Saving Money When You Have Kids

April 25, 2013 By 2 Comments

It’s no secret that kids can be quite the expensive investment, especially when you’re on your second or third pup.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save money when you’ve got kids however. In fact, there are quite a few things you can do to keep the costs down as much as possible even with a few extra people in your home.

 

Bills and Utilities

More people in your home means more electricity being used up every month.  It’s important to assess Texas Electricity Providers (or whatever local energy providers you’ve got) and compare the prices per kilowatt to see if you can save quite a bit of money each month on your utility bills.  When you have kids it’s difficult to keep tabs on your energy consumption all the time so having a lower electricity rate will help keep costs down.

 

Food and Clothes

When you’ve got kids you should start looking into buying things in bulk.  Buying items that you use constantly in bulk is going to be the best and most cost effective way of purchasing things.  When you buy in wholesale you’ll get quite a discount on the items and it isn’t like you aren’t going to end up using them, so it’s probably your best bet for things that aren’t perishable.

As you start to spend more money when you’ve got kids, you’ll need to find ways to cut down your other expenses as much as possible.  This means you’re going to have to start using coupons and looking for things that are on sale.  While it might be a little difficult to get into these types of behaviors initially, you’ll find that it does tend to get easier as time goes on and once you get into the routine, you’ll start looking for sales and coupons without even thinking about it.

 

Furnitures and Other Goods

full shopping cartLook on Craigslist or eBay, or start searching for yard sales to grab stuff for a lot cheaper than you would buy them otherwise.  These are great resources when it comes to finding furniture or children’s toys and more often than not, you can find things that are in quite good condition.  Some of these might even be free and you can end up cutting down a few hundred dollars that you would have spent had you not gone the cheaper route.

 

Fun Stuff

Not all vacations or activities need to have a hefty price tag on them in order for them to be fun.  You’ll find that a lot of kids can have an enjoyable time in almost every situation as long as you find ways to keep their attention, so don’t think you have to spend a ton of money for a weekend trip.

Something as simple as a day outside can mean a lot to your kids and as long as you’re spending legitimate time with them, they probably won’t mind that you haven’t gone to the latest amusement park.  Try doing more home-based activities or going to attractions when they’re offered for free and you’ll end up saving a ton of cash.

Kids aren’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean they have to be necessarily expensive.  There are different ways you can save money while keeping your kids happy as long as you’re conscious about what you’re doing and spend a little effort.  Coupons and free items are going to end up saving you a ton of money and having fun at home is priceless.

Filed Under: Money and Finances Tagged With: , ,

The Piggy Bank Saga

February 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ok, so I know I have been blogging about embarking on the wonderful journey of explaining money and budgeting to my kids. Well, turns out, it isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. It Is so hard to teach kids about budgeting when they have a very, very simplistic view of money.

Before you roll your eyes and say ‘I told you so!’, let me just say that I haven’t given up on this project.  In fact, I enlisted the help of my mommy friends (who also happen to be Psychology majors) to give me some tips and ideas about how to do this without breaking my brain.  Here is what I have come up with:  THE PIGGY BANK SAGA.

Ok, I know. You are probably saying ‘but the piggy bank is old news’.  Well, there is a lot of value in things that have lasted decades, and this little object is one such thing.

Some background to the idea behind the pig

Turns out, the piggy bank has been in existence for apparently 4000 years and way before money saving websites like LoveMoney.com! Way back when, when every object was made of clay, jars were created to store money. These were called “pygg jars”, ‘pygg’ here referring to the kind of clay used to make the jar.  By the 18th century, this object began to take the shape of its animal namesake and was made from plastic, plaster, or glass.   Another explanation states that, based on German folklore, a pig is a symbol of good fortune, therefore a vessel for money in the shape of a pig means more wealth or coming wealth.  Whichever history you believe, today the piggy bank is defined by Wikipedia as:

Piggy bank (sometimes penny bank or money box) is the traditional name of a coin accumulation and storage receptacle; it is most often, but not exclusively, used by children.

Here is a picture of a piggy bank (c’mon, humor me here).

traditional piggy bank

Ok, so here is the idea. Take the generic piggy bank and have one for saving, spending, and donating.  First of course, you need to define the terms. I use the most simplistic explanations so I would say something like saving is when we keep the money so that we will have enough to buy ‘x’ item.  Thankfully my son and daughter know the word ‘buy’ so I don’t need to explain that term anymore. Donating would be giving and spending is using the money to buy ‘x,y,z’ items. Or something along those lines, you get my drift.

