1. Plan ahead.  Begin by listing out everything you will need such as decorations, special food, sound equipment, computer and projector, serving utensils, etc.  Give yourself as much lead time as possible.  The more time you have to work with, the bigger your savings can be!

2.  See what you already have.  It will amaze you what you personally already have.  Maybe that special platter you have sitting in the back of the cabinet has just been waiting for this event.  We had a beautiful cut glass pitcher we had bought a few years back that worked great for the head table at our Seder.

3.  Find out what you can borrow.  Do you have a friend who also enjoys hosting events that you might be able to borrow a few things from?  It can even be as simple as needing a couple of extra crockpots and being able to borrow them from a couple of friends for a few days.  We needed an overhead projector, and instead of running out and buying one for over $300, I knew a friend who had one.  I asked him if we could borrow it which he gladly agreed to.  That was quite the savings!  We only need one a couple of times a year, and he happily borrows it.  I’m always careful to make sure that I keep close track of all the chords and that we are very careful with it, and let him know that we appreciate it.

4.  Look for used.  If you have time on your side, you can enjoy some garage sale shopping and thrift store shopping to find the items that you might need.  It is amazing to me what great finds at a fraction of a cost you can find.

5.  Use sales to your advantage.  If you cannot find used or buying used would not be appropriate, then watch for sales and even coupons.  We needed a group of 4 matching pitchers, so I used 40% off coupons to get them at our local Hobby Lobby.  That saved me about $20 on those alone!

6. Ask people to contribute if appropriate.  Depending on the type of event, do not be afraid to ask for help.  People love to be involved.  You can ask them to come a couple of hours ahead of time to help set up and decorate.  Or you can ask people to bring dishes.  In our case, our congregation provides the Seder elements and the lamb; however, we ask each family to bring a dish to share to make up the main meal.  This helps to cut down on the cost and is not too much for each family.

7. Finally, enjoy the event!  Do not overstress yourself to the point that you cannot enjoy it as well.  As the organizer, I know how it can be very tiring; however, try to plan things out far enough in advance that you too can enjoy the event.

What are some money saving tips that you have successfully used for events you have planned?

One of the biggest problems with spring cleaning is that it can wreak havoc on your budget. All the money spent on cleaning products can be quite insane.

According to Packaged Facts, a market research company that publishes information in the food and beverage and consumer packaged goods industry, households spend BILLIONS OF DOLLARS every year on household cleaning products. That is a lot being spent on fancy, name brand furniture polish, floor cleaners, and toilet scrub!

The truth is that consumers will spend lots and lots of money on cleaning supplies that can always be replaced with a cheaper alternative. As it is time for spring cleaning, here are some tips to save money without sacrificing overall cleanliness.

Buy Cleaning Supplies in Bulk

Think about buying cleaning solutions that are in concentrate and not smaller bottles. Many big box stores sell less flashy cleaning supplies where all you have to do is add a bit of water before cleaning.

Repurpose and Recycle Old Items

Did you know a used dryer sheet can clean your television and other hard surfaces? Old t-shirts are perfect for turning into dust rags rather than paper towels, which pile up in the garbage can and lighten your wallet. Always look for new ways to use old items.

One of the ways cleaning companies get to your wallet is by creating specialized cleaners for every appliance and surface. One all-purpose cleaner will do the trick…promise!

Make Your Own Cleaning Solutions

There are numerous books and websites dedicated to the topic of creating your own cleaners. Simple household ingredients can easily be put together to create a DIY cleaner.

You can create a multipurpose bathroom and kitchen cleaner by mixing a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water (but do not use on marble or acrylic surfaces). Create a perfect wood polish by mixing a cup of olive oil with a half-cup of lemon juice. These natural solutions work the same as store-bought cleaners and are actually a lot better for you as they do not contain harsh chemicals.

If You Are Buying Cleaners, Go for the No-Name Brands

If you are not a fan of DIY cleaners, that is okay. But do not go for the big brands. Compare the ingredients between some of the biggest name brands and the generic counterparts. Do you know what you will find? You will find that both brands have similar, if not exactly the same ingredients. Not only that, but both types of cleaners will most likely produce the same exact results.

While you do not want to damage furniture with a bargain basement cleaner, no-name brands often provide similar results at a fraction of the cost.

Look for Coupons from Local Grocery Stores

While you may not enjoy looking for coupons, the truth is they can provide you great savings. Most stores are always providing coupons on various cleaning products.

