Budget Tips

Thanks for Submitting…..Harriett Taken from http://zenhabits.net/the-cheapskate-guide-50-
tips-for-frugal-living/

1. Go with one car. Many families have two or more cars. Besides your house, your car is probably your most
   expensive item. If you can do with one, you should. My wife and I both work, and we have six kids, and yet we have
   learned to manage with one car.
2. Go with a smaller house. Just because you can afford a larger house, doesn’t mean you should live in one. Live in
   as small a house as you can and still be comfortable. I don’t mean you should live in a one-room apartment with a
   family of four … you know what I mean. You can save thousands a year with a smaller house. Many times, if you
   get rid of a lot of clutter, you don’t need a large house.
3. Go with a smaller car. Again, you can save thousands by going with a smaller car. A car instead of an SUV, for
   example, is a big savings. Be comfortable, but don’t overdo it. You’ll save a lot on gas this way too.
4. Rent rather than own. This will probably spark a huge debate, as it always does. The thing is, just don’t assume
   that buying is the better investment. If you calculate the interest you pay on a mortgage, the cost of insurance and
   maintenance, buying is often much more costly than renting … and if you rent, save money, and then invest the
   difference, you can actually end up well ahead in the long run. Now, it’s not a given, so do a comparison, factoring
   in all expenses. Here’s amore in-depth article.
5. Look for used first. If you need something — I mean really need it, not just want it — see if someone you know
   has one that they don’t use or need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends, or just ask around. You might
   be surprised. I was about to buy a printer, and then found out my mom just bought a laser printer and didn’t need her
   old inkjet … saving me close to 100 smackeroos. If no one you know owns one, try freecycle.org or craigslist.org.
   Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a bargain if you look around.
6. Eat out less. One of the biggest expenses in our daily lives is eating out — the average person spends well over
   $2,000 a year on eating out. Restaurants are expensive, including fast-food (not to mention the health hazards). It’s
   much cheaper to cook your own food. Our family creates a weekly menu, then we buy the groceries, and cook
   dinner (and lunch) each evening. Lately I’ve even been prepping it in the morning, so it’s a snap when we get home.
7. Eat out frugally. If you do eat out, check out these money-saving tips.
8. Brown bag it to work. Instead of eating out for lunch, bring your lunch. More here.
9. Adopt a minimalist wardrobe. This tip won’t be for everybody, but I try for a minimalist wardrobe. I generally
   wear jeans or casual pants, a T-shirt or Polo-type shirt, and sandals or shoes. Plain, solid colors are my favorite.
   Everything goes with everything else, and I don’t have too many clothes. This saves me the stress of picking out an
   outfit, and I don’t need as many clothes.
10. Stop online impulse buys. This was a problem for me before I canceled my credit card. I used to buy online a
    couple of times a week. Now I buy maybe once every couple of months, using PayPal or someone else’s credit card.
    I’m not saying you have to go to this extreme, but realize that online buying can be way too easy (you don’t even
    have to go to a store) and therefore, we make too many impulse buys. Buy online if you really need something and
    it’ll save you money, but beware the impulse buy. See 30-day list tip below.
11. Don’t shop. Don’t go to the mall or other shopping area or department store to look around and shop. Go to a store
    if you know what you need, and then get out. Many times people go shopping, with a vague idea of what they want,
    and get caught up buying much more. Or they go just for fun, as a form of entertainment. That ends up costing a lot.
    It can really add up. Instead, stay away from shopping areas and find other ways to have fun (more below).
12. Use a 30-day list. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true
    necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule
    that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a
    lot less with this system.
13. Cut out cable. I’ve talked about how I cut out cable before. It saves me money every month (in my area, about $60,
    or more than $700 a year), and also forces me to do things like read and have conversations and go outside. Win
    win.
14. Use the library. Instead of buying books, check them out. The library often also has a great selection of DVDs
    (depending on your area), saving you even more. Now who needs cable?
15. Find free entertainment. Find cheap ways to have fun. Entertainment often ends up costing a lot of money, if you
    go to the movies, buy concessions, or go out at night, go to the bar, etc. The average person spends about $1,800 a
    year on entertainment (not including eating out). Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have fun … but there are
    cheaper ways to do it. Here are a few ideas. Here’s a frugal family’s fun and cheap weekend.
16. Frugal exercise. Exercise is important, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Here are some tips.
17. Stay healthy. Easier said than done, I know, but staying healthy can save you tons of money on doctor’s visits,
    hospital bills, and medicine over the long run. An ounce of prevention, and all that. Eat healthily, and exercise.
    Simple and effective.
18. Commute by bike. Even if you own a car, commuting by bike will save you gas, and get you in shape at the same
    time. I highly recommend it. Here are my tips.
19. Carpool or ride the bus. OK, you don’t want to bike it. So find a friend or neighbor who works near you, and
    arrange a carpool. Or take public transportation. Simple advice, but something a lot of people ignore.
