25 Ways to Save Money & Live Better - Part 2

[Jonathan K]

6) Groceries

6a) Write a list before you go shopping – and stick to it. There are people hired just to make sure the milk and eggs are in a section of the store… Or that you will have to go from groceries in the middle of all these clothes to get to your home goods or toiletries. See how to save money on groceries.

Never shop while hungry!

Don’t fall for it!

Also don’t buy things at the checkout aisle. They are marked up usually and are impulse buys.

Buy in bulk at wholesale stores at like Sam’s or Costco. If buying in bulk for a smaller family or even singles makes wholesale unaffordable then get a buying buddy! You can half the cost and the product with your buying buddy. Or even split the cost of membership!

6b) Make a comparison shopping list. I have an excel version of this. Basically compare your major stores for the items you buy.

You might be surprised to know that where you think is the best prices may not be. Walmart for example in our area is usually more expensive in many every day grocery items than Kroger.

You can also see the local adds online and shop before you go to the store.
More to come on this subject as my wife and I conduct a survey these next couple of months.

7) Drink More Water

7a) Water is not only incredibly healthier for you but will also help with the waistline. Soft drinks, juice, energy drinks, coffee, and such are fun but they don’t usually help your pocket book.

Give up your Coke or Starbucks for a week and see how much you could save. Try it for a month or a year. Dave Ramsey talks about cutting back on smoking, Starbucks, etc. and putting the money instead in a mutual fund.

8) Shop Right After the Holidays

8a) Yes Black Friday is fantastic. But do you really want to get up that early? I’ve done it for the last 6 years not by choice. However, often the same deals are available online or are still on sale after the big day. Also keep in mind there are some great sales after Christmas. Save up your money throughout the year and buy on Holidays or the day after.

9) Save Energy

9a) Turn off the lights when you leave your home! Don’t leave lights on throughout the night unnecessarily. Replace your standard light bulbs with HE (high efficiency) bulbs. Turn down your thermostat when your away from home. Only run your dishwasher when it is full. See more on how to save energy.

10) Keep an Idea Book in your pocket

10a) It is easy to waste time and money because we forget the ideas in our head. Also, making random to do lists that disappear makes it difficult to track tasks. One idea my Dad always gave me was to buy an agenda and keep tabs on tasks. Whatever works for you.

Instead of using my memory I have a little book I put ideas down. I’ve used this for the past couple weeks and seem to be a lot more productive.

11) Get RID of your Cable Bill

11a) Yes, you pay too much for TV. I have friends and family that pay $140 a month for HDTV services. In the summer especially guys get rid of your bill please. The only sports worth watching in the summer is baseball which many local games are televised on free TV. The news is too depressing and sitcoms are a bit of a waste of time. Try it at least for a couple of months.