Check out the circulars in the Sunday newspaper, coupon database websites, and even manufacturer websites to get special deals and offers on cleaning products.

Watch Your Water Use

When it comes to using water, be judicious. Most likely clothes that were sitting in a trunk all winter do not need to be cleaned, just hit with some Febreeze. Make the bucket with water and cleaner stretch as far as it can go before spilling it out and refilling the bucket with more water.

Use these tips and you’ll welcome spring with a light heart — but not a lighter wallet!

Guest post by Chris Molnar, owner of a birthday party planning and party theme website. He is also a stay at home dad for two girls and a professional blogger who likes to write about everything from cleaning to hosting the perfect party.

In honor of America Saves week I’m sharing some of my favorite savings tips with you, but I also want to tell you about the Twitter party tonight that my friend Philip Taylor from PT Money is helping host.

America Saves Twitter Party Details

Join @AmericaSaves, Philip Taylor of @PTMoney and@SallieMae for a Twitter party tonight full of tips for saving money in honor of America Saves Week 2012. This is a great opportunity to share your financial goals and receive advice from experts and other American Savers.

We are so proud of the community of people that have joined together to make saving a priority and look forward to tweeting with everyone tonight.

Need another reason to join the party tonight? Prizes will be given out including a $500 Apple gift card.

Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Time: 8-9pm EST

Hashtag: #SallieMaeSaves

Follow: @AmericaSaves, @ptmoney & @SallieMae

America Saves Week – Tips to Save More Money

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite savings tips to help you achieve your savings goals this year.

Photo © by 401K

Budget your savings  - I don’t think it’s possible to achieve savings goals unless you have that monthly goal written in your budget.  If you don’t have a savings goal listed above other priorities you’ll likely be unable to attain them each month as many other expenses are always likely to come up.

Save consistently every month even if it’s not much – Not everyone is able to save a lot of money each month.  However, I do think just about everybody can save something.  So, even if it’s as little as $20, don’t be afraid to set that money aside as it will eventually add up.  It will also help you practice the discipline of saving.

Automate your savings and keep it out of your checking account – I also think it’s important to automate your savings by setting up any auto deposit of your paycheck to your savings account, or an automatic transfer each month.  Doing so will help you avoid tapping your savings.  Out of sight, out of mind!

Cut unnecessary spending back to get a good start – A lot of people may think they can’t save money each  month, but often times it’s a matter of spending priorities.  Take the time to track all your spending every month for two months using a software program like YNAB.  Then take the time to review your spending habits as a percentage of your net income. You’ll quickly see where you’re spending all your money and if it’s on entertainment, clothes or other things that may not be essential each month, reduce spending to fund your savings goal.

Set a savings goal – Speaking of goals, it’s definitely important to have a savings goal to achieve and motivate you.  Write your goal on a note card, tell others about it and reward yourself when you achieve it.  You might even consider breaking that larger savings goal down into monthly goals.  Often the larger goal can seem to large to achieve and a monthly goal seems more manageable.  One step at a time!

Increase savings with increased pay – Finally, if you do receive a pay increase, make sure you increase savings contributions each month as well.  It’s easy to take that extra money and spend it each month, however, make sure you’re setting aside a certain percentage to help increase funding of your goal.

Will America Saves week help you focus on saving more money this year?  I hope so!

If you’ve ever read the ever-popular book, “The 5 Love Languages” you know that gift giving is one of the major ways that people say “I love you” to one another.

You don’t have to be rich to be a great gift giver. But for those of us who love giving gifts, Christmas can put us in the poor house if we don’t make wise choices.

Homemade gifts are a wonderful choice for people who have the gift-giving bug. You can save lots of money with a little creativity. When you give homemade Christmas gifts, you’re giving a part of yourself.

Not all homemade gifts are created equal. I’m a practical girl, and if we’re being honest (and we are), most of us don’t need or desire a dog-shaped toilet paper cozy (that is unless you live in Alaska where your toilet paper might need to be kept warm). And, a hand-embroidered plaque chronicling the different species of beetles is probably interesting … but it’s not going up on my walls!

For those of us with a practical slant, the best homemade Christmas gifts are those that can be used in everyday life.

With that being said, I love to give and receive homemade gifts. Here are some popular and practical ideas for homemade Christmas gifts that your friends and family will enjoy. Even better, these Christmas gifts won’t break the bank.

