Page 46
January 2006
The AC Phoenix
50
WAYS TO SAVE
By: Jesse Brown
Saving money doesn’t
have to be difficult. In fact, if
you take a close look at how
you’re spending your monthly
income, you’ll be surprised at
just how easy it is to cut
expenses. After all, the best
way to save money is to spend
less of what you make. Here’s
a list of 50 money-saving tips
to help you get started.
1. Shop with a list - and
stick to it.
2. Just say NO to ATMs
with fees. Plan ahead for
your cash needs.
3. Does your bank
charge high fees? MOVE
YOUR ACCOUNT.
4. Pay off that credit card balance!
5. If you must carry a credit card balance, shop around for a
card with lower premiums on your insurance policies.
6. Look for lower premiums on your insurance policies.
7. Consider higher deductibles for your home and auto
insurance.
8. Do you have private mortgage insurance? If you’ve build up
$2,000 equity in your home, you can cancel it.
9. Use a mail-order pharmacy for long-term prescriptions.
10. “Doc, can I get that as a generic drug?”
11. Check all medical and hospital bills for errors. Many
insurance companies offer rewards.
12. Rent - never buy something you’ll only use a few times.
13. Turn your yard into a department store - have a rummage
sale.
14. Switch long-distance carriers - then switch again.
15. Call waiting? Not usually? Cancel those add-on phone serv
ices you don’t need.
16. E-mail your friends instead of calling.
17. Skip the movies. Rent a video instead.
18. Dine out? Eat in.
19. Lunch is “in the bag” - or it should be!
20. Don’t buy that book! Exercise your library card (you need to
buy my book, though!)
21. Free up space in your mailbox. Cancel that magazine sub
scription you never read.
22. Watch a parade or have a picnic. Free entertainment is
often the best.
23. Turn your car into a “chat-room.” Carpool to work.
24. Join the “bus crowd” and avoid cab fare.
25. Buy airline tickets in advance - and always stay through
Saturday. You’ll have more fun and it’s a lot cheaper, too!
26. Quit that health club - join the local gym instead.
27. “COUPONS” & “DOUBLE COUPON DAYS.” Enough said.
28. What’s in a name? Buy generic instead.
29. Skip the paper towels. Wash you cloth ones instead.
30. Watch out for “convenience” foods. They’re expensive and
not as healthy for you anyway.
31. Join a warehouse club.
32. “Scan” those scanners and receipts. Mistakes do happen.
33. Avoid “pricey” specialty stores.
34. Comparison shop online.
35. Gotta trunk? Buy in bulk.
36. Premium gas for your car? Most run fine without it.
Check your manual to be sure.
37. Forget the words “automatic car wash.'
get some fresh air.
38. Use that quick-change oil and lube service on the corner
instead of a full-service garage.
39. Never pay extra for service contracts or extended warranties.
The manufacturer’s warranty is usually sufficient.
40. Cancel that premium channel you never watch - or
cancel cable TV altogether.
41. Don’t touch that thermostat. Put on a sweater instead.
42. Take a shower instead of a bath.
43. Only run a “full” dishwasher.
44. Have an energy audit done on your home. Some companies
offer them for FREE.
45. Never pay extra for car rental insurance. You’re probably
already covered by your credit card or regular car insurance.
46. DON’T PLAY THE LOTTERY. The odds of getting hit by
lightning are better than your chances of winning.
47. Time to refinance your home? Keep an eye on interest rates.
48. Pay yourself first. Set aside a dollar a day.
49. Buy a “piggy bank” for all the spare change you keep finding
in your couch.
50. Don’t spend your next pay raise. INVEST THAT MONEY
INSTEAD.
No matter what your situation is, money makes it a whole lot
better. Even if you have a small amount of money through saving
and investing, you can be better off, too.
Jesse Brown is a featured public speaker and author of “Pay Yourself
First" and “Investing in the Dream - Wealth Building Strategies for American
Seeking Financial Freedom.” He writes a monthly electronic newsletter
called “Pay Yourself
First." /As president of ^
Krystal Investment
Management, Chicago,
IL, Brown oversees mil
lions of dollars in mutual
funds, stocks and bonds
for his investor clients.
For more information,
visit www.jessebrownon-
line.com.
w
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