Amidst our nation’s current economic troubles, many families have found themselves tightening their proverbial belts. And, for some, this tightening hasn’t been too comfortable — or pretty, for that matter. Fortunately, not every money saver has to be difficult. Some are even easy, in fact. Really! Last week I highlighted five quick and easy money savers; this week I’ll list five more.
Exercise From Home. Simple concept: gym memberships are expensive, especially when multiplied out over an entire year, whereas working out from home is not. It can even be free if need be! You just need to be a little more creative. Jog around the block, instead of on a treadmill, for example. Or swap the StairMaster for the stairs at a local park. Or instead of a stationary bike — well, I think you get the idea.
(Note: purchasing your own machine-filled exercise room is not the solution here — unless, of course you already have one that you just don’t use.)
Vacation During the Off Season. Life is stressful, especially these days. And yet, just when we need a vacation the most, we find ourselves unable to pay for one, which can be very demoralizing. Fortunately, all is not lost. Off-season vacations are not only still a lot of fun (really), they’re also quite cheap too.
Cut Back on the Drinks. Whether your poison drink of choice is coffee, alcohol or soda, there’s always some room to cut back, even if just a little. Now, I’m not saying you need to go cold turkey or even that you should cut your intake — I know better. Rather that you should finder cheaper alternatives. For example, consider swapping your daily Starbucks for some home brew, or slamming your daily beer (or three) at home instead of at the bar.
Go Generic. A few years ago it might have made sense to get the name-brand stuff for purposes of appearance, but I can only hope that mindset has since been dutifully put to rest. Because, really, appearance is all that differentiates the brand name cereal from the generic, the taste is the same. Same goes for medicine, clothing and other grocery items.
Buy in Bulk. Now, this probably isn’t a wise idea for produce and other perishables — unless you have a very large, very hungry, vegetable-eating family — but for non-perishables, stock up! Because the more you buy, the lower the price (per item).
