Here are my best savings tips. What are yours?

Eat Drink and be Merry -

• Bag your lunch at work. I’m a fan of hot lunches but if you want to trim your expenses even more, make it a real budget lunch once a week for extra savings. Two slices of bread, a couple slices of your favorite cold cut, some lettuce, maybe a slice of tomato… that is some good eating with a great price. You could save$5 day or $1,200 a year.

• Make a grocery store list and stick to it: To help reduce impulse buying whenever you’re in the supermarket, make a list before you go in and stick with it. Ignore the pretty displays showing discounts on things you don’t need and go straight for what you have listed. Not only will you save money, but you’ll save time.

• Bring your own reusable bag: Or any bag for that matter, many places now will give you a nickel off your grocery store bill if you bring your resusable bag. You save money, use fewer plastic bags, and save the world in the process!

• Water is cheaper than soda, beer, juice, coffee, tea, etc: Thirsty? Hit the water fountain. Let the cold water hit your lips and quench your thirst. Water is far cheaper than any other beverage and it has the least amount of calories.

• Brewing your own coffee can save you money, but starting today Starbucks is having a great deal for you and a friend November 17-20 B1G1 Free between 2-5pm Holiday flavored Coffee at Starbucks! choose from -
Peppermint Mocha
New Skinny Peppermint Mocha
Caramel Brulée Latte
Gingerbread Latte
Eggnog Latte

Starbucks Let's Merry!

• Stop smoking: Cigarettes are really expensive and can cost you big bucks down the road in medical costs. If you want a stress reliever, pick up a bottle of scotch instead.

• Drop services you don’t really need: How much television do you really watch? Consider dropping the services you think you need but you honestly don’t really use that often.

• Put Netflix on hold: Did you know that you can put Netflix on hold for 90 day blocks? Why not put them on hold and save that money for gifts? Just restart it whenever the holidays end.

• Rent video games, don’t buy them: The same rule applies for video games. Video games are usually $50-60 a piece (far more than movies), but think of how many games you play in a month. Services like GameFly are probably a better bet for you.

Your Ride -

• Drive the speed limit: Studied have shown that air drag above 55 reduces your fuel efficiency, take the highways at 80 and your fuel efficiency will suffer greatly.

• Shop around for auto insurance: It takes only a few minutes and could save you hundreds of dollars, consider shopping around for car insurance every year. Companies are constantly updating their actuarial tables so you might find yourself in a cheaper category (and it never hurts to look!).  If you have an older car, dropping collision and comprehensive coverage can save you a bit of money. This means you are now responsible for your own car in the event of an accident where you are at fault. Anytime you shift risk from the insurer to yourself, you will see your premiums fall.

• Simple Vehicle Maintenance Can Save You Money On Gas: One extremely easy way to keep your car at its best in the area of fuel efficiency is by checking the air in your tires often. Tires that are not properly inflated to the right levels cost you precious gas mileage.  Regular oil changes also help to keep your car’s gas mileage where it should be. Even though it can cost money to do your own oil change or have a mechanic do it for you, it is still a cost effective method of increasing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Home Sweet Home -

• Wash your clothes in cold water: Detergent technology has gotten so good that washing in hot water is no longer necessary, you can save lots of energy by washing with cold water rather than hot water.

• Line dry your clothes: Get a rack or clothesline and dry your clothes on that, instead of in your dryer. If that idea isn’t entirely appealing, consider drying larger items (towels, sheets) on the line and your regular clothes in the dryer to cut down on the time.

• Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket: One of your biggest energy sucks in the house is your water heater, that tank that keeps your water nice and hot for your showers. Wrapping a blanket reduces the amount of heat it loses into the area around it.

• Clean out your refrigerator coils: Dust off the coils on the refrigerator and you can improve its efficiency, thus lowering the electricity bill of the one thing in your house that’s always on.

• Swap out regular light bulbs with CFLs: The technology in CFLs now is so good that most people can’t even tell the difference (other than by looking at them). Swapping them out reduces your energy use and are best used in areas where the lights are on most often. They’re more expensive but they last longer and use less power.

• Remember to return those cans and bottles for deposits: If you live in a state that collects a deposit on cans and bottles, remember to redeem them!