The times, they are a’changing. In the midst of a rough economy, credit crunch and disappointing home values, spending trends have moved away from “spend, spend, spend,” and are now going into belt-tightening mode.
Real people can get real creative when times are tough. Take these examples of how to pinch pennies from The Digerati Life blog:
- Prioritize your money. What’s most important to you? A new pair of shoes or a solid meal? It can be tough to give up luxuries, but a little frugality can go a long ways when times are tough. (Need help sorting out your expenses? Quizzle gives you a big-picture budget for just this sort of tracking.)
- Buy cheaper.There are all sorts of retailers ready to meet your needs — from the Costcos of the world to TJ Maxx. Auction sites like eBay may also offer a way to get something for less.
- Revisit your grocery list. Instead of red meat, substitute turkey, advises Mary Gregory of Cleveland. It’s cheaper and frankly, healthier. Consider off-brand products and purchase items in bulk when you can.
- Do it yourself. Buy unfinished and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. If you’re nervous about trying your hand at the handy, check out sites like DIY Network for the how-to on various projects.
- Go green and save green. Consider better insulation and make sure to close all the cracks and gaps in your home to cut heating and cooling costs. Get long-lasting environmentally-friendly light bulbs – help the earth and your pocketbook in one fell swoop.
- If you must travel, try off-peak hours. Tickets are typically cheaper. Many travel sites also offer last-minute travel deals and alerts.
Don’t forget about the little things either. For me, I save money everyday by making my own coffee in the morning instead of opting for Starbucks. I’ve also slashed my lunchtime spending in half by choosing to buy yummy, prepared foods at my local grocery store deli instead of going for the quick restaurant or fast-food meal (and the prepared foods are usually better for me, to boot).
Looking for more tips to save some dough? Here are a few articles I found helpful on a variety of saving techniques:
- How to drive without burning money, from CNN
- How to Save Money on Your Groceries, from Frugal Mummy
- 12 Ways to Save Money without Scrimping, from The Consumerist
- Eight Ways to Slash Travel Costs, from Yahoo Finance
- 10 Ways to Save $500 or More, from Bankrate
What are your personal money-saving tricks?