My Money Saving Tips

In these times, we are living in finances are tight and many of us are desperately trying to find ways to save money. It is a time when people are being laid off, receiving pay cuts, and trying to raise families on low income. I hope that these money saving tips help you as they have been helping me!

Shop Second Hand. I have to admit, I had a hard time with this at first, however, I see the value in it now. Who says we have to have “new” clothes? There are a TON of great second hand stores out there with awesome styles. Another great tip for second hand stores, is that YOU can sell YOUR clothes there and make some easy money!

E-Mealz.com. This cool site helps you make a food list for shopping. You choose the store, and THEY provide the plan. It saves you a ton of time to let THEM think! They find the best prices for items and make your plan based on that week’s sales at the store you picked.

The Grocery Game or couponmom.com. These coupon sites go very well with the emealz site. You can get the coupons for the plan that emealz came up with! VERY cool! And, you will save time AND money!

Hot Water Heater. You can save money each month simply by setting your water heater temperature to a lower temperature. Or, you can buy a hot water heater timer at home depot for the same results.

Blockbuster or Netflix. This is a great way to save money and TIME for entertainment. The fees are quite low and the movies are delivered to your home.

Library. You can get FREE movies and music “rentals” at your local library.

Starbucks Lovers. You can save 10 cents if you bring in your own cup! Does not sound like much, but if you get coffee there in a regular basis, it can REALLY add up!

Energy Audit. Call your electric company and request an energy audit. Most of them do it for free. They will tell you where you can make adjustments to save money on your bill each month. Plus, in many cases, they will give you some freebies (light bulbs, etc).

Rate Reductions. Call your cable or phone company and tell them that you would like a rate reduction. Shop around for better deals and let them know you have been. They will want to keep your business and in many cases lower your bill a bit. Or, at the very least offer you some incentive.

Employee Discounts. USE them. Know them. Oh, and USE them! I purchased my car for $5,000 less than the manufacturer's invoice. I get 18% off my Sprint bill. And there are tons more that I'm sad to lose out on now that I'm no longer working there. So, contact your HR department and take a look over yours today!

Sale Papers. Read them and LOOK for sales on items you need to buy. Research for the best deal. Clipping Coupons is another great use for sale papers!

Leftovers. Make meals that can also be used for a great “leftover” meal the next day.

Conserve Electricity. NUMBER ONE TIP - SHUT OFF YOUR TELEVISION! I just purchased an LED or plasma tv (whatever) and my electricity bill has skyrocketed. I now yell at my husband if he falls asleep watching TV. Also, shut your lights off during the day and open your blinds. Turn off lights when room is not in use. Keep the air on 78 degrees during the day. Open your windows and use ceiling fans as much as possible. Wash with cold water. Just a few changes can really LOWER your bill.

Prescriptions. Go to Walmart. They offer very low prices on MANY prescriptions.

Dollar Stores. They have many cleaning and household items that you can get instead of paying full price.

Garage Sales. This is a great way to find some furniture items you need. Some people find great treasures and then sell them on eBay. Not only can you SAVE money, you can MAKE money if you so choose.

Shop After Holidays. A great time to buy gifts is AFTER the holidays! If you wait till after many holidays, like Easter, Christmas, etc…you will find great deals. Obviously, not on perishable items, however, you can find perfume, gift sets, and MUCH more for 50-75% off. Put them in your closet, and give them as gifts next year!

Store Brands. Buy store brands as often as possible. On most cases they have the EXACT same ingredients and/or quality as “name brand.” Name brand is nothing more than commercialization. They are no different. Trust me...advertising is such crap.

Eat In. Eating out costs a LOT of money. Coming from someone who has just recently started grocery shopping and cooking, I realize how much you really do save! So, get out of the habit of going through the drivethru an get more creative with your cooking.

Restaurant Savings. If you MUST have your out to eat treat sometimes there is still hope for you! Many places offer kids eat free nights. Take advantage of them when you want to have an out to eat treat. Applebees has it on Sundays and Texas Roadhouse has it on Tuesdays. There are also quite a few restaurants that offer free meals and/or discounts on your birthday. See my birthday posting for where you can get free food!

Drink Water. It is MUCH healthier for you than soda, tea, or coffee. Plus, it’s FREE! If you do not like your tap water, invest in a filter. Right now there is a sale at WalMart for one for $5 (down from $20). Water is the BEST thing you can drink and most people do not drink enough of it anyway! You will be SHOCKED at the amount of money you save each week by simply eliminating the unhealthy sugar filled drinks from your diet! Oh, and your waistline will not complain either!