Easy Yet Important Ways to Save Money
by Sandi Duncan | Monday, July 14th, 2008 | From: Home and Garden
- Start the workweek off with $25. See if you can make it last without going to the ATM for more money (excludes gas purchases of course!).
- Garage sale season is now. Check them out or have your own. You may find some great slightly or sometimes not at-all-used items that you could use or give as gifts.
- Hang clothes OUTSIDE to dry. Use liquid fabric softener while washing, and clothes will come out as soft as they would from the dryer.
- Take the time to plan out your meals for a week. Then make a shopping list from menus.It’s very easy to buy impulse items, but if you stick to the list, you may be happier with the bill at the end.
- Save money by shopping at a grocery store you are familiar with. Then make your list in the order in which the items are displayed at the store. This will save time and money.
- Plan your purchases with ease of maintenance in mind (house, clothes, car). Many dollars can be saved over the years and extra time gained if you keep this in mind.
- How many subscriptions do you have? Online subscriptions can be cost-effective if you use them, but if you don’t, you may want to cancel a few. Check to see what you are signed up for, and then ask yourself if you really need/use the service.
- Waste not want not. Try to save and use leftovers. Get creative. Steak and chicken from the night before taste good in salads. Designate a night for “clean the fridge” night and get rid of all the leftovers that have been piling up.
- Price comparison is made much easier with the Internet. Do you research online and off. You can compare prices and product reviews.
- Bring back the money jar. Put a jar in a high-traffic area in your home. When you have extra change drop it in. Get in a habit and after several months, you may be surprised at how these extra coins add up.
- Understand your needs versus your wants, and be sure to teach this to your children.
- Pull out the board games. Instead of heading to the movies, why not break out the cards, checkers, or board games and have a fun night that doesn’t cost much.
Sandi Duncan is the Managing Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
