With the economy in the state that it is in, we have all found ourselves having to make sacrifices or do without certain things in order to make ends meet. But what about those everyday things that we pay high prices for every month without even batting an eye. Do we really need 300 cable channels? After all, we can only watch one at a time.
Using a little thought and imagination however, can go a long way when it comes to saving money. Here I will outline how you can save over $700.00 on your family`s monthly bills.
Brown Bag It and Save $60/mth
Leaving the office and buying lunch each day, whether you go for a sit down lunch or head to a local fast food restaurant can cost a fortune each month. Even if you are watching the pennies and eating the cheapest restaurant foods that can be found, you are probably paying around $6.00 per meal each day. That is $120.00 each month. By bringing your own lunch you will save as much as 50% on each meal, and probably eliminate a lot of unnecessary fat and calories from your daily diet.
Avoid Ordering Pizza and Save $120/mth
Where I live, the average cost to feed a family of 5 pizza is around $40.00. Instead of ordering pizza, check the deli department of your grocery store. Most supermarkets offer fresh, store made pepperoni pizzas at 1/4 the cost of those that your order in. Add a few of your own toppings before cooking, and you have pizza for an entire family for about $10.00
Skip Movie Night and Save $160/mth
Seeing a movie in a theater will cost a couple with three children between $30-$45 just for admission. Renting a movie for $5.00 and watching it at home will cost less than you would pay just for popcorn at the theater. Plus you have the added bonus of good seating and a pause button for bathroom breaks.
Stay Out of the Coffee Shops and Save $100-$110/mth
Buying two large coffees every week-day will cost about $6 per day or $120 per month. Bringing a thermos of coffee made at home would save between $100 - $110/ mth, and that doesn`t count any muffins or doughnuts that you might buy with the coffee.
Re-Think Your Telephone Services and Save $100
When you get your phone bill each month, look at what you are paying for.pay Is it just for the cost of the lines, or does it include phone rental, high cost per minute long distance, call waiting, call answer, call display and other non essential services?
Purchase a phone or phones, so that you do not end up paying the rental fees each month. Even if the rental is only $3-$4 month, you will save $36- $48/year, so the phone that you purchased will pay for itself in no time.
As for long distance charges, many of us are satisfied to pay whatever the phone company tells us is the lowest rate available per minute. This can be anywhere from 5-7 cents per minute, and although this is low, you can do much better. There are many pre-paid long distance calling cards available now that allow you to talk long distance to anywhere in North America for as little as one cent per minute. So if your household makes sixty minutes of long distance calls each month instead of paying $3- $4.20 each month, you would be paying only $ .60 saving you between $36 – $50.40 per year. For many families, the savings can be much more.
Switch to Basic Cable and Save $50/mth
When you make your monthly cable bill, are you paying for basic cable, or for a deluxe package with all the bells and whistles? Does it include dozens of movie channels you hardly ever watch?
Most of us who order movie stations in a cable package are sorely disappointed with the selection of repeat movies, but never get around to canceling. Consider canceling the high priced movie bundle or specialty channels and just paying for basic cable. The difference is about $50 each month and on the occasions that you do want to enjoy a movie, you can borrow them free of charge from your local public library.
Other Ways to Save
While changing any or all of these things will help to lower your monthly bills, it doesn`t stop there. Here are a few more ways to save each month.
- Hang clothes to dry. You can purchase a clothesline/drying rack for about $20.00 this will save you about $150.00 each year on your electric bill. Wash your laundry in cold water and save an extra $120-$150 Your laundry will feel and smell great.
- Always turn the water off when brushing your teeth.
- Avoid buying pre-packaged or convenience foods. Homemade is cheaper and better for you.
- Purchase clothing from local thrift stores. Many offer designer labels for only a few dollars.
- Color your hair at home. Buy a good quality home hair color for $10 and save $30-$40/mth.
- Switch to energy saving light bulbs.
- Install a new energy efficient shower head.
- Car pool to work if possible.
Downgrading should not be thought of as something that should be done as an emergency measure during an economic crisis. Adapting these ideas will, over time, become second nature and the extras will no longer be missed. If the money that is saved each month is put in to a high interest bank account, there will be a nice cushion for the next time we find ourselves in a financial crisis.
