I have searched high and low for tips to save money. My budget has been cut to nothing now but I still find ways to enjoy life. Here are a combination of all the many tips I have learned from hours of googling.
1. Use coupons...don't be embarassed, it's fun. (Who knew that the magazine paper was so valuable?!)
2. Make your own laundry detergent...thanks to youtube.com you can actually watch a video instruction video. It's so easy too.
3. Grow veggies. They are organic & home grown. Is a great summer project for kids and saves the grocery bill. www.Lowes.com has coupons for $10 off a $25 purchase...to help you get started.
4. Trade off veggies with friends/relatives. My balcony only has so much space for certain plants..so my bro grows the plants that I can't and we trade out.
5. Register your starbuck's gift card online for a free drink.
6. Register your families' birthday and email on restaurant sites for a free dessert and appetizer for signing up. Email updates are usually very minimal.
7. Cut your cable and upgrade the internet. Watch movies, shows, & daily news online. It will save about $50+/mth. 1 year= $600. Crazy stuff...
8. If coupons in the Sunday paper are really good...on Monday, purchase a few more at half off and start clipping. (There are some free samples of cat food and all kinds of savings).
9. Stock up on items you know that you will use. Example: Get all your shampoo, cleaning supplies, and various coupons and purchase enough for the next 3-6 months.
10. Pay $10 more on each bill every month. When bills are a little tight a whole month is often paid in advance and you won't be tempted to touch the emergency fund. (Do not pay ahead on rent.) If you have a mortgage, make another half payment in the middle of the month...or do what you can. You will save a ton in interest.
11. Stay away from movie rental places- $5 per rental...buy it when it's on sale or swap dvds with friends. Oh, the library has free rentals! It's paid with taxes...might as well make use of it.
12. Sign up for Ebates.com and purchase big items throught their website. If you are buying that large or expensive item you should get a percentage back of about 2-4%
13. Make a few bucks online in your spare time (Set up a separate email and start earning):
http://www.fusioncash.net/?ref=betheremnant, http://cashcrate.com/500825, & http://www.inboxdollars.com/?r=betheremnant.
It will cover a couple bills each month if you do a couple surveys weekly.
14. Swap services with friends. (I design personalized quilts for extra money...a friend of mine designs hair.) We often trade services.
15. Check out http://www.daytipper.com/. Submit a tip. If it's a good one and it gets published, they pay you $1. I have made about $10 this month. It adds up though.
16. Purchase the entertainment book for your area. My family has saved about $300 this year with that thing. It has deals online too. When company came to visit, we saved $40 just on a trip to the zoo with bogo offers. http://www.entertainment.com/ There is one for each city.
17. Download Walgreen's rebate catalog off of their website. Often times, there are items that are 'free' with the rebate.
18. Bid on coupons from Ebay. I love to shop at Victoria Secret but they are pricey. I purchase coupons for VS through ebay and save a lot.
19. Invest in a programmable thermostat- it can increase the temp during the day when no one is home and lower it at night. It's about $100 but will pay for itself in 2 months time.
20. Sign up for upromise.com. Save money for college with grocery store purchases. It's free, take advantage. College is expensive.
21. Never purchase new furniture. Look in the classifieds or check out ads on http://www.craigslist.com/. My husband & I purchased a brand new modern living room set at $400 and it is exactly what we saw in the store for 3x's the amount!
22. Combine errands, carpool, and do whatever it takes to keep the car from burning more gas than necessary. Instead of driving 70...stick to 55. You'll save 20% of your gas money.
23. Instead of going to an amusement park this year...take the family and hit the bike trail. It's free and spending time one on one with your kids is 'priceless'.
24. Make personalized craft items for Christmas presents. They may take more time to make but will same buckoo bucks and will be something remembered for years to come.
25. Send items as 'media mail'. There is a flat rate for shipping items like magazines, dvds, cds ect. It takes up to ten days to arrive but is about $2.00 per package.
26. Sell all your dust covered books on amazon.com. It's easier to setup than ebay and if you ship using 'media' mail, you make a profit off of shipping costs.
