How to Save Serious Money on Vacation

Over the years my wife and kids and I have been fortunate enough to be able to afford, and take the time off, for some pretty memorable vacations. We have camped all over our state of Iowa as well as quite a few surrounding states. We have vacationed in the Black Hills, the Grand Teton Mountains and the Rockies, just for some highlights. During all these vacations (and the extensive preparations for them) we got to be pretty good at staying within a small budget. Following are some of the ways we learned to travel and lodge frugally while still having a good time. These tips are primarily for those that travel by car, so if you like planes, trains, bikes, busses or boats they might not work for you.

Bring Your Own Food – Depending on how long you will be gone, and how many there are, you might be able to cover the whole trip. We have been able to survive for a week with very few additional supplements to our menu (2 adults and 2 kids) before we had to break down and hit a local grocery store. We would take along food that didn’t need to be warmed such as salads, the fixings for sandwiches, cold chicken, chicken strips to make wraps, chips, fruit, etc. We would also budget in a few restaurant stops to break up the routine. Hey, it’s a vacation, not boot camp!

Cook Your Own Meals – This one is usually not a problem when tent or RV camping, but it is worth asking if it is allowed before booking a stay in a cabin or hotel. Most of the cabins we have stayed in would allow cooking inside (many had their own kitchens) while a hotel will usually only allow you to warm up food in the microwave, so plan accordingly. If we know we will be able to cook inside we always pack our electric skillet, in our experiences the single most versatile cooking appliance.

Stay In a Central Location – Many times when planning our vacations we would decide what attractions we wanted to see and then try to find a place to stay that was centered among them. That way we could stay in one cabin, hotel or campsite for several days and not have to move while making small road trips in different directions to take in the sites. 

Travel In the Off Season – If you have kids in school this might not be an option unless you can plan time off around teacher in service days or holiday weekends. If kids are not a problem you could save a nice percentage off of hotel and cabin stays, as well as some attractions. Check the web to find what the off season is for where you want to go.

Reward Programs and Membership Discounts – Reward programs and membership discounts are offered by airlines, hotels, gas stations and AAA. Also make sure to check Groupon for discounts to restaurants, museums and other attractions where you will be visiting.

Have Your Car Tuned Up – There is nothing like breaking down in a strange town, or worse, in the middle of nowhere to kill the vacation mood, and if it is something serious the time and money spent to fix it could even kill the whole vacation. While some things can’t be planned for budgeting for a tune up just before you leave is well worth the money. It won’t hurt to also tell your mechanic where you are going, as he might pay special attention to certain parts. For example: do your breaks have plenty of life left, because you use them a lot while driving in the mountains? Or, will your vehicle coolant be able to handle desert temperatures and do you have decent tires for inclement weather?

Related Reading:

Is AAA Worth It?

How to Camp on the Cheap

My Favorite Personal Finance Sites

When I was pondering what kind of a blog I was going to start I of course first thought about what I liked to read online, and that included several personal finance blogs and sites. Considering my attempts at the time to make money since losing my job I guess the subject matter sort of popped right out at me. I don’t consider this a “personal finance” blog because there are gaps in the subject that I don’t write about because they don’t interest me as much, such as credit cards, insurance, taxes, investing. I personally am interested in taxes (If the subject is lowering them! Otherwise it’s nap time) and investing (I have a tidy sum in my old 401k, mutual funds and a Roth IRA) but not enough to write about it. So The Buck List was never a traditional personal finance blog, just what interested one guy enough to want to share with others. Some of the sites on my list are like that, and others are a little more structured.

If you have any to add I would love to know about them!

The Dollar Stretcher – I found this site not too long after getting online in 1996 and I have been a newsletter subscriber ever since. The simple design and ever changing reader contributed content have kept this site at the top of my list. And to top it off editor Gary Foreman is a pretty nice guy, too.  

Yahoo Personal Finance – They cover it all, and also offer calculators and how to guides to go along with their catchy, clickable headline stories.

Wise Bread – You just never know what to expect in your inbox from this group of close to fifty contributors. With that many points of view you can be assured that they keep it fresh and interesting.

Unusual Ways to Make Money – Steve Gillman is all about marketing, making money and self-promotion…all of which he shares with his readers. I have lost track of how many sites he has but I have bookmarked some of them, and I think this one was the first I came across. Beware: reading his stuff is VERY addictive.

Personal Finance Blogs Aggregator – As of this writing this free aggregator of personal finance blogs has 22,150 entries from 716 blogs, and counting. If you are looking for something new to read or a different voice in the field take some time to browse this site.

Further Reading:

Politics and Personal Finance: What Can One Tell Us About the Other?

