June 4th, 2007

Most people don’t realize how many opportunities to save money they pass up every day. From grocery store shopping to cleaning the house, you could be doing it all more sensibly. The dollars and cents conserved by practicing frugal habits really add up in the long run. Below you will find 125 ways to save money throughout the week.

Groceries

1. Buy a Sunday paper for grocery store coupons.
2. Shop during a special event, such as when coupons are doubled and/or tripled.
3. Buy generic store brands of food and medication when possible.
4. Peruse the sales page offered at front of grocery store.
5. Buy non-perishables in bulk when they are on sale.
6. Join a price club for grocery shopping.
7. Purchase day-old breads and meats that are on sale.
8. Avoid impulse buys at the checkout.
9. Make a grocery list and don’t deviate from it.
10. Use a grocery store card for further savings.
11. If you are shopping with children, don’t walk down the toy aisle.
12. Buy only the fruits and vegetables that are in season.
13. Watch your items as they are being scanned to catch any errors.
14. Go over your receipt and look for discrepancies, as they are more common than you would think.

Work-Related

15. Eat a large breakfast at home. It reduces your chances of eating out later in the day.
16. Request more perks, such as a company cell phone.
17. Make your own coffee at home and take it with you to work in an insulated cup.
18. Pack a lunch every day.
19. Don’t leave work during your lunch hour. Hang out in the break room instead.
20. Take advantage of any employee discounts you may have.
21. Carpool with coworkers.
22. Request a performance review from your boss so you can negotiate for a raise.
23. Save receipts for any work-related purchases so you can be reimbursed.
24. Have your paychecks directly deposited into your bank account.
25. Talk to HR about a less expensive insurance plan.

Utilities

26. Turn off lights as you leave the room.
27. Turn off the air conditioner/heater if you are leaving the house for longer than two hours.
28. Utilize ceiling fans during both the summer and winter.
29. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
30. Keep showers as brief as possible.
31. Bathe your children at the same time, permitting they are young enough.
32. Shower with your spouse/partner.
33. Purchase energy-saving
    fluorescent bulbs.
34. Install a tankless water heater.
35. Never run the dishwasher for just a few dishes.
36. Hand wash large pots and pans to save room in the dishwasher.
37. Apply weather stripping to the doors and windows.
38. Reuse old socks for cleaning and dusting.
39. Wash clothes in cold water.
40. Hang clothes on a line to dry.

Cooking

41. Bake your own bread.
42. Always save extra food for leftovers.
43. Pack up leftovers for lunch or work the next day.
44. Make your own pizza for family movie night.
45. Properly store vegetables in the crisper to prevent them from expiring early.
46. Use a non-stick canola spray instead of butter or oil.
47. Reuse Ziploc bags.
48. Make inexpensive foods like rice and beans a staple in the kitchen.
49. Find free recipes on the Internet.
50. Never buy ice at the store. Always make it at home.
51. If you are out of an ingredient, check your pantry for a substitute.
52. Cook up everything in your house before returning to the grocery store.

Cleaning

53. Use baking soda as a multi-purpose cleaning agent.
54. Dilute sprays from concentrate to go further.
55. Buy generic cleaning products, as the brand names are easy to replicate.
56. Change your vacuum bag frequently to avoid repairs.
57. Use an old-fashioned mop, not specialty ones that last a short time.
58. Spot clean large surfaces like rugs rather than cleaning the entire area.
59. Don’t hire outside help for housework.
60. Use a quality doormat to keep out dust, dirt and pesticides.
61. On rainy days, ask visitors to take off their shoes at the door.
62. Use lemon juice as an inexpensive stain remover.
63. Use refillable soap dispensers.

Lawn and Garden

64. Mow your own grass.
65. Only water your lawn when it needs it.
66. Water the lawn during dusk or dawn.
67. Set your lawnmower to make the shortest clip.
68. Start a compost pile and use it as fertilizer.
69. Use vinegar to kill your weeds, not harmful and expensive chemicals.
70. Grow a vegetable garden to save on food expenses.
71. Use a soaker hose.

Clothes

72. Buy clothes in the off-season.
73. Frequent second-hand clothing stores.
74. Buy clothes in lots on eBay.
75. Purchase underwear and socks in bulk.
76. Organize your closet to find clothing you forgot you had.
77. Don’t buy clothes that are too small for you in the hopes that you will lose weight. It can be the most disappointing way to waste money.
78. For name brand clothes, look to your local outlet mall.

Children

79. Breastfeed your babies for an extended period.
80. Buy disposable diapers in bulk.
81. Try store brand disposable diapers, you may be pleasantly surprised.
82. Opt for cloth diapers instead of disposable ones.
83. Use a damp washcloth instead of baby wipes.
84. Outfit your children in hand-me-downs from older siblings.
85. Do not give your children a cell phone.
86. If you do give your child a cell phone, make it a prepaid phone.
87. Pack your children’s lunch for school every day.
88. Only eat at restaurants that serve children for free.
89. Work from home to avoid daycare costs.
90. Start a Upromise account to save for your child’s college education.

Transportation

91. Use an independent mechanic to fix your car, not the dealership (unless you are still under warranty).
92. Use a bicycle for short trips.
93. Consider public transportation for longer trips.
94. Fill up your gas tank in the coolest part of the day.
95. Use a gas rewards card.
96. Keep your tires balanced.
97. Change your oil regularly, as it will save you in repairs later.
98. Replace your car’s dirty air filter.
99. Never use a commercial car wash, always do it at home.
100. Join AAA, as you will enjoy many discounts and emergency road-side assistance.
101. Do not sit in the first-class section of a plane.
102. Buy airline tickets in advance.
103. Never travel by plane during holidays.
104. Never leave your car idling for longer than three minutes.

Credit Cards

105. If possible, pay off your balance in full each month.
106. If you are paying a high interest, transfer your balance to a card with an introductory rate of 0% APR.
107. Seek out a rewards card that fits your lifestyle.
108. Give your kids a secured credit card rather than trusting them with a regular one.
109. Keep your credit cards at home to avoid impulse buys.
110. Use your cards for emergencies only.

Savings and Investment

111. Use online banking.
112. Find a discount brokerage to avoid large, hidden fees.
113. Comparison shop for a bank with the best rates.
114. Learn how to properly file your taxes without using a CPA.
115. Sit down and compose a reasonable household budget.
116. Request your free yearly credit report from the government.
117. Start a loose change jar.

Electronics

118. Buy floor model electronics at a reduced rate.
119. Skip the extended warranties.
120. Buy refurbished electronics that come with a guarantee.
121. Buy models on clearance that are being discontinued.
122. Before you buy expensive software, see if there is a comparable freeware product available.
123. Thoroughly clean your computer at least twice a year with a vacuum hose/can of compressed air.
124. Look to eBay for inexpensive electronics.
125. Don’t overspend on unnecessary accessories for your computer, video game console, etc.

Although many of the above tips will only save you cents at a time, they will eventually add up to a considerable sum of money. Should you wish to splurge on something that your frugal life otherwise wouldn’t allow for, then you can certainly try these ideas as a way to set aside cash. If you are being really diligent, however, you will probably want to save or invest the extra money. Either way, it is good to know that you have everyday opportunities to conserve, even when you are already on a tight budget.

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 4th, 2007 at 2:08 pm and is filed under Features.