What a Piggy Bank Teaches Your Kids

I am thinking, and my mommy-psych major friends agree with me, that this will teach the kids the following things without the trauma of deprivation.

  • One, it will give them the idea that there are different actions connected to money.
  • The general idea behind saving, spending, and donating.
  • The value of patience.
  • The value of waiting for something.
  • The value of effort for something desired.

Different Kinds of Piggy Banks

Doesn’t it sound like a marvelous idea?  It is so great when you can teach so many lessons with one simple thing.  It is really easy to start on this project. The materials you will be needing are very inexpensive.  All you need are three piggy banks, or one that has segregations.  If you want to use separate piggy banks, getting the ones with see-through body is best as it give a visual picture of the theory/lesson/activity.  See the pictures below:

piggy bank countersee-through piggy bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About money and budgeting, you don’t really HAVE TO stick to the traditional piggy bank (although there are a lot of really cute ones for boys and girls these days).  You can opt for other money carrying objects:

It does not really matter what you use, as long as you get the point of the exercise across.

Now, you also don’t have to go out and buy any kind of money saving vessel.  You can use any old jar, tin, or container.  A lot of my friends save the pretty seasonal tins for tea and use those for odds and ends.  That would be perfect for this project.  Similarly, you can use any mayo jar or cheese spread jar, create a slot for the coins and bills, and you have your pot! A suggestion to get the kids excited is to have them decorate their piggy banks. I know the idea of arts and crafts really gets my kinds excited and quite dedicated.

So, I hope you see some merit in this simple money-saving lesson plan.

 Do your kids have a piggy bank? What do you think of using multiple banks for different purposes?

Filed Under: Money and Finances, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

4 Solutions to Help You Save on Heating Costs this Winter

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Use a programmable thermostat to lower heating costs

(via capl@washjeff.edu)

I don’t want to brag or anything but I’ve got to tell you that our electric bill has been very low for the past four months or so. It had nothing to do with me though. Here in the Pacific NW we had a fairly cool summer, which for some people was a huge bummer — but not for me. I don’t like being too warm anyway and even if I did, I sure couldn’t balk at the fact that we only had to use our air conditioning for one or two weeks total!

We have also had a nice fall. Not too cool and not too terribly rainy, so I actually didn’t even turn our heater on for the first time until a few weeks ago!  Again, our electric bills have been outstanding and instead of dreading the bill, I’m actually excited to see how low it is (I know that sounds a little weird but it’s true).

Ah, but those glorious days are quickly coming to an end as we enter the colder months. I am so sad to say goodbye to low electricity bills but do I really have to? Maybe not.  I have been thinking about ways to cut our heating costs so if nothing else, they don’t get as high as they did last year!

I don’t know about you but on our bill, the power company provides a side by side comparison of the current month and how much energy we used in the same month the year before. My goal this year is to try to improve on last year’s electrical costs. It always seems like we do worse and worse each winter but no more! Having a goal (and making a game out of it) is very motivating for me. So yes — once again, I accept my own challenge!

4 Solutions to Help You Save on Heating Costs

Now – in no particular order - here are some simple ideas to cut your heating costs:

1. Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature

Listen, I am pretty much always cold but we keep our thermostat at a cool 68 degrees. If I’m too chilly I put on a sweater or something. It’s amazing just how much money you can save by knocking the temp down a few notches.

2. Have a thermostat with a timer

Before we had the boys we programmed our thermostat to drop the temp while we were sleeping. I’ve always been worried about the boys kicking off their blankets and being too cold so we just keep our thermostat the same temp all the time. Now there are two schools of thought on this issue: 1.) If you constantly have your temperature drop and go back up, your heater is working harder to and using more energy to get the temperature up to what it is during “normal” times. So keeping the temp the same at all times is best. 2.) Reducing the temp during times when you are sleeping or away from home saves a good amount of money because there is no reason for the house to be a perfect  temperature when you aren’t awake or even at home. I don’t know which is right and if you do please offer your opinions or information in the comment box below :)

3. Make sure you have enough insulation

This can be in your attic, crawl spaces, walls and around hot water heater and pipes. If your hot water heater is inside your house it isn’t an issue but if your water heater is in the garage it is. Wrap insulation around your water heater and around the pipes so the water heater doesn’t have to work harder to keep the hot water hot. Another thing we learned when we had to replace our water heater is that you can get a foam disk that sits between the cold cement garage floor and your water heater which helps quite a bit as well.

