What are 25 different ways you save money?
Whether it be daily or once in your lifetime, either jot it down in the comments or post to your own blog and I will link to it here. (just let me know in some form) It is always good to take a step back and see what good you ARE doing and where you can do better.
Here are my ways I have saved and continue to save money :
1. Change light bulbs to CFL bulbs to save money
2. Use Heat and Air Conditioning sparingly
3. Using sunlight instead of lights in the house as much as possible
4. Unplug items that aren't in use, especially the tv set at night
5. Keep razorblades dry and clean so that they last longer
6. Write checks for over the amount instead of using an ATM with fees
7. Use plastic containers to store left over food for eating later
8. Turn off all lights when not in a room
9. Leave the car at home at least one day out of the week
10. Borrow books/videos from the library instead of buying them
11. Use coupons and check grocery circulars to get the best deals
12. Cook meals at home, cutting back on eating out
13. Take lunch to work
14. Watch movies at home instead of in the theater
15. Wash clothes every 10+ days
16. Wash clothes in cold water to save on heat
17. Every 6-12 months, verify I am getting the best deal on insurance & credit card rates
18. Cut out all subscriptions to magazines
19. Buy foods in bulk or when items are on clearance and save in pantry & freezer
20. Pick up money from the ground and from vending machines, save in a coin jar
21. Round up in check book and place excess in savings at end of the month
22. Go to free events around town - Zoo, art museum, etc.
23. Put raises or bonuses in savings or apply towards debt
24. Do research online for best value for money on medium to large priced items
25. When I go out to eat, make sure I bring half of the food home for a nice lunch for work the next day!
Since everyone saves money a little differently and we all can learn a thing or two from each other, check out other people’s thoughts on ways THEY SAVE:
1. MBHunter spills the beans on his Twenty-Five ways to save money
2. Blue takes the path to savings in 25 ways and hasn’t looked back
3. In Maggie’s Madcap life, she still has 25 ways she saves money
4. Chuck pulls together his top 25 ways to save money
5. Deb’s living the life with 25 ways she saves money
6. Hammy from ‘down under', lets loose his warrior spirit and finds 25 ways to save
7. Getting to Enough recently updated their ways of saving and ways to improve
8. David tightens his belt and runs down the 25 ways he saves, until he finds a job
9. Ariane lists 25 neat ways she saves money and simplifies her day
10. Tiredbuthappy takes a look at her 25 ways to save money
11. Meredith gathers her valuable ways to save money
12. Jane surprises herself and finds out she has 25 ways she saves money
13. Thrifty Mommy takes on the challenge to find her own 25 ways she saves money
14. Jennifer gets ahead by trying some of her 25 ways to save money
15. Jenn presses forward and jots down her frugal ways to save money
16. Angela bytes on the idea to jot down her 25 ways to save money
17. 25 Slightly Unconventional Ways to SAVE your Pennies comes in from a perspective from NH
18. The Queen of Carrots stretches her vegetable to comes up with 25 ways she saves money.
19. Susan has some Fruitful savings by listing 25 ways she saves
20. Busy Blogger got to work on 25 ways to save money as well
21. Sharon shows us her royal 25 habits for saving money
22. Prince of Thrift posts his Frugal 25 Ways to Save Money
23. The Family CEO manages a gathering of 25 Things I Do to Save Money
24. Golbguru’s money, matter and musings bring out the 25 Things We Do To Save Money
25. Mrs Hoppes is saving resources and still finding 25 Ways to Save Money
26. Tiffany not only saves money, but saves time with 20 Ways We Save Money
27. Poor Statue is convinced she has fun with her 25 ways I save money
28. Mister Jens has simple frugality in mind as he finds 25 ways to save money
29. Janice edits her 25 ways to save at the Okefenokee book club
30. Patrick has cash, money and life on the mind as he jots down his 25 Ways to Save Money
31. Randall handles his credit withdrawal by going through the 25 ways he saves money
32. LuluGal lists her 25 ways (full list)
33. FrugalTrader journeys through his 25 ways of saving money
34. Amanda found 25 ways to increase her value and money savings
35. Jacob has his 25 ways to save money for his early retirement extreme
36. Emily gathers the bits & pieces on ways to save money
37. Andrea gathers together the 25 snacks that help her save money
Updated: 25 Ways I save Money
Posted by Dawn | 11/17/2008 | Save More, Spend less, Use Less, Waste Less | 4 Comments »
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Darling Diva’s 25 Sensational Savings Tips
We all want to save money, especially now. The economic crunch has made us more than ever money and frugal conscious.
