Tag Archives: save money

Using Scheduled Combinations to Save

This morning was a pretty busy day. We had a lot of people in and out and a lot of phone calls to make. This is because we used a pretty sturdy strategy to save both money and time. We used combinations. What are combinations? Well, you can have combinations in many different aspects of your schedule and your tasks. You can also call this multitasking, but I like to call it combinations, because unlike typical multitasking, combinations are planned out and don’t always happen at exactly the same time. Here is an example of our morning. We scheduled several … Continue reading →

What Are the Extra Purchase Costs?

When you are about to make a purchase, do you consider all of the extra costs that might go along with it? Sometimes a simple purchase is not so simple after all. Keep the following things in mind when you are about to spend money on something. Do you need to use credit? If you are taking out a loan or using a credit card to purchase something than beware. You may wind up paying twice or more of the purchase price in interest fees. Few of us can afford a house without a mortgage, but it is a great … Continue reading →

20 Ways to save $1 or More Today

What would you do with an extra $365 dollars? That is how much you’ll have at the end of the year if you just save $1 a day, $7 a week or $30 a month. It really does add up doesn’t it? Make it a goal to save $1 a day. Here are 50 easy ways to save $1, or more, today. 1. Sign up for free samples and free product coupons instead of buying snacks. I recently have gotten Bare Naked Granola, half a dozen free candy bars, free Honey Nut Cherrios cereal, free fruit leather and more (see … Continue reading →

How Much Does It Cost to Do Your Wash?

Once you know the real cost of something, such as doing your wash, you may be surprised. And that surprise can turn into motivation for doing things differently, and thus saving money. Let us look at three households: Mrs Average, Mrs Conservative, and Mrs Thrifty. They each do laundry a different way, and so they spend different amounts getting the same size load completed. We will assume that they all have a standard washing machine and dryer. It is true that you can usually save more with a high efficiency washer and dryer. We’ll also assume that they do their … Continue reading →

Saving Money Assignments for Families

Saving money and living a frugal lifestyle should involve the whole family. When one person is in charge of reducing waste and finding new ways of stretching the budget, it can be overwhelming and frustrating. A family working together is more likely to accomplish their savings goals, I think. Everyone in the family should take on some responsibility for saving money. Even the youngest members should be able to help out (as long as they can walk and take direction). Here is a guide to some of the ways that you can create money saving assignments for the whole family. … Continue reading →

How to Save Money on Underwear

Underwear is just one of those things that I refuse to buy used. I know that some others do this quite successfully, but I just cannot get over my squeamishness about it. I am fine getting most other items of clothing used for myself and my family, but I just can’t do underwear. Because gently used clothes are one of the great ways to reduce the clothing budget, and this is not an option for underwear, I’ve come up with several other ways to save money on underwear. I hope that my tips will help you save money as well. … Continue reading →

Make Everything Last Longer

One sure way to make sure that you spend less money is to avoid replacing items in your home, especially expensive items. Just a little extra care can go a long way to making your stuff last longer. Just yesterday, I reminded a sweet little girl from the neighborhood that she left her bicycle helmet in our garage. Her response was to leave it there, that she would just buy another one. My own kids were a little shocked by this and stopped her a few times as she was leaving to go home for the night. They couldn’t believe … Continue reading →

How We Saved Money on Furniture and Home Decor

We are in the middle of fixing up our dining room, complete with a new dining room table, a set of six chairs, and all of the tablecloths, place mats and decorative touches. We’ve already installed a new lighting fixture. One thing we haven’t done is to spend a lot of money on any of this. Here is how. First, we scouted around for a dining room set that we liked. We finally agreed on one that was cherry wood with simple lines. We knew that it needed to seat at least five (6) on a daily basis and be … Continue reading →

Smart Savings Solutions to Prepare for Winter

Many people tend to be in the deepest financial crisis in the winter months. This may be due to a few different factors and can be different for each family. Here are some common causes of a winter financial crisis as well as some smart savings solutions that you can get started on right now to prepare for winter and protect yourself. Causes of a winter financial crisis Illness With flu and cold season approaching, an illness could cause a financial crisis in more ways than one. Doctor visits, prescriptions and even hospitalization can take a toll on your finances. … Continue reading →

Toilet Frugality

From the extreme to the sublime, frugal living can take on all sorts of levels. It is important and fun to try new ways to save. Some you will like and continue to use, others you wouldn’t even think of doing. The following ideas offer a range of different methods, and yes, they all have to do with the bathroom. I am sometimes asked the question, “Which saves more money, taking a shower or taking a bath?” The answer here isn’t as simple as you might think. For most people, if you take a short shower using a low-flow shower … Continue reading →