30 Easy Ways to Save Money (and No, you are not doing them all!)

Let’s keep this one simple and clean - just a bunch of relatively easy ways to save money. As you incorporate more and more of these tips into your life, the savings add up and it wouldn’t surprise me if you could save thousands over the course of a year.

It will take a little work on your part but those thousands of dollars in savings are what helped us get out of debt earlier, kept us out of debt for several years and will hopefully help us pay off our recent auto loan soon as well.

1. Cook at home often: If both the husband and wife work, this is likely to be very difficult. Start out with the habit of cooking at home once a week and slowly increase the frequency until you find a balance between saving money and getting stressed out.
2. Make your own coffee: Everyone seems to have heard of the latte factor. Even though the author may have overestimated the savings from skipping a latte at Starbucks, don’t underestimate the ding it puts in your pocket in the long run. You don’t have to entirely ban drinking coffee, but skip it as often as possible unless you make it at home.

3. Brown bag lunch at least a few days a week: Lunch times are great opportunities to network and make connections that could improve your career growth. So unless there is a common eating area for brown baggers, you may choose to limit brown bagging lunch to three days each week. Find a balance between saving some money and making the connection. In my case, I take my lunch with me 2-3 times a week and eat out the rest of the time.
4. Make a list before going shopping: They call it impulse buying for a reason. Humans simply have a very tough time resisting the temptation to purchase extras while shopping. Without a list you will buy items that you simply do not need. Even worse is when your forget to purchase the actual item you came to the store for in the first place. If you plan on cooking at home, pre-plan a rough menu and make a list before you go grocery shopping. Getting all that you need in one trip can help avoid another unnecessary trip and temptation.
5. Go grocery shopping while you are in a hurry: Maybe you need to go out in a couple of hours. Or your favorite show is going to be on TV after a couple of hours. Try to squeeze in the grocery trip in that intermediate time. Armed with your grocery list, you should be in-and-out very quickly with little time for meandering and getting tempted to buy things you don’t need.
6. Watch out for expiration dates on perishable goods: This one seems intuitive when you read it, but I am surprised at how many people do not pay attention to expiry dates. No point getting a gallon of milk if it is going to turn sour with a couple of days. Same goes for meat, eggs, yogurt, spreads, frozen items, deli/bakery items etc. Some people say you can use a few items a few days after expiry – but I personally value my health more than money and would rather avoid buying such items in the first place.
7. Buy in bulk whenever possible: When it comes to non-perishable items, buy in bulk whenever you find something on sale. The items I usually stock up on are, cereals, tinned goods, rice, beans, pasta, coke, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, toilet paper etc. For such items, shopping at warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s Club etc can save you quite a bit of money, provided you stick strictly to your shopping list when you shop at these places.
8. Buy generic products whenever possible: Does it really matter whether your cereal is made by Kellogg's or is the store brand? Does it matter if your milk is Oak Farms or the store brand? For a few things (like soda in particular), I prefer brand name products. For others, I do not mind generic store brands if they can save me money. Find what works for you and switch to generic brands for at least a part of your grocery list.
9. Use grocery store bags to line trash cans: This may not work if you use a massive trash can but we use a small sized one for which the grocery bags are a perfect fit. This not only helps us save some money, but reduces our environmental foot print and avoids the kitchen from stinking from a huge overflowing trash can.
10. Consolidate and pay off debt as soon as possible: If you carry any debt, focus on consolidating it to a lower interest and paying it off as soon as possible. Money paid in interest is money thrown away! Why spend your hard-earned cash to make the financial institutions rich?
11. Pay your bills on time and avoid late fees: Get organized about your regular bills. If possible, automate the payments. Most utilities and other recurring bills can be set to be charged to a credit card or deducted from a checking account these days. Also, many banks offer free bill pay programs. So there really is no excuse for forgetting to pay a bill on time and forking out the late fees. Say, by chance you do forget a bill, if you are a first time offender, call the company and request politely to waive the late fees, and more likely than not, they will oblige.