Does a Financial Education Matter?

    

Quick and Painless Ways to Start Saving Money Regardless of Income Level

The following is a guest post by Mick Archard.

With gas prices rising and the job market and economy unstable, most people are doing whatever they can to save money. There are some big changes people can make, such as renting a cheaper apartment, or small changes such as brown bagging lunches instead of eating out. Even people with small incomes can usually find a way to save, and small savings add up. Even just $10 per month adds up to $120 per year. The savings add up even faster if they are earning interest in a savings or investment account.

Rent a Smaller Apartment

Renting an apartment is a great way to save money. Renter's insurance is usually way cheaper than homeowner's insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reported that rental insurance in Michigan costs an average of $164 year. This breaks down to just $13.67 per month. According to the Insurance Institute of Michigan, average premiums for homeowners insurance in MI were $797 in 2004. This breaks down to about $66.42 per month. If you are already renting, moving to a smaller place will usually result in lower monthly rent and lower utility costs because there is less space to heat and cool. There are many Edmonton apartments for rent that are in great locations and have low monthly rental fees.

Budget

Creating a budget is important whether the income level is $1,000 per month or $8,000 per month. Listing all monthly bills with amounts and due dates paints an accurate picture of your finances. Treating savings like a bill is important. There should be a line in the budget for savings, even if it's only $25 per month. Budgeting also gives consumers an idea of how much money they have available after the essential bills. It helps people to not overspend when they know there is only $75 a week in the budget for groceries, for example.

Pay Off Debt

According to Outlaw Finance freeing yourself of debt is one of the first steps you should take. Paying extra on your debts is will free up money faster and you will pay out less money in interest and fees. When one credit card is paid off, the payment you were making can be put toward the next debt to get it paid off sooner. Talking to credit card companies may not help, but it won't hurt. The companies may agree to lower interest rates or take less money than you owe in a lump sum payment. Credit card companies can be difficult to work with, but they don't want you to go bankrupt, so they will sometimes work with you on a payment plan.

Taking back items that still have tags on them or having a garage sale is a quick way to make money for debt payment. Many people are selling used items on online auction sites for extra money. It may not seem like much at first, but any payment that is more than the minimum usually goes straight to lowering the total amount owed.

Invest in a 401K

Having money taken out of each paycheck before it's deposited is a great way to save. This money is not part of the budget, so it's easier not to spend it on something else. Increasing 401k contributions with each raise adds even more money to savings without making a dent in your monthly budget. Many companies have a fund set aside to match the amount of money that employees deposit into their 401k accounts, up to a certain percentage. Talk to the human resources department of your company if you're unsure about a company match. This is free money that employees often turn down by not investing.

Set Goals

Saving money can be difficult, especially for people who need most of their income for necessary bills like rent, food, and gas. Setting a goal to save for something you really want makes it easier to save money. For example, people may be faced with the decision to buy a new pair of shoes or save that $75 toward the car they really want. Having pictures of the savings goal in prominent places will remind you what you're saving for. It's also helpful to break down the goal into manageable amounts per month. If the goal is to have $5,000 saved in a year from now, this breaks down to $416.67 per month or $96.15 per week.

Trim Expenses

Even small amounts of money add up. If someone spends $2 every week on movie rentals, this money adds up to $104 after one year. Switching to a cheaper cell phone or TV plan is another way to save money. Many people are not using the services they are paying for and can easily make cuts.

Eating out is one expense that most people can cut. Bringing lunch to work instead of buying lunch every day can save most people around $50 per week. Eating out is a social event for many people. Inviting friends over for dinner or drinks and rotating houses each month is a fun way to spend time with friends and save money. Soup and bread is a meal that feeds a large amount of people on a small budget. It's also nice to not have people you don't know interrupting the conversation of your group. Your house never closes, so friends can talk all night if they want to.

Additional Reading:

How to Avoid Crisis Living

Saving in 2011

How Do You Haggle?

One frugal trait that I learned in childhood from my parents was to try to bargain around paying full price for something. They called it haggling, and the techniques they taught me worked amazingly well. Mom and Dad were antique collectors, buyers and sellers for both fun and profit, and this hobby of theirs took us all over the state on weekends to flea markets and antique shows and shops (this was before antique malls existed). Their passion wore off on me and I began collecting various things as well.

Their main advice was:

Know the true value of what you want to buy and offer a fair price.

Don’t be afraid to walk away if the answer is no.

I don’t know how many times I have turned to walk away, after saying thank you, only to have the seller stop me and agree to my offer.

Those two haggling tips have served me well over the years, but I’m curious as to what kind of haggling techniques you might use. How do you haggle?

Further Reading:

Do You Keep a Budget?  

