How to save your money?
1. Turn off the television.
The best way to save money is to drastically reduce the amount of television you watch. There are many financial benefits to this: less exposure to spend-inducing ads, a lower electric bill (and maybe a lower cable bill if you downgrade), more time to focus on other things in life, like a business side and so on.
Want to take things a step further? Consider cutting the cord to cable television entirely.
2. Enough with the collection and time to sell
Many years ago, people thought that their collection would bring them riches. Beanie Babies were a huge fad at one point, as were Longaberger sneakers. Now you can find those items on resale sites like Craigslist and at garage sales for a fraction of their initial cost, leaving many people who have invested thousands of dollars in their “investments” wondering what happened.
To avoid situations like this, never collect items of questionable value. And if you want to recoup some of the money you’ve already spent on collectibles, you can start selling them now and use those funds for any number of worthwhile financial goals.
3. Sign up for as many free customer rewards programs as you can
No matter where you live, you’ll find plenty of retailers who are willing to reward you for shopping at their store. Here’s the basic game plan for maximizing these programs: Create a Gmail or Yahoo address just for these shipments, collect as many cards as you can, and then check out that account for additional coupons when you’re ready to shop. You can add to those rewards and discounts by using rewards credit cards to earn points on purchases at a wide range of stores that can be redeemed for cash back or other benefits.
4. Get creative
If you want to save money and give generously at the same time, creating your own homemade gifts is one way to achieve both goals. You can make food mixes, candles, freshly baked bread or cookies, soap, and all sorts of other things at home quite easily and cheaply.
5. Understand the 30 day rule.
Avoiding instant gratification is one of the most important rules of personal finance, and waiting 30 days to decide on a purchase is a great way to implement that rule.
6. Prepare a list before you go shopping and stick to it.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to shop only when you have everything you’re buying listed. Because when you don’t have one, you usually end up buying things you didn’t plan or budget for and this will cost you dearly. Creating a list before you go to the grocery store is very important and not only helps you shop for items that fit into your meal plan, but it can also help you avoid buying food that you could go to waste. Always create a list and most importantly “FOLLOW IT”.
7. Call your friends instead of going out.
Eating out has a way of completely destroying both your food budget and your entertainment budget in one fell swoop. And no matter what, it’s always cheaper to stay with friends and create your own entertainment.
8. Spend less on entertaining your children
Most children, especially younger ones, can be entertained at very little cost. He plays ball in the backyard; teach them to ride a bike without training wheels once and for all.
9. Negotiate rates with your credit card company or complete a balance transfer.
Now, if you’re paying a lot of interest on your credit cards, it’s important to know that you have some power as long as you’ve been making your payments. Not only do you have the right to negotiate your current interest rate with your credit card issuer, but you also have the right to transfer your balance to an entirely different card. Begin by calling your card issuer at the number on the back of your card and explain your request. If you’re not making any progress with them, check out these balance transfer credit cards to find one with a 0% introductory APR that could help you save hundreds of dollars in interest over time.
10. Clean out those cabinets.
Go through your closets and find everything you no longer use. So don’t just get rid of it, use it for his benefit.
11. Drink more water.
Now, drinking plenty of water not only has great health benefits, but it also has financial benefits. Drink a large glass of water before each meal to keep you full longer and ultimately eat less. Not only will you save on your food bill, but you’ll also feel better after properly hydrating.
Remember; Tap water is not only as clean as bottled water, but it’s also free.
12. Avoid going to fast food/restaurants
Now, instead of eating fast food or just making a pre-packaged dinner when you get home, try making some simple and healthy replacements that you can take with you. An hour of prep one weekend can leave you with plenty of cheap and easy options for dinner and snacks for the week ahead.
13. Quit smoking
As a smoker, you already know that your habit is not only expensive, but also potentially deadly. If you want to add years to your life and save a ton of money, the easiest thing to do is to quit smoking altogether.
14. Turn off the lights and save on the electricity bill.
Keeping the lights on in your home may not be expensive per watt, but it does cost money over time. To save as much as you can, turn off the lights every time you leave the house, or even when you leave the room. Turning off lights when there is plenty of natural sunlight can also help keep your electric bill down over time. The bottom line: If you’re not using a light, turn it off.
15. Increase your garage sales
Yard sales are a great place to get amazing deals on items you need anyway – think housewares, shoes, clothing, or even sports equipment. The key is that you need to be careful not to use the low prices found on sales as an excuse to buy things you don’t need. Advice; At your next garage sale, stick to items that were already on your to-buy list.
16. Buy quality appliances that last.
It pays to do a little research before buying a new appliance. A reliable, energy-efficient washer and dryer may cost you quite a bit now, but if they continually save you energy and last 15 years instead of five, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
17. Compare the grocery price list and find the cheapest
Most of us get into a rut shopping at the same grocery store, and we may not even realize we’re not getting the best deal. Fortunately, there is an easy way to find the cheapest store. Just keep track of the 20 or so things you buy most often, then shop for these items at a variety of stores. Eventually, a store will stand out for its purchases; just make it your regular shopping destination and you’ll automatically save money.
18. Share your dreams with those you love and also with those who love you.
I know that’s a weird way to save money, but think about it. If you spend time with the people you love the most and come to a consensus about your dreams, it will be easy for everyone to plan. Set a big, bold goal together and encourage each other to be financially fit; they will soon discover that they are doing it naturally and that their dreams are closer than ever.
19. Learn to fix things yourself
Many years ago, it was much more difficult to find ways to fix the everyday items that we have in our homes. But today, it should be a piece of cake. You can find tutorials and videos online that show you how to fix just about anything, and all for free. No matter what you’re trying to fix, it’s always worth trying. Learning a new skill doesn’t hurt either. You can always go to places like http://www.youtube.com and get some video tutorials.
20. Never put yourself down after making a mistake.
Even if you make 10 good decisions in your life, it’s easy to beat yourself up and feel like a failure over one bad decision. If you make a big mistake and realize it, think about why you realized it now instead of then, and try to apply it later. The memory of that mistake can become very valuable, by the way.
21. Never look back – Always look beyond
Don’t let the mistakes of your past drag you into more mistakes. Instead, look to the future. Learn to see past mistakes for what they are. Sometimes the best lessons in life are learned through experience, good or bad, so accept your past and don’t run from it. Promising to do better and setting goals can help keep mistakes where they belong—in the past.
22. Never give up
Whenever fighting debt seems like too much, read a personal finance blog or pick up a financial advice book, and remember that there are plenty of people out there struggling with the same thing.
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