Homemade Christmas Gifts with Paper

A Gift Set of Greeting Cards

Ever needed a greeting card and just couldn’t make it to the store in time for the event? It’s happened to us all. This Christmas gift idea addresses that very issue.

If you enjoy scrap-booking or card making and have extra scraps of card stock or paper, this gift won’t cost you a thing.

The idea is to create a selection of greeting cards that the receiver can use throughout the year to give to her friends and family.

Handmade greeting cards can sell for up to $10 each! When you give a selection of greeting cards as a gift, the receiver can use these cards as needed, and she will save time and money in the process!

Create one or two cards for each special occasion: friendship, thank you, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines Day, Easter, and other various holidays.

A really nice selection of greeting cards would include between 12 and 15 cards total. Place them in a previously used gift card box or create a large envelope from a large piece of heavy cardstock.

Finally, create a special gift tag for the card set that reads, “Greeting Cards for the Year”.

Homemade Christmas Gifts: Sewing Projects

If you sew, there is a lot of opportunity for practical homemade Christmas gifts.

Fabric can be expensive, however; so don’t start at the fabric store. Start in your fabric scrap bin. If you need to purchase material, look at remnants and don’t purchase more than you need.

Sleeping Cap

Who wears a sleeping cap?! Bald men. And, in my family, there’s plenty of opportunity to give this gift! Of course, you see sleeping caps on babies all the time. But anyone with a little less insulation on top will tell you this is a great homemade Christmas gift idea.

Truly, this is one of the most loved gifts I’ve ever given to the men in my family.

I got the idea from my husband who often complained that he had trouble sleeping because his head was cold at night.

For about $1, you can purchase enough soft fleece material to create a cap. Decorate the top with a tassel. Like funny pajamas, you can get creative with sleeping caps because they’re not worn in public.

Cold Drink Cozies

My husband and I spend lots of time outdoors in the summer. A cold beverage is made much more enjoyable when it remains cold with an insulated cozy.

You can create a gift set of cozies very easily and very inexpensively! Purchase ¼ inch foam insulating fabric from your fabric store. It usually comes in black. It’s very cheap and you only need 5/8 yard of 50-inch wide fabric for about 10 cozies.

To fit an average size soda can that has a circumference of 9 inches, cut the insulating fabric into 5”x10” rectangles.

Note: you can create any size cozy you like. Measure the circumference of the beverage container and add one inch for the closure.

Cut decorative fabric into identical 5”x10” pieces. (You use scrap fabric left over from another project).

Sew the decorative fabric to the foam insulating fabric. (The foam fabric goes towards the can).

On both 5” sides of rectangular fabric pieces, sew Velcro so that when the insulated fabric is wrapped around the can it will seal closed.

You can further decorate your cozies by monogramming them, adding iron on transfers, or embellishing them with fabric paint if you desire.

Cloth Napkin Set

One of my favorite things to both give and receive is a cloth napkin set.  We use cloth napkins every day in my household.

Any scraps of fabric will do when making napkins. You can even make an 8 piece set with 8 different pieces of fabric!

For really nice napkins and 18 inch square works best. Simply fold and iron the edges over and sew to finish.

More Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

The ideas for homemade Christmas gifts are practically endless! More practical ideas I’ve made include croqueted scarves and hats (very vogue this year), 365 love notes, handmade jewelry, handmade cork boards and hot plate trivets made from old wine corks.

The list goes on and on!

There’s an old saying that I love, “Necessity is the mother of invention”… my mother used to say this all the time. I think this saying applies to homemade Christmas gifts.

Think of something you think the receiver might need or enjoy, then figure out if you can make it!

Cell Phone Plans

Cell phone plans, especially for families, are big monthly expenses. Check to see if your plan still fits your needs and look to reduce your voice or data services. For iPhone users, download one of many iPhone apps to help you stay on top of your minutes. Remember, your minutes are your money.

Eating Out

Families spend hundreds of dollars eating out every month. It’s enjoyable to get out of the house and let someone else prepare your dinner, but it comes with a price. If you’re spending too much, consider an eating out plan. Budget a certain amount per week and pick an eating out night. Doing so will help you control spending and avoid impulsive decisions.

Cable or Satelite TV

With services growing and improving online I often wonder if there will be a need for cable and satellite TV in the future. If you’re trying to get back on track with your savings goals you could save at least a hundred dollars per month by changing or eliminating such services. Most people don’t miss them.

