Make Money with Your Brain » Saving Money

Free Groceries Don’t Have to be Junk Food!

Suzanne Wells — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:28:35 +0000

With the recent popularity of TLC’s Extreme Couponing show, a lot of people are wondering if they can save that much money themselves without dedicating their life to coupons – and without feeding their family only processed foods. Thankfully, it is completely possible to save a significant amount of money on healthy foods for any lifestyle. Couponing isn’t one size fits all – it can be adjusted to suit anyone.

Even if you choose to purchase the same foods you currently do, coupons can save you money. Plus, with the extra money that the coupons free up, you can likely afford to actually improve your diet (or put that money towards other goals). By spending only .25 for a box of (whole grain) pasta, you gain the option to buy organic spaghetti sauce or meat to go with it.

And if you don’t want to use coupons on food, just using them on health and beauty items can save you a good bit of money. Some of the best sales and coupons are for these items. It’s completely realistic to pay .50 or less for body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, etc. And these deals aren’t rare – they happen every month. By shopping the sales at drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid), you can build up a supply of these items in a short amount of time – and never have to pay full price again. That’s a huge savings.

If you’re bound to a lot of diet restrictions (only organics, no gluten, etc.), it will be harder to save as much as some people can couponing. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Coupons are available for most specialty foods, especially organic items. As people have become more concerned about what they and their families are eating, manufacturers have taken notice and begun to offer more organic products and coupons. If this seems hard to believe, check out the sites below. They offer a selection of organic only coupons that can be redeemed at just about any store.

Getting Married? Plan a Green Eco-friendly Wedding

Suzanne Wells — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:14:03 +0000

If you want to have an eco-friendly or green wedding, there are valuable money and environmental saving tips to help you reach that goal. There are many areas that can change into a greener alternative. Reducing trash, using recycled materials, and respecting the environment can all be incorporated into your wedding plans. Let everyone that you’re working with on the wedding plans know that you’re planning a green wedding. This will allow them to offer ideas and suggestions on how to make this beautiful moment even better and more earth friendly.

1. Cut down on the paper usage at the wedding. This can be achieved by purchasing china plates, or hiring vendors that are green. The vendors will allow you to rent their silverware, dishes, and other items that reduce the amount of paper products used during the wedding.

2. Another way to cut down on paper products during the green wedding is to find a different way to make your invitations rather than using the traditional paper invites. There are green wedding invitation shops that you can utilize. They use recycled and eco-friendly paper for all of the wedding invites that are just as beautiful as the traditional ones and are better for the environment.

3. Choose a photographer that uses digital photography. Using digital photos not only cuts down the amount of paper needed to process the photos, but it also cuts down on the amount of harmful chemicals needed to develop the pictures and the amount of rolls of film that have to be used. Not to mention that you will not be bringing home all of the pictures that they develop and take throughout the wedding and reception.

4. Choose flowers and foods that are seasonal. This will allow you to find them more easily in the vendors’ shops. This will also allow you to order the items locally. This will reduce the size of the carbon footprint (or the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions) created during delivery. Also, the flowers and food will be fresher during the event if they are being delivered by a local vendor.

5. Make the guest gifts something memorable that the guests can bring home and use. This might be homemade jam, chocolates, glasses, a donation to your favorite charity in honor of your wedding guests, or even a potted plant or tree. Cutting back on the useless party favors that end up thrown away in the end can mean doing your part in saving the environment one step at a time during your green wedding.

Having a green wedding is possible simply by using the right type of materials not only before, during, and after the wedding. Choosing the right venue and vendors for the wedding can make a difference, as well. Make your wedding party your partners in finding greener alternatives to the components of your wedding. This will prepare them for your answers to their questions about certain options you choose to incorporate. It might require a bit more work on your end to find vendors that are earth friendly and green, but it can be worth it to do your part in the world’s safety and cleanliness.

Top 3 Ways to Save Money on Gas

Suzanne Wells — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:41:12 +0000

We may not be able to control the price of gas, but we can take steps to limit how much of it we use. As gas prices continue to rise, here are a few ways to use less gas and spend less money -

One of the easiest ways to save money on gas is to drive less. Most people think nothing of jumping in the car to run an errand or go grab some coffee. But with rising gas prices, these little trips can add up to big money. Before you hop in the car next time, think about it. Could you avoid this trip altogether (by combining errands or making your own coffee), or could you get there a different way (ride your bike, walk, or take public transportation)? Public transportation has a benefit beyond just saving on gas – it also lets you do something else while you’re in transit. You can use this time to catch up with a friend, get ahead (or caught up) on work, or reply to emails.

