5 Penny Pinching Tips to Save Money
I finally did it. I left my boring old job for a more interesting one. Unfortunately, the interesting job does not pay as much as the old one did. Having taken a pay cut recently, I am beginning to implement some penny pinching measures to stay financially on track.
Packing lunch to work
For almost two weeks now, I have been taking left over dinners to work. Since take out lunches cost me $10 a day, this move saves me about $50 a week…and the food is better too. Coincidentally, my favorite restaurant recently increased their prices and made the portions smaller. Good timing!
Driving more conservatively
Over the last few weeks, I have found myself driving more conservatively and slower, as well as letting my car cruise as much as possible. I don’t know exactly how much gas I am saving by doing this, but the nice thing about taking it easy is that I am not as stressed out as I used to be.
If the cost of fuel keeps going up, I may have to switch to public transportation. The only thing that’s stopping me right now is the two extra hours this would add to my commute each day. Personally, I think my time is worth more than a few dollars I am saving in the end.
Coupons
I have never been big on coupons. However, I’ve found myself doing more and more coupon searches. I have to say that Ebates is awesome, especially, when I could use them in conjunction with other online coupons sites!
Don’t throw things out as quickly / readily
In the past, it doesn’t bother me as much to throw some food away, or dispose stuff that are still working relatively well. However, things have changed quite a bit over the past few weeks. I am more conscious about throwing out left over food, or replacing things that are still in decent working order. Having less money makes me appreciate what I already have more.
More careful with my water, gas, and electricity
Using less utilities is not as easy as many people make it out to be, especially when you live with several other people. I have been looking for ways to conserve gas and electricity as much as I could since they are the two most expensive utilities — no, I don’t count telephone, cable TV, and Internet access as utilities (they are luxuries).
If I could shave off even 10%, I would be looking at a $500 savings each year. That’s a lot of money!
What have you done to compensate for increased expenses or lowered income?
Related Posts
No Comments on “5 Penny Pinching Tips to Save Money”