In today’s economy more and more people are looking for ways to cut down on their spending without sacrificing the things that matter. This article is going to suggest some tips that you can apply to your life in order to reduce your spending. Remember that this is about making a lasting change, so there is no reason to implement these all at once. Implement the ones you are comfortable with and slowly add a few as you adjust.
Some of these ideas are mentioned in other articles I’ve posted but this is a quick list of 30 ideas.
Adjust the items to fit you and your lifestyle and add your own that you think of yourself. If you keep a hand written list somewhere that you can look at and work on then you don’t have to turn the computer on just to look at the list.
1. Replace Your Light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs.
2. Turn off your devices.
3. Unplug your devices.
4. Invest in vampire power protectors.
5. Turn off your heat, wear a sweater or snuggle up in a blanket.
6. Turn off your AC. Open a window and turn on a fan.
7. Hand wash your laundry.
8. Set your washer settings to cold water.
9. Invest in a drying rack instead of your dryer.
10. Cut liquid soaps with water.
11. Buy natural foods.
12. Don’t eat out or order in.
13. Exercise at home (with the help of online tutorials).
14. Start hobbies with the help of online tutorials before investing in lessons or tutors.
15. Become familiar with Craig’s List and Freecycle to pick up free things you may need.
16. Buy a coffee maker if you’re a coffee drinker.
17. Buy food in bulk.
18. Invest in a bike or a skateboard for local travel.
19. Use ridesharing sites and communities to cut down on the cost of gas.
20. Don’t pay for cable, the internet is better.
21. Cancel your land line, you don’t use it anyway.
22. Take shorter showers.
23. Get regular check ups and keep abreast of your health. Preventative care is much less costly than restorative care.
24. Go to community college for two years, then transfer to another school. It doesn’t matter where you start, it only matters where you finish.
25. Cut your own hair (much more advisable if you are a man).
26. Women, learn to style and care for your hair in order to cut down on salon trips.
27. Learn how to fix things such as clothing or household appliances. Something should only be thrown out if it’s unusable, not if you just don’t feel like fixing it.
28. Go to sleep earlier. The less you are awake during the darker hours of the day, the less you have to spend to light your house.
29. Get an induction stove top. This can be a major renovation, but it will save you money over the years as it is a much more efficient way of cooking.
30. Eat less. Americans tend to over eat. Most people do not need three meals a day. Eat smaller meals, spread out through the day. Light breakfasts, followed by snacks and light lunches (unless involved in heavy labor during the morning hours) and a solid dinner at night. Deserts should be small. You’ll find you need a lot less food than you’re accustom to thinking you need. This change will make you healthier and also save on health bills over time.