10 Tips for Saving Money

Everybody wants to save money. Some people NEED to save money. Here are just a few tips and tricks I have found to save money or recieve a return on my money.

1. Become an affiliate. Does the online store that you order from offer an affiliate program? A lot of them do. If they do, join the affiliate program and order from your own personal link. This is not going to save you money initially but you will recieve a check for a percentage back after you have ordered enough to do so. This can really add up.
2. Shop at thrift stores for clothing and other such things. I regularly visit local thrift stores for our family's clothing needs but also for dishes, electronics, games, and other such needs. You never know what you might find at a thrift store.
3. Make 1 trip. Gas prices are getting very high these days, don't waste more than you have to. If you need to go to the grocery store this week and you have a doctor's appointment, do them both on the same day. While you are at it try and schedule your haircut for that day and maybe do any banking you need to do. So many people will do each of these as a separate trip and waste time and money by doing so.
4. Buy no brand. This has always been my biggest complaint about people who have very little. I have gone grocery shopping with friends who complain that they never have enough food for the month and then they buy all these name brand products. When I ask why they tell me they cannot eat anything except this because it doesn't taste right. Well, get used to it. The taste isn't all that different and it may not seem like the difference between $1.49 and $1.29 is all that different but it really adds up. But no brand and look for deals.
5. Use coupons. When you can find coupons for what you really want or need, use them. Look online because sometimes stores that you frequent might post coupons online. Some products will as well.
6. Dollar stores are your friend. Every month I have a certain list of items that I buy at my local dollar store. Of course be careful not to be fooled. Some items are cheaper to buy in bulk at even my local Wal-mart but if you pay attention you will find lots of good items at the dollar stores.
7. Buy in bulk. When possible buy in bulk. It is always cheaper to buy in bulk. Instead of buying a pack of 6 toilet paper rolls buy a pack of 24 or 48. The initial price is a little more but over the period of time that you use that toilet paper you are saving money because you would have spent much more buying it by the 6 pack. This goes for almost anything. If you have room to store it buy it in bulk.
8. Buy movies only after they hit the $5 bin. They always have that $5 bin in Wal-mart and in other stores sometimes. I know it's tempting to buy movies as soon as they hit the shelves at $20 a movie but think about that. You could get 4 movies for the price of one. Wait a little longer and buy them only after they hit the $5 bin. Ok some people are going to say don't buy them at all, that this is not a true need. Really? Everyone needs entertainment. Everyone is going to spend money on entertainment no matter how many "experts" tell them not to. So I say why ignore that. Buy them, but be smart about it.
9. Drink more water. Not only is this healthier for your body but it is also healthier for your pocketbook. Soda, juice, coffee, tea, kool-aid, whatever you drink, it's all an expense. And, though you need variety and flavor, it will help you save money if you drink more water.
10. Join a local freecycle. Ok so there is this new thing on the internet called freecycle. They have a website and then there are yahoo groups for every area of the nation. Basically this is a give and take list. When you have something you no longer need, you list it on the group for anyone to come get. When you see something listed that you want or need you make arrangments to go and pick it up. What a fantastic concept.

Ok so there are 10 tips to saving money. These are things I do and our family does. These are ways to save yourself a little here and there but I want to add this one last piece of advise. Put some money away for a truly rainy day. This is the hardest to do when times are tough and every penny counts but it is possible. Even if you can only put $5 a paycheck away it adds up. My advice is to try to put $15 a paycheck away but if that is just not possible then put NO LESS than $5 a paycheck away and more when you can. Don't look at your savings balance or in your locked box until you have been saving for at least 5 paychecks because this will help you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Saving money doesn't have to be difficult but it should be a priority in this day. Prices are getting higher every time we turn around. Not just gas prices but everthing, look at milk. If we are going to get through this rough spot, we need to learn how to save even penny's a day. If you saved .50 a day with the tips I gave, and it should be more than that, you would have an extra $15 a month to put into your savings acct or toward that bill that just never seems to get paid.

Good luck and good journeys.