Living Great On Less

This week has been hectic to say the least. My daughter and her fiancé have just bought their first home and the moving is about to begin. And yes, I am still on piglet duty! As exciting as it is to buy your first home it is also expensive. Each and everyday most of us think about our finances. With the economy the way it is we are always trying to think of ways to save money. There are of course big steps we can take but starting to save in little steps will make things much easier to handle.

8 Ways to Give up Little Things

Here are a few tips that I have dug up on how to save money giving up a few of the little things:

1. Instead of buying coffee at the coffee shop on the way to work or while out doing errands make a pot at home and take it with you.
2. Many of us have fallen into the habit of getting “fast food” lunches. Start packing a lunch and bringing it with you. Instead of eating out cook food in larger batches and then freeze individual portions.
3. Buy in bulk when possible. Of course if you do not have a lot of room to work with buying the 100lb bag of rice may not work. But, buying the 10lb. bag would work.
4. Make a list BEFORE going shopping and plan your meals for the week. This is such a great thing when implemented. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have stood in the grocery store staring at a product and trying to remember if I had it at home or not.
5. Hang laundry on drying racks instead of using the dryer. Even hanging towels on the racks and then popping them in the dryer for 5 minutes will soften them and save on electricity.
6. Buy store brand instead of brand name. This does add up to savings on your grocery bill. I really did not realize that until I really was poor and counting the change.
7. When buying in bulk try to store what you can in the freezer. Having a full freezer takes less energy to run than one with just a few items. When I do buy things such as rice and we have room in the freezer I just put it in Ziplock bags and pop it in.
8. Ask yourself if your next purchase is REALLY needed. I was looking at the notebooks in the store the other day and then I remembered I have a whole box of scrap paper I could use. The front of the paper was used but I could certainly write on the back.

Each little step we take in saving does add up. Over time you will notice a difference even taking baby steps.

How do you save money on things? Any ideas you have to add to help others save?

Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
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