12. Be aware of your bank balance and avoid over draft fees: If you use your checking account often or have some bills that are paid automatically from your checking account, be aware of the balance and avoid overdraft fees.
13. Avoid ATM fees: Be aware of the ATM withdrawal fees charged by your bank. While some banks waive fees for all ATM transactions on any ATM machine, most don’t. So be sure to use only those ATM machines where your bank will not charge the fees, or withdraw directly at your bank.
14. Avoid credit cards with annual fee: Credit cards with their cash back bonuses and reward points are a great way to save some money. Just make sure that the card does not charge you any annual fees! There is no dearth of cards that offer fee-free reward plans, so there really is no reason to pay the annual fees.
15. Disconnect land line if possible: Unless you have small kids in the house or older people to take care of, it is more than likely that you will be able to survive with only the mobile phones and can get rid of the land line. We have survived without any problems for over 4 years now with out a land line. Our Internet comes via cable.
16. Instead of buying books, borrow books from the library: Whenever possible, borrow your books instead of buying them. The card to your public library is free and the libraries are generally well stocked. In my city, the chain of public libraries is connected and the available books can be checked online. If there is some book that I cannot find in my local branch, I can make a request online for it to be brought in from one of the other branches to mine which is very convenient.
17. If you have to buy books, check if you can buy it used: Used books do not quite give the same feeling as leafing through the crisp pages of a brand new book. But considering that you can get used books for almost as much as half the price of a new book, it is a small price to pay. My favorite place to buy used books is a local chain called “Half Price Book Store”. Check if you have something similar in your city. For text books, look online on bulletin boards, mailing lists etc, and price compare on websites like addall.com.
18. Price check before buying anything expensive: For other items that are expensive, do a price check before buying the item. If you can wait for a while you can track the prices and grab a great deal when it comes along. Frequently available online coupons make it even more easy to save some money. This is especially true while purchasing any electronics.
19. Avoid impulse buying: Make it a habit to avoid impulse buying. Many of the things you want to buy do not seem all that necessary, if you only you wait for a day or two. Also, waiting means you will be able to check prices and make an informed decision to buy it at the best possible price.
20. Bottle your own water:Drinking water is good for your health. I always make it a habit to keep some at my desk at all times. Bottled water is the most convenient since it can provide protection against accidental spills. That said, buy bottled water only once in a while, and then reuse that bottle to fill your own water. If you are not happy with tap water, invest in a Brita Filter – in the long run it can save a lot of money.
21. Avoid the vending machines: Almost everything that is dispensed via vending machines has a huge markup (and is rarely healthy). However, if you suffer from snack attacks at work, consider creating a secret stash of snacks. If you like drinking soda and have a fridge at the workplace, save a refrigerator pack in the fridge with a post-it with your name on it. If you have a long commute, consider a stash for the car as well and avoid a quick drive-thru visit.
22. Keep your car as long as possible: When possible, try to keep your car as long as possible. Find the balance between the money spent on repairs versus the monthly installment on another vehicle and choose to run your old car as long as the repair costs are low.
23. Do regular scheduled maintenance on your vehicles: Do not skimp on or forget to do regular oil changes. Remember to check the air in your tires often. And use the grade of fuel that the owner’s manual recommends. These small acts can significantly lengthen the life of your car, giving you years of use.
24. Avoid buying a new car: When you eventually buy a car, see if you can make do with a pre-owned vehicle. A new car depreciates significantly the moment you drive it out the dealership. Is the new car small really worth thousands of dollars? Pre-owned cars that are only a few years old with low mileage are the best bargains. Regardless of the purchase, learn to negotiate with car dealers.
25. Ride your bike or carpool whenever possible: In many of the cities in the US it is hard to get by without a car. That said, just because you have a car does not mean you have to use it every day. Whenever possible, ride your bike or share a ride with a colleague or spouse and save both on gas and reduce the environmental footprint.
26. If you watch a lot of DVDs, get an online DVD store membership: Membership to online movie stores like Netflix or Blockbuster Online can save you a lot of money compared to buying DVDs or renting it from a local store. You need to wait once you order the movie, but if you watch a lot of movies at home, then you can easily get into the habit of ordering ahead of time so you always have something at home. If you are patient and your library has the resources, check to see if they have a movie section. You won't get anything very new, but they are free.
27. If you like watching movies at the theater, go before 6:00 pm: This is one of our soft spots when it comes to spending. We really like watching movies in the theater with the big screen and the great sound effects. But instead of paying ~$10 a pop for the ticket, we usually go before 6:00pm when the tickets are a little less expensive. Also, for movies that we don’t absolutely want to watch right away, we just wait until it screens on the discount theater where the tickets are $2 a pop. We avoid the temptation to buy snacks, by usually going for a theater some time soon after our lunch or sometimes sneaking in our own snacks in the purse.

