Twenty-Three Ways to Save Money in a Bad Economy

Posted: August 26th, 2009 | Author: writingteam11 | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: coupons, discounts, how to save money, money management, money-saving tips, personal finance, personal finances, personal management, recession, save money, savings, the recession, ways to save money | 1 Comment »

Economic downturns aren’t ever much fun, but as Adam Smith noted over two centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although none of us can say for sure when this latest slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of stretching your cash in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:

 

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do part of our shopping on the Internet now, not as many of us seem to have gotten into the habit of coupon-hunting on the Web. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at retailers all across the Web.

 

2. Use price-comparison sites such as Shopping.com, Pricegrabber.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best deals online.

 

3. When you’re out at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s text number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the item you’re interested in. Google will reply with a message quoting its online prices. To compare prices at stores in your area, visit ShopLocal.com.

 

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a sizeable family.

 

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing ballyhoo and not the product itself, anyway.

 

6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

 

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices are usually lower there because the food doesn’t have to be transported far.

 

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding one since they’ve been turning up all over the place recently.

 

9. Purchase discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying considerably less than half as much for the generic medications carried by these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medicines at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

 

10. If your car is seven or more years old and/or worth $2,500 or less, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be approaching the worth of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

 

11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.

 

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are great resources for finding everything you need, from used furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs as well.

 

13. Go to matinees. The matinee showing is often more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

 

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the electricity usage of your electrical appliances.

 

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to a high-end restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a low-cost rendezvous. Add some zest with a bottle of wine.

 

16. Instead of spending money on software, look for (legal) free software from websites like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of application, the free alternatives will often be just as good as the commercial versions.

 

17. If anybody in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and will get the holder 10% to 15% off in scores of participating stores.

 

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re asleep and away from the house. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll cut your bill by 10% to 20%.

 

19. Consider quitting your health club. More economical options may include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and rec. center.

 

20. Cut your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

 

21. When you go out to eat, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid having to pay a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

 

22. Buy used books. Major online book retailers offer a “buy it used” option, where you will often find books in like-new condition at substantial markdowns.

 

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and simple, because someone with no experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers can be purchased in department stores for less than the price of some high-end haircuts.

 

 

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