When Coupons Aren’t Enough

Ten Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

The following is a guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes on many topics. This post is about free meal specials for kids. 

Taking the entire family out to eat can turn into a very expensive event. Fortunately, there are several restaurants that offer free meal specials for kids. Taking advantage of kids' meal deals can make family meals out more fun and frequent, and it will be easier on the wallet at the same time.

The following are 10 popular restaurants that offer free meals for kids. Some of these offers may vary depending on location, and not all restaurants may participate. It's always a good idea to call ahead of time to verify information with your local restaurants--this will save you time and money.

Golden Corral - At Golden Corral, children ages three and under can eat for free from the buffet with the purchase of one adult meal. This offer is good every day. On Mondays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., kids ages 10 and under can eat for free. Two kids can eat for free for every adult meal that is purchased.

Denny's - On select nights that vary by location and restaurant participation, kids ages 10 and under can eat for free between the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For every two kids eating free, one adult meal ($2.50 or more) must be purchased. Check with your local Denny's restaurant to find out which night this special is offered.

IHOP - On Monday evenings, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., IHOP offers specials for children 12 and under. For every adult entrée purchased, one child can eat for free. Beverages cost extra and are not included in the free meal.

Quiznos - At participating Quiznos locations, with the purchase of one adult meal, one Quiznos Kidz meal is free. This offer is for kids ages 12 and under--and the day that this special is offered varies depending on location.

Chick-fil-A - Tuesday nights at Chick-fil-A are family fun nights! On Tuesdays only, one kids meal is free per every adult combo meal purchased.

Marie Callender's - Select Marie Callender's restaurants offer kids ages 12 and under free meals. One kids meal is free for every adult meal purchased.

Planet Sub - On Tuesday evening from 4:00 p.m. until close, one kids meal per one adult meal purchase is free. This offer is good for kids ages 11 and under.

Damon's - At Damon's Sports Bar & Grill, Wednesday night is "kids' night!" With every adult meal purchased, one kid's meal is free.

Applebees - On Monday night at Applebees, kids can eat for free. With the purchase of one adult meal, one child's meal is free. If only one adult is present, each additional child's meal costs only $1.

Cici's Pizza  - At Cici's Pizza, children ages three and under can eat for free from the buffet. This offer is good all day every day. Some locations also offer free meals to older kids on specific days of the week--call your local Cici's Pizza and find out more details.

Going out for dinner doesn't need to cost a fortune. With free meal deals for kids, the whole family can enjoy delicious meals out at some of your favorite restaurants!

Further Reading:

The 10 Best Freebie Sites

Nine Ways to Find Cheap or Free Performances

Top 10 Ways Working from Home Saves You Money

The following is a guest post by Ripley Daniels, an editor at Without The Stress, a passport, travel visa, and immigration advisory firm located in Los Angeles.

As a bona fide home-based business person, I know a thing or two about the benefits of commuting one flight of steps, working in my pajamas, going for a run in the middle of the day, and of course, saving a whole lot of dough. Anymore, it just doesn't make sense for me to show up at an office, especially considering how expensive that arrangement really is. Here are the top ten ways I have saved money by working from home, compared to my previous career as an office worker. While your own circumstances are likely to differ from my own, the savings are real.

Dry Cleaning - This used to be a big one since logo-ed shirts were part of my attire, making a weekly or bi-weekly trip for dry cleaning and laundry a regular expense. Annual savings: $240-360

Wardrobe - Not needing to "keep up appearances" on a daily basis has meant that most of my recent spending on clothes has been purely casual. Annual savings: $300 -$500.

Auto Insurance and Repairs - I didn't think much about this one at first, but it's big. Driving almost 5,000 fewer miles a year meant that one call to my auto insurer reduced my rate by 8%. I change my oil less often, and of course brakes, tires and other parts last longer. All told, my car expenses have dropped about $400 annually.

Do-It-Yourself Chores - Tired from a long day, slow commute, and feeling protective of time off, I was keen to outsource yard work, and other home-related jobs. Now I look forward to those things as a way to relax with productive, rewarding activities. No, I don't always love pulling weeds, but it's a great excuse to be outside and take a mental break. We've probably saved $600 a year, doing more tasks ourselves.

Gas - My commute to work used to be 13 miles each way, or about 6500 miles a year. At 22 mpg, that's 295 gallons of gas, or $1032.50 at $3.50/gal. That total is now reduced certainly by more than 75%, making my savings over $775 a year.

Day Care - Having a three year old around the house is not conducive to getting work done, and so we do send her to day care. However, I can take her in late, pick her up early, take random days off, and have even kept her out of day care altogether for a couple of spells, working reduced hours or swapping day care duties with friends. Shortened days don't affect the cost of day care, but extended absences do, and my flexibility meant I could choose a less expensive option. Total savings: about $1000.

