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Seven Simple Ways to Save Money
Today
Are you feeling the pinch in your pocket? If you are, you are
certainly not alone. Millions of people are feeling the effects
of an economic downturn, environmental uncertainty and a slow
job market. Saving money has never been so important in some
households than right now. With this need to save money so
urgent, here are seven simple ways that you can help you start
saving money today.
Cook your own dinner
Even if you don’t know how to cook or think you may not like
it, eating out is by far one of the most costly pleasures that
many of us indulge in. Eating out may not seem like a big part
of your spending budget, especially if you are careful about
where you eat and head for the happy hour specials. But eating
out is often one of those seemingly invisible drains on our
savings. Unlike a major purchase or a vacation, it can be hard
to keep track of how many times we eat out every week or how
much we spend on that smoothie, latte or brunch. One of the
simplest ways to begin to save money is to get into the habit
of cooking often at home.
Brown bag it to work
Speaking of eating out, work lunches are another of those
invisible drains on our wallet. Eating out for lunch often does
not feel like eating out because it is usually not a pleasure
outing. You are simply filling up before heading back to work.
But if you are like most people, it can be very easy to eat out
several times a week without even realizing how much money you
are spending on lunch. If you’re serious about saving your
hard-earned cash, make it a priority to brown bag your lunch at
least three times a week. If you still need incentive, sit down
and do the math. Once you have seen exactly how much you’re
spending just by going to work, you might feel differently
about brown bagging it.
Make a shopping list (and stick to it)
One of the biggest mistakes that most of us make before going
shopping is that we arrive at the store unprepared. It can be
very hard to resist temptation if you arrive at the grocery
store without a plan of attack. Without a list, there is a very
high chance that you will buy items that are not urgent or even
necessary. You may even leave the store without buying one or
more of the items you came to buy! Before heading to the
grocery store, make a real effort to sit down and make a
complete list of everything you really need. Don’t rely on your
excellent memory and cross off each item as you move along the
aisles.
Stock up on perishable items when they’re on sale
Be savvy when you go shopping. You will always need certain
items: toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, cereals and other
common household goods are good things to stock up on when they
happen to be on sale.
Use your local library
Maybe you haven’t stepped inside a library since . . . ever. If
you are not familiar with the modern library, you will probably
be surprised about what you’ll find inside. Free internet use,
new release movies, bestsellers, free movie nights—many local
libraries offer numerous opportunities for free entertainment.
Remember that your taxes pay for the library, so go ahead and
use it.
Make comparison shopping a habit
No matter what kind of purchase you’re making, large or small,
the smart consumer always does a complete price check. Whether
you’re planning on buying a new book or a new car, simply
checking online and making a few calls can save you a lot of
money.
Get organized
One of the easiest ways you can save money year-round is by
becoming more organized. Organize your monthly bills, credit
card accounts, shopping lists, clip coupons and organize all of
these in one easily accessible folder. Save money on
unnecessary late fees and don’t overpay simply by organizing
your financial papers and accounts.
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