The need to save money is pretty universal. Most people, myself included, are always looking for ways to minimize spending, so we can save more. Drastic changes tend to be harder to commit to and more likely to inspire us to do something crazy in rebellion. For me, it’s easier to just commit to a few small changes and work my way up. Here’s six, simple, money saving tips you can implement right now.
1. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
Turning off the water when brushing your teeth is a great way to conserve water. However, it also can save you money! For a family of four brushing twice a day, turning off the faucet could save them around $50 a year! Here's a handy chart to help you figure out your possible savings.
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2. Use less toothpaste or none at all.
Did you know, it might not even be necessary for you to use toothpaste? And if you are using it, you only need a pea-size amount on your toothbrush. While this might not save your hundreds of dollars, every penny counts, and I'm sure you'll save a few pennies if you stop being wasteful with toothpaste and cut back to the recommended amounts.3. Wash clothes with cold water.
Instead of paying the money to heat water to wash your clothes, save that money and wash your clothes with cold water. Washing in cold water is also great for delicates and stains—such as blood or sweat, which will set if washed in hot water.
4. Use a programmable thermostat and use it right!
Inefficient heating and cooling can make a huge difference on your utility bills. Using a programmable thermostat to lessen the cooling or heating effect while people in the household are sleeping and/or at work or school is a great way to lower your utility bill.5. Skip or cancel your cable or satellite.
The average cable bill is somewhere around $90 and a similar average for satellite subscribers. On top of that, bills are only expected to keep rising. I read this great article on cutting the cord the other day, that basically thanks all of the people willing to put up with cable/satellite company B.S. for making their cable-less life even better.
With Netflix ($7.99) a month you can stream tons of television shows and movies.
If you're dying to watch the newest episodes of your favorite TV series, many are available for purchase (as individual episodes or as a season pass) on Xbox live for very reasonable prices. Going this route, you own them and can watch them anytime, again and again.
Many other options exist, such as Hulu, ChromeCast, Fire TV, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Roku, Vimeo, and Apple TV. Do a little research, and I'm sure you'll realize you could be saving tons of money!
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6. Switch to a Prepaid Cell Phone
If you're still with AT&T, Sprint, or some other carrier, you're being robbed. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. If you're looking for somewhere to save money, why not kick your phone company to the curb? The downside to prepaid service is you must pay for your phone (full-priced) outright.
However, you'll probably save $50 (compared to an individual plan) or more a month by switching. You might even be able to take your phone with you in some cases. In other cases, why not settle for the non-iPhone (or whatever the latest craze is) and get an affordable smart phone while you save for the full cost of the one you really want?
What is something you do to save money? Do you practice any of these money saving tips?
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