Coffee - I do love my coffee, and still grab a big ol' latte from time to time. Used to be at least four each week, averaging $8 with tip and a snack. Substitute that with freshly ground coffee at home, and I'm saving more than $20 a week or $1000 annually.

Eating Out - While it's always possible to be responsible about workday meals, reality seldom cooperates. Packing a lunch or saving leftovers is an extra hassle, and it's more fun to eat out with the team. Estimating that I ate lunch out just three times in a typical work week, I now spend at least $30 less per week, or $1500 for the year.

Tax Deductions - As a consultant, a lot of the things that I would typically pay for outright now fall under the "business expense" category, such as a portion of my cell phone, internet and even mortgage. Of course I still pay for these things, but since they are required to do business, counting them against earnings saves me about $1600 in taxes.

Time - It's hard to quantify the value of the time saved by having my work with me. It is by far my most prized reward. True, balance can be a challenge, but how to deal with it is my choice, unlike the constraints of office work that are far less flexible. I don't have mindless meetings, 500 hours of commuting, or the daily drip of losing an hour or so to the chatter and "catching up" that being in a office entails. I find it a lot easier to catch up with friends now, instead. I get more work done in less time, and I spend more time on my home, my family and myself.

The truth is, you couldn't pay me to return to an office environment!

Further Reading:

What Would You Do With an Extra 35 Hours a Week?

10 Ways to Earn Fast Money

How to Save Big Money on College Textbooks

The following is a guest post by Brian Jenkins, who has been writing about various career and education topics for BrainTrack.com, including college degree programs in finance, for two years.

According to Elsa Magee, acting president of New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), a report showed that the average college student spends $1,000 per year on books. That's a lot of money for college students on tight budgets. Fortunately, students can significantly cut costs by taking advantage of the growing market for used textbooks and rental textbooks.

Used Textbooks

Many campus bookstores sell used textbooks, but these usually fly off the shelves. Some college towns have independent book stores that sell used books.

Most major online booksellers carry used textbooks at competitive prices. Some of the leading online used book sellers are as follows:

half.com

ecampus.com

campusbooks.com. This website allows students search for used textbooks at numerous stores.

Rent Textbooks

Online book renting websites are increasingly popular with college students. They offer books at a fraction of what used they would cost at campus bookstores. Instead of buying textbooks and selling them back later, students can rent and save money now. Many of the websites (listed below) also provide free shipping.

Students are able to choose the amount of time they want to rent a book for. Some websites allow students to rent a book for 60, 90, or 130 days and extensions are available for an additional fee. These websites also buy used textbooks from students, and the average buyback price at one site (Chegg.com) is $40. Some colleges operate textbook rental programs, so make sure to check with your school if this is an option.

Here are a few of the popular online textbook renting companies:

ecampus.com

textbooks.com

bookrenter.com

chegg.com

campusbooks.com

Swap Textbooks with Other College Students

Find other college students who have the book you need. Students should be able to find other students who have completed the course and no longer need the book. Textbook Revolt helps students rent textbooks from other students or from bookstores.

eTextbooks

Online textbooks offer a number of useful conveniences, including high-speed searching and electronic note taking. Depending on the provider, you may not need a special reader to access the eTextbooks, which are usually sold at 50% of the print retail price. However, you may get a better deal by renting or purchasing a used book. eTextbooks typically expire after 180 days. Students can choose to either download the book onto their computer or read it online. Course Smart  is one site that sells eTextbooks.

When you're in the market for textbooks, shop early and always compare prices of book rentals and used books.

Further Reading:

10 Places to Sell Books Online

Search for Scholarships

Save Money by Conserving Water

Water makes up most of what we are, covers the majority of Earth’s surface and sustains all living things while able to kill any of them. One of the costs of living in a civilized country is having to pay for water to be delivered to your home, and it is one of those bills that can vary wildly based on your use (or misuse). The following are some ideas on how to whittle down that expense.

Buy a water saving toilet flush system. Check with Fluidmaster to get an idea of what’s available.

Buy a new low flush toilet.

Put a full bottle of water in the tank so less water is used when flushing.

Use the “brown flush it down, yellow let it mellow” rule when using your toilet. Or not.

Adjust the filler mechanism in the tank so it stops at a lower level.

Replace leaky faucets with water efficient faucets, or at least replace the seals.

Install water efficient low flow shower heads.

Make sure to ask your water utility or city about possible rebates for any plumbing items you replace. You can also check WaterSense.

Consider investing in a tankless water heater.

