Money Saving Monday

Has it been hot enough for you lately?  While the heat may be getting you down, let's think about something cold....your refrigerator.  We just recently had to replace ours so here are a couple of tips:

Buy a refrigerator with a freezer on top or bottom rather than on the side. They are often hundreds of dollars cheaper and use far less energy.

Think twice about refrigerators with ice makers, they usually add around $200 to the cost, and as much as $50 to your annual energy bill. They are also the most likely component to break (which will cost you more money down the road).

Money Saving Monday

Lots of people spend more money on food than is required.  I can admit that I love food too, but this is an area where a lot of my clients have been able to cut back and save a lot of money.  Here are a couple of ideas.

Cut back on the convenience foods. During our busy lives, we rarely spend enough time planning our meals – which leads to taking the quick and easy way out!  Instead of eating fast food or microwaving prepackaged food when you get home, try making some simple and healthy replacements that you can take with you. An hour of preparation one weekend can give you a ton of cheap and handy meals that will end up saving you a lot of cash and not eat into your time when you’re busy.

Get a crock pot. A crock pot is perhaps the best deal on earth for reducing cooking costs in a busy family. You can just dump in your ingredients before work, put it on simmer, and dinner is done when you get home. There are countless recipes out there for all variety of foods, and every time you cook this way, you’re saving money as compared to eating out.

Money Saving Monday

Here are a couple more tips to help you save money and begin saving.  Feel free to share some ideas of your own.  I would love to hear them!

-Exercise with friends or begin a walking regimen rather than joining a health club. Will power is free, and spending money doesn’t guarantee it. Plus, one of the best exercises is walking, and you can do that almost anywhere.

-Make saving a family affair. It’s difficult for one person to save while another is spending freely. Mutual sacrifice will yield the best results: everything from watching the thermostat to purchase decisions at the grocery store.

Money Saving Monday

Times are tough and we always need to focus on where our money is going.  Make small changes and eventually they all add up to BIG savings.  Just remember, every dollar saved should be be allocated to long term planning goals.  Here are the tips for this week:

- Lower (winter) or raise (summer) the thermostat by one degree. You save approximately 5 percent on energy costs for every degree. You can easily save 10-15 dollars per month.

- Use fluorescent bulbs and save up to 75 percent of light costs when compared to incandescent bulbs