Taxes

Staying on top of your tax situation is important. You don’t want to pay too much out of each paycheck and you certainly don’t want to pay too little. Check out the tax calculator over at IRS.gov. It will tell you if you’ll owe money or get a refund. If you’re going to get a refund, look at increasing your withholding allowances to have more money to contribute to your cash savings each month. Check with your tax advisor before making any changes.

Mortgage Interest

Have you heard of people refinancing lately? Your neighbors might be doing this if they plan to be in their house for the next 5 years or however long it takes them to recoup their closing costs when refinancing. Mortgage rates are still low. Some people are still saving money each month when they refinance to a 15 year fix rate loan.

Saving more money requires some planning and creativity. All of these ideas can potentially put hundreds back in your pocket each month. But before you’re tempted to spend that extra money, set up an automatic transfer from your checking to savings account as soon as you get your paycheck. This will help you learn to live on what’s left and you can put your savings goals on autopilot.

What do you think about these savings ideas? 

Discount Tickets

Roller Coaster! © by AJU_photography

We began by having my friend pick up tickets thru his work which offered a discount on tickets.  That saved us $10 each.  Interestingly enough, you can often get discounts thru your work which can purchase in bulk and pass the savings on to you.  Or you can look for discount days or coupons online.  Also, there are sometimes savings clubs or “birthday clubs” offered by some attractions which give you a discount around your birthday.

Lunch

Then we packed our lunch.  Picking up some sandwich meat, bread, and chips was not that expensive or difficult.  The park offered picnic pavilions; however, we ate in the car to save the time of going there and back.  We wanted to get into the park as soon as they opened.

Parking

Paying for the parking was quite expensive – $12 a vehicle, but there was no way to avoid it.  Hence, going as a group and loading up the vehicles as much as possible is a way to lower the cost.  If you go with a group of 6 people, parking would cost each person only $2…that’s much better than $12!

Pay Per Play

Once we got in the park, everything was included except for our food.  They also offered pay per play arcade type games.  We avoided those as they could have easily racked up.  Why not spend more time enjoying the rides!  And enjoy them we did.  Plus watching some of the really crazy roller coaster rides…like the one that literally went straight up and back down!  You had to wait in line for about 30 minutes just for a 1 minute ride because it was so popular.

Picking a Strategic Day

Thankfully, we had picked a day that was a beautiful fall day where the crowds would be less due to children being back in school.  (Hint: Pick your day to visit strategically.  Tuesdays are often a slower day as well as Sundays for a weekend day.)

Snacks and Food

We did purchase some snacks in the park; however, we chose only what we were going to eat and something we knew we would enjoy.  Shop around for meals.  Prices varied quite a bit in the park.  We found that you could get a hamburger, fries, and drink at the 50′s restaurant for about $15 or you could go to the all you can eat buffet for $13 plus your drink which would run another $2-$3!  So do not hesitate to look around before buying.

Souvenirs

Also, go light on the souvenirs.  They are always marked up in the park, so only choose something you are really going to use and would mean a lot.  My family has often planned to pick only one thing which would mean a lot thereby cutting down on the “souvenir grab.”

Season Passes

If you decide to make that your special treat of the year or season, season passes can save you money.  In our case, if we were going to go to Cedar Point three times or more, season passes would be the most cost savings.  Also, their souvenir cup while expensive at $10 offered 1/2 price refills…so if were going to be going all season long, that could also be a cost savings.

So, an amusement park can be quite fun.  You can also still make wise choices while there to help save money and still have a great time!

What are your tips for saving money at amusement parks?

The suggestion that I really liked was checking out www.cem.va.gov to see about available burial benefits to veterans and their spouses.  Currently, they offer a burial plot in a veteran’s cemetery, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care as well as a headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate.  I did not realize such benefits existed, and my grandfather is a veteran of World War 2.

The article also got me to thinking of other ideas to make a funeral nicer.  Often the family receives many bouquets of cut flowers which are very nice; however, they all are typically dead in a week or less.  It would be really nice to receive some plants or young trees as well that you could plant in various places on family property as a way to remember your loved one for a lot longer.  And now there are even items like “Edible Arrangements” which are bouquets of fresh fruit cut to look like flowers.  That makes a nice gift at a time when no one has time or even emotional capacity to cook.

