10 easy ways to save money
During these hard times, we all know how hard it can be to save money. Here is a small list to get you started.
1. Bring lunch to work at least 3 days a week.
I am guilty myself for violating this one but it will definitely say you some money. On average, I can easily spend ~$10 a day on lunch. Working 5 days a week brings our total up to $200 a month just by going to lunch. I think that money would look much better in my savings account.
2. Make a list before going grocery shopping.
Going shopping without a list can be very dangerous. Especially in stores like Walmart. Go in with a solid list and you will find that you save time and also money. These stores are designed to draw your attention to items that you DON’T need.
3. Buy in bulk whenever possible.
I do this all the time. You can find bulk deals online for various household products and in some cases even food. Check those daily deal websites and you will find things on there very cheap.
4. Disconnect land line.
If you have the means to do so, just disconnect the land line. I don’t currently have a land line because we all have cell phones, but if you have kids that are home, get something cheap like the Ooma Telo VoIP Home Phone System. You should be able to pay ~ $5 a month for full service.
5. Avoid Impulse buying.
Try your hardest to avoid buying something at first glance. I’ve been bitten by this quite a few times. If I had only waited another 30 days, I might have found a daily deal on woot.com or slickdeals.net or I might not actually need the item anymore.
6. Bottle your own water.
Bottled water can add up if you’re one of those people that always buy water.
If you need bottled water, buy a Brita filtering system or Clear2o and reuse a single bottle instead of buying.
7. Automate your savings.
Go to your bank and set up a savings account. If you have direct deposit, have them take a portion each paycheck and put it towards savings. Just remember, Don’t Touch It!
8. Find discount codes when shopping online.
Visit sites like retailmenot.com before buying online. They usually have codes for top retailers and you can also find grocery coupons there.
9. Do holiday shopping right after the holidays.
This sounds funny but you can save a lot of money this way. Wait 2 or 3 days after mothers day or fathers day and then buy for the following year.
10. If something’s broken, give a fair shot at repairing it yourself before replacing it or calling a repairman.
I rarely call someone to fix things in my house because many times you can find step by step instructions by searching google. I definitely save money this way.
Feel free to leave suggestions!