28. Regulate your electric use: When not in use, unplug electric appliances. Apparently, unplugging the TV instead of just switching it off can save a lot of electricity! When not in a room, switch off the lights and the fan. Use a programmable thermostat to control your A/C and heater usage. If that's too much, at least know what each appliance uses and unplug a few of them.
29. Plan vacations ahead of time: Vacations are a necessary part of saving our sanity in the busy lives that we lead. But vacations are also a huge drain on the family finances. You can cut the cost of a vacation significantly by planning and booking ahead of time. Bookmark travel sites for finding inexpensive airfare, hotel etc., and book at least two weeks in advance.
30. Finally, keep distance from lavish, high-roller friends: If you have lavish friends who buy a new car every other year (or worse still, lease it), have large screen TVs and every other conceivable electronics gadget, eat out at fancy restaurants every other night and just live way beyond their means, keep the distance. They may be nice people and mean you no harm, but hanging out with such people often can lead to a lot of unnecessary desires and discontent. What’s more important – your friends or your peace of mind?

Whoa, that article ended up being a lot longer than I anticipated. Hopefully, I haven’t put you to sleep! Despite the length though, it barely scratches the surface when it comes to ways to save money. Make it a sub-conscious habit to save money in things that you do every day, even if it is a few dollars. All that money saved can add up significantly and you can save it or spend it on things that really matter!

NOTE: I am not saying that you should follow *all* these tips. Trying to be too frugal can make both you and the people around you very miserable. So, pick out a few tips at a time that will work for you and make them a habit, before deciding if you can incorporate more money saving habits in your daily routine.

 

By : Sam Baker

Source: Dumb Little Man

The Short Guide to Becoming a Person of Action Starting Today

 

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”Leonardo Da Vinci

Do you sometimes feel stuck and unable to take action?

I do.

To get what you want out of life you can’t sit around wishing for it to happen. And wishing that someone else will do it for you don’t work too good either.

In this article I’d like to share 4 simple habits that help me when I get stuck in inaction and that have worked very well for me to go from a lazy guy who spent too much time on the sofa watching TV to becoming a focused and effective person of action.

 

Start your day in the right way.

 

How I start my day has probably become the most important factor for how much action I take during the day and how the day turns out in general. A good start often leads to a good day. A bad or indecisive start often leads to a pretty mediocre day.

So create a morning routine with breakfast, perhaps a short work out or a short meditation and other things you find gets you off to a great start.

Then add doing the most important task of your day at the end of that morning routine. That usually works well for me to build a productive day where I take quite a bit of important action.

On some mornings I may feel low in energy, unmotivated or have extra inner resistance to taking action. Then I start small instead of starting with the most important task.

I do maybe some decluttering or clean up a bit. I may do a deal with myself to just work for 5 minutes on a relatively easy task. Or if that feels like too much I make a deal with myself for 2 minutes of work. The most important thing is that I get started and get moving. If I do that then I will continue to keep moving forward.

 

Break down it down into small steps.

 

Work can become overwhelming and filled with negative feelings when you look at a big project or task.

You want to escape. You procrastinate. Then you become stressed because there is a deadline somewhere down the road and you are giving yourself less and less time to complete this thing as you procrastinate.

A big help here is to form the habit of breaking down big things into small, manageable steps that you can have done pretty quickly today and that will not give you anxiety or pump you full of negative emotions.

So break down a task into small, practical steps that there is an end to. If you have to read a book then break that task down into reading for 30 minutes. After you have read for 30 minutes check this off of your to-do list or just tell yourself that this task is done.

In my experience, it is very important to feel that you have finished tasks at the end of your day and to not have them hanging over you as you go home, spend the evening trying to relax and as you go to bed. Your mind wants to know that a step is finished – even if it is a small step like reading for 30 minutes – to be able to relax fully and to not create vague stress inside of you.

So break it down into small steps. Look at and focus on just that first step single-mindedly until it is done. Then continue to the next step and focus on just that. Do that and you’ll waste less extra energy on worrying and on your work.

 

Celebrate what you did today.

 

This is something I am still working on and something I can do more of. But it makes a big difference when I do it. You have to appreciate your good work to feel even better about your life and yourself.

So take two minutes out at the end of the day to think about what you can appreciate about what you did today. Or write down a couple of self-appreciative things in your journal. Have a tasty treat or a bigger celebration. Tell someone how nice something turned out or how proud you are over something important you did today.

Reward yourself for the things you did right today to strengthen your action taking habit. And remember to be kind to yourself for the things you may have missed or not gotten done. No point in trying to beat yourself up. No point in trying to be perfect. See what you can learn from it and perhaps try another solution tomorrow instead and see if that works better.

 

Take one small action right away to get the ball rolling.

 

What is one thing you can do to pretty much make sure that something will get stuck your I’ll-do-that-when-I-have-the-time list for a long time?

Read about something and get excited about it. And then do nothing about or tell yourself that you will take action tomorrow.

Instead, take one small action today, as soon after you have read about whatever you are excited about. Call up your friend and make arrangements to meet this Sunday night at seven to start working out, trying yoga or eating at the new restaurant.