Speaking of cooking, in our busy society, friends may not realize how much stress is on the family plus the fact that there is most likely out of town visitors.  Taking a meal to the grieving family is a huge blessing.  It doesn’t have to be anything fancy either.  It can even be take out!  But not having to worry about what to fix takes a huge load of stress off you.

One of my favorite traditions in burial is how the Jews do not place flowers on a grave, rather they place small stones (often about the size of a pebble).  There are many different meanings and reasons behind this, but the two that stick out in my mind are the fact that rocks will never die and thereby symbolize that you will never forget your loved one.  Also, as believers with a Jewish Messiah, we realize that He is our Rock, and he will always be present for us.

And finally, your presence is often the most important.  Just knowing that I have loved ones with me, praying for me, and caring for me has brought me through many difficult spots that were overwhelming emotionally.

So while I would not recommend burial in a cardboard box, there are a lot of creative ways without breaking the bank to help you, your family, and your friends grieve the loss of a loved one.

We have a 2003 Chevy Tahoe and the electronic seat doesn’t go up or down anymore which makes it difficult for my wife to drive.  So, I decided to call the dealership to find out what the repair would cost.  The dealership quoted me a price of around $1000 which included labor.  That outrageous price is what prompted me to look for other solutions.

I recently was able to find the exact seat, color, etc. with all the electronic parts at a local junkyard after just one phone call.  The entire seat cost me $75.  I’m still working on replacing the broken parts, but am just amazed at the amount of savings if all this works out.  I’ve never shopped at a junkyard before, but it led me to think about other parts you might commonly find at a junkyard that can help save money.  I did a little bit of research online and came across an article from WalletPop that mentions tires are a top seller.  I suppose cars get taken to junkyards for all sorts of reasons and good tires aren’t necessarily removed before the car sees it’s final resting place.  Other parts you might consider are radios, dashboards, seats, bumpers, trim, etc.

If you’re going to make a trip to the junkyard to look for a car part you need to keep a few things in mind:

Part Removal

Not all junkyards will remove parts for you.  I think I lucked out as the junkyard I visited removed the seat and even put it in my car for me.  But apparently most junkyards require you to make your way around looking for the part and removing it yourself.  The downside to this is of course the work involved and you may not know if the part works until you install it yourself.

Installation

While I’m attempting to install the seat electronics myself I’m not sure I’ll be successful.  I’ve already thought about finding a local repair man to do the rest of the dirty work for me.  I think this type of work is also best for someone who enjoys fixing their own cars and has some more than general knowledge of car repair.  Shopping at junkyards may still work in saving you money, but you may need to find someone who can do the installation to save you time and insure the work is done properly.

Research

Finally, I would imagine many people won’t be lucky enough to find a part as easy as I did.  According to the article I read from WalletPop, most of the time the junkyard will only tell you what make, model and year cars they have in their junkyard.   Many don’t keep a parts inventory, so it’s up to you to put on your old clothes, grab some tools and make your way around the junkyard shopping for your part. Keep in mind you may need to make several phone calls or trips to local junkyards before you find the right part.

Overall, I think shopping at your local junkyard can be a good way to beat ridiculous part and labor prices from dealerships and mechanics.  It’s definitely not going to always be a solution for the average car owner, but simple repairs are possible.  Also, keep in mind walking around and working in a junkyard can be dangerous, so use caution and make sure you take a friend to help.

Have you ever shopped at a junkyard?  If so, what part did you buy and were you able to save some money?  Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Photo credit: PMC 1stPix

This pessimism in earning more income could lead people to save more of their money (which I think is a good thing).  However, when spending goes down it leads to job loss in the retail section which could lead to another recession.

I find studies like this to be interesting because they show us in a somewhat easy-to-understand format how we (America) got into this financial mess.  Let’s go back in time five years to 2006.  Home prices were on the rise, people were not saving any money (in fact, Americans had a savings rate of negative 1% which was the lowest at that point in time since 1933), yet the economy was thought to be in great shape.

This was such an interesting time in our country.  I especially remember how inflated home prices were.  At that point in time, Tracy and I lived in Florida.  After teaching in Poland for two years, we moved back home and bought our house there in the summer of 2002 for $89,000.  By the time 2006 rolled around it was “worth” almost $200,000.  For Sale signs littered almost every street in our city with people looking to sell and buy a bigger house.  I remember thinking how ridiculous this was.  If Tracy and I had been a few years late moving back home, we would have been out of luck.  You could not find a house selling for under $150,000.  Tracy and I were both teachers and did not make large salaries.  I thought about other teachers and lower-income earners (police officers, social workers, etc.) and wondered how they could afford to live in our city.  I guess we now know why ARM’s (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) became so popular – these loans allowed many to live in a house they wanted to even though they could not really afford it.