4. Windows & Doors

For many people windows and doors are the main culprits of energy wasters. If you don’t have the money to replace windows and doors with energy efficient ones don’t worry, there are still some things you can to to help keep your heat in. Using thermal insulated curtains or liners on your windows can help cut heating costs. I also found a helpful how-to video from Home Depot about how to seal your windows and doors to prevent the cold air from leaking in. Purchasing a door and window draft blocker can be helpful in keeping your home warm and your heating costs low.

What are some ways you winterize your home to keep heating costs down?

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Spring is Here, Time for Yard Work

May 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

Child helping with yard workNow that we here in the East have survived a week of nothing but cold and rain the sun is finally out! It was warm at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and everybody was outside. The amazing thing was how much everything had grown during the week of rain! The grass had been cut right before the rain started and it was over the boy’s ankles already. Of course this then makes me nervous because of the ticks. There is always something to be concerned about.

With the grass and mud I have learned that even a 13 yr. old and a 10 yr. old are in their glory. But, it was also time to pull out the yard tools and get to work. There is always some pulling of teeth (so to speak) to get the boys to want to help. The preteen years are a bit of a juggling act. Ask them if they want to help and they would rather climb a mountain. Tell them they HAVE to help and then you get the “eye-rolling silent breathing gasp treatment”. Finding a happy medium takes not only a concentrated effort on the parents’ part but also amazing is the fact that these almost full-blown teens have the answers to EVERYTHING. And finally, the family is working as a team…sigh.

Teaching children to work for what they want

After getting the work done we all sit outside and relax. My 13 yr. old wants a dirt bike. My 10 yr. old wants anything with a motor. Again we have the “talk” about how if you want something you will have to work to earn it. They both answer at the same time that they know. If they KNOW then why do we need to have this discussion at least once a week?

So we are back to discussing how fast everything grows in the rain and the newest toys they now want/need. They are going to work for what they want and have asked for extra chores. This is going to last until the middle of the week when they have to be reminded if they want those things they need to do the chores.

Two things come to mind when I think about the day. My kids are growing and changing as much as nature has shown us today. As with the flowers and grass my kids need to be fed and guided and yes pruned back every once in a awhile.

Teaching my kids they have to work and earn what they want is very important. I want them to learn how it feels to have earned something rather than just have it handed to them.  They will learn that if they really want something it is worth working hard for and in the end it will show them that they can do pretty much anything they want if they put their minds to it.

Do you give your children chores? Do they earn the money for the extra things that they want?

Filed Under: Home and Living, Parenting, Stuff to Do Tagged With: , , , ,

Spend Less on Your Memorial Day BBQ

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Family BBQ

Curtesy of Pixabay

Before I begin talking about barbecuing – I feel it is important to note – that Memorial Day- which was once known as Decoration Day – is a time to honor all those brave men and women who have lost their lives serving our great country. The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30th 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers — at Arlington National Cemetery.

For many people, Memorial Day is also when they spend some good quality time — with friends and family. The holiday is viewed as the official kick-off of grilling season. Since Memorial Day provides a good number of us with a long weekend, this seems like the perfect time to get friends and family together — to eat, play and enjoy each other’s company. Like many Americans — you may be thinking of planning a Memorial Day BBQ. However, sometimes budget restrictions can make you feel like you can’t have people over — because you simply can not afford it.

Fear not! I have some great ideas (if I do say so myself) on how you can plan a fun and festive Memorial Day BBQ — and spend less.

Tip #1: Save on Invites

It’s always nice to send invites but you don’t have to go to all the trouble – and expense – of buying invitations and mailing them out. In today’s world, there are so many ways – of letting people know – about the get-togethers we are planning! Evite is one of my favorites! They have great invitations, for just about any occasion. Using Evite is not only frugal — but eco-friendly as well. You probably wouldn’t send wedding invites out this way, but for birthday parties – and other informal get-togethers – it is just perfect! :)

If most of your friends are on Facebook– there is a great event application there as well. With Evite and Facebook events — it also makes it super simple for your guests to RSVP and for you to send out reminders. This will help to ensure that you get an accurate head count, so you can plan accordingly.

  • In the invite, remind people to wear their sunscreen and to bring their bug repellent. These are two very important things to have for any BBQ!

