I don't know about you, but I could always use some budgeting tips, and this helpful list is right on the money.
Here are a few of the ones we normally try to incorporate already, especially #s 7, 16, 23, 33, and 85:
2. Use less. This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money.
4. Spend Less. This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver and being able to save money every day. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for little ways to save money and spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money.
7. Avoid debt. Pay as you go.
10. Save all the change (coin) in a jar and count it up once a year.
16. Have insurance. Health insurance, home owner’s insurance, auto insurance, and other types of insurance are designed to save you money! Sure, you may end up paying premiums for years and never file a claim, but in the event you need to file a claim, your premium will likely be small compared to what you would have had to pay. You’ll be very happy if you ever need it!
22. Turn off the television. One big way to save money is to watch less television. There are a lot of financial benefits to this: less exposure to guilt-inducing ads, more time to focus on other things in life, less electrical use, and so on. It’s great to unwind in the evening, but seek another hobby to do that.
23. Cancel the cable or satellite channels you don’t watch. Many people with cable services often are paying for a premium package but rarely watch those extra channels.
25. Be diligent about turning off lights before you leave. If you spend one minute turning off lights before a two hour trip, that’s the equivalent of earning $50 an hour. That’s some impressive savings, particularly if you do it before longer trips. The key is to use less energy, particularly when you’re not using the device.
33. Can you get by with one car? Sell one car and use public transportation or car pool. Is there anyone that lives near you who works at the same place (or near the same place) that you do? Why not ride together, alternating drivers each day? You can halve the wear and tear and gas costs for your car – and for your acquaintance as well.
37. Actively search out deals and shop smart. Shop at the discount stores like Ross, Wal-Mart, or even thrift stores first. Why pay 2-3 times as much at the Mall when you can get something just as good for less? It never hurts to try and find a better deal, or request a better deal from your service providers. www.slickdeals.net is a great website to find bargains.
42. Make your own gifts instead of buying stuff from the store. You can make food mixes, candles, bread, cookies, soap, and all kinds of other things at home quite easily and inexpensively. These make spectacular gifts for others because they involve your homemade touch, plus quite often they’re consumable, meaning they don’t wind up filling someone’s closet with junk. Even better – include a personal handwritten note with the gift. This will make it even more special than anything you could possibly buy down at the mall, plus it saves you money.
46. Invite friends over instead of going out. Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out. Invite some friends over and have a cookout or a potluck meal, then have a game or movie night. Everyone will have fun, the cost will be low, and the others will likely reciprocate not long afterwards.
49. Don't buy anything at full price. Wait until it goes on sale, or until you have a coupon.
53. If you go shopping with friends, and feel the impulse to buy something because of the "thrill of buying something", think about if you'd still want to buy it if you were alone.
69. Master the ten second rule. Whenever you pick up an item in order to add it to your cart or to take it to the checkout, stop for ten seconds and ask yourself why you’re buying it and whether you actually need it or not. If you can’t find a good answer, put the item back. This keeps me from making impulse buys on a regular basis.
72. Stick to the classics, avoid the trends. Classic styles of clothes, hair, and home decor won't go out of style so quickly and you won't feel the need to replace them as often.
85. Hit the library – hard. Don’t look at a library as just a place to get old books. Look at it as a free place to do all sorts of things. You can learn a foreign language, meet people, use the Internet anonymously, check out movies and CDs, grab local free newspapers, and keep up on community events. Best of all, it doesn’t cost a dime. Simply put, it’s hard to beat free. Also, get DVDs from the library. Many libraries now have movies on DVD that can be checked out.
Which ones do you do already? Any other tips to add to the list?
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