Thursday Thirteen – 13 Quick Money Saving Tips

One of those things many families need to do these days is save money. Doesn’t matter if you’re a stay at home mom or if both parents work outside the home, money is tight for a lot of people.

1. Turn off those lights!
   It’s so easy to have more lights than you need on at a time. This is money you can save even though you won’t see it right away. In a lot of places the weather is nice enough that opening the curtains or blinds lets in enough light without heating the house too much.
2. Use fans instead of air conditioners.
   This works better in some places than in others, but if you can acclimate yourself to the rising temperatures, you can get by with using your air conditioner less as we really get into the summer. Trust me on this one; it regularly gets over 100 degrees where I live and I still rarely use the AC. Closed blinds/curtains, minimal use of lights, etc. does quite a bit for keeping a home nice in the summer. Just have to decide when following this tip is better than following #1.
3. Buy generics at the grocery store.
   The only time you need to buy the name brand is when you really find a difference in taste or quality… or the coupons make the price better.
4. Make sure you’re getting the right deal on telephone services.
   This includes both your landline and cell phones. If you aren’t using all the time you’re paying for or you regularly go over, it may be time to switch plans and/or carriers. If you’re stuck in a contract you may need to figure out if you are better off sticking with it or if that carrier will let you change to a more suitable plan and starting the contract term over.
5. Watch the small stuff.
   The little purchases each day can really add up. Coffee at Starbucks, lunches out put a huge dent in many a budget.
6. Take advantage of freebies.
   Sites such as Freecycle are wonderful both for getting rid of your old stuff and getting used items you could use. Many areas have really wonderful groups.
7. Pay attention to gas prices in your area.
   I don’t suggest you drive around looking for the best price when you need gas, but knowing which stations you pass regularly that have the best prices can help you tremendously.
8. Know when your grocery store marks down meats.
   Many stores have a particular time at which meats get marked down. If you can find this out you can buy meat on the cheap and throw it into the freezer until you need it.
9. Get your debts under control.
   Make a plan to pay off your debts as quickly as you can. This can be tough, but interest can eat up quite a bit of your monthly budget, yet returns nothing to you.
10. Watch those “wants”.
    If your “wants” are eating up too much of your budget, take control and figure out how often to allow yourself to get those “wants” so that you can more easily afford your needs.
11. Cut out the sodas.
    This one is better for your wallet and your waistline. Sodas cost quite a bit more than water or juices (so long as you buy the juice in large bottles, not single servings).
12. Combine errands.
    This is more fuel efficient, time efficient and money efficient.
13. Learn to have fun without spending money.
    There are plenty of things you can do to have fun without spending a lot of money, especially as summer approaches. Beaches, parks, hiking are all fun. In many areas museums offer free days for residents of the area.

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