Who doesn’t want to save a bit of money? No matter how much you have, there is always something more you can do with your cash. So you might as well make the most of what you’ve got, right? Here are 99 ways you can stretch your buck and make it last!
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Home
- Whack some solar panels on your roof and slash the cost of your power bills. There is a lot of competition in the market so shop around for quotes before you commit.
- Package your phone, internet and television service with a cable provider for a huge saving over individual contracts.
- If you don’t want to package the above, then shop around to get the best deals and don’t be afraid to threaten your current provider with leaving in order to get a better tariff from them.
- Do you need a mobile phone contract? Do you actually use all of the minutes and texts which you pay for every month? Consider switching to a pay-as-you go phone and only pay for what you use.
- Even more savings can be had if you cut back on useless phone calls and texts. Use Twitter or Facebook to talk to your friends.
- Do you have closets and cupboards filled with clothes, books and gadgets which you never use anymore? Sell them! Whether in a garage sale, car boot sale, or on eBay they aren’t doing you any good, so you might as well get some of your money back from them.
- Now that you’ve decluttered don’t buy more stuff you don’t need to replace what you sold.
- Shop around for all of your insurance needs: life insurance, house insurance, car insurance are all things that you should probably have, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t comparison shop for the best deals available.
- Use a price comparison website to shop for your electronic goods in order to determine the most competitive prices. Always check at least two different sites to see if one beats the other.
- Turn your thermostat down. A degree or two lower on your thermostat can make a difference to your monthly bill.
- Rent out a spare bedroom in your house.
- If you don’t use your garage or parking space, rent it out.
- Do you really need more than one car per family or could you share a car and save the difference?
- Instead of having both a landline at home and a cell phone, drop your landline and just use your cell phone.
- Make presents for Christmas or birthdays instead of buying them, after all it’s the thought that counts.
- Give the gift of your time. A few hours of babysitting to a busy mom, an offer of typing to a student, garden work to a senior – there are many meaningful ways you can give your time to someone instead of buying them a gift.
- Turn off lights when you are done using them.
- Never run the dishwasher without a full load, also the washing machine/dryer.
- Instead of buying new clothes, pile up all the clothes you never wear and invite several friends to do the same thing. Crack open a bottle of wine and have a clothes swap and you will all walk away with a new wardrobe.
- Take your lunch with you to work instead of buying it at the canteen. You’ll save a lot of money and probably eat more healthily to boot.
- Buy ‘vintage’ clothes instead of new.
- Previously owned cribs, high chairs, pushchairs and children’s toys can save you loads of money for something which is only used for a short period of time. When your children no longer require them you can sell them on and get yourself a bit of money for them.
- Instead of calling long distance, use Skype for free.
- Switch to energy saving bulbs in all your light fixtures.
- Make sure your home is well insulated so that the heat you pay for isn’t going out through the cracks.
- Invest in double glazing for your windows to make them more heat efficient.
- Get to know your local dollar stores; there are often great bargains to be found.
- Be wary of non-prescription items from your veterinarian – many things like flea collars and worming tablets, which don’t require a prescription, can be found cheaper online.
- Instead of buying expensive cleaners around your home use cheap things like vinegar and water to clean walls or windows.
- Carry a thermos or flask with you of coffee or tea instead of wasting all your money at Starbucks.
- Picnic instead of eating meals out in restaurants.
- For family holidays consider camping trips, visits to relatives or home swaps instead staying in hotels.
- Instead of sending paper Christmas, birthday or Valentine’s day cards, send e-cards for free and save on both postage and card costs.
- If you have an old mobile phone sitting around there are companies which will give you some cash for them. Do a search online to find one near you. Just be sure you delete all your personal information first.
- Instead of turning your heating up when you are cold at home put on a sweater or get under a blanket and light some candles. A few candles can actually produce quite a lot of heat.
- Wash your clothes in cold water, not only will you save money but it will help prevent the colours from fading.
- Hang your clothes to dry (either inside or out) instead of drying them in a tumble dryer. If they are stiff when dry, then toss them in the dryer for 10 minutes to fluff them up.
- Do both you and your neighbour need a lawnmower? If you know him well enough you could agree to buy one together and share it.
- Re-use wrapping paper from Christmas or birthdays which is even better than recycling it.
- Shampoo, conditioner and hair products from the hair salon are almost always going to be more expensive than buying similar products from a drugstore or supermarket. Don’t get caught up in all the hype – how many ingredients can really go into hair shampoo or hairspray?
- Buy generic drugs rather than branded ones.
- For those that want to pamper themselves at home without spending a lot of money on expensive products, consider making your own such as a face mask of egg whites and oatmeal – look on the internet for recipes.
Travel
- If you don’t have a trip on the horizon, what’s the point of renewing your annual travel insurance? Wait until you know you will need it before you take about another policy otherwise you are paying for insurance you don’t really need.
- Instead of going away for holiday have a ‘staycation’ and do all the things you never do in your own town – visit local museums, go to lots of movies, hang out at a local beach or lake.
- Book early – most travel expenses whether air travel, train, bus, or hotels offer the best rates to those who book early, so take advantage of this.
- Book last minute – if you are flexible about destination or exact travel dates there are deals to be had for those who are able or willing to travel at the last minute.
- Drive a fuel-efficient car. It may not be the fastest or the sexiest but it certainly is the most cost-effective option.
- Instead of driving, look at taking public transportation or sharing rides with someone. Not only will you save money, but it is kinder to the environment too.
- When you do use the car, drive at a slower speed and watch your tank of gas go much further.
- Make sure your car is properly serviced and kept up to date in order to use fuel efficiently.
- Ensure the tires on your car are kept inflated to the proper level to keep it fuel efficient.
