How to $ave

Food

Don’t shop when hungry; it’s harder to resist temptation.
Watch the cash register ring up items. Count your change. Check the receipt.
Drink plenty of water.
Eat 3 – 6 light meals a day.
Avoid eating out – even fast food.
Avoid meat – you can get protein through nuts and other food.
Keep water and mixed nuts in the car so you don’t pull into a restaurant when hungry.

If you’re handy

Where to shop

Garage sales and swap meets. Sellers take lower offers toward the end of the day.
Thrift stores – check periodically, the better items don’t last.
Outlets for ‘day-old’ bread. Freeze it.
Auctions through the post office, police depts., etc.
Outlets for ‘seconds’ and ‘imperfects’ in quality clothing.

Cars

NEVER ever buy a new car as you lose great amounts of money thru depreciation:
Never buy a used one without checking its ratings and having your mechanic drive it and list what needs repairing. See the net for this.
Cars sold ‘as is’ at commercial auctions can be terrible buys. No dealer will touch them.
Cars owned by the elderly often have low mileage.
Don’t buy a car that’s been in a wreck. Avoid cars from snowy climates – they have rust.
Four door cars are generally cheaper and resale better.
If you repaint, consider white as it doesn’t fade and it’s cooler in summer.
Practice ‘preventative maintenance’.
Insurance for older cars is lower. Get parts from a junkyard if your handy.

Legal

You can often avoid lawyers when you divorce, make a will, sell your house, or file for bankruptcy. If you need one: be clear on fees, be organized, don’t call him much, and don’t use him as a therapist. Online legal services are good for forms but make big mistakes.
Use mediation, arbitration, and small claims court.

Health

10%-30% of doctors visits, medical tests, procedures and surgeries are unnecessary.
When possible have all tests done in advance on an outpatient basis. Keep copies of the results.
Treatment in a doctor’s office is the least expensive. It’s more in an outpatient center, and most in the outpatient dept. of a hospital.
Some immigrant doctors charge less.
Community hospitals are preferred over teaching hospitals.
Don’t go into a hospital from Friday afternoon through Sunday, unless it’s an emergency.
Don’t go to a specialist until you need one.
Get 2nd opinions before surgery. Many insurance plans will pay for this.
Carefully check your bill.
Try free samples of prescribed drugs to test for side effects. Later shop around and buy generic drugs in bulk by mail order.

Owning a house in the US

Vines on the southern and western walls cut the summer heat.
Insulating the attic (in southern Calif.) pays for itself in 3-4 years; insulating the walls does in l0 years.
Turn down the temp. on the water heater. Insulating the tank saves $55/yr. Insulate the pipes.
Carpet and padding cut down on heat lose.
To the south of the house plant trees which lose their leaves in winter and shade the house in summer.
If repainting, consider white – it doesn’t fade. Buying an airless sprayer for jobs like this can pay for itself if you’re handy.
Put in double paned windows with a high R-value when replacing.
Buy a carpet machine for rugs, furniture, and car upholstery rather than renting one periodically.

Utilities

Look for an insulated apt. or house.
Heavy duty door closers on exterior doors keep the heat inside in winter and out in summer, and prevent slamming by the wind.
Hook up the clothes washer only to cold water. This saves 90% of the cost of washing. Wash only full loads. Dry only full, consecutive loads. Keep filters clean.
Low-flow shower heads claim to save up to $90/yr.
Turn down the water pressure for bathroom and kitchen faucets.
Use aerators in the faucets.
Refrigerator. Don’t put it close to a range, dishwasher, or sunlight. Keep the freezing and food compartments full so there is less cold to air to spill out. Keep the food compartment at 37 degrees. Consider a self-closing door.
Use an electronic thermostat which turns the heat down when you’re sleeping. Close only 1 or 2 vents. Closing more makes the system less efficient.
An inside/outside thermometer shows when to open and close windows and doors.
Close inside and outside shades and drapes to keep heat in in winter and the sun out in summer.
A 220 volt air conditioner (if your house is wired for it) is more efficient than a 110.
Mount air conditioner in the shade and wind. Close off rooms not being used.
A whole house fan pumps the hot air out of the house during summer nights and pulls cooler air in through windows. Opposite in winter when it’s warmer outside.

Garden

Build a compost pile for fertilizer and mulch.
Plant things you can eat.
Automatic sprinklers probably pay for themselves. Don’t water during the day.
A soil sample will show if you need to add elements. They will save water, chemicals, and time.

Misc

You’re in trouble if over 25% of your take home pay goes to credit cards and personal loans (include your car loan but not mortgage, rent, food and utilities).
You’re in trouble if three of the following are true:
- you get new loans to pay for old loans
- you don’t know how much you owe
- you charge items because you have no cash
- you borrow to pay for food and utilities
Your rent or house payments shouldn’t be more than 1/4 of your gross income.
Pay off credit cards; consider getting rid of them. Cut back on vacations, toll calls, and entertainment.
Buy off season and in bulk.
Don’t buy anything on time.
Don’t gamble.
No pets, except for security.
Ready-made glasses.
Save receipts; send in warranties.
Don’t be tempted by ‘specials’ and sales unless you have planned for a long time to buy the item.
Take your lunch to work to save $1000/yr (in ’92).
Have a certain % of each paycheck automatically put into a savings account.
Put aside three to six months income for emergencies.
Save your tax records at least seven years.
Use CONSUMER REPORTS.
Search the net for tips and infographics on ‘how to save money’.
Rent your garage or yard for storage [if the legalities are clear].
Rent a room in your house.
ttps://www.timelessissues.com/category/law/legal-nightmare-over-rented-room/
https://www.generaladvice.org/renting-rooms-in-your-house/
Search the net for other tips and ‘microfinance’.
Make saving a challenge, a game.