coffee at home
instead of buying it at a coffeeshop. The average
price of a drink at Starbucks is close to $5 each.
If you get a drink each day of the work week, that's
$25 you've spent just on coffee. You can purchase
a coffee machine and make it at home for far less
cheaper. Also, eat at home more often. If it costs
$25 on average to dine at a restaurant, but only $5
to eat in, that's $20 you save each month. Be sure
to choose less expensive restaurants if you choose
to dine out. (Posted: 10/29/08)
15.
Take advantage of perks at grocery stores. When shopping
at Hiller's Markets, bring your own bag and save 5
cents off your order. It is good for each bag that
you re-use. When shopping at Busch's, make sure to
get your FREE coffee and cookies upon walking it.
Studies show that people who go to the grocery store
hungry end up buying more. So get your coffee and
cookies and you will spend less! When shopping at
Joe Randazzo's, sample fruit and vegetables before
buying. Only try one of each item. Not any more than
that. Cut out coupons and take them to your grocery
store. Some grocery stores will double your coupons
or even triple them up to 50 cents. If you have a
coupon for 50 cents off an item, it could be worth
as much as $1.50 off. (Posted: 10/22/08)
14.
Unplug your cell phone charger immediately when your
battery is done being charged. It still drains electricity
even when the battery is fully charged until it is
unplugged. A study shows that 5% of the power used
by the charger ends up going to the battery while
the other 95% is wasted as it remains plugged in.
Another option is to plug it into a power strip then
switch it off. Most chargers have a light that indicates
if the battery is done or not. However, it remains
on anyways. A cell phone charger was recently blamed
for a house fire in Delaware. The best idea is to
plug it in only when you are home. If you leave the
house, anything can happen including a major fire.
There are 190 million cell phones in the United States.
You can save on your electric bill simply by unplugging
your cell phone charger in time. (Posted: 10/15/08)
13.
When dining at restaurants, be sure to save your receipt
and fill out the survey afterwards by phone or online.
Companies actually do care about what you say. Many
of them will make changes if you say something was
wrong. Workers can get raises if they do a great job
or even get fired if they did something wrong. Many
restaurants will offer you something free on your
next visit in. Burger King will offer you a free Whopper
or french fries. White Castle will offer you two free
White Castle burgers. Many other restaurants have
similar programs. Most times, it will only take about
5 - 7 minutes of your time. Some of the questions
will give you a choice of 1 to 5 stars and it can
be tedious. Just write down the code they will give
you at the end of the survey and mark it on your receipt.
Bring it in next time and you'll get free food! (Posted:
10/8/08)
12.
Wash your dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher.
According to the California Energy Commission's web
site, 80 percent of the energy that your dishwasher
uses goes to heat the water. If you wash by hand,
you are saving lots of money on your electric bill
which totals about 346 kilowatts per year. That is
about 4% of the average household electricity use.
The only down side is that a dishwasher uses less
water, it can sanitize dishes better and it saves
you time. If you are in a rush, use the dishwasher.
If you have time to spare, wash them by hand and it
will save you money. Remember not to use too much
soap when washing by hand. It is recommended to have
one sink full of soapy water and one with clean water
for rinsing. If you run the faucet for the entire
time that you are cleaning each and every dish, you
are going to be paying more in water. Now you can
clean your dishes and save money too! (Posted: 10/1/08)
11.
Switch to new compact fluorescent light blubs (CFLs)
in your house. If every American replaced just one
light bulb with a compact fluorescent one, we would
saee enough energy for light over 3 million homes
for a year and over $600 million in annual energy
costs. These new fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy
than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10
times longer. You will save $30 or more in electricity
costs for each new bulb. There are different sizes
and shapes of these new bulbs for indoors and outdoors.
There are even CFLs designed for three-way lights.
You can purchase CFL bulbs at just about any store.
They are more costly than standard bulbs but they
will save you in the long run. For more info, visit
the EnergyStar.gov
website. (Posted: 9/24/08)
10.
When shopping, buy in bulk not single items. The large
quantity items you purchase, the lower the price will
be per item. Many retailers indicate the price per
unit on their shelf tags. Sam's Club and Costco are
great places to shop. Both stores offer most of their
items in large quantities -- therefore you get to
save money and make less trips to the store. Examples
of items you can buy in large quantities include canned
food, candy, paper towel, toilet paper, pop and just
about anything. If it comes as a single item, chances
are you can get it in bulk. Although warehouse clubs
charge a fee to become a member, you are really saving
money in the long run. (Posted: 9/17/08)
9.
