Tips on saving YOUR money
Tips on saving YOUR money
I was raised by a single mother. Since I was a high-maintenance ADD child, she felt she couldn't go to work, so she stayed home and we still managed to have a good life, without the help of the government. I think she's the most thrifty person I know. And, of course, I learned a lot from her. So here are some tips to save pennies and bucks, some are from her, and some from my boyfriend & I (yep, I'm with someone who shares my views on money, this is not given to anyone).
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Feed the freezer. Try Once-a-month cooking if you have a large chest freezer, or cook once a week or once every two weeks if you have a small fridge-top freezer. The principle is that you cook one month (or a week, or two weeks) worth of meals within one day and freeze them. So, on busy days, you will know that a ready-made meals awaits you at home, so you'll be less tempted to pick up fast-food or pricey frozen food from the grocery. It will be healthier, too! You can even make frozen sandwiches for lunch if you work or go to school. |
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Use the crockpot (also called slow cooker). If you don't have one, buy one, it's about 20$ and is well worth the investment. In the morning, when you have more energy, put meat, vegetable, and potatoes or rice in it, then put it on low all day - most recipes require 8 to 12 hours on low - and, in the evening, it's ready, and the warm smell of a simmering stew or roast is so comforting on those evenings when you're tired! Another healthy way to cut on fast-food expenses. |
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When you do your grocery shopping (or any other shopping, in fact), make a list before you leave, based on what's on sale in the flyer, write the prices in another column, calculate how much it will cost - don't forget coupons!!! - , and only take the amount of money you will need, cash. No credit card, no debit car. Only take your driver's license, your keys, and your cash. No wallet, no purse. This way, you will have to stick to your list and will avoid impulse buys. |
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Buy all of your clothes (except underwear, of course) at thrift stores. GoodWill, Salvation Army, Value Village (for Canadians), and also garage sales. It takes time to find the things we want, but it saves so much money in the long run! |
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Don't buy anti-wrinkle cream. Ingest 1 teaspon of olive oil every morning, and it will do the job. Plus, if you have acne, it won't put a greasy film on your skin, since it's not going on your face. |
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Borrow your music CDs at the library, or to friends, or download music online. If you have CD burner, copy them (it is not illegal if you don't sell the copied CD to other people). If you can't burn CDs, record them into a cassette tape. |
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If you have DSL or cable modem, you can download movies from the Internet, and watch the latest releases for free. With homemade popcorn, you have a movie night at virtually no cost... and you can cuddle as much as you want while watching to movie! And if you don't like what you see, you just move it to the trash can, and have no remorse because you didn't spend a buck. |
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If you don't have high-speed Internet, some college or universities libraries offer a wide variety of movies that can be borrowed for free or for a small 1$ fee, and some are quite recent. So if you know a college student, don't be shy to ask if their library offers such a service! |
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Some shows offer free tickets to employees from sponsoring companies, and also to Ticketmaster employees. Ask them to tell you the next time they are not interested in the show, or just if they need someone to go with. |
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Invest in some good quality vitamin supplements, especially during winter time when vegetables are expensive. It will save money on doctor visits and meds! |
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On your birthday and Christmas, don't be shy to make a wishlist and e-mail or photocopy it to your friends and relatives. Most of them never know what to buy and appreciate suggestions. It will give you the opportunity to get things that you need. For example, on my last birthday, I got a new winter coat from my mom, new bed linnens from my grandmother, and a food processor and a crock-pot from my father. All things that I needed, but that I wouldn't have got if I didn't ask, because they may know my tastes but not my daily life and what I need. So, make an e-mail list of all your family members and friends and, a few weeks before Christmas and b-day, write your "list to Santa". You might get some of the bigger expenses for free. |
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Subscribe to PineCone Research and get a free 5$ check every time you do an online survey that lasts about 10 minutes. It really works, I already got several checks. And since it doesn't work with referals, I'm not lying to you! |
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When invited at the restaurant, "steal" some of those little bags of sugar, salt and paper, little butter cups, and paper napkins. They come with your meal, but no one said how many you could takes. That makes free sugar, salt, paper, butter and paper products. |
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Participate to as many contests as you can, wheter it's from the radio, newspaper or Internet. Even if you don't like the prize, do it! Most contests offer a choice between the prize and it's value in money and, if it doesn't, you can always sell it by yourself. For example, if I participated in a contest where you can win a trip to Hawaii, I wouldn't take the prize, because I hate hot weather. I would take the money, and make a trip of my choice, probably in the North of Europe or, if I'm really broke, keep that free money for the bare necessities of life. |
Feel free to send your own money-saving tips. I will be adding some more of my own in the future, because it is my goal: saving on the not-so-important stuff, to have money for what is really important to me on the reduced amount of years I have left to live. I want the people I leave behind to have good memories of me.