Tip #2: Save on Food

Hosting a BBQ potluck is another great way to save money on your Memorial Day celebration. If your friends and family are anything like mine, they are very thoughtful and always ask – or insist – on bringing something to the party. This is not only a kind gesture and money saver — it also helps take some of the stress of planning, off of your shoulders. The less food you have to prepare — the more time you’ll have to spend on other things, so you can enjoy the BBQ along with everyone else.

Keep it simple. Your guests don’t expect you to do anything elaborate. Grilling up burgers, hot dogs, and sausages — are just perfect for an event like this. If you can find a good deal on ribs, fish or other cuts of meat go for it — but you certainly don’t have to.

Tip #3: Save on Decorations

Do decorations from parties past — linger in your garage, attic, or some other storage place? Awesome! Get them out, dust them off and put them to good use. There is no law – that I am aware of anyway – which states that you can not re-use decorations. While it might not be appropriate to use your child’s 1st birthday banner, there are other decorations that might work beautifully — even last year’s 4th of July decor will work quite nicely.

If you don’t have any old decorations to use, head you your local dollar store as see what they have on hand. If you don’t want to do that, you can just buy a fun table cloth and put some fresh flowers out — and you’ll be all set!

Tip #4: Save on Entertainment

You don’t have to spend a lot to keep your guests entertained. Most people like to just sit around and chat — but if you want to add some other activities for your guests to do, there are a few ways to do this.

  • Get out the board games or even a deck of cards and have some fun.
  • Potato sack races? Why sure — that sounds like a fine idea!
  • Host a scavenger hunt. This is great for kids of all ages!
  • Do a good ol’ fashion egg toss. Hard boil the eggs if you like — or don’t hard boil them, this adds a little more drama to the competition :)
  • Flag football! Just cut up some old t-shirts – or towels – for the flags and away you go!
  • You can play croquet, volleyball, Frisbee or badminton depending on how much space you have. If don’t have these games, a friend or family member might.

What are you planning this Memorial Day weekend? Do you have some other suggestions on how people can save on these types of parties? I’d love to hear them!!!

Filed Under: Family Time, Holidays, Money and Finances Tagged With: , , , ,

Saving Money on Big Family Events

May 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Bridal Shower cupcake

Photo by Anafuji on DeviantArt

Well my daughters wedding shower was a huge success! We all worked hard to have things go off without a hitch and we had enough food for double the amount of people that were invited. I think people took home more than they actually ate at the shower.

How to save on a bridal shower

Having a big event like a double bridal shower can also be very expensive but there are things that can be done to help save.

  • Make your own invitations. K and I bought the blank invitations at the local large craft supply store. We were EXTREMELY lucky because we have a close friend who loves to make these things. I spent about an hour on the computer and couldn’t get the things lined up right. After about an hour of me trying then breaking out in a cold sweat K took over and that didn’t go so well. So in panic we called a friend.
  • Buy bulk items that are not perishable long before the date. If you can hit the sales even better. Store it away and keep a list handy so that you know what you have and still need.
  • Breathe!
  • Put cash aside for the “little” things that may be needed last minute.
  • Breathe!

Last but not least just remember to stay as relaxed as possible. These events can be very stressful and Moms get VERY tired. After it was all done and over and the kids were happy we are happy with the way it turned out.

The day before the wedding shower was the Royal Wedding. Did I watch? Oh yes, I did! I have a daughter getting married in August. Did I get  emotional all by myself? You betcha! Oh, and Christie, I was thinking about you too. J

Want to know my last words while watching the wedding on my television? If the royal family can do it well then I can too!

Have you ever organized a bridal shower? How did you save money on it?

Filed Under: Family Time, Money and Finances Tagged With: , , , ,

3 Ways to Cut Costs at Home

April 27, 2011 By 2 Comments
keep an eye on youe electric meter to save costs

Curtesy of CAPL

If there is anything any parent these days knows, it is that a family really needs to save to make sure that there is extra money for the things that really matter. The economic slump in my country has been the norm for many years now. Here, it really is a matter of how much you are taught, how skilled you are when you leave school, how much schooling you get and the kind of schooling you get as well, that will help you in carving out that great future for yourself and for your family by getting that high paying-high reward kind of job.

