New Series: SAVING MONEY

SAVING MONEY.

Those words cause our hearts to beat faster with excitement. Our eyes are glued to the magazine, screen, or person who is informing us on the how-tos. Our hands franticly try to implement those what we sometimes think are “life-saving and life-altering” ideas, only to find out we fall right back into our routine of life:

Saving money is no longer.

How do you save money? I decided to start a new series. We often think and think “how else can I save money?” When we seem to be at our wits end, there are always some simple and practical ways. We just forget about them.

We are to be the best stewards with what God has blessed us with. Does that mean saving every single penny? I believe that is not what we are supposed to do. So what does it mean to save money? I think it means being a good steward in all areas of life, not taking in too much, but not being so frugal that in the end, we become selfish, hoarding our own money.

So what are some practical ways we can save money? These are in no particular order, but are some tangible and PRACTICAL ways in which we can watch where our money is spent.

1. Get healthy! I know, I had to throw that one out there right away. Being healthy though, effects how much we spend on health care, how much we spend on life insurance, how much we spend on medications, and how much we spend on food. Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it? If we all chose a healthy lifestyle, those items listed above, often become much cheaper. Being healthy effects more than what we may think!

2. Buy a used car. The American dream screams at us to buy new. We often think that buying a new car will free us of all car troubles. Though I have not experienced this myself because we have only ever bought used, but new cars have issues too. Cars with just a few miles, can break down. Driving a brand new car off the lot, you lose thousands. Ouch. I think I am going to stick with used.

3. Buy generic. Though this is not always the case, but often times, generic products are much cheaper. Test them. See if they work or taste just as good. I can think of very few things that I buy name-brand because it is usually quite a bit more expensive.

4. Shop around. What? You mean I am giving your permission to SHOP? You bet! That is…to shop around to compare prices. It is easy to walk into a store and buy everything at first sight. The internet has done WONDERS when it comes to finding the best deal. Certain items in a chain store, can often be found much cheaper online (even from the same store!). Yes, you may have to pay for shipping, so factor in all the costs. Some things I try to buy locally to support independently owned stores. They too, may offer price matches. It does pay to shop around!

5. Cook at home. Think of how much you spend going out to eat. The gas to get there, the drink you ordered. It adds up fairly quickly and before you know it, you spent a weeks worth of grocery money in one meal at a restaurant. Another ouch, right? I am not advocating to never go out to eat – we do. But it is special when we do because it is rare. Cooking at home is much healthier, cheaper, and often time-saving too. We think eating out will save time, but with the drive, the wait, and eating the meal, we often waste even more time and not to mention again, MONEY.

6. Pay bills on time. No brainer, right? Well, have you ever looked at the statistics at how many are in credit card debt? I am not downplaying the fact that financially difficult times may be happening for some. I am hitting on the thought that “oh, I’ll just pay it later.” When you spend $30.00 on a shirt, it then becomes a $39.00 shirt because of interest (for example). Paying bills on time and keeping up on them, prevents us from hashing out “going-nowhere” money.

7. If you feel the need to have cable, a home phone, and internet, look into getting a bundle deal. This is where shopping around is recommended as well. We have had it where one company was offering a better deal for our phone and internet (we don’t have cable), but we knew our current company would probably match the price to prevent us from switching. My husband made the phone call and it was MUCH easier than what we thought. Don’t be afraid to ask and don’t be afraid to ask what deals are going on!

8. Keep tabs on your car insurance. Often if you raise your deductible, your insurance premiums will be lower. How well do you trust your driving? That is the question! Or, is your car so old that you really don’t need collision on it? Call your insurance agency and see if you have the best coverage for YOU.

9. Cell phones. Hot topic, right? Think about your personal use of a cell phone. Now think about your plan. Do you need unlimited texting? What if you bumped it down to 400 texts a month – what if you were only using 250? Change the plan. Make sure you aren’t paying for what you AREN’T USING! Maybe consider getting a prepaid phone. No contract, no extra fees, and YOU are in control. If you need more minutes? Buy more! You are not dictated by a contract.

10. Watch your friends. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Really though, think about the lifestyle they live. Are you trying to live up to their lifestyle? Are you trying to be like them, changing who you are? Are you changing your values, by basing your new values on them? Friends can influence us more than we think – be careful to not fall into the trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses.

What are your favorite ways to save money?

Keep coming back as I have many more money saving ideas to share!