Top Ten Simplest Ways to Save Money in Today’s Economy
Living in these challenging economical times is bound to put a strain not only on finances, but on the faces of our loved ones. A good many of us have had to cut back on doing the things that we love. Whether it’s taking the family out to a restaurant, or buying that expensive toy or gadget to put a smile on a child’s face – the average American family has had to either omit some of these things altogether, or find a way to cut corners to afford them.
As a single mom, learning how to be financially resourceful has been the key to my survival. Below is a list of the top ten simplest and most effective ways I’ve learned to help ease the burden of living in these financially challenging times. I’ll be including links to personally tested and resourceful sites to offer you the most possible value for your time.
1. Recycle, recycle and recycle! We all know how recycling an act of the environmentally responsible and we know we should all engage in this activity. Our landfills are teeming with materials that can be reused. The truth is, some of us still aren’t doing it for one reason or another. We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year in the United Stated alone. That’s forty million dollars that could be put back into our pockets. We spend about $1 dollar to every $11 on packaging alone when we purchase products, so if you’re NOT recycling and redeeming every nickel, shame on us!
2. Coupons! Did you know you can save hundreds of dollars every month just by finding and using coupons? There are coupons for just about everything you can think of, and even more so in this economy. Businesses want to encourage consumers any way they can to continue to purchase from them. Sometimes these coupons are harder to find than they should be, but this is the BEST site I’ve found toward than end. It’s also a site that I’m personally a member of and not only am I saving money, but I’m making some real residual income by just spreading the good news. Check it out, you won’t be sorry! SO many coupons to choose from; from car maintenance, to hotels, to local restaurants like Papa Johns, Subway, and Dunkin Donuts. You can also earn from 2%-20% back on purchases made online from stores like Macy’s and Target. Also tons of grocery coupons that you can print and use at your local grocery store. http://moneysavin.myworldmovie.com/movieForm?SOURCE=MAB One whopper of a good way to save money! They let you check the site out for free and give you a temporary position in the event that you decide to join.
3. Barter for services. We all have an occupation or a specific skill that is useful to another who may not possess it. For instance, you may be an excellent home organizer or cleaner, or maybe you have your hairdressing license but don’t actively use it, or maybe you’re a good writer. Why not barter for services like child care or dog grooming? Shift your mindset toward using your own unique skills and what you may have to offer a given situation that involves spending money. Establishing a friendly rapport with local vendors and service providers opens the door for some great money saving collaboration!
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4. Become a frugal cook! There are slews of resources for those that want to save on their monthly grocery bills. Try http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/recipeindex.htm for instance. Utilizing these recipes could save you some decent money at the checkout, and every little bit helps. Also, make sure to take the time to write a list and anticipate supply ahead of time. Those extra trips back to the grocery store are not only time consuming, but gas sucking as well!
5. Carpool, use public transportation, or take your bike! This one is a no brainer, but still, you have to actually try this to benefit from it. Do you drive your child to and from school every day? What if you could alternative days with another trusted parent or two? What about your place of employment? Chances are there are people you work with that would love to be part of a carpool to save money on the exorbitant gas prices.
6. Deal in Junk! Have you ever been driving through an affluent neighborhood only to see perfectly good furniture and other items being thrown out? Don’t be ashamed to stop your car and re-use these things! Think of it as a contribution to Mother Earth and the heavy load she bears with all these perfectly useful things being thrown away. Also, when you need new tires or parts for your car, deal in JUNK! Most junk yards allow you to purchase tires from junked cars that are in perfectly fine condition, as well as salvage parts for the repairs needed on your car. This can save you hundreds a year, and no one will be the wiser!
7. Be house smart! There are so many ways to save money on your household bills, including earning tax credits for your energy efficient home. For some awesome ideas, check this site out. http://blog.reviewlico.us/
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Strip it down! There are so many items that we hold onto year after year that aren’t being used. Whether it is an old exercise machine that hasn’t been touched in eons, or tenderly used clothes, toys, or shoes that are children have grown out of. These otherwise useless items can be sold on craigslist, or you can organize a neighborhood yard sale, or put those things that apply on consignment. It’s a great way to collect money on this stuff that we no longer need or use.
9. Create a passive income stream. Do you have a passion or special experience that other people might benefit from? Why not write an e-book? It’s very simple to do and there are a bundle of free resources for regular folks like us. Whether you’re the mom of a child with A.D.D. who has discovered different ways of managing your child’s behavior through dietary changes, or a particular disciplinary method….or an entrepreneur who has stumbled across an innovative way to start an online business, e-books are all the rage! Every one has some kind of experience unique to them, and so an e-book is just waiting there to be written! The best part about creating and selling an e-book, is that you create it once and can be purchased again and again without any overhead at all! Here is a wonderful site offering simple instruction on how to do just that. http://www.frugalmom.net/blog/2010/07/3-free-books-on-writing-ebooks/
10. Become a savvy negotiator! There are so many folks out there struggling to pay there credit card and household bills. If you find yourself overwhelmed and slowly sinking, more often than not, most companies will agree to a payment plan. This is especially true with utility companies. What about those insane finance charges and interest rates you’ve been paying on for years, even if a credit line is no longer active? Did you know that you can obtain a free credit report every year, and if the debt is old enough, you can contest it? Some may be uncomfortable with this from a moral perspective, but if you contest the debt it will most likely be dismissed. See, the representative responsible for looking into the issue will have to go back years in the files to ascertain the details of the account. Credit card companies have a deadline of three months to respond to the objection, and more often than not, it get’s overlooked. An excellent way to free you from the burden of paying back thousands of debt that is a result of years of interest and finance charges! Here’s a site where you can obtain a copy of your credit report for free, once a year. No strings attached! https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
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