1. Start
making your own coffee to take to work each morning. Cost:
$20 for a thermos. Then skip the $ 3-4 a day stop at the
coffee shop. That saves you around $1,000 a year.
2. Stop
smoking. That pack-a-day habit is costing you on average
$35 a week or more. Do the math and that's $245 a month
or a whopping $2,540 per year.
3. Those
spiral-shaped bulbs known as compact fluorescents use less
than a third of the energy of regular bulbs and last ten
times longer.
4. When
it comes to pain relievers or cough medicines, don't believe
the hype. Highly advertised over-the-counter medications
are the exact same thing as those cheaper discount store
brands. Read the label. Buy generic.
5. Save
at least 50% on that bottle of wine you would have ordered
in a restaurant by buying it at a local wine shop. Then
invite friends over to Chez John & Suzie's for a home
wine & cheese party. Save on tipping the waiter, too.
6. Start
shopping at Costco, Sam's Club or any other warehouse store
and start saving with huge discounts on everything from
milk and eggs to flatscreen TV's.
7. Buy
online. Use discount
coupons.
8. Cancel
the gym membership. Conspire with gym mates to start a neighborhood
walking or jogging club.
9. Skip
the book store. Cost of a library card? $0.
10.
Turn Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a family reunion celebration
into a pot luck dinner by assigning favorite appetizers
and side dishes to family and friends.
11.
Two words on buying Christmas gifts: Secret Santa.
12.
Save big on extra cable TV charges by canceling those premium
movie channels you never watch.
13.
Leave the credit cards home. Use the debit card, or spend
cash.
14.
Find out where to buy the cheapest
gas in the neighborhood.
15.
Save, save, save. Even if it's a piggy bank or change jar,
it adds up.
16.
Skip the pedigree cat or designer dog. Get a mutt or stray.
17.
Opt out of the big vacation trip and plan cheap
weekend getaways during the year. Or save big on vacations
during the off season — Europe in the winter or early
spring; the Caribbean in September and October; Hawaii in
May or September.
18.
Save on your electrical bill by buying only major appliances
that feature the "Energy Star" sticker.
19.
Drop one of your phone services. It's either the land line
or the cell phone.
20.
Carpool.
21.
Get your kids to start budgeting.
22.
Learn DIY
electrical or home
plumbing repair.
23.
Shop Ikea and other discount stores for furniture,
24.
Skip the phone call. E-mail.
25.
55 or older and love to travel? Think senior
travel discounts.
26.
Read the supermarket
circulars.
27.
Plan budget
meals a few times a week or more: tacos, spaghetti,
stews, chili.
28.
Grow your own food. Start a vegetable
garden.
29.
Buy
a used car.
30.
Sell your stuff on Craigslist, EBay and other online
auction sites, or give it away to the Salvation Army
for an end of year tax deduction.
31.
Learn to say no. Do you really need that latest gizmo or
overpriced 'it' bag?
32.
Move.
33.
Don't buy bottled water. Just don't.
34.
Join a freecycle
group.
35.
Use only credit cards that offer points, travel discounts
or other savings.
36.
Don't spend extra cash for extended warranties on small
stuff - like cameras or kitchen appliances. It's just not
worth it.
37.
Cancel your magazine subscriptions and opt for the often
free online version (or see tip no. 9).
38.
Only run the heat or A/C when you really need it. Install
a programmable thermostat which automatically lowers heating
or cooling when you’re not at home.
39. Look for free or cheap stuff in your neighborhood -
concerts in the park, kids parties or community events.
40.
Read the fine print. That goes for credit card agreements,
warranties and phone bills.
41.
Avoid impulse buys at the supermarket by buying
groceries online. Look for special deals and discounts
only available to Web shoppers.
42.
Comparison
shop.
43.
Plan make-ahead
meals that freeze well. "Cook once, eat twice."
44.
Learn how to file
your own taxes.
45.
If you're laid off, skip the headhunters and online resume
sites and discuss career plans with everyone you know. When
all is said and done,
job networking is still the way to go.
46.
Learn how to save
on heat & energy bills.
47.
Cut health care costs by negotiating for lower rates with
local doctors and dentists — if you don't ask, you
don't get. Try it.
48.
Bundle communications: TV, Internet, phone.
49.
Channel hobbies into money savers: knitting, sewing, cooking,
fishing, gardening, home decorating.
50.
Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. They're probably
deeper in debt than you are.
Don't
spend money around the plans you make. Make plans around the
money you have with these random acts of frugalness.