30 Ways To Reduce Your Spending

by: JudyTurner
Total views: 9
Word Count: 797

The times are oh-so-bad and recession or depression or a slowdown (whatever you may call it) is upon us. Well, this world is all about survival of the money savers and so, save we must - here are 30 practical ways of cutting expenses and saving big:

1 Save on energy costs - use power-saving CFL lights, monitor and change your thermostat's temperature as required during daytime and night and don't leave lights/appliances on when you don't require them.

2. Skip the movies and rent or borrow dvds. You will also save money by making your own popcorn.

3. Instead of meeting friends for coffee or drinks invite them over for potluck. Take turns each week at each others house.

4. Take your lunch to work more often. Your savings will really add up!

5. Carpool to work whenever possible.

6. Go generic on prescription and over the counter drugs whenever possible.

7. Make a list when you go grocery shopping and stick to it. Use coupons on items you normally buy and try to shop on double coupon days. Stocking up on non perishables or items that can be frozen is also a good idea when they are on sale.

8. Call long-distance in the evening and on weekends. If you make a lot of long distance calls look for a plan that offers unlimited free long distance.

9. At the end of the day get into the habit of putting all your spare change in a jar. Once it is full roll it and put it in a savings account. Some banks will even count it for you for free.

10. Buy clothing off season and never pay full price. Often what you find at one store full price will offer something similar on sale.

11. Can anyone really afford cigarettes anymore? For the sake of your budget and your health now is a good time to quit.

12. Save water - keep your showers short.

13. Save the cost of a gym membership and work out at home.

14. Keep your vehicle well maintained. That way you will hopefully get many more miles out of it well after it is paid off.

15. Shop in discount stores - even Warren Buffet does that!

16. If you're paying a high interest on a mortgage or credit card - refinance it, change it or consolidate your debt to save on interest.

17. Keep your pantry stocked with ingredients for quick meals that your family enjoys. This will keep you from ordering a pizza on those evenings that you just don't know what to make.

18. Always bargain at shops and look at a few options before making a purchase. If you're buying fancy stuff like jewelry, buy it from a pawn shop.

19. If you're paying a high rent, move to a cheaper place.

20. Check out Freecycle.org for getting free stuff or getting rid of things that you don't use. Many communities have their own chapter.

21. Subscribe only to the TV channels that you watch and cut out the rest.

22. We all like to splurge once in a while on things like manicures but if are trying to save money consider doing this yourself.

23. Having a savings account just for emergencies is a must! Otherwise you'll end up resorting to credit cards. Try to put away just $5.00-$10.00 per week away and watch it add up. As you pay off debt increase your savings.

24. Dry cleaning can eat up a large portion of your monthly budget. Try to add more items to your wardrobe that you can wash yourself.

25. Do some comparison shopping on insurance for anything from car, life insurance, homeowners, etc.

26. Drink less soft drinks and more water. Not only will it save on your grocery bill but it is also better for your health.

27. Have a yard sale. Not only will you make some extra cash but you will also get rid of excess clutter.

28. Pay bills on time to avoid late fees and higher interest rates.

29. Consider planting a garden. Produce such as zucchini can be shredded and frozen for future recipes. Find information at your local library online on how to get started.

30. If there is some luxury that you can not live without then by all means try to figure it into your budget once in a while. We all deserve a little luxury in our lives!

Whether you implement some or all of these tips or even come up with a few of your own, finding creative ways to stretch your budget will really pay off financially.

About the Author

Stop by Eating On A Budget for frugal recipes, tips to save money and more to help you make ends meet. Submit recipes or sign up for our free newsletter and we will give you Free Recipe Ebooks  

More Articles from: Recipes