15 Savvy, Pain-Free Money Saving Tips

Friday, 07 January 2011 13:33 Written by Savvy Girl

piggies

We wanted to join the party, celebrating the year's "best of" but we didn't want to exhaust ourselves screening films, skimming books and blasting tunes. Instead, we're sticking to what we know best: saving money, savvy style. Here are some of the best, practically pain-free tips we found last year—we saved a bundle incorporating them into our daily lives and hope you will too.

Clean up your cleanup routine with inexpensive, time-honored supplies like baking soda, white vinegar and lemon.
Cut out paper towel and napkin products by using washable alternatives like cloth napkins and old towels or fabric remnants cut into squares.
Use the second side of paper for printing and use envelopes for grocery lists.
MIY. Don't be intimidated by things that seem "too hard." You can make (almost) anything you set your mind to, whether it be homemade yogurt, bread or homemade air freshener. You'll have a blast doing it, learning something and saving money the whole way.
Switch to an espresso percolator and you'll save a fortune on coffee grounds. If you can't resist your drip machine, using 3 filters with less coffee grounds is a great way to achieve a stronger brew since water drips through a lot slower. Plus filters are a lot cheaper than coffee.
Stick with generic. Everything from canned goods to prescription medicine, generic brands are often the exact ingredients and formulation.
Double recipes and freeze leftovers in single portion containers for take along lunches at work.
Switch to a credit union if you're paying anything for your checking account. Your banking should be free.
Renegotiate your contracts often. Gym memberships, phone/cable/internet bundles and credit card interest rates can all be negotiated periodically. If your providers won't work with you, you shouldn't be giving them your money.
Google coupon codes before buying anything online. Our last purchase following a quickie search resulted in a $40 dollar savings and free same-day delivery.
Calculate purchases in working hours and determine if that sweater-you-just-cant-live-without is worth 8 hours of your life.
BYOBs. Most restaurants have a 300% markup on alcohol, so find a list of BYOBs in your neighborhood and keep your entertainment costs down.
Get books from the library. Check with your branch to see if you can reserve books from other branches if their selection is small. Library books can usually travel to other branches within the same district for free.
Skip the movies and get DVDs from the library or Redbox.
Communicate with family and friends about gift giving and agree to limits and occasions that are manageable for your budget. Just because the whole world seems to be going gift-crazy, it doesn't mean you have to. When you do give, search sites like thriftyfun.com for savvy homemade gift ideas.