To save money, let alone every day of the month, is something we at boomermale.com fully embrace. It not only makes sense in these troubled economic times we live in, but it makes you feel good as well. Most of my financially independent friends seek ways to save dollars on most of their basic living expenses. My guess is it’s something you appreciate as well. And our friends over at msn.com have provided us with a money-saving tip for every single day of the month.
31 Ways To Save Money Every Day of the Month
“A Starbucks trip here, a trendy gadget or prepackaged dinner there — wasted money adds up. Saving for a rainy day can be surprisingly simple, though.”
-msn.com
1. Think before you drink: It is all too easy to stop at the coffee shop before work or as an afternoon break, buy bottled water on the go, and order a drink with a meal out. This adds up to no small cost over time.
2. Keep the thermostat in check: Every degree you lower a programmable thermostat for at least eight hours a day can shave 1 percent off your heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
3. Cancel the gym: For consumers who don’t go often, the gym can be a colossal waste of money. The average gym membership costs $58 a month and 67 percent of Americans never use theirs, according to data compiled by Statistic Brain.
4. Use cash-back programs: Make money every time you make an online purchase with cash-back programs. Shoppers can often get up to 8 percent back,
5. Go to the library: There’s no reason not to borrow books from the library (except for those looking to fill a wall-to-wall bookshelf as a decorative statement).
6. Ride a bike: If it’s feasible, riding a bike instead of taking the car to work or on errands helps the budget in many ways. It avoids car maintenance, gas, and possibly even gym membership costs (and reduces carbon emissions).
7. Use deal sites: Groupon, Amazon Local, LivingSocial — the list of sites that offer discounts on services and goods is long.
8. Get scrubbed up for a penny: Save big bucks by beautifying on a budget with items already in the home.
9. Turn off the lights: Turn off the lights and TV when leaving a room or going out for the day and save money over time.
10. Turn off the faucet: Grandpa was right: It pays to turn off the water when brushing teeth or washing dishes.
11. Unplug cords: Save $100 on electricity simply by unplugging devices.
12. Swap instead of buy: Hold clothing swaps, toy swaps, and even trade home goods with friends. This is the cheapest way to get new stuff and get rid of old stuff.
13. Find free activities: Visit the event tracking site Eventful and read local free magazines to learn about free events happening in your area.
14. Visit free museums: Many museums around the country have suggested donation fees rather than set prices for admission.
15. Share to save: In this so-called sharing economy, it’s possible for two or more people to go in together on passwords and memberships and share everything.
16. Pay less for prescription drugs: Buying generic instead of paying for name brands is an easy way to ramp up savings.
17. Cut back on prepackaged goods: Convenience in dining comes at a cost that’s usually much higher than making the same item at home.
18. Stop paying for others to do it for you: Yard work, pest control, even simple car maintenance — with a little extra effort, these can often be done for less than it costs to pay somebody else to do the work.
19. Bring lunch to work every day: This obvious and easy change can save nearly $2,000 a year on average, according to Accounting Principals.
20. Stock up on staples: Buying pantry staples in bulk can save money in the long run — but be choosy about what to stock up on.
21. Make cleaning supplies at home: Stop paying top dollar for organic and all-natural cleaners, and just make them at home.
22. Know what to buy at the Dollar Store: A whole list of items are even cheaper at the dollar store than at Walmart.
23. Cook seasonally: Eating the foods of the season is less expensive than buying imported produce, and shoppers can still find plenty of local fare now that summer is over.
24. Winter-proof fruits and vegetables: Freezing fruits and vegetables when they’re in season saves money compared with the expensive selection of produce available in winter months, and lets your family enjoy local foods longer.
25. Spend less on laundry: Many people pour more detergent than necessary, a surprising money waster as bottle after bottle gets used up.
26. Save at the veterinarian: Giving a pet the right food, enough exercise, and preventive treatments is just the start of saving money on pet health.
27. Stop buying things you don’t need: These might be items that offer little value in the long run or trendy gadgets that will lose popularity fast.
28. Be smarter about grocery shopping: Shop on a full stomach and tempting treats will be less likely to make their way into the cart. Always shop with a grocery list — and stick to it.
29. Never pay full price for shoes: Too many shoes cost too much, especially considering all the sale options available.
30. Track prices: Keep an eye on the price of items you need with tracking tools such as CamelCamelCamel.
31: Stop buying new toys: To save money on toys, buy used, swap with other parents, and even try renting toys that can be returned when kids lose interest.
You can read the entire post here. Let us know if you have any other money saving tips to add here. Share with your fellow boomer males below.
Do well.