- Buy an annual pass for public transportation instead of weekly or monthly pass.
- Roll down the windows on your car instead of using air-conditioning and save a bundle on your fuel costs.
Entertainment
- Get to know which websites offer deals on theatre and movie tickets and days out. Lastminute.com often has very good deals on various entertainment options.
- Don’t ‘kill time’ or amuse yourself by wandering through the shops. Retailers are masterful at convincing you to buy things you don’t need. Avoid the shops and you’ll avoid the impulse purchases.
- Instead of buying books, magazines, dvd’s and cd’s, borrow them for free (or sometimes a small fee) from your local library or from friends.
- Do you really need hundreds of channels on your TV? How many of them do you actually watch? Stick to the basic cable package and save the difference or give up your TV completely and read books or watch programs on the internet.
- Visit commercial art galleries; not only do you get to see some very good art, but it is free. While you are there get on their mailing list for openings where you can mingle and enjoy free food & wine.
- Instead of buying newspapers, read your news online for free – most of the major papers have free online sites anyway. If not, there is always the BBC website which is a great source for good quality news coverage.
- Often you can get on the guest list for television shows being filmed in studios in your area. Most of them require audiences to fill the seats and you can see some big names for free.
- Look for radio recordings – many large city radio stations have concerts which are recorded for play on the radio and they usually give away tickets to these recording sessions.
- Volunteer to work as an usher at your local theatre company – many require volunteers and you can see the show for free.
- Write a letter to someone instead of calling them long distance – it will mean more to them anyway.
Food
- Plan your meals in advance. If you take 1 hour and plan out your week’s menu, you will only buy the food that you actually need and save on all the food which is thrown away every week.
- Always shop with a grocery list. The supermarket industry is masterful at getting you to buy things you really don’t need. Resist the impulse by planning your purchases in advance.
- Shop on a full stomach and you will be less likely to buy things you don’t need.
- Use local markets where food is often fresher and usually much cheaper than at your local supermarket.
- If you do shop at the supermarkets, consider trying their own-brand products instead of your usual name-brand products. Most of the time you won’t be able to tell the difference and you will save a lot of money.
- Learn to cook. Learning to cook from scratch with save you a fortune on ready-made meals.
- Buy food in bulk; it’s way cheaper.
- Use coupons – search online for coupons for any purchases or meals out.
- Buy a bread maker or make your bread from scratch – cheaper and so much better than supermarket bread.
- Eat less meat. Several nights a week eat beans, lentils, tofu and vegetables. There are lots of delicious vegetarian meals which will fill you up as they also fill up your purse.
- Fruit which has gone a bit mushy is perfect in a smoothie – you can even freeze it and use it later.
- Save your leftovers instead of binning them. Pop them in the freezer and enjoy another meal later.
- Grow your own vegetables. Even a small vegetable patch can provide quite a lot of food and it tastes so much better!.
- Get to know your butcher: he can suggest all kinds of cheaper cuts of meat and how to prepare them in ways that you will never know the difference.
- Eat at home rather than going out.
- If you do end up going out, go for breakfast or lunch which are always cheaper than dinner.
- Don’t order wine in a restaurant – there is a huge mark-up; or try to find a restaurant which allows you to bring-your-own.
- When you go to the grocery store, use a basket instead of a cart – you’ll buy less as a result.
- Bring your own bags with you when shopping. You will only save a small amount each time but it adds up over the year.
- Instead of boiling your vegetables until they are cooked, bring the water to a boil and then put a lid on the pot and turn the heat off. The steam and heat in the water will cook most vegetables.
- Turn your oven off 10 to 20 minutes before the cooking time is finished and allow the built-up heat in the oven to do the work.
Personal finance
- Shop around for the best deal on your home loan. Small savings on your interest rate can amount to large savings in cash.
- Pay attention to the overall cost of the home loan not just the interest. A slightly higher fee and lower interest may be a better deal overall.
- If you can, overpay on your home loan. This will result in a shorter duration of payments which will also save you a bundle on interest payments.
- Pay off your credit cards each month – or switch the debt to a lower-interest card with resulting savings in interest payments using a balance transfer.
- Instead of spending Saturday kicking a ball around, nursing a hangover or wandering through the shops, do you have a skill which you could use to generate some more income? Whether you create something with your hands, teach or tutor someone in one of your hobbies, or write the next best-selling novel, you will be generating extra income.
- Don’t let a screaming child rule your finances! Adults decide on purchases in supermarkets, not screaming children. Learn to say ‘no’ and save a fortune on sugary snacks and quickly-forgotten toys.
- Take advantage of any tax-free savings vehicles available in your country. Many offer ways of saving for retirement which shelters the money from being taxed – meaning savings for you as you build your financial future. It’s foolish not to use what few breaks the government offers you.
- Set up a direct deposit so money goes from your everyday account to a designated savings account each month. If it happens automatically, over time you won’t even notice it’s gone and you will adjust your spending habits accordingly.
- Get tax advice: many people overpay on their taxes simply because they don’t know about things which they can claim, or rebates they are eligible for.
- Get a cashback credit card which will pay you a percentage of your purchases back in cash. Even 1 or 2% over the year can add up to quite a lot.
- Look for deals on Groupon-style sites like Spreets, Jump on It or Living Social.
Health
- Cut back on one or two nights a week of drinking alcohol and not only will you save money but you might also lose weight. If you still want to go out, drink water.
- Quit smoking. It’s a filthy, unhealthy habit and it costs you a fortune. Do your lungs and your bank balance a favour and quit now.
- Walk or ride a bike instead of driving to work. You can flatten you waistline while you pad our your wallet.
- Cancel your gym membership. Take up running. Do push-ups and sit-ups. You’ll be fit as a fiddle and financially prudent.
