Cheap Living

Who doesn't want to save money? It seems as if in today's economy, the spotlight has been on coupons, saving money, changing credit cards, looking at investments, etc. It isn't a wonder our heads are all spinning!

I guess I've seen too much about the "family" that wants to save...you know, the mom, dad, 2.5 children, 1 dog and the station wagon. While that is all well and good, there are many families that don't fit the statistics. What about the single moms with kids or even the "typical" family that has never made enough to have investments? Well, this article is for you.

Let's look at some ways we can save:
1. GROCERIES - this is always a common one. The U.S. Department of Labor says the average American family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries -- that's $709 per month! WOW! (And we won't talk about what is spent at fast food restaurants.....)

Hopefully, it has become common sense to not shop while you are hungry, watching impulse buying, making a grocery list and buying generic when appropriate.

The other common sense item is using coupons. Yes, I know it can get crazy, watching for the newspaper to come out and trying to clip those coupons but there are sites that are reputable that will clip coupons for you and mail them to you...just specify your shopping habits and needs and the coupons will come to you! It really pays for itself.

If you DO want to clip coupons and search the web for great coupon sites, www.redplum.com and www.couponmom.com are great sites for starters and for more, just type in "grocery coupons" with quotes into Google or your favorite search engine.

Pay attention to the sales circulars that come in the paper, too. With the buy one get one free (BOBO) offers along with coupons, you'd be surprised at how little you will pay for everyday items.

STOCK UP! Ok, so you already have 5 rolls of toilet paper. If you can buy more at a reduced price, you've saved money. Maybe not today but overall.

BUY ONLINE. Many times, you can find coupon codes good for a percentage off the total price or free shipping. Don't ignore sites like www.couponcode.com and retailmenot.com.

If you are a frequent shopper at Walmart, choose your product online (better selection than in store) and have it ship to store for no cost. It gives you better selection, saves you time and costs nothing.

UTILITIES. You may not realize it but of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off. OFF! So, either unplug them or use a Smart Power Strip (Smart Strip SCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology) that will stop drawing power while they are off.

If you have a water heater built before 2004, consider using an insulating jacket such as a Thermwell blanket (Thermwell SP57-11C Water Heater Blanket \). You'll save about $30 a year. Along with this, use a timer. An hour or so before you wake up, set the timer to allow power to the water heater. Then, have it off while you are gone. Turn it back on in the evening if you need to.

WATCH THE THERMOSTAT. A programmable thermostat (Honeywell RTH6400D 5-1-1-Day Programmable Thermostat) saves more than twice its price within a year and will adjust the temperature automatically. It is estimated that you can save 5% for each degree you turn it down.

WASH IN COLD WATER and save 50% of the energy you would have used for hot water.

Install occupancy sensors (Lutron MS-OP600GHW-WH Maestro Occupancy Sensor with Eco-dim Dimmer, White) on lights in areas you rarely use and for exterior lights. This way they won't get left on during the day and when home, will automatically turn the lights off.

YOUR SHOWER. You can save 25% to 60% ($30-$100/year) of the water it takes and 50% of the energy necessary to shower. Install a low-flow shower head, which restricts the water output to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute (Delta Faucet 75155 1.6 GPM Water-Amplifying Showerhead, Chrome).

YOUR TOILET. Is your toilet leaking? If so, you could be wasting up to 200 gallons a day. Put some food coloring in the tank. If it shows up in the bowl, you have a leak 400C TOILET TANK REPAIR KIT

YOUR CAR. According to AAA, the average cost of owning and driving a car 15,000 miles a year is $8,121. So, it pays to keep it tuned up and running right, including tire pressure and oil changes, not just tune ups.

Get a free insurance quote and ensure you are paying the right rates, especially if your policy has been with the same insurer for a while. If you drive an older car, consider dropping full coverage and go with just liability. Raise your deductible, as well. You might also group all your policies with one company, being able to have a discount.

There are so many ways to cut down spending. Be creative. Be logical. Think. Use common sense and you'll find even more ways to stretch the almighty dollar.

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