Now knowing this, know that education in my country is by no means cheap. There is public schooling much the same way there is in America wherein parents only pay a minimum amount for the education but, with the arguable exception of the State University High School, the quality of these schools is not good enough for a high paying job in the future. It is a cold, hard, unfortunate fact. Our schooling system is dying for improvements and the funding that will enable fantastic teachers to continue teaching…but that is another issue altogether.

That said, you can imagine how hard it is for parents to make ends meet. If you want quality anything, you have to pay- quality health care, quality education, quality housing. I do not know how it is in America but I do know that, in the United Kingdom for example, there is some support from the government. There is very little support for single parents as well (I think I have mentioned this before).

So, if you are a single mom like myself, you will want 1) a good paying job 2) still decent work hours 3) to live in a good area of the capital city or in a good area in any of the other major cities across the country 4) a good budget. These are all essential in the creation of a base that will allow for giving children the right education and rearing they need to succeed. Does it sound medieval? Victorian maybe? Well, again, it is the cold, hard fact of life.

So, there are ways to cut expenses in a household that may differ somewhat from what those people who live in the U.S. or U.K. know.

1. Cut on electricity as much as possible

In my country there is one electric company and this electric company seems to increase and give rebates on electrical costs when they feel like it (it feels a lot like increases more than rebates to be honest). This is also a tropical country so you really feel only one of two things- heat or humidity. There are air conditioners in almost every viable office and a lot of homes can boast of one air conditioner as well. Naturally there is the refrigerator and television. Aside from this, there are households- those of middle income earners mostly- that also use such items as a rice cooker, toaster, coffee brewer, washing machine and dryer, iron, and a microwave oven. One way to cut on electrical costs greatly is to cut out all the peripherals and to keep only the essential and to use these really only when absolutely needed. So, in my house, I have gone back to basics. I use the old-fashioned pot to cook rice, I hand wash most of the time, iron once a week for a couple of hours maximum, nix the brewer, toaster, and microwave oven. Air conditioning use is strictly regulated to 6-8 hours a day only, and the rest of the day being cooled by electric fans. I keep energy-saving bulbs and try to shut lights whenever possible. I can say this works because this brought my bill down from a 7000 bill to a 3800 bill.

2. Create a grocery list that reflects your budget and stick to this

I do my grocery once a month for most things. I think most people will agree that, when you buy in bulk, it is cheaper. So I get bulk cereal and oatmeal, bulk milk, bulk kilos of meat and fish, etc. The things I reserve for weekly purchase are easily consumed items like eggs, butter, tea, and vegetables. After experimenting with half month grocery shopping and weekly grocery shopping, I have found that this is the best way to buy food that will last, on a budget. Here we do not have coupons or discounts so every peso counts.

My kids, naturally, want everything every time I go to the grocery and this just isn’t realistically possible (I also really do not believe on giving them everything they want, every time and any time they want it). So I shuffle the items around a bit making the months menus very different. This way, I stick to the budget and the people in the house do not get bored. It is a trial for me to resist the urge to buy those perishables before the end of the week but sticking to the budget and the plan is a key element in making the whole thing work.

3. Save water

This is the easiest bit. This really just requires regulating your laundry days to three to four times a week. This is for many reasons. One, too much laundry at one time is taxing on the person washing. Two, the amount of water used for large bulks of clothes is a lot of water. Three, big batches of clothes may be too much for any extended clothes line to carry as well.

These are the three things I find I can control in order to have a budget that will include all the basic living requirements, the kids to go to good schools, and to have a family life as well however simple.

How do you cut costs at home where you live? Is it any different?

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances Tagged With: , , , ,

10 Ways to Save on Your Next Grocery Bill

March 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Save money when filling your grocery bagWe are all looking for ways to make our dollar stretch further. I shared some ways to save money at the pump a few weeks ago; today we’ll look at ways to save even more money but in a different area of your budget. Are you saving all you can on your grocery bill? Do you clip coupons, and shop sales, but still feel like there might be some other ways you could still save? I have some some tips to share that I hope will help you spend less and save more.

1. Have a snack before heading out

You can save money at the grocery store simply by eating, before you go. You are less likely to pick up items that are not on your list, or items you don’t need, if you have a full tummy!

2. See if your favorite store price matches

If you go to the grocery (or any other store for that matter) and know that an item is less expensive elsewhere, many store will honor the competitors price. This is fantastic because it saves time and fuel — so just ask!