Fast forward to today.  The housing market is a mess – home prices are down 33% since the first quarter of 2006, we are in line for another recession (depending on what expert you listen to) and  unemployment is up.  Despite such bad news, the savings rate is above 5%.  I know times are tough for many but I would say that for a lot of these people, times were tough 5 years ago but they ignored the signs.  So now, when many are saving as much as possible and not buying any toy they want, the economy suffers and we hear all of the negative news.  One of the reasons we are in this mess is because of the way people handled money in the past when times were “good.”

Many have realized that they will not get a raise every year and their house will not automatically go up in value which has caused them to put money aside instead of spending all they have coming in.  With consumer confidence being so low, we might be in this predicament for some time.  When people don’t have confidence in the economy, they do not spend or take risks – actions that will get us out of this mess.

Photo credit: KJGarbutt

I have a question regarding saving vs. paying off debt. I’ve read that it is best to first pay off debt and have $1000 in savings in case of emergencies. I’m wondering if this is best in my situation. I will be having a baby in 2 months (early August) and plan to take 6 months maternity leave, of which only 10 weeks will be paid. I recently received a settlement from a car accident that would pay off my credit card debt and leave $1000 in savings. I’m wondering if I should save more? (For example, I could leave one credit card unpaid, the one with the lowest interest which also happens to have the largest balance.) Or should I just pay everything off and save over the next 2 months of work and 10 weeks of maternity leave? Or wait to pay debt off, depending on how much I’ve saved by the time the baby arrives? I should also mention that the baby’s father lives paycheck to paycheck and often needs to borrow money for various expenses, such as rent. Should I save enough to cover all expenses (such as student loans, car insurance, etc.) for the time I won’t be working? I look forward to some Biblical advice. Thanks!

This reader asks for some good Biblical advice.  It appears to me she’s trying to follow some of the basic principles God offers us in his word, such as paying off debt and saving for the future.  Both are acts of good stewardship.  Here are a few of my favorite scriptures related to debt, savings and stewardship that can be reminders of God’s perspective on money management.

The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets (Proverbs 21:20).

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7).

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4: 1-2).

It’s difficult to answer such questions when you don’t have all the details, but I thought I would get the conversation started by providing a few practical ideas for the reader to keep in mind:

Create a budget which includes estimates for baby expenses.  It’s essential to know how much is coming in and going out each month.

Meet with a budget counselor to help you decide if your expenses are reasonable, or if you’re overspending.  Ideally, you want to have a surplus after expenses to meet savings goals and the extra childcare costs.

I’m not sure if you’re married, but if the father isn’t your husband, you’re not responsible for taking care of him too!  If you are married, you need to get on the same page, financially speaking.  A good budget counselor or even marriage counselor can help.

Whatever you decide to do, insure you have a minimum of $1000 in savings to meet unexpected expenses and certainly avoid using a credit cards to meet monthly expenses going forward.  Doing so may require some sacrifices (selling things or cutting back on spending in certain areas).

As long as she has a budget, can meet monthly expenses, and has a surplus for savings or additional baby expenses, I like the idea of getting out of credit card debt before expenses get more complicated.

What advice do you have for this reader?

Save Money by Drinking More Water

First, drink more water. Not only does drinking plenty of water have significant health benefits, it can have financial benefits too. We’ve all read in health magazines or on weight loss threads that drinking water before eating a meal helps us eat less. But, what many don’t realize is that this can also help us save money. By eating less at every meal, you will be buying less as well. While it will obviously take some time for the financial benefits to add up, cutting back on your food bill can make a significant difference in the amount of money you spend. Furthermore, drinking water is free (or nearly free). Rather than spending money on soda, juice, or tea, try drinking tap water. If you can’t stand the taste of tap water, don’t waste your money on bottled water. Buy a small water filter that purifies the tap water from your sink. These filters can cost anywhere from 10 to 30 dollars and are a great way to cut back on spending and material waste.

