Odd Ways to Save Money
Some money-saving ideas are practical, some are ingenious and others are just plain obvious. And then there are the tips that make you think twice. Maybe you already incorporate these tips into your daily life, or maybe they seem ridiculous and implausible. But perhaps just a few could be the solution to your budget-busting habits. Take a look:
Spend Less
- Don't buy dry clean only items. You will continue paying for them every time they need cleaning.
- Drink tea, powder mixes or water instead of juice or soda.
- Skip the expensive gym; workout at home. Borrow workout videos from the library or go running with a friend.
- In the mood for a movie? The early show is cheaper than the late show and borrowing from the library or swapping with friends is cheaper than renting.
- In the mood to hit the town? Local talent is cheaper than touring bands and museums are cheaper than bars.
- Watch gas prices and fill up when the prices goes down, even if your tank isn't empty.
- Try making curtains, clothes, or accessories, instead of buying them. There is plenty of free information online about how to make things on your own.
- Shop at thrift stores.
- Shop online. Check out online discount stores, but only when you need something. Don't buy items just because you find a great deal - there is always another deal around the corner. Do ask about the return policy, especially when buying clothes online. Make sure the shipping cost doesn't spoil any savings. Check out sites like:
- If you pickup napkins and condiments at fast food restaurants that you don't use during your meal, take them home instead of throwing them away after your meal.
- Find out the move-out date for students at your local college. Students acquire furniture and other items they cannot move home and end up leaving many things on the street.
- Skip the special bubble bath and use a dollop and dish soap or shampoo.
- Remove clothing and carpet stains with Dawn liquid soap and hot water.
- Use dryer sheets instead of fancy spays for smelly closets or gym bags.
- Tear out the perfume adds in magazines and stick them in your closet or under the seat in you car.
- Instead of buying glasses and cups, reuse glass jars, like the ones for pickles or jelly. They're functional and fashionably alternative. Soak them in warm water to remove paper labels and run then through the dishwasher. If you can't finish your drink, you can always screw the top back on, put it in the fridge and finish it later.
- Grow your own herbs and veggies. If you don't have a yard, create an indoor garden.
- Buy potted plants instead of fresh flowers. They last longer and can even get planted in your garden.
- Use white vinegar to kill weeds instead of expensive, chemical pesticides.
- Round up to the nearest dollar or five-dollar increment in your checkbook and throw the difference in your savings.
Adopt Good Frugal Habits
- Save grocery store bags and use them in small trash cans. There's no need to purchase plastic bags for your bathroom trash or for cleaning your cat's litter box. Use the perfectly good free bags from the store.
- When eating out, take home half of your meal. Portion sizes are usually large so you can get away with eating just half and saving the rest for another meal. Take home the fresh bread you didn't eat; the restaurant will just throw it away.
- Reuse plastic wrap or aluminum foil. If it's relatively clean, it can easily be used to cover other dishes and leftovers.
- Don't bother washing barely dirty dishes. If you only used a knife to cut a lemon, rinse it off and put it away.
- Don't leave sponges in the sink. Bacteria love moist sponges and you will need to replace yucky, soaked sponges often. Instead, wring out as much water as you can and set sponges on your window seal so they can sun dry.
- If you are the type to toss out leftovers, make sure you only make what you plan to eat. Or, cook large portions and freeze the leftovers. You'll save on energy in more ways than one- a full freezer takes less energy to keep cool and you can use less energy to reheat than to cook.
- Watch your daily habits and reduce something - your daily can of soda, cigarettes or alcohol. Measure the exact quantity of your consumption and reduce it.
- Downgrade your cable or phone service. Make sure you're not paying for services you don't need or even use.
- Pay attention to portions. This applies to everything. Do you really need that much toothpaste or would half the amount work just as well? What about your shampoo, q-tips, or cleaning solutions? Do you have too much milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl? Is there a tablespoon of syrup on your plate after your pancakes are gone?
Making Money
- Sell your stuff online. Go to eBay.com or Craigslist.com and list unneeded furniture, old movies and CDs, pottery or jewelry. People turn to these sights to buy discounted items or collectables and they could easily be buying this stuff from you.
- Find out if your china is collectable or if your vases are antiques. Look in your basement and in the backs of closets for unsentimental items that could be valuable. Take them to an appraiser or see if the Antiques Roadshow is coming to your town.
- Sell your services. Contact local schools and libraries and see if they need part-time tutors.
- Sell back old text books at www.moneyforbooks.com.
- Sell your old cell phone at www.cellforcash.com.
There are many tips and tricks people use to save money. What seems perfectly acceptable to one person could seem crazy to someone else. But some of these ideas may be easier than you think. If you have the time and the will, this advice can save you lots. If you take these additional funds and apply them to your debt settlement program, you could shorten the time it takes to settle your debts. This is because settlements cannot be negotiated until enough money is accrued to promptly pay the settlement. So, the faster you save more, the faster we can negotiate and reach settlements with your creditors.
