Money Problems Bring You Down
Yeah, duh you might be saying about my subject title. Hey, don’t be snarky with me; I’m here to help. ANYWAY. To progress so that life has as little stresses as possible for you, eliminate one of the biggest stresses of life: money problems. Here are many ways from daily brilliance:
General Purchases
Tax Benefit of Ordering Online. If you’re gearing up for a substantial purchase, such as a new laptop, take a look at ordering the item online instead of walking into a local store. If you were to purchase the new Macbook Pro laptop from Apple (without an educational discount) you would spend $1,999 plus an additional $119 on sales tax at 6%. Ordering through Amazon would get you the same laptop $4 cheaper and you would save the $119 tax. Don’t worry about shipping either–Amazon picks up the tab.
Savings: Around $60 per $1,000 spent
Search For Promo Codes and Coupons. A quick Google Search for Promo Codes will give you a treasure chest of results! Make your search even more effective by putting the name of the website in as well.
Savings: Varies
Sign Up For Coupons Via Email. So many of the local stores you frequent will have a place on their website for you to sign up to receive coupons via email. Papa Johns and Borders are just two examples. Borders will send you a 20% off coupon quite often which is very useful this holiday season.
Savings: Varies
Buy In Bulk Where Possible. If you have children, this suggestion can be a huge saver. Items such as snacks, paper towels, sodas, trash bags and detergent can all be found in larger sizes at big box retailers. Consider joining Costco but take into account the cost of the membership. If the membership cost is prohibitive, look for bulk items in your grocery store or Wal Mart.
Savings: Varies
Consider Open Source Software. It is very easy to log on to your website of choice and order Microsoft Officeor Quicken but it is just as easy to download a free alternative. OpenOffice is a fantastic alternative to Microsoft Office and will save you hundreds of dollars in the long-term.
Savings: Varies
Buy Store Brands For Common Items. You’re throwing money away if you’re buying name-brand aluminum foil, Ibuprofen or paper towels! Switch to a store brand and save!
Savings: About $5.00 per grocery store visit or $20 a month
Entertainment
Cut Back On The Movie Theater Experience. Going to the movie theater to catch the latest releases just isn’t worth it. Consider renting a DVD instead. When considering concessions and ticket prices, renting a DVD from Blockbuster and making your own popcorn will save a couple around $20 for the evening.
Savings: $20 per movie
Rent DVD’s From Netflix. Take the above idea one step further and rent your DVD’s from Netflix instead ofvisiting your local movie shop. Netflix doesn’t have the high overhead that those retail stores carry and the savings is passed on to you.
Savings: Roughly $3 per movie
Invite Friends Over Instead of Going To The Bar. Going to the bar can be a very expensive evening! Oftentimes, the cost of a few mix drinks out on the town would buy you a bottle of liquor to have at home. Instead of venturing out, consider inviting friends over for a cheap poker night. The savings on your drinks will surely provide you with the $10 buy-in!
Savings: Varies on your lushness
Drink Some Beers Instead of Cocktails. I know James Bond wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t order that trademarkMartini but does it matter as much to you? Beer is usually had for $2 at a bar while a mix drink costs around $4. If you buy beer, you can drink double-fisted all night for the same cost!
Savings: $2 per drink
Visit Your Local Library. Reference books are great to own but how many novels do you read for a second time?Do you really need to own that book? Instead of buying your books, take a look at your local library. Most libraries get the new releases the same time as your local book store.
Savings: Varies
Home – Utilities and Other Bills
Cut The Home Phone Line. Old-fashioned land line telephones are being tossed aside by so many households these days for good reason. Avoid the taxes and fees by going through Vonage. You get the same quality service and also save on long distance!
Savings: Varies by location but around $15 per month
Are You Watching Your Premium Channels? I carried HBO at my home for the longest time because I wanted to watch The Sopranos. That $13 per month is now back in my pocket since the show is off the air. If you aren’t watching your premium channels, call the cable company and cancel. You can always add them again when the show you like comes back on the air.
Savings: Around ….
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