Easy Ways to Save Money Everyday

During these economic times, a supermarket trip can cost as much as a car payment. However, with a little knowledge, strategic planning and diligence, significant savings are achievable.

Having a clear understanding of priorities and distinguishing between wants and needs will no doubt save quite a bit of money. Shelter, food, clothing and transportation are easily identifiable as needs.

It is all right to indulge ourselves every once and a while like a nice vacation, a night to eat out, or whatever it is; however, there is no need to break the bank or go into debt to acquire these things. Everything can be budgeted and paying full retail price for anything can be completely avoidable.

Finding a healthy financial balance and living debt free, while saving money is possible. Make living within your means a top priority.

The following is a list of excerpted tips from the book:

• Frozen Produce - When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, check out the same item in the freezer section. Since demand is down for frozen, stores may be trying to unload them at rock-bottom prices.

• Time Purchases - Browse clothing at department stores in the beginning of the season and take digital images of the articles of clothing that you would like to purchase. Monitor these items to learn when they are on sale. Time purchases and take advantage of seasonal clearance sales where clothing is usually marked down significantly at the end of every season.

^{More Information: The shelf life of garments is usually six to eight weeks after their arrival. Learn when your favorite store receives its new merchandise and mark your calendar.}

• Share Housing - Consider sharing housing with others. Typically, the difference between a one and two bedroom apartment is only a couple of hundred dollars, so it may be wise to share expenses with another person.

• Plan Ahead - Take all of the ingredients required at one time from the refrigerator. Every time the refrigerator door opens, thirty percent of the cool air escapes.

• CFL Bulbs - Utilize compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs last ten times longer and use one-fourth of the energy as regular light bulbs. By replacing each bulb in the home, the savings add up to $30 per year, per light bulb.

• Thrift Stores - Visit local thrift stores like Mission City, Goodwill, Salvation Army or Volunteers of America, where hard work may be required to turn your find into a treasure.

• Foaming Dish Soap - Have you purchased one of those foaming dish soap dispensers? Do not purchase the outrageously expensive refills. Take your favorite inexpensive dish soap and dilute it (50:50) with water. Dollar stores now carry foaming hand soap for approximately one dollar. Utilize the container for dish or hand soap with the same mixture ratio.

• Park in the Shade - Park your vehicle in an area that provides shade whenever possible. Hot vehicles evaporate fuel.

• Pay Bills Directly - Have bills paid directly through auto-draft. Have car loans, mortgages, etc. directly drawn from your account. This will eliminate paying any possible late penalties while saving money on stamps.

• Review Needs - Review insurance policies at least once a year to make sure you have only the amount of coverage needed.

• Split Pills - If the medication comes in a 100mg tablet and you require 50mg, split the pills. The cost is usually same for each prescription; however, you will have two prescriptions for the price of one.

• Work On Campus - Working on campus may offer a tuition waiver. Inquire within the student employment office to see this type of program exists within the university that interests you.

• Flexible Spending Accounts - Employer Flexible Spending Accounts are accounts that the IRS allows pre-taxed dollars to be set aside for such expenses, if your employer participates in this type of program.

• Online Auctions - Visit online auction sites like eBay.com where many name-brand cosmetics are half the retail price.

• Fare Wars - Keep an eye out for fare wars and do not delay. Fifty-percent of airfares are gone within 50 hours of a price drop.

• Public Library - Borrow movies from the local library, which is a free service. If you are unable to find what you want there, request it.

• Fun for Kids - The comic section of the newspaper is a fun way to wrap a child's gift.

• Accept Offers - Graciously accept offers from friends and relatives to contribute their services; however, be sure they are qualified to perform that particular service, especially if it is important to you.

• Frugal Group - Start a frugal group where you can share cost-effective activities of interest.

• Plant Cuttings - Lean to grow plants from cuttings from other plants. Research books at the library for expert advice.

• Pet Vaccinations - Take advantage of free or low cost clinics. Pay attention to announcements on radio and television, or contact a local humane society for information.

• Memorial Society - Contact a local memorial society regarding information on the least costly options for funeral services. These societies are usually member-supported organizations that work on the behalf of consumers to keep funeral costs low.

• Re-Evaluate Spending - Re-evaluate all spending habits. Going out to dinner once during the week can be as much as a weeks worth of groceries.

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