SMART MONEY IDEAS

Have you ever wondered what could happen if you saved more of your hard earned income for the future? I ponder these things often and catch myself wasting more than pennies each day of the week. If only I had organized my spending with a little more insight then I would surly been able to buy that ticket to my favorite concert this fall or even send my longtime girlfriend a birthday surprise which was totally unexpected.

LET'S MAKE A LIST OF WHAT WE NEED TO BUYTHIS WEEK

l. Is it tuition for college or a class that would increase our knowledge?

2. Is it groceries to cook our favorite fast food at home?

3. A new dress or shoes?

4. Is it a bus ticket to a nearby state or event?

5. Do you need to make some money to advertise ?

Why not consider taking online courses?

With all the possibilities on line now consider attending a class where you only have to report once a week or several times a month in real time and place. When you do college courses online it saves valuable gas money, parking permits, and most of all time! You don't have to run from class to class across campus if you prefer to wake up at 4 am and study on your own! This may enable you to continue working part time.

Could you learn some of the basics on your own first?

Test for knowledge you gain by life experience on your own first. Are there any books at your public library that you could borrow or even buy? Most libraries have special shelves of books or magazines you can buy for a dollar now.

My friend bought some of her medical text books on e-bay for a discount.

Let's brainstorm some fast food favorites. We should make a list of our top five purchases at the corner fast food restaurant. Mine would be:

TACOS, ICE TEA, CHINESE ENTREE, PIZZA.

Let's make a menu plan ahead of time. Remember to refrigerate all fresh foods salads and meats when you prepare them for your takeout.Buy a small insulated cooler to take your foods and keep them safe to eat.

I was lucky enough to drop by my local thrift store just at the right moment to find a beautiful collectible. This could easily be nicely wrapped and gifted to a friend who loves vintage items. The little glass elephant was also purchased a week later at the same store. When I buy items at this particular place I am supporting those who are in need of jobs and an entire church program in my community. It has been such a delight to save some money and to benefit those less fortunate at the same time. It has actually given "Shopping" a whole new meaning for me.

GO AHEAD NOW AND MAKE YOUR - TO DO LIST.

ADD A FEW NEW IDEAS OF YOUR OWN.

First thing that comes to mind is the cost for a cup of coffee. Do add your daily and weekly tabs for those extra costly sweetened coffees you buy. It will likely save a bank of change of you can slim down your visits to that favorite drive through. Also the high amount of sugars added to "enrich" your experience is adding up to over the top calories to your diet. Replacing a meal with coffee is not wise

If you are willing to travel during discount times usually late at night then you can take advantage of savings in airfare. Airfare is seasonal too just like cruises. During off seasons cruise lines offer cheaper rates. If you are planning a family vacation there are meal discounts for kids. Saving on airfare alone can save fifty to a hundred dollars per ticket!

Try to always purchase your tickets a few weeks in advance because timing is everything. Flyers who have to travel within days orweeks of purchase pay hundreds of dollars more for their tickets.

When I am traveling I try to check for online savings coupons for restaurants and car rentals too. Calling for a car rental deal at a smaller business can save too.

In conclusion we can all benefit from spending money wisely. This article has given you more than 10 ways you can save money . Consider planning a method of saving money each week. It is when we are in a rush or feeling hungry on the run that we waste the most money. If you just take time to become better informed you will begin to see that there are options which give all of us the chance to make decisions about spending. From attending college or taking in an afternoon movie at our local theatre you will be able to find discounts.

You may be eligible to receive senior discounts now. Do not hesitate to check the rules for these discounts. I have found that there are differing ages that senior discount can apply depending on each separate business. Today I say that senior is age 65 at a local hair salon. It is age 55 at a buffet on senior day which is Wednesday in our area. You may as well enjoy the benefit of reaching that age of discount. Flyers will note that senior discounts can save a lot of money in air fares.