Home > Credit Advice > Common Cents

Date:   November 25, 2002
By:                   A. Young

Common ‘cents’ savings tips to pocket more money

So, you've tried just about every way you can think of to save money. You've drastically altered your spending, started up an automatic monthly deposit into a savings account and even looked into investing, but somehow your little piggy bank is still empty by the end of the month and you don't know why.

Well, kudos to you for taking so many proactive steps to better your financial condition. But if you're still having problems, it's most likely the little things that pile up unnoticeably each month. We all need some reminders every now and then-it's easy to let these little things slip by you when you're trying so hard to tackle the big stuff. Here are some obvious (as well as some ingenious) maxims to cut your bills each month.

In your home:

• Believe it or not, it costs less to cook from scratch than to pull a meal out of the freezer.
• Turn off lights and anything electrical as you leave a room.
• Cook with covered pots-it uses much less energy.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
• If you really want to own a book, try to buy it used. 
• Picnics are a nice alternative to eating out.

In the Store:

• If you have teenage children, don't buy ahead because they can skip sizes.
• Know your gas stations and fill up when you're near the cheap one
• Plan meals for the weeks / month ahead before going to the grocery store.
• Buy store brand foods instead of national name brands.
• Use coupons and shop on double or triple coupon days.
• Shop for groceries on a full stomach .
• Learn the popular size of a product because it may be your best buy.

At Work:

• Bring your lunch and your own coffee to work rather than eat out. 
• Car pool if possible.
• Use public transit. And then call your auto insurance agent.
• Never have change on hand so you'll never be tempted for a vending machine snack. 

Need help now?  Visit our Credit Help page to learn more.