100 ways to save money

The most obvious, and perhaps most painful, way to save money is to create a BUDGET – and stick to it! In so doing, you’re forced to evaluate how you spend your money and what you’re spending it on.  Keep a journal of your spending habits to pinpoint your areas of opportunity. (Do you need a new pair of shoes each week?) Find more helpful tips to get you started here.

Decide how much “mad money” you will allow yourself per paycheck, and take it out in cash on payday. When you’re out — you’re out.

Don’t be dim! Granted, you won’t become an overnight millionaire, but conserving energy is always a good thing. For best practices when it comes to this illuminating subject, visit Energy.gov.

You likely won’t need to buy more ingredients; you’ll just use more of the ingredients you already have. That way, your meals will go twice as far and you’ll spend half as much. (Which could also lead to fewer trips to the grocery store — saving gas and time. The list of money-saving reasons for leftovers goes on – and on. Just like leftovers.)

Believe it or not, brown-bagging it can save you more than $1,000 a year. Check out this mind-blowing “Lunch Savings” calculator for proof. You’ll definitely think twice about hitting up Q’doba on the fly.

The reasons are two-fold: conservation and cost-effectiveness. Dentists say you should brush your teeth for two minutes. So, if you leave the water running during that time — morning and night — that’s eight gallons of water a day, and over 2,900 gallons a year. The money will flood in when you turn off the faucet. (Not literally.)

Curtains help to keep your place cool in summer and warm in winter. Think about it: They block out sun and help prevent your home from turning into a greenhouse during the warm months, and they lock in heat during the frostier part of the year.

Energy bills can get downright astronomical once October rolls around. Try wearing an extra sweater and slippers — and snuggle up with your partner or pets. By turning your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for eight hours; you can save 5 percent to 15 percent a year on your heating bill.

Here’s another subject we could write a dissertation on, but we’ll keep it simple: Washing your laundry in hot water costs $0.68 per load whereas washing it in cold water costs you $0.04 per load. If you do laundry just twice per week, those cold-water washes will  save you more than $60 each year.

No, we aren’t suggesting you cook yourself, but for every degree over 72 on your thermostat, you save up to 3 percent off your energy bill. Also keep in mind: Ceiling and floor fans are much more energy efficient than air conditioning.