When the time comes to replace any dishwashers and washing machines buy a brand with a good Energy Star rating. You can also use the site to read about possible tax credits and rebates.

Use your greywater (wash water) for watering plants and the garden.

Collect rain water in a rain barrel to water your garden and yard.

Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving.

Run only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.

Use a broom or rake to remove leaves and debris from your driveway, patio and sidewalks instead of the hose.

I’m sure I’ve missed some so feel free to share your water saving ideas in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

Ten Ways to Save Money by Staying Home

Money Saving Secrets: A Review

Should You Spend Money on Budgeting Software?

Debbie Dragon is a professional freelance writer, specializing in personal finance. She frequently writes for Vertex42.com which offers a large selection of free spreadsheet templates and financial calculators.

When you are attempting to get back or stay on track financially, a budget is certainly one of the most important necessary components. A budget is your clear visual of exactly where you stand and where you can go with your income. Without it, you can easily overspend, forget to save, and essentially live paycheck to paycheck barely making ends meet.

There are many ways to budget your money, including top of the line budgeting software and other technology that is promoted to do the work for you. While some of the software and tools are free, many are getting more and more expensive. But is it really necessary to go the distance with these programs? Should we be investing our money in such high-powered technology?

Measuring One’s Personal Preferences

There are really no tried and true answers to this question because it typically comes down to the person’s preferences. Ultimately whatever it is that makes you stay committed to doing the budget each and every week is what should be implemented into your daily life. If you feel it is easier to do some data entry rather than take pen to paper, explore the free or at least inexpensive tools for budgeting being offered. Since all programs differ in how they operate, check out the free versions or the trial periods until you can find one that suits your financial needs.

Working the numbers in a notebook can be just as effective as entering your data into a more complicated system. But the reality is you do have to start somewhere if you have not yet developed a budgeting system. Without understanding your budget, you have no way of knowing if you can even afford to invest in expensive budgeting software.

Here is a refresher course on what you need to establish a budget:

Gather Your Accounts

Even if you plan to use budgeting software to maintain your numbers, it is best for you to write all of your information down in one place to make data entry more efficient. You need to collect all of your billing statements, account numbers, contact information, balance totals, monthly payments, and interest rates from every creditor you are currently paying on. A budget worksheet will make this easier and more organized for you.

Compile a List of Expenses

Once you have the information in front of you, you’ll need to make a list of all your expenses, creditors, and account information in one column. In a second column, write down the amount required for monthly payment and the date it is due. In the next column, write down the interest rate if applicable (for credit cards). The last column should contain the total outstanding balance on the account. When all monthly expenses and creditors have been listed, total the amounts of your monthly payments and the total outstanding balances on all accounts.

Tally Income

Get your paystubs and other records of reliable income and total the amount taken in for a month. You will then need to deduct your total monthly expenses from your total income. If the total you get after subtracting expenses from income is a negative number, it means you do not have enough to go around. Supplemental income or budgetary cuts are necessary to free up more cash. Any total left over after the subtraction is what is ‘extra’ and should be allocated wisely into a savings plan.

Set Goals

If you can get your budget to the point where you are spending less than you are earning, you can start working on becoming more financially free. Budgeting software will often help you track your savings goals, but you can also find many free tools that can help you set up debt reduction plans as well.

A budget is an ongoing thing, one that needs to remain flexible and constantly updated to be effective. Whether you continue to track expenses and income on spreadsheets or prefer to try specialized budgeting software is up to you. The most important point to remember is that no software can add money to your income nor can it do the work for you entirely. You have to be an active participant in your budgeting process.

Related Reading:

Ten Tips to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Do You Keep a Budget?

Eight Great Homesteading Sites

While very few of us go forth into the wilderness to build a life from the resources around us like the pioneers did, there are some of us who have inherited their spirit of resourcefulness. We enjoy getting every last pennies worth of value from whatever we spend our money on, and doing things that help us to avoid spending altogether. We buy food in bulk, garden, can and freeze it and whatever we can’t eat goes back into the garden as compost. We try to do it ourselves with inexpensive (or free) materials. We salvage, reuse, curb, glean and forage. Some of us even have websites sharing with others how we do it. There are around 130 homestead related sites I have bookmarked, so this list might turn into the first part of a series if there is any interest. In no order here are eight great homesteading sites.

Mother Earth News – The Grand Daddy (Granny?) of homesteading and self-sufficient living sites. The self described “Original Guide to Living Wisely” offers not a little about a lot but a lot about a lot. When I visit the site I end up clicking one page after the other and can spend quite a bit of time there, but I never feel like I have wasted my time.

