70 Practical Ways to Save

Posted on February 07 2007

1. Eat at home instead of eating out.
2. Make gifts with stuff around the house instead of buying gifts.
3. Re-gift (make sure the person you’re giving the gift to did not give you the gift originally).
4. Buy a bag of popcorn kernels for $2.00 and get way more popcorn than the microwave popcorn bags—plus it doesn’t burn when you air-pop it.
5. Rent movies instead of buying them or going to the theater.
6. Reduce your land phone line to the most basic package ($19.00) and use a cell phone for any long distance (provided you have a cell phone).
7. Take advantage of your “flex” account at work to save on taxes.
8. Maximize your deposits into your 401(k) or 403(b) to take advantage of matching funds.
9. Walk to the back of clothing stores to find the sales or closeouts.
10. Shop “out of season” to take advantage of drastically reduced items. The only risk you take is knowing if you’ll fit into everything once that season arrives.
11. Make holiday gift purchases throughout the year so that you are not so financially strapped during the holiday season.
12. Instead of going out, dust off those games and stay in for game night.
13. Go to the grocery store no more than once a week and stretch it to 1 1/2 or two weeks if possible to avoid all the extras we buy.
14. Instead of meeting a friend for lunch, meet them for a walk.
15. Borrow books from the library rather than buying them. The library can also order books they don’t have from other libraries. Libraries also lend CD’s, videos, and DVD’s, saving on rentals.
16. Make your own gifts or cards.
17. Take in free events around town.
18. Turn off cable TV or reduce down to basic—shut off the TV and play games or have a conversation.
19. Get rid of the gym membership and exercise at home or with family or friends—walk, bike, roller blade, skate, etc.
20. Reuse freezer or sandwich bags by just washing and reusing them (unless they had raw meat in them).
21. Invite friends over for dinner instead of going out.
22. Concerts—the schools around town have lots of free ones and they are really good!
23. Plan your errands so you pick up all things at the same end of town to avoid extra gas usage.
24. Get involved in church activities as they are usually free and a great way to meet people.
25. Make extra chili, soup, stews, etc, on the weekend and freeze in single meal containers—perfect to grab for lunch at work instead of eating out.
26. Keep yourself on a weekly budget—$10 spending money each week.
27. Stay away from convenience stores: prices are always higher.
28. Always look around for a better price or deal when buying a large purchase like furniture, car, home, etc.
29. Fix or repair broken items or clothing instead of buying new.
30. Buy in bulk to save money—toilet paper, paper towels, light bulbs, etc.
31. Buy at garage or rummage sales.
32. Always ask yourself if it is a NEED or a WANT.
33. Cut all expenses that aren’t used enough—gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, cable, internet, cell phone.
34. Create a loose change bowl. Once full, put into a savings account and repeat.
35. Family vacations: camp out or stay with relatives to save on motel costs.
36. Ride, bike, or walk, instead of driving for a short distance.
37. Give plasma.
38. Do a pharmaceutical study to bring in some extra income.
39. Get a part time job.
40. Stop drinking, smoking, or gambling.
41. Cut coupons, but only use them on products you normally use.
42. Grocery shop without the kids.
43. Pay with cash instead of credit cards.
44. Shop after Easter, 4th of July, and Christmas to get the best deals, but don’t shop for fun.
45. Plan your purchases—don’t impulse-buy.
46. Use public transportation or carpool.
47. Only run dishwasher, washer, or dryer when FULL.
48. Turn off lights, radios, and computer when not in use.
49. Sell things like baseball cards, family jewels, antiques, guns, etc.
50. Turn your thermostat down and grab a blanket or sweater.
51. Use a fan instead of the air conditioner.
52. Do NOT use pay day loans.
53. Take a vacation at home: use time off to enjoy the home you pay for and improve your daily living environment rather than pay for airline and hotel costs while your home sits empty. Schedule day trips into the countryside as an alternative.
54. Have a garage sale and get rid of all your clutter. It will open up space in your home, like adding an additional room without having to pay for it.
55. When you are depressed, pray and give thanks. It is cheaper and more effective than a shopping spree.
56. Use public parks.
57. Grow your own food.
58. Have your tires rotated regularly—saves on wear and tear, and many places do it for free.
59. Get together with some friends who wear the same size clothing as you do and have a clothes swap.
60. Save the gift bags you receive and reuse them when needed.
61. Make your own wrapping paper out of brown mailing paper and paint.
62. Compare prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner’s manual.
63. Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.
64. Every two years get bids from 5-10 insurance companies for your auto and homeowner’s insurance needs.
65. You can accumulate more than $100 a year by selecting a free checking account or one with no minimum balance requirements or extra fees. Request a complete list of fees that are charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card fees.
66. To avoid late payment fees and possible interest rate increases on your credit cards, make sure you send in your payment a week to 10 days before the statement due date. Late payments on one card can increase fees and interest rates on other cards.
67. Make certain to get a rate quote (or pre-approved loan) from your bank or credit union before seeking dealer financing on auto loans. You can accumulate as much as $1,000 in finance charges by shopping for the cheapest loan.
68. Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge lower prices.
69. When you get paid, have $_____ automatically transferred to your accumulation account across town at a different bank.
70. Save your loose change.

-FLCS Staff