3. Plan your meals and make a list

Okay —  this tip consists of two things, but they do go hand-in-hand. If you plan your meals in advance you will save later on. Maybe you won’t see the savings at the grocery store, but during the week you won’t be eating out, or making unnecessary trips to the store — where you’ll end up spending even more money. After you plan your meals, if you make a list and stick to it, that will also help you to remain focused on the items you do need – then you be less likely to over spend.

4. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season

We all know that fruits and veggies that are not in season usually cost a lot more and often times, they don’t taste as good as when they are in season. If you want something that isn’t in season, buying it in the freezer section is the next best option.

5. Buy in bulk — but be sure to compare prices

Sometimes buying in bulk can save you money. We actually buy pasta, rice, and spices in bulk and we save a lot of money this way. If you buy at the big club stores like Costco or Sam’s Club, be sure to compare what you are getting there with what you find at your regular store. Often times you can save money but sometimes, it can actually cost you more. Another thing you should always do is to look at the price per unit on the grocery self. This lets you know if buying the bigger bag is really the best deal. It also helps you compare prices between different brands. When buying meat you want to compare price per serving and not price per pound.

6. Go meatless a couple of times a week

If you can make a couple of meatless dishes during the week, that can help save money too. Need some yummy ideas? Delicious Vegetarian Recipes

7. Say no to drugs

Of course you should, but I’m talking drugstore items. Many times over the counter drugs, cosmetics, shampoos, etc. are more expensive at the grocery store; so do your research before buying those items.

8. Cut out soda and cut back on juice

For kids, you can water down their juice – which is better for them anyway – and it makes the juice last twice as long. Cutting back or cutting out soda is good for your budget and your health. Drink more water and if that bores you to death — put a lemon or cucumber slice in it for a tasty addition.

9. Do it yourself

Instead of buying grated cheese, sliced and peeled carrots, cookies, muffins, etc.  – if you have the time – do it yourself. It can save a lot of money in the long run.

10. Buy store brands

Store brands have come a long way. Many of them are just as good as some of the higher priced name brand products BUT some are not so proceed with caution. It’s worth a try though because you can save quite a bit if you do end up switching.

How do you save on groceries?

Filed Under: Money and Finances, Shopping Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Living Great On Less

February 28, 2011 By 1 Comment
Turn your money around with these 8 money saving tips

Image from Pixabay

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?

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances Tagged With: , ,

Fuel Frugality — How to Cut your Fuel Costs

February 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Save money at the fuel pump with these tips

Image from Richmanwisco

Well, it looks like fuel prices are on the rise once again. Where they’ll stop, no one knows.

When fuel prices were their highest – I believe it was two years ago – it was absolutely ridiculous at the pump. I remember filling up and watching as numbers on the pump tick by at lightening speed. As the tank finally started to become full, I couldn’t believe the numbers I was seeing – just for a simple tank of gas.

Hopefully, things won’t get that bad — but every time gas prices rise, it gets me thinking about what we need to do to cut our fuel consumption — and costs. Of course, there are things we do on a regular basis to conserve on fuel, but there are so many more actions we could take to cut back.

Check out the list below to see what you are doing right, and what else can do.

6 Tips for Saving Fuel

1. Group your trips together

If you have several errands to run, be sure to do it in a few trips as possible. I find that making a list of where I need to go – and what I need to get - helps quite a bit.

2. Car pool whenever possible

If you plan on meeting friends for dinner, you might decide to car pool instead – if it makes sense logistically. Do you have a co-worker or two that you can ride share with? This is great for your wallet and the environment.

3. Maintain your vehicle

A well tuned engine will work more efficiently and make better use of the fuel that keeps it running. Having your tire properly inflated will also use less fuel than tires which are not,

4. Don’t leave your car idling

Be sure to turn your car off if you are waiting for someone or it might be awhile before you move your car again.

5. Drive the speed limit

Driving faster uses more fuel. Give yourself extra time to get where you need to go and take it slow, getting there.

6. Walk, ride your bike, and/or use public transportation whenever possible

We all know this right? Of course it is a great way to conserve, but it’s still something I need to work on.

Another big thing you can do to cut your fuel costs, is to purchase gas at places where the fuel is the least expensive. Keep in mind that you don’t want to drive all over town trying to figure out where that is either. That would just be counterproductive.

Luckily, there is a helpful website available – Fuel Economy.gov – which will help locate the lowest gas price, nearest you.

How about you? Are you doing all you can to cut your fuel costs?

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