More Little Ways to Save Money

There are lots of great ideas floating around about how to save money for your family. We’ve seen several very good and very silly ideas. Here are some you can try.

1. Go to the library. I know this seems obvious but while it is gaining in popularity there’s a long way to go before it outpaces bookstores like Amazon. Even if your local library doesn’t have the book you want you can go on a waiting list and even order it through the interlibrary loan. For a couple of bucks you can read that book and return it. This is a great way to know that you’re buying only the books you’ll actually read and reference again.

2. Car pool. If you have a short commute then walk or bike. If it’s long then find coworkers you can ride with, or even people who work in the same area, but maybe not the same building. Carpooling will save you a ton of gas and you’ll get to meet new friends in the process.

3. Use coupons and then buy generic. For serious players of the grocery game you’ll often hear them say they can’t afford to buy generic. It’s because they combine coupons with sale prices and end up paying less for name brand items. They’re also buying in bulk. If coupons are available then try the generic option. It several cases our family has found that the generic actually tastes better. My kids even prefer generic cereal, which is a huge money saver.

4. Trade services. Are you especially good at something? Perhaps you could trade your handyman skills for your neighbor’s plumbing expertise. Little project trades like this can keep your service costs way down during the year and you may even learn something in the process.

Look for little ways to cut costs at your house and you’ll find the savings really do add up.

The author enjoys writing about helpful products and ideas. More topics include kids storage bins and kids camouflage bedding.