Automobile
Slow down.
Stick to the speed limit and you save money at the pump.
Shop around for automobile insurance every year.
It is crazy how different insurance rates can be between insurance carriers. It is worth a few phone calls or internet searches to see how much money you can save. We don’t get many perks for loyalty to one insurance company. Instead we are rewarded by searching around.
Buy used.
Used cars make sense. A new car depreciates almost the second you drive it off the lot. A used car has the benefit of not costing an arm and a leg.
Buy aftermarket products.
Items like DVD players, back up cameras, and navigation systems are easy installs after you purchase your car. You can save thousands of dollars by installing aftermarket products.
Check the air pressure in your car’s tires.
By driving with your tires properly inflated you are saving money on gasoline.
Do your own maintenance.
Changing your own oil and air filters is fairly easy. Watch some youtube videos and before you know it you will be changing your own radiator and maybe even your brakes too!
Clothing
Repair instead of replace.
Do your best to repair clothing. If a button falls off it is truly an easy fix. Seams that have come undone can be sewn with a needle and thread.
Thrift stores.
It is amazing what people donate to thrift store. Sometimes you will find absolutely new articles of clothing with tags on still! Here are some thrift store shopping tricks to help you save even more!
Zulily is a website that offers daily deals on brand new name clothing (and more) for every member of your family. TOMS and other big brands have been featured on Zulily.
Like Twice is a website that sells gently used children’s and adult clothing. Schoola is a concierge-style online store that buys and sells secondhand clothing, shoes, and handbags and more. Get $20 off your first purchase with this link.
Thredup allows you to buy or conveniently sell excellent-quality women’s and kids clothing. They’ve got everything from Gucci to Gap, J Crew to Justice – at up to 90% off retail prices! I can get you $10 off your first purchase with this link.
Save money with discounted gift cards at Raise. Buy gift cards for up to 35% off or sell gift cards for up to 92% cash back. Get $5 off your first order with this link.
Buy out of season
One of the best ways to stock your closet is to buy clothing when they are on the clearance rack at the end of the season. You can…and will….save big! When that season rolls around you will feel and look like a million bucks after only having spent a little!
Sign up for emails
Many company send emails with coupons. It is always beneficial to sign up for emails before you plan a shopping trip. You may be pleasantly rewarded. It’s the best when you can use coupons on clearanced end of season clothing pieces to save even more!
Shop sales
If you can’t wait until the clearance racks are heavy with clothes, shop the sales. Watch emails, ads, and websites to find the best prices. Coupons are great and will help you save tremendously.
Have a minimalist wardrobe.
Stock up on fashion essentials that work well together. Use your clothes over and over again, mixing and matching to create different looks. Jeans, a cardigan, ballet flats, a tailored skirt, basic t-shirts, a scarf or two, and a few necklaces can all be interchanged to create fun wardrobe choices.
Dry cleaning is convenient but costly. Invest in a good iron and take care of your own clothes. Watch your favorite tv show while you are taking care of this chore.
Family and Friends
Plan gift giving in advance.
When you know who you are giving gifts to you are able to shop sales ahead of time. You can plan your budget accordingly instead of scrambling at the last minute.
Set a limit on family gifts.
By setting a spoken, monetary limit on family gifts you are being smart. Whether you are doing a silly white elephant gift exchange, a homemade gift exchange, or just giving presents to a few people on your list it helps everyone to have a budget.
General
Cancel unused memberships.
Assess your memberships and cancel the ones that you don’t use. If you haven’t been to the gym in 3 months, it’s time to work out at home or walk at the park and to stop throwing your money away each month. It hurts a little giving up those memberships, but you will save so much money!
Avoid impulse purchases
If you see an item that you think you can’t live without, snap a photo of it mentally or with your phone and walk away. Wait 30 days. If you still want that item 30 days later….go back and purchase it.
Now that you are saving money…be sure that you are budgeting your money carefully as well!
Do you have other tips to save money? What works in your house?
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Leandrea is a married mom of two girls, ages 13 and 12, living in Atlanta, GA. She is passionate about helping people save money one coupon at a time. Read more
These are great tips, and even just doing a few of these will save a lot of money. Thank you!
I really like these tips. My husband and I do our best to stick to all you have listed above. I think the hardest for us stopping for that drink or coffee on the go. Definitely something to always remain conscious of as we save money.
These are awesome tips, there are many things that I should be doing – I feel like I’m throwing money away right now!
I try hard to lead a very ‘green’ life and I have found that things that reduce our carbon footprint quite often help us save money, too! Cutting utilities, buying second hand, cooking from scratch, etc!