Tips for Saving Money in Tight Times

photo credit: r-z

When your budget’s tight and inflation’s playing havoc with it, you need to find some clever ways to save a few dollars. Money magazine recently did a special including 18 ways to beat inflation, and some of the highlights of their suggestions were:

• Don’t make unplanned purchases at the supermarket - stick to what’s on your shopping list only - and check the highest and lowest shelves where the cheaper products are often “hidden”
• Save gas by checking your tires are correctly inflated
• Cook more meals at home - avoid takeaway
• Make your home more energy efficient by installing a thermostat that turns the heating off during the night but turns it back on in the morning before you get up
• Replace regular light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescents
• Cancel gym memberships or magazine subscriptions that you don’t really use
• Turn off all appliances at the switch rather than leaving them on stand-by
• Use a credit card (that you pay off in full each month) that gives cash back on gas purchases
• Don’t be afraid to negotiate with a doctor over costs - for example, offer to pay up front in cash for a lower price. 60% of the time, negotiating with a doctor over medical costs works.

Tags: Budgeting | credit | Saving