Little Ways to Save More Money

The desire to save money has become almost cliche in today’s world. The economy being what it is, that is no wonder. Still there are plenty of ways to save money that people seem to overlook. Sure, we all cut back on some things. Maybe you dropped down to basic cable. Maybe you’ve switched to a more fuel-efficient vehicle and parked the SUV in the garage, but if you then turn around and spend $10 a McDonald’s for lunch, are you really saving as much as you cold be? We Americans obsess over convenience. We’re willing to shell out large sums of cash to avoid what we view as tedious or boring, but when it comes to saving money, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty, so to speak.

Start with turning off the lights. Turning off the lights when you’re not using them is only the start when trying to save on your electric bill. Keeping doors windows closed (or open depending on the weather) as much as possible can save you a massive amount on your heating and cooling expenses. Turning off and unplugging appliances when not in use is also good. Many appliances pull some power even when they are not actually turned on. Avoid this my simply pulling the plug when you turn them off. This goes for the TV, Computer, and other entertainment devices as well. This may seem difficult, but it really isn’t. Just keep the TV off when you aren’t actively watching it and don’t leave the computer on all day while you are at work or at night when you’re asleep. This will save you an incredible amount of money in the long run.

The next easiest place to save some money is on transportation costs. This has become a major household expense in the last several years as gas prices have sky-rocketed. There are many ways to cut back on your fuel spending, though. Car pooling to work can mean sharing the bill amongst multiple people so as to reduce the amount each pays. Taking the bus can also be a good option, too so long as the commute is long enough that the price of the bus ticket is less than what you would spend in gas. Of course, the best solution both for your budget and for your health is to walk to ride a bike if you work close enough to home for this to be practical. Many people have given up cars entirely and have found this to be the best decision they ever made.

So call a buddy and get a ride to work. Dust off that old bicycle in the garage. Turn off the TV and spend some time with your family. Pack a lunch for work. Do all of this and you’ll quickly find that you have more money, more time, and feel better over all. Saving money isn’t hard, it just takes a little self-control and fore-thought. Happy saving.