20. Walk. Often we drive to the corner store, or to a school that’s less than a mile away. Leave a few minutes early,
    walk, burn some calories, and save gas.
21. Sell your clutter. This is not so much saving money as making it, but the frugal, simplifying cheapskate, like
    myself, will want to declutter and make a few bucks doing it. Hold a garage sale or sell it on eBay. It’s amazing
    what some people will buy. See the Simple Dollar’s post on this.
22. Frugal gifting. Gifts can cost a lot of money over the course of a year. Look for ways to do it cheaply. Make a gift,
    or give a consummable. My family enjoys getting and giving cookies, for example. Here are some ideas.
23. Quit smoking. Not the easiest way to save, I know. It’s hard. But I did it, and so have many, many others. Not only
    will you save on cigarettes (which are expensive over the long run), but also associated costs (I used to buy a soda or
    beer to go with my cigarettes) … and of course the huge, long-term medical costs. In less than 2 years of not
    smoking, I’ve saved well more than $3,000. Here are my tips for quitting.
24. Alcohol in moderation. If you drink one beer or a few beers a day, that adds up to big money each month. Some
    drink even more than that. It’s expensive. If you can cut your drinking to the occasional party, and once in awhile
    with friends (not all the time), you’ll save tons.
25. Sweets in moderation. Desserts and sweet snacks give us lots of calories with no nutrition. And we pay a premium
    price for that, in dollars and in our deteriorating health. Cut back on sweets (don’t eliminate them entirely of course)
    to save money and cut calories.
26. Drink water. Often we drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee, alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too.
    Drink water, save money, save calories. Here are some tips for forming the water habit.
27. Batch your errands. Instead of running an errand or two every day, batch them into one errand day, and plan your
    most efficient route, to save gas and time. Also do as much bill-paying online as possible, to eliminate some errands.
28. Stay home. Becoming a homebody might not sound like a lot of fun, but it really can be. I love staying home with
    my family. We can do all kinds of fun things at home. Or I can spend a day alone, if the family is at school, and
    really enjoy it. It’s quiet and peaceful, I can read or watch a good movie or respond to comments on my blog or
    write. Staying home can save tons, in eating out expenses, shopping expenses, gas, and incidentals.
29. Stop using credit cards. Credit cards are not evil. And before you flame me, once again, I realize that they can be
    used to good purpose. If that’s how you use them, then that’s good, skip this tip. For others, credit cards make
    buying too easy, and end up making them buy too much.Not only that, but if you don’t pay your bill in full each
    month, they will cost you a lot in interest. The average American with at least 1 credit card has more than $8,500 in
    credit card debt. Don’t make that mistake. Here’s my story.
30. Cancel subscriptions. With the wealth of information and entertainment online, do you really need magazine
    subscriptions? With all the news online, do you really need a newspaper subscription? If you can get DVDs for free
    or cheap, do you really need a Netflix subscription? Don’t flame me if you think you do need any of these — I’m
    just asking you to consider whether they’re really essential — the answer might be yes. Also consider other
    subscriptions you might be paying for — I’m not saying you should cancel everything, but seriously consider
    whether they can be canceled without much loss of value.Read more.
31. Make your own. I won’t go into all the possibilities here, but many times we buy things when really, we could
    make them ourselves for much cheaper if we get a little creative. Now, this might take a little more time and effort,
    but it can be fun, especially if you make it a family project. We recently made our own (very simple) bookshelves
    with only a couple of pieces of lumber, instead of buying them. If you don’t know how to make something, search
    for it online. You’ll most likely find some instructions.
32. Do it yourself. Instead of hiring someone to do something, try doing it yourself. Sure, it takes some time and effort,
    but it’s satisfying, and of course cheaper. It’s also educational, if you don’t know how to do it — again, do an online
    search, read up on it, and give it a go. Frugality freaks are DIYers.
33. Stop paying interest. I mentioned the interest of credit cards, and auto loans, and mortgages. I consider them a
    waste of money. I’ve talked about how to live without credit before, and I recommend it for a frugal lifestyle.
    Consider any other accounts or loans where you pay interest, and see if you can eventually eliminate as much of
    these as possible.
34. Reduce convenience foods. Frozen foods, microwaveable stuff, junk food … anything that’s packaged and
    prepared for our convenience is not only more expensive than something you cook yourself, but also most likely less
    healthy. I’m not saying to eliminate these completely, but reduce consumption.
35. Travel frugally. I actually don’t travel (or haven’t for years), but if you do have to travel, some advance planning
    can save you money. Airfare is most expensive, usually, so look to buy your ticket in advance, and look for deals.
    Also consider train travel. Shop around for car rental rates, as they can vary greatly (or use public transportation).
