September 2010:
Tara Aronson, Lifestyle Expert
Tips from Lifestyle Expert, Tara Aronson. According to CareerBuilder.com, 61% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and trimming your budget is the first line of defense to help ease those monthly budget burdens and there are some everyday ways to save money that really add up. When cash is tight, you might be tempted to look for “big” ways to start saving, but cut backs don’t have to be drastic to save literally thousands of dollars a year.
Two Simple Ways to Save $2500 a year.
Brown bagging it can save $1700 a year over eating out and cutting down that daily cup of coffee (also known as the latte factor) could save you almost $800 a year. That totals $2500 for the year!
Look for Promotions.
Another great way to save is to look for the latest promotions from retailers. Here’s one that’s happening October 3rd through November 13th that’s great if you have a business, you work at home or you have school projects for the kids. You can get 50% back in rewards when you spend $25 or more with Staples Copy & Print, This includes anything from business cards, stationery, envelopes, invoices, holiday calendars, whatever you need – it’s so easy to save. There are a few restrictions, but basically all copy & print services are included. Just pop into any Staples store for all the details.
Cashback Reward Programs.
Now more than ever it’s important to know how to leverage money you’re already spending in order to get more bang for your buck and one easy way to do this is through a credit card rewards programs. Here’s a program I’ve recently discovered that is simple and delivers a lot of value. With Discover Card, you can get 5% cash back for every dollar you spend on clothes and restaurants from October through the end of the year with their 5% Cashback Bonus program. This is the only card that allows you to redeem rewards for more than their face value with gift cards from over 100 merchant partners, like Bed, Bath, & Beyond and TJMaxx. For example, You can turn $40 in a Cashback Bonus into a $50 gift card at Gap or Banana Republic.
Save on Utilities.
Here are four great ways to save on utilities. First, unplugging small appliances when they’re not in use can save up to 26% off your total electric bill. Second, replacing your light bulbs with energy saving CFLs can save $30 per bulb over its lifetime. Third, if you still have a landline and don’t use it because of your cell phone, then get rid or the landline and just use your cell phone. That could save you $600 to $1200 a year. Finally, this is not going to be popular, but I currently pay $110 a month on cable. So consider cutting your cable bill down to the basic service that could save you another $600 per year or more.
How to Get the Kids on Board.
At the grocery store, make it a game with kids to find the best deals. You can have them help you find the best price on items on your grocery store list. You can also have them help you find great deals with coupons. By involving them, you’re also teaching them how to be smart shoppers.
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