Here are some money-saving tips I practice; hope you’ll be able to benefit from some of them!
- Install a programmable thermostat and raise the temperature for air conditioning while you’re gone or sleeping
- Install a well and use it to water the lawn. The water is free — and you get paid back for the cost of the well and way more over the years.
- Take advantage of military and/or senior discounts. Be sure to inquire about them at all businesses you patronize.
- Some movie theaters offer discounts on certain days of the week or during certain hours; be sure to inquire about them.
- Discounted haircuts and other services, such as massages and manicures, are often available at local cosmetology schools.
- Discounted massages are often available from local massage therapy schools and/or technical schools.
- Some gas stations sell insulated cups (like the Roo Cup available every spring at Kangaroo) and offer drink refills at extremely low prices ($.25)for several months afterwards.
- Register for Groupon discounts, Living Social discounts, or other discounts online. You’ll receive emails periodically on a variety of products and services at reasonable prices.
- Carry packets of flavoring, such as Wyler’s Lite, (available from dollar stores) and mix them in water when eating out
- Some grocery stores sell discounted gasoline cards when you purchase a certain dollar amount from the store; check those out
- Some gas station convenience stores offer gasoline discounts when you purchase products there, sign up for their card and show it when buying items
- Some grocery stores offer “double coupon” days periodically, where they double the amount of manufacturer’s coupons up to a certain dollar limit.
- Color your own hair instead of going to a hair stylist.
- Borrow DVDs from the library – both movies and TV series on DVD.
- For annual expenses of more than a hundred dollars, put 1/12 of the amount in a special savings or (free) checking account each month. When the bill is due, there’s no panic or scrambling for the money – you already have it.
- Several major grocery stores offer free 10-14 day prescription antibiotics.
- Before heading for discount stores for health and beauty products and certain types of foods, check out stores where everything is a dollar first to see if they stock the items.
- Many restaurants have a special Kids Night where children eat free (often it’s Tuesday).
- Shop at thrift stores for clothing, furniture and household items. It’s like a treasure hunt and you never know what you’re going to find!
- Shop at garage sales. You have to get up early on Saturdays, but the savings is often worth it.
- Pay credit cards in full each month, if possible, to avoid interest charges.
- Charge everything on a credit card that offers money-back rebates or airline miles.
- Get overdraft protection on your checking account. It may cost $20 a year or so for the service, but a single overdraft fee can be $32 or more, and you may also get hit with a charge from the person to whom you wrote the check.
- Trade books at local book trading shops.
- Buy used books online, instead of new (Amazon is a good source; often books are .01 and shipping is $3.99.)
- Pack your lunch for work instead of eating out.
- Try generic products instead of brand-name.
- Before patronizing a business like a repair garage, check their website to see if they offer any discount coupons.
- Swap babysitting with friends or form a babysitting coop.
- Install a water-saving showerhead.
- Use the back side of “goofed-up” print jobs for scrap paper.
- Buy items on sale in bulk to stock up.
- Buy childen’s clothes at a huge discount at the end of the season, allowing for a year’s growth.
- Refill printer cartridges at local shops instead of buying brand-name new cartridges at full price. Returning empty cartridges often reduces the price by $3 or more.
- Find a discount dry cleaner and use them exclusively.
- Use dry-cleaner-like products, such as Dryel, in your dryer to freshen clothing instead of dry cleaning items often.
- Buy bread products at a local dollar store or a day-old bakery and freeze extras.
- Cancel the newspaper subscription and read it online or at the library.
- Begin to use mail order prescriptions under your company’s insurance plans, if available, instead of filling prescriptions at a local drugstore; it’s much cheaper.
- Buy “forever” stamps at the post office, since they can be used alone even if postage rates increase in the future.
- Discontinue your monthly video rental plan, or downgrade to a plan that costs less.
- For upcoming gift-giving occasions, buy less expensive gifts, make gifts, or give coupons for services you provide.
- If you need a frame for a picture or poster, check the local thrift stores and garage sales. Simply remove the existing picture and use the frame. It’s much cheaper than going to a frame shop and buying one!
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well, these are some great tips for sure. thanks much for sharing them!
Carolann recently posted…The Best Way To Avoid Cellulite Is With Preventative Measures
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