Twenty-Three Easy Ways to Save Money in a Weak Economy
Economic downturns are never especially fun, but as Adam Smith observed centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Although none of us can say for sure when this most recent slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of sparing your wallet in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving ideas tailored to our 21st-century lives:
1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do some of our shopping online now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt on the Web. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com offer thousands of current offers at retailers all over the Net.
2. Use price-comparison sites such as Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, Google Product Search, and mySimon.com to find the best deals online.
3. When you’re out at a brick-and-mortar store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” followed by the name of the item you’re looking at. Google will reply with a message quoting its online prices. To compare prices at stores in your area, go to ShopLocal.com.
4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a sizable family.
5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing ballyhoo and not the product itself, anyway.
6. Withdraw your green from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.
7. Buy locally-sourced food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices are usually lower there since the food doesn’t have to be transported very far.
8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding them since they’ve been turning up all over the place recently.
9. Purchase discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying well under half as much for the generic pills available at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name medications at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
10. If your car is seven years old or older and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance. Your deductible may be closing in on the value of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk yard and you to the dealership.
11. Keep cell-phone costs under control. Kids today love to text message, so save yourself from unexpectedly high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.
12. Use online classifieds to buy used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are great resources for finding everything you need, from used furniture to baby gear. By buying from locals, you can save on shipping costs as well.
13. Go to matinees. Matinee showings are often more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.
14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the power consumption of your electrical appliances.
15. For your next date, have a romantic picnic instead of going to a pricey restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a low-cost rendezvous. Add some zest with a bottle of vino.
16. Instead of buying software, look for (legal) free software from places like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of program, the free alternatives will often be just as good as the paid versions.
17. If anyone in your house is a student, get the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and it will get the holder 10% to 15% discounts in dozens of participating stores.
18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re asleep and away. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you’ll lower your bill by 10% to 20%.
19. Consider leaving your health club. More economical options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby park and recreation center.
20. Cut your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.
21. When you eat out, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid paying a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.
22. Buy pre-owned books. Major online book dealers offer a “buy it used” option, where you will often find books in like-new condition at substantial markdowns.
23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and simple, because someone without any experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers can be found in department stores for less than the expense of some high-end haircuts.
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