30 Ways To Reduce Your Spending

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the high cost of living these days? If you think it is impossible to cut back any more than you already have think again. Here are 30 different tips to cut expenses. Even if you followed a few of them you could find that it is possible to make your money go further.

1 Save on energy costs - use power-saving CFL lights, monitor and change your thermostat’s temperature as required during daytime and night and don’t leave lights/appliances on when you don’t require them.

2. Skip the movies and rent or borrow dvds. You will also save money by making your own popcorn.

3. Instead of meeting friends at the coffee shop or bar, call them home. Potluck dinner parties are a good idea.

4. Carry your lunch to work.

5. Carpool to work whenever possible.

6. Buy generic drugs instead of branded ones.

7. Make a list when you go grocery shopping and stick to it. Use coupons on items you normally buy and try to shop on double coupon days. Stocking up on non perishables or items that can be frozen is also a good idea when they are on sale.

8. If you make a lot of long distance calls then it may pay to go with a plan that offers free long distance. Otherwise, limit calls to nights and weekends when rates are normally cheaper.

9. Piggy-bank loose change.

10. Never pay full price for clothing. Check the sales flyers in your Sunday paper. Why pay full price on a pair of jeans at one store when another store is having a sale?

11. Stop smoking. Easier said than done but can you really afford not to?

12. Doing little things like not running the water while brushing your teeth will save a lot of water.

13. Save the cost of a gym membership and work out at home.

14. Keep up on maintenance to extend the life of you car.

15. Shop in discount stores - even Warren Buffet does that!

16. If you’re paying a high interest on a mortgage or credit card - refinance it, change it or consolidate your debt to save on interest.

17. Keep ingredients on hand for meals that you can have on the table in under 30 minutes. This just might keep you from ordering take out if you had a busy day.

18. Always bargain at shops and look at a few options before making a purchase. If you’re buying fancy stuff like jewelry, buy it from a pawn shop.

19. Is rent high where you live? consider getting a roommate or move if you have to.

20. Check out Freecycle.org for getting free stuff or getting rid of things that you don’t use. Many communities have their own chapter.

21. Stick with basic cable. Your family might balk at the idea but your wallet will thank you.

22. We all like to splurge once in a while on things like manicures but if are trying to save money consider doing this yourself.

23. Open a savings account that you use just for emergencies. If possible have just $5.00 per week taking right out of your paycheck and work your way up. This will come in handy the next time you have an emergency car repair.

24. When shopping for your work wardrobe try to avoid anything that is “dry clean only”.

25. See if you can get a better price on insurance. Some companies will give you a deal if you carry all your policies (car, homeowners, etc) through them.

26. Drink less soft drinks and more water. Not only will it save on your grocery bill but it is also better for your health.

27. Have a yard sale. Not only will you make some extra cash but you will also get rid of excess clutter.

28. Always pay your bills on time. Late fees can really eat up your budget.

29. Plant a vegetable garden. If you don’t have a lot of space you could try container gardening.

30. Know when to splurge. Cut back on the trivial things that eat up your paycheck and you can splurge occasionally on something fun.

These are just a few tips to help you stretch your budget. You might even come up with a few of your own!