Something else to consider is changing cars. This may not save you money in all cases – you also have to take into account your changing car payment and insurance rates. But if you drive a brand new gas guzzling SUV, you may save by switching to a cheaper, more fuel efficient car.

Keeping up with maintenance on your car can help increase your gas mileage. Older cars in particular are affected by the grade of oil that you put in them. Changing the oil on schedule can also have a positive effect on gas mileage – for any car. Changing air filters, however, will not have much of an impact on gas mileage (although it will help your engine perform better).

Changing where you buy your gas can also help you save money. In some urban areas in particular, gas taxes are higher – which mean you’ll pay more at the pump. By switching to a gas station just outside of the city limits, you may be able to find gas that’s significantly cheaper. This is only effective if you live or will be close to these areas – otherwise you’ll eat up your savings in driving costs. If this isn’t an option for you, pay attention to prices when you’re out and about. Look for gas stations that are very busy – this will often mean that their prices are cheaper.

5 Ways to Work Out at a Fitness Center for Free

Suzanne Wells — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:35:00 +0000

A gym membership is considered a luxury in today’s economy. But if you find working out a home, jogging along busy streets, or walking in circles around a track are not working for you, here are some strategies for working out at a gym for free!

1. If you are in the military and near a base, work out there. The drive to the base may be a little inconvenient, but you don’t have to pay dues to use the fitness center.

2. Check out free offers in the mail. Some gyms offer a free 1 week or 2 week trial. Take advantage of these! I get offers from Lifetime Fitness, Bally’s, Fitness 19, and LA Fitness on a regular basis. You may also be able to go online and print a free pass. If you live in a busy metropolitan area, you can work your way around to many different clubs.

3. Do you have friends living in an apartment or condo? Some have a workout room. Figure out a way to partner with friends who have access to a fitness center in their apartment or condo complex.

4. Another perk for those in the military and their families- the YMCA Outreach program. To qualify for a free membership at a YMCA participating in this program, you must be a family member of deployed National Guard or Reservists, family of active duty or relocated deployed active duty.

5. Negotiate. Smaller independently run fitness centers may be willing to negotiate. Rather than paying for a membership, you may be able to work on trade such as cleaning the gym, working in the child care room, working the front desk, or helping with sales and marketing. It never hurts to ask.

Money Making Ideas During the Recession

Suzanne Wells — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:01:16 +0000

As the economy remains slow, people are seeking money making ideas using their computer. A good way to bring some cash in during a recession is by putting recession-proof items on eBay for sale. During a recession, the majority of people begin to drastically change their comfortable and expensive habits. Some of these habits include dining out, going to movie theaters, and taking vacations. An easy solution for saving a few pennies is to watch DVDs from the comfort of your own home and start eating food from your own kitchen more often. Ideal items to sell online are those that can make life at home simpler, such as certain canning and barbeque tools for the kitchen. Other items that could take the place of going out to see movies or spending money on such methods of entertainment would be board games or video games that the whole family can enjoy. (Click here for eBay selling tips on The eBay Coach Blog.)

During a recession, saving money is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Providing information products online is a great way to encourage spending less money and engaging in do-it-yourself type projects at home. ClickBank and e-Junkie are two sites that provide you with helpful information about these products. Posting information products on a blog or website of your own allows you the opportunity to earn affiliate income by putting them up for sale. If you prefer eBay, your information must be delivered via CD.

Recession-proof books are a big hit with the online crowd. Certain books that promote living simpler by spending less, surviving an economic crisis, and starting a home business are of interest to frugal Americans. Books that discuss money making ideas are also great. Amazon is an excellent site for this type of selling; there are absolutely no fees until someone purchases the item. You might have books lying around your house that you can sell now. Garage sales, thrift stores or even used book stores are also affordable places to browse for books to resell.

If you and your family already have a frugal mindset, why not create your own information product? Write an eBook about how to save money on groceries, how to save money on gas, or how to shop for clothes at a thrift store. Be creative! Someone out there may be searching for what you write about.

The current recession could be the opportunity you are looking for to make some money if you sell your items in the appropriate niche. Take a look around your home for money making ideas. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure and they will actually pay you for it!

