How To Save Money On Just About Everything
This blog was long overdue for an update. With more time than money on my hands, I’m ready to begin anew with my favorite subject — saving money. Because it always seems like I have more time than money, saving it has become an obsession with me over the years. I’ve managed to get deeply into debt numerous times, and just as many times dug my way out with a hundred and one different ways to save money.
I hope the information I provide here will go a long way towards helping you save money. And if you have anything to contribute, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment, a particular way that you save money, or any other helpful hint that will benefit everyone that visits this site.
Happy Savings,
The Saving Lady
5 Savvy Money-saving Tips
Are you looking to cut back on your monthly expenses and shrink your shopping bills? Here are five simple, straightforward ideas for saving money – so you can look after the nickels and dimes, and ‘let the dollars look after themselves’.
1. Coupon your way to a lighter shopping cart
You could save $s on all kinds of essential monthly outgoings by using coupons. There are entire websites dedicated to the best money-off coupons, which could save you money on everything from eating out to getting your next eye test or buying that new coat at the mall.
Many newspapers and magazines also offer coupons and other kinds of discounts and offers – so keep an eye out, and have some scissors at the ready!
2. Buy in bulk
From kitchen towels to juice, shampoo to soap, buying your household essentials in bulk could save you a fair bit – and make it less likely you’ll unexpectedly run out of the things you need.
Filling your freezer a month in advance (or more) could also be a great bulk-buying idea, and could help you resist the temptation of impulse-buying.
3. Repay your debts
If it’s financially realistic for you, paying down your debts sooner rather than later could save you a lot in interest overall. So if you have a high-interest credit card you’re repaying, it could make real sense to pay it off at the earliest possible opportunity.
If you’re struggling with your debts, you should look into getting some debt help ASAP.
4. Recycle!
It’s easy to get into the habit of buying things brand new, but why not make use of the items you already have? Kids’ clothes and toys can be passed down to your younger kids, and rather than buying a new coffee table or chair, why not use some old paint to give one you’ve already got a new lease of life?
This is an idea that extends well beyond the walls of your household – if you know other parents with older and younger kids, you might be amazed when you realize how much you (and they) could save by swapping clothes and toys.
5. Cut back on fuel costs
If you travel to work by car, see if a few colleagues would be willing to car share. At weekends, rather than driving everywhere, why not walk or take the subway? You may be surprised at just how much of a difference it could make to your pocket.
You can find more information about saving money on fuel costs here.
Save On Redecorating
Spring is just around the corner which means that spring cleaning can’t be far behind. It’s also a good time to think about sprucing up a room or two, painting the home exterior, staining the deck. Get a jump on spring with savings today on all your paint projects. Get 25% OFF PAINTS and STAINS at Sherwin Williams.
Save Money On Eyeglasses
If you’re busting your budget on eyeglasses, consider buying your next pair online. Online opticians may offer substantial discounts over typical bricks-and-mortar shops. Some sites have virtual try-ons so that you can get an idea of what you’d look like in different frames. It’s as easy as uploading your photo. You’ll need a prescription and pupillary distance from an eye exam plus the frame size. You can get this by checking the inside of an old pair of glasses.
Next time you need new eyeglasses, check out FramesDirect.com, JustEyewear.com and WarbyParker.com before you commit to your local optician where glasses can cost as much as a house payment.
My Review of Roku LT Streaming Player
Better Than Apple Pie
Pros: High quality picture, Easy to use, Compact, Built in Wi-Fi, Reliability, Great value, Easy to set up, Video selection
Cons: Need fast internet service
Best Uses: Secondary TV, Bedroom, Living room, Primary TV
Describe Yourself: Netflix fan, Movie buff
There is hardly a day goes by that I don’t use my Roku. In the morning I turn on the Gymbox channel and do my yoga and pilates exercises. At $10/month, it’s a lot cheaper than a gym membership and because there are so many routines to choose from, workouts never gets boring. With Roku there is no need for outrageously expensive cable channels. I have enough programming to watch for the next 20 years, especially the BBC mysteries which I dearly love, not to mention all the episodes of Murder She Wrote. If you don’t have a Roku, you’re missing out on one of the greatest tech gadgets of the decade.
(legalese)
Saving On Paper
Sorry, no Christmas cards. Just a…..
Blogger’s Merry Christmas To All
Green Monday – Another Chance To Save Online
Yes, we had Cyber Monday. Today we have Green Monday. It’s getting closer and closer to Christmas and online merchants are still offering great discounts along with free shipping today. Save even more by using Ebates.com for cash back on most of your online purchases. I’ve only purchased a few things and already I have nearly $15.00 in my account. It’s amazing how quickly the rebates mount up. Simply enter your favorite shopping site through the Ebates portal and start getting cash back.
Save On Christmas Tree Decorations
If you don’t have any tree decorations yet, or you have had enough years to acquire a ton of decorations, there are ways you can trim your tree that will literally cost pennies per item.
Buy styrofoam coffee cups. Wrap them with tin foil. Cut a small hole in the bottom of each cup. Cut a length of ribbon about 10″ long and tie the ends together with a knot that will not slip through the hole in the bottom of the cup. Thread the ribbon through the hole. You now have a silver bell that can be hung on the tree.
Buy inexpensive gift tags with pretty designs on them to use as ornaments.
String popcorn and cranberries together in long strands and drape on the tree limbs.
Gather up pine cones. Decorate with artificial snow or glue on glitter. Hang on the tree.
Buy a bag of cheap, pre-made bows – the kind that you stick on packages. Put two of them together to form a ball and hang.
Those cheap candy canes for sale at all grocery stores also make cheap ornaments.
If you’re a real “crafty” type, Martha Stewart has dozens of ideas for ornaments and holiday decorations. Some of these ornaments are so cute you might want to whip up a few and give them as gifts.
Gift Small and Thoughtful Not Grand and Gaudy
The old saying, “It’s the thought that counts,” is ideal to put into practice during the holiday season, especially if you happen to have a rather extensive family, if you’re one of the people that just loves to give, or if you’re trying to teach children family values.
As an example, if you have someone on your list that is an avid gardener, perhaps he or she would appreciate a bottle of Garden Essentials Sore Muscle Rub, since gardening does produce sore muscles — a thoughtful gift for less than $10.
If there is a newborn in the family that hasn’t learned about Christmas, give a gift for the future. Open and investment account for under $10 and contribute to it on a regular basis for a gift that keeps on giving until the child is able to manage the account on his own. As the years pass, related small gifts can be teaching tools to make sure the child understands the importance of saving and investing.
And what does this teach children? I have found that most kids, if indulged and especially at Christmas, will likely keep asking for bigger, more expensive gifts each year and could resent the gift giver for not accommodating their wish. They lose sight of the meaning of Christmas. In fact, we have now two generations of kids just like this with families going into debt to keep the kids happy. You’ll know there’s a problem if a youngster wants something, you say you don’t have the money, and their response is, “Just write a check!!”
Happy Holidays
The Saving Lady
We Love Amazon For Saving
We are big fans of Amazon.com for saving money, especially when you consider, too, that time is money. Amazon.com always has good prices — not necessarily the lowest prices, but always competitive prices. We love that you can purchase almost anything at Amazon.com. It’s an online one-stop-shopping site. That makes it one of the most convenient places to shop. From A to Z, there is something for everyone at Amazon.com.
So make out your Christmas list, set a budget, and save yourself time and money — not to mention stress — by shopping online at Amazon.com.
Shop Amazon’s Toys – Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Week