Homestead.org – This site offers a nice variety of in depth articles on homesteading topics, a forum, a cookbook and a weekly newsletter.

Homesteading Today – This is an absolutely massive homesteading forum. The main topics are General, Livestock, Country Living, Country Homemaking, and a Specialty section. Some of the forums have hundreds of thousands of posts, making this site one that you just have to bookmark for future reference.

Countryside and Small Stock Journal – This is the online presence of the magazine. They offer about one third of the articles printed in the magazine, as well as several blogs, an online library and past issues. Well worth a visit.

Urban Homestead – This is a journal of four adults living on an urban homestead in Pasadena, Ca. that is one fifth of an acre in size but produces 6,000 pounds of food annually! While there make sure to visit their large archive to find out how they do it.

Backwoods Home Magazine – They cover all the bases and then some. Subjects include farm and garden, energy, self-reliance, homeschooling, making and saving money, recipes, firearms and hunting, tools, health and crafts. They also offer a newsletter, forum and several blogs.

Pioneer Living Survival Magazine – As you might be able to gather from the title this site has a slant towards survival techniques as well as homesteading and pioneer living. There are lots of good articles on back to the basics, living off the grid, gardening, cooking and more. Check out their videos and forum while you are there.

Hobby Farms – The website for the magazine for hobby farmers, small production farmers and those that love the country. Here you can find all kinds of information about rural life including small farm equipment, livestock and crops. Make sure to check out the resources section, as well as the community page.

Further Reading:

My Ten Favorite Homesteading Books

10 Books to Have Around When the Internet Goes Down

Money Saving Ideas That Cost You Nothing

Whenever I see articles with titles like this one I always have to at least skim them for some possible new ideas. While looking them over what many times catches my attention is that some of those tips cost you something to implement. Take the idea of growing a vegetable garden to supplement your food budget, which is an excellent idea. But you also have to consider the outlay for seeds or plants, cages depending on what you are growing, the proper gardening tools to both plant and weed and the money spent watering it all season long. If you want to save money watering your garden by collecting rain water you will need a rain barrel that is designed for the job of holding all of that weight, which start at around $30 each. A great idea that will eventually pay for itself, but you still have that initial cost.

Recently while reading yet another list of these ideas I got to thinking about what a person could do to save money that would cost nothing to implement. When taken to extremes you could say everything costs something, whether it is money or time. So to make my little exercise more workable I had to set up some parameters. Let’s say we are talking about the average size American family that has a dwelling with all the usual things found inside, a yard, a car, average income and expenses. How could they save money by not spending anything outside of their normal budget? I got the list started, but I’m really hoping for some help on this one.

Turn off the lights when leaving a room.

Open the southern facing blinds or curtains during sunny winter days to help heat the house and keep them closed during the summer to help keep it cool.

Take leftovers for lunch at work.

Eat smaller portions (more for lunch the next day!)

Wear an extra layer of clothing in the house in the winter and lower your thermostat a few degrees.

Hang up your clothes outside on a line to dry.

Use your library resources rather than purchasing items.

Walk to save on gas and for exercise.

If you garden compost your coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps and shredded paper rather than buying fertilizer.

Unplug electrical devices (vampire electronics) when not in use to save money.

Okay, it’s a start, but I’m sure there are plenty more to add to the list. What money saving tips that cost nothing can you recommend?

Additional Reading:

Four Leading Causes of Overspending

What Would You Do with an Extra 35 Hours a Week?

Confessions of a Cheap Dater

The following is a guest post by Jim Riley, who writes about money saving ideas and other finance related topics, such as credit card debt relief.

It’s Friday afternoon, your mind has left the office a couple of hours ago and you sit wondering how to entertain your significant other for the weekend. It used to be easy, before your wife was laid off. A simple search of the latest movie previews, or checking out the week’s entertainment at your favorite comedy club would usually result in at least one fun-filled evening. Now, the thought of buying two movie tickets, a tub of popcorn and a pair of Cokes seems absurd. Heck, you could buy half a week’s groceries for that kind of money.

You’ve managed to pay the bills for the month (which means you’re back to sleeping all night) but a boring weekend stuck at home can soon lead to self-pity and strained relationships. It is imperative you get out of the house and do something fun, but you have $4.26 in your pocket and you don’t want any more credit card debt. What do you do?

Get a dog for the day

Don’t have one? Go borrow one from a friend or family member and take it on an adventure. Dogs are the easiest creatures in the world to please. A walk around town to a dog is like going to Disneyland for a kid. Have a beach or lake nearby? Take them there, undo the leash and make a best friend for life. Good karma AND good exercise.

