Easy Ways to Save Money

Saving money doesn’t have to mean living on a shoestring. There are simple ways to save in everyday life that are likely to have minimal to no affect on one’s current lifestyle, but will add up to big benefits in the long run.

Brew Coffee at Home

Believe it or not, this small luxury can take a big toll on a wallet. Someone who purchases a cup a day from a coffee shop for $1.75 is spending over $600 each year on coffee. A 1lb bag of coffee grounds or beans will make approximately 35 cups of coffee, but only costs around $8. That adds up to a savings of over $500 a year!

Cut Back on Dining Out

It’s not secret that dining out is far more expensive than cooking at home. Clever Dude (http://www.cleverdude.com/content/frugal%20lunch-by-clever-dudette/) and his wife figured that they can save almost $1000 a year by bringing their lunches to work. Now imagine how steep those savings would be by cutting down on dinners, which are naturally more expensive, and weekend meals out!

If it’s necessary to go out, either with friends, or just to give in to the temptation of a favorite restaurant dish, it’s a good idea to check out Restaurant.com first to see what restaurants are offering 70-80% off gift certificates. Instead of gifting those certificates to someone else, the buyer can treat themselves with a little less guilt!

Do Some Good Old Fashioned Coupon Clipping

It may sound tedious, but clipping coupons is the best way to a cheaper grocery bill. What’s great is that today, most coupons are also available online, so all you need to do is click and print before going to the store. Buyers should try websites like coupons.com and coupons.smartsource.com as well as local Sunday papers to find coupons for the items they buys most frequently.

The key to saving money with coupons is by making sure only use them on items that would be purchased otherwise. If a shopper wouldn’t normally buy a triple-chocolate cheesecake, they shouldn’t clip a coupon for it. Because even though they would be getting it for less than the retail price, they’re still spending money on something that they normally wouldn’t buy at all.

Keep the Change

“Find a penny, pick it up…” That old rhyme doesn’t only end with good luck, it also results in savings. Savers should start by giving their house a once over and collecting any change that may be stuck in couch cushions or at the bottom of old duffel bags. Put anything found into a large container somewhere seen daily. If it’s easier, put smaller containers in several places around the house, so change can be dropped in whenever someone walking by remembers. Over time, these bits of change that would otherwise likely get lost will add up to a sum that can literally be taken to the bank.

Take Advantage of Free Online TV and Movie Sites

Cable bills have gotten to be outrageous. Americans are paying an average of over $70 a month just to watch TV. Basic cable can be found at a much lower cost, sometimes even as low as $10 a month. Premium channel shows can often be found online for free (at sites like hulu.com) after the original episode airs, and services like Netflix that cost as little as $4.99 a month, will either mail members a DVD of the show or movie they want to watch or even allow them to download it on you PC.

Return Recyclables to Save Money and the Planet

Many states require consumers to pay a deposit when they purchase plastic, glass or aluminum cans or bottles. These deposits can then be gotten back by returning the empty containers to the store. For those living in in CA, HI, OR, CT, DE, ME, VT, MA, IA, MI, there is luck, as these are the ones who charge a deposit. The usual deposit is five cents, but in some states is ten. Savers should try to break themselves of the habit of throwing away bottles and cans and get those nickels and dimes back!

Cut Down on Bills

There are quite a few simple ways to cut down on your heat, hot water and electric bills. Savers can start by turning the heat down by two degrees in their homes. According to MSN Money, savings of three percent per heating bill is possible for every degree that is set back on the thermostat. It is recommended to do the opposite in summer; turning air conditioning up two degrees to get the same savings effect.

To save money on a hot water bill, do all laundry on a cold setting. Today’s washing machines and laundry detergents are strong enough to kill any bacteria and strip dirt without needing hot water. Some brands even make detergents specifically for washing clothes in cold water.

Everyone knows that turning off lights when leaving a room helps cut energy costs. But what most don’t realize is that leaving small appliances plugged in when not in use, even if they are turned off, can still draw electricity. When finished using electronics like cell phone chargers, toasters, hair dryers, even TVs – unplug them. This will prevent them from sneaking bits of electricity and making energy bills go up.

More from Maureen:

Fifteen Ways to Save Money at Home
Save Money on Groceries
Ways to Save when Dining Out
Save Money Shopping Online
Traveling on a Budget
Five Budget-Friendly Holiday Gift Ideas

*Article originally published on Suite101.com in February, 2010.


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