27. Each week sign up for free samples at http://www.weeklyfreebie.com/. You'd be surprised what items you can get for free.
28. If you are invited out to eat, drink water. Save up to $2 per person just on your drink. Add lemon and sugar/sweet n low...wha la..a family of 5 would save about $10.
29. Turn off lights that aren't necessary. My dad used to charge us a nickel each time we left a light on...once the electricity is used, there is no getting that money back.
30. As each of your light bulbs die out, replace them with new CFL or LED lights. Your electric bill will shrink.
31. Check out your local dollar store for greeting cards...they are .50 each vs. Hallmark which range an avg. of $3.00. Most greeting cards wind up in the trash so save your cash.
32. Refill your printer cartridges at Walgreen's for $25 total. They return your cartridges with a $5 off coupon for the next refill. Normally replacing my cartridges cost me about $50. I was paying the price of my printer for every two times I replaced the cartridge.
33. Get rid of the new car and purchase a used vehicle with cash. Buy a AAA Gold membership and I promise that you will NOT miss that car payment or the huge insurance bill. They will put you on priority when you need a tow and will take you up to 100 miles for free.
34. Constantly shop around for better car insurance. I am with esurance but have found a new company. Better service for my buck.
35. Raise your deductible from $250 to $500 on insurance plans. Just be sure to have your emergency fund handy if needed.
36. Boil your tap water and bottle it yourself. Live long and prosper.
37. Pack your lunch...save $8-10 per day...about $200/mth. Healthier too.
38. Buying in bulk isn't always cheaper. Watch out.
39. Use a grocery store that takes competitor coupons and save time and gas. Publix will take coupons from any of its competitors as long as the coupons aren't expired.
40. Purchase meats on sale and section them up and freeze for individual meals later.
41. Celebrate no waste with 'leftover' night. Pull out all the weekly leftovers and let kids choose which meals to relive.
42. Sew your own couch pillows (can cost up to $20 ea. at the store), curtains ($20-80 each), and be your own seamstress....
43. Check out books from the library rather than purchasing them.
44. Free items can be found on Craigslist.com. Occasionally check it out.
45. Make your own coffee at home. Invest in a 'to go' cup.
46. Listen to Dave Ramsey on http://www.daveramsey.com/
47. Say 'no' to credit card purchases.
48. Have a garage sale...clutter free your house and make some cash off your junk.
49. Locate cheap gas online.
50. Never pay bills late. Avoid $30 fees each time.
51. Visit the community pool rather than a water park this summer.
52. Never pay full price.
53. Sell plasma. I did this twice a week for 3 months my senior year in college. I made $160/mth for extra money. It motivated me to eat healthy too.
54. Before you 'checkout' with an online purchase, google promo codes for that company. You may get a code for 'free shipping' or savings when spending a certain amount of money.
55. Learn to say 'no' when frivolous friends invite you out to eat. Instead, vouch for a grill out nite at your house.
56. Blog. ad google ad sense.
57. Tithe to your local church. By giving what belongs to God, God will entrust you with more.
58. Put all your change in a dark sock in your top dresser drawer. A dark sock keeps your eyes from determining how much is in there. At the end of the year, use it towards your vacation. My dad would sock up about $150 each year.
59. Never borrow from your 401k....never.
60. Purchase summer clothes in winter and winter clothes in summer.
61. Thrift shop.
62. Use your own grocery bags. Save the planet and lower grocery bills.
63. Do your own oil change- save about $100-300 per year.
64. Fix things yourself. Google how to fix the item and learn.
65. Use your unnecessary airline miles for magazine subscriptions.
66. Before purchasing an item investigate the competitors and prices including ebay.
67. Wash, vaccuum, and armor all your car yourself.
68. Keep your vacuum clean and prolong the life of it.
69. Hang dry when possible. Save electric.
70. Avoid vending machines.
71. Turn off water when not in use.
72. Order from the dollar menu. Limit to 3-4 items.
73. Purchase gift cards online for less than their actual value.
75. Watch movies online instead of spending $10 per movie ticket or see the matinee show.
Learn how to save more money through the women on http://www.ivillage.com/
Thanks for reading my blog!
Krissi V.
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