When buying something, check at several stores first.
Write down all the prices of what you need at different
retailers. Then, buy from th cheapest store. Also,
check shopping.com.
After typing in the name of an item, the website will
show you a list of all the websites that have that
item with the prices for each one. It also includes
shipping charges. This is good for just about everything
-- books, music, electronics, appliances, computer
accessories and much more. Just one more way to save
money on everyday items. Do not make quick purchases
at only one store, it could cost you! (Posted: 9/10/08)
8.
Don't run your air conditioner at your house at nighttime.
Open your windows if its cooler outside. It's cheaper
and it will save you on your electric bill. You can
also use a ceiling fan or wear lighter clothing. Set
your thermostat to 78 degrees or above. You can save
20-25 percent off your electric bill by raising it
five degrees. Close drapes and blinds during the day.
Put up screens that reflect the heat during the day.
Just one more way to save money on your electric bill
and keep your house cool at the same time. (Posted:
9/3/08)
7.
Greeting cards can cost a fortune these days. Instead
of purchasing greeting cards at major retailers or
Hallmark card shops, buy them from the dollar store
or at Aco Hardware. Those two stores offer greeting
cards for 50 cents each or 2 for $1. The savings will
add up fast if you have lots of relatives or friends.
Why pay $4.99 for a greeting card when you can get
one that's just as nice for only 50 cents. Some discount
retailers are also offering greeting cards for 99
cents. If you really want to save money, you can send
an online greeting card. Be aware because some greeting
card websites require you to join and may charge you
a monthly fee. Look for the ones that say "free".
(Posted: 8/27/08)
6.
Purchase a contract cell phone with the lowest amount
of minutes. Then, make calls only when its an emergency.
Sign up for unlimited text messages. Instead of calling
people, send them text messages throughout the day
because they are free. When non-peak hours begin at
8 p.m. or 9 p.m., depending on your service, then
make calls. Calls during non-peak hours will be free
and will not be deducted from your monthly calling
period. Cell phones can be expensive. It's one more
way to save money each month. Don't ever go over your
minutes again...send text messages instead. (Posted:
8/20/08)
5.
If you live close to work, take your bike instead
of driving. Not only will you be helping the environment,
you will get exercise that will help you live longer.
Another option is walking to work. Many people are
resorting to walking or taking a bike to work with
these high gas prices. Lessen your dependence on foreign
oil by using one of those two methods of getting to
work. Remember to bring a lock for your bike. Also,
get lights for the front and rear of your bicycle
so that others can see as you ride after dark. It's
one more way to save on gasoline. (Posted: 8/13/08)
4.
When going to a fast food restaurant, order everything
off the dollar menu. Meals can actually cost $1 or
$2 more. If ordering everything separately, the savings
add up. You can actually create your own meal by selecting
items off the dollar menu. Go to McDonald's, Burger
King, Wendy's or Taco Bell. Rumors are that McDonald's
may be getting rid of it's dollar menu before the
end of the year. So you order off it while you still
can! Some of the items on dollar menus may be healthy
for you. McDonald's features a side salad and a fruit
'n yogurt partfair on it's dollar menu. Burger King
also offers a side salad on it's dollar menu. Finally,
Wendy's offers a side salad and a caesar side said
on it's value menu. (Posted: 8/6/08)
3.
When buying textbooks, find out what you need then
go to booksprice.com
to find the cheapest price. It will give you a listing
of all the sites that sell the book you are looking
for with the shipping rate included for a total out-the-door
price. Don't order from school bookstores. They can
charge you as much as double the price. Order from
many different online bookstores as possible. Although
Amazon.com is the largest online bookstore, it may
not be the cheapest. Also, check abebooks.com,
textbookz.com
and half.com
for more great deals. (Posted: 7/30/08)
2.
Before going to a festival or concert, eat at a fast
food restaurant. Food at festivals can cost as much
as $4 - $8 just for a hot dog or hamburger. Many large
events require you to purchase food and beverages
at the venue. Most do not allow you to bring in food
and beverages from home or outside restaurants. If
you eat at a nearby fast food restaurant, you can
order from the dollar menu and the savings will add
up. Especially if you have a big family. Definitely
eat before you go. (Posted: 7/23/08)
1.
Don't use the air conditioning while driving in
your car. Open the windows instead if possible.
Air conditioning can use as much as 10% more fuel.
On city roads and neighborhood streets, just roll
the window down. On the highway, use the A/C because
having your window down will slow down your car
and require more fuel. (Posted: 7/16/08)
