More Ideas To Keep More Of Your Hard-Earned Money
in your bank account, your wallet and maybe even your mattress
51. Take off your shoes and save on (or avoid) carpet cleaning.
52. Pull shades and close blinds at night to help keep in the heat.
53. Pay auto insurance (usually six months' worth) in one lump sum if at
all possible. Don't pay the fees usually associated with spread out,
monthly payments.
54. Buy used vehicles, not new. This can save many thousands of dollars,
which is a no-brainer, I know. You may get a much better deal on the
used vehicle you want by buying from a private individual instead of a
dealership. Just be sure to have the vehicle checked beforehand.
55. Have your teeth cleaned at a college or university with a dental program. Sometimes this is even free.
56. Get your hair cut at a beauty school. Sometimes this is also free.
57. Cut out lotions and perfumes and any other unnecessary toiletries.
58. Xeriscape to save water, maintenance and time. Read more about xeriscaping on WikiHow.
59. Wash dishes only when the dishwasher is full. Or wash in the sink and use a drying rack.
60. Adjust the clothes washer water level to suit size of the load. Better yet, don't do laundry until the washer is full.
61. Use the public library instead of buying books and magazines. You
can usually get movies at the library, too. And some libraries have a
sales area, where books and magazines cost less than a dollar.
62. Cut out cable or satellite TV. (I know, for some folks this is
impossible.) Or at least consider dropping premium channels and movie
channel packages. You can watch many shows for free on your computer, by
using Hulu.
You can hook your computer up to your TV monitor (some do this
wirelessly) and watch through your TV without paying Hulu for a premium
package if you don't want it. (But that package is less than satellite
or cable TV, anyway.)
63. Use just a cell phone instead of a cell phone and land line. Consider calling over the internet for free, with a service like Skype.
64. Maybe look for a property caretaking or housesitting arrangement (or
job) to save on rent/mortgage payments and even earn extra money (or a
full salary) in some cases. We did this for years and saved LOTS. For
more information, see my article, Property Caretaking: How To Get The Job And Make The Most Of It.
65. If renting, especially from a private landlord and not an apartment
complex, see if there's any work you can do around the place to save
some rent. When we once rented part of a private home, we did lawn care
and house cleaning and saved a couple hundred dollars a month.
66. Pay a little more on your mortgage each month and potentially save
thousands over the life of the loan. Your lender can calculate this for
you if you're considering making that monthly extra a consistent amount.
Or make one extra payment per year.
67. Consider volunteering. How can this SAVE you money? Well, sometimes
there are perks for certain volunteer efforts besides the personal
satisfaction. I'm making a real general statement here, but I know of
some volunteers who receive free admission to certain places and others
who get meals. Just a thought.
68. Go to a community college for the first year or two to take some of
the basic courses and make sure you know what you want to major in. If
then transferring, go to an in-state university. This can save many
thousands of dollars--perhaps tens of thousands--as opposed to four
years of university and/or going out of state.
69. Consolidate your debts. Here's some information on WikiHow: How to Choose a Debt Management Program.
70. If going to places--especially food vendors--that charge a fee for
using a credit card, take enough cash instead. A quarter here, 50 cents
there can add up. You can keep that spare cash in part of your wallet or
purse you don't open that often, so you're less inclined to spend it
spontaneously and have to use only when needed.
71. Keep your checkbook register balanced, so you always know how much
you've got in there and therefore won't bounce checks. Those fees are
expensive!
72. Avoid using out-of-network ATM's. Plan ahead to avoid the fees.
73. Make sure you leave enough in your bank account to avoid possible
fees for falling below an average monthly balance. If necessary, put
that amount in the account but don't record it in the register, to
pretend it isn't there. Or, rather, use no minimum balance, no fee
accounts.
74. Insulate your water heater. If made before 2004, it's probably not
insulated well enough, so wrap it in an insulating jacket like the Thermwell Blanket
. You'll save 10% per year on your water-heating bill.
75. Test your toilet for leaks by putting a drop of food coloring in the
tank. If the color appears in the bowl, your tank is leaking, which
could mean you're wasting as much as 200 gallons of water each day.
76. Consider turning down your water heater. 120 degrees Fahrenheit is plenty.
77. Check weather-stripping around windows and doors to make sure it's in good condition, or add it if it's not there already.
78. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot and reduce the energy use by 50%.
79. Set your dryer to the moisture sensor instead of the timer. This can decrease your energy use by 15%.
80. Bring a bag lunch to work. Don't go out or order in.
81. If available, use community gyms rather than the pricier fitness
centers. And/or take up cheaper or free forms of exercise, like running,
walking or cycling. There are often local groups that get together to
do these things socially, if you prefer company.
82. Carpool for work or for play.
83. Consolidate your auto insurance and homeowners or renter's insurance
with the same company, which usually means a good discount. And if your
insurance company is going to raise your rates, shop around. And let
them know you're shopping around, because that can stop the increase
right there. It's happened to us.
84. When traveling, try to do so in the off-season, and also look into
bundling your air fare with a rental car and/or lodging. This can save
hundreds of dollars compared to purchasing these services separately.
85. Consider raising your auto insurance deductible to save on premiums.
Think about how much your car is worth versus how much coverage you
have.
86. Pass up a really good deal if you don't really need it. Just because
something is selling at half-price or a buy-two-get-one-free deal,
really consider whether or not it's something you need.
87. Use mail order prescription programs. I've found that I can get a 3-month supply for a single month's copay. Walgreens has this program. So does AARP, to name just a couple.
88. Request generic medications instead of name brand. If you don't ask
for it, sometimes you don't get it. Make sure your doctor indicates that
the generic substitute is okay on the prescription.
89. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. This makes for more efficient gas consumption.
90. Instead of buying gifts, consider making or doing things for people.
This might include cleaning their home or car, doing some yard work or
home improvement project. You might cook them a nice meal or bake them
some goodies. You can give homemade gift coupons for things you'll do for someone rather than things you'll buy. The ideas are endless.
91. Have a friend who wears the same size clothing and/or shoes? Maybe
do a clothing exchange once in a while instead of buying new stuff.
92. Use a drip system to water outdoor plants instead of a hose or
sprinkler. And water early in the day or in the evening to avoid
excessive evaporation. Install a timing system if necessary.
93. Try and try again to give up expensive habits, like smoking or
drinking alcohol. Or at least cut back a certain amount per week or
month. It's a start!
94. Swap babysitting and pet-sitting with your friends or those referred by your friends.
95. Lose weight if necessary and get fit. This will not only improve
your health and probably your self-esteem but can cut down on trips to
the doctor and medications as well, which equals cost-cutting. It might
even cut your health insurance premiums.
96. If you do carry a balance on your credit cards, call your credit
card company and request a lower rate. If you don't get what you ask
for, shop around for a different card.
97. Swap books, CDs, DVDs and games with friends. That means fresh stuff for everyone without having to buy anything.
98. If you don't have a forced air system, shut vents in unused or rarely used rooms.
99. Keep a budget! If you have to record your expenses, you're probably
less likely to spend unnecessarily and to keep track of where you can
save.
Benefit from a debt consolidation loan
5 Ways to pay off debt and establish a solid financial footing
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