Utilities
Set up some rules in your home such as turning lights off when leaving a room, not holding the refrigerator door open any longer than necessary and having only the parents adjusting the thermostat. Utilities are expensive and you can save a lot by monitoring how they are used in your home.
Lowering the thermostat before going to bed is a great way to save on utilities. You will probably want to set your alarm clock to go off a half hour early so you can turn the thermostat back up. Then go back to bed while the house warms up. An even better idea is a programmable thermostat. While the initial investment is not cheap, it can save lots of money in the long run. Plus you won’t have to deal with getting up early to reset the manual thermostat.
Investing in an energy-efficient hot water heater is another way to save. Adding a timer to turn the water heater off during down times (such as overnight or during the day, if nobody will be home) will add to the savings.
If you cook in the oven, leave the oven door open for a little while after turning the oven off. Take advantage of that little bit of heat for additional savings.
Don’t Give up the Good Stuff
A common misconception is that while trying to save money you have to deal with sub-par merchandise. This is not true at all. If you love fresh breads and pastries, visit a bakery thrift store. Day old breads and pastries are very good and are cheaper than fresh varieties. For your fresh fruits and vegetables, try your local farmer’s market. It is a lot of fun just looking around at all of the different items available. Plus you can find real bargains on most fruits and vegetables in season.
You can find top quality merchandise for a huge discount on eBay and other auction sites online. Check out neighborhood garage sales or estate sales and auctions to find items you need at pennies on the dollar. Warehouse clubs mentioned in Tip #5 are good places to find quality merchandise at bargain prices. Just because you are looking for bargains to save money does not mean you have to skimp on quality.
Dining Out
When taking the family out to dinner, consider a buffet. In many cases, the prices are outstanding and a small child can eat for free or at a steep discount. In addition, most buffets are “all you can eat” and there is something to suit everyone’s taste. The relatively low prices more than offset the fact that you can’t get a to-go box. Drinking water with your meal lowers the price for meals that don’t include drinks with the posted price. Water is also a healthier choice than sodas or tea.
Take out is an inexpensive alternative to dining out. For seven or eight dollars you can get a delicious Chinese meal to take home and eat. Your drink will probably be cheaper if you buy 2-liters or 12-packs of soda or make your own tea. Many people (including myself) can get 2 or 3 meals out of 1 take out order. Chinese food is really filling and tasty. Another good choice is a bucket of chicken which can be eaten with sides purchased at the restaurant or prepared at home. Be creative when choosing to dine out and enjoy your meals.
Coupons
Maybe you used to laugh as you watched people pull out their coupons at stores or like me you thought it was a tremendous waste of time. Cutting out coupons does take some time, but the truth is that using coupons can save you hundreds of dollars every year. Coupons can be used at grocery stores, retail chains or any store where the item is sold.
Some stores offer double coupon days, which is an extra bonus. On average, you could easily save from 5% to 15% on a bill for $100 simply by presenting a coupon. Coupons are not just for food items. By scouring your local newspaper you can find coupons for all sorts of merchandise. There are many online sites that will let you print out coupons for all sorts of items. Two of the biggest sites are http://www.coupons.com and http://www.couponsurfer.com .
Buy in Bulk
It is true that shopping at warehouse clubs can save a lot of money. Even a small family can benefit by splitting large quantities. The price of items in bulk is generally a great bargain although not always. Use a calculator to make sure the price per quantity is actually lower. Singles can go in with friends or family on bulk items to grab their savings.
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Sam’s Club and Costco Wholesale are the big 3 in my area. You can check online or in the yellow pages for other warehouse clubs in your area. All three of the clubs with physical locations in my area also allow shopping online with delivery of most items. Some items are not available online due to shipping issues.
Budget
Everyone should create a budget. If you are not sure how or just not good with money, I have listed some helpful links below to help you put a budget together. Knowing where you are spending your money is by far the best way to save. In most cases, people have no idea where their money is really going and once they see it on paper, not only are they surprised but eager to change their spending habits. Here are a couple of websites that can help you with setting up a budget
http://www.daveramsey.com/the_truth_about/budgeting_3457.html.cfm
http://financialplan.about.com/cs/budgeting/a/Budgeting.htm
There is no charge for this information although they may offer paid services as well.
Dollar Stores
Many years ago, dollar stores offered only off brand products or poorly made merchandise. However, that has completely changed. There is still some “junk” available, but now you can walk into a dollar store and find the same name brand laundry soap, cleaning supplies, clothing, and school supplies as other stores - everything for a fraction of the cost. My wife and I have found many useful bargains at our local dollar stores. Check out your local dollar store and enjoy the mountains of savings.
Plan
Planning is a great way to save. Before you go to the grocery store, make a list and stick with it. I have a list on my computer of all the grocery items that we usually buy. Other than emergency runs (when we forgot something we really need), I print out a copy of the grocery list and mark the items we need. Then I make sure we do not go to the grocery store hungry. It is much easier to stick to the list if we go after a meal instead of before. We also check the grocery ads to see what is on sale so we can stock up on those items. For more information on grocery savings check out the following link:
Click Here!
If considering a vacation, plan everything. Heading out with no set direction will certainly lead you to impulsive spending. I know vacationing without a schedule can be a lot of fun. Just go where the mood strikes you and stop when you feel like it. Unfortunately, that can be very expensive. Shopping for hotel reservations online well in advance of a trip can save you a lot of cash. Another source for information is AAA. They have tour books for every state and many countries listing hotels, restaurants and recreation. I have been using these tour books for years and will always treasure the memories from those vacations.
Even scheduling routine dental and doctor appointments should be planned for savings. Try to get the whole family in at the same time or at least during a 1 or 2 hour block of time. Depending on how far you drive to get to your doctor or dentist, the savings in gas and wear on your car can be substantial.
Clearance
Always head straight for the clearance rack where you can find amazing bargains. Sometimes you may have to dig a little to find the right item but the savings will be well-worth your time. Most clearance racks offer variety, current trends, and great value. For example, Wal-mart has a clearance section where you can find great clothing for a fraction of the original cost. My wife shops there weekly to find the best bargains. She also shops months in advance for birthdays and Christmas to get the best deals.
Not a Wal-mart fan? Not a problem. Most stores have clearance sections. You can find great deals on clothes and anything else you can imagine. If you can’t find that section in your favorite store, ask an employee to direct you. Those savings will really add up.
For more information on saving money or living on a budget, check out the link below:
Click Here!
Welcome to Saving Money Today! Over the next several weeks we will be giving you tips on how to save money in today’s economy. We hope you find the information useful as we work through the current recession.
People are always trying to save money, especially with today’s economy. No matter what your reason for saving, through this series of blog posts, you will discover ways you have probably never considered. Saving money is not that hard, just a matter of learning all the different options and being creative.
Although some methods of saving may not seem like much, once you add them up at the end of the year, you will see how substantial the savings really are. Keep in mind that saving is more than putting aside a single lump sum of money. Saving must become a way of life. That old saying “a penny saved is a penny earned” has never been truer than it is today. Tip number 1 follows in the next post.
Uncategorized | Russell@reahma.com, January 29, 2009 6:00 am | 
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