Get an ice cream

Just because you can’t afford to take your sweetie out for a candle-lit dinner doesn’t mean you can’t take her out. Eat a nice dinner at home and then tell her you have a surprise for her – if she’s nice to you. There are a number of fast food chains that now serve soft-serve cones on the cheap. Like 79 cents cheap. Pick up your cones and choose a nice spot to sit and watch the world go by.

Borrow a movie

Someone in your circle is notorious for buying movies as soon as they become available. You’ve always wondered why someone would waste their money on something they could just rent, but now you know. They buy them so you can borrow them. Return them promptly, thank them sincerely and chances are they will ask if you’ve seen the others they own. You’re now set up with your own little ‘free-flix’.

Massage

Do I have to tell you the benefits of asking your wife to take off her clothes, lie on the bed and relax? Few things feel as good as a massage and it’s free! When you’re done giving the very best massage you can, simply peel off any remaining clothes you may have on and announce “My Turn”. Done correctly, this could lead to an entire afternoon of entertainment that cannot be had at any price (in most states).

Ok, that’s it, now my shoulders ache from all this typing. Honey!

Further Reading:

Ten Ways to Save Money by Staying Home

Nine Ways to Find Cheap or Free Performances

How to Plan a Valentine’s Date You Can Afford

The following is a guest post by Tara Alley, a freelance writer who enjoys writing about living a frugal life and encouraging others in the attempt to do the same. You can follow her @hopesiempre.

The average cost of a first date currently tops the $100 dollar mark, and I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty hard for me to put that and frugal in the same sentence. With Valentine’s Day approaching, the date we feel obligated to put even “more” into, I can’t help but cringe when I think of the money that’s going to be spent on uneaten chocolates, so-so meals at outrageously overpriced restaurants and the mildly funny, mildly crude flick. We tell ourselves over and over that “it’s the thought that counts” but then still manage to get sucked into showing that thought with our dollars. If you’re dreading Valentine’s Day because it’s just not fitting into your budget, don’t worry. There are plenty of alternatives out there, and in my opinion, most of them highly outrank an overpriced meal and a box of stale chocolates. Here’s a list of easily accomplished ideas & tips that won’t break your bank but do have the potential to sweep your date right off her feet!

Dinner & Dancing. In the comfort of your own home! Plan to cook a spectacular dinner together and make a whole evening of it. Pick something you’ve never made before but have both always wanted to try. You might totally blow it, and it just might taste horrible, but you’re guaranteed to have fun! Or you can skip dinner all together and do an assortment of delicious desserts! Ice cream sundaes smorgasbord! Finish up the night by popping in a rented movie of dancing lessons. Nothing better than learning some new moves without the embarrassment of a crowd of people AND for a couple dollars via the local movie store!

Hike & Picnic. Take a long walk together. If you can, get up on the top of a hilltop and spread a blanket out for a yummy spread of appetizers while watching a sunset. Exploring is always romantic. Accompanying gift: favorite wine/foodie snack.

Give a Coupon Book. Do you remember these? They’re incredibly thoughtful and any one will LOVE getting one. Make a collection of coupons for your date to cash in at their whim. Fun ideas: “I’ll Do the Dishes for You.” “Good for 1 Foot Massage.” “My Saturday is Your Saturday.” “One item off the Honey-Do List.”

Re-create Your First Date. If you’ve been together for awhile, this is a really fun idea, and chances are good that you didn’t spend $100 on that first date 10+ years ago. Accompanying gift: newly framed picture of your first picture taken together.

Plan your Dream Future. Spend the night in dream world and talk about your biggest dreams/hopes together. Plan what your dream house would look like, look at pictures in magazines, start a list of what you want to see and do together in the next year.


Coffee shop date. Catch up and enjoy each other’s company over a cup of espresso. It’s a splurge from the every day, but it’s not an $80 meal. Accompanying gift: their ultimate favorite coffee beans & a mug.

Find a local museum, a state park or outing area like an ice skating rink that doesn’t have an entrance fee and go take advantage of it! Surprise your date with doing your research ahead of time and showing her all the things you think she’d love. Accompanying gift: a scrapbook to keep track of all the future outings like this one.

Tips: Celebrate after Valentine’s Day. Everything’s cheaper: flowers, chocolates, etc., and if you do want to eat out, you can get into a restaurant easier. Skip the roses, they’re overpriced. Go for something more affordable and just as pretty (tulips). Make gourmet truffles. SO easy! And very impressive! Write out notes in advance and give one a day before Valentine’s Day. Surprise her with a handmade gift. Pick an activity like mini-golf, bowling, or the discount movie theatre.

It really is the thought that counts, so whatever you do, put some thought into it, starting now, and I guarantee you that you’ll impress your date infinitely more than you would with no thought and a large check.

