Right now it’s all about cutting back and saving as much money as you can. You are probably thinking you have already cut back on some of your expenditures, there isn’t much more that you can do.
Well that may not be true. We figure that by cutting back on big ticket items is enough. Well there are smaller ticket items that you can cut back on.
They really aren’t necessary just little treats we give ourselves. However, if you cut back on them you can save yourself a couple of hundred dollars.
Don’t be scared or concerned it’s nothing horrible like cutting out deodorant, toothpaste, soap, etc. Although when it comes to these things, you might consider purchasing them when they are on sale. For instance, at times they have the deodorants buy one get one free. That is perfect; you just bought two for the price of one. This is something you can do for all those little things you purchase that are necessary.
Take advantage of those sales and don’t forget the coupons. Some of us just don’t want to deal with them but think about it, every penny you save does add up. The items that we can cut back on are simple and as mentioned before we don’t see them as unnecessary expenditures but they are, now anyways. Here are a few ways that we can all save a few extra dollars.
MOVIE RENTALS
We figure renting a movie is better off than going to the movies. Well in a way it’s true but not by that much. Sure, we can rent them via Netflix for about $14.00. It doesn’t seem like much. Well in a year’s time you have spent $168.00. See it does add up. Why not rent one movie a week from those convenient boxes they have put up, such as Blockbuster or Red Box. Watch the movie and return it the next day, it cost you $1.00. So in a month you have spent $4.00 and in one year’s time a total of $48.00 plus tax, a savings of about $120.00. You can save even more by exchanging videos with your friends, you borrow theirs and they borrow yours. Why not? It’s not a bad idea and you’re not mooching. They will like the idea too since they get to save a few bucks themselves.
PET FOOD
You’re probably feeding your pet a combination of wet food and dry food. In wet food alone, you are probably spending anywhere from $16.00 to $25.00 a month. Why not switch completely to dry food; it’s much healthier for them. Wet food can be given to them as treat once a week. By doing this you will save at anywhere from $192 to $300 a month. Believe it or not, you will be happier about it too. Your pet will be able to digest it better and have less stomach problems plus dry food doesn’t have that strong of an odor.
VEGGIES AND FRUITS
No you don’t have to stop eating fruits and vegetables. What you can do is stop purchasing pre-sliced fruits and vegetables. Compare the prices next time you go to the store and you will see what we are talking about. Pre-cut fruits are sold by the pound and it can be very pricey. By just purchasing the fruits and vegetables and slicing them up your self you can save any where from $5 to $10 a month, a savings of $60 to $120 a year.
GYMS
Keeping fit and healthy is always a good way to go but the membership fees alone can raise your blood pressure. Instead of getting into a gym that you have to pay membership fees, check out your area. If you live in an apartment or condo, they may have a gym that you can take advantage of for free. Also, many workplaces have gyms you can join free of charge or for a low monthly fee. Avoid as much as possible those contracts, they lock you in and you have to pay no matter what. If you can void these you can save over $240 a year.
DRINKS
Well you had a hard work week, what could go wrong went wrong. Now it’s Friday and you want to go out to dinner and have a few drinks. That is going to be pricey, definitely not a good idea but all hope is not lost. Check out your local bars, many of them will offer you a free meal just to lure you in. Get a couple of drinks, eat a free meal and save over $40.00 that evening. If you have a habit of going out every other week for dinner and drinks, then this is the deal for you. You can save over $960 a year. You may not believe this but sit down and calculate your dinners and drinks. See how much you have actually spent and you will realize this is definitely a very good deal.
HAIR CUTS
Men go in for a haircut, rarely do they ever ask for them to shampoo or blow dry their hair. However women do this all the time. Whenever you ask for this, it’s cost you extra. Next time you need to get a hair cut, don’t ask for them to dry your hair. Let it dry naturally, if you do this, the cost will be less, if you want to save a little more, wash your hair before you go there. By doing these simple things, you can save any where from $180 to $240 a year.
WOMEN
Whether anyone wants to believe this or not, women do tend to have more expenditure and not always by choice, it’s expected that a woman keep up her appearances. If she does not do this, she is then ridiculed by her own peers. There are also additional health expenses that she has to cover that men don't have to worry about. To help women out, here are a few ways you can save a little extra money without affecting your appearance.
When it comes to birth control, it can be expensive. What you can do is speak to your physician and ask them if your prescription has a generic version you can use. By changing to a generic brand you can save over $120.00 a year.
Women also go through more shoes then men, it’s understandable. It’s more noticeable when a woman wears the same shoe over and over again then it is for a man. When women decide to purchase new shoes is mostly due to the heel of the shoe. It is worn out or just looks horrible, this is due to driving most of the time. Well instead of purchasing new shoes; take the ones you have into a repair shop. Have them fix the heel. This will actually save you over $200 a year.
Instead of purchasing new jewelry, re-invent what you have. If you lose one dangling earring, make the other one into a pendant. Save yourself a few dollars by not purchasing an item you truly don’t need, your savings will add up to about $75 or more a year. Think about it, it really isn’t that bad to cut back on these items. You will actually thank yourself for this after you see the money you have saved. It’s time to be a smart shopper and if many want to consider it frugality then so be it. You will be better off.
When you begin to do this, you will find even more ways to save a little bit more money. Remember its better to live below your means then above it. Let’s face it, things may be okay now but you never know what the future brings. All this money you save will come in useful later on. If you don’t have a house now, you can use this money as a down payment; start a family, place in an IRA, etc.
Just knowing that you have that extra cash saved will give you peace of mind and security. You know you have money for a rainy day and didn’t suffer doing it.