Money Saving Tips

From The Hoss's Mouth

The Hoss has compiled a number of money saving tips to assist you and your family in planning ways to cut your family expenses. Many of these tips are easy to implement and will result in considerable savings to your budget.

• Money saving Tip 1: The proper use of a programmable thermostat can result in a considerable savings in your home heating bill. Consult your local power company for recommended settings or look for information on the Internet.

• Tip 2: When going on vacation be sure to utilize the vacation setting on your hot water tank.

• Tip 3: Fix leaky faucets.

• Tip 4: Use weather-stripping and/or caulk to plug heat loss from drafty doors or windows.

• Money Saving Tip 5: Seal all energy leaks. Cracks and small holes around windows and exterior walls should be caulked.

• Tip 6: Purchase energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs to replace standard candescent bulbs.

• Tip 7: Here's one you've never heard before: Turn out the lights.

• Tip 8: Turn of your computer and monitor when not in use.

• Tip 9: Basic cable only. Do you really need all those specialty and movie channels?

• Money Saving Tip 10: Do you really need call waiting, caller ID, voice-mail, call forwarding and three-way calling? Consider cancelling one or all of these services.

• Tip 11: Compare the various long distances providers. Choose a plan best-suited to your needs. Pay attention to their rounding policy. Do they charge by each minute or portion thereof or do they charge for actual time used? If you talk for a minute and a half and get charged for two, that is an unnecessary expense.

• Tip 12: If you are paying for multiple cell phones, this can be very expensive. Eliminate any that are supplemental to your basic needs. Sign up for family plans.

• Tip 13: Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are a great invention. However, you may be charged a transaction fee for using an ATM not associated with your financial institution. Identify which ATMs you can use without incurring a transaction fee.

• Tip 14: Closely monitor all your bank's service charges and identify areas where these charges can be eliminated or reduced, such as reducing the number of times you use ATMs if you are being charged per transaction.

• Money Saving Tip 15: Utilize the coupons in your local supermarkets' sales flyers. This could result in a huge savings in your budget for groceries.

• Tip 16: By store brand rather than name brand.

• Tip 17: Garage sales can also help reduce your expenses. You can pick up quality items for a greatly reduced price.

• Tip 18: End of season clearance sales can provide a huge savings on clothes.

• Tip 19: Where you have the expertise and knowledge, do it yourself. Paying service people can quickly add a great deal of unnecessary cost to your budget.

• Money Saving Tip 20: For special occasions such as birthdays, avoid gift-wrap that is expensive. Shop the dollar stores for good cheap wrapping. Mrs. Hoss does this all the time; she finds gift bags for a dollar, no more than two dollars, depending on the size.

• Tip 21: Learn to change the oil on your car. This can save you a few hundred dollars a year. Otherwise, utilize the many coupons that are available.

• Tip 22: Save on gas by keeping your tires fully inflated and your car tuned.

• Tip 23: Eat at home with meals prepared at home. Pack a lunch for work. Restaurant and take out foods are expensive and greatly increase budget expenditures.

• Tip 24:Eliminate those specialty coffees at the specialty rates.

• Money Saving Tip 25:Be self-motivated: Workout at home. Spa and health club memberships are costly.

• Tip 26: Pay cash. Many stores offer discounts for cash payment.

• Tip 27: Shop for an insurance company that will give you a preferred rate if you carry all your insurance with them. For example: car insurance, mortgage insurance and household insurance.

• Tip 28: Look for free activities: Take your kids to the park for a picnic and feed the ducks. Check your local newspaper for community events that are offered free of charge.
  

• Tip 29: If you go to a movie, make it a matinée or on a discount evening.

The Hoss realizes you may not be in a position to implement all of the above money saving tips, but make the most of as many as possible. This will help you and your family reach the financial goals you have established.

Stay on track,

The Hoss

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