These days, it's really important to pinch pennies everywhere you can, even a few dollars saved here and there can help your budget enormously. Today's post is full of some pretty simple ideas to help save money, some things I've written about before and some I haven't. These are all things that we do in our house on a regular basis and I hope these tips are helpful for you. Please feel free to share your own hints and tips in the comments section - I'd love to hear them!
-- Buying fewer things at full price - items like deodorant, shampoo, and soap can often be purchased for $.50 each or less (or sometimes FREE!!) if you combine sales and coupons. - Cereal is always on sale at drugstores (usually $1.99 each at our Walgreens in Rochester. Regular price for the same box of cereal at Walmart is normally $2.98), top the sale with a $1.00/2 coupon and you're talking cereal for $1.49 a box.
- Purchasing certain foods in bulk can be beneficial as well (but do your homework to be sure you've found the best price!) For instance, I get the best price on ground beef by purchasing a 6 pound pack for $2.19/lb at Wegmans. They also sell bulk packs of chicken breast for $1.99/lb at Wegmans - it's worth keeping an eye on the sale ads for chicken breast however, as it has occasionally been priced at $1.79/lb at Aldi. I also purchase cheese in bulk and freeze it. This works with shredded cheese as well as blocks of cheese (I'll write a post on this later!)
- Sometimes the store brand really is the best deal and works just as well or better than the name brand product. Even if you have a coupon for the name brand product, the store brand may still be a better deal - don't become addicted to using coupons just for the heck of it.
- Use those coupons on clearance items, this opportunity may not happen often but when it does, take advantage of it!!
- Planning ahead really has its advantages. I plan meals a month in advance and avoid making weekly trips to the store unless we need something like eggs, milk, fresh fruits/veggies, etc.
-- Reuse plastic ziplock bags. This especially applies if you have kids and are packing lunches in plastic baggies. As a matter of principal, I won't reuse the bags that I freeze meat in, but the ones that hold sandwiches and snacks can be washed and reused until they get holes or start falling apart (because they won't last forever). Another option is to use plastic containers because those will last much longer than baggies, although they don't work in every situation.
-- Not buying "fancy" cleaners - you'd be amazed how well white vinegar works to clean surfaces and even the toilet bowl.
- Baking soda is a great abrasive for scrubbing surfaces.
- Water and white vinegar clean glass and mirrors.
- Soaking denture cleaning tablets in the toilet for 30 minutes or longer really will keep the toilet bowl clean in between deep cleanings.
-- Turn the heat down a degree or two. Seriously, it won't kill you and you'll save a few dollars on your electric bill each month. Also, don't leave the refrigerator door wide open, turn off lights as you leave a room, and unplug things you aren't actively using.
-- I live in an apartment and pay to do my laundry. Because hubby and I don't produce that much laundry, I'm able to do the wash every two weeks. When I do the laundry, I put two loads of wet clothes in the dryer together to pinch pennies. It hasn't caused problems yet...if I have a "special" load like bed sheets or really nice clothing, those do get washed and dried on their own. Yes, I know this won't work for everyone, but it's an idea.
-- Signing up for FREE samples. You can get things like dishwashing and laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, even trash bags. Granted, you will only get a sample size, but it's still a product you didn't have to pay for!
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