Ways to Save Thousands This Year
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With the economy in the toilet and the cost of everything going up, everyone seems to be looking for money saving tips. The fact of the mater is that you have hidden money all over your home ( and in your life) if you know where to look. - You may look in between the cushions of the couch to find spare change but there are better ways to fix the family budget. Here we will try to show you how to save thousands of dollars with some very simple changes that may even give you more for your money.
Smart Shopping
Experts say the average grocery shopper who spends slightly more than $100 on groceries in a typical week can save over $900 per year just by using coupons, amounting to a conservative estimate of 15% in savings. Online coupons are becoming more popular and make it even easier to save. There are several good sites that offer a steady stream of great discounts on pet food and toiletries, as well as groceries. Check out our article on coupons. http://www.21stcenturynewz.com/coupons.htm . Also Visit your favorite products websites and look for special promotions and sign up for their newsletters, as they will often send you coupons and notices of new products on sale. Go one step further and plan your meals around what's on sale at the grocery store, and you can save another 20%. Your Savings $2100 per year
Making the Most Of What you Have
Little things like eating leftovers, using all the cereal in the box before you buy another box, using hand-me-downs and repurposing household items can save you hundreds of dollars. It also makes children appreciate things more. Not only does being more frugal save you money but also environmentally friendly. Just tell you're kids your going green it sooo fashionable these days. What a great excuse to save money and the environment!
Entertainment
Forget the video store - Get a library Card. They have old and new books, CDs, audiotapes, and other media too. You'll get a steady stream of new selections each week and it won't cost you a penny . You'll be impressed by the selection of movies they have. Most libraries have their inventory online where you can have what you want sent to your branch.
By saving $50 a month, you'll come out $600 richer at the end of the year.
Get rid of pay TV or at least down grade to basic plan. Most plans start at $24 @ month and the average premium plan is $89 @ month. Check out hooking up your computer to your TV for movies (hook up cost around $50) and you will be able to view everything you see on your computer on your TV.
Just by doing this one thing you could save $348 to $1,068 a year. That's substantial!
Proper Car Maintenance can save you money
There isn't much you can do about the price you pay at the pump. However, there is a lot you can do to improve your gas mileage and make your car last longer. Check that your air filter is clean, your tires are properly inflated, and that your wheels are properly aligned to improve fuel economy you can save up to 55 cents per gallon and to help squeeze an extra year or so out of your car.
Save up to $1000 per year per car
Eating Out
Eating out can shrink your budget and increase your waistline. Changing your restaurant habits a little bit can help you save a lot without giving it up entirely. Instead of eating out try rotating potluck dinners with friends. When you cook (weather for pot luck or on a regular night) make a double batch and freeze half to eat later when you simply don't feel like cooking. This will help you avoid the temptation to get take-out. If you really miss going out try eating out during the week when there are more specials such as Happy Hours and Kids Eat Free nights - which are typically on Mondays or Tuesdays. Look for coupons in the mail, the weekly flyer and online.
Cut your budget back by just $25 a week and you've saved $1300 per year.
Wardrobe Please
The average American family spends about $2,000 a year on clothing. Of course that figure did fluctuate a bit from publication to publication. But lets say that's about right. If you shop season sales, Ebay and store coupons you can save up to 50% off your clothing bill.
That would be a savings of $1000 per year
Look at your Insurance and compare rates, Raise Your Deductibles
If you haven't re-evaluated car insurance policies lately, you could be paying too much. One quick way to save is to raise your deductible. If your deductible is set at $500 consider raising it to $1,000. Yes, you'll have to pay more out-of-pocket if you're in an accident, but you could save up to 30% on your rates throughout the year. Or, if your car is worth less than $2,000 you may want to drop collision insurance completely. Consider bundling your auto insurance with your homeowner's insurance to save even more.
Many save $480 per year or more for a household with two cars
Rethink Gift Giving
Most families easily spend $2,000 a year on Gift giving. You can actually cut that number in half while adding more meaning to your gift giving. Consider making homemade gifts and cards. These things mean a lot but don't cost much. Plus 21st Century Newz has a lot of craft ideas that just about anyone can do. If you are truly not crafty try making cookies or brownies (check out our recipe section). Start holiday shopping early so you have time to look for sales and cut your gift spending in half. Come up with a master list of all the occasions you want to remember this year and who you want to buy for. When you see a great deal, you can snap it up. Savings are $1000 or more per year.
Get Rid Of The Gym Membership
It's pretty ironic that Americans spend millions on fitness equipment and gym memberships. Instead of spending $75 or more per month in health club fees ($900 a year), exercise the old-fashioned way and do something productive at the same time. Household chores like mopping and vacuuming are great calorie burners. Outdoor chores like cutting grass (average price $25 @ week - $300 @ year) , washing your car $10 @ month at the auto wash - $120 @ year), raking leaves, and gardening (bonus extra food) burn nearly as many calories as a run in the park. Supplement your fitness routine by getting a dance video and dancing with your husband or kids. Take your dog for a run. Get fitness DVDs and videos from your library.
Depending on your particular habits you could save from $100 to $1,000 a year.
Extra Curricular Activities
Check out your local parks and recreations for summertime events. Look for local festivals. Check out farmers markets – many have petting zoos and hayrides. Maybe some of the expensive clubs and lessons for the kids can wait until you get some of that debt under control. Your children will benefit more from having parents that are solvent than they will from karate class.
Debt
The average credit card debt among all American households is $8,400 - and the average interest rate is 18.9%*. Avoid paying high interest rates - and better yet: Start eliminating the debt. First, call your credit card company to negotiate a lower rate. If you have a good credit score and have been a cardholder for longer than a year, the chances of lowering your rate are good. Next, make this the year you break the debt cycle. Keep one card for emergencies (I mean real emergencies) and use the money you actually earn. Don't close all of your accounts - just pay them down. Even if you pay $10 more a month on each card it will make a big difference. Start with the cards that have a low balance and once you get them paid off and closed go to the next one. If you don't have the actual money in your account or in your pocket don't spend it.
This could save thousands of dollars for decades to come!!!!!!
