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Money Saving Tips
We want to help you be successful in saving money. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of some money saving tips.
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At Home
- Learn to do simple repairs.
- Do your own decorating.
- Do your own painting.
- Save newspapers, tin cans for recycling.
- Improvise if you cannot afford new furniture, shop garage sales.
- Use worn out towels to make washcloths.
- Use glass instead of paper cups.
- Don’t buy lots of different cleaning supplies. Choose 2 or 3 multipurpose cleaners and use them for all cleaning. Cleaning is 80% elbow grease and 20% chemicals.
- Use washable dust and dishrags rather than paper towels.
Save on Utilities
- Equip the house with storm windows and doors, if possible.
- Lower the temperature at night.
- Use lights only when necessary.
- Make only emergency long distance calls.
- Stand up when talking long distance or use a timer.
- Use a phone card for long distance. This gives you a predetermined cost.
- Conserve water. Water you lawns early in the morning or late at night for maximum coverage. Use a timer when showering to cut water consumption.
- Adjust your hot water heater to a cooler temperature.
- Write letters.
- Give up all unnecessary services on your telephone.
- Eliminate cable TV or use basic packages rather than premium services.
Food
- Pack a Lunch - "Brown Bag" as often as possible ($5.00 a day saves $25.00 a week: $100.00 a month)
- Cut down on meals away from home.
- Plan meals to use minimum of food. Cook only as much as will be eaten unless it can be a part of another meal.
- Consider generic foods. Use coupons only for foods you normally purchase.
- Buy fruits and vegetables in seasonal specials.
- Do more cooking from scratch.
- Use crock-pot methods to cook less tender cuts of meat.
- Grow a garden.
- Stretch hamburger with breadcrumbs, oatmeal, or tomato sauce.
- Avoid buying snack or "empty calorie" foods.
- Use equally nutritious reconstituted dry or evaporated milk, for cooking instead of more expensive whole milk.
- If space permits, store products in freezer to prevent spoilage.
- Use leftovers in soups and casseroles.
- Limit food shopping to once a week; the less trips to the grocery store the better. Use a list when you shop.
- Plan menus in advance for your shopping trips.
Transportation
- Use public transportation.
- Walk to work or school to get exercise and save gas.
- Get rid of one car.
- Consider moving closer to work.
- Drive small cars that cost less to operate.
- Do your own maintenance.
- Car pool.
Clothing
- Sew as much as practical, repair, remodel.
- Buy clothing that is washable.
- Carefully coordinate.
- Launder carefully.
- Hang on clothesline to dry instead of using a dryer.
- Organize laundry so that a minimum number of loads are run.
- Use detergent that works well in cool and warm water.
- Mend clothes promptly.
- Have children change to old clothes for rough play.
- Do not buy clothes that require dry cleaning.
- Buy clothing that does not need ironing.
Health and Medical
- Serve nutritious meals.
- Follow safety rules to prevent accidents.
- Have regular check-ups.
- Carry only one health and accident insurance.
- Investigate services offered by the health department.
- Use immunization clinics.
- Develop good health habits.
- Stop using tobacco, alcohol and/or addictive drugs.
- Learn to take temperature, pulse and respiration.
- Learn about symptoms of common diseases in order to determine if seeing a doctor is advisable.
Education
- Use the public library for reading materials.
- Subscribe to only one newspaper.
- Trade magazines with a friend to reduce costs.
Gifts and Donations
- Carefully consider each situation and cut out all monetary giving that you possibly can.
- Make gifts instead of buying them.
- Give or your time instead of your money.
Recreation and Entertainment
- Do family things together that are in inexpensive.
- Consider the costs or habits such as smoking.
- Attend high school and sports events instead of more expensive college and pro events.
- Have potluck affairs at home.
- Take vacations at home.
- Use public parks and picnic areas.
Personal
- Select cosmetics that are reasonably priced.
- Do your own shampoos, sets and blow-dries.
- Cut children's hair yourself.
- Set reasonable amounts for children's allowances and have a definite understanding of what the amount is to cover.
- Carry only pocket change needed for bus fare and small items.
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