Money Saving Tips

Hello ya'll,

I have been wanting to re-write the money savings tips again because I thought it would be a great way to remind everyone in 2015 all the things they can do to save a bit of money in today's economy.
I am also rewriting this article so I can remind myself all the things I can do to continue saving money.

I won't lie I work a minimum paying part-time job and if it weren't for my significant other I wouldn't be able to make it on my own. With that said I still have my goal to live debt free for a year and I am hoping that I can start living debt free this year. I am happy to say that I am paying off the rest of my loan this month and then I will have to tackle my small credit card debt.  I decided to put both of my money saving tip articles into one, I also added tips that I have been using this year. So now on to money saving tips.

1) Make a Budget:  Take the time to sit down and look at what your finances really are and how much you can actually spend and on what. Stick to your budget after. When you make a budget make room for entertainment and savings.

I have a small budget but I also keep track of what I make and what I spend. I am sure there is a lot of on-line tools to help you with this but I just use a note book and paper to keep track of my spending. I found this really helps me to see where I can save money and if I bought useless items that month that I could of really went without.   

2) Use IT up: If you are like me and had subscription boxes or applied to free samples odds are you have a lot of opened bottles or foil packets. Use these things up. Why buy a new bottle of shampoo when you have 10 sample or travel sized bottles. Unless you travel a lot is there really a need for you to have all those bottles.

This is a process I have already started. I never realized how many body lotions and body I hand until I cleaned and organized and found countless bottles of them, along with many other products.

3) Use less:  We often use too much of a product when it is not needed. Do you put a big amount of body wash on your loofah, sponge or cloth? Try using less, you might be surprised that you only need the amount the size of a dime to wash yourself with. And don't just use this concept in body products but in cooking ( using less oil or butter in the bottom of the pan) and every other aspects of your life. This will help make your products last a lot longer then they normally would.

I have been doing this since before Christmas and I have noticed that my beauty products and some of my food have lasted a lot longer then before saving me a bit money.

4) Cancel Things:  If you have satellite T.V. cancel it and go for other options like Netflix or Crackle there is a lot of other services out there that are free or cheaper then satellite T.V.. If you have a gym membership that you don't use cancel it. Go through your expenses and find what you can go without or don't use yet spend money on.

I have cancelled all my subscription boxes and an on-line gym membership that I did use for the moment until my finances are in order.

5) Stop using satellite television:  This one I have done a long time ago. My husband and I moved and thought of reconnecting the dish but then we thought why. Look at how much you pay for your television. Look at the thousands of of channels that are there and how much do you actually watch. You want television go with basic cable or opt in for netflix 10$ a month with countless shows to watch. We did this and have probably saved a lot of money.  ( 90-160$ a month to 10$ a month think about it).

This saved my husband and I  over 80$ a month.

6) Cancel the phone: If you have a home phone and a cell phone cancel one. Do you really need both phones. I can see if you own your own business sure but if not pick one a cancel the other. Also get the lowest plan you can live with. I pay 45$ fo r a month for mine and get a bit of data and that's all I need).

 I cancelled my home phone and just  have my cell phone. This saved me almost 40$ a month.

7) Pay off Debt:  I think this is the hardest but one of the most important. Debt has interest and that takes a lot of money away from you after a few years. If you have multiple debts start by paying off the smallest one. Once it is paid off use that extra cash and put it towards another debt to pay it off faster. If you have  multiple credit cards pay them off and then cancel them. If you have one lower the amount you can spend on it.

I am paying off  the last of my bank loan this month (After 5 years. I have put extra money down on my payments to help me lower the loan faster). After that is paid I will be putting the extra money aside to pay off my credit card ( I have already lowered my limit on my card to prevcent me from spending)

8) Shop sales and discounts:   Check out flyers before you go out shopping. If you happen to see a product discounted because it will expire soon buy it and either use it that day or freeze it. Most of these items are still just as good as fresh ones.

I always try and shop sales or discounted products, this often saves me 20$+ or more on my shopping list.

9) Declutter and Organize:  Living in clutter will prevent you from seeing the things you already own and can use. It will also keep your home tidy and running more effectively.

I did this to my bedroom and wow did I find a lot of things I didn't even know I had. Now, I have less trouble finding things and I feel less overwhelmed and cluttered in my mind as well now that I don't live in a room that looked like a tornado went through it.

10) Have a swap: Swap books, magazines, DVD's and other products and items with your friends this will save you and everyone around you that participates in the swapping of items money. Also look on-line there is plenty of sites that have swapping services, like this one.

11) Make it yourself: Try making your own products like soap , or food like bread. 

I haven't this one yet. Although it is a smart ideal it can be expensive to start off when it comes to building your stock. When I am able too I will be trying this. 

12) Make your own gifts or re-gift; Make your own gift for someone often times these are more cherished then gifts that are bought and it will save you money. 

I made my children's V-day cards this year. Not only did it save me money but it was also a great activity to do with my children. I am planning on doing the same thing for future events and parties. 

13) Shop used: Salvation army, second hand stores. All these often carry name brands ( if you are really into that), and perfectly still usable clothing. Also many of these stores help people in the local area that have less. 

I try to buy used whenever I can and I am not talking just clothes but Tupperware and appliances too.

14) The 30 day rule or 10 second:  See something you want? Wait 30 days, weigh out the option is this something you want or need? Do you have the money to spend on it or could you use it on something else that is of better use to you? If you still want if after 30 days then buy it. The 10 second rule is the same as the 30 day rule. Ask yourself why you are buying and if you really need it.  

I still have a long ways to go with this one especially since I don't live in a town with shopping malls like the big city. Often the purchases I make that are unnecessary are  impulse buys. 

15)Stop Smoking or drinking: If you have an addiction like smoking or drinking try to stop this will save you a lot of money down the road not only by not buying the product but for your health as well ( especially if you live in a country without free health care)

I don't smoke or drink but I had a friend who did. she smoked a pack a day that cost her about 10$ a day, after a week she spent 70$ at the end of the month that makes about 280$ that she now saves. 


16) Short, Cold Showers: Now I am not saying just turn on you cold water and jump in and out of you shower. What I am saying is if you like to take really hot showers start by turning the heat down a bit and cut your shower by short by 5 minutes everyday and continue this until until you find the right temperature for yourself and the right amount of time you need in the shower. Also, if you run the water waiting for it to heat up collect that water with a bucket. After use that water to water your plants or put it in your Brita ( or wte filter system you have at home if you have one).

17) Rain Barrel: Have a rain barrel. There are many ways to make these or even buy one. This will save you money by reusing water to water your plants, especially if there is a water ban.  Most of these are closed up so mosquitoes cannot make their nest in there so that shouldn't be of worry to you.

18) Drink Water ( or more of it):  That is right drink more water. Most of us don't drink a lot of water and I am sure if we started we would see a lot of benefits from it. When I started my weight lost journey I started drinking more water. How does this help with your grocery bill? It will save you money because you are going to drink less pop (soda), juices ( filled with sugar) and it will also help with your food cravings and eating habits ( being dehydrated causes the body to send us signals that we are hungry).

I am working on this. I don't often drink a lot of water but I am slowly drinking more and more each day. I found that I am less hungry and that my skin looks a lot better since I have been doing this. I also suffer less headaches.


19) Use a bottle and a filter: Now what I mean by use a bottle I mean by a re-usable one. Buying already bottled water will be more costly for you then a re-usable one. If your tap water isn't the greatest use a filter.  You can get a jug with a filter or a bottle with a filter. I use a jug from Brita because that is what my husband had when we moved in together. Yes, the filters are a bit costly but you only have to change them every 3-6 months which is still better then going through several cases of water bottles. It is also better for the environment. You can also if you chose to buy glass water bottles ( I use plastic), this is one of the many sites I found that sells them.

I use a plastic water bottle when I am out and I also use a Brita filter for my home. 

20) Have a Pantry:  Find a cupboard or two and put your baking and cooking needs in it. If you see something that you use often on sale buy an extra one or two. Make sure that you only buy what you need and things that you use often. If you don't use it often then just buy it when you need to avoid it from going bad.

I have had a pantry forever, but I always had a lot of things going bad because I never used the products I bought. I have started to actually look at what I have in my pantry to use before I go out and do groceries. I do want to make an inventory eventually with a dry erase board.
21) Make an inventory: Grab a pen and pencil ( or a dry erase board if you prefer) and make a list of what you have in your pantry and how much of it you have. Keeping an inventory will help you not waste anything because you know what you have and won't go and continuously buy products you don't need which can lead to waste and will help you know what you do need to buy.

I am planning on doing this with a dry erase board once I have a bit of money to buy one.

22) Make a weekly meal plan:  Now this is one that I read all the time and yet I can't seem to get my head around it. This is one that I will have to work on extra hard to do this year. It is supposed to be good because you can utilize your coupons and the specials that are on that week to make your meal around and you can use one or more ingredients on your list to make several meals.

I still haven't done this yet but I am hoping to get it done for supper meals in the future. 

23) Make a list:  This one is straight forward when you go shopping make a list of exactly what you need and stick to it. Whether it is for clothes shopping or grocery shopping.

I am doing this although I still have to work on it since I still go off the list once in a while. Since I have started this it has saved me about 20-100$ + on my groceries every two weeks ( My hubby and I take turns) 

24) Eat leftovers: Even if there is only enough  left overs for one person to eat the leftover in your family it's still better then throwing the food out. Think about it you spent 20$ for your supper and you had left overs for a couple meals. Divide that 20$ into the amount of meals you ate and think about how much money you would of thrown out. ( example from this site)

I have always eaten left overs and I will continue to do so. I try to waste as little food as possible.

25) Use what you have:  You go to the store you buy a bunch of pantry staples or food that you can freeze you put it away and then you forget about it. Look through your fridge, freezer and pantry to seewhat kind of meal you can make. Also keeping your pantry and fridge/freezer well organized will save you money in the long by no longer letting food expire or go bad.

I try to do this several times a week. It is amazing what you can do with a can beans that you find in the back of  your pantry.


26) Use those savings:  A) use coupons. B) use the loyalty card, all grocery stores now ( or most of them) have some sort of loyalty program. IC) last but not least, look at the flyers to see what is on sale and use those sales to plan your meals around or to fill up your pantry.

This year I am going to keep all my points till the end of the year to see how much money I am actually saving. I have collected about 90$  worth of points in the last three months ( I did forget to load offers on my card now and then) but still 90$ alone so far and I still have 9 months to go before the end of this year. 

27) Start a garden: . You can grow many herbs, vegetables and fruits indoors. This can save you a lot of money in the long run even if you just do it for the summer.  Also shop the farmers market if there is any in your area odds are the produce will be just as fresh ( or fresher) and cheaper then what you get in store.

I don't have room in my home to start a herb garden but if I did I would. My mother and I are hoping to teach my oldest son how to garden this year which will save us a bit of money of vegetables if we are successful. 

28) Eat then shop: Shopping on an empty stomach will make you buy more of the things you don't need. Eat before you go shopping or keep a snack with you if you can't eat a meal before shopping.

I now practice this and it helps me not to over buy products. I don't know how this works but it does.

29) Bulk buys: If you can join a bulk store like Costco do. It does cost a little bit for a membership but you will save more then what you pay in membership. Also stick with the items you will use most often and that you know won't go to waste. Also, buy products that are on sale in bulk again only if you use them though.

I don't live close to any stores like Costco but when my sister visits she often brings me a bag of toilet paper that is only 20$ that last me for several months and is a cheaper buy then buying the same amount of rolls at the grocery store.

30) Buy Generic: When you go to the grocery store try buying generic brands instead of name brands. Often time the generic brands are just as good as the brand name.  Also check out the top and bottom shelves because often times that is where you will find the cheaper options. Companies actually pay to have there products placed in the sight of the shopper.

I have and still try to buy cheaper generic brands on most items. I won't lie though some products you just need to buy  brand names for as the cheaper options aren't as good. 

31) Add to your meal: Add vegetables or fruit ( depending on you are making) to your meals.This will add bulk to your meal and help stretch a little further ( think add veggies to taco meat or hamburger helper). It will also add more nutrients to your food and make you healthier.

I do this on a regular basis. I am trying to get my hubby to follow in my foot steps but that is hard. 

32) Stop being lazy:  Stop buying pre-packaged, pre-wash and pre-cut foods. Sure these can save you a lot of time but they also charge more for it. Do your groceries and decide a time when you will be doing your own food preparations. It is more time consuming but you can make it family time and have them help by washing and packing the food away.

Although I still buy some pre-cut items every now and then I mostly buy food that I have to prepare myself. I find that this also cuts out some processed foods from my diet. 

33) Portion Control: Many of us eat more then what we actually need which leaves us bloated and tired. A tip to this start with smaller portions on your plate and take the time to actually eat. It can take up to 30 minutes for your brain to catch the signals that your belly is sending. If you are still hungry after eat a little bit more. It is better to go for seconds then it is to over eat or throw away food because you put to much on your plate.

I have done this for a while now. I was amazed at the beginning how full I could be on little food. My husband is now also getting better at portioning food on my plate when I am not home. This has also helped me lose a few a pounds. 

34) Cut out on going out:  Instead of going to a restaurant with friends invite them over for a night and make it a pot luck then it will save everyone money. Rent a movie instead of going to the cinema. 

My hubby and I used to go out several times a month now we only go out on special occasions this has saved us 100$+ a month. 

35) "Brown Bag it":  Make your lunch. If you do not go home for lunch. Make it the night before and then bring it to work instead of buying it at work.  This can save you loads of money.

When I did a spending freeze I realized that I spent a lot of money at work on food that I could make myself ( i.e. Salads, protein lunches).

36) Cook in bulk:  Making spaghetti sauce? Make a big batch of it instead of a tiny one. This way you can buy larger cans and bags of ingredients you need and it will save you money. Plus, you will have something that you can just pull out of the freezer on days you don't want to cook.

I often do this. Sometimes I even split the cost with someone so we both save money and have plenty of  "freezer" food. 

37) Go Paperless:  If you can opt for paperless bills try it some company`s like Rogers actually charge you 2$ a month for each paper bill they send you.


This is it for my list right now I may add some later if so I will let you all know through the Facebook page.


Happy saving

ME

Update

Hello muffins,

Yes I know I haven't been on here in a long time and it is not because I didn't want to be. I may actually be absent often like this for the next few months.

I have made a big change in my life and it has been a bit hectic since. I have decided to leave my fiancee ( also known as hubby on here) of 7 years. I won't list the details only that it wasn't working anymore. I am currently living at my parents and having shared custody of the two children on a one week on, one week off interval with the children. They seem to be adapting pretty well although I miss them dearly when they aren't around.

I have paid off my bank loan and my credit with the money that I had saved up from the 52 week money challenge. I haven't continued the challenge because I am currently trying to pay off the taxes that I owe and enjoying a bit of my hard earned money as well by splurging on new foods at the grocery store.

I am hoping to be in an apartement within the next few months and being able to afford the internet and a new computer to keep my blog going on.  I will try and work on the blog a few times every months if I am capable of it.


That is about it for now.

Goodnight

Me