75 Things You Can Do to Save Money (2)

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

12 Jun 2008 04:22 PM

We are counting out 75 different things that you can do to be frugal and save money. Which ones are your favorites? If you missed the first part of this topic, click here: 75 Things You Can Do to Save Money.

42. Carpool.

43. Telecommute if you can or find a way to work from home.

44. Practice gas saving driving, such as keeping a steady pace under 55 mph.

45. Get rid of your gym membership and exercise outside or in your home.

46. Pay bills online.

47. Rent equipment with your neighbors and split the cost, such as a carpet cleaner, a stump grinder, etc.

48. Raise or lower your thermostat by three degrees.

49. Unplug appliances that are not in use to reduce the electricity drain.

50. Get rid of a home storage unit if you pay rent on it.

51. Sell your extra clutter for extra money.

52. Take care of yourself. Regular care will save you on doctor bills and dental bills.

53. Reuse what you have instead of buying something new.

54. Use washcloths, towels and newspaper instead of paper towels for cleaning.

55. Maintain your items and keep them in repair.

56. Wash clothing in cold water.

57. Hang your laundry.

58. Use half of the recommended amount of laundry detergent.

59. Run full loads of laundry or dishes.

60. Use up every ounce of product in a bottle or jar.

61. Skip the fabric softener and use vinegar if you want softer laundry.

62. Cut your family's hair yourself.

63. Stock up on sweaters and blankets instead of fuel in the winter.

64. Block drafts in your home with caulk, plastic or blankets, whichever applies.

65. Take shorter showers.

66. Visit attractions off season or on off hours. A movie matinee costs much less that the regular price, discounts can be had during certain days for bowling, etc.

67. If you eat out, go on days where kids eat free.

68. Eat out for lunch instead of dinner. Very often the portions are the same but the prices are less.

69. Make your own pizza from scratch.

70. Get food to go and you'll save on the tip and the drinks.

71. Use cash or gift cards for grocery shopping so you won't go over your budget. Extra things tend to jump into the shopping cart if you aren't careful.

72. Shred your own cheese from a block.

73. Wash baggies in the dishwasher and reuse them.

74. Pack your lunch instead of buying it out.

75. Cut your own vegetables and fruit instead of buying it precut.

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Julie Gentry (5915) 30 Dec 2008 03:37 AM

I could never understand why people pay for a storage unit -- especially people who have a garage. Most of the items stored in a storage unit aren't worth a year's fee, yet they pay over and over again.

Kara (21345) 30 Dec 2008 08:09 AM

We pay for a storage unit because we live in a tiny apartment and have no where to store our Christmas things, presents, and clothes our little one has grown out of but the other one doesn't fit into yet. We have the smallest storage space we can get. It makes sense imo to save those things and pay the fee.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 30 Dec 2008 08:43 AM

We did storage when we moved. We wanted to pack up a lot of things ahead of time and make our house look more spacious for showings. But, I tend to agree with Julie about storage units. it usually does not make sense. You have to divide the worth of replacing the items with the storage fee. For example, if it would cost Kara $1200 to replace her Christmas items and clothes each year, and the storage fee is only $50 a month, that might make sense. On the other hand, if the cost of a large apartment was less than the storage fee, moving might be an option. Downsizing is best, but that isn't always feasible.