    Look for cheaper accommodations, or stay with a friend or relative. Just a note: I do plan to travel, but not until I
    finally eliminate all of my debt.
36. Cut the cell phone. This will not be a popular suggestion either. If you don’t like it, move on to the next one. It’s
    not for everybody. But think about this: 20 years ago, most people didn’t have cell phones. And miraculously, they
    survived. A cell phone is not a necessity. It’s a convenience. When people needed to make a call, 20 years ago, they
    either waited until they got to a destination (wait to make a phone call?! omg!), or pulled over and used a pay phone
    or a phone in a business establishment.
37. Cut your own hair. Again, this one isn’t for everybody. Personally, I use electric clippers to shave my head. It’s
    easy, it’s cheap, it’s minimalist, it’s care-free. I don’t worry about my hair getting messed up, or having to fix it in
    the morning. However, I’m not saying you should shave your head. Many people cut their own hair, in many simple
    but nice hairstyles, long or short. Saves money, and time.
38. Maintain stuff. This is a no-brainer, but we don’t often think about it: if you take care of what you have, it will last
    longer. You’ll then spend less on buying new stuff. When you buy something worth maintaining, take a few minutes
    to read the maintenance manual, and create a maintenance checklist that you can attach to the item. For important
    things like your car’s oil changes or tune-ups, put them in your calendar.
39. Save energy. There are little things we can do to lower our power bill. I don’t use a dryer or hot water heater,
    although those are a little extreme. Try these tips.
40. Save gas. With the rising price of gas (and no end in sight), fuel has become a major monthly expense for many
    people. Small things can add up to big savings. Try these tips.
41. Only buy bargain clothing (when you need clothes). OK, so you’re a cheapskate like me who only buys clothes
    when the old clothes have too many arm or leg holes. But now you need new clothing. I mean really need it. So
    instead of buying new, look for thrift shops with good clothes. Or buy new, but only buy the stuff that’s 50% off.
    Look for the bargains, and you’ll save a ton.
42. Telecommute. Telecommuting doesn’t necessarily give you your dream job, but it’s definitely a step in the right
    direction. But in addition to allowing you to work in your underwear (and who doesn’t have that dream?),
    telecommuting saves money on gas, on eating out (if you eat lunch at a restaurant), and on buying expensive work
    clothes (all you need to buy is underwear, right? And no, don’t buy used underwear).
43. Plan ahead. Sure, easy to say, hard to implement. But if you make it a habit to think ahead to things that are coming
    up in your life, you can save a lot of money. For example, if you think about where you’re going to get your meals
    when you go out to do errands, you can pack a lunch or dinner instead of eating out. If you pack a big container of
    iced water, you don’t need to buy expensive bottled water. If you know that a birthday is coming up, you can buy a
    gift on sale instead of spending more at the last minute.
44. Cook ahead. If you have one free day a week (or even a month), cook food in big batches and freeze in dinner-sized
    portions. I don’t do this all the time, but I have done it and it saves money (buying big can often save) as well as
    time. You have to plan it out a bit, coming up with a menu and shopping, cooking enough meals for a week or a
    month. But once you’re done, your meals each night (and for lunch if you like) are quick and easy. This saves you
    from eating out or eating convenience food when you’re hungry but too tired to cook.
45. Wash clothes less. Some people wear clothes and then wash them, but I’ve gotten into the habit of wearing my
    clothes more than once if they’re not really dirty. I use my nose as a test — I don’t want to wear clothes that smell,
    but most times the clothes are still perfectly clean. This saves on washing.
46. Sun-dry clothes. When my parents were young, everyone used a clothesline to dry clothes. Now dryers are
    ubiquitous, because they’re fast. But if you don’t wash a ton of clothes, it’s not that hard to take a few minutes to
    hang them up. You’ll save a lot in electricity, plus your clothes last longer.
47. Eat less meat. I’m not saying you have to become a vegetarian (although you could always give it a try), but once in
    awhile, eat meatless dishes. Pasta, vegetarian chili (see my recipe halfway downthis article), vegetarian Indian or
    Thai dishes, falafels with hummus and pitas and tomatoes and lettuce … there are plenty of tasty dishes without
    meat. And as meat is expensive (well, the fresh kind is … Spam is cheap), you’ll save money on meatless dishes.
    Again, I’m assuming you cook with fresh meat, not canned.
48. Save on groceries. For my family of eight, groceries is a major expense. With some simple habits, we’ve been able
    to save a lot of money..
49. Frugal Christmas. Christmas is expensive, especially in America (if you live in an area that doesn’t celebrate
    Christmas with a huge amount of buying, or doesn’t celebrate it at all, skip this tip). People go on crazy shopping
    gorges. It’s insane. While it makes the retailers and manufacturers happy, it doesn’t make our bank accounts happy.
    Break out of the cycle and find cheaper ways to celebrate Christmas.
50. Eat a cheap breakfast.