Save Money Tips - Spend Less
Hold on, the first thing to do is take a deep breath (which is actually great for getting oxygen to the brain) and get organized first. Lay it all out and really see where you stand. (don't dwell on it, but it is important to understand where we are, then map out a plan for where we want to be and finally figure out how to get there...).
Sometimes going over credit card bills, phone bills, cable tv bills and other recurring expenses, we can ask ourselves, "do we really need this right now". This is the process of uncluttering (and you may find a few things you did not even know you were paying for; not only unauthorized recurring charges, but also things like extra premium channels on the cable tv bill you never watch...)
Question current expenses
Communicating has gotten alot cheaper lately, whether by a variety of phone offerings (VOIP, skype, cellphone, limited landline phone or a combination of services that yield the lowest rates; keep an eye on long distance charges and roaming charges and check into alternatives such as a second cellphone for use when travelling to certain places to reduce roaming costs..). Some of the things we see on TV actually work and are a great deal, check into magicJack - No More Phone Bills - Free Local & Long Distance Calls!
Certainly email has replaced the need for alot of stamps and so too should you investigate different telecommunication options.
Question your credit card interest rates. Lookout for lower rate offers in the mail and then (provided you are paying on time), you simply call your current credit card provider and mention the competitive ad and ask if your rate can be lowered to a more competitive rate.
Sometimes all it takes it to ask, the worst they can say is "no", but much of the time they will say yes. If you are not getting enought "no"s every day, you may not be trying hard enough. If not, it may actually make sense to switch to a lower rate card from a different bank. (apply for the new one first before cancelling the old one).
-"a wise musician once said, "ask and you just might receive, but if you don't ask you aren't going to get bleep", well he was a musician but his words are wise indeed."
Question your insurance expenses and comparison shop.
What about energy saving? There is always room to cut a little here and a little there. For example, use some of the new energy efficient light bulbs. (a 60 watt CFL bulb GE® 13-Watt Energy SmartTM - 8 Pack - 60 watt output
Electricity consumption can be cut just by being more aware of what is actually consuming electricity in the house. Besides the obvious of turning lights off in rooms that are not being used, be aware that alot of devices that use power supplies ie. wall-warts, continuously draw electricity even when the device is powered off. (just touch one of these and see how warm it is, that heat is electricity being wasted when the device is not in use, multiply that times 10 or more devices and that is an unnecessary waste of energy). You can use smart devices such as a Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology
Facts: How much energy does unplugging electronics that are turned off really save us?
Make your own food. Minimizing take-out foods and eating out a restaurants less can save money. Having said that, eating out here and there is great to mix up the food our bodies receive and to take some time out.
Control your air conditioner and heater with an automatic thermostat that can be set for different times of day (away, home, night..). Varying the temperature based on your needs instead of leaving it constant can save quite a bit over the year in utility bills and is well worth getting the programmable thermostat.
Use the library.
Freeze in portion sizes to eliminate refreezing or problems when defrosting.
Carpool.
Use coupons and fill out the rebate forms when offered.
In case you want more ideas, here is another page on how to save money. How To Save Money.