If there is an exercise you can do in whatever you read about and it looks promising then do it today. If that feels hard make a deal with yourself to only work on it for 5 minutes.

If you want to travel somewhere in particular then don’t stop at a vague dream. Take a few minutes and look up prices online and then look at your budget and see how much you need to save or earn extra to be able to take that trip.

That’s it for today. Now get that ball rolling.

By Henrik Edberg

Source: The Positivity Blog

Keys to Leading a Happy and Fullfilled Life

Some of you may believe that if you just had more money, or a better job, or another degree, or some other external “thing” that life would be better. Like there is a nagging feeling that you shouldn't have to be dissatisfied with your life- that you don't have to just 'put up with it'

Maybe you don't know what to do to make your life more fulfilled, or don't know where to start. But if you did, you'd be able to confirm those nagging feelings. It may even seem sometimes like there's simply nothing you can do. You hope and dream of living a fulfilled life, but it still feels as if it is simply out of your hands.

But living a fulfilled life doesn't have to work that way. Not only is it possible to live a fulfilled life, but the more you work at it, the easier it becomes.

How? By cultivating these 8 keys to living a fulfilled life.

1. Passion

   “We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” -Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

   
   Everyone has the capacity to be passionate about something, even if you feel like being passionate is “not your thing.” When you are passionate about something, you have a great drive and devotion to it. You passion reflects your interests, it's what gets you excited, and what makes you come alive.
   
   So the first key to living a fulfilled life is to have passion and something to be passionate about. Passion releases a great energy within that propels you toward a fulfilled life.
2. Energy

   “And what is a man without energy? Nothing – nothing at all.” -Mark Twain

   
   Oftentimes when we are passionate about something, energy flows freely. So it's natural for them to go together. But it is also important to cultivate energy as a habit every day.
   
   In David Hawkins' book, Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, he describes energy as being on a map of consciousness where low energy levels manifest themselves as emotions like shame, guilt, and fear, and high energy levels manifest as love, courage, and acceptance.
   
   More importantly, he mentions that positive jumps in energy are possible through choice. Here are three tips you can use right now to start cultivating more energy:
• Meditate- Many spiritual disciplines of the world are interested in meditation, and for good reason. Meditation can be very useful for cultivating that daily energy you need.
• Act like you have more energy Jump, run, or smile like crazy. You might be surprised at the positive effects it has. It's sure to give you a boost.
• Take a power nap Set a timer for 20 minutes, close your eyes, and get comfortable. Even if you don't fall asleep right away, it just might be the rest you need. Try it, it works.
3. Drive

   “A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, ...it can be done." -Vince Lombardi

   
   Drive and determination mean a lot when it comes to living a fulfilled life. So if you're going to accomplish something, you're going to need to spend some time cultivating your drive.
   
   The good news, is that drive also works hand in hand with passion and energy. Once you start focusing on it, it becomes easier to do the same for others. So take a minute to think about what drives you. What lights you up and fuels your fire when you feel like nothing else does? Tap into that energy. It may be the only thing that keeps you going when you need it most.
4. Resilience

   “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Confucius

   
   Resilience is indispensable for living a fulfilled life.
   
   Perhaps one of the most famous examples of resilience is Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent electric light and a lighting system that make it safe and practical for home use. Even more impressive was the fact that he had to invent seven new elements to make it work.
   
   Essentially, through thousands of failures came a very big success. Nearly nothing great is achieved without failing at something along the way. And if you give up, you'll never know what great things might have happened.
5. Curiosity

   “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

   
   Curiosity to explore, to discover, and to be open to world propels your life forward. Exploration strengthens curiosity, and curiosity encourages exploration. People who are curious boost attention and interest. New doors are opened.
   
   Just like following your passion, move in the direction your heart pulls you. If you're not used to allowing your curiosity to lead, start small. It may take time to get used to it. The more you get used to allowing your curiosity to lead you places, the easier it will get. Start today.
6. Optimism

   “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller.

   
   People with the 'glass half full' outlook are able to see things from a fresh perspective. It makes a big difference if you look at obstacles as being a dead end, or an opportunity.
   
   When you have a can-do attitude, so much more is possible.
7. Confidence and Self Esteem

   "Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself." - Robert Collier

   
   Believing in yourself and being confident in your abilities can sometimes mean the difference between taking action or doing nothing at all, and can make all the difference.
   
