Tiny Ways to Save a Dollar a Day

Despite predictions that today's economy is rapidly heading for an upturn (something that is good news to all of you start-up businesses out there that took advantage of the boom in Internet commerce but have still been feeling the pinch) Americans are still looking for ways to make their dollars stretch even farther. Ladies and gentlemen, if you're trying to build your business you know exactly what I'm talking about! When your marketing budget is still coming out of your pocket it's easy to see why so many small companies go down in flames in the first five years.

There are hundreds of books out there that offer hints on easy ways you can save money. You already know the big ones-stop spending, start putting away a certain percentage of your paycheck, stick to your budget. All those helpful tips don't take into account the fact that saving money is hard, especially if you're not used to doing it!

When I was surfing around online the other day I came across a great site to help everyone, business owners and everyday consumers alike, get started saving money. These fun little steps are things we can all do every day, and before long you're going to notice a huge difference in the amount of money you have in your savings account!

Tiny Ways to Save a Dollar a Day

1) Stop watching T.V.-your electric bill will thank you, and you'll minimize your exposure to the commercials that are draining your bank account dry!

2) Start making your gifts rather than buying them. Most people are just as happy with a plate full of brownies or homemade candles as they are with an expensive tie they're never going to wear, and you'll be able to save hundreds when Christmas rolls around.

3) Sign up for free customer rewards programs. You probably don't realize how much you spend at the grocery store or your local bookstore-but they do. These rewards can add up over time, and you'll be able to enjoy the things you love without having to worry about how they're impacting your checkbook.

4) Don't spend money on your kids. Seriously. They'll have just as much fun with old newspapers and paint, or an old cardboard box, as they will with a $3,000 playhouse.

5) Cut back on fast and frozen foods. Yes, they're more convenient at the end of the day, but they also cost considerably more.

6) Start walking the straight and narrow. Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and weekends at the local pub can really add up over time. Dropping those habits can add hundreds to your budget, helping you save money and paving the way to a successful financial future.

How to Save Money on Groceries

One of the most important things you can do right now is save money on your overhead to stretch your budget as far as it will go, whether you're talking about your business budget or your household expenses. While food certainly isn't an optional expense, there are things you can do to help you save big bucks at the grocery store.

1) Make a list. It seems like common sense, but by making a list of groceries you need for the week and sticking to it you can avoid spending money on impulse buys that will drive your grocery bill up. See something on sale you just can't say no to? Cross an item off your list and exchange the two. You can always have spaghetti next week!

2) Buy store brands as often as possible. Store brands can save you a lot of money on your groceries because you're not paying advertising fees, and in most cases the products are the same quality as their brand name equivalents.

3) Clip coupons. Yes, it can get a little tedious at times, but coupons can save you a lot of money at the grocery store and are widely available in newspapers and magazines. Just be careful you don't fall into the trap of buying something you don't need just because you have a coupon for it!

4) Sale shop. If you have a choice between the DiGiorno pizza that costs you $7 and the Freschetta that's on sale for $5, go for the Freschetta. That $2 can add up over time! Store specials and sales can save you a fortune when you're stocking your cupboards.

5) Never, ever grocery shop when you're hungry. It's the oldest rule in the book, but it bears repeating. When you're standing in a grocery store and your stomach's growling you're going to walk out with way more food than you really need-and chances are you're not going to be stocking up on vegetables.

Easy Ways to Stop Spending Money

Have you noticed that even though you try to be careful with your money you still find yourself scrambling to pay the bills at the end of the month? It's amazing how money can flow like water from your pocket if you're not careful. Since today's economy virtually requires every man, woman and child to learn how to tighten their belts, it pays to learn how to stop spending money.

That's right. It's not enough just to learn how to save money (or even how to make money). Any fourth grader with a basic book on investments can do that. You need to learn how to plug the leak and stop money from flowing out of your house at the rate it has been if you're going to learn how to make the most of your financial resources. In other words, instead of learning how to save money you first have to stop spending it!

The first thing you need to do is sit down and make a list of things you HAVE to spend money on each month. Things like water, electricity, telephone and car insurance aren't optional. Once you've figured these things out you can start to figure out what you can STOP spending money on!

How much are you spending at the grocery store each week-and what are you buying? Many people don't realize that just shopping at the grocery store instead of going out to eat isn't a guarantee that they'll save money. In light of today's recent trends toward overpriced organics and the number of sweets and sodas on the market you might be surprised to find that you're spending way more money than you have to on food each week.

I'm not saying you have to forget the healthy stuff altogether-I'm just suggesting you look for some alternatives! Whole wheat breads and pastas are available through many generic retailers for a fraction of the price of their brand name competitors, and in many cases they're just as healthy. Steroid free meats can be purchased through retailers like Wal-Mart and Target for considerably less than most natural food stores, and do you really need all those cookies, sodas and frozen foods? Finding ways to save money at the grocery store isn't as hard as you might think!

You might be surprised at how easy it is to blow through $100-200 a month on little things like candy bars, knick knacks and Starbucks. Reasoning that it only costs you three to four dollars a day doesn't change the fact that that three to four dollars a day is going to total up to $120 or more at the end of the month! Try to carry healthy, non-perishable snacks in your purse, car and/or work desk, and pack your lunch as often as possible when you're out and about.

Finally, there's the shopping trips. How much of what you've bought in the last month did you really need versus what you bought because it was on sale? The first key to stop spending money is to stop buying things you don't really need and focus on the things you do. If you can master that you'll be amazed at how fast your savings account will grow.

Find out more about maximizing your financial resources during the recession by visiting www.1uptoyou.com.

Easy Ways to Save Money in Today's Economy

Anyone who can look around and say there's a possibility that our country is in a recession obviously hasn't opened up their eyes very far. Our economy is sinking fast, and despite efforts from our new president it's not expected that consumers will begin to see notable change for at least another year-possibly two. That leaves today's Americans trying to find ways to stretch their income farther than it was ever meant to be stretched in an attempt to stay three steps ahead of collections.

Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and unique ways to save money without having to live on a steady diet of water and Ramen. Implementing these principles not only during the recession but after will help you lay a foundation for financial security that will never leave you struggling-even if the bottom does decide to drop out from underneath the mortgage industry again.

1) Stop eating out and start shopping in bulk. You'd be amazed at how much money we as a society waste on food. Not only do we spend an unnecessary amount of money on restaurants and take out, we also spend more money on groceries than is really necessary. It's generally far less expensive to buy inexpensive items in bulk than it is to buy by the meal or by the day.

2) Cut unnecessary expenses. Yes, that gym membership is fun, but you could get the same workout by walking and doing push-ups and other aerobic and strength training activities in the living room. If you're serious about saving money you're going to have to learn to say goodbye to your unnecessary expenditures.

3) Budget. It's easier to go to the grocery store and shop indiscriminately, but let's face it-that's how you end up walking out of there with $200+ worth of "stuff," much of which you don't really need. The same principle applies when you're talking about entertainment. Your ability to save money relies almost entirely on your ability to designate your resources-and to know when it's gone it's gone.


Come discover more about making money in spite of the recession at www.1uptoyou.com.