Cents-ible Tips to Save More Buck$

January 25th, 2010

Looking for ways to trim your budget? Here are 9 easy tips to save pennies that will turn into big bucks.

1. Cancel your bottled water service – Did you know that 25-40% of the bottled water in the US comes from municipal water supplies? You can save by filtering the water yourself with products like Brita pitchers and filters. Drinking filtered water is a lot less expensive, just as healthy, and good for the environment.

• One Brita pitcher filter can effectively replace as many as 300 standard 16.9-ounce bottles.
• One Brita faucet filter can effectively replace as many as 750 standard 16.9-ounce bottles.

2. Save on eating out – There are several ways to save money and still enjoy eating out.

• Buy Restaurant.com dining certificates – Many $25 certificates are priced at $10, and usually discounted 50-90% off during frequent promotions.
• Buy Entertainment Coupon Books – You can easily recoup the cost of these books and they, too, are often discounted. They’re good for a year and filled with coupons for restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, dry-cleaners, and more. Most of the restaurant coupons offer buy-one-get-one-free meals.
• Take advantage of special offers and discounts – Kids eat free on certain days at many restaurants; some always post coupons on their websites, like Boston Market, while others issue discount cards, like P. F. Chang.

3. Save on ATM fees – Many banks charge a $5 fee if you get cash from another bank’s ATM. That’s equivalent to a 25% penalty when you withdraw only $20!

• Get your extra cash without paying a fee at the grocery store when you make a purchase using your debit card.
• Use a credit card for your purchases instead of cash and earn rewards (Discover gives 1% cash back, while Mastercard and Visa offer other rebates, including frequent flyer miles or credit toward the purchase of a car).

4. Save on hidden credit card costs -

• Never use the blank checks that come in your monthly credit card statement, because you are charged a higher rate than the monthly statement for them.
• Avoid any special programs and offers from your credit card companies like credit protection, credit monitoring, etc. Hefty monthly fees always follow the free period.
• Never sign up for a credit card with an annual fee, there are so many with no annual fee that will offer you incentives to use their cards.

5. Save on DVDs, CDs, and books –

• Many public libraries offer an online database to request books and movies for free, that can be sent to the branch nearest you.
• Websites like Swaptree.com allow you to trade your books, CDs, and DVDs with others online. This service is free, the only expense is the shipping cost of your item.
• Downloading music from the Internet saves costs and packaging disposal.
• Rent movies from Red Box, Netflix, or soon-to-be-available Sundance Film Festival films from Youtube.
• See if your favorite TV shows are available for free on Hulu or TV network websites.
• Use free bookstore rewards cards and coupons in the store or online at Borders, Books-a-Million, and Barnes & Noble.
• If you have an electronic reader, there are lots of digital books available for free.

6. Save at the movies –

• Some theaters offer matinee performances between noon and 4 pm for $2 or more off each ticket.
• Sign up for free theater rewards cards to earn points for free tickets or get specials on concession items. With a free AMC MovieWatcher card, you earn two points for every ticket purchased and receive a free ticket or complimentary concessions for every 10 points accrued. With the Regal Cinemas Crown Club, members are eligible for special promotional prices on concessions, like $1 candy on Mondays and $1 popcorn on Tuesdays.
• Get a discount when you buy a book of tickets.  For example, Costco offers a Regal Entertainment 5-pack of tickets for $39.99, a $57.50 value; or an AMC 5-pack for $44.99, a $62.50 value.

7. Get magazine subscriptions – You’re often paying the equivalent of a year’s subscription when you buy only 2 single copy issues off the newsstand.

• Order magazines on Amazon at a discount.
• Many magazines are also offered for free.

8. Sign up for a defensive driving course – It can be completed online at your convenience for around $25.

• If you’ve have a recent moving violation, you may be able to take defensive driving with the court’s permission. You’ll pay only a small court fee, save the cost of the ticket, and keep that information off your driving record.
• Even if you don’t have a ticket, take the course anyway. In either case, you may save 10-15% on your auto insurance premiums for three years.

9. Eliminate dryer sheets, air fresheners, and trash bags

• Dryer sheets can do more harm than good since they are loaded with a mixture of synthetic chemicals that cling to your clothes and can be absorbed through your skin. A half cup white distilled vinegar or one-quarter cup baking soda added to your laundry is a cheaper and healthier alternative to make your clothes soft and static free. For a pleasing scent at minimal cost, spray a small piece of cloth with an essential oil and toss it in your dryer.
• Air fresheners are not only completely unnecessary, but they can also release hazardous chemicals into your home. Chemicals linked to birth defects have been found in 12 of the 14 common household brands of air fresheners, including those that were labeled “all-natural.” Open your windows and let in the free fresh air. If your home has a persistent odor, it’s better to find the source and fix it rather than to mask it.
• Recycle both plastic and paper bags from your purchases by using them for trash bags.

Each of these items, though seemingly insignificant, can add up to quite a savings. This sort of thinking may lead you to re-examine other aspects of your lifestyle that are not included here. You’re encouraged to share in the comments any changes you’ve made to produce savings in your own budget.

Entry Filed under: Shopping