   Here are three ways to quickly boost self confidence:
• Remember past achievements- Think of it like sailing on the ocean. Instead of looking out into the ocean and thinking of the vast distance you haven't traveled, look back and see how far you've come from the shore. Sometimes we forget the things we achieve and focus on the things we believe we can't do. By taking a moment to focus on all that you have accomplished you may just get the boost you need.
• Practice good posture- Just like how smiling or acting like you have more energy can give you some extra pep and make you feel better, practicing good posture can too. Stand or sit up straight, keep your head up, and make eye-contact while speaking. You'll not only make a favorable impression on others, you'll feel much better yourself.
• Compliment other people- Have you ever noticed how saying good things about other people make yourself feel better? There isn't exactly a huge body of scientific evidence for it, so you'll have to go with your gut. Have you complimented someone today? It's definitely worth a try.
8. Balance
   Our lives work together better when things are in balance. Work, sleep, play, everything.
   
   The same applies for the 8 keys. For example, having too much curiosity and not enough confidence will probably leave you spinning your wheels and being overwhelmed with the endless things to explore.
   
   As the famous saying goes, "everything in moderation." 

Source: Dumb Little Man

Beating the Afternoon Slump: 3 Preventions and 3 Cures

You’re familiar with the afternoon slump. It’s that lethargy that sets in around 3pm. It’s the feeling that you’d rather be doing anything but working. (And a nap sounds awfully tempting...)

Your motivation is at a complete low. You find yourself checking Facebook every five minutes.

And it’s inevitable ... right?

Nope. You can prevent yourself from ever falling into that slump, and you can learn ways to dig yourself out quickly if the slump does arise. (Oh, and if your usual method is a double-strength espresso, you might want to give some of these ideas a try instead.)

We’ll start with three preventions – and follow those with three cures.

• Prevention #1: Don’t Overdo Things at Lunch
  Nutritionists tend to agree on one thing: a huge lunch will make you feel sleepy in the afternoon. What you eat matters, as well as how much – for lasting energy, go for foods like whole grains and lean proteins. These fill you up and release energy slowly.
  
  Avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. And, whatever you do, don’t be tempted to make it a boozy lunch, even if your boss is away or you work for yourself – alcohol and productivity really don’t mix.
  
  (If you’re having a much lighter lunch than normal, make sure you have a healthy snack for mid-afternoon: the slump can also be caused by low blood sugar levels.)
• Prevention #2: Get Enough Sleep
  If you’re not sleeping enough at night, it’s no surprise that you feel tired and lethargic in the afternoon. Make sure you’re getting to bed at a sensible hour.
  If you struggle to fall asleep:
  
  • Ensure your room is cool, dark and uncluttered
    
  • Don’t look at a screen (computer or television) in the hour before bed
    
  • Write down anything that’s nagging at your mind before you go to sleep
    
  • Spend 10-15 minutes meditating prior to bed
    
  • Don’t eat a large meal within three hours of going to bed
  If you’re self-employed or work from home, an afternoon power-nap might prevent the slump: it’s better to sleep for 20 minutes and be fully recharged than to struggle on for several hours on minimal brain-power.
• Prevention #3: Drink More Water
  Yes, you know you should be drinking plenty of water, but are you actually doing it? Being slightly dehydrated reduces your concentration levels (and has a host of other bad effects).
  
  Don’t wait until you’re feeling thirsty or tired to get a glass of water – stay hydrated throughout the day. Keeping a bottle of water on your desk in easy reach, and sipping from it regularly, is a good way to do this.

With those out of the way, I know that many people are stuck now. As you read this you are groggy and want to bail on the work day. So what do you do? Here are some ideas:

• Cure #1: Open a Window
  If you’re feeling drowsy, is it because the room’s too hot? Open a window, or switch on the air conditioning. You’ll find that it’s a lot easier to stay alert when you’re cool.
  
  Depending on your office set-up, you might not have access to either AC or a nearby window. If so, try getting a small desk fan. The movement of air on your face and arms helps keep you alert, as does the reduced temperature.
• Cure #2: Move Around
  Getting your heart pumping a bit faster will get you re-energized for work. Go for a brisk walk (outside if you can, but just round the corridors will do). Ideally, make a walk part of your regular routine, either during your lunch hour or during an afternoon break.
  
  If you’re feeling lazy and reluctant to move, you definitely need to get out of the grip of the slump. Push yourself to get up: once you’ve taken a few steps, it’ll be easy to keep going.
  
  
• Cure #3: Re-motivate Yourself
  Sometimes, the afternoon slump isn’t so much to do with physical factors as mental ones. In these cases, you need to re-motivate yourself. What tasks do you need to get through this afternoon? What can you accomplish? Think about the big picture: even if your tasks seem trivial, they’ll be important in the bigger scheme of things.

Source: Dumb Little Man