Best Ways to Save Money, 75 Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Ideas and Advice, How to Save on Food, Gas, Utilities

Dec 7, 2008 Jerry Lopper

These money saving tips will reduce expenses and save money and are easy to implement.

Faced with shrinking jobs, tightened credit, dwindling investments, and an uncertain future, consumers can use the following money saving tips to reduce expenses. Most of these ways to save money are easy to implement and require little or no up-front investment.

Save Money on Food and Groceries:

  • Cut back on eating out.
  • Eat out for lunch rather than dinner when prices are lower.
  • Plan a week's meals in advance to utilize coupons, sales, leftovers, and perishables.
  • Shop with a list based on the week's menu.
  • Avoid processed, prepared, and convenience groceries.
  • Load up on fruits and vegetables in season.
  • Clip coupons and combine them with store sales.
  • Buy store brands.
  • Avoid shopping when hungry.
  • On weekends prepare double or triple amounts of favorites and freeze some for work-week meals.
  • Pack lunches.
  • Avoid designer coffee/tea drinks and stick with plain coffee/tea.
  • Brew coffee/tea at home and take to work.
  • Avoid impulse items displayed at the checkout counter.
  • Avoid pre-cut fruits, vegetables, and salads.

Ways to Save Money on Gas and Car:

  • Combine errands to minimize trips.
  • Shop for cars two to three years old and scoring well in consumer research literature.
  • Reduce freeway speeds by 5 mph.
  • Maintain recommended tire pressure and change oil regularly.
  • Watch for oil change specials and coupons.
  • Car pool and use public transportation when possible.
  • Compare car insurance rates before renewing.
  • Drop collision and comprehensive coverage on older cars.
  • Combine car and home insurance to receive multi-line discounts.
  • Use regular gas unless engine knock signals absolute need for premium fuels.
  • Pack a lunch when traveling,

Money Saving Entertainment Tips:

  • Wait for DVD releases of movies.
  • Watch for low-rate movie rental offers.
  • Watch for free or low-cost community entertainment.
  • For must-see first-run movies, attend a matinee.
  • Volunteer to usher at live events to see it free.
  • Museums, art galleries, and parks often offer free or discount days.
  • Visit plays and musicals at a nearby university.

How to Save Money on Utilities:

  • Drop premium cable and satellite channels seldom viewed.
  • Drop cell phone services seldom used.
  • Request a rate reduction on cable, phone, and Internet services.
  • Switch to a lower Internet speed package.
  • Keep furnace and air conditioner serviced for peak efficiency.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters regularly.
  • Set heating thermostat down one or two degrees and wear layers for warmth.
  • Close registers and doors of unused rooms.
  • Wash clothes on cold water cycle.
  • Combine laundry loads to use less water.
  • Install low-flow shower and faucet heads to use less water.
  • Disconnect appliances that are always on or in a standby state if they won't be used for lengthy periods.
  • Use compact fluorescent bulbs and turn off lights when out of the room.
  • Use open source software or free web based software.
  • Wrap a hot water heater purchased before 2004 in a thermal cover.
  • Run full dishwasher loads.
  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
  • Bundle TV, phone, and Internet.
  • Consider a pre-paid cell phone.
  • Consider Internet or cable phone services.
  • Consider eliminating a land-line phone in favor of a cell phone.

Miscellaneous Money Saving Tips:

  • Keep track of spending for two weeks to heighten awareness of spending habits.
  • Barter for infrequently needed services.
  • Negotiate prices for major appliances such as TV, washer/dryer, refrigerator, and stove.
  • Refuse most extended warranties.
  • Give homemade gifts.
  • Shop previously owned clothing stores.
  • Obtain reading material, DVDs, and music from libraries.
  • If the latest hot novel beckons immediately, visit a book store and read it there.
  • Sign up for Freecycle to obtain used goods in good condition.
  • Watch Craigslist for good buys on used articles.
  • Check eBay for desired purchases but buy from rated sellers and avoid offers to go "off-line."
  • For major appliance purchases, buy middle of the line.
  • Repair rather than replace when repair costs justify it.
  • Pay credit card bills in full within the grace period to avoid interest charges.
  • Use ATMs that don't incur extra charges.
  • Pay bills online to eliminate stamps and envelopes.
  • Use a credit card that provides cash back, but pay it off each month.
  • Cancel a gym membership and walk, jog, or ride a bike.

Sources:

Kiplinger.com, "Save Money on Practically Everything," Feb 21, 2008; The Doughroller.net, "75 Painless Money-Saving Tips," November 6, 2007; BusinessWeek.com, "Three Cheers for the Cheapskate," August 4, 2008

Related Article: How to Survive the Latest Financial Crisis

The copyright of the article Best Ways to Save Money, 75 Money Saving Tips in Personal Development is owned by Jerry Lopper. Permission to republish Best Ways to Save Money, 75 Money Saving Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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