Further Reading:

Best Free Movie and TV Sites

Six Great Ways to Save Money on a Wedding

DIY Gift Idea: Wall Art

The following is a guest post by Maria Rainier, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education and performs research surrounding online degrees. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Got a friend’s birthday coming up? Chances are that there are some bare walls to be covered, so give your friend the gift of a creative piece of wall art. You won’t spend much (if anything) on the project, you’ll have fun, and your friend will appreciate the time and effort you put into making a thoughtful and useful gift. Don’t worry – you don’t have to be crafty. But watch out, because you might find yourself getting more creative than you thought possible. It’s easy to make these fun projects, and you might even want to make a few for yourself – so check out the following list of ideas to save money, nurture your creative side, and get started on your next DIY gift.

Painted Ceiling Medallions

If you’re having trouble getting a sense of your friend’s aesthetic when it comes to wall art, try something simple: ceiling medallions. You can find these for low prices at your local home improvement store in a variety of shapes and interesting designs. Simply choose one or more medallions and paint them using colors that go with your friend’s décor (spray paint works fine). To take this project a little further, grind up some colored chalk into a fine powder and use a makeup brush to dust it onto the painted medallion. It should settle into the recessed parts of the medallion, highlighting the design. Gently blow away any residual chalk dust and apply a clear fixative or lacquer, which can be found at your local craft store. Your friend will be delighted to hang these objets d’art on a lonely wall.

Picture Frame Collage

This project is only inexpensive if you happen to have access to three or four empty picture frames in varying sizes. You can try finding them at flea markets, antique stores, thrift stores, and even garage sales – you can also take a trip through your basement and attic to see if you have any unused frames. Once you’ve found a few, simply give them a new paint job (a color that contrasts starkly with the wall is very effective) and hang them close together as a collection.

Window Shutter Art: Form & Function

If you can find a window shutter, you can make this creative piece of wall art. Again, flea markets and the like are perfect places to find old rejected pieces that can be refurbished to create beautiful art. You can paint your shutter if you like, or if the finish is chipped and gives off a chic vintage vibe, you can leave it as is. If you choose to paint it, you’ll probably want to sand off the old paint and make sure you have a clean, smooth surface to work with. Spray paint is a great way to get in between the slats without spending a lot of time on brushing each one. Now, affix a hanger so your friend can display the shutter horizontally on the wall. One of the best ways to do this is to nail two sawtooth hangers onto the back of the shutter, one on each end. You can find these at your local craft or hardware store and they won’t cost you much at all. Finally, dig up some pictures of you and your friend (or print some if you keep digital photos) and slip them between the slats. Your friend can choose to display these and additional pictures, notes, postcards, or other items on the shutter.

No matter which project you choose, you’ll have a great gift that shows how much you care without burning through your wallet.

Further Reading:

Get a Free Loan from the NGA

10 Craft Selling Options

Decorating Your Home Like an Artist

The following is a guest post by Olivia Fox. Growing up in an artist’s family, she delights in finding creative ways to make money stretch. Her musings can be found at The Frugal Bohemian.

Early memories involve Dad taking me with him to other artist’s places. Until I visited a classmate’s house in ninth grade and was confronted with matching furniture for the first time (yikes!), it never occurred to me their spaces were unconventionally decorated.

Like colored glass pieces epoxied onto studio windows to lend color to a drab space, or a coffee table made from a salvaged printer’s tray and filled with small natural objects. Or blue and black bird feathers elegantly arranged in a small Victorian vase. A sofa made from wooden crates and covered with feather pillows. Water rocks in a shallow dish on a dining table. This was normal.

As years passed I fell in with another set of artists and saw many more inexpensive design solutions. Smooth pebbles embedded in quick set concrete for a bathroom floor. Broken dishes used like tile to cover small furniture. Old kitchen linoleum cut into squares and glued to a bathroom floor then polyurethaned. A large flush door painted vermillion and attached to a small table base to become a dining table. Flat sheets hemmed at the short end, covered with magic marker squiggles and hung as curtains. Old seed catalogue illustrations identically framed and grouped in rows on a wall.

My folk’s house contained it’s share of curb gleaned furniture, as does ours. Other people did their whole place that way. One fellow looked for similarly scaled classic shapes, sanded them down, and painted all to coordinate.

Fabric can be repurposed into floor pillows, table covers, quilts. Faux painting and stenciling are just some of the options for paint.

The common thread is all these use cheap or free materials to beautify and personalize living spaces. So think, “What do I have on hand to become what I need?”, and you’re well on your way to decorating like an artist.

Additional Reading:

Use What You Have and Cut the Clutter

How to Save Money by Salvaging