Gather Little by Little

A while ago, I hosted a contest for “IN Cheap We Trust”. I thought of gathering some of those great frugal tips in one post so you can use them for 2010! I have selected my favorites among them:

#1 Eat less meat (from the market) (this is not only good for the size of your wallet but for the size of your belly too!):

Reduce by half the meat you normally eat and replace with vegetables.

Establish a once a week meatless meal.

#2 Shop with a calculator:

This will help you keep up with your budget and make sure you don’t overspend.

#3 Compare prices and sizes of products:

Sometimes, companies package bigger sizes with a similar price to the smaller package.

#4 Justify any purchases over $50:

By justifying more important purchases, you will reduce impulse spending since you have think twice about the reason you have to spend money.

#5 Review insurance premiums once a year:

Chances are that with a little bit of shopping, you will find better deals and pay cheaper rates for your home and auto insurance.

#6 Double check your Grocery bill:

Since grocery stores always changing their rebates, it happens often that prices are not right on your register. Therefore, you can go to the courtesy counter and get the item for free.

#7 Start your fitness routine at home:

Instead of paying $600 a year for a gym, you can start your own fitness routine. You will probably have to pay the same amount during the first year to build your equipment, but you will save for the years to come.

#8 Clothes Swap with your friends and family:

Did you know that most clothes that are being thrown away are only used for 30% of their lifespan? Most people drop their clothes because they are bored of wearing them. Why not swap your clothes with friends and family? The only downside is that you need to find people of your height and weight.

#9 Pay cash, don’t spend change:

If you pay everything cash and save all the change your receive, you will be able to increase your savings account on a weekly basis while maintaining a balanced budget.

#10 Go public about your spending:

For those who maintain a blog or are not shy to share with your friends and family, you can publicly establish savings goals and stick to them. The fact that you go public with goals will enforce your motivation to achieve them.

#11 Crock pot power:

The crock pot is a marvellous invention since you can prepare your meal in advance and it cooks while you are not at home. You will eat healthier food and save money on eating out for the days you don’t feel like cooking. Once you are home, you only have to serve and enjoy! If you never had ribs from a crock pot, you are missing something!

Author: Mike.

Image source: alancleaver_2000