A Simple List to Help You Save Money

The following is a list of simple changes I’ve made over the last year to save money. I hope you are inspired by at least one of these suggestions.

• Convince your friends to eat in.
• Potlucks will save you a great deal of money. Unlike a restaurant there is no need to eat and run. When eating at home you have plenty of time to eat and hang out.
• Swap books with friends
• Not only will you save money, you’ll also form an informal book club.
• Pack snacks and take them to work
• When I work from the office, I often get that 4 o’clock candy craving. Now, instead of turning to the vending machine I snack on granola bars, canned fruit, nuts, and other healthy snacks.
• Research the circulars online before going shopping
• Before heading out to the store I research the online circulars for Rite Aid, Giant, Safeway, and CVS. I create separate lists for each store and stick to those lists, buying only those items I planned on purchasing.
• Create a gift closet
• I purchase items at heavily discounted prices throughout the year. I created a special place in our home for these items and keep a digital list including the name of the item and the person to whom I plan to give it.
• Carry as little cash as possible
• I find it difficult to keep track of my expenses when using cash, so I carry as little cash with me as possible. I receive cash back rewards on all of my purchases and I’m able to track my expenses when the bill arrives each month. (Of course, in order to do this you must pay off your credit card in full each month.)
• Conserve gas by consolidating errands
• I work from home a few days a week and try not to drive my car on those days. Instead I try to schedule my errands so that I can hit stores on my way home from work.
• Buy a membership to Netflix
• For about $7.00 a month you can rent two movies from Netflix. Everyone knows a night at the movies costs much more than the price of the tickets. You’ll want to purchase popcorn, candy, and sodas. Watching from home is much more enjoyable and you can pause whenever you need to run to the bathroom.
• Forgo expensive European vacations
• Driving a few hours to the beach is certainly cheaper than flying someplace farther from home. My husband and I limit traveling which requires expensive airfare, instead aiming to visit locations closer to home.
• Buy solid color wrapping paper
• White, red, and green wrapping paper can be used interchangeably for both Christmas and birthdays. Doll these packages up with inexpensive ribbon from the craft store.

If you have any other easy suggestions to save money I’d love to hear them. Feel free to post a comment.