Saving Money Online – Collective Buying Power

Suzanne Wells — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:10:29 +0000

Have you heard of the new way people are saving money online by using collective buying power? The site is called Groupon and here is how it works.

Every day, Groupon will post a new deal. It may be a discount on event tickets, a discount at a trendy restaurant or bakery, or a special price on a service like dry cleaning or a facial at a spa. The way Groupon states it, “Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.”

If enough people sign up to do the deal, then the deal is on! If not enough people sign up, then no deal. That is what collective buying power is about – a group of people have to take the deal to get the discount.

Saving money online through Groupon is easy. Click here to sign up, it is free. You will receive emails announcing new deals. If you like the deal, click the “buy” button and you are done. The deal usually doesn’t expire for several weeks or even months, so you have plenty of time to use it.

Lower Utility Bills – 6 Ways to Cut Summer Electric Bills

Suzanne Wells — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:52:59 +0000

It is getting hot here in Atlanta. Pretty soon, we will be into a long stretch of 90 degree days. And then the electric bill gets scary from all of the air conditioning usage. Living in the South, we have learned ways to conserve the cool air inside the house and lower utility bills. Here are a few ways to cut summer utility bills.

1. Avoid adjusting the thermostat. Adjusting the temperature up and down requires more electricity.

2. Avoid using the stove and oven. These two appliances heat up the kitchen and the air conditioner has to work extra hard to cool it down. Focus on using the microwave, outdoor grill, and small appliances like a George Foreman grill or crock pot.

3. Cover the windows. You can buy inexpensive room darkening shades at WalMart. These are a great investment for the windows in your home that face to the West and get the scorching afternoon sun. Window film is another good option.

4. Use ceiling fans, box fans, and oscillating fans. You can stand warmer temps when the air is moving. Stagnant air makes you feel hotter.

5. Lower utility bills by using a dehumidifier. Humid air is sticky and uncomfortable. Look at WalMart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowes for reasonably priced dehumidifiers.

6. Arrange your day with the afternoon heat in mind. Line dry clothes if possible to avoid using the dryer. Do outdoor chores in the morning or evening before it gets hot so you don’t rush back in side and want to crank up the air.

Click here for more easy ways to lower utility bills.

VOIP Systems Slash Your Phone Bill

Suzanne Wells — Sun, 09 May 2010 08:37:46 +0000

Vsoice over internet protocol such as Skype and Vonage, is the latest development in phone service. This technology works through your computer by a regular phone with an adapter attached to the computer, or with a mic and speakers.

Skype is the best known of the VOIP systems. The Skype service is free. You will need either a headset or a mic and speakers. I use Skype with many of my consulting clients. The service is free between Skype users – even international calls are free. There is a screen sharing feature so you can show the person you are talking with whatever you want on your screen – websites, tutorials, photos, whatever. May businesses are going to VOIP systems because of the reduced cost and efficiency.

Skype is fun for personal use, too. If you have a webcam integrated, you can see the other person on your screen. It can be kind of creepy at first, but once you get the whole family on Skype, it gets fun.

If you cancel your landline plan, which is an average of $48, you can save $576 a year. Skype and other VOIP systems do not have 911 capabilities, so keep that in mind. Click here to check out Skype and see if it will help you save money on your phone bill.

Save Money – Just Buy Generic!

Suzanne Wells — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:47:27 +0000

Are you a name brand person or a store brand person? Or both? Did you know that many manufacturers produce the exact same product under a private label, or store brand? Yes, it is true, and you can save a lot of money just by switching to the store brand.

Buying over the counter medications is one category where you can really save money if you buy generic. According to the FDA, “” a generic drug is a copy that is the exactly same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, and strength, how it is taken, quality, performance, and intended use.” (www.fda.drugs) So basically, according to the FDA standards, generic over the counter medicines must be exactly the same as the name brand.

Here is where the money saving part comes in. For example,Wal-Mart’s Equate brand Ibuprofen is $4 for a 200 count bottle. A bottle of the name brand Advil costs around $15.50. That is a 74% savings! And there is no difference between the two, except for the label.

Another great example is batteries. Costco’s Kirkland brand of AA batteries, pack of 48, costs $9.98. A pack of 36 AA Duracell batteries costs $12.99. That is a 42% savings on a product that is exactly the same!

You can find generic products right next to the name brand products on the store shelves. Give them a try. Not all generics or store brands are the same (I buy Charmin toilet paper instead of the store brand), but you can see huge savings if you make the switch to generics on products that you consume on a regular basis.