In these times we live in, finances are tough and many of us are desperately trying to find ways to save money. It is a time when people are being laid off, their pay is being cut, and low-income families are being raised. Of course high gas prices don’t help either!
i hope these money saving tips help you like you have been helping our family!
Tips to save money
Second hand store. I have to admit that I had a hard time doing this at first, however now I see the value in it. Who says we have to have “new” clothes? There are plenty of great thrift stores with awesome styles. When I took my teenager to a thrift store we have here in town, she was very excited as she looked between the shelves. Why? Well, the prices were SO low that she realized she was going to get a LOT more than she normally does! She understands the concept of getting more for her money! Now, she has a wardrobe of beautiful clothes that are perfect for her style. The best part, we only spent fifty dollars! I also saved a ton of money on my little boys clothes! She got dresses, shorts, and outfits galore for $30! How cool is that?? Note: We don’t buy underwear from thrift stores…just clothes.
Another great tip for thrift stores is that YOU can sell YOUR clothes there and make easy money! When the kids outgrow their clothes, take the ones that are still pretty to the resale store and “recycle” them for cash.
E-Mealz.com. This cool site helps you make a grocery shopping list. You choose the store and THEY provide the plan. It saves you a ton of time letting THEM do the thinking! They find the best prices for items and build their plan based on that week’s sales at the store you chose.
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’ll save time AND money!
Hot water heater. You can save money each month simply by setting your water heater to a lower temperature setting. Or, you can buy a water heater timer at Home Depot to get the same results.
Blockbuster or Netflix. This is a great way to save money and TIME for entertainment. The rates are quite low and the movies are delivered to your home.
Library. You can get FREE movie and music “rentals” at your local library.
Starbucks lovers. You can save 10 cents if you bring your own mug! Doesn’t sound like much, but if you drink coffee there regularly, 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. Also, in many cases, they will give you some gifts (light bulbs, etc.).
Fee Reductions. Call your cable or phone company and tell them you’d like a rate reduction. Look for better deals and let them know you’ve been. They will want to keep your business and, in many cases, reduce your bill a bit. However, at least offer him some incentive.
Employee discounts. Use them, use them. Know them. Oh, and USE THEM!
dirty papers. Read them and LOOK for deals on the items you need to buy. Research for the best offer. Clipping coupons is another great use for sales paper!
Leftovers. Prepare meals that can also be used for a great “leftover” meal the next day.
Conserve electricity. Turn off the lights during the day and open the blinds. Turn off the lights when the room is not in use. Keep the air at 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.
Requirements. Go to Walmart. They offer very low prices on MANY prescriptions. Oh, and for those of you near a Publix supermarket, they give FREE prescriptions for several popular antibiotics.
DollarMovies. Why spend a lot of money to see a movie? If you wait a few more weeks, you can see the SAME movie on a big screen for a buck or two!
Dollar stores. They have many household and cleaning supplies that you can get instead of paying full price.
Shared car. When possible, get together with other people who work with you and share the car. You can also take turns picking up your children from school if you don’t work outside the home. You’ll save money on gas.
Garage sales. This is a great way to find some furniture that you need. Some people find great treasures and then sell them on eBay. Not only can you SAVE money, but you can also EARN money if you want to.
Shop after the holidays. A great time to buy gifts is AFTER the holidays! If you wait until after many holidays, such as Easter, Christmas, etc… you will find great deals. Obviously not on perishables, however you can find perfumes, gift sets and MUCH more for 50-75% off. Put them in your closet and give them as a gift next year!
Store brands. Buy store brands as often as possible. In most cases, they have EXACTLY the same ingredients and/or the same quality as the “brand”. The brand name is nothing more than marketing. They are not different. Perhaps we are watching too much television? LOL!
Online store. You can find a TON of deals AND get free shipping ONLY for shopping online.
Amazon and eBay. You can get amazing deals by shopping at places like eBay and Amazon. Use and New. I buy most of my used books through Amazon. I save a TON of money that way and even though they are used, they don’t really look used when I receive them. Oh, and once again, this is another place to make money. Sell YOUR used books on Amazon!
Eat in. Eating out costs A LOT of money. Kick the habit and get more creative with your kitchen! Not only will you save money, but you’ll make your family happy! If you work away from home and go out for lunch, try bagging it! Think of it this way… You are literally flushing your money down the toilet!
Savings Restaurant. If you MUST eat out sometimes, there is still hope for you! Many places offer kids free nights to eat. Take advantage of them when you want to go out to eat. Applebees has it on Sundays, Fazolies and Roadhouse have it on Tuesdays. There are also quite a few restaurants that offer free meals and/or discounts on your birthday. Call and find out which ones have the best deals.
Drink more water. It’s MUCH healthier for you than soda, tea, or coffee. Plus, it’s FREE! If you don’t like tap water, invest in a filter. Water is the BEST thing to drink and most people don’t drink enough of it anyway! You’ll be amazed at how much money you save each week simply by cutting unhealthy sugary drinks out of your diet! Oh, and your waist won’t complain either!! LOL!
As you can see, there are MANY ways to save money. This is not even the tip of the iceberg of how much money you can save if you put your mind to it! Happy saving money!
Copyright © Lara Vélez, Moms of Faith, All rights reserved.