As a self professed ‘diva’ it is my pleasure to give you my top 25 diva picks for savings…and they are as stated sensational. You can go cheap and still look like a million. Check for yourself.
1. Go through your makeup and use it instead of buying new. Check its not tainted first, if it has a sour odor ditch it. Remember most makeup has a shelf life of a year or two if un-opened. You will also notice that most colours that are ‘trendy’ will often resurface with new hip names.
2. Go through your wardrobe and reuse some of the old stuff, those earrings and accessories will help to perk up your same olds. Pins and scarves can change the look of just about anything.
3. Buy basics on sale. YOU know black shoes, black handbag. White shirts and black turtle necks , its still new even if its on sale.
4. Thrift buy for big dollar items, boots are a great example how many have you purchased in the past to donate eventually? YOU can get great finds at the thrift stores. Be smart make a list so you don’t overbuy.
5. Re-dye your blacks, a small thing but those turtle necks will look worn with a little package of dye they look brand spanking new again.
6. Eat at home have coffee and drinks out. Its smart and frugal.
7. Grocery shop with a list only, shop at your local market the one on the way to work or home and plan your menu on the sale finds. You will also get to know the grocer and they will give you a heads up on the deals.
8. Dye your own hair and get that hair colour when its on sale, then you can splurge a little on the haircut.
9. Do your own manicure and pedicures. Get the nail colours from the sale bin. Have a stay-at-home spa day with a few girl-friends.
10. Shave your legs …Yep horror I said it Shave EM…its cheaper. Buy hand and body creams when on sale you can afford to if you shave instead of wax at the salon.
11. Sew the hem, the button and the small hole on the seam. IF you sit down and sew it before you loose the button or throw it in the laundry undone …You will wear it again and you will be proud of yourself for being so frugal. IF you don’t, you know you wont wear it again and eventually it will make to the donate or ditch pile.
12. Leave the car at home. Day trips in town are cheaper by local transit and better for your legs, butt and the environment. Plus you will save on the extortion they call public parking lots.
13. Go to the movies on half price days, that’s Tuesdays in this city but check the theatre first as they are often unadvertised. Invite a friend, they might enjoy the savings too and a movie is always better with a friend to share it with.
14. Buy thrift and recycle when you’re done with your fantastic find pass it on …donate it, or sell it at your garage sale.
15. Go through your wardrobe and check the latest trends you can probably put those outfits on the runway together with the stuff in the back of your closet you completely forgot you had.
16. Share your wealth. If you’re not using it donate it. Karma says some new stuff will find its way to you.
17. Repair your favorite broken shoes especially if they are leather, nothing is better than a nice worn shoes already broken in. Lifts are cheaper than new shoes and you love them right!
18. Smile its free it enhances everything.
19. Wash things in dish-soap, it really works for anything that is greasy (get a grease cutter dish-soap and use just a little) This is especially great for delicates as well (don’t ask).
20. Take out your bike, those short trips will be a lot more fun and you’ll get fit before you know it.
21. Go to the free stuff every city has lots of festivals, go to them. Try something new and meet some new people doing it.
22. Add just a hint of colour especially if you love to wear black. Red lipstick is a staple and everyone has it on sale at one time or another.
23. Polish your shoes it makes them look new. You can buy black polish for a buck just about anywhere if not use some olive oil it works in a pinch.
24. Dress up your old winter coat with a new scarf its cheaper than a new coat and wait until the end of the season for the BIG purchase so you can get it at the bargain you crave.
25. NOW this is it the last way to save big and still be the diva everyone expects. BE NICE,, its free and everyone loves agreeable people. Even if you don’t get that THING YOU MUST HAVE ON SALE, be nice. Then when it is on sale the sales girl just might call you and let you know FIRST because you were the one, the ONLY one that was nice to her. Happy savings all!
By Darlene Longo
Darlene Longo is creator of Writers Woes on Facebook
Diva~
Quite a list, Thanks.
Love the list and while I'm not going to do 25 things, I'll share a few. Many of the ways you shared are what we do in our family already. However, in an effort to simplify we sold one of our cars which cut down on our gas and insurance, we grow many of our own veggies in the summer, take the train instead of taxi as much as possible (we live in the city). I want to read others as it may lead me to implement some new ideas!
Jerry
www.leads4insurance.com
To add, do online banking to save time and stamps, and more easily consolidate checking/savings (recommend wamu - now chase); always keep only what you need in checking, the rest in savings/CDs/Stocks etc. And always take advantage of Credit
Cards paying balance in full while reaping the rebates ie penfed (5% gas, 2% groceries, 1.25% on everything else). Saved about $200 for just using the card and paying in full every month.