Save Money by Creating a Grocery Shopping List

Next, write a list before you go groceries shopping and actually stick to it. This is another great way to consistently save money. Never go to the store without first having a strong idea of what it is you need to buy. Before you head out, look through the fridge and pantry and make a careful plan of what it is you will be buying at the store. This will help you to cut back on overstocking your kitchen and letting things go to waste. Once you have made your list and are at the store, do not put anything in the cart that is not on the list. No matter how tempting the holiday cookies or the flavored chips look, stick to the plan. Often times we budget only for the things we need to buy at the store without taking into consideration the little extras we pile into our carts. By only buying the things you really need, you will save a bundle with each trip.

Make Enough Dinner for Leftovers to Save Money

Make a double or triple batch of dinner one night. While this may sound a little wacky as a money saving technique, it can really work. With eight plus hour work days, carpools, kids, school, assignments, meetings, and so much more, making dinner can be the last thing any busy person wants to do at the end of the day. All too often, we come home from work and order expensive takeout because we’re just too tired to cook. Instead of breaking into your wallet, try doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling a batch of one simple meal (like a casserole or pasta dish) one night. Take the extra portions and freeze them for later. This way, on those days that you are just too wiped out to want to cook you can pop those leftovers in the microwave or oven and have a free meal in no time. Eating out is astronomically more expensive then eating in, but sometimes the convenience is worth the price. This way you can save the money and the time.

In a world obsessed with money, it’s safe to say that we all have the same long-term goal in life: to have enough money to live comfortably and happily. Another thing we can hopefully agree on is that this level of financial comfort does not come quickly. While none of these money saving tips are going to instantly sky rocket us into mansions and sports cars, they can help us obtain the financial well-being we long for.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com or in the comments section below.

1. Combine trips to save on gas.  It is so easy for us to jump in the car and run to the grocery store to get a few things, but with some planning, we can stop by the store on our way home from work, combine it with a grouping of errands in the same area, etc.

2. Shop the Sales.  Each week various items go on sale.  What item do I have to have now that I cannot wait for it to go on sale?  The only items we buy not on sale is certain food items we use every week such as lettuce.  Even then we stock up as much as we can when it goes on sale and continue using it until we run out making the sale savings stretch as far as possible.

3.  Wisely coordinate schedules. If I am teaching a cake decorating class in our nearby town, I will plan to leave early enough to stop by the library on my way in and then stop by the grocery store on my way home.  Now, I have not only saved the time to travel to town and back but all of that gas by combining three possible trips into one.  Also, seek to do this with your children’s sports/activities, your work, your spouse’s work, etc.

4.  Plan appointments together.  If I have a meeting with a client, I will try to plan all my appointments in town that day if at all possible.  This helps with time on the road, gas, as well as keeps me gone one day and gives me more productive uninterrupted days in the office.

5. Cut back on un-needed spending.  Look at your budget and decide what you really need.  According to Scripture we only need food and clothes.  Even shelter is an “option.”  Do you really “need” that cable television?  Do you really “need” to have that outfit dry cleaned or can you hand wash it or use a  home dry cleaning kit?  Do the children have to participate in all these paid “programs”?  Maybe spending some time home together as a family playing a board game or working together would be good.

6. Exchange items or services.  Maybe you can sew to match any designer, and you have a friend who loves to decorate cakes.  Can you possibly exchange services?  Offer to babysit for a friend when she’s needing to go to an appointment and ask her if she’d be willing to do the same for you sometime later in the month.

7. Join a local Freecycle Group.  There are groups in most cities and counties.  Simply Google “Freecycle” along with your city or county.  This group is to help you get rid of unwanted items and gain items that you can use.  All for no cost.  It is totally e-mail based.  My family has gotten canning jars, a community sized coffee pot for our congregation, wood, and more through our local Freecycle group.

8. Learn homemade alternatives to expensive items.  Vinegar is a super all purpose cleaner.  I fill a bottle about 1/5 full of vinegar, add a drop of dish soap, and fill the bottle with water the rest of the way.  This multi-purpose cleaner can be used to clean everything in the bathroom and kitchen.  Basically between this and a good window cleaner (still working on a recipe for that!), that is all I use to clean.  And in case you are wondering about the quality of the cleaning, I clean professionally part time.

9. Shop thrift stores and yard sales for items you need.  You can often find things for a low cost but in good condition there.

10. Be creative and ask the Lord for wisdom.  He is the Creator of all things and has given each of us our own skills and strengths…so add some things of your own to this list!

What are some ways you can save money during a bad economy?