This post will be edited frequently as I find new ways to save. I don't expect every single tip to work for you, but if you find anything usable or hear of a new way to save that is not on this list, please let me know, so I can post it and give you proper authors credit.
----------------
Start a savings account and give some one else the card.
When I moved here from California to Texas, I kept my savings account open. I did not know if I was going to stay here. After realizing that I was going to stay here, I gave my best friend my ATM card for my account. If I need money, I have to justify the purchase when I ask him for the card.
Every time I save money on groceries, sales, laundry mat money, found change in my change jar, etc. I get a money order and mail it to that out of state account. It is very slow growth with that account, but I do see progress. That money is sitting there, easy access if needed for an emergency (God forbid) if we need it.
I also opened a club account with my standard bank. With this account, it is on total lock down until a certain due date. Some banks will allow you to open a club account with a due date for as little as 3 months. I maxed mine out for 7 years. I regret doing that, but knowing me, in the long run, it is better as I can't access it to spend it.
If you do a club account, start TODAY, challenge your self to find ways to cut back on money and put that savings in that account. Make the due date for a few days before the Holiday Shopping Season. Then you will have your Shopping money, and not have to juggle your bills to come up with money you don't have.
Treat your laundry room as if it is a laundry mat.
I was very lucky to be able to move into an apt that has a washer and dryer hook up.
We got a washer for free from a former neighbor, and found a great dryer off of www.craigslist.com.
Every single time I do a load of laundry, I toss change into a jar as if I was still going to a laundry mat. All that change, (along with coupons in the paper and online) help me replenish my supplies. I know that my washer and dryer are not going to live forever.
We have only had to do one repair on the washer, but instead of paying some one $45.00 and up to come look at the washer, we just youtubed the issue, and did it our selves.
Cost of part was less then $2.00 on ebay, and we had it fixed in around an hour.
I saved over $40.00. I am disiplining my self to put all the savings in an account at least once a month.
You can also cut back on your coffee and soda consumpution. Really, do you need 5 sodas a day? Start weaning your self to 4 sodas a day. These days, a 20 oz soda average cost is $1.50 from a vending machine. That is $6.00 a day in sodas. After a 5 day work week ($30.00 spent in that machine), 52 weeks a year, that totals $1560.00. Not to mention the health benifits of you cutting back on sodas. How much money can be saved by dropping back one soda a day. Put that $1.50 in a jar at work and see how quickly it adds up. Once a week, put that money into your club savings or into your savings account for emergencies.
Plus you will have the health benifit of getting uneeded sugar out of your system. You body will adjust, and you will start to see a weight loss.
If you are losing weight, intentionally or not, you are obviously going to change sizes. Why spend $25.00-40.00 on a pair of jeans that are not going to fit you in a few months? Just go to a local thrift store. You will be helping a charity, and you can get jeans as low as $3.00 if you are willing to dig. And when you get to small for those jeans, you can bring them back to the same thrift store or sell them on ebay, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment