The Easiest Ways to Save Money

Finding ways to save money in your daily budget often relies on being more aware of where and how you spend your money. There are many opportunities to save money all around you if you take the time to find them.

Everyday Savings
Consider the items you spend money on regularly. This could be groceries, coffee, utilities or other living expenses. If you shop at specific stores regularly, ask if they have rewards programs or loyalty cards. These cards offer special discount rates and might give rewards for frequent use. For example, your favorite smoothie shop may give you a free smoothie after you purchase 10. Most grocery stores have loyalty programs that offer card holders exclusive discounts. Check newspaper ads to see if your most frequented stores are actually the least expensive. Look at the weekly sales and create your week's menu according to the sale items. Try to cook major meals on the weekends when you have the time and make enough to freeze or use for leftovers during the week so you aren't tempted to go out or order in. This can save hundreds of dollars every month.

Hobbies and Habits
One of the easiest ways to save money is on utilities. Many of us leave televisions, radios and computers on when we aren't using them. If you turn them off along with the lights you will save money. Use a thermostat automatic setting and keep the house cooler in the winter. It's very simple to put on a sweater or watch television with a blanket, and you will reduce the cost of heating your home.

Look at the hobbies you enjoy. Is there a way to cut costs by buying used equipment? You might be paying for a membership when you can be doing the same thing for free. If you are a video game enthusiast, rent games before buying them to see if they truly are something you will need to own. Plan a family movie night with fresh popcorn and candy treats. Renting a movie with all the bells and whistles can entertain your entire family for under $20 when it costs nearly $20 per person to go to the movies and buy popcorn and drinks.

Online
Shopping online can save a lot of money. You can easily compare prices between competitors for what you want. You can also find coupon codes with quick Google searches for things like amusement park tickets and store specials. Simply searching for the item or store with the word "coupon" can provide sites with discount codes for your online purchase.

Another trick you can do online is to fill up a cart of items you want to purchase and then wait for the online store to have a sale. If your items go on sale you will benefit from waiting a week to purchase. You might lose some items that are no longer in stock, but this could be a great filter to determine if you really needed it in the first place. Disable cookies in your browser to keep a shopping cart active for more than a day.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/way_5289433_easiest-ways-save-money.html

Smart Ways to Save Money

Dealing with money and expenses is a responsibility every adult has to take on at some point. While earning and spending money are the tasks most people are familiar with, saving money often presents a challenge. The fact is there are many simple, everyday methods for saving money. The simplest ways are also the smartest because they represent the repetitive habits that will help you save money throughout your entire life.

Instructions

1. Save your spare change. Ask for paper coin rollers at your bank. Sort the change every six months, stack it in the rollers and then deposit the total into your savings account.

2. Bundle your electronic services. Call your cable provider and ask what kind of bundling packages they offer. Switch your service providers if a package program costs less. Experts at "Money" magazine estimate you can save up to 25 percent by ordering phone, cable and Internet service from one provider compared to paying separately.

3. Call your credit card issuers and ask them to waive your annual fees. Find the number for customer service on the back of your credit card and speak to a customer service agent. Tell them you are considering canceling the card if the fee cannot be negotiated.

4. Pay off credit card debt as quickly as possible. Pay as much over the minimum payment as you can afford to reduce balances more quickly. If you owe on more than one card, pay off the smallest balance first, then apply that usual payment to your next smallest balance and continue until all of your cards' balances are paid. Depending on the size of your debt, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in interest charges and late fees if you don't carry a balance on your credit card.

5. Check out books, movies and music from the library instead of purchasing them.

6. Cut down on driving. Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation as often as possible. You will not only save on gas and maintenance costs but on depreciation of your car.

7. Entertain at home. Rent movies instead of going to the theater and reduce the number of times you would normally eat out in half. MSN's money editor, Jennifer Mulrean, reports that, in 2002, the average person spent over $2,000 dining away from home. Making just these changes can easily save a typical family over $1,000 a year.

8. Buy used items when practical. Shop at consignment stores, yard sales and online sources for items you and your family need. Search carefully and you will find new or nearly new items at much lower prices in resale outlets than retail stores.

9. Quit smoking. Speak to your health care provider about a smoking cessation plan. Contact a local support group for extra help. Based on an average price of $5 per pack, the cost of smoking a pack a day is around $1,800 dollars a year. That does not include the gas spent driving to the grocery store or the unnecessary purchases that might be made along with the cigarettes. Breaking a tobacco addiction might also prevent you from spending untold amounts of money in medical bills and, more importantly, help you live longer to enjoy all the money you saved.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_6098754_smart-ways-save-money.html