Dollar Stretching Ideas

Dollar Stretching Ideas

Automobile

·          Buy regular gas if possible

·          Learn how to change your own oil

·          Compare retail prices to Bluebook prices before buying a car

·          Keep your tires inflated properly to get better gas mileage

·          Perform regular preventive maintenance

·          Keep the tires rotated on your car. When tires wear evenly, they last longer

·          Check the air pressure in your tires frequently. If tires are not properly inflated they will wear faster and properly inflated tires DOES increase fuel economy

·          Wash your car at home, rather than taking it to a car wash (do this with your children!)

·          Change the oil in your car regularly. Changing it late will only add to repair bills later

Banking

· Avoid ATM's that charge fees

· Find ATM’s that charge the lowest fees

· Use an interest-bearing checking account

· Pay bills online, and save on the postage

· Make payments on time to avoid late charges and increased interest fees

· Utilize online bill pay with your bank. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps you in much closer contact with your money as you can keep a very close eye on your balance and be in much less danger of over drafting. Second, it saves you money on stamps and paper checks by allowing you to just fill in an online form, click submit, and have your bill paid. Try it out and take advantage of it if you are not already doing so.

Food

· Buy generic brands

· Buy in bulk

· Cook from scratch

· Grow a garden

· Limit eating out

· Plan meals in advance

· Plan your meals around sale items

· Save and eat leftovers

· Shop only with a list. It limits “impulse buying”

· Take a lunch with you

· Use coupons

· Get in the habit of carrying a snack. The cost of vending machine purchases can really add up

· Bring your coffee from home in a thermos

· Use plastic containers for food storage instead of foil, plastic wrap and plastic bags

· Rain check. If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check

· Use store savings cards like those issued by supermarkets and drug stores. These can add up to big savings over the long run

· Get a crock pot. A crock pot is perhaps the best deal on earth for reducing cooking costs in a busy family. You can just dump in your ingredients before work, put it on simmer, and dinner is done when you get home. There are countless recipes out there for all variety of foods and you can usually make more than one meal at a time by bagging and freezing.

· Eating day-old bread won't kill you. Most supermarkets have a rack they load up each morning with that day's expiring bakery products for 50% off. The bakery items are still quite fresh, and often you can't even tell the difference. Many commercial bakeries have outlets where you can save even more.

Household

·         Caulk windows and doors to save on escaping warm air

·         Check into refinancing if it lowers your rate NOT TO TAKE EQUITY OUT OF YOUR HOUSE

·         Do your own painting

·         Learn to do simple repairs. Home Depot and Lowes’s all have experts on staff who can give you advice and “how-to” information. You can also consult Websites like www.ehow.com

·         Replace 100 watt bulbs with 60 watt bulbs to cut back on electricity usage

·         Use reusable glass or plastic glasses instead of paper cups

·         Use dish towels instead of paper towels whenever possible

·         Change the filter on your air conditioning return vent every month

·         Save plastic bags from the supermarket and other stores and use them to line trashcans and wastebaskets

Personal

· Buy low-cost cosmetics and hygiene products. In most cases the generic products are just as good as the branded ones. Check the ingredients and see

· Don't use a pet groomer. Let the kids wash the dog

· Do your own manicures and pedicures

· Give time, not money, to charity

· Make gifts instead of buying them

· Shopping online is your best bet to save money on cosmetics and other beauty products. You should comparison shop and use retailers such as amazon.com, drugstore.com and strawberrynet.com

Recreation And Entertainment

· Attend high school sports events instead of more expensive college or professional events

· Cancel magazine subscriptions

· Invite friends and host “potluck” dinners at home

· Meet friends for coffee and dessert instead of dinner

· Go to the early movies which are cheaper

· Rent movies instead of going to the theater . Check out www.netflicks.com, it’s only $4.95 a month

· Use public parks and free museums. There are all kinds of free events in every community. Seek them out

· Instead of buying books go to the library or read free materials online

· Save gift bags and gift paper and reuse them

Utilities

· Conserve water by turning off the faucet while you're brushing your teeth

· Don't use your dishwasher's drying cycle

· Lower the temperature on your hot water heater

· Lower your thermostat at night

· Set your thermostat to 75 in the summer and 65 in the winter

· Take a five-minute shower

· Use lights only when necessary

· Use low water flush toilets or similar water saving devices

· Use the utility company's budget plan

· Water your garden at night. This saves water from evaporating in the sun

· Dry your clothes using low heat or hang them to dry if possible

· Check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling features or additional services, such as inside wire maintenance, that you don't need. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year

· Disconnect land line if possible and use your cell phone as your primary line

· Unplug the "Energy Vampires" in your home. Televisions, computers, VCRs, DVD players, washers, dryers, microwaves, and chargers for cell phones, IPods and power tools all continue to suck power whenever they're plugged into an outlet even when they're turned off! Unplugging devices when they're not being used eliminates this energy waste, which could amount to about 5% of your monthly energy bill.

Miscellaneous

· Look for used first. If you need something see if someone you know has one that they don’t use or need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends or just ask around. You might be surprised. If no one you know owns one try freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Then look to buy used at garage sales or thrift shops. You can always find a bargain if you look around

· Use a 30-day list. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list with the date you added it to the list, and make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. Stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system

· Walk. Often we drive to the corner store or to a school that’s less than a mile away. Leave a few minutes early, walk, burn some calories and save gas and wear and tear on the car

· Hide your credit cards. Take your credit cards and put them in a safe place in your home, not in your wallet where it’s easy to use them. If you argue that you need it for “emergencies,” just be sure to keep a small amount of cash hidden in your wallet for those emergencies. Don’t keep Credit Cards on you until you have the willpower to not use it even when you’re sorely tempted

· Master the ten second rule. Whenever you pick up an item in order to add it to your cart or to take it to the checkout stop for ten seconds and ask yourself why you’re buying it and whether you actually need it or not. If you can’t find a good answer, put the item back. This will keep you from making impulse buys on. If you really think you want it put it on your 30-day list

· Know what things cost. When you shop or read the grocery store flyers, pay attention to the prices of things you buy, especially those you purchase regularly. You can't know a bargain when you see one unless you know what it costs normally. Retail stores have mastered the art of making people think they're saving money, when in reality the sale price might be mere pennies less than the regular price. Lift the sale tag to see what the "before" price was!

· 99Cent stores are not always cheaper. Compare prices before you buy

· Check quantity. Just because a price is lower doesn’t mean that you are getting a bargain

· Take your calculator with you to the supermarket. Compare prices by comparing the price per ounce, or pound or whatever the unit of measure is

· Embrace the simple pleasures. Kids do not need stacks of video games and movies or a playroom full of expensive toys to have a fun and a memorable childhood. What they want most of all is to spend time with their parents and you can enjoy quality time together for free by flying a kite, feeding the ducks at the park, going for a bike ride, or having "family game night" once a week

· There are many free activities online

And Remember.....

· Shop smart! Don’t buy products online unless you can get free shipping and make sure that the items aren’t available for less locally

· Take advantage of any discounts that you are eligible for. Your employer or other organizations that you may belong to may proved discounts at local companies like fitness centers and cell phone providers